Xbox Cloud Gaming compatibility expands to offer more games on more devices
The latest update for the Xbox app on Windows has brought expanded compatibility, allowing Xbox Cloud Gaming to be used on more devices. ARM64 Windows PCs, in particular, are receiving full support.
Meta and Microsoft partner up for new VR experiences
Having to share a printer between a Windows 7 and a Windows 10 PC may be pretty complicated, but not impossible. That is precisely why we’ve created this step-by-step guide that will show you precisely what you need to do to share a printer between two PCs with different OS.
How do I share a printer from Windows 7 to Windows 10?
Press on the Start button on the taskbar.
Go to Control Panel.
Navigate to Hardware and Sound > View Devices and Printers.
Right-click the printer icon.
Click Printer Properties from the pop-up menu.
Go to the Sharing tab.
Click on Share this Printer.
Click OK.
It is quite simple to share your printer from Windows 7 to a Windows 10 device via Printer Properties. The two computers need to be on the same network for this to work.
However, in doing so, you need to ensure that your two operating systems are both running on either 32 bit or 64 bit.
What to do if I cannot connect to a shared printer from Windows 7 to Windows 10?
Normally, if you were to share the printer with another Windows 7 PC, then these steps would suffice. However, there are a few things you need to know about the differences between Windows 7 and Windows 10.
1. Install the required driver
Computers with Windows 7 provided by OCIO are using a 32-bit version while Windows 10 is using a 64-bit version.
If you need to share a printer connected to a Windows 7 computer and want to share it with a user using Windows 10, you’ll need to provide the 64-bit printer driver on the Windows 7 computer.
You can do this simply by following these steps:
Connect the printer to Windows 7 computer.
Press Start.
Go to the Control Panel.
Go to Device and Printers.
Right-click on the printer and choose Printer Properties.
Go to the Sharing tab.
Click Additional Drivers… .
Tick the option for x64 processor.
Press OK to install the driver.
Provide the required driver when prompt.
When finished, you can go to the Windows 10 computer to add the shared printer.
You can also use an automated solution that is faster and more secure. These specialized driver updaters will help you download the right drivers for your computer after just a quick scan.
2. Make changes to your registry
If you are still encountering issues, then there is one last workaround to fix things. It involves tweaking the Registry, so be careful while doing it:
Open the Registry Editor on your PC.
Go to HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Print\Providers.
Delete the Client Side Rendering Print Providers key.
By following these steps you should be able to now easily share any printer between a Windows 7 PC and a Windows 10 PC. Just remember that both computers need to belong to the same network, and you’ll be done.
Did you find our article to be useful? Let us know what other things you want to read about in the comment section below.
If you use the SteamVR app and having several problems with it, this article is a great place for your relief. Here, you will find the solutions for the most common SteamVR errors. If you are interested, see the best VR browser games to play on Oculus Quest.
Why does my SteamVR keeps failing?
SteamVR works very smoothly with most compatible devices. However, the actual problems appear when you cannot use this app properly because of several errors. It can completely ruin your VR experience.
The SteamVR may fail or doesn’t work properly or entirely due to some common and critical reasons. It is hard to find out the root causes of some problems. But, in most cases, you will find these reasons:
Graphics card issue – An incompatible graphics card may cause a lot of problems when running SteamVR.
VR headset’s internal problem – There are not many issues that can cause a VR headset to malfunction but dropping it repeatedly from the head level may cause serious damage.
Outdated components – VR headsets are very demanding in terms of system requirements so maybe it’s time for an upgrade.
Improper connection – A proper cable connection makes all the difference.
Lack of permission for some specific tasks – Make sure you grant permissions to the apps you’re using, or they may not function properly.
Misconfigurations – Sometimes, it’s just all about setting up your VR headset right.
What are the most common SteamVR errors?
SteamVRError 108 – Headset Not Detected – Rebooting your headset and your PC might get this problem fixed.
SteamVRError 113 – Path Registry Not Writable – This error occurs if the system doesn’t have permission to edit some folders in SteamVR.
SteamVRError 208 – HMD Display Not Found – This problem is often caused by problematic drivers.
SteamVRError 200 – Driver Failed – Still a driver mismatch or corruption problem. A driver update is recommended.
SteamVR Error Code 203: SteamVR unexpected problem – If you’re using a game booster app, try to deactivate it because this may be the issue.
SteamVRError 206 – Driver Not Calibrated – Obviously, another driver-related problem but you will be able to fix it with one of our solutions below.
SteamVRError 207 – Driver Calibration Invalid – It’s a variant of error 206 and it has the same solution.
SteamVRError 300 – SteamVR failed to initialize for unknown reasons – This is a light error and most of the time, restarting your PC will fix it.
SteamVR Error 301 – Connect Failed – In this case, it’s recommended to check if the VR service is running.
SteamVR Error 302 – Init Failed – As for any initialization error, restarting your PC and headset might fix the problem quickly.
SteamVRError 306 – SteamVR failed to initialize for unknown reasons – It is similar to Error 300 and here we have a dedicated guide to help you.
SteamVR Error 1101-1112 – USB Error – As the name of the error suggests, you should check the USB connection.
SteamVR Home has stopped working error – This is a SteamVR Home error but our dedicated guide will help you fix it.
Whatever the error you’re facing, this article has the solutions for the most common SteamVR issues. To know about them, follow the next part of this post.
How do I fix SteamVR problems?
Before getting into any complex troubleshooting, make sure you get to this checklist of prerequisite measures:
Close SteamVR, power off your VR headset (if possible), power it up again, and restart SteamVR.
Make sure that all the cables are connected properly and replace the ones which look damaged.
Verify if your PC configuration, including the GPU, is on par with the VR requirements.
Reboot your PC. Sometimes, a simple solution like this can be the magic touch to fix everything.
Check your network connection, and that includes restarting your router.
Now that we’ve got over the simple things you can do, if the issues still persist, let’s go through our solutions below.
1. Update or reinstall your drivers
1.1 Update the graphics card driver
Open the Start Menu on your PC, type device manager, and hit Enter.
Find and right-click on the graphics card and choose Update driver.
Then, follow your preferred method to update.
1.2 Re-install the graphics card driver
Open the Windows Device Manager as shown before.
Right-click on the graphics driver and choose Uninstall.
Make sure to check the Attempt to remove the driver for this device.
Restart your PC.
We should mention that updating the drivers manually sometimes won’t work and you need to visit the manufacturer’s website to get the latest driver.
As you can see, this can be a bit of work, but there are also dedicated driver update software tools that do all the work for you automatically.
2. Get the latest Windows updates
Press Win + I on the keyboard to open Windows Settings.
Go to Windows Update and click on Check for updates.
After updating, restart your PC and see if it has solved the SteamVR error or not.
3. Run SteamVR as administrator
Locate the Steam shortcut or the launcher file. It should be on the installation location, or you can use the desktop shortcut.
Right-click and choose Run as administrator.
Sometimes, the lack of permissions can cause SteamVR errors and this solution will eliminate this problem from the get-go.
4. Chech the folder rights for SteamVR
Press the Windows key + E to start File Explorer.
Navigate to the SteamVR folder. You can usually find it at the following path: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\SteamVR
Right-click on an empty space and go to its Properties.
Connect your headset, and it will automatically install the drivers.
6. Run steam in Compatibility mode
Right-click on the Steam shortcut and go to its Properties.
Under compatibility mode, check Run this program in compatibility mode and choose an earlier OS.
Click on Apply and OK.
Now, see if it has fixed the SteamVR failed to initialize for unknown reasons or not.
7. Restart the VR service
Press CTRL + ALT + Del on the keyboard and open Task Manager.
Find the process called vrserver.exe and select it.
Click on End Task to quit this process.
Run SteamVR again.
This procedure will restart the VR service and hopefully, the problem will be fixed.
8. Re-install SteamVR
Open Steam.
Right-click on SteamVR, hover your mouse over Manage, and choose Uninstall.
Install it again.
9. Uninstall game booster
Click the Start button and select Settings.
Go to Apps and click on Installed apps.
Search for the game booster software.
Click on the three vertical dots next to it and then choose Uninstall.
Game booster software is great because they improve the FPS and reduce lag. It also allocates resources to your particular game but, sometimes, it gets in conflict with some apps.
If the situation doesn’t improve by uninstalling the app, feel free to install it again.
10. Delete the SteamVR settings file
Press the Windows key + E to open File Explorer.
Navigate to the following location: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\config
Find the steamvr.vrsettings file and delete it.
Many of our readers asked: Is SteamVR compatible with Oculus Quest 2? The short answer is yes.
Now, users can easily enjoy SteamVR content on Oculus Quest 2. For this, users will have to simply connect the headset to the PC. Then, they can access the entire Steam library.
However, users also need the Quest app for PC for this. Also, there are some specific steps to follow to enjoy the Steam content on this VR headset.
You might also be interested in our list including the best SteamVR web browsers to enjoy VR content.
This article has shown you the solutions for the most common SteamVR errors. If you have any suggestions or opinions, feel free to write them down in the comments box.
In this guide, you’ll learn exactly how to increase FPS in League of Legends on Windows, whether you’re using a laptop or a desktop. This will put an end to sudden frame drops and stutters and improve gameplay.
Boost Your League of Legends FPS: Step-by-Step Fixes
1. Disable full-screen optimizations to increase FPS in LoL
Right-click on your League Of Legends application and choose Properties.
Navigate to the Compatibility tab and check the Disable full-screen optimizations option.
2. Set a high priority for the League of Legends service
Open Task Manager by holding CTRL + SHIFT + ESC together.
Find the League Of Legends task under the Details tab, right-click on it, hover over Set priority, and choose High.
3. Update your PC’s drivers
Option 1: Use Windows Update
Open Settings and go to Windows Update followed by Advanced options.
Here, click on Optional updates and you will be shown the available driver updates that you need to install. Simply click the Download and install button after you check the boxes next to the updates.
Instead of manually updating your drivers every time you face an error related to them, you can opt for third-party software that automatically updates, replaces, and fixes your device drivers.
4. Change the game’s settings to increase FPS in League of Legends
1. Launch League of Legends and log in to your account.t
2. Click on the wheels icon in the upper-right corner of the game’s window to access Settings.a
3. Tick the box next to Enable Low Spec Mode.
4. Navigate to the Interface section from the menu on the left.
5. Under Health and Resource Bars, ensure the box next to Enable HUD Animations is not checked. If it is, uncheck it.
6. Under Ability and Attack Display, disable the following options: Show Target Frame on Attack, Show Attack Range and Enable line missile display.
7. Go to the Game tab on the menu on the left.T
8. Under Graphics, enable the Prefer DX9 Legacy Mode option.h
9. Now we need to modify some settings from within the in-game’s options. To do that, we need to launch a game. You can simply start a Practice Tool game for this.
10. Navigate to the Video tab on the menu from the left.
11. Make the following changes from this menu:
Uncheck Enable Screen Shake.
Change your display resolution to your monitor’s native resolution.
Move the slider for Graphics to Very Low or Low. This will automatically disable Shadow Quality as well.
Set the Frame Rate Cap to 60 FPS. It is important that the framerate is not set to Uncapped.
Uncheck Anti-Aliasing and Wait for Vertical Sync.
If you’re playing on old hardware, lowering the graphical settings in the game’s graphics menu can provide a big increase in frame rate.
For anyone experiencing unacceptably low frame rates in League (for example, less than 20 frames per second), the best course of action is to just set everything to Very Low (and disable Anti-Aliasing and Wait for Vertical Sync) and hope for the best.
In case you’re experiencing really low framerates, you may want to consider lowering the game’s resolution, as your system’s GPU will have an easier time churning out lower-resolution frames.
There are also a few small HUD options that, when turned off, can provide a frame rate increase to the player. You may find out more about them by selecting the INTERFACE option from the game’s settings.
If you uncheck Enable HUD animations, Show Target Frame On Attack, Enable Line Missile Display, and Show Attack Range, you may see a significant improvement in performance, making the tweaks to your HUD worthwhile.
If you’re seeing the Group Policy does not permit the storage of recovery information error message on your PC, then you’re not alone. Users complain about running into this error when accessing their PC’s BitLocker and TPM recovery information.
However, this error occurs for reasons that may differ from other users. Also, it is common to PCs or any devices that use BitLocker Drive Encryption. Encryption software like BitLocker is integrated with the operating system and is used to encrypt an entire volume.
Why does the Group Policy not permit the storage of recovery info?
Issues with the Group Policy not permitting the storage of recovery info occur mainly because the setting to backup TPM recovery information to Active Directory is not allowed. However, other factors that may be responsible for the problem include:
Windows update issues: Some users complain about encountering the Group Policy error message after updating their Windows operating system.
Issues with Group Policy configuration: You may run into this problem if the Group Policy settings do not permit the creation of a recovery key.
Interference with peripherals like USB drives: You may encounter issues during your system start-up due to the USB devices plugged in. The PC may attempt to boot from one of the USB devices resulting in the BitLocker recovery error.
What can I do if the Group Policy does not permit the storage of recovery information?
Make sure you have the following procedures in check before performing any advanced troubleshooting:
Ensure that your computer is running on the Administrator account.
Disconnect USB devices that are connected to your PC and eject other peripherals. If the USB fails to eject on your Windows 11, hop on our guide for quick fixes.
Close background processes interfering with your device’s privacy and security settings, such as antivirus.
Restart the computer and check if the issue persists.
If, after all these checks, the issue persists, then proceed to the fixes below.
1. Back up TPM recovery information to Active Directory
Press Windows + R keys simultaneously to open the Run window.
Type in gpedit. msc, then press Enter.
Navigate to the Computer Configuration tab, then open the Administrative Templates.
Select System and click the Trusted Platform Module Services.
Double-click the Turn on TPM backup to Active Directory, then click on the Enabled option.
Check the box for Require TPM backup to AD DS option.
Restart your PC and check if the issue persists.
Editing the Group Policy can be tricky sometimes, and any mistake can fatally impact your computer. Check our guide on how to edit the Group Policy in Windows 11.
2. Back up BitLocker recovery information to Active Directory
Press Windows + R keys simultaneously to open the Run window.
Type in gpedit. msc, then press Enter.
Navigate to the Computer Configuration tab, then open the Administrative Templates.
Select Windows Components, then open the BitLocker Drive Encryption.
Double-click the Turn on BitLocker backup to Active Directory option, then click on the Enabled option.
Check the box for Require TPM backup to AD DS option.
