How to Make YouTube Dark Mode

Posted on September 30, 2022October 1, 2025 by Teodor Nechita

Watching YouTube videos can be extremely fun, especially when it is something that you are passionate about.

However, you are still staring at a screen for hours, and that is not good for your eyes. This is why it is recommended that you use dark themes on your PC or smartphone.

How can I turn on Dark Mode on YouTube?

1. Enable Dark Mode from the web browser

1. Open YouTube on your web browser.
2. Click on your profile icon in the top-right corner of the screen.
3. Navigate to Appearance: Device theme and click on it.
4. Choose Dark Theme from the list of options.
5. The Dark Theme is now applied on your YouTube. If you want to change it back, simply choose the Light theme from the previous menu.

YouTube allows you to easily change its theme to Dark Mode via its built-in Settings. This method works the same way regardless of what web browser you are using.

Keep in mind that his method works even if you are not signed into YouTube. Just press the 3 dots next to the Sign-in button, and the Dark mode option will be there as well.

Additionally, this change will be saved to that particular browser only, and will not sync over to other browsers where you are logged in with the same Google account.

You can also enable total dark mode for all the content you visit using a particular browser. However, this method varies depending on the browser.

Before changing the theme, use this quick guide to login to YouTube so Dark Mode is saved to your account and syncs across devices.

2. Use a browser extension

Plenty of dedicated browser extensions will add a dark mode to your browsers, either just for YouTube or for browsing any type of content.

2.1 Best dark mode extensions for Google Chrome

2.2 Best dark mode extensions for Mozilla Firefox

Dark Reader

2.3 Best dark mode extension for Microsoft Edge

Night Eye

These extensions have proven themselves to be the best of their kind for their respective browsers.

That being said, you should go ahead and try them out. Not only will they simplify the process of changing to dark mode on YouTube, but some will even bring some extra features as well. And don’t stop at YouTube, you can also switch on dark mode on your Microsoft Word.

Does YouTube have a Dark Mode?

YouTube implemented a Dark Mode a while ago so that users could enjoy their content for more. YouTube’s Dark Mode will make viewing videos more relaxing for the eyes.

The Dark Mode theme is available on the YouTube website and YouTube’s mobile apps for iPhone, iPad, and Android.

However, accessing YouTube’s Dark Mode isn’t displayed in plain sight. That is why we’ve created the above step-by-step guide that will show you exactly how to make YouTube Dark Mode.

Also, check out how to optimize storage when downloading offline videos to avoid the not enough storage error message.

If you’re using Chrome, we also have a guide on how to turn off dark mode in Chrome, so don’t miss it.

Did you find this article useful? Did you manage to turn on YouTube’s Dark Mode? Let us know in the comment section below.

9 Best Antivirus Software for Exchange Servers

Posted on September 30, 2022October 27, 2025 by Milan Stanojevic

Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 comes with a set of technologies and features that support people and organizations at work with a focus on communication and collaboration.

It also helps lower the cost of ownership if you deploy it on-premise or on the cloud.

With Exchange 2013, you can get a reliable email, calendar, and contacts, with helpful tips for managing your email services securely and efficiently.

It delivers a rich, business-class email experience across your computers and other devices with an easier setup and maintenance.

In addition, you’ll benefit from security and privacy with built-in antimalware protection and data loss prevention capabilities, plus many more features.

If you feel you want added security, you can get the best antivirus for Exchange Server 2013 or 2016 besides the built-in antimalware and antispam filtering it comes with for your mailboxes.

What is the best antivirus for Microsoft Exchange?

Panda Security Essential – Best for big servers and businesses

Panda’s Security Essential protects the productivity of your business with the best antivirus for Exchange 2013 and your workstations.

It features antispam and web filtering so you can say goodbye to saturated inboxes thanks to antispam protection against malicious messages in Exchange servers.

It also monitors and filters website categories that are unproductive or dangerous during working hours without installing add-ons on your browser.

As long as you have the necessary licenses, you can use the web console to enable protection for the Exchange Server and apply it to any Exchanger servers you are managing, as it supports Exchange 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016.

You get protection in three modules: antivirus, antispam, and content filtering, which let you scan for viruses, hacking tools, and malware sent to the Exchange server mailboxes

The software also detects and neutralizes spam, and filters email messages based on the extension of attached files.

You can also monitor the status of the protection for the Exchange server in the window of the computer, plus reports generated by Panda Cloud Office Protection Advanced.

Panda Security Essential

Panda Security Essential is reliable protection software for your company.

Check price Visit Website

Bitdefender GravityZone – Best security against all threats

Bitdefender’s GravityZone delivers top security for your mail servers on-premise and is proven as the best antispam protection for mail servers.

It ensures a secure messaging and collaboration environment while protecting physical and virtual mail servers.

Some of the key benefits of using Bitdefender antivirus for Exchange 2013 include simple and fast installation, real-time antimalware, antivirus, antiphishing, and antispam.

The software also covers any email transfer protocol used in Exchange, plus you enjoy the award-winning protection for your mail servers.

Features include multiple layers of security for messaging with behavioral analysis and zero-day threat protection, email traffic filtering with attachment, and content filtering.

Benefit from antimalware scanning which is offloaded to centralized security servers, on-demand scans, support for database availability groups, and cover for email transfer protocols among others.

For business or enterprise, you can deploy any or all security services in Bitdefender’s GravityZone including Security for Exchange.

Bitdefender GravityZone

Most secure tools protect your data from malware, adware, and other harmful software.

Check price Visit Website

ESET Home Security Essential – Most complete set of options for security

ESET HOME Security Essential’s Mail Security for Microsoft Exchange server is an antivirus that safeguards your email with simple set-and-forget protection against malware and spam.

Features include antivirus and antispam to eliminate all types of threats with high interception rates, or Local Quarantine of spam and undelivered messages.

They are accessible and manageable by mailbox owners via a standalone browser, plus optimization for virtual environments with snapshot independence and native clustering support.

You also get the benefit of fully managing your system remotely using ESET HOME Security Essential’s Remote Administrator web console.

ESET HOME Security Essential offers protection for your complex infrastructure and a wide range of combinations for handling every message with standard and advanced parameters.

device control to ensure no unauthorized offline media are used in your network or to allow different access levels and database on-demand scanning to conserve server resources.

ESET HOME Security Essential

Protect your devices and network from internet threats with ESET HOME Security Essential!

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Vipre – Best data-breaching protection

Vipre is a full cybersecurity software that can defend your system against popular attack vectors like endpoints, email, and networks.

This complete antivirus software provides high-quality security for both professional and personal activities.

Regarding email protection, you will get reliable support to defend your emails from serious malware threats like trojans and rootkits, spyware, and so on.

Vipre can deliver improved antivirus tools for your company’s safety by protecting the email database with multi-layered support and virus detection tools.

In addition, every business owner can benefit from endpoint security. This cloud-based product shows a dashboard with relevant information for each endpoint of your business.

The Network Protection functionality can successfully defend your company from malware like zero-day attacks or other advanced virus risks.

Hence, you should benefit from all the security benefits and shield users’ personal data, and avoid phishing attempts or data breaches.

Avast Business Antivirus – Great solution for business security

This antivirus for Exchange 2013 delivers Exchange server protection such that whatever is uploaded and emailed on your network is protected.

Avast Business Antivirus Pro offers Exchange server protection to keep out malware from your drive, inbox, or your business.

It scans and filters emails with malicious attachments or unsafe links to ensure internal communications are not threatened by malware.

The business hub allows you to easily manage and deploy the settings from one software to many other endpoints.

Benefit from powerful malware protection that combines malware and machine learning to detect the most recent and undetectable viruses.

The software also includes layered protection for your Sharepoint and Exchange server-sensitive data.

Kaspersky Endpoint Security Business – Great endpoint protection

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Kaspersky Endpoint Security for Business protects your servers from crypto-lockers, malware, and spam which are usually distributed via email channels.

It comes for two types of business: Small (starting with 3 PCs) and Medium (starting with 10 PCs).

In order to prevent exposure to such risks and protect your business infrastructure, Kaspersky’s Security for Microsoft Exchange delivers a world-class mail server security solution against malware and spam for your mail servers.

Features include a powerful antimalware engine, comprehensive antimalware scanning capabilities, and intelligent spam detection.

It also includes a content-aware DLP module and Kaspersky Private Security Network support to prevent sensitive business data leakages.

Norton 360 Deluxe – Great overall email security

Norton antivirus for Exchange 2013 provides email security software and prevents the spread of malware using Symantec’s malware prevention technology.

The software uses Symantec Mail Security for Microsoft Exchange directly to your on-premises infrastructure.

You get real-time email protection against malware, phishing, and targeted attacks, plus 99 percent spam blockage thanks to Brightmail technology.

Norton antivirus supports Microsoft Exchange server 2007, 2010, and 2013 in almost any scenario including hosting mode, on Microsoft Hyper-V, or VMware virtualization platforms.

Symantec Mail Security for Microsoft Exchange complements other layers of protection by preventing malware from spreading, and spam attacks while enforcing data loss prevention policies in your organization.

F-Secure Safe – Great server security and protection

This antivirus for Exchange 2013 offers protection using the F-Secure Email and Server Security, which can be licensed and deployed on a per-server basis or per-user or terminal connection basis.

Features include viruses and spyware protection, and DeepGuard for proactive and instant protection while monitoring behavior to stop potentially harmful activities in real time.

Moreover, the software also has web traffic scanning, browsing protection, spam control, software updater, and EMC CAVA environment support.

F-Secure’s antivirus for Microsoft Exchange protects incoming, outgoing, and internal mail traffic and public folders from malware and other threats while providing content and attachment filtering.

The email quarantine manager allows dedicated users to release, reprocess, and delete quarantined emails and attachments from the email quarantine.

Trend Micro – Good mail scanning features

This antivirus for Exchange 2013 uses the ScanMail Suite for superior protection for your Microsoft Exchange servers.

Most, if not all, targeted attacks start with phishing emails so your mail server’s security is more important today than ever before.

Unfortunately, most mail server security software relies on pattern file updates which don’t detect every type of malware.

They don’t have specific protections to detect malicious links, URLs, or document exploits used for attacks or advanced and persistent threats.

ScanMail Suite for Microsoft Exchange stops these attacks and phishing by using document exploit detection, enhanced web reputation, and sandboxing for defense which you won’t find with other security solutions.