We recommend you restart your device. The above steps can fix the backup BitLocker key protector if it’s not working.
However, when using BitLocker, you may encounter a series of issues on your computer. So, we recommend you read through our article on how to fix BitLocker errors in Windows 11.
Want to play PS4 games on your Windows PC? You’ve got two main options: stream them with PlayStation Now or run them locally with a PS4 emulator.
One’s official and easy, the other gives you more control, and both have pros and cons. In this guide, we’ll show you how to use each and what to expect before diving in.
How can I play my PS4 games on my PC?
1. Play your PS4 games on PC with the PS Remote Play software
2. Tick the checkbox next to I agree to the “SIE application end user license agreement” and “Privacy policy”, and then click on the Download button.
3. Double-click on the installation file that was downloaded to your PC to start the installation process.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to install the app.
5. When the installation is complete, click the Sign in to PSN button and use your credentials to log in.
6. Now you need to configure your PS4 console. To start off, turn it on and go to Settings > Remote Play Connection Settings.
7. Tick the checkbox next to Enable Remote Play.
8. Go back to Settings and navigate to Account Management.
9. Lastly, connect your DualShock 4 controller to your PC via an USB cable.
The best way to play your PS4 games on a PC is via PS Remote Play. It is an official software developed by Sony that allows you to do just that. Before you can use it, you need to ensure your console is up to date with the latest updates.
Moreover, in order to run PS Remote Play on your PC, this is what you need to have:
Windows 10 or Windows 11
7th Generation Intel® Core™ processors or later
At least 100 MB of disk space
At least 2 GB of RAM
Display resolution that is 1024 × 768 or higher
A sound card
An USB port & USB cable
A high-speed internet connection
A Playstation Network account
A Dualshock 4 wireless controller
For clear voice chat while using Remote Play or PS Now, follow this guide to join PlayStation Party Chat on PC and coordinate with friends from your computer.
Gamers can play PlayStation 4 games directly on their PCs if they are using the PS Now service or PS4 Remote Play.
You can now access the same library of PlayStation titles through the updated PlayStation Plus service, which lets you stream and play games directly on your Windows PC. Learn how to set it up in our detailed PlayStation Plus on Windows guide.
For those who haven’t gotten a chance to brush up on modern gaming habits, game streaming implies that the actual games are run and processed on the service provider’s machines.
The visual information is sent via the Internet to users, who control the game remotely. This allows people to play high-end games that won’t run on older PCs, so there’s no need to upgrade a computer to play a game fully.
Hundreds of new or old games were released for PS4, PS3, and even PS2 that you can play on your Windows PC.
PlayStation Now can access exclusive PlayStation games, such as the critically acclaimed Uncharted series, and stream and play them on your PC.
Also, one of the biggest attractions of the PS Now service is that you can start playing on one device and resume playing on the other if you are signed in to your PlayStation account on both devices.
There you go! Now you know everything about playing PS4 games on a PC without a console or playing PS4 games on a PC with a keyboard and mouse.
Should I play PS4 games on a PC emulator?
As mentioned above, the software for emulating PlayStation 4 games on your PC exists, but don’t expect the same flawless experience. It can be a great alternative if you use issues like NP-31805-7.
That being said, there aren’t many of them, and they can’t emulate full games due to PS 4 being a more recent gaming system that takes a significant amount of resources.
Out of the available PS4 emulators for PC, the best ones to use would be PS4Emus, PCSX4, Orbital PS4 Emulator, or fpPS4 Emulator. There are others, but they are still pretty rudimentary or still in the early development stages.
Do you want to create a PowerPoint presentation and are looking for a way to lighten up your content a little? Or you just had an idea for an animated GIF but didn’t know where to begin?
Then GIF files might be a good choice in addition to videos and pictures. Read on to find out how to save a GIF image in PowerPoint to your PC.
What is a GIF?
The GIF format is one of the oldest file formats for pixel images and it means graphics interchange format.
What makes GIFs stand out is that they can display motion. GIF works similarly to flipbooks: a stack of images is shown in quick succession.
This article explains below how you can easily save animated GIFs from a PowerPoint slideshow. All instructions listed here apply to PowerPoint in Microsoft Office 365.
How can I save a GIF from PowerPoint?
1. Make a GIF from a PowerPoint slideshow
1. Open your desired presentation inPowerPoint, and go toFile.
2. Click on Export, and selectCreate an Animated GIF.
3. Set up the desired quality for the GIF. The default quality is Medium.
4. Choose the desired minimumSeconds spent on each slide.
5. Select Create GIF.
6. Wait for PowerPoint to finish processing your animated GIF. The amount of time necessary depends on the size and quality you set for it.
You will be notified when the GIF is done and be able to view it.
The easiest way to save a GIF from PowerPoint is by creating a slideshow and turning it into a GIF. With the feature Export/Save As Animated GIF, you can now create your ideas in PowerPoint.
Basically, you create the perfect presentation that you want to convert to a GIF, then select the amount of time you want every slide to last for, as well as the video quality, and that’s it.
All animations and media (such as GIF) on your slides will be included in the saved GIF file. In case you want to not include a slide into your GIF, you need to hide it from your slideshow presentation prior to creating the GIF.
Extract the files to your desired location on your PC.
Navigate to that location and you will find your GIF there.
The Create GIF function takes into account shapes, text, images, SVGs, videos, animated GIFs, 3D models, and all animations and slide transitions from PowerPoint.
It is advisable to let the PowerPoint file run as a slide show before exporting it. This will give you a clear idea in advance of how your animated GIF file will look.
We hope you managed to save a GIF from PowerPoint using our guide. Once they’re in your download folder you can go ahead and easily add GIFs to your Outlook email.
There’s always a special feeling in the air whenever Sony signs off on another PlayStation-exclusive title to become available for PC gamers.
After we’ve seen the likes of God of War, the popular Horizon Zero Dawn, or the critically acclaimed Days Gone, another Sony blockbuster will please PC players starting this November.
Yes, we’re talking about the sequel to the 2018 Marvel’s Spider-Man game, featuring the funny and brave Miles Morales, Peter Parker’s personal close friend.
This one is a bit shorter than the first Spider-Man game, but nonetheless, Miles and his unusual superpowers will ensure you have the time of your life swinging through New York.
Check the system requirements for Spider-Man Miles Morales
You should know that Sony and Insomniac Games announced Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales for PC alongside the original Spider-Man title back in June.
After the popular Peter Parker arrived on the Windows platform in August, Miles’ entrance didn’t have a firm release date, until today.
So, in order not to keep you on tenterhooks much longer, this new Spider-Man title is letting go of its PlayStation exclusivity in just over a month, on November 18.
This is going to be a stable experience, considering that the PC porting team behind Spider-Man, Nixxes Software, is also handling this project while collaborating with Insomniac Games.
The Spider-Man Miles Morales PC version is specifically said to be bringing updated ray-traced reflections and shadows for an even better-looking map for swinging in.
However, before thinking about installing this awesome title, be sure to check the system requirements list, in order to avoid unpleasant surprises.
Let’s take a closer look at the official system requirements posted by developers, featuring both regular and ray-traced options.
Know that support for ultra-wide displays, even supported in cutscenes, DLSS 3 and other upscaling tech, fully customizable graphics, and even handheld PCs like the Steam Deck is confirmed.
Also, the original game has been constantly receiving a steady supply of updates with bug fixes and graphics features since its launch in August.
That being said, it’s likely that many of those enhancements will be available in Spider-Man: Miles Morales at launch.
It’s time to pop open a virtual bottle of champagne and celebrate the fact that Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales is coming to both Steam and the Epic Games Store on November 18.
If you want to get your hands on it, prepare to match a $49.99 price tag. Also, pre-ordering will secure users early access to two suits, the Gravity Well gadget, as well as three skill points.
You should have a great time since Microsoft said that it’s focusing all of its efforts to make Windows 11 a better gaming OS than its predecessor, Windows 10.
Excited about this new PlayStation exclusive coming to Windows PCs? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.
Besides being the world’s biggest video game digital distribution platform, Steam is full of other surprises. You can use it to chat with friends, see their gaming activities and even send them games as gifts.
Mistakes can happen, and you may sometimes need to refund a gift you’ve sent to someone.
Can I refund a gifted game on Steam?
Fortunately, Steam is very understanding when it comes to these types of mistakes. Thus, they made it possible to ask for a refund on a gifted game, as long as certain conditions are met:
No more than 14 days have passed since the gift was purchased.
The game was played for less than 2 hours or it wasn’t redeemed by the recipient.
Both the buyer and the receiver of the Steam gift can ask for a refund on it, no matter their motivations.
Why would I want to refund a gift game on Steam?
There are multiple reasons why people choose to refund gifts they sent on Steam. Here are a few possibilities:
You purchased a game prior to it going on sale and you want to refund the difference – Steam is unable to automatically help you in such a situation. However, a workaround exists in that you can refund the game and receive the full price back. You can then buy it back at a discounted price.
The game was purchased as a gift but you changed your mind and decided to keep it to yourself
You or your gift’s recipient don’t like the game anymore
Read on to find out exactly what you need to do to refund Steam gifts, depending on the circumstances.
How can I refund a gift on Steam?
1. Request a refund on Steam Support as the gift’s receiver
1. Go to Steam Help and log in with your Steam account.
2. Choose Games, Software, etc.
3. Locate and select the gifted game from the list. If you cannot find it, it means it was purchased outside the 14-day refund window and is ineligible for a refund.
4. Select the reason why you want to issue a refund for the game.
5. Click on I’d Like to Request a Refund.
6. You can write down additional information in the Notes box.
7. Choose the preferred refund method.
8. You will receive a confirmation email from Steam stating that they received your request.
The recipient of the gift will have to initiate a refund on Steam Support to remove the item from their inventory.
This can be done very easily via Steam Help, and you can also add additional details as to why you want to issue the refund.
2. Refund gifts on Steam as the buyer
On the other hand, if you were the one who bought the gift for somebody else and want to issue a refund, the process is slightly different.
Type in the name of the purchase you would like to refund or simply locate it in the list. If the game does not appear in the list, then it is no longer eligible for a refund.
Select the reason why you want to refund the gift.
If you don’t already know, when purchasing a game on Steam, manufacturers offer the option to gift the item to anyone on your friends list.
Then, the recipient will receive the gift as an attractive e-mail card with a personal message from you and instructions to redeem the game.
Keep in mind that a Steam gift purchase is a one-time transfer. So, after the recipient has redeemed and installed the gift, it is now a part of his or her Steam games collection.
Plus, do not forget that you’re allowed to only gift new purchases. In this matter, you won’t be able to transfer games you already own.
How can I become eligible for Steam gifts?
Becoming eligible for Steam gifts is extremely easy. You and your teammates will only have to own active Steam accounts and connect through the app.
You can purchase Steam digital gift cards for any user that you have had on your friends list for at least 3 days.
To discover more about the Gift Cards plans, we strongly recommend checking the related Steam official page.
Why can’t my friend receive my Steam gift?
As mentioned before, video games are a very popular gift. Even if Steam knows this as well and has a gift feature, this might sometimes not work as expected.
These are the most common causes that lead to this kind of error:
Your gift was refused: As this is the most common scenario that stays behind this particular problem, you should probably check your email or bank account. The app usually informs if your gift has been refused, and you’re also given a full refund for the purchase.
The gift is stuck: In this case, you should consider temporary bugs or glitches, so it is better to resend the gift and verify if the issue persists.
Game is already owned: Keep in mind that you can not gift a game that is already owned by the receiver, so make sure you check it first.
These steps stay the same regardless of whether you use the classic Steam client or the new Beta version.
By following the steps mentioned above you should be able to get a refund on all gifts you’ve made by accident on Steam.
Of course, you must remember Steam’s conditions, such as the 14-day refund window.
If you’re not much of a Steam fan, you could try some other digital game distribution platforms, such as Epic Games or GOG.
For any additional questions, do not hesitate to leave a comment in the section below.
Power BI is a very useful tool for creating a comprehensive view of your business data. You can visualize, shape, and share various sets of data with the help of this app.
So, a very important feature is making changes to an existing data source. Read on to find out how to change the data source on Power BI.
How can I change the data source in Power BI?
1. Click onFile.
2. Go to Options and Settings.
3. Click on Data Source Settings.
4. Press on the Change Source… button.
5. Choose the File path for the file you want to be the new data source using the Browse button.
6. Click on OK.
The easiest way to change your data source in Power Bi is via Data Source Settings. All you need to do is manually browse for the new data source and replace the existing one with it.
This is the method we recommend you to use before any other, as it gets the job done most of the time.
However, quite a few users encountered an issue with changing the existing data source:
When I’m trying to change my existing data source (Microsoft Azure CosmosDB) to Blob Storage, the Change source is disabled. How do I workaround this? I have gone through various questions but none of them were similar to mine.
As this user from Stack Overflow forum said and as the image below shows, the Change Source button is disabled, but fortunately, there are workarounds available.
What to do if I can’t update the data source via Settings?
Click Edit Queries and add the new source table.
Click on the new source table and select Advanced Editor.
Copy the commands with CTRL–C and click Done.
Click on the old table and click on Advanced Editor.
Select all the commands here, and paste the new source information using CTRL–V.
Apply the changes.
In case the first method does not work when you try to replace your data source in Power BI, you should try the latter. It should fix any issues with the data source option being greyed out.
Changing the data source is an important feature to have. The inability to use this function could make the entire tool inoperable for many people.
Did you encounter a similar issue with Power BI? Did you find additional solutions on how to update the data source in Power BI? Let us know in the comment section below!
It can be quite annoying if you get the Hyper-V not compatible with VMware error after installing a virtualization application on a Windows machine.
This error is almost inevitable because Windows 11 cannot run another Virtual Machine creator alongside Hyper-V. Regardless, fixing the VMware and Hyper-V incompatibility issues is still possible.
Why is VMware not compatible with Hyper-V?
Whenever the Hyper-V role is enabled, the virtualization extensions are not exposed to type 2 hypervisors installed on a Windows machine, hence the incompatibility issue. However, other factors responsible for this error are:
Outdated or low-bit processor: VMware workstation and Hyper-V may not be compatible if you use an outdated processor for Windows Server 2012. Regardless of the Hyper-V feature you wish to use, a 64-bit processor of second-level address translation (SLAT) is a requirement for newer hardware.
Insufficient Memory: To run multiple Virtual Machines simultaneously, you’ll need enough memory of at least 4 GB of RAM or more for the host and other Virtual Machines.
Hyper-V is a Virtual Machine creator: Hyper-V is also a Virtual Machine creator and cannot run with another VM due to competition for resources. You may have to disable Hyper-V in Windows 11 in such cases.
What can I do if VMware is not compatible with Hyper-V?
You should ensure to perform the following preparatory checks before engaging in any troubleshooting or settings tweaks:
Ensure you have about 60GB and above of hard disk storage.
Your computer should have a minimum RAM of 4GB.
Get to know how to locate the files & folders and their respective functions.
Ensure that your processor is compatible with a 64-bit processor and supports AMD, Intel, and Qualcomm processors.
Having checked these and the issue persists, proceed to the advanced fixes below.
1. Uninstall Hyper-V in the Graphical User Interface (GUI)
Click the Start button, input cmd, and launch the Command Prompt.
Run the following command to open System Information to check if Hyper-V is installed and press Enter: msinfo32.exe
If Hyper-V is installed, proceed to uninstall it with the next steps.
Open Control Panel and click Programs and Features.
Then, click Turn Windows features on or off.
When the Windows features page opens, deselect the Hyper-V checkbox, and click OK.
Restart the computer.
You can follow similar steps for Windows Server 2016. However, should you later need to re-enable Hyper-V, you can check our guide on how to Install Hyper-V in Windows 11.
2. Turn off Virtualization Based Security
Press the Windows + R keys simultaneously, input gpedit.msc and click OK or hit Enter.
Go to Local Computer Policy, then click on Computer Configuration.
Select Administrative Templates and click on System.
Then, click on Device Guard and double-click Turn On Virtualization Based Security (the status of this setting should show Not configured by default).
A window should open, select Disabled and click OK to save the settings, then close the window.
Alternatively, if you can’t seem to access Virtualization-Based Security, you can read how to disable VBS on Windows 11 PCs and find some relevant solutions.
However, if the Hyper-V to VMware compatibility problems persists, you should consider checking our article to fix Windows 11 Hyper-V errors.
If you have new queries or suggestions about other fixes that have worked for you, kindly drop them in the comments section. We will appreciate your input.
The easiest way to add a border in Google Docs is by creating a 1-by-1 table. You can also create a border by drawing it or inserting a picture frame file into your document. In any case, let’s find out how to create borders on a Google document.
Are there decorative borders in Google Docs? Unfortunately, there are no decorative borders in Google Docs, but, as you will find below, you can create a border using the drawing feature or a single-cell table.
How can I put a page border in Google Docs?
1. Add borders for Google Docs by using a table
Go to your Google Docs page, and in the Start a new document section, choose the Blank option.
Now in the Menu, click on Insert, select Table, and choose a 1 x 1grid.
Resize the cell to fit your needs.
In the top-right, you will have the border options: Background color, Border color, Border width, andBorder dash. Again, you can change the format as you see fit.
That’s it. You know, have a border on your document, and you can add text, pictures, and other things inside the cell created in step 2.
2. Make a border by using the Draw function
1. Launch Google Docs.
2. Open the document you want to add a border to or create a new one, depending on your needs.rnrnTo make a new document, simply u003cspanu003echoose u003c/spanu003eu003cstrongu003eBlanku003c/strongu003eu003cspanu003e in the u003c/spanu003eu003cemu003eStart a new document u003c/emu003esection.
3. u003cspanu003eIn the u003c/spanu003eu003cstrongu003eMenuu003c/strongu003eu003cspanu003e, click u003c/spanu003eu003cemu003eInsertu003c/emu003eu003cspanu003e, select u003c/spanu003eu003cstrongu003eDrawingu003c/strongu003eu003cspanu003e, and choose u003c/spanu003eu003cemu003eNewu003c/emu003eu003cspanu003e.u003c/spanu003e
4. u003cspanu003eIn the top menu, click onu003c/spanu003eu003cstrongu003eu003cspanu003e u003c/spanu003eShapeu003c/strongu003eu003cspanu003e, select u003c/spanu003eu003cemu003eShapesu003c/emu003eu003cspanu003e, and choose how you want your border to look.u003c/spanu003e
5. Once a shape is created, au003cstrongu003eu003cspanu003e u003c/spanu003eBorderu003c/strongu003eu003cspanu003e u003c/spanu003emenu will appear, and you can format the border.
6. u003cspanu003eIn the end, click u003c/spanu003eu003cemu003eSave and Closeu003c/emu003eu003cspanu003e. u003c/spanu003eThe border will appear on your document.
7. u003cspanu003eIf you want to change the format after you save it, click on the border in the document, and a menu will appear. Click u003c/spanu003eu003cstrongu003eEditu003c/strongu003eu003cspanu003e.u003c/spanu003e
A great alternative to add borders in Google Docs is to use the Draw function. Basically, you add a border image to your document, and then insert text into it.rnrnThis is the preferred method for many users, who want their end result to look as good as possible.
3. Add a document border by inserting a picture
Find the image you want as a border using a Google Images search (make sure the image is a PNG with a transparent background).
Download the respective image to your PC in an easily-accessible location.
Inside the Google document, click on Insert from the top menu, choose Drawing, and then + New.
Click the Image option from the toolbar at the top.
Either drag and drop the border image you previously downloaded, or click the Choose an image to upload button.
Click the Textbox option from the top toolbar.
Drag and drop the text box inside the border image.
Type the desired text in the box, and click the Save and Close button.
In the end, if you’re unsatisfied with the result, you can always download and insert a frame/border picture file as a background for the document. This way, you can create fun borders for Google Docs, making your document stand out from the crowd.
Just stretch it, if needed, and the resolution is high enough. After that, insert a text frame, and you’re ready.
You can follow these steps to achieve good results, even though this method is far more restrictive than the previously-mentioned methods.
4. Make borders in Google Docs for specific paragraphs
Click the Format option from the top taskbar.
Next, hover your mouse over the Paragraph Styles option, and choose Borders and Shading.
Adjust the properties to fit your needs.
Click Apply when you’ve finished editing the settings.
Even though this type of paragraph will not encase your entire document, it is a handy tool if you want to identify a specific part of the text.
Using this wisely in your design can make your document stand out from the rest.
5. Insert borders using watermarks
On a new document page, click on Insert and select Watermark.
Now, click on the Select Image button.
If you have a border image you can use, you can upload that one but we’ve chosen to click on Google Image Search and look for page borders. After you’ve found the right one, click on Insert image on the bottom-right corner.
Finally, uncheck the Faded box from the right to make the border more visible.
Can I create custom borders in Google Docs?
Yes, you have an unlimited amount of options for this task, but it is worth noting that for now, you can only create a PNG file with a transparent image and add it to your document by following the solution nr. 3 presented in this guide.
That said, creating free borders for Google Docs has never been easier. Following the method mentioned above will surely help.
These methods will be even better for teachers and educators; creating unlimited numbers of free teacher borders for Google Docs can also increase your pupil’s engagement and attention span, so it is worth the effort.
If you’re a Microsoft Word user, you’ll be happy to know that you can also create page borders and customize them within.
Will my custom border be automatically added to all pages in my document?
As the entire process of adding a border to your document is made manually, at this point, no method can apply it to all pages at once.
That means you will have to repeat the process mentioned in this guide for all the pages included in your document (if needed).
If you cannot load a file on Google Docs, we have an excellent article that will help you fix the problem immediately. Also, if you are affected by Error 150 in Google Slides, change the video permissions on YouTube and allow embedding.
Since Microsoft introduced automatic driver updates, there’s been a surge in the number of complaints about driver-related issues from users.
One such is a Realtek audio driver that keeps reinstalling. Attempting to install Realtek audio driver leads to an infinite uninstall/install cycle. If this is the case with you, your solution is here.
Why does Realtek audio driver keep reinstalling on my PC?
There could be a number of reasons Realtek audio driver keeps reinstalling such as:
Corrupt Realtek driver: If there are errors within the Realtek driver, Windows tries to fix it by automatically reinstalling it.
Missing Realtek system file: A broken or corrupt system file can also trigger Windows to keep reinstalling Realtek driver.
Outdated driver: Not using the latest version of Realtek might also lead to continuous reinstallation.
Whatever causes Realtek audio driver to keep reinstalling, you can resolve the issue with the methods enlisted below.
How can I stop a Realtek audio driver that keeps reinstalling?
Before you start using the methods below, there are some preliminary checks you can perform that might help fix the problem:
Restart your PC. Corrupt or broken system files can prevent restarting your PC, yet we have some solutions for that as well.
If any of that didn’t stop Realtek audio driver from reinstalling, then you can proceed to the main fixes.
1. Roll back driver
Press Windows + R key on your keyboard and select Device Manager from the resulting menu.
Locate Sound, video and game controllers from the list, and double-click to expand it.
Right-click Realtek High Definition Audio and select Properties.
Switch to the Driver tab and select Roll Back Driver.
Restart your PC.
If the Roll back Driver option is grayed out, it means you don’t have an older driver to roll back to.
However, you can update the present driver as it might help. Our article on Windows 11 drivers update can guide you through the process.
2. Disable Automatic Driver Installation
Click the Windows or Start icon on your taskbar and select Settings from the Start menu.
Go to System, then scroll down to click About.
Next, click onAdvanced system settings.
Switch to the Hardware tab and select the Device Installation Settings.
Select No (your device might not work as expected) and click Save Changes.
By completing these steps, Windows will no longer install or update drivers automatically. To add new hardware in the future, you will need to install drivers manually or enable automatic drivers update again.
3. Update to Microsoft High Definition Audio Device
Press Windows + X keys on your keyboard to open Device Manager.
Scroll down to Sound, Video and game controllers, and expand it.
Right-click Realtek High Definition Audio, then select Disable device.
Right-click Realtek High Definition Audio again and choose Update driver.
Select Browse my computer for drivers.
Click Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer.
Choose High Definition Audio Device and click Next.
Inputthe file path into the Search box and select the Best match result. C:\Program Files\Realtek\Audio\HDA
On the folder, right-click anywhere that is blank and choose Properties.
Switch to the Security tab, select SYSTEM, then click Edit.
Under Permissions for ALL APPLICATION PACKAGES, check the Deny checkbox in the full control option and click OK.
Select Yesin the dialogue box.
Restart your computer.
5. Manually uninstall and reinstall Realtek
Press Windows + X key on your keyboard and select Device Manager.
Locate Sounds, video and game controllers from the list, then double-click to expand it.
Right-click Realtek High Definition Audio, then select Uninstall device.
Choose Uninstall on the dialogue box.
Restart your PC. Windows will automatically install Realtek audio driver now without the annoying loop.
If Windows does not automatically install Realtek after restarting your PC, you can do it yourself by following our guide on how to reinstall Realtek audio driver.
Hopefully, you should be able to stop Realtek audio driver from the reinstalling cycle with the methods above.
However, some users have claimed that after installing the Realtek audio driver, the Realtek Audio Manager is missing. If you encounter the same issue, you can restore Realtek Audio Manager by following our guide on how to fix missing Realtek HD Audio Manager.
Many of our readers are looking for an easy solution to change their PSN country on PS4. That’s because Sony offers personalized offers, deals, and additional content based on where you live.
Are PS4 or PS5 consoles region locked? Usually, your PS4/PS5 gaming console is not region-locked, so there’s nothing to worry about if you have any concerns.
Can you change the country on PS4/PS5? Yes, you can, and the easiest way to change regions on a PSN account is to set up a new account and select the country you want, even if it doesn’t match your location.
For this to be possible, You will need a VPN if you want to get another country’s IP addresses and make your PlayStation believe that you are located in the country you have selected.
How do I change my region on PS4/PS5?
1. Create a new PSN account and set the preferred region
3. Type an email address (one that’s not associated with another PSN account).
4. Define and confirm your password.
5. Choose a country/region from the combo menu.
6. Select a state/province.
7. Configure your date of birth.
8. ClickNext.
9. Configure your notification settings.
10. Click Agree and Create Account.
11. Configure 2-Step verification or skip it for now.
12. Type your mobile phone number (you can also skip this step).
13. Verify your email address.
Once you set your region on your PSN account, it can never be changed again. However, you can instead create a new PSN account with the desired new region.
This is an easy and quick method that can get you your desired result in no time, without having to pay for any third-party apps.
You can use a VPN to change your geo-location and access the PlayStation 4 Store from another country. You might even get access to some exclusive game deals in this manner.
However, use this method at your own risk since you might unknowingly violate the PSN terms of service.
Here’s how you can set up a VPN on your router using Windows and connect your PlayStation 4 to the VPN.
Access the ExpressVPN My Account area on the website.
Under Setup your devices click on Router.
For routers, you have 3 options. Choose one that fits your scenario.
For an existing router choose your model and download the firmware for the router.
Sign in to your Netgear router dashboard at routerlogin.net or 192.168.1.1.
Select the Advanced tab.
From the sidebar, select Administration > Router Update.
Select Browse and choose the ExpressVPN firmware file you downloaded.
Select Upload and follow the instructions to update your firmware. Your router will restart automatically.
Connect your PS4 or PS5 to your router via Wi-Fi or LAN cable.
Go to expressvpnrouter.com.
Select Get Started and follow the on-screen instructions. Enter your activation code when prompted.
The steps above help you install ExpressVPN on your router. All devices connected to your router will automatically connect to the VPN server, including your gaming console.
An easier but less efficient way is to share your VPN connection from Windows 10 to your PS4 in wireless or wired mode. Please find out how in our VPN setup guide for PlayStation 4.
We recommend ExpressVPNbecause it’s the best VPN for gaming, featuring an impressive range of over 300000 VPN and proxy servers in 81 locations across 94 countries.
Note that some routers allow you to turn them into VPN servers but won’t provide support for external VPN services. Thus, it’s best to ensure your router can handle third-party VPNs before trying this method.
Last but not least, connecting your PS4 to the Internet through a PC lets you use a standard PC VPN client. Moreover, it’s so easy to configure that you’d want to do it all over again.
ExpressVPN
Connect your PS4 and PS5 to a VPN router and enjoy all the benefits as on any other device.
Type your first and last names in the corresponding fields.
Click Done.
Now you’re all set; you have a US-based PSN account and can now see US content in the PS Store. However, note that all disc games are region-locked. Therefore, you won’t be able to play EU games (for instance) with a US-based account.
Fortunately for us, the PS4 itself isn’t region-locked. So you can load discs from any region as long as you have a suitable account to match them.