It also blocks traditional malware with email, file, and web technology plus correlated global threat intelligence from Trend Micro’s Smart Protection Network cloud-based security.

Features include central management, data loss prevention, and role-based access, which give you benefits such as lower overheads and high performance for the fastest mail throughput speeds.

⇒ Get Trend Micro for Exchange 2013

Which of these antiviruses for Exchange 2013 do you like or have you used before? Share with us in the comments section below.

6 Ways to Fix Error Code C00T01R-1X in Age of Empires 4

Posted on September 30, 2022September 13, 2025 by Henderson Jayden Harper

Age of Empires 4 is the fourth instalment of the Age of Empires game series. It is a real-time strategy video game with realistic environments that allows players to expand their empires.

However, Age of Empires 4 is not a perfect game. It develops issues and suffers from some bugs. The Age of Empires 4 error code: C00T01R-1X is one of the errors players report about the game.

Furthermore, games like the Age of Empires 4 are liable to encounter errors because the update process is continual. So, one or two bugs don’t make the game any less fun and enjoyable.

Also, you may encounter the Age of Empires 4 Error code: COOT01R-1X-13 52656C6903A8 stating that you are currently offline or not yet connected to Steam Xbox Live.

Nevertheless, the Age of Empires 4 error code C00T01R-1X can appear for various reasons. Network connection issues, game updates, etc., can affect how the game works and prompt error codes.

What is the error code C00T01R-1X?

The error code C00T01R-1X entails many errors and difficulties users may encounter when playing Age of Empires 4. It indicates network connection issues with the game.

Furthermore, the error code C00T01R-1X may appear in many instances in the game. It may indicate that you are either offline or not yet connected to Steam Xbox Live. Also, it can mean No connection, can’t play online, or save progress.

Also, the error code may pop up if the game’s server is down, preventing users from accessing it.

How do I fix the error code C00T01R-1X in Age of Empire 4?

1. Check your network connection

Your router may develop issues, and it may affect your connection. Hence, you can restart the router to help reset its connections and improve its performance.

Likewise, you can switch to a wireless connection if connected to a LAN network.

2. Update your game to the latest version

Launch your Steam Client.
Select the Library tab and right-click on the Age of Empires 4 game.
Then choose Properties from the drop-down.
Select the Updates option and select the Always Keep This Game Updated option.

Enabling this feature will help you install updates automatically.

3. Use a VPN

Go to ExpressVPN’s official website and download it on your PC.

Open the app and select Choose location to see the available IP addresses.
From the Recommended button, select your region.

Enjoy using the ExpressVPN service.

ExpressVPN is a VPN service that is safe to use for solving packet loss. It helps you reduce ping, easily resolve ISP throttling, and lower latency to boost your gaming experience. It has a great split tunneling feature that allows you to which programs you can route your internet connection over the VPN server.

You can also get a secure and private connection by using the Smart location feature in the app that can recommend the quintessential location for you based on anonymous metrics such as download speed, latency, and distance.

ExpressVPN

Enjoy your gaming experience with high-speed connectivity and strong data protection with ExpressVPN.

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4. Change to set time and date automatically

Press Start on your computer.
Select Settings from the menu.
Select the Time and Language option and navigate the Date and Time tab.
Toggle on the Set Time Automatically option.

Ensuring that your time and date are correct can fix Age of Empires 4 Connection Lost: Error C00T01R-2x-01.

5. Check the AOE server status

The Age of Empires team initiates maintenance procedures for the game, and the servers are always down for the time being.

Hence, you may encounter issues with the game. We recommend you check the AOE Se rver Status page for updates about the time for maintenance.

6. Allow Age of Empires 4 through Windows Firewall

Press the Windows + I keys simultaneously to open the Settings app.
Click on Update & Security, then select the Windows Security option from the left pane of the screen.
Click the Virus & threat protection option.
Scroll down and click on Manage ransomware protection.
Click on Allow an app through Controlled folder access, then click the + Add an allowed app button and Browse all apps.
Go to the game’s installation folder, select the RelicCardinal executable file and click Open.

For Windows users, check how to fix the Age of Empires 3 not working on your PC.

What are the Age of Empires system requirements?

Unlike other games, the minimum PC requirements to run the Age of Empire smoothly will permit almost any modern PC to run the game.

However, for a much better gaming experience, it might be better to meet the recommended specs as specified below.

System requirements	Minimum	Recommended
OS:	Windows 10 64bit or Windows 11 64bit	Windows 10 64bit or Windows 11 64bit
CPU:	Intel Core i5-6300U or AMD Ryzen 5 2400G \| CPU with AVX support	3.6 GHz 6-core (Intel i5) or AMD Ryzen 5 1600 \| CPU with AVX support
Memory:	8 GB RAM	16 GB RAM
Graphics:	Intel HD 520 or AMD Radeon RX Vega 11	Nvidia GeForce 970 GPU or AMD Radeon RX 570 GPU with 4GB of VRAM
DirectX:	Version 12	Version 12
Storage:	50 GB available space	50 GB available space

The minimum requirements consist of the lowest features of the device that can run the game, while the recommended requirements consist of the best features for the game.

Readers may be interested in ways to fix failed connections to multiplayer services in AOE 2. Also, you can check our article on ways to resolve issues with changing graphics settings in Age of Empires 4.

9 Best Antivirus with USB Scanner for Windows 10/11

Posted on September 30, 2022September 26, 2025 by Milan Stanojevic

Users who want to scan their USB flash drives for any malware or threats before opening the files therein may find an antivirus with a USB scanner very handy.

With the USB scanner, you’re able to automatically scan any USB drive that is inserted into your computer or laptop with a simple click and see whether your USB is infected or not.

Third-parties software can help you prevent malware from spreading through your USB drive. Not only it can scan your USB drive, but also eliminate all types of threats, including worms, rootkits, and spyware from it.

More importantly, it protects you from unintentionally spreading malware to your home or other shared computers.

Here is the best antivirus with a USB scanner compatible with Windows 10, that will protect your computer from viruses and other malware threats that can sneak in through a USB stick.

What is the best antivirus with a USB scanner?

TotalAV – Top-notch detection rate

TotalAV is a premium antivirus solution with a high-quality set of security features and an excellent detection rate.

This software offers various scanning options. You can scan temporary files for common viruses, or the full system for malware. You can also run a smart scan for tracking cookies and junk files and scan your external or USB devices.

Once the scanning process is complete, it allows you to take several actions on any found malware files, including delete, quarantine, whitelist, or even ignore them.

TotalAV has a WebShield characteristic that is designed to block phishing sites and online malware distributors. It prevents these threats from compromising your security and stealing your personal information.

You can proactively observe your personal email address and receive notifications in case your data is at risk. You can also clear any trace of your browsing activity and remove all your web browser tracking cookies.

TotalAV

Protect your USB and all other devices from viruses and online threats with TotalAV powerful solution.

Check Price Visit Website

ESET Antivirus – Premium technology

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ESET Antivirus with USB scanner is designed to secure your USB drive using the USB DriveSecurity to protect your system and networks.

The award-winning ESET Antivirus engine detects and eliminates malware and other Internet threats before they’re transmitted onto your portable drives.

This means that any files on your USB are malware-free and safe to share with others. DriveSecurity operates from the USB drive itself so you don’t have to install anything on a host computer.

Now you can share files, play games, or even collaborate knowing your USB drives are safe. It is fast, convenient, and compatible with Windows.

You can also use public or shared computers knowing your drive and sensitive data on it is safe from any attempts to install spyware or worms.

ESET Antivirus

ESET antivirus protects you across multiple platforms, and you can rest assured that your USBs are malware-free.

Free trialVisit website

Panda Dome – Good malware blocker

This antivirus with a USB scanner comes with the Panda USB vaccine, a free antimalware to block malware from spreading to your computer through USB flash drives.

There is an increasing number of viruses that spread via USB flash drives and other removable devices like memory sticks, digital cameras, and other devices.

Panda’s USB Vaccine offers a double layer of preventive protection that allows you to disable the autorun feature on computers as well as USB drives.

USB Vaccine disables the autorun file so it cannot be read, modified, or replaced by malicious code. It is a useful tool that offers a high degree of protection against infections from removable devices.

When applied to a USB drive, it will permanently block the innocuous autorun.inf file, preventing it from any action that may modify it, but, you can use the drive normally by copying files to and from it.

However, files will be prevented from opening automatically.

Panda

Use an antivirus with great device management, USB protection and real time monitoring.

Check priceVisit website

Kaspersky – Multitude scanning options

An infected USB drive can ruin your computer when it is inserted without being scanned for any threats.

In order to protect your computer from the dangers of viruses and malware, you need to have an antivirus with a USB scanner.

Kaspersky PURE comes with three scanning options: Quick scan, Full scan, or Do not scan.

To configure the automatic scan of USB drives upon insertion, click Settings and select General Settings in the Scan section.

In the Scan removal drives on connection section, select either quick scan, full scan, or Do not scan options, the latter of which will not scan removable drives on their connection.

You can also specify the maximum drive size to scan. It is compatible with Windows platforms, Mac, and mobile devices as well.

Kaspersky

Use an antivirus with real-time protection against malware infections and ransomware from USB.

Free trialVisit website

Avira – Thorough antivirus solution

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Avira is another great choice if you are looking for a free antivirus solution for your PC. It is comprehensive, professional-level cybersecurity.

Avira protection will block all online threats you can think of, like malicious websites, ransomware, and any spyware that you can get while surfing the Internet.

As per the USB flash drives or other media storage connected to your computer, the antivirus will block any infected device. So, you don’t have to worry when using a USB with documents from another PC.

You can choose between a full scan and a quick scan. The full scan checks your whole PC, searching even through the most obscure areas of your system, while the quick scan checks only the most vulnerable areas of your device.

Furthermore, Avira monitors and scans all the files you access or interact with and notifies you if they are safe or infected. In case of infection, this software won’t let the malicious file make changes to your PC.

Avira

Use a comprehensive cybersecurity solution that will scan and block infected USB devices.

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Sophos – Simple interface

Sophos antivirus with USB scanner is useful for scanning removable devices as it detects devices upon insertion, and when you access a file.

This program runs an on-access scan subject to the configuration you set up on your computer. You can also set up an on-demand scan and select the removable device you want scanning.

If you want to run an additional scan when you insert a USB drive, you can right-click on the USB drive, and then select Scan with Sophos antivirus.