Now for the bad news. Even though you can see the US store content, you can’t buy it with your non-US funds. For this, you’ll need either one of these:
American credit/debit card
PayPal account that matches the address on your PSN account
PSN gift cards from third-party sources (these are the easiest to come by)
Last but not least, if you’re using your PS4 to stream from Netflix, you might encounter some issues.
While the library may display US content, you won’t be able to stream it, as Netflix will also perform an IP address check to detect your location.
What countries is the PS4/PS5 available in?
PlayStation 4 and the PlayStation 5 are available in over 100 countries, anywhere from Oman to the Czech Republic, Qatar, Turkey, Nicaragua, and many more.
If you would like to see a complete list, be sure to check the official availability section on the official PlayStation website.
To wrap up, changing the PSN country on PS4 might not be complicated. This is because Sony lets anyone in without making any IP or location-based queries to identify your region.
Sure enough, you won’t be able to purchase any US PS Store content without an American credit or debit card or a US PayPal account.
If you want to use your PS4 to change region, alter your PSN to change country, change your PSN account region, or use the PlayStation to change the location, now you know how.
We just showed you how to change the residential address in the PlayStation network, and how to change the region on the PS4 store,
However, third-party sources such as eBay have made it easy to purchase US digital PS Store credit, which also works great with purchasing US content without actually being in the US.
The Windows 11 clipboard is far much better compared to other versions in terms of features. It also comes with an emoji and GIF section that makes it more interesting and fun.
The quickest way to open Clipboard on Windows 11 is to press the Windows key + V, as shown below. Check out our comprehensive article to find out how to use the Windows 11 clipboard.
How can I open the Clipboard in Windows 11?
1. Use the clipboard shortcut on Windows 11
The easiest method to access the Clipboard feature on Windows 11 is to use the clipboard shortcut. You simply need to use Windows + V in that regard.
The Clipboard will open, showing all the text and images you have opened lately.
1. Enable clipboard history on Windows 11
1. Press the Windows + I keyboard shortcut to open Settings.
2. Click on System on the left pane.
3. Select Clipboardon the right pane.
4. Toggle the Clipboard history button on.
5. Clipboard history is now enabled on your device and you can use the Windows + V clipboard shortcut to open it.
Before you can use the dedicated Windows 11 clipboard shortcut to open the clipboard, you need to ensure that the feature is enabled via Settings.
Do keep in mind that Windows 11 only allows a maximum of 25 entries so if you exceed that number, the oldest entries will be deleted. If you however wish to keep copied items on your clipboard for longer, you can choose to pin them.
Pinning helps you keep your selected items even after you clear your Windows Clipboard history. Simply click on the pin icon next to the item you wish to keep.
How can I clear my clipboard history?
Sometimes, you may not want other people to access your history especially if using a shared computer. To clear your Windows 11 clipboard history, follow the steps below:
Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run command.
Type the following command in the dialog box and press Enter:cmd /c echo.|clip
Your clipboard history is now cleared.
Alternatively, you can also clear from Settings by clicking on Clear clipboard data.
If you find yourself using the clipboard feature more often, it would be useful to also install a great clipboard manager to help you stay organized.
What’s even better is that a majority of these clipboard managers come with enhanced features that are absent in the Windows 11 clipboard such as data encryption and lots of customization options.
Should you encounter any other issues such as the clipboard history not working, we have a handful of fixes for you to try to get back to copying and pasting seamlessly.
Do you have any other clipboard tips that you use to make your work easier? Let us know in the comments section below.
We already knew that Microsoft was getting ready to update the Surface Duo the latest Android 12L operating system.
During the 2022 Ignite conference, Microsoft revealed that it’s finalizing the update and preparing to ship it in the next few weeks.
And, after learning that Surface Duo and Duo 2 are getting a new Android, the tech giant also stated other interesting facts about this upcoming update.
Android 12L update inspired by the Windows 11 Fluent Design
It was said that the Android 12L for the original and second-gen Surface Duo foldable devices will introduce design elements borrowed from Windows 11.
The idea, it seems, is that the company now wants to move away from this paradigm and focus on making the Surface Duo smartphones an extension of our Windows PCs.
Recently leaked pictures reveal the first look at the upcoming Android 12L update for the original and second-gen Surface Duo devices.
We can see a Windows 11-like control and notification center will blurred backgrounds and new buttons, and a set of icons for the Settings app pulled from Microsoft’s operating system.
From the pictures, we can also see additional customization settings, such as color palette and accent colors, and there is a new feed section with widgets similar to those in Windows 11.
Clearly, Microsoft wants to make its Surface smartphones look as similar as possible to Windows 11 to provide a seamless experience and it’s not a bad job, to begin with.
Unfortunately, for the time being, we do not know whether the upcoming update will introduce notable changes for the curved display near the hinge or bring something similar to the taskbar-like dock found in Samsung’s latest Galaxy Z Fold.
There are also claims that Microsoft is working on an alleged Duo Connect mode, which is supposed to be a spiritual successor to the long-dead Continuum on Windows 10 Mobile.
Apparently, Duo Connect will let enterprise customers connect the smartphone to a larger display and use it in pair with the Windows 365 service.
At this moment, there is no information on whether Duo Connect will be a part of Android 12L or if it will arrive in future updates.
To summarize everything, Android 12L will be available for the first and second-gen Surface Duodevices, as announced at Ignite.
We don’t have an exact release date but expect it to land later this month or in early November. It’s safe to say this is a realistic release window.
This new Windows OS is allegedly going to be ready for release, or at least testing, in 2024. We’re eager to learn new details on the matter and keep you posted.
What other improvements do you think are coming with Android 12L? Share your opinions with us in the comments section below.
If you are new to ASIO and are looking to download the ASIO driver on your Windows 11 PC, then this guide will help you with that.
ASIO driver helps your PC communicate perfectly well with the connected audio devices. It also facilitates providing low-latency recording preventing audio latency issues with connected devices.
Let’s see how you can set it up.
How to download and install the ASIO driver in Windows 11?
Editor’s tip
A quicker possibility to download the correct ASIO driver is to let a professional tool, like Fortect Driver Updater, do the job for you. Besides choosing the right drivers, it can also provide a detailed list of your missing or outdated drivers and find them the latest update from its constantly revised database.
Version 2.15 is the official version that supports Windows 11. Click on the driver in your language.
Save it in the appropriate location on your PC.
Now that you have downloaded the ASIO driver installer, you can follow the next section that will help you to install the driver on your Windows 11 PC.
Select the location where you would like to install the ASIO driver by hitting the Browse button.
Click Install.
ASIO driver will begin the installation process.
Once the process is complete, the ASIO drivers will be installed on your PC.
What is an ASIO driver?
ASIO in short stands for Audio Stream Input/Output. It is designed by the German music company Steinberg, who is also behind the popular audio workstation Cubase.
Most sound cards come with their own version of ASIO preinstalled, however, you can install it separately on your PC.
When ASIO is not used, the audio device that you plug into your PC’s jack is connected through DirectSound, which acts as a link for the signal path.
But DirectSound may not be featureful for a professional user. Because often DirectSound may not provide efficient processing, in turn resulting in latency. In such scenarios, the ASIO driver comes into the picture.
What ASIO does is it bypasses the normal audio pathway, that DirectSound uses and routes your audio connection to your PC, reducing latency.
Our readers also complained about an audio rendering problem in Windows 11. We also have a dedicated solution for the ASIO driver that may come in handy.
ASIO is after all software, and you would come across multiple problems as you use it. Here are a few of the problems and solutions that you would face using ASIO:
ASIO4ALL is not visible in the audio menu: This could possibly be because you haven’t installed the ASIO driver as an administrator. Simply uninstall the previous version and now install the program as an administrator and check if this fixes the issue or not.
Audio device flagged as Unavailable or Beyond Logic: Close any browser window that is open and playing video or audio. You can also fix this issue by unplugging and replugging the device.
Another application isn’t playing sound when ASIO is active: This is because ASIO is designed this way because it prevents mixing and thus reduces latency.
In some cases, you might even run into specific errors like when you can’t open asio3.sys due to a system conflict, which can prevent your DAW from launching or detecting audio hardware.
Let us know in the comments below if this guide helped you download and install ASIO drivers on your Windows 11 PC.
Microsft has designed the new Windows 11 OS to offer an easy-to-use and good-looking interface that will work efficiently and provide quick access to all of its settings. This is exactly what Windows 10 was missing: fast access to the most basic settings without having to go through multiple menus to modify them.
In this age, when everything happens so fast and the main goal is to complete all our tasks as quickly as possible, this is a breath of fresh air.
How can I change the system language in Windows 11?
1. Switch the Windows 11 display language to an existing language pack
Right-click the Windows logo on your taskbar, and choose Settings.
Click on Time & language.
Choose Language & region from the list of options.
Under the Windows display language section, click on the dropdown and choose the new display language.
2. Change the Windows 11 language to a new language pack
1. Click the Windows iconfrom the taskbar.
2. Choose the gear Settingsicon.
3. Click on Time & Languagefrom the sidebar.
4. Choose the Language & region option.
5. Click the Add a language button.
6. Search for your preferred language, select it from the list, and press Next.
7. Choose any options you want from the Optional features section.
8. Tick the box next to the Set as my Windows display language.
9. Click Install.
If you want to change your system display language on Windows 11 to a different one that is not included in the pre-existing ones, you can easily do so.
You can manually install the preferred language, as well as all related optional features. After, all that’s left to do is set that language to be your Windows display language, and you’re done.
How can I change the keyboard language on Windows 11?
NOTE
For these options to be available, you will need to have the language pack already installed on your PC. If you don’t, simply follow the steps presented in the solution above and add the language you need first.
1. Use the taskbar
Click on the language button, situated on the bottom right of the taskbar.
Select what language you want to switch your keyboard to.
2. Using a keyboard shortcut
Press the Windows + Space once to activate the taskbar Keyboard layout.
While holding the Windows key pressed, tap space to choose the next available language.
You may also use the Alt + Shift combination but if Alt + Shift is not working, read the highlighted guide for fixes.
Region settings can influence which display and keyboard languages are available, so adjust them as needed using this guide on how to change location in Windows 11.
Why is the Language Switcher missing from my Windows 11 taskbar?
There might be situations where the language bar (switcher) is nowhere to be found in your Windows 11 taskbar, which implies that it has been deactivated.
Untick the box next to the Use this desktop language bar when available.
Your Language Switcher should not appear in the taskbar.
As you can see, Windows 11 language customization is not a complicated process; you can access the settings using your keyboard or mouse. In case it keeps reverting to the default settings, try removing the unwanted display language in Windows 11.
What kind of language settings can I change in Windows 11?
Like other OSs before it, Windows 11 has two main settings categories for the language used on your PC.
➡ System (display) language – The system language, also known as the display language option, allows you to customize the language in which your operating system is presented. This includes the language displayed when observing any native menu, app, and option.
➡ Keyboard language – As the name suggests, the keyboard language is the language in which you will use your keyboard to write texts. This is a more localized option, enabling you to have your system’s language in your native language while writing texts in another language.
Switching between different keyboard languages is very easy by using the Alt+Shift hotkey, and we will also tackle this element in this guide.
Welcome to Xbox Classics Revisited. In this new series we aim to take a look back at the previous three generations—the original Xbox, the Xbox 360, and the Xbox One—of Xbox games. These mini-retrospectives serve as a tribute to some of the best gaming that Xbox has given us over the last 20+ years.
For those who were lucky enough to have been there for all of it, read on and savor the nostalgia. For those Xbox fans too young to remember Maude Flanders or Pepsi Twist: get ready to meet your Xbox gaming backlog.
Jet Set Radio Future (Xbox)—2002
The sequel to the Sega Dreamcast title Jet Set Radio as well as a reimagining of it, Jet Set Radio Future brought tons of style to the original Xbox. It had an eye-popping cel-shaded visual style (cel-shading was still a novelty at the time) and a killer soundtrack with rock, indie pop, and hip-hop thrown into the mix. All of this was set in an open-world futuristic Tokyo, with a gang of quirky, roller-skating characters with which to grind, powerslide and go aerial while covering the town in graffiti. All this is done to push back against the oppressive Rokkaku Group Corporation that is stifling free speech in Tokyo.
The game has been made backward-compatible with Xbox 360 but not, unfortunately, with the newer Xbox consoles. The series has been dormant for 20 years at this point. But fans of the game should take heart, for there may be reason to get excited once again in the near future. Read on and find out more later in the post.
Sunset Overdrive (Xbox One)—2014
Sunset Overdrive is one of the most recognizable Xbox One classics, not to mention one of the most distinct games of its generation. It was created by storied developer Insomniac Games, and pulled inspiration from a trove of sources including comic book character Tank Girl, the Richard Matheson novel I Am Legend, vintage Halloween masks, and even Lego.
Set in an open world Sunset City in the year 2027, the game combines third person shooting with fast-paced exploration in which the player utilizes a range of abilities including wall running, air-dashing, zip lining, and more to get around.
The prospect for a sequel remains up in the air. Insomniac Games was acquired by Sony in 2019. Since that time there has been conflicting information from Sony executives regarding the status of the franchise.
Ollie Ollie World (Xbox One, Series X|S)—2022
This third entry in the side-scrolling skateboarding series is a real treat for fans of the genre and of indie games in general. With its colorful, hand-drawn visual style and satisfying gameplay, Ollie Ollie World has personality to spare, not to mention the makings of a modern classic. The game’s creative director, John Ribbins, has cited Jet Set Radio as a big inspiration.
While Ollie Ollie World may not have taken over the world when it released back in February 2022, it does currently enjoy a Metacritic score of 85 for both Xbox One and Series X|S versions.
Bonus: Bomb Rush Cyberfunk
Bomb Rush Cyberfunk is an indie-developed, undisguised love letter to the Jet Set Radio franchise. It comes courtesy of Dutch game studio Team Reptile, creator of Megabyte Punch and Lethal League. The game will be released in 2023 for Nintendo Switch and PC Steam, and possibly other platforms. Check out the trailer below; it speaks for itself.
Wrap up
We hope you’ve enjoyed these mini-retrospectives. What are some of your favorite classic Xbox, Xbox 360 and Xbox One games? Are any of them on this list? Let us know about your favorite Xbox gaming experiences in the comments below. And thanks for reading.
Microsoft’s recent expansion of Cloud Financial Services features should help the 41.1 percent of financial service respondents to an IDC survey deliver digital services faster while they accelerate their shift to the cloud.