Sophos has implemented remote app control which allows you to configure settings for your device, monitor it from a distance, and schedule anti-malware scans.

It also has a ransomware protection that restores your device if ransomware restricts your access to it. It constantly checks the processes that interfere with your PC and files. Thus, if any suspicious activity interferes with your PC, it will be blocked immediately from causing you damage.

Sophos

Use an antivirus with artificial intelligence threat detection that scans removable devices automatically when you insert them.

Free trialVisit website

Avast Free Antivirus – Facile operation

Whenever you plug an unknown USB drive into your computer, you’re risking your system because malware can spread or get into the drive itself.

Avast Free Antivirus with USB scanner has pre-defined scans installed such as the ability to scan any USB device connected to your computer.

It will detect potential auto-run programs that may try to launch when the drive is inserted. Avast Free Antivirus checks every file to determine its type and whether it should be scanned.

If you want to carry out a manual scan of USB drives instead, you need to select the Scan tab which will open the Scan screen.

The Quick scan option performs a scan of the C drive which usually detects the majority of malware found in files with dangerous extensions.

While a full system scan performs a detailed scan of all your computer’s hard disk and finds any possible infected programs, files, etc.

Avast Free Antivirus

A trustworthy program that protects your USB drives and devices safe from malicious activity.

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Bitdefender USB Immunizer – Great malware prevention

This leading, powerful Bitdefender antivirus created the USB immunizer as a response to the growing malware issues, especially the autorun-based malware, which has been a nuisance e-threat globally.

Some of the autorun-based malware that has troubled USB drive users for years include the Trojan.AutorunInf, the Conficker worm, and/or Worm.Autorun.VHD.

Bitdefender introduced the USB immunizer becoming one of the antiviruses with a USB scanner with powerful action against malware detected once USB drives are inserted into a computer.

The USB immunizer disables threats before they access the computer and once installed, it constantly monitors and watches for newly inserted USB devices and immunizes them on the fly.

In the event that you plug in an infected USB drive accidentally, and it hasn’t been immunized, your computer won’t auto-execute the malware located in the USB device.

You can immunize a USB device as soon as it is plugged into the computer if you have the USB immunizer running, by ticking the automatically immunize USB drives box under the Options tab.

Each non-immunized USB drive plugged into your computer will be automatically immunized.

However, the USB immunizer only lists removable media as they are most prone to infections such as the autorun.inf type.

⇒ Get Bitdefender USB Immunizer

Trend Micro – Dynamic application

Trend Micro antivirus with USB scanner features real time virus scan with its USB Security tool so that if a threat is detected, an alert screen displays, and the infected files are isolated immediately.

USB Security also auto-updates on pattern files owing to the dynamic nature of threats, and automatically updates its pattern files, though you can also get manual updates.

It also keeps an interactive reference log of virus detection results where you can restore or delete any file on the quarantine list.

When it detects a virus, it cleans the infected file(s), but if the clean fails, the file(s) is automatically quarantined and you get a notification about it.

⇒ Get Trend Micro USB Security

If you want to discover more software to protect your computer, check our guide including the best lifetime license antivirus tools.

Which antivirus with a USB scanner do you use? Did it make the list? Share with us your favorite, and your experience with it in the comments section below.

Fix: Conexant ISST Audio not Working in Windows 10/11

Posted on September 30, 2022October 7, 2025 by Ivan Jenic

Depending on your sound card or the current version of the sound driver, you can face some sound problems in Windows 10.

For example, users of Conexant SmartAudio HD Audio or Conexant ISST Audio noticed sound issues after upgrading to Windows 10.

If you’re one of them, we’ve compiled a few workarounds for this problem. Let us know which one worked for you.

What does Conexant ISST audio mean?

Conexant Systems, Inc. created the software Conexant ISST Audio.

The operating system receives instructions from a software package, which includes the audio driver. The instructions enable your sound card, speakers, and microphone to process sound inputs and outputs from your operating system.

With almost 98% of all installs now running this version, 9.0.134.1 is the most popular. UIU64a.exe is the primary program executable. The software installer consists of 3 files and is typically 9.64 MB in size.

Why am I having issues with Conexant ISST Audio driver on Windows 11?

If Conexant HD audio microphone driver isn’t working is not working on Windows 11, it’s possible that the driver is corrupted, so it needs to be reinstalled.

Static noise in Windows can also indicate a driver issue, so you might have to update your drivers to the latest version and check if that helps.

It’s also possible that you have issues with the sound card, and if that happens, you’ll get Failed to play test tone message on your PC.

What can I do if Conexant ISST Audio is not working?

Update your drivers
Disable audio enhancements
Change maximum memory
Change the default sound format
Run the Audio Troubleshooter

1. Update your drivers

Go to Search, type device manager, and open Device Manager.
Expand Sound, video and game controllers, right-click on your Conexant SmartAudio driver and select Update driver.
Click on Search automatically for drivers.

If you haven’t updated your drivers, we recommend you to head to the Device Manager and check for the updates of your drivers.

You can choose to search automatically for an updated driver or browse the computer if you have a driver file.

Follow the on-screen instructions, and don’t forget to restart your computer. Sometimes, a restart is required for the new driver to work.

Alternatively, you can use dedicated software that does this job while recommending the right updates. Remember that such a tool will be useful for future similar scans.

⇒ Get Fortect Driver Updater

2. Disable audio enhancements

Right-click on the Speakers icon in the taskbar and open Playback devices.
Open your default playback device by double-clicking on it.
Go to Enhancements tab and check Disable all enhancements.
Click OK and restart your computer.

Now try if your Conexant HD Audio works, if not, try some of the following solutions.

3. Change Maximum memory

Go to Search, type msconfig, and open System Configuration.
Go to the Boot tab, and click Advanced options.
Set Maximum memory to 3072 (this happens to be the best option).
Restart your computer.

4. Change the default sound format

Right-click on the Speakers icon in the taskbar and open Playback devices.
Open your default playback device by double-clicking on it.
Go to the Advanced tab, and change the bitrate under Default sound format until you find the one that’s working.
Click OK.

5. Run the Audio Troubleshooter

Click on the Start menu and select the Settings app.
Click on Update & security.
Choose Troubleshoot from the left pane, and click on Run the troubleshooter under the Recording Audio option.

How can I fix Conexant ISST Audio if it’s not working on Windows 11?

The techniques to fix this error on Windows 11 are fairly similar.

You must remember that both operating systems have a lot of similarities, and aside from sporadic UI variations, there won’t be many visually obvious distinctions.

As a result, we advise that you pick a solution and implement it on any Windows 11 devices you own.

Can I uninstall Conexant Isst audio?

Yes, it is possible to uninstall this driver. But you must note that drivers play a special function; once installed, the hardware they control would no longer function properly.

You simply have to look for and launch Device Manager in Windows. Select Uninstall device from the context menu when you right-click the Conexant High Definition SmartAudio driver.

That’s it, we’ve already shown you how to solve Conexant HD microphone problems, and now, I hope this article will help you solve sound problems.

These solutions will work if Cconexant isst audio is not working, is not connected, has no sound in HP, or if Conexant isst audio headphones do not work on your PC.

Let us know what solution has worked for you, and remember you do not need to try out all the solutions, simply test what seems most appropriate to you.

8 Ways to Fix Windows 10/11 Control Panel Not Opening

Posted on September 30, 2022March 20, 2024 by Madalina Dinita

Windows 10 and 11 are definitely a great improvement when compared to the previous iterations in the Windows series. But, one of the problems that remained in all these is the Control Panel not opening.

The issue is certainly not new and has been faced by users for a long time. And it’s usually not the OS to blame but rather the Windows settings or how things have been configured.

So, let’s find out why Control Panel is not opening in Windows 10 and 11 and the best ways to fix things.

Why is Control Panel not opening?

Here are the primary reasons you are facing the problem:

Improper installation of the OS: Initial issues during installation might damage the essential software components, and as a result, the Control Panel or even the Settings app won’t open in Windows 11.
Corrupt user profile: When there are problems with the user profile, it will be evident through the performance and persistent errors. Creating a new account will work in this case.
Issues with the system files: In case of corrupt system files, apps start to crash, and you may even encounter a Blue Screen of Death.

How do I fix Control Panel if it won’t open?

1. Run a full system scan

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

Did you know that malware causes many problems for Windows-based PCs? You can easily get rid of these problems by eliminating the malware using a reliable anti-malware program like Windows Security, a built-in tool.

In case it doesn’t work, there are always effective third-party antiviruses that should do the job.

2. Disable startup programs

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager and navigate to the Startup tab.
You will see a list of programs that automatically start running when the PC starts running. Right-click on them individually, and select Disable from the context menu.
Be careful and do not disable a program that may harm your PC in some way. Google is your friend, so use it.

There is a possibility that a program running at your PC’s startup is causing some sort of problem with the Control Panel and is behind it not opening in Windows 10. Disabling that program will do the trick in this case, though you will have to disable many others in the process.

3. Disable the Windows Error Reporting Service

Press Windows + R to open Run, type services.msc in the text field, and hit Enter.
Locate the Windows Error Reporting Service, right-click on it, and select Properties.
Select Disabled from the Startup type dropdown menu.
Now, click the Stop button, wait for the service to stop running, and then click on OK to save the changes.

If Control Panel is not showing in Windows 10, you may try disabling the Windows Error Reporting Service and verify if that makes a difference. For most of you, it should. In case it doesn’t work, head to the next method.

4. Run the System File Checker scan

Type Command Prompt in the Search bar, and click on Run as administrator to the right.
Click Yes in the UAC prompt.
Now, paste the following command and hit Enter: sfc /scannow
Wait for the scan to complete.

If Windows 10 Control Panel won’t open, running the SFC scan can help fix things. It will identify the corrupt system files and replace them with their cached copies.

To save you more time, you can always rely on specialized tools that will help you with the whole scanning and restoring process.

5. Clear the temporary files

Press Windows + R to open Run, type %temp% in the text field, and hit Enter.
Now, press Ctrl + A to select all the files here, and hit Del to clear them.
Choose the appropriate response in case a confirmation prompt appears.

When the Control Panel closes after opening, it could be the temporary files to blame. And clearing them should fix things.

6. Tweak the Registry

Press Windows + R to open Run, type regedit in the text field, and click OK.
Click Yes in the UAC prompt that pops up.
Now, paste the following path in the address bar and hit Enter:Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell
Right-click on the BagMRU key and select Delete.
Click Yes in the confirmation prompt.
Similarly, delete the Bags key.

Many Windows 10 users confirmed that deleting the BagMRU and Bags folders brought Control Panel back. Before you tweak your Registry, don’t forget to first back it up. In case anything goes wrong, you’ll be able to restore a working copy of it.

7. Change display scaling

Other users confirmed that changing the display settings fixed the problem. As surprising as this solution may seem, it worked for many, so it’s worth giving it a try.

In case you scaled your display beyond 100%, this might explain why Control Panel is not available. So, if you are using any other setting for the text, or apps, scale it down to 100%.

8. Reset Windows 10

Most users who reported that the Control Panel is not opening in Windows 10 started facing the issue after an upgrade. In this case, it’s likely that Windows didn’t install properly.

And the best option here would be to factory reset Windows 10. You would lose the installed apps, configured settings, and saved files, but this is the method that worked for most.

How do I fix Control Panel if it won’t open on Windows 11?

When the Control Panel won’t open in Windows 11, your primary approach should be to run a malware scan using an effective antivirus compatible with Windows 11.

If that doesn’t work, try running the DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) tool and the SFC (System File Checker) scan. These are effective at fixing corrupt system files, a likely cause behind the problem.

And performing a System Restore should also do when you cannot open Control Panel in Windows 11. In case nothing works, there’s always the option to reset Windows 11 to its factory settings, though it should be used as a last resort.

What is the shortcut key for Control Panel?

Microsoft doesn’t offer a shortcut key to open Control Panel in Windows, though the process to access it is simple, and there are several ways.

The easiest is to launch in from the Run command. Simply type Control and hit Enter. Other methods include the Search menu, Start menu, and Power User menu.

These are some of the working solutions that have fixed things when the Control Panel is not opening in Windows.

Also, find out how to improve the performance of a Windows 10 PC.

If you know of any other solutions, kindly drop them in the comments section to help your fellow Windows users.

How to Recover Deleted Dropbox Files

Posted on September 30, 2022October 4, 2023 by Milan Stanojevic

Sometimes, accidents can happen. You mistook one file for another and you deleted it from Dropbox. However, you needed that document, and now it is nowhere to be found.

Also, it might seem that you need that document after all. It is important for an app that stores data to have an option to recover lost files and folders.

Dropbox has this flexibility, so you can recover your files after you deleted them.

Moreover, we recommend keeping your data on hardware as well. There are situations when you don’t have access to the Internet and you need a certain document.

Not being able to recover your lost files could be a major issue for some users, but luckily, Dropbox has your back. So, today we will show you how to recover deleted Dropbox files.

How can I recover deleted files from Dropbox?

1. Launch the Dropbox app or go to Dropbox.com.
2. Go to Files.
3. Click on Deleted files in the sidebar.
4. Select the name of the deleted file or folder you want to recover. It is worth mentioning that you can select multiple documents at once by clicking the checkbox icon.

If you don’t find your deleted file, type the name (or part of the name) of the document in the search box.
5. Click Restore. If you’re restoring a large number of files, this will take some time. It is worth mentioning that you can select multiple documents at once by clicking the checkbox icon.

If you recently deleted some files on Dropbox, you can recover them very easily from the Deleted files page.

Do note that you cannot recover files that were deleted more than 30 days ago using this method if you have a Basic, Family or a Plus account. Professional and Business accounts have the period extended to 180 days.

Also, it is worth mentioning that you can recover only the files where you have editing access. The read-only documents are deleted for good from the first click.

As you can see, there is nothing to worry about. You can recover your deleted files from Dropbox quite easily. Of course, if you click on Permanently delete, you will delete your files for good.

Can I recover permanently deleted files in Dropbox?

Unfortunately, permanently deleted files cannot be recovered under any circumstance. The same goes for files that were deleted more than 30 or 180 days ago, depending on your account type.

So, the delete function in Dropbox works like Recycle Bin in Windows. By clicking on Delete, you move the files to the trash.

Moreover, if you have a Business or a Professional account, you can search a certain document by any keyword from the file.

Regardless of your account, you can search for many types of documents, such as Word files, PowerPoint documents, PDFs, Notepad files, and so on.

Did you find our methods useful? Do let us know in the comments section below!

11 Best Antiviruses With Offline Updates [2026 Guide]

Posted on September 30, 2022October 8, 2025 by Ivan Jenic

Antivirus signatures need to be up to date to prevent or remove threats easily. However, most antivirus companies provide offline virus definition signatures.

This means that new patches can be easily downloaded from any computer and then manually install the updates on a system or device with a limited or no internet connection at all.

In this post, we have compiled a list of the best offline antivirus software that can update your device offline. Most of the software is easy to install; hence, you can download and update it whenever necessary.

This article will cover offline antivirus software that doesn’t need constant Internet connectivity to perform the job.

Another category of software that we’ll focus on is the antivirus offline installer that can be fully downloaded from the Internet and then installed on another PC that isn’t connected to the Internet.

Which antivirus can be updated offline?

Antivirus	Free	Free trial
TotalAV – Straightforward protection		✅
Bitdefender Total Security		✅
Avast Free Antivirus	✅
Avira		✅
Vipre Antivirus Plus		✅
Kaspersky Standard		✅
McAfee Antivirus Plus		✅
F-Secure Safe		✅
Comodo Antivirus		✅
Clam Antivirus (ClamAV)	✅
Trend Micro Maximum Security		✅

TotalAV – Straightforward protection

TotalAV keeps a local antivirus engine on the machine, so on-demand and scheduled scans still work when you are offline, while the cloud side improves detection whenever you are connected. Real-time protection, WebShield and the tune-up tools round it out.

TotalAV updates its definitions online and does not offer a downloadable offline update package, so it is not the right pick if that is the main requirement.

Local engine keeps scanning offline
Real-time protection and WebShield when online
Scheduled scans
Tune-up tools

TotalAV

Benefit from advanced protection even when you’re offline with this excellent antivirus software.

Free Trial Visit Website

Bitdefender Total Security – Best virus security

This is the Best Value for Windows PC Protection and it comes with different programs for PCs and Android mobile devices.

It is very compatible with Windows OS. This security software protects against malware on various devices and it is also very good for slow computers.

Bitdefender updates its offline definition files once every week, usually on a Friday. The update file is a setup installer; hence, run the installer file to install the updates.

Ensure you get the correct 32-bit or 64-bit version for the operating system Bitdefender software is installed on. As far as online protection is concerned, Bitdefender is indeed the top antivirus tool.

Review of its most important features:

Best threat detection rates
Light on your system but feature-rich
Dedicated browser for safe online banking
Bitdefender VPN for perfect identity protection

When it comes to offline updates, when the computer has no internet access, Bitdefender provides its users with a thorough tutorial on how to do it via a special app on its website.

With its unbeatable threat detection that can stop sophisticated malware and its innovative technologies that protect you against zero-day attacks, Bitdefender is the perfect antivirus for your PC.

Bitdefender Total Security

Trust this antivirus software built on advanced technology for real-time security even on a slow PC.

Free trial Visit Website

Avast Free Antivirus – Best free antivirus option

First of all, Avast Free Antivirus software is ideal for PCs and other devices. It offers great protection against online threats and thanks to the new Behavior Shield feature it provides enhanced security.

This antivirus supports offline updates and is compatible with Windows OS. In addition, the Avast VPS Definitions file will update versions 5-8 of any Avast product with a separate download for the older v4.

Avast Free Antivirus still remains the best option for users who don’t want to pay for using the software. It works offline and offers great protection for your PC against the occasional pop-ups.

Take a look at some of its best features:

Do Not Disturb mode with popup blocker
Centralized license management
Easy to use and maintain
Friendly and simple user interface
Behavioral Shield feature for app monitoring

Maintain your online identity completely hidden with Avast. The AntiTrack feature is exactly what you need when browsing online.

Moreover, some premium tune-up tools are always welcomed. Cleanup your PC, delete random files, and unused programs to make your PC run at the highest performance.

Avast Free Antivirus

Protect your device when you’re offline with this professional antivirus that can ensure optimum security.

Free download Visit Website

Avira – Best unique features

Avira antivirus has become one of the best solutions for protecting your computer and it’s perfect for users who want an antimalware tool that can update offline.

One great feature of this offline antivirus is the Speed Booster which enhances the capacity of your computer by speeding up your system.

With Avira antivirus, your personal data is perfectly safe thanks to the Identity Protection feature that provides you with powerful passwords for your accounts that you don’t have to remember.

A very important element is also the fact that you get a free VPN that protects your personal information while you’re online and prevents other sites from tracking you.

Consider some of Avira’s top features:

Free VPN included
Performance and speed booster for your PC
Password protection for advanced privacy
Phishing and ransomware advanced protection

To simply update Avira antivirus offline, you just have to get the latest virus definitions version, put it on a USB stick and then select Manual Update from Avira’s interface.

Avira is an amazing antivirus, with plenty of features and security settings that will never let you down in a time of need.

Avira

Looking for great offline security? Rely on this lightweight antivirus with a variety of antimalware features.

Download Visit Website

Vipre Antivirus Plus – Most reliable and advanced

Vipre Antivirus Plus might not come with a load of extra options, but just with the essential ones, even in the Advanced or Ultimate plan.

However, the product is a very reliable, next-gen solution to protect your devices and it offers offline updates.

Besides being easy to set up, Vipre uses the latest technologies to detect not just the newest malware known in the industry, but also emerging and advanced threats that can compromise your system.

With Vipre, you get real-time protection and scanning for all your apps and programs upon launch, to ensure they are safe.

Let’s see what are the top features of Vipre:

Automatic updates and maintenance
Malware, spyware, and ransomware detection and removal
Anti-spam protects against phishing and other email exploits
Webcam and microphone blocker

The Ransomware Protection feature blocks any type of exploit before it gets a chance to run on your device.

If you can’t use the automatic antivirus updates, you can download the latest program definitions from the official Vipre website.

Vipre Antivirus Plus

If you’re looking for a strong tool for a slow PC, trust Vipre to offer the security you need.

Free trial Visit Website

Kaspersky Standard – Ease of use and fast to install

Kaspersky Internet Security is very good and compatible with Windows OS. It has everything you would need in a suite and its components are very effective.