As part of Microsoft’s Cloud Financial Services feature expansion, the platform will now offer a Compliance Program for Microsoft Cloud that includes the following:
Ask an Expert: Directly engage with Microsoft’s subject matter experts to address top-of-mind compliance concerns as well as accelerate regulatory assessment and approval cycles.
Risk and Control Mapping: Get support from Microsoft with cloud risk assessments to help you meet your due diligence needs.
Compliance Community: Learn about the latest regulatory compliance developments directly from Microsoft experts, industry peers, and thought leaders via ongoing virtual sessions, summits, and webcasts.
Proactive Risk Assurance: Receive proactive communication from Microsoft’s experts on external audit results, ongoing updates of Microsoft’s cloud estate, and changing regulatory compliance requirements.
In addition, a new banking customer agreement feature that offers customers self-scheduling of meetings on preferred channels called Intelligent Appointments is out of preview and generally available to customers. With Intelligent Appointments generally available to customers it can be paired with Virtual Appointments which is used in Microsoft Teams to send text reminders to join custom branded virtual appointments through mobile devices along with a few other admin scheduling tools to manage on-demand virtual appointments.
Microsoft is also putting a few newer features into preview (US and UK availability) that should help financial institutes leverage common data models, extract insights, derive new business models, and deliver differentiated customer experiences such as:
Onboarding application (retail banking and other verticals): Delivers a flexible and intelligent product onboarding experience with automated document workflows enriched by AI analysis to assist the document verification process.
Unified client profile (wealth management): Helps deepen client relationships with meaningful advice, providing relationship managers with a good understanding of a client’s financial status, investment portfolios, financial goals, important life moments, and other personal attributes.
Property and casualty insurance data model (insurance): A dedicated property and casualty insurance data model captures new attributes including policy and coverage information, claims, and insurance providers and producers.
Wealth management data model (wealth management): An extension to the banking data model that captures new attributes including financial goals and investment instruments specific to wealth management.
Small business data model extension (retail banking SMB): Extends the data model foundation of Microsoft Cloud for Financial Services to represent individuals and allows linking small businesses to individual financial holdings.
Lastly, Microsoft’s Cloud Financial Services has also expanded its partner ecosystem to provide customers with systems integration (SIs) from Accenture/Avanade and PWC as well as independent software vendors (ISVs) ArganoArbela, ASC, Bambu, BioCatch, Mambu, Thought Machine and Wealth Dynamix.
This year, during Microsoft’s annual conference for developers and IT professionals, Ignite 2022, the company made a lot of announcements as well as enhancements to its products and services. Narrowing it down to Windows 365, it was announced that a new app was being launched, the Windows 365 app, and further indicated that it would be available on Microsoft Store for Windows 11.
The Windows 365 app is designed for Windows 11 users to access their cloud PCS conveniently from their devices. Users can get to enjoy its offerings by downloading it from the Microsoft Store as it is now available in public preview.
With Windows 365 app, you can access your Windows 365 Cloud PC from the taskbar or the Start menu, enjoying a full Windows 11 experience while moving between your local and Cloud PCs. Supported by all Windows 11 devices, the app delivers high-performing and reliable experiences optimized for Microsoft Teams and your other Microsoft 365 apps.
The Citrix HDX Plus for Windows 365, was introduced this year during Inspire 2022 to enhance support for a broader range of endpoint devices and peripherals and security and policy controls. The Windows 365 add-on is now available in public preview and set to reach broad availability later on in the year. It is currently available for all customers in the Microsoft Intune console.
Update
In March 2023, the Windows 365 app shipped to general availability for Windows 10 and Windows 11 users to download. Microsoft also indicated that the Windows 365 app will start shipping as part of Windows 11. Once this is in effect, you’ll no longer need to download it from the Microsoft Store.
At the beginning of this month, PowerToys version 0.63.0 shipped. It was considerably smaller compared to the previous version, and focused on stability and efficiency on top of a couple of tweaks.
And now, two nifty features are set to ship to future versions of PowerToys. First up is the Settings backup feature, which will let users backup and restore their settings with just a single click at any time they want.
The feature can be accessed by users through the “General” setting page, where they can also get to select where to backup their data.
Next up is a feature that will let the users edit hosts file. Currently, users depend on the Notepad to work on the file, but with the new feature unpacks a user interface which in turn enhances efficiency and effectiveness.
The feature also adds new capabilities such as adding new entries and repositioning, filtering, disabling and pinging existing addresses. What’s more, users can add comments to the entries made. It has not yet been confirmed when and if these features will come to Powertoys.
Facebook is one of the most popular social networks with millions of users. Just like any other social network, Facebook has its own instant messenger.
Sometimes you need to ignore certain Messenger messages on Facebook, and in today’s article, we’re going to show you how to do that.
How can I ignore messages on Messenger on my PC?
1. Ignore messages from the Facebook browser page
1. OpenFacebookin your web browser and log in to your account.
2. Now open the chat window with the person or group that you want to ignore.
3. Click the down arrow next to their name and select Ignoremessages from the list of options.
4. When the confirmation dialog appears, click on the Ignore Messages button.
5. You will no longer receive notifications for messages from that person from now on.
An easy method to ignore Messenger messages on your PC is to do so directly via Facebook. Given the fact that Messenger is a built-in app from Facebook, it is natural that you can configure its settings from it.
This method ensures that you don’t need to install the Messenger app on your PC, since you can simply modify chat settings from your web browser.
2. Ignore Messenger messages without opening a conversation
You can also ignore messages from the web Messenger by doing the following:
Click the Messenger icon in the top right corner and click the expand button.
When the Messenger opens, click the three dots next to a chat that you want to ignore and choose Ignore Messages.
When the confirmation dialog appears, click on Ignore Messages.
After doing that, all future messages from this person will be moved to the Filtered Requests section, so you’ll need to go there to see them.
While it’s possible to do this in any web browser, we recommend using Opera One. The browser is perfect for social media because it has integrated Facebook messenger.
In addition to Facebook, there’s also WhatsApp, Telegram, and VKontakte messenger available out of the box.
Other social networks such as Twitter and Instagram are also available, so you won’t ever miss anything from social networks.
The browser also has a snapshot tool, so you can take screenshots of any website and share them with others.
Adblocker is also available, and it will permanently block ads on all websites. For extra security, there’s a free and unlimited VPN available as well.
Opera One is built on the Chromium engine, so it’s quite similar to Chrome, and it even works with Chrome extensions. If you want a fast, reliable browser that is optimized for social networks, give Opera one a try.
How can I see the ignored messages from Messenger?
After you ignore a conversation with a person or a group conversation, the messages will be stored in a section called Spam, under Message requests.
That is where all your spam Facebook messages can be accessed from. This includes messages from people that you ignored and messages from people who don’t have you on their friend list (as long as you configured this setting).
Can I undo ignore messages on Messenger?
Luckily, you can easily undo ignoring messages on Messenger. All you need to do is go to the Spam section under Message requests, open the conversation with the person you want to un-ignore, and send then a message.
The conversation will go back to normal and you will receive notifications from that conversation in the future.
Ignoring Messenger messages on Facebook is pretty simple, and you can do it simply by selecting the contact that you want to ignore and then choosing the Ignore messages option.
After following the steps from this guide, you won’t ever have to see any unwanted messages on Facebook.
We hope you managed to find out how to ignore messages on your PC or laptop. Write down in the comments section any questions you have about this topic.
If your volume mixer keeps resetting, you are not alone. This is a common issue and many users have been complaining about the issue over the years.
The volume mixer issue usually arises after a recent Windows Update, after a clean install, and can also occur with the Discord app.
Why does my volume mixer keep changing?
If the volume mixer on your Windows 11 PC keeps resetting, it could be due to a few reasons as stated below:
Inaccurate sound settings – It could be possible that the sound settings are not set correctly.
Outdated or faulty audio drivers – Since drivers are responsible for connecting the hardware devices to the system, and so, when they are corrupt, the system may malfunction.
A fault with the user account – Sometimes there could be an issue with the current user account.
Hardware-related issues – Chances are that there is a problem with the built-in audio device.
A problem with the PC – Sometimes the PC may have accumulated malware and potentially unwanted programs over time that may create conflict with the sound system.
Fortunately, we have found some effective methods to help you fix the volume mixer that keeps resetting issue.
How do I stop my volume mixer from resetting?
Before you proceed with the below-mentioned advanced troubleshooting methods, you must run some preliminary checks and see if it helps fix the issue:
Restart your PC.
Remove third-party apps causing the issue.
Run an antivirus scan using an offline antivirus to check for malware.
Try the Realtek sound control panel to set the volume.
If the above solutions do not help you fix the volume mixer keeps resetting issue, then you can move on to the below methods.
1. Change communication settings
Press the Win + R keys together to open the Run console, type mmsys.cpl, and hit Enter.
Go to the Communications tab in the Volume Mixer and select Do nothing.
Press Apply and OK to save the changes and exit.
Now, open your volume mixer, set your desired volume, restart your PC and check if you are still facing the sound issue on your Windows 11 PC.
2. Update/reinstall/rollback audio drivers
2.1 Update audio drivers
Open the Run console by pressing Win + R hotkey, type devmgmt.msc, and hit Enter.
Expand the Sound, video, and game controllers section, right-click on the device, and select Update driver.
In the Update Drivers window, click on Search automatically for drivers. Wait for Windows to detect the latest version and install the driver automatically.
You can also uninstall the device driver, visit the manufacturer’s website, download the latest version and install the driver manually to fix the issue.
If you want to update all drivers without going to each manufacturer’s website, we recommend using Outbyte Driver Updater, an automated solution that finds and updates all drivers.
Outbyte Driver Updater
By keeping all your drivers up to date and your system running optimally, you won’t have any problems.
Press the Win + I keys at the same time and Windows Settings will open. Here click on Accounts on the left and select Family & other users on the right.
Next, go to Other users, and under Add other user, click on Add account.
In the new window, select I don’t have this person’s sign-in information.
On the next screen, click on Add a user without a Microsoft account.
Now, enter a username and password, click Next, and follow the on-screen instructions to finish creating a new user account.
Once done, you can sign in using the new user account credentials and now, the volume mixer issue should be fixed.
4. Change the sound scheme to Windows Default
To open the Run console, press the Win + R keys simultaneously. Type in mmsys.cpl and hit Enter.
In the Sound settings window, click on the Sounds tab, go to Sound scheme, and select Windows Default.
Press Apply and OK to save the changes.
Now, open the volume mixer and check if it’s now saving the settings or if you are still facing the issue.
5. Disable exclusive control of this device
Press the Win + R keys together to open the Run console. In the search bar, type sndvol and hit Enter.
In the Volume Mixer panel, go to Device and click on the icon.
Navigate to the Advanced tab in the Properties dialog, uncheck Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device, and Give exclusive mode applications priority.
Press Apply and OK.
This method should fix the volume mixer that keeps resetting issue. But, if Windows 11 has no sound at all, you can refer to our detailed post for more information.
6. Adjust the app volume and set the correct output & input device
Press the Win + I shortcut key combination to open Windows Settings, type sound mixer in the search box on the left, and click on Sound mixer options.
Under the Volume Mixer settings, go to Apps and move the slider under System sound or under the specific app to the left or the right to adjust the volume.
You can also expand the section and set the correct Output device and Input device.
You can now restart your PC and the volume mixer settings should remain the same.
7. Run the Windows audio troubleshooter
Press the Win + I keys simultaneously to launch Windows Settings. Click on System on the left and then on Troubleshoot on the right.
Next, click on Other trouble-shooters on the right.
Now, on the next page, go to Playing Audio and click on Run. Windows will now look for issues and if found will apply the fix automatically.
Restart your PC and now, the volume mixer that keeps resetting issue should be fixed.
However, if the volume mixer keeps resetting due to corrupted system files, you can use the SFC and DISM tools to repair and restore corrupted system files on Windows
System Firewall – Windows Defender Firewall might also cause Windows hotspots not to assign IP.
Wrong IP configuration – Windows need a valid IP configuration to assign IP. There’s a chance that your IP configuration is wrong. Fortunately, resetting your IP configuration on the network adapter can resolve this issue.
Third-party antivirus – Many users have complained that third-party antivirus affects their windows IP configuration.
But don’t worry too much, whatever the underlying cause of the issue, we’ve put together a list of solutions to fix Windows if it’s not assigning IP.
What can I do if Windows hotspot is not assigning IP?
Before you attempt any of the fixes in this article, you can try these preliminary solutions and see if they could resolve the issue:
Check to ensure internet access is available.
Make sure Windows hotspot is switched on.
Restart your PC to start afresh.
Disable or uninstall third-party antivirus temporarily.
If Windows hotspot is still not asssigning IP, you can proceed to the methods below to fix the problem.
1. Start the WLAN AutoConfig service
Click on the Search Icon on your taskbar, type Services in the search box, and select the Best match result.
Scroll down to locate WLAN AutoConfig, right-click and select Properties.
Change the Startup type to Automatic.
Click on Start and ensure the Service status changes toRunning.
Press Windows + X keys on your keyboard and select Device Manager from the resulting menu.
Click on Network adapters to see the list of available adapters.
Double-click on the adapter you are using from the list.
Go to the Driver tab, and click on the Update Driver.
Choose your preferred method to update your driver. Either allow windows to automatically search and update your driver or browse your computer to locate a driver file and install it manually.
Restart your computer once the driver installation is complete.
Most of the problems we encounter are caused by outdated drivers. To keep all your drivers up to date, we recommend using a tool called Outbyte Driver Updater.
Outbyte Driver Updater detects all outdated drivers and lets you choose which ones to update. Works with all kinds of drivers and uses his regularly updated database of over 18 million driver files.
Outbyte Driver Updater
Keep your system in top shape without any hassle by updating all your drivers.
Click on Search icon on your taskbar, type Control Panel into the search box and select the Best match result.
Click on the Network and Internet tile.
Select Network and Sharing Center.
Click Troubleshoot problems.
Follow the on-screen instructions to fix any errors and issues found by the troubleshooter.
5. Reset Windows Firewall to default settings
Input Firewall into the Search box and select Check firewall status.
Choose Restore defaults on the left, and click Restore defaults again on the next screen to confirm.
After restoring the default settings, connect to the network again to see if it works.
There you have it! 5 straightforward ways to deal with Windows not assigning IP.
If by chance, you try any of the above steps and it doesn’t seem to work, it might be that the system is yet to save your new changes. In such a case, you might need to restart Windows again.