This security software has a strong firewall that can give your system maximum protection against unknown connections. It has anti-malware security suitable to detect viruses before they infect your PC.

Kaspersky has a built-in VPN. You can use it to protect your identity online and access country-specific content.

Webcam protection, adult content blocker, screen-time management, and many more feature to discover on this amazing antivirus.

Let’s take a look at the best features of Kaspersky:

Secure password storing and management
File backup and encryption
Extra security for online banking transactions
Easy to setup and manage without any training
Protects your devices on multiple platforms

To update this software offline, download the zip file for the particular Kaspersky product you have. After extracting the zip, run the updater.bat file while waiting for the definitions to download.

After downloading the definitions, go to your software settings and update sources manually.

Kaspersky Standard

When it comes to an antivirus that does a great job even when you’re offline rely on Kaspersky.

Free trial Visit Website

McAfee Antivirus Plus – Great offline update feature

McAfee is amongst the best internet security software for Windows 10 and its particular characteristic is that it has an offline updates feature.

To update offline, simply download the DAT executable file from the website, run it and follow the instructions written on the screen.

McAfee is popular for providing protection for a variety of online threats by using complex technology. In addition, it also comes with a secure Wi-Fi connection.

Check out its top features below:

File encryption for enhanced data security
Built-in secure VPN for protecting your identity online
File shredder included
Wi-Fi scanning and protection

Besides basic antivirus protection, it also provides lost wallet protection, personal data cleanup, and identity theft coverage.

With multi-device security, you will never worry that any of your data might be leaked or your banking accounts might be accessed.

McAfee Antivirus Plus

Trust this amazing tool with high-quality features to protect your Windows 10 PC.

Free trial Visit Website

F-Secure Safe – Great trojan protection

This security software is the best for browser protection and also has one of the best antiviruses for Windows. It is compatible with Window OS.

It can protect your devices from ransomware, Trojans, and viruses and keeps all banking connections secured.

The F-Secure download page contains definition downloads for Windows and a rescue CD update. Hence, download the fsdbupdate9.exe which is under the manual update using fsdbupdate: Windows heading.

After downloading it, run the executable file to update spyware, antivirus, spam, and parental control definitions.

Take a look at some of F-Secure’s top features below:

30 years of experience in making security products
Protection against viruses, spyware, infected email attachments, and other malware
Automatic updates and real-time response
Advanced malware removal technology

F-Secure comes with plenty of features to increase your privacy. Virtual locations when browsing the web, tracking protection, as well as a personal VPN, are just some of them

More important, a kill switch is exactly what you need to prevent accidental leakage of your data during momentary VPN outages.

F-Secure

Online or offline, F-Secure will make sure it’s updated to counter the latest threats.

Free trial Visit Website

Comodo Antivirus – Great effectiveness against threats

This is certainly one of the best free antivirus programs available. It has a proprietary Defense+ technology that usually assumes an unknown file is a potential threat which makes it almost 100% effective.

A lot of antivirus programs assume unknown files are safe and only get concerned about files that have proven to be a problem.

Always, check the Summary date for the last update. If you want to update Comodo, it is ideal to boot your PC in safe mode before you proceed.

Check out its top features below:

Patented Auto Containment
Comodo File Reputation Lookup
Host Intrusion Prevention System
Virus Scope Behavior Analyzer

Comodo Antivirus can be easily updated offline via an external device such as a USB or external drive. Just download the latest virus definitions and install them on the computer with Comodo.

Comodo is a great antivirus with a wide variety of features for businesses and individuals that want excellent protection against viruses.

⇒ Get Comodo Antivirus

Clam Antivirus (ClamAV) – Great cross-platform security

ClamAV is free cross-platform and open-source software that effectively updates offline. This Antivirus software can easily detect different types of malicious software, including viruses.

It is mostly used on mail servers as a server-side email virus scanner.

Clam antivirus contains two definition files you can download, although the main.cvd is updated far less frequently than the daily.cvd, which is a more important download.

Consider some of ClamAV’s top features:

Open-source
Good anti-malware protection
Command line interface
Customization and additions are possible

ClamAV has great uses in malware analysis, malware detection and scanning. It targets the general public, malware analysts and system administrators.

ClamAV uses several anti-virus databases containing fingerprints of malware samples. Each scanning utility works with this set of databases.

⇒ Get ClamAV

Trend Micro Maximum Security – Good for multiple devices

This security software is the best choice for families who need to protect different types of devices because it’s compatible with Windows OS. It enables an offline update.

On the download page, there are several pattern files displayed, however, the consumer pattern at the topmost is all that is required to update your antivirus definitions.

Review of its most important features:

Protects and manages passwords
Keeps your children safe on the internet
Maintains a safeguard against internet and email scams
Includes Advanced AI learning

It protects all your connections and blocks viruses, spyware, and other malicious software to keep you from surfing the web and working online.

Prevent cybercriminals from holding your data hostage. Protect yourself against the latest ransomware that can encrypt your data until you pay the bad guys.

⇒ Get TrendMicro

How do I scan for viruses offline?

Just open your antivirus, select scan now and it should start scanning whether you are online or offline. If it doesn’t work and you must have an active internet connection, you should know that you are not completely protected against threats when offline.

Whether you are connected to the internet or not, your antivirus must protect your computer with full capabilities. If you are always moving and working offline, you might want to consider an antivirus that can provide real-time protection even when offline.

Below we talk about some security software that receives virus definitions updates when offline so wherever you are, your antivirus will always be prepared for the newest threats.

In conclusion, pick your favorite antivirus tools with offline update features and enjoy the complex protection of your device. You can download the updated signatures and run them offline.

If you use your e-mail for business communication, check out our list including the best e-mail scanning software tools.

Do share with us any antivirus with an offline update that we failed to mention by dropping a comment in the dedicated section below.

Fix: Logitech Microphone is Not Working on Windows 10 & 11

Posted on September 30, 2022October 10, 2025 by Alexandru Poloboc

Logitech is well-known for its great hardware. Unfortunately, issues can occur, and many reported that the Logitech microphone not working on their Windows PC.

We have come a long way from the days we were using Ventrilo, both software and hardware-wise, and today’s gadgets are as astonishing, as they are expensive.

That being said, if your Bluetooth mouse keeps disconnecting in Windows 11 while you are gaming, we’ve prepared the solutions for you.

Circling back to communications, there are a lot of users that rely on Logitech gadgets to make their lives and gaming experiences easier and more memorable.

However, if your Logitech microphone is now working on your Windows 10/11 PC, we have exactly what you were looking for.

Why is my Logitech microphone not working?

Well, it can be a plethora of reasons why your microphone refuses to work properly.

It could be that the audio drivers have become outdated, or the microphone itself no longer being functional and in need of replacement.

Also, the microphone can be muted, either directly from the headset, or from the system’s settings, so that is another area you want to look into.

Even if you’ve never dealt with these types of gadgets before, this guide will surely help you get to the bottom of the situation and get things back on track.

How can I fix my Logitech microphone if it’s not working in Windows 11?

1. Hardware troubleshooting

Before we get into the software part of the troubleshooting process, we first need to eliminate the hardware causes that might lead to the same result.

Check if the microphone is muted from the Mute switch on either the headset or the microphone itself, and also inspect the cable for any visible damage.

Just to be sure, connect the microphone to a different PC and see if you can get it to work. If, however, it does work on a different device, the problem is on your end.

Don’t worry, we have the solutions for this problem right here, so just carefully go through this guide and follow the instructions.

2. Activate app access to your Logitech microphone

Press Win + I to access Settings.
Select the System tab, then click on Sound.
Under Input, click on the microphone you are using.
Under General, select Allow in order to give your Windows app permission to use the microphone.

3. Check system sound settings

Search for Control Panel and open the app.
Select the Sound category.
On the Recording tab, select your microphone, then click on Set as default.
Click on the Properties button, in the bottom right corner.
Under Levels, drag the Microphone Array all the way up to 100.

4. Update the audio driver

Search for Device Manager and open the app.
Expand Sound, video, and game controllers, right-click on your audio device, then select Update driver.
Select Search automatically for updates.

Of course, you can always rely on a specialized tool to do these steps for you. Fortect Driver Updater is great at this task, you scan your system, identify the correct drivers for it, and update them all in just a few minutes.

⇒ Get Fortect Driver Updater

How do I fix my Logitech microphone if it’s not working in Windows 10?

Roll back to the older driver

Press the Windows key + X and select Device Manager.
Now locate your microphone and double-click it.
Go to the Driver tab and click on Roll Back Driver.
Follow the instructions on the screen.

Due to the similarity of Windows 10 and 11, all solutions in this guide are universal, so they’ll work on both operating systems.

How do I add another microphone to my PC?

Press Win + I to access Settings.
Select the System tab, then click on Sound.
Under Input, next to Pair a new input device, click the Add device button.

Don’t panic, and treat things calmly, as there is always an explanation for why software or hardware fails or refuses to work as intended.

Take a deep breath and, before you throw your microphone at your monitor, simply follow the steps above and put this situation behind you.

In case you’re having the same problem with a different brand, check our microphone not working on Windows 11 guide for more information.

Has this guide been helpful to you in solving this issue? Be sure to leave a comment below with your thoughts and opinions.

Windows 11 22H2 Issues: 9 Most Common & How to Fix Them

Posted on September 30, 2022October 4, 2023 by Ola-Hassan Bolaji

The first big Windows 11 update, also known as Windows 11 22H2, is here with many goodies. It comes with lots of excellent features and much-needed improvements.

However, most updates’ early stages always feature users’ complaints about issues and bugs, and Windows 22H2 is no different. Some of these problems are compatibility issues that can be solved by upgrading one or two drivers.

Others require a significant tweak to the operating system that will be expected in subsequent patches.

This guide contains a list of the most common Windows 22H2 issues reported by users and the ways to fix them.

What is Windows 11 22H2?

The Windows 11 2022 Update, or Windows 11 22H2, has many intriguing features. It is the first significant update since the release of the latest operating system, and it packs in some promises.

Some of the new features you can expect from this update are improved touch gestures, a renewed Xbox controller bar, new pages to the Settings app, and so much more.

To get the complete details about the Windows 11 22H2 update and its new features, check our excellent guide dedicated to the topic.

Also, check this well-detailed guide to know how to update your PC to 22H2 from Windows 10 or 11.

What are the common Windows 11 22H2 issues and how to fix them?

1. Compatibility issues with Intel Smart Sound Technology drivers

This is one of the most severe Windows 11 22H2 Update issues. This is because it can have devastating effects and lead to an error message accompanied by the dreaded Blue Screen of Death.

This problem is caused by compatibility issues for specific versions of the drivers for Intel Smart Sound Technology. Therefore, to protect users, Microsoft has decided to apply a compatibility hold on this issue’s devices.

With this, you won’t be offered the update until the issue is resolved. So to fix this Windows 11 22H2 problem, you need to check whether your device’s manufacturer has an updated driver.

According to official sources, the issue should be resolved by updating your Intel Smart Sound Technology drivers to version 10.29.00.5714 and later or 10.30.00.5714.

If you still can’t fix the issue, check our guide on Intel Smart Sound Technology has a driver problem for workarounds to use the update on your PC.

2. Copying files/shortcuts with Group Policy Preferences not working as expected

This issue is not just limited to the Windows 11 22H2 update. It has previously been reported on Windows 11 21H2 and Windows 10 21H2 and 21H1.

However, Microsoft has promised to resolve it and provide an update in one of its upcoming releases. In the meantime, you can check our detailed guide on fixing a corrupt local group policy for possible workarounds.

3. Issues due to new Daylight Savings Time in Chile

This Windows 11 22H2 Update issue occurred due to the change in the time zone in Chile on September 10, 2022. The Chilean government announced that the time would advance by 60 minutes.

This has led to issues and a series of complaints from users. However, this has been fixed in the KB5017383 update.

But if you are still facing this issue, you can try the workaround below:

First, press the Windows key and type Date and time.
Next, choose the Date and time settings option.
Now, toggle the switch for Adjust for daylight saving time automatically backward to deactivate it.

For more workarounds for this issue, check this guide to fix the Windows Daylight Saving time issue.

4. XPS documents with non-English language characters not opening

The XPS documents with non-English language characters not opening issue started since the KB5014668 update. The problem is not limited to XPS alone but also affects OXPS files.

Some of the popular languages affected are Chinese and Japanese. However, it has now been resolved in Windows update KB5017383.

If you couldn’t fix the issue with this update, check our excellent guide on issues with opening XPS files in Windows 10/11 for possible solutions.

5. Update is not installing, showing error 0x800f0922

This is not a new error and has been around since the Windows 10 20H2 update. Some users are experiencing it while trying to update to Windows 11 22H2.

The error 0x800f0922 shows up when users try to install the security update for Secure Boot DBX (KB5012170). However, it does not disturb other updates like those for cumulative security.

The primary workaround around this issue is to update your UEFI BIOS manufacturer’s website to get the latest version.

Though there is no official fix from Microsoft for this problem, as it promises more updates in the upcoming releases, you can still run the Windows Update troubleshooter, as it has proven to be effective in solving the issue in previous versions.

Below are the steps to follow to do this:

Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
Choose the Troubleshoot option.
Finally, click the Run button before the Windows Update option.

If you still can’t get past the issue, check our tested and proven fixes for the Windows 11 Update error 0x800f0922 for excellent workarounds that will allow you to download the update.

6. Voice typing fails to open

The voice typing fails to open issue has been around since Windows 11 version 21H2. Unfortunately, this problem has continued with the Windows 11 22H2 Update, preventing users from opening voice typing with the Windows key + H shortcut.

However, according to the official health status page, the issue has now been resolved with a server-side change. So the feature should currently be working well again if you check.

If it does not, you can check if your microphone is enabled following the steps below:

First, press the Windows key + I and select Privacy & Security in the left pane.
Select the Microphone option under the Permissions section.
Toggle the switch for Microphone access forward to enable it.

If your microphone is enabled and you still cannot use the feature, read through this guide on Windows 11’s voice typing not working to fix the issue for good.

7. Inability to sign in after adding a new Microsoft Account user

Some users complained that they could not sign in after adding a new Microsoft Account. This happened after they installed the KB5016691 update.

This problem only affects the newly created account on the first sign-in attempt. Thankfully, Microsoft has yielded to users’ cries and resolved the issue.

Hence, the problem should disappear automatically on your PC after some time. However, you should note that it might take up to 24 hours. But you can make things faster by restarting your PC once or twice.

Should you still be troubled by this issue, then it might not be the Windows 11 22H2 update causing the problem. However, it might be a bug, and we have prepared a guide to fix the inability to log in with the Microsoft account issue on Windows 11.

So it won’t hurt to check it out.

8. Device startup into BitLocker Recovery

Some users report that their devices enter BitLocker Recovery after installing the Windows 22H2 Update. If your device is asking for your BitLocker Recovery key, sign in to your Microsoft account using this link to get it.

To bypass this issue, you can also suspend BitLocker temporarily following the steps below:

Press the Windows key + S and type windows terminal.
Right-click on it and select Run as administrator.
Now, click the dropdown at the top and select Command Prompt.
Type the command below and hit Enter: Manage-bde -protectors -disable %systemdrive% -rebootcount 2

If the issue persists, it might not be because of the Windows 11 22H2 Update. Hence, check our guide on how to fix Windows 11 asking for a BitLocker recovery key to solve the issue quickly.

9. Nvidia GPU FPS drop

With the Windows 11 22H2 update comes a bitter experience for Nvidia GPUs. Most have been complaining about noticeable FPS drops and other performance-related issues.

However, Nvidia has quickly released a GeForce Experience update to counter the issue. While the company claims it fixes all the performance-related problems with the Windows 11 22H2 Update, some users still claim the Beta version does nothing to mitigate the problem.

Users only hope that the expected Windows patch on October 11 fixes this issue. Fingers crossed!

How do I fix the Windows 11 update error?

Press the Windows key + R, type services.msc, and hit Enter.
Right-click the Windows Update option and select Properties.
Set the Startup type to Automatic.
Click the Start button under the Service status.
Finally, click the Apply button, followed by OK.

If you are facing the Windows 11 update error, it might be because the Windows Update service is disabled on your device. This solution should help restart and ensure you can install the necessary upgrades.

If this does not work, check our guide for other fixes for the Windows 11 update error.

As with any latest upgrades on PCs, the early stages see many issues reported, and the Windows 11 22H2 update is no different.

Hopefully, you found the necessary workaround for the issue marring your upgrade experience.

Feel free to let us know the issue you are facing and how you were able to solve it in the comments below.

How to Fix ISDone.dll Error on Windows 10 & 11 (Repack Install Issues)

Posted on September 30, 2022July 28, 2025 by Matthew Adams

The ISDone.dll error usually shows up when installing highly compressed PC gamesYou’ll often see the message “ISDone.dll error: Unarc.dll returned an error code” which halts the installation. This is especially common with large titles listed among the top Windows 10 games.

How can I fix ISDone.dll errors on Windows 10?

Why ISDone.dll Error Happens

This issue is mostly tied to system limitations or corrupted game installers. The error means your PC failed to unpack large archive files during installation. Here’s why it happens:

You’re low on RAM or available disk space
The game repack is incomplete or damaged
Antivirus programs interfere with the installer
Core files like ISDone.dll or Unarc.dll are missing or unregistered
Similar to other DLL errors in Windows, this one can also be triggered by faulty virtual memory or corrupt system files

How can I fix ISDone.dll errors on Windows 10?

1. Use a third-party DLL fixer

A reliable software solution helps you repair multiple computer issues. Especially when the cause is not really clear.

You can make use of these tools for problems like BSoD (Black Screen of Death), computer freezing, execution optimization, and much more.

2. Check the game’s system requirements

Press the Windows key + S and type system.
Choose the System information option.
Check if your device meets the requirement to run the game.

Before, proceeding to more sophisticated fixes, first check if your laptop or desktop meets all the game’s system requirements. Check that your PC meets the minimum RAM specification and that your hard drive has enough free space for the game.

If there isn’t enough free HDD space, uninstall some programs like CCleaner to free up some more HDD space.

Also, note that you’ll need a 64-bit Windows platform to run a game that’s only compatible with 64-bit platforms. If your platform is 32-bit, double-check the game’s Windows platform specification.

3. Run a System File Scan

Press the Windows key + S, type cmd, and select Run as administrator.
Type the command below and hit Enter. sfc /scannow
Next, enter the command below and press the Enter key: DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
The DISM scan will probably take about 30 minutes. When it’s done, restart Windows if Windows Resource Protection repairs files.

Sometimes, the ISDone.dll error unarc.dll error-1, error-12, error-14, and other variations of the issue can be due to corrupt system files. Using the tool built-in system files repair tools should help fix this.

4. Install the game in Windows Safe Mode

Press the Windows key + R, type msconfig, and click OK.
Click the Boot tab at the top.
Select the Safe boot option.
Tick the Minimal radio button.
Click the Apply and OK buttons.
Then select Restart to reboot Windows in Safe Mode.
Thereafter, install the game that’s returning the ISDone.dll error.
Remember to deselect the Safe boot option before you restart Windows.

The ISDone.dll error when installing games can be due to the activities of other applications. It might be because of a counter program preventing the installation.

But in Safe Mode, only the essential system programs and services run will run. Starting Windows in Safe Mode frees up RAM and minimizes potential third-party software conflicts with the game’s installer.

4. Expand the paging filing

Press the Windows key + R, type sysdm.cpl, and hit Enter.
Click the Advanced tab at the top.
Now, click the Settings… button in the Performance section.
Choose Advanced in the top menu.
From here, click the Change… button in the Virtual Memory section.
Uncheck the box for Automatically manage paging file size for all drives.
Select the Custom size radio button.
Now, enter a higher value in the Initial size text box than the value there.
The Maximum size value you can enter depends on how much RAM your laptop or desktop includes. Windows will restrict your page filing to three times the amount of RAM (about 12,000 MB for four GB RAM).
Press the OK button to close the window.

Expanding the paging filing will increase the amount of virtual memory. That expands the amount of hard drive space for virtual memory, which comes in handy when RAM is limited.

Thus, this could be a potential fix that might resolve insufficient RAM.

5. Switch off the antivirus software

Antivirus software might block some games from installing. So disabling third-party anti-virus might also fix the ISDone.dll error.

Many anti-virus utilities include a disable or turn off option on their system context menus with which you can temporarily switch them off. Windows Safe Mode might also disable third-party anti-virus software.