After you are done with the solution, check if Windows hotspot can now assign IP to other devices. If it can’t, it might be that other devices don’t have a valid IP configuration. They need to be fixed as well.
Are there other solutions not mentioned here that worked for you, let us know in the comments section below.
Using file sync software is essential for enterprises because most users work on more than one Windows computer. These programs also act as backup tools, which can be very handy in the case of an unexpected event. Thus, you may avoid data loss in case of corruption or deletion of your files.
How to pick a reliable sync solution for Windows 10?
Sync solutions are great for all companies, no matter how big or small and they also cover some basic needs for backup.
However, you should watch a few important aspects when getting such a solution for your company.
Select a solution easy to implement – The software should work seamlessly on all of your systems and the GUI should be user-friendly and intuitive, whether you’re an experienced user or a beginner.
Check the features of the software – You will still need some basic features such as schedulers but also some advanced sync features and file compression. For instance, you should match the workflow (how many files you process/unit of time) with the capabilities of the software.
You need a stable software – As a golden rule, the technical issues should be rare events and should be immediately fixed. Try to do a test run and throw as much as you can on it to see how it copes. Make sure you have great communication with the customer support team and that the maintenance help is always there for you.
To help you decide which file sync software to install, we’ll list the best Windows 10 & 11 file sync software, so keep reading.
SyncBack is the best Windows backup and synchronization program on the planet, according to its developers.
This tool is reliable, flexible, and robust, and its performance has been constantly improved thanks to all the upgrades it received since its launch in 2003.
One of its best perks is that the UI is really simple and comprehensible and that you can create and restore backups very easily.
It offers you three options: SyncBackFree – a basic, free solution for casual users, SyncBackSE – a more complete edition for home users, SyncBackPro – ideal for professionals.
You can install all three versions on your computer to better compare the tools and spot the differences.
SyncBack certainly deserves its spot when it comes to reliable Windows 10 file sync software.
Here are the key features of SyncBack:
Copy files to synchronize any two folders
Create and restore backups easily
Run programs before and after profiles
Schedule backups at fixed times
Unicode enabled for non-English filenames
Process unlimited filename lengths
Simple and Advanced mode
SyncBackSE
The perfect home backup software for Windows, with clever operations and technical assistance.
Sync.com provides you with an encrypted cloud storage platform where you can securely store and access your data whenever you want.
The program allows you to share files of any size with other people, even if they don’t have a Sync account. Moreover, it makes teamwork easier by enabling multiple people to work from the same folders at the same time.
Sync developed apps for Windows, the web, Mac, Android, and iOS systems, and its advanced technology backs up your files automatically, making it possible for you to sync and use all the files whenever you want, from any device.
If you consider the options, Sync is the best cloud storage for businesses because it offers great balance between security and management features.
On top of that, with a Business plan, you will benefit from unlimited storage and preview virtually any of your documents online, including the Office documents.
Plus, you can add multiple administrative accounts to manage all the users’ activity, reset passwords, add users, and more.
Other key features of Sync.com include:
End-to-end data encryption
Automatic backup
Strong account security measures like two-factor authentication and granular user permissions
Slack integration, admin controls, Microsoft Office integration, custom branding and phone support
Automatic sync and restore
Advanced share controls
Modern and user-friendly interface
No third-party tracking
Monthly billing
Sync
Back up and sync all of your devices automatically, with a collaborative cloud and end-to-end encryption to keep your data safe.
Easy2Sync keeps your data synced between your computers. It is rather a specialized software that comes in two variants: Easy2Sync for files and Easy2Sync for Outlook.
Easy2Sync for Files has a dedicated wizard to help you get started. All data is kept on your computers, no third-party elements are involved in the sync process.
Don’t hesitate to set the tool to sync your files silently or prompt dialog pop-ups when necessary. It’s a great Windows 10 file sync software solution.
This software allows you to sync and share your Google calendar, sync the Exchange server with Outlook, back up your Outlook emails, and more.
If you have two computers that you want to sync, with this tool, you can set everything up in just a few minutes.
The best features of Easy2Sync include:
Easy2Sync supports all file types: Office files, mp3, images, movies, and any other file types
Unlimited folders/number of files
Various sync filters supported
Update your homepage: simply synchronize your files with the (s)FTP server and all changes will be recognized and transferred.
FreeFileSync is a free and open-source software solution, one of the best for file sync jobs on Windows 10. It saves your time by setting up and running backup actions.
Install FreeFileSync, customize your settings, and let this tool do its job. The user interface is very intuitive, full of colors and you can easily see what each option does.
Here’s how it works: instead of copying every file every time, this tool identifies the differences between a source and a target folder and transfers only the needed data.
The interface looks a little bit cluttered and complicated but once you set up the source and destination folders, it’s all smooth sailing.
The list of FreeFileSync ‘s features is impressive and includes:
PureSync synchronizes your files and folders automatically in the background. This file sync software solution works great with Windows 10.
This tool supports local drives, server volumes, FTP, some MTP devices, WebDAV and can copy open/locked files, and run synchronization/backup with another user.
It can also restore files from a Windows restore point and supports photo-syncing for digital cameras.
Some of the various automatic sync/ backup options include scheduled, drive connected, modification of a file at logon/logoff, or custom events.
Other features of PureSync include:
Transfer files from one computer to another
Automatic adaption to the folder at the destination
Filenames/path with more than 260 characters are supported
Not many Windows users have heard of Synchredible, but this tool is an impressive file sync software, one of the best for Windows 10.
You can sync individual files or an entire drive. A user-friendly software wizard will assist you to set up the sync options.
Synchredible also synchronizes folders via an external network or when using a USB device. This tool backs up your files as well, transferring them to your preferred location.
If you’re keen on using your native language, you’re in luck because the software supports nine languages for its user interface.
Other important features of Synchredible include:
One direction and bi-directional file sync support
Synchronizes subdials, changed and unchanged files
Allway Sync is a file sync tool with a very well-designed and easy-to-use interface. It’s one of the best for Windows 10 PCs.
It is one of the most complex file sync software solutions available on the market and uses innovative synchronization algorithms to synchronize your files.
You can easily sync them between PCs, laptops, USB drives, remote FTP/SFTP and WebDAV servers, and other storage platforms.
Allway Sync doesn’t contain any spyware, adware, or malware, unlike other free file sync tools. Also, there is no limit regarding the number of computers you can install it on.
Some of the most important features of Allway Sync include:
Automatic, on-screen, context-sensitive hints
The multilingual user interface supports more than 30 languages
File modifications and deletions are tracked in a database
GoodSync backs up and syncs your files between any device or platform without storing them in the cloud.
Thanks to the innovative technology it uses, GoodSync offers reliable bi-directional synchronization for all your files.
Setting up this Windows 10 file sync software is easy and takes less than a minute. All you need to do is click on the Analyze button and review the proposed changes.
GoodSync can connect two computers directly, in a peer-to-peer style, without using intermediate servers, and sync the files between them.
It can analyze a task with 1 million files and folders on each side in less than 10 minutes on only 500 Mb of memory.
Key features of GoodSync include:
Sends over only changed blocks of big files, thus improving the transfer speed
It detects file/folder renames and executes them as Move commands
The tool can run sync in several threads, working in parallel to achieve faster file transfer speed
Files can be excluded from synchronization based on name pattern, size, mod time
SyncBreeze is a powerful file sync solution and one of the best for Windows 10. It works with local disks, network shares, NAS storage devices, and enterprise storage systems.
This software offers many sync options users can choose from, such as one-way and two-way file sync modes, periodic file sync, compressed file sync, real-time file sync, specific file sync, and more.
Power users and IT professionals may use the command-line utility, which is available for SyncBreeze Ultimate and SyncBreeze Server.
It is constantly updated, and the latest improvements brought support for multi-language Unicode file names, improved the file properties dialog, synchronization preview reports, and the UI.
Let’s see some of its best features:
Command-line capabilities
Professional-level sync app
Continuous updates
It works with local disks, network shares, NAS, and enterprise storage systems
Second Copy is mainly a backup software, but you can also use it as a file sync software tool on Windows 10.
This program monitors the source files and keeps the backup updated with new or changed data. You don’t have to customize it all the time as it silently runs in the background with no user interaction.
Second Copy’s setup wizard helps you define different profiles, with different sets of files and rules regarding backing up and syncing the data.
After you set up the source and the destination locations, you don’t have to start copying the files over again if there’s a problem.
Other features of Second Copy include:
Copy data between work and home computers automatically without using any storage media
Modify files on the work computer and synchronize them with the home computer
Save storage space and backup files by using compression
We like Buddha Backup the best as an all-around effective file synchronization and backup solution.
It’s excellent as a complement to cloud backup or for local backup purposes alone and has a simple and intuitive user interface. It also comes with an evaluation period so you can try before you buy.
In Simple Mode, you use a wizard to set up a backup easily and quickly. Once you know your way around you can do this in less than a minute which is great for IT pros trying to set up backups quickly.
In Advanced Mode, perfect for technical and power users, you create individual backup jobs and customize them as desired for when you need that extra flexibility and power.
Also perfect for technical and power users is the Control Job mode which creates a visual display of the differences between two directories.
Buddha Backup offers a unique new way to keep a file history for backups so you have access to all of the data you’ve ever backed up.
Snapshot Browsing allows you to browse through snapshots of those backups to access only files that were present at the time of each backup.
Backing up feels like driving a Ferrari with all the progress indicators for backups, including elapsed time, time left, average speed, speed, and 4 progress bars tracking all parts of a backup.
While Buddha Backup’s interface is not as colorful as the ones from other solutions, we think most users will appreciate the simplicity.
Take a look at some of Buddha Backup’s best features:
Simple & Advanced Mode to cater to any user
Archive Backup with file history
Snapshot Browsing of file history in archive backups
Auto Purge to free up space from archive backup for new files to be backed up
A file backup log to keep track of everything being backed up
A friendly and intuitive interface that prioritizes the options that really matter
Buddha Backup
Buddha Backup doubles as both a simple data backup system and a powerful file sync program to serve both the most technophobic and tech-savvy among us.
You might be wondering: How do I use the Sync Center tool from Windows? Not many users know that there is actually a File Sync tool in Windows that you can use for free.
It’s not as sophisticated as the software we highlighted on our list and it’s a bit more complicated to set up but it works.
Without other further introduction, here’s how you can use it:
Click the Start button, type sync center and select the app from the results.
Now, choose Manage offline files.
Hit the Enable offline files button and click OK. You will need administrative privileges to do that.
Restart your PC for the changes to take effect.
Now, to share a folder, right click on it and select Always available offline.
From the Offline Files menu, you can also set up how much disk space to allocate, encrypt the files or choose how to use the network.
There are many file sync products you can choose from. Many features are common to all the file sync software packages we listed in this article, while other features are supported only by certain tools.
It’s important to say that all the tools we outlined above will also work seamlessly on Windows 11 as well.
You can choose the file sync software that best suits your needs. If you have any other suggestions or questions, feel free to leave them in the comments section below.
Users report that they encounter the error message: Group Policy cannot create a file when that file already exists. It may occur when performing several actions as editing file status or moving files.
Furthermore, the error can occur in many instances on the PC like Command Prompt (cmd), File Explorer, etc. You need not panic if you are experiencing the problem, as we’ll discuss how to fix the problem in this article.
What is causing GPO cannot create a file when that file already exists?
The error shows up when a file with the given name already exists in the Group Policy registry. It occurs due to numerous Windows glitches that can randomly affect your PC. However, other causes are:
Issues with Windows updates: users complain about running into many problems with recent updates. So, it may affect the Group Policy. One frequent update installation error is We couldn’t install this update, but you can try again yet you may solve it right away.
Duplicate file issues: the Group Policy may not be able to resolve which one to go with between the item you are creating and the existing one. So, it can result in errors like this.
Device startup errors: you can experience errors when your device is not running correctly. It can affect its files and directory in the Group Policy.
How can I fix it if there is already a folder with the same name as the file name you specified?
Before proceeding with any troubleshooting on your device, ensure you observe the following checks:
Power cycle the computer to see if the error persists.
1. Boot your PC in Safe Mode
Press (or hold, depending on your PC) the power button to turn on the PC.
Press the F8 key to prompt the Advanced Boot Options menu.
Select Enable Safe Mode and press Enter.
Wait for your PC to reboot, then check if you’re able to fix the cannot create a file when that file already exists in C error.
The procedure for safe booting may differ for some users. However, please read our article about how to start Windows 11 in Safe Mode without issues.
2. Update Windows
Click on Start.
Select Settings from the Start menu.
Click on Windows Update, then select Check for updates (Windows will automatically search and download updates if any are available for your PC).
3. Run a System File Checker (SFC) scan
Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run window.
Type cmd in the text space and press Enter to prompt the Command Prompt.
Type the following and press Enter: sfc /scannow
If you can’t repair the detected issue, add the following command and press Enter: exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Scanhealth
Then add this and press Enter: exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
Restart your computer to help it sync correctly and see if you can fix the issue. The scan will detect any problems affecting your files.
Sometimes Windows won’t detect any problems even though some errors persist. In this case, we recommend using a third-party tool for a full scan and repair of corrupted files.
4. Check the device’s Registry
Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run window.
Type Regedit in the text box and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.
Copy and paste the following path in the address bar: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Command Processor
Check for any AutoRun key; if there is, click on Delete or Modify to clear the data.
We recommend you restart your PC and check if you cannot create a file when that file already exists error in CMD persists.
Cleaning up data from the Registry requires precise knowledge of the process. Hence, we have a detailed guide on how to clean the Registry in Windows 11 and why you should do it.
In conclusion, editing the Group Policy’s data and files can be dangerous to the system if not done correctly. However, you can read how to edit the Group Policy in Windows 11.
If this guide has been helpful to you, kindly leave feedback in the comments section. Should you also have other suggestions that have worked for you, we’d like to hear them.
During the deluge of Microsoft news pouring out from Redmon yesterday, the announcement of the Xbox app for Windows now updated to support ARM64 natively, was a bit overshadowed.
Earlier this week, Google and its partners announced a series of Chromebooks aiming to satiate the niche gaming crowd looking to leverage cloud-based gaming. While Google’s own cloud gaming services is in the midst of being shuttered, the company highlighted other services such as Nvidia GeForce Now, Amazon Luna, and Microsoft’s xCloud.