6. Disable the Windows Firewall

Click the Search icon in the Taskbar and type Windows Defender Firewall.
Choose the Windows Defender Firewall option.
Click Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off in the left pane.
Select the Turn off Windows Defender Firewall radio buttons in the Private and Public sections.
Click the OK button.

Sometimes, the Windows Defender Firewall might be blocking your game installation, causing the ISDone.dll error. Disabling this feature temporarily should fix the issue in this case.

Remember to enable the Windows Defender Firewall after installing the game.

7. Re-register the ISDone.dll

Enter Command Prompt in the Windows search box.
Right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.
Input regsvr32 Isdone.dll in the Command Prompt, and press the Enter key.
Then enter regsvr32 unarc.dll in the Prompt’s window, and press the Enter key.

Re-registering DLLs is one way you can repair corrupted DLLs that can cause the ISDone.dll error isacextract issue. In this case, you might need to re-register the ISDone and Unarc DLLs to restore normalcy.

How can I fix the ISDone.dll error on Windows 11?

Since the ISDone.dll error message revolves around system requirements, corrupt system files, and missing DLL files, the solutions for Windows 10 are basically the same for Windows 11.

So, you can start by using a dedicated DLL fixer to correct the issue and proceed to all the other fixes in this guide.

Where can I find ISDone dll?

You can find the ISDone.dll on multiple websites like dll-files.com. You only need to download and install it on your PC preferably in the Windows system folder.

However, some games might require you to move the ISDone.dll file into the applications folder for smooth installation.

Some users succeeded in solving this problem by just moving the installation folder to another location on the drive so you can try that too.

One, or more of those resolutions might fix the ISDone.dll error so that you can install and run the required game.

In addition, adding new RAM and erasing temporary files might also resolve the error message. If you have any suggestions for fixing the ISDone.dll error, please share them below.

8 Ways to Fix Wdf Violation BSOD Error on Windows 10/11

Posted on September 30, 2022October 8, 2025 by Milan Stanojevic

Are you slammed with the WDF_VIOLATION error? We will tell you all you need to know. Blue Screen of Death errors usually indicate a hardware problem or one related to your PC’s drivers and should be taken seriously.

If left unresolved, these crashes will cause permanent damage, primarily to your HDD, but other components can also be affected. So, let’s find out how to get things up and running.

Why does the wdf_violation error appear?

A number of various factors could have brought on the wdf_violation on your Windows 10 computer.

Until the procedures to correct it are implemented one at a time, and the error does not appear after a given patch, there is no way to determine the precise factor that is the cause of this problem.

But the following are the most likely triggers:

Outdated or faulty software driver for Bluetooth devices – This is the primary reason, and you will be required to reinstall or update the driver.
Malware on PC – A PC scan should do the trick if this is the problem.
Corrupt system files – In this case, you will have to repair the corrupted file using a system utility.
Corrupt USB devices – Scan these, or disconnect them, and the problem will be resolved.

What are variations of wdf_violation error?

The wdf_violation issue is not the only one of this type. Here are some similar problems that users have encountered:

Wdf_violation in Windows 10 loop – In some cases, the PC may be in a wdf_violation loop that prevents it from entering Windows 10. To fix the problem, enter Safe Mode and try to delete the problematic driver.
Wdf_violation while using Lenovo – Lenovo users reported this issue, and if you’re using a Lenovo device, you can try some of our solutions and check if that solves your problem.
Wdf_violation in Windows 10 (HP laptop) – A number of users reported this inconvenience on HP devices as well. There’s no universal solution for HP computers, so you can try any solution from our article.
Wdf_violation in Windows 8 – This error can appear on any version of Windows, and even if you don’t use Windows 10, you should be able to apply almost all solutions from this article to Windows 8.
Wdf_violation in Razer – Sometimes, this issue can occur due to your hardware or USB peripherals. If that’s the case, disconnect all your USB devices and try to start your PC again.
Wdf_violation on startup, crash – This problem can occur due to third-party applications on your PC, and to fix the issue, it’s advised to find and remove the problematic applications.

Can Corrupt Windows cause blue screen?

Almost anything, including broken system files, defective device drivers, and malfunctioning components, can result in a blue screen. And Yes! A faulty profile or corrupt Windows may cause a BSOD.

How do I fix the wdf_violation BSoD error on Windows 10?

1. Use a third-party BSOD fixer

A great practical solution to solve Blue Screen issues on your computer is to run effective PC health tools.

These tools are the best choices when you are dealing with PC issues like a BSoD, and you do not know the exact cause.

2. Remove the problematic software

Press the Windows Key + S to open search, type in Control Panel, and press Enter.
In the Control Panel window, select Uninstall a program.
Find the problematic software, right-click on it and select Uninstall.
Wait for the process to be over, and Restart your computer.

3. Update your drivers

Press the Windows Key and type in Device Manager.
Expand Display adapters, then right-click on your GPU.
Select Update driver.
Then, select Search automatically for drivers.

A quicker option to update your drivers is using third-party software.

Outbyte Driver Updater can scan your device and then searches the internet for the most recent update for your drivers. This way, it helps you prevent serious errors and performance issues.

4. Use the Check Disk command

Press the Windows Key to open the Start Menu.
In the search box, type Command Prompt and start it as administrator.
After the CMD launches, type in the following command and press Enter:
chkdsk C: /f /r /x
Replace the X with the letter of your drive you wish to check.
Let the process complete.

Once you manage to boot Windows, many solutions can prevent the problem from occurring again. The most important one is performing a Disk Check.

Sometimes people aren’t sure what the exact cause is of their crashes. BSoDs can be hard to pinpoint. If a file on your device is causing problems, but you aren’t willing to completely restore the system, there are other ways.

Specialized repair software will scan your PC thoroughly for corrupted or problematic files. Once the culprit has been found, the tool will quarantine it and take other safety measures. It will most likely attempt to restore the file to an uncorrupted state.

If that isn’t possible, the software will replace it with an uncorrupted version from its database that is constantly updated and contains crucial Windows files.

5. Perform a System Repair

Insert the installation DVD or USB and boot Windows 10 from it.
In the Windows Setup page, select the Language, Time and currency format, and the Keyboard inputs method, then click Next.
Now, click on Repair your computer and select Troubleshoot.
Click on Advanced Options.
Then, select Startup Repair to initiate the process.

The wdf_violation error will most likely cause the device to be stuck in the startup loop, which means that you won’t be able to access your desktop or any file that could help solve the problem.

If that’s the case, the only option is to create an installation media, set up the USB boot in the BIOS, and perform a Startup Repair using the CD/USB.

6. Disable USB ports in BIOS

Restart your computer.
During the restart, you will briefly see a message telling what key to press to open the BIOS/SETUP.
Press that key (it might be a different one from the image below, depending on your motherboard’s manufacturer).
Once the BIOS opens, you’ll need to go to Advanced Tab, then Miscellaneous Devices.
Next, select External USB Ports and Disable it.
Save the changes and restart your computer.

NOTE

This process might be different on your version of BIOS, therefore check your motherboard manual for detailed instructions.

Any USB device can cause a problem, so you might want to try disconnecting all the peripherals. There are even reports that cameras caused the issue.

To fix it, disconnect all the devices and plug them back in one by one to determine which one is the culprit.

7. Uninstall the Bluetooth driver in Safe Mode

Restart your PC a couple of times during the boot sequence. Alternatively, click the Power icon on the profile selection screen, press and hold the Shift key and choose Restart from the menu.
A list of options will now appear. Select Troubleshoot.
Then Advanced options.
Next, select Startup Settings.
Click the Restart button.
When your PC restarts, you’ll see a list of options. Press 4 or F4 to select Safe Mode.
Press Windows Key + X to open Win + X menu.
Now choose Device Manager from the list.
Now locate your Bluetooth driver, right-click, and choose Uninstall device.
Then, check Delete driver software for this device and click Uninstall to confirm.

Windows has a special segment called Safe Mode, which you can use to troubleshoot various issues. It uses the default drivers; therefore, it’s perfect if you can’t boot your system.

After entering Safe Mode, you must find and remove the problematic driver. Many users claim that a Bluetooth driver caused this issue for them, and you can remove it by doing as detailed above.

Then, restart your PC and try to start Windows 10 again. Remember that other drivers can cause this problem, so don’t focus only on the Bluetooth driver.

It’s also worth mentioning that sometimes the driver can automatically reinstall, so you’ll need to block Windows 10 from automatically installing drivers.

In some cases, the wdf_violation error can appear due to problematic software. Certain third-party applications might not be fully compatible with Windows 10, which can cause errors.

To fix the problem, it’s advised to remove the problematic application from the PC. Keep in mind that you need to remove this app completely to fix the problem permanently.

8. Perform a System Restore

Press the Windows Key + S to open search and enter system restore.
Choose Create a restore point from the list of results.
In the System Properties window click System Restore.
When the System Restore window opens, click Next.
If available, check Show more restore points option and select the desired restore point.
Now click Next to proceed.
Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the restoration process.

Another tool that can help you fix the wdf_violation BSoD error is System Restore. If you’re unfamiliar, your system automatically creates restore points after installing new software or an update.

You can use these restore points to restore your system and fix problems like this.

How can I fix Wdf_Violation on Windows 11?

While this is a problem common in Windows 10, users of the new Microsoft OS have also experienced the same issues.

The good news is that if you have followed our guide, you can also solve the Event 1000 application error issues in Windows 11.

This is because OSs are very similar, and except for minor UI differences, the recommended fixes should work on Windows 11.

What safety measures should I take in case of repeated BSoDs?

Unfortunately, nobody can predict problems like these. You must always be on guard and remember that the number one safety measure is regularly saving your work. Doesn’t matter if you are designing something, writing an article, or playing a game.

Take your time and save the changes you made once in a while. This will reassure you that you won’t lose too much progress made during work.

Creating restore points is also a good idea. If your data gets corrupted in any way, you can always go back to a restore point before the corruption occurred.

If you are unlucky enough to get a blue screen that compromises the system’s files, you will lose documents that might be important.

That’s why backing up the data is mandatory in an emergency. Plenty of tools will create regular backups and upload them into an external cloud to keep your data safe.

Can overheating cause a blue screen?

Yes! A system crash and a blue screen of death may result from an overheating gadget. To avoid this issue, ensure that your PC has sufficient cooling systems.

Wdf_violation BSoD errors can be problematic on Windows 10 and should be treated as a serious matter, but we hope that some of our solutions were helpful to you.

Please tell us in a comment below if you solved the issue following our suggestions or if there are some others we should include in our list.

SteelSeries Arctis Microphone is Not Working: 4 Ways to Fix It

Posted on September 30, 2022October 4, 2023 by Alexandru Poloboc

What would teamwork in gaming be nowadays without the advanced means of communication? It is of paramount importance our hardware works properly when engaged in our favorite titles with our friends. Lately, many reported that the SteelSeries Arctis microphone is not working.

The problem is being widely reported and many are yet to find a solution for it. We will help you with that. Keep reading to find out all there’s to know when your SteelSeries Arctis microphone is not working!

Why is my SteelSeries Arctis microphone not working?

Here are the primary reasons you are facing the problem:

Issues with the drivers: When the driver is outdated, corrupt, or incompatible, the related device starts to throw errors or stops working altogether.
Improper connections: Loose connections or damaged cables are also common reasons users face problems with the SteelSeries Arctis microphone.
Misconfigured settings: If the PC’s audio settings are misconfigured, the microphone’s audio quality and functionality are affected.
Hardware malfunction: In rare cases, it could be a problem with the microphone’s hardware triggering the issue.

What can I do if my SteelSeries Arctis microphone is not working?

Before we proceed, perform these quick checks:

Ensure the microphone’s dedicated Mute switch/button is not turned on.
Check the cable for damages; if you find any, replace it.

If none work, move to the solutions listed next.

1. Check system sound settings

Search for Control Panel and open the app.
Select the Sound category.
On the Recording tab, select your microphone, then click on Set as default.
Click on the Properties button, in the bottom right corner.
Under Levels, drag the Microphone Array all the way up to 100.

2. Activate app access to your SteelSeries microphone

Press Win + I to access Settings.
Select the System tab, then click on Sound.
Under Input, click on the microphone you are using.
Under General, select Allow in order to give your Windows app permission to use the microphone.

3. Update the audio driver

Search for Device Manager and open the app.
Expand Sound, video, and game controllers, right-click on your audio device, then select Update driver.
Select Search automatically for updates.

4. Download & install the latest SteelSeries Engine software

Browse the SteelSeries website and download the latest software engine.
Run the executable and follow the on-screen instructions to finish.
Replug your SteelSeries Arctis 1 into your PC and run this software.

Can I add a second microphone to my PC?

Yes, you can add a second microphone to your PC< depending on your preference. All you need is the extra USB slot and a working microphone.

Then, all you need to do is navigate the Settings app and press all the appropriate buttons in order to make it happen, as follows:

Press Win + I to access Settings.
Select the System tab, then click on Sound.
Under Input, next to Pair a new input device, click the Add device button.

If your microphone isn’t working for whatever reason, treat things calmly, as there is always an explanation for why software or hardware fails or refuses to work as intended.

Follow the steps above and fix this annoying situation using solutions that have been proven to work for other users as well.

In case you’re having the same problem with a different brand, check our microphone not working on Windows 11 guide for more information.

Has this guide been helpful to you in solving this issue? Be sure to leave a comment below with your thoughts and opinions.

3 Ways to Fix Outlook if It’s Not Tracking Meeting Responses

Posted on September 30, 2022October 4, 2023 by Alexandru Poloboc

Throughout time, a lot of Outlook users have reported problems with the Microsoft app and today we are going to take a closer look at one of them

Being able to actively track your meetings is important and when the app doesn’t do that, problems can often appear, especially in the business world.

But, you don’t need to worry, as you came to the absolute right place to see what can be done about Outlook not automatically tracking your meetings in Office 365.

Before we begin though, since we are talking about Outlook, we’ll also show you how to use the Outlook scheduling assistant on your PC.

Why is tracking not updating in Outlook?

Outlook not tracking your meetings on Windows 10/11 can happen for multiple reasons, so there really isn’t just one cause.

Remember that the meeting responses are being processed by another client, device, or third-party application.

That being said, the reasons are Outlook add-ons, mail archiving programs, or devices that use Collaboration Data Objects (CDO) to synchronize with your Microsoft Exchange mailbox or calendar.

Also included here are devices that use Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync (EAS) to synchronize with your mailbox or calendar.

How do I fix Outlook if it’s not tracking meeting responses?

1. Track meetings manually

Open Outlook.
Click on Calendar on the left side of the window.
Click on the Meeting occurence tab, then click on Tracking.
Select View tracking status
Set meeting tracking to Tracking for occurrence, or Tracking for series.

2. Create Group Policy

Open the Registry Editor tool.
Navigate to the following registry entry, then press the Enter key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\Options\Calendar
Right-click, then select New, and finally DWORD value.
Name it ForceMtgResponse, then press the Enter key.
Right-click on ForceMtgResponse and select Modify.
In the Value data box enter 1, then press the OK button.

3. Relog into your Outlook account

Click on the profile button located in the top right corner.
Click on Sign out.
Enter your credentials, then press the Sign in button.

How do I export Outlook meeting attendee responses?

It’s not hard at all, so don’t get discouraged. For years, Microsoft has bragged about how accessible its applications and platforms are, so you’ll have an easy time doing it.

That being said, if you want to print or export meeting attended responses elsewhere, select the dropdown arrow next to Tracking on the Meeting tab and choose Copy status to clipboard.

After you have copied the content, simply export it wherever you need, or print it. Dealing with Outlook can sometimes seem intricate, but Microsoft has protection protocols in mind as well.

Users have been reporting Outlook not tracking meeting responses for years now, but it seems that Microsoft can’t fix this once and for all.

Has this guide been helpful? Share your thoughts with us in the dedicated comments section located below.

6 Ways to Fix Pixelated Screen After a Windows 10/11 Update

Posted on September 30, 2022October 22, 2025 by Ivan Jenic

Some users have reported pixelated screens after applying specific Windows updates. The icons appear to be bigger and the text is blurry and pixelated. Fortunately, this is not a big issue; you can solve it quickly, with just a few steps.

Follow along as we will respond to some of your most asked questions about the pixelated issue in Windows 10/11, then present six effective solutions for you to apply.

Why is my screen pixelated on Windows 10?

The most typical reason is a Windows upgrade that went wrong and resulted in a reasonably undesirable outcome. However, the reasons might be rather diverse.

Suppose you have more than one display attached to the computer (such as a standard monitor and a projector, for example). In that case, the displays may each have a unique ideal resolution, also known as a native resolution.

Since both displays utilize the exact resolution—which may not be the same as either screen’s native resolution—the sharpness of the image may be affected on both displays.

Here are some more variations of this issue that will also be covered in today’s article:

Windows 10 pixelated video – This problem usually occurs after installing Windows 10 updates.
Computer/ laptop screen is pixelated and freezes – In some cases, it can also happen that your screen freezes, besides being pixelated.
Pixelated screen on Windows 7 – This problem is common in Windows 7, as well.
Computer screen pixelated virus – Pixelated screen can easily be caused by malware.
1080p monitor looks pixelated Windows 10 – Check your graphics card drivers in order to make sure they are up to date.
Computer screen pixelated then crashes Windows 10 – Changing your refresh rate can be solution in this case.
Laptop screen pixelated then freezes – You can update your OS once again to apply a newer patch that will fix the issue.

Can a virus make my computer screen pixelated?

The performance of the desktop or laptop device, regardless of the operating system, is negatively impacted after the virus successfully infiltrates it.

During the initial phase of the virus’s impact, the look of the screen and Display, as well as the functionality of the drive and the keyboard, are severely impaired.

So the answer is yes, a virus can make your computer screen pixelated. But it’s not always the case. You can try to run a system scan using your antivirus to find out whether you are infected or not.

How do I fix a pixelated screen after a Windows update?

1. Change screen resolution

Press Windows + I to open Settings, then go to Display on the left.
Click Display resolution and choose your resolution. The laptop screen is pixelated issue will be fixed afterward.

2. Check if your drivers are compatible

Right-click the Start icon, then select Device Manager.
Expand the Display adapters section, right-click your adapter and then select Uninstall device.
Restart the computer, let Windows 10/11 detect the driver, install it by itself, and check if it fixes the issue.

If updating your drivers doesn’t help, you probably have some issues with your DPI(dots per inch) settings. The following solution will show you how to solve all DPI issues.

3. Update monitor drivers

Right-click the Start icon, then click Device Manager.
Expand the Monitors section then right-click your monitor and select Update driver.
Let your computer find new drivers for your monitor.
If there are any new drivers available, let the wizard install them.
Restart your computer.

Although monitoring drivers cause issues less often, it’s still possible. Especially if you recently got a new monitor, or installed a new version of Windows 10.

While manual updating your drivers is the most popular solution, the recommended way is to update them automatically using a dedicated tool such as Outbyte Driver Updater.

The best thing about choosing this method is the time saved in looking for the right software. After scanning your device and it offers a list of compatible fresh drivers.

You can then update not just the monitor driver, but all outdated drivers, either one by one, or in bulk.

⇒ Get Outbyte Driver Updater

4. Set DPI Size

Press Windows + I to open Settings, then go to Display on the left side.
Now, choose one of the three options under Change the size of text, apps, and other items: Smaller – 100% = 96 DPI (Pixels/Dots Per Inch); Medium – 125% = 120 DPI (Pixels/Dots Per Inch); Larger – 150% = 144 DPI (Pixels/Dots Per Inch)

Setting the DPI size to a smaller percentage will decrease all items’ sizes on the Display, which will definitely help you if your screen is pixelated. If your monitor’s resolution changes suddenly on its own, you’ll want to know how to fix it.

5. Change monitor refresh rate

Press Windows + I to open Settings, then go to Display.
Go to Advanced display settings.
Next, click Display adapter properties for Display 1.
Go to the Monitor tab and select another refresh rate from Screen refresh rate.
Save the changes made then reboot your computer.

6. Update Windows

Press Windows + I then when the Settings app opens, select Update & security.
Finally, tap the Check for updates button.

Needless to say, your Windows 10 computer should be up to date.

Updating your computer brings many benefits, and possibly resolves some issues. So, check for updates, and it’s likely that this is the solution to your problem.

How can I fix a pixelated screen on Windows 11?

Press Windows + I then navigate to Windows Update followed by Update history in order to see all the Windows updates installed on your PC up til now.
Click Uninstall updates.
Click the latest Windows update then select Uninstall.

Why is my monitor suddenly pixelated