Yesterday, Microsoft seemingly endorsed Google’s gaming Chromebook initiative by delivering the very tool that will make it a far more pleasant gaming experience on these upcoming low-end laptop offerings.
The library of AAA games joining Game Pass and xCloud continue to grow and now gamers on ARM powered devices will get console-like gaming experiences with titles such as Halo Infinite, Forza Horizon 5, and Microsoft Flight Simulator in over 28 countries without having to worry about compatibility or native performance issues.
Supporting ARM64 development also means the continued expansion of the Xbox Cloud Gaming service and as such, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, to more devices which will now include iOS, select smart TVs, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Logitech’s G Cloud handheld, Meta’s Quest VR headsets, NVIDIA Shield’s, Windows PCs and Chromebooks.
A total of 85 security patches were released for October 2022, of which 15 were rated as Critical, 69 were rated as Important, and only one as Moderate.
There are also updates for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 if you haven’t yet upgraded to a more recent version of the OS, although recommended.
And, there are even rumors of a brand new Windows operating system currently being in development and Microsoft accidentally leaked a screenshot of Windows 12’s UI.
Now, however, Windows 11 Insiders on the Beta Channel are getting to test builds 22621.746 and 22623.746 starting today.
What changes after you update and install KB5018490?
First of all, Windows Insiders who were previously on Build 22622 will automatically get moved to Build 22623 via an enablement package.
We’re not looking at anything special with this release, simply some fixes, and some known issues and that’s about it.
However, these tasks were pending and needed Microsoft’s attention, so it’s nice to know that we’ve got the out of the way.
Changes and Improvements in Build 22623.746
[System Tray]
This build includes preliminary support to rearrange System Tray icons for Insiders who have the System Tray updates that began rolling out with Build 22623.730. Further improvements for this experience are coming soon. As a reminder, these System Tray updates are still rolling out and are not available to all Insiders just yet. If your PC does not have these changes, your System Tray experience will remain the same as before.
Fixes in Build 22623.746
[Tablet-optimized taskbar]
Fixed an issue where the gesture to slide the Start menu open from the bottom of the screen using touch might stop following your finger.
[System Tray Updates]
NOTE
These fixes will only show if tablet-optimized taskbar with System Tray updates is enabled on your device. Tablet-optimized taskbar and System Tray is still rolling out to Windows Insiders and not yet available for everyone.
Fixed an issue for Insiders with automatically hide the taskbar enabled, where right-clicking app icons in the system tray was unexpectedly making the taskbar dismiss.
Fixes for BOTH Build 22621.746 & Build 22623.746
Enabled the ms-appinstaller Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) to work for the DesktopAppInstaller.
Fixed an issue that affects the Windows Search service. Indexing progress is slow when you use the service.
Known issues
[General]
Looking into reports that audio stopped working for some Insiders in recent Beta Channel builds.
[Tablet-optimized taskbar]
The taskbar sometimes flashes when transitioning between desktop posture and tablet posture.
The taskbar takes longer than expected to transition to the touch-optimized version when switching between desktop posture and tablet posture.
When using the bottom right edge gesture to see Quick Settings, the taskbar sometimes stays stuck in the expanded state, instead of dismissing to collapsed state.
[System Tray Updates]
Dragging the system tray icons may cause explorer.exe to crash for some Insiders.
What can I do if I can’t install KB5018490?
Press Win+ I to access Settings.
Select the System category and click on Troubleshoot.
Press the Other troubleshooters button.
Press the Run button next to Windows Update.
As always, make sure to report any other issues you might come across, in order for Microsoft to address and improve the overall OS experience for us all.
This is everything you can expect if you are a Windows Insider. Leave a comment below if you found any issues since installing this Insider build.
We all know how frustrating it can be when faced with Windows has restarted your GPU driver due to a problem.
Users experience Windows restarting their GPU driver mainly due to a problem. Outdated or corrupt graphics drivers to outdated OS, unnecessary background apps, overclocking issues or physical damage to the CPU can also lead to the error.
How do I fix Windows restarting my GPU driver error?
1. Update your operating system
Click on the Start button.
Select Settings from the drop-down and click on Windows Update.
On the Windows Update tab, select Check for updates (if there are any updates available, Windows will search for and install them).
Updating your OS can fix bugs affecting your PC and causing it to restart the GPU driver.
Alternatively, giving high priority to games like League of Legends in the Task Manager can fix GPU issues that may occur during the game. Hence, read how to prioritize specific apps in the Task Manager to improve performance.
3. Update the graphics driver
Press the Windows + R keys simultaneously to prompt the Run window.
Type the following into the search space: devmgmt.msc, and click OK.
Click on the Display adapters from the search results.
Select the display driver you want to update from the drop-down, then right-click on it.
Click the Update driver software option, then select Search automatically for drivers.
Wait for Windows to search and install the driver updates. Restart your computer after the update process is complete, then check if the issue persists.
Additionally, if no updates are found, we recommend trying a tool that specializes in updating drivers such as Fortect Driver Updater which gets its updates directly from the manufacturer.
Click on the Start button, input Control, and select the Control Panel.
Select Hardware and Sound from the menu and click on Power Options.
Click on Change Plan settings.
Click on Change advanced power settings to open the Power Options tab.
Expand the Processor power management option.
Click on the Maximum processor state tab and set the values for both On battery and Plugged in as 99%.
Click on the Apply button, then OK to save the changes.
Restart your PC to initiate the changes.
Underclocking your GPU will help improve its performance and can fix issues affecting it. Hence, check how to safely underclock your GPU without affecting your computer.
This solution is the last you should consider as it requires technical expertise. Replacing your GPU will fix the error: Windows has restarted your GPU driver due to a driver upgrade or physical removal.
A faulty GPU affects its performance and can also result in other issues with the computer. You may encounter the AGP_GART_CORRUPTION error.
However, we have a detailed list of the best graphics cards for gaming that you can buy. For users who’d like to use external GPUs instead, check our article about the best USB-C external GPUs you can get for your PC.
Conclusively, issues with the GPU can cause other problems like game stuttering on Windows 11 and others. We recommend you check the link above to see how you can fix the problem.
For more questions or if you have other suggestions, kindly drop them in the comments section. We’d like feedback from you.
Tired of having to hold down the Fn key every time you want to use your function keys on Windows 11? You’re not the only one. Some laptops let you toggle Fn Lock with shortcuts like Fn + Esc, Fn + Caps Lock, or Fn + Num Lock—but they don’t always work.
No worries though! If those don’t do the job, we’ve got reliable ways that work on pretty much any device, using your settings and BIOS to fix it for good.
How can I disable the Fn key in Windows 11?
1. Use the keyboard shortcut to lock the Fn key
Press the Fn key + Esc on your keyboard.
If that doesn’t work, try using Fn + F2.
Keep in mind that the key might be different on your PC, but it’s usually represented by a small lock icon.
Certain manufacturers may use the Caps Lock or the left Shift key for the Windows 11 function lock key, so be sure to check your device manual for more information.
2. Lock the function keys via the Control Panel
Press Windows + S to launch the Search menu, enter Control Panel in the text field at the top, and click on the relevant search result that appears.
Next, click on the View by dropdown menu, and select Small icons from the list of options.
Click on the Windows Mobility Center entry here.
Now, click on the Function Key Row dropdown menu, and select Function key.
But the option to change these settings is not available on all computers, and if that’s the case, you may either try the first or last method listed here to turn off the function key in Windows 11.
You can also explore how other system keys work by checking our guide on the Pause key.
Now you know how to disable Fn key on Windows 11 on HP, Lenovo, Acer, and other brands. Keep in mind that steps might different depending on the brand, so always consult your manual.
Tweaking and changing Fn keys in Windows 10 lets you customize your laptop’s keyboard behavior so it works the way you want. Fn keys often confuse people because their default behavior varies depending on your laptop brand and settings.
The good news is, Windows 10 and your laptop’s software or BIOS give you ways to flip the switch and get those keys working exactly how you want.
How can I change the function key settings in Windows 10?
1. From BIOS
HP
Turn off the computer by pressing and holding the Power button for at least five seconds.
Press the F10 key repeatedly when the device restarts, to open the BIOS Setup Utility.
Press the right or left arrow key to select the System Configuration menu.
Next, select the Action Keys Mode.
Press the Enter key to display the Enabled / Disabled options.
Dell
Reboot your device and press F2 to enter the BIOS settings.
Go to the Advanced tab, using the arrow keys.
Scroll down to the Function Key Behavior option.
Change the setting to the Functions key.
Press Exit.
ACER
Simultaneously hold theF2key andPowerbutton.
In the BIOS screen go to the System Configuration Menu.
In the Action Keys Mode option press the Enter key to display the Enable/Disable menu.
Select the desired mode.
Press Exit when you’re done.
Lenovo
1. Click the Start icon and selectSettings.
2. Next, click onUpdate & Security.
3. Click on Recovery and then select Restart now.
4. From the Options menu, selectTroubleshoot.
5. Click UEFI Firmware Settings and choose Restart.
6. In the BIOS menu, select the Configuration tab.
7. Select Hotkey Mode and set it to Enabled or Disabled, depending on your preference.
8. Save and Exit the BIOS menu (press F10 and then Enter).
Depending on your device, the process of changing function key settings in Windows 10 can be slightly different, but the steps are mostly the same.
Basically, you need to restart your PC, access BIOS, and then navigate to the Configuration menu. From there, you can easily change Fn key settings in just a few clicks.
Another method that you have at hand, in case you want to use the Function Keys without pressing the Fn Key, is to use the keyboard shortcut.
This is a fairly easy method to use, as you don’t have to go into the BIOS settings in order to make the change.
First, make sure you locate the Fn lock key on your keyboard, and once you find it all you need to do is simultaneously press the Fn key along with the standard F1, and F2 keys that you wish to use.
And that was all, now you can use the function keys, without pressing the Fn key. Whenever you want to switch back, you will only need to make the same steps you did previously, and that will disable the function.
3. Change UEFI settings
Click On Start Menu, and type Settings to launch Windows Settings
Click on Update & Security from the list and go to Recovery on the left side
Click on the Restart now button. Your laptop will now restart and it will open the UEFI settings
Click the Troubleshoot option once your Windows boots into recovery mode
Under Troubleshoot choose Advanced Options
Next, choose UEFI firmware Settings under Advanced Options and click on Restart.
Once you completed the above steps, you will be able to search for the function key option and make sure to disable it in the UEFI settings.
4. Use Control Panel
You will find the option to change the function keys as standard, in the Boot Camp configuration panel.
For example, if you are using Dell this option will be found in the Windows Mobility Center. Other manufacturers may have the option in the same place, so make sure to check that out.
In order to access it on Windows 10, make sure to right-click on the Start button and simply select the Mobility Center option.
It’s also possible to have this option in the keyboard setting configuration tool which can be found in the System menu or right in the Start menu.
If you are using ASUS you will see that it comes with preinstalled ASUS Keyboard Hotkeys that can be found in the Windows app.
No doubt about it can be really frustrating not being able to use the brightness or volume keys. Fortunately enough the fix for this issue is fairly simple and you can reverse the Fn functions within just a few clicks.
As you can see in the above-presented solutions, you can either make these changes from the keyboard, if you can locate the Fn key on your device.
Otherwise, you can go into the BIOS settings, and depending on which device model you are using, there are some specific steps you can make in order to make the change.
Let us know in the comments section below which one worked for you and, if you have additional recommendations or suggestions we will be happy to read them.
Computer maintenance is incredibly important in making sure everything on the system runs smoothly; however, most people just aren’t well-versed in taking care of their computers.
At some point, most will notice their computer’s performance degrading, but are unable to understand why.
A likely reason because every time you do something on your computer, it leaves behind a trail. Whether you’re installing an app or even changing something slightly, junk files can begin to clutter up your device. Uninstalling apps can also bloat the registry.
That’s why it’s important to utilize a registry cleaner app to sweep out all the junk in a computer. Windows 11 already has its registry in the form of the Windows Repair app.
But like with a lot of the native apps on Windows 11, there’s is a third-party app that does it much better. While registry cleaning apps aren’t something that a lot of people pay attention to, they can be game-changing.
Does Windows 11 have a built-in registry cleaner?
Windows 11 doesn’t come with a built-in registry cleaner, leaving users to handle registry edits manually. This manual process can be quite tedious and time-consuming. For a more efficient approach, consider using one of the specialized registry cleaner tools highlighted in our list below.
Is a registry cleaner that important?
Registry cleaners are more than just a convenience: they’re essential for maintaining your computer’s performance. Over time, junk files accumulate and can slow down your system, making these tools as crucial as antivirus programs. They’re safe to use and highly recommended for regular computer maintenance. Most of these apps offer both free trials and premium versions with additional features, so you can choose the one that best suits your needs.
What are the best registry cleaner options for Windows 11?
Fortect is a repair and cleanup tool that has multiple advanced features to help you maintain your PC clean and healthy.
You can let Fortect run an extensive scan of your system, which will take no longer than five minutes, to see your device’s condition and capacities.
After the scan procedure, this software will provide you with a detailed diagnostic review of your system compared to a healthy one to find the deficiencies and build-ups that can damage your PC.
After that, Fortect will help you clean up your Registry by removing all of the junk files, build-ups, and unwanted apps to achieve more free space and boost your PC health.
Furthermore, this app can automatically repair and replace any damaged and missing files, such as DLLs, and registry keys, and eventually enhance your operating system.
Another great feature that Fortect has is its ability to scan and detect faulty or incompatible hardware that may cause errors in your system if not replaced.
You can select from three pricing options, all of them being affordable. It just depends on how many devices you wish to keep in shape.
System Mechanic Ultimate Defense is an excellent tune-up utility that will improve your PC’s performance by defragging the hard drive, tweaking CPU and RAM usage in real time, repairing Windows’ Registry, and more.
It is compatible with all systems running Windows XP and later, of course, including Windows 10. Also, Iolo System Mechanic allows you to install the program on any number of systems.
Its interface is built to be easy to use even for beginners so there is no need for previous knowledge.
The Privacy Shield suite allows you to disable Wi-Fi Sense, SmartScreen Service, Microsoft Data Collection, and Telemetry Services and will prevent the involuntary collection and sharing of your data.
Another useful tool is Commonly Redundant or Unnecessary Decelerators and Destabilizers which can remove unwanted files from your system and create more space for important apps.
ActiveCare offers real-time system analysis and repair while LiveBoost unlocks more CPU and RAM to enhance your system’s performance.
Iolo System Mechanic is one of the 7 software products included in the comprehensive security, privacy, and optimization package Phoenix 360.
Iolo System Mechanic Ultimate Defense
Iolo System Mechanic Ultimate Defense is the perfect tool if you want to speed up your PC.
Wise Registry Cleaner is one of the better-looking cleaner apps with an easy-to-understand user interface; something not many other tools have.
Sometimes a registry cleaner can be not user-friendly and look intimidating. But Wise’s clean and simple layout earns it big points.
The tool creatively uses its layout. When done scanning, Wise presents its findings in a sheet, similar to how Microsoft Excel displays its information.
It has fast registry scans that can be scheduled for any time, which come in two separate modes: Fast Scan and Deep Scan. Fast Scan is the quicker option while Deep Scan takes its time as it scours through the machine, looking through the nooks and crannies of a PC.
Wise Registry Cleaner is a little light on advanced features, even for its pro versions. But it can be run from the Windows 11 command line, something that most registry cleaners are unable to do. And once you buy it, you don’t have to keep the subscription going.
Most other cleaner apps only allow you to own the tool for a set amount of time before you have to renew your license. Wise Cleaner does not do this and is unique in this regard. Once you buy it, it’s yours to keep forever.
It also offers a registry defrag option. Defragmentation, or defragging, organizes the contents on the Windows 11 registry into regions as a way to optimize the system and improve performance.
Auslogics Registry Cleaner is another easy-to-use app. The tool has the distinct feature of the Rescue Center in its settings menu which is a list of registry backups made before each cleaning.
You can edit these settings to backups of the Windows 11 registry if you never want to lose them. As stated previously, registry cleaner apps can overdo it and get rid of things you didn’t mean to delete.
Rescue Center saves those settings in case you want to go back to them.
The user interface is simple and clean, and scanning can be activated at the press of a button. It can be paused at any time and continues later. And one of the nicer things about this app is how it categorizes its findings in a list form.
Auslogics has the unique feature of creating a portable version. Auslogics Portable is a defragging that you can upload to a portable device like a USB drive and take to another computer, be it a Windows 11 machine or not.
The portable version doesn’t have all the features the desktop version has, but it has most of them.
Like Wise Cleaner, everything is situated in a simple format. However, there is an issue with Auslogics that must be mentioned. Upon installation, Auslogics will try to install additional apps during the setup.
While these programs aren’t bad, they can be annoying, but it’s easy to deselect them.
IObit Advanced SystemCare is a tool specialized in system care and maintenance. It finds all problems your system might have and solves them, so you can run at peak performance.
One of Advanced SystemCare’s main features is the advanced registry cleaning process. With a scan beforehand, it knows exactly what is wrong and what must be repaired and cleaned
With AI that learns from your optimization habits, you can create a personalized plan to scan for and remove tons of junk files, unnecessary logs and files, leftovers from uninstalled apps, and more.
Advanced features allow this tool to clean up even the junk files from Dropbox, Steam, Java, Adobe Photoshop Lightroom, Spotify, and MS OneDrive
Another amazing feature is that you can optimize startup programs to reduce boot time by up to nearly 50%. The faster your Windows boots the better the experience.
IObit Advanced SystemCare comes with a total of 30+ troubleshooters to defragment, and clean junk files, leftovers, etc, which are used clean your computer and speed it up.
One click is enough to update all outdated third-party software on your computer. It optimizes speed for everything you use on a daily basis.
Advanced System Care focuses on improving your PC’s performance by optimizing every part of your computer. No matter how old it is, there are always some spots you can optimize.
IObit Advanced System Care
Always there to improve the speed of your PC and keep all its aspects optimized.
CCleaner has the distinction of being one of the oldest and most popular registry cleaner apps in the world with over 2.5 billion downloads and counting.
It can delete unwanted files left behind by certain programs such as Microsoft Edge, Adobe Acrobat, and WinZip.
CCleaner can also delete unwanted browsing history data, recycle bin leftovers, system caches, and various other forms of data. You can even use it to uninstall programs from the app’s interface.
The app has a hard disk and registry cleaner that is exceptional at fixing DLL problems. It comes with a Missing Shared DLLs checkbox that searches for and locates missing or broken DLL files that it can replace.
Best of all, the tools come with a startup manager that can manage which apps open when you turn on your computer, a handy way to not have a ton of windows pop up upon startup.
CCleaner comes with a free trial and three paying tiers that each come with various features. The most expensive option, Professional Plus, gives a two-year license for up to three separate PCs and additional services like the ability to recover deleted files.
If your only problem is registries, then Glarysoft Registry Repair is the perfect choice for your system.
Quickly scan your Windows registry with comprehensive analysis thanks to our fast, complete and secure scanning engine. A quick scan takes very little time.
Also, the results of high-speed cans are very accurate and don’t require a second scan. With just a few clicks and a scan, you can have your registry cleaned.
It can analyze different areas in your registry and identify up to 18 types of errors. It can also fully scan your Windows Registry for errors, invalid entries, Regedit optimizations, and more.
Every time you repair the registry it will make a backup copy of it and add safe registry keys to the white list so that you can roll back the registry to its current state in the event of a system failure.
Glary Registry Repair is a great program for keeping your registry in good shape. Detect errors and remove invalid entries. Automatic backups allow you to restore previously deleted keys in case something goes wrong.
Glarysoft Registry Repair
Fast, simple, and straightforward, a perfect solution to safely scan, clean, and repair registry problems.
Argente Registry Cleaner looks a little intimidating at first with its dense-looking user interface, but it uses a wizard to help guide you.
A software wizard, for those who don’t know, is a piece of software that can either simplify a complicated task or serve as a tutorial.
For Argente, its wizard functions as more of a tutorial, guiding you through the process of setting it up so that suits your needs. You won’t have to try and somehow figure out how the registry cleaner works.
With this wizard, Argente scans and repairs the registry on its own. It’s pretty adept at finding out what to get rid of without needing you to configure it. And before deleting corrupt files, the tool lays them all out in an easy-to-understand list.
You won’t have to worry about backing up your data either as Argente has an Undo changes feature that can restore the Windows 11 registry.
Sometimes a registry cleaner can be overzealous and delete things it shouldn’t be deleted, but Argente gives you that extra form of control, so you can undo mistakes.
What are some other ways to better take care of a Windows 11 computer?
As stated earlier, many of the Windows 11 native apps do an alright job at what they do but aren’t the greatest. They lack many of the amazing features third-party apps have.
For example, Microsoft Edge is a decent web browser, but horrible if you are someone who plays a lot of video games.
If you or someone you know plays a lot of video games, you’ll need a web browser that doesn’t take up a lot of computer resources. You’ll need something that eats less RAM like Opera or Firefox if you want the ability to customize with browser extensions.
You may encounter some issues like getting stuck on the Preparing Windows screen. One minute you’re updating the computer and the next it’s stuck on a neverending loop.
How do I clean up a broken registry in Windows 11?
You can delete a broken registry manually (if you know the parameters of the registry file) by opening the Registry Editor, searching for the file, and removing it. Alternatively, you can use one of the tools from the list above. We’ve already written an extensive guide about this.
We recommend Fortect as it’s the easiest to use and can remove any broken registry files in just a couple of clicks.
How do I fix a corrupt registry in Windows 11?
While it is possible to do it manually, in the Registry Editor app, it’s extremely complicated and time-consuming. It requires technical knowledge and it’s risky, as deleting/modifying the wrong registry file can lead to fatal system errors.
The simplest way to fix a corrupt registry is with an automated solution like Fortect, CCleaner, or Wise Registry Cleaner.
It’s important to learn about solutions when even the most basic of Windows 11 functions fail. Sometimes it’s as simple as restarting the computer, but other times it may require a finer touch.
Feel free to leave a comment below if you have any questions about other Windows 11 apps. Also, leave comments about guides that you’d like to see or information on other Windows 11 features or list guides like this.
Microsoft wants gaming to be accessible to everyone. Xbox has made big strides in the past few years to make gaming not only more accessible, but to allow those with special needs to be able to game when they want, where they want, and with who they want. Today at the 2022 Xbox Accessibility Showcase, Xbox is celebrating the Disability community alongside the people and organizations that continue to remove barriers to make gaming more accessible.
This year Microsoft hosted the Xbox Accessibility Showcase at the Microsoft Inclusive Tech Lab on its Redmond, WA campus. The lab was intentionally built with accessibility in mind from the ground up. This was done to encourage designers and developers to be all-inclusive with building their products and show how they allow everyone to participate. Gamers with disabilities look for a few things to make the experience more engaging, the importance of a wide variety of accessibility options, including text, subtitles, and difficulty settings. It’s also important to include those with disabilities not only in the design process but as an audience as well. Today Microsoft is announcing several updates that encourage all gamers to create, play and create through gaming.
Create
Microsoft launched the Microsoft Gaming Accessibility Testing Services in 2021 (MGATS) Since then hundreds of titles have had their accessibility validated against the Xbox Accessibility Guidelines with feedback from those gamers with disabilities. This month Xbox is launching a new offering called MGATS – Players with Disability focus for studios that aren’t ready for Xbox Accessubilty Guideline testing yet. This service is designed for developers to get feedback from those with disabilities around core issues in games such as menus and settings. The XAGs have also been updated this month to include better guidance around touch-based gaming on mobile devices, with such things as bigger targets and swipe sensitivity.
Connect
The Xbox Ambassador Program is introducing a new and free Xbox Ambassador Accessibility Explorer Path. This path is designed to teach Xbox Ambassadors about those players with disabilities. Including trying out game accessibility features, as well as discovering best practices. Xbox plans to add more missions throughout the season to allow Ambassadors to increase their knowledge.
Xbox has redesigned the support hub on Xbox.com to make it easier for players to learn about accessibility features on console and Windows devices. Players can now compare the features between Xbox and the console. New articles are coming in October that will include narrator shortcuts using both keyboard and controller.
Play
Experiences and memories are made through play. we experience new worlds and perspectives sometimes not otherwise possible. For that to be possible games must be accessible and easy to find along with their accessibility features. A few titles that have recently, or will be launching soon are, As Dusk Falls, Pentiment, Grounded, and many more. These titles mentioned have changes to text, menu, and control functions to make them more accessible.
Working Together
We must all work together to make gaming accessible, It takes a collective effort from gamers, designers, developers, and publishers that believe everyone should have access. Organizations like SpecialEffect help put the fun back in video games, and maximize game control. The Royal National Institute of the Blind is the UK’s leading charity for those will loss of sight. Xbox works directly with them to support those gamers who are blind or partially sighted. It doesn’t stop there, this year Xbox worked with gamerscon 2022 to make sure everyone had access to the event. The team focused on making sure events had English Auto Descriptions as well as interpretation for both broadcast and in-booth experiences. Xbox also had Adaptive Controllers available at all stations for those who requested them.
Microsoft has developed a new, modern, feature-rich terminal application called Windows Terminal. It’s meant to gather all the command-line tools like Command Prompt and PowerShell in one place.
This is quite a nifty idea, and in the opinion of many Windows 10 users, long overdue. Although it’s initially intended for developers, anyone who wants to enter a few command lines is welcome.
Not only that but regular updates and constant development are promised.
While Windows Terminal is officially out, Microsoft only allows you to install it via Microsoft Store in Windows 10.
What does Windows Terminal do?
One of the main features of this new terminal application is multiple-tab support. Windows 10 users have asked for this forever, and now it’s finally happening.
What this actually means? It means that you will be able to open, for example, Command Prompt, PowerShell, WSL, and Raspberry Pi all at once, each on a separate and connected tab. And all that under a single Windows Terminal window.
Other notable features include a new text rendering engine that will allow the display of a lot more symbols, text characters, glyphs, and even emojis and a new open-source monospaced font.
Along with this, many more customization options and profiles with different font styles, colors, transparency, and other things, let you decide how Windows Terminal looks and feels.
What does my PC need to run Windows Terminal?
Before you start, there are some very important prerequisites:
To run Windows Terminal, you have to be on Windows 1903 (build >= 10.0.18362.0) or above.
You must have the 1903 SDK (build 10.0.18362.0) installed.
You need Visual Studio 2017 or above.
Some Workloads need to be installed from the Visual Studio installer: Desktop Development with C++, Universal Windows Platform Development, C++ (v141) Universal Windows Platform Tools (individual component).
How can I install Windows Terminal without Microsoft Store?
1. Download the .msixbundle file from the latest release for Microsoft Terminal from GitHub. It is available in the Assets section.
2. Launch a Powershell window to the file location of the downloaded file.
3. Type this command, and replace [name] with the full name of the downloaded file : Add-AppxPackage [name]
In our case, the command looks like this: Add-AppxPackage Microsoft.WindowsTerminalPreview_Win10_1.16.2641.0_8wekyb3d8bbwe.msixbundle
4. Press Enter to run the command.
5. Windows Terminal has been installed and you can now use it on your PC.
If you don’t want to install Windows Terminal from the Microsoft Store, there is a quick workaround for this. You can install it directly from the source code.
Yes, that’s right. Windows Terminal it’s open-source and you can find all the things you need on GitHub’s dedicated page for it.
If something isn’t right or you can’t find certain things, there is a README file as well as some scripts in the /tools directory.
As you can see, it’s pretty simple to take an early look at Microsoft’s new Windows Terminal. Just head over to GitHub and clone, build, test, and run the Terminal in any way you want.
Of course, if you find any bugs or issues with the source code for GitHub’s Windows Terminal, share them with the world so everyone may contribute and get rid of them.
How can I install Windows Terminal from Microsoft Store on Windows 10?
If you would rather use the Store to install this tool, feel free to do so. This is the fastest way of getting the tool on your PC. This is what you need to do:
Launch Microsoft Store.
In the search box, type Windows Terminal.
Click on the result for the Windows Terminal app.
Press on the Get button. The app will start downloading and installing in no time.
Hope that the wait was worth it. Are you excited about the new Windows Terminal or it’s not that important for you? Leave the answer and any other questions you may have in the comments section below.
Three more games are available to play for free this weekend for subscribers to Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate via Xbox Free Play Days. The Free Play Days event will run from today, Thursday October 13, through Sunday, October 16. Here are this week’s Free Play Days selections.
Fight for the yellow jersey in the official game of the Tour de France, available this weekend during Free Play Days!
Another solid lineup for Xbox Free Play Days this week. Which has you the most excited to jump into? Let us know in the comments section. You can learn more about Xbox Free Play Days here.
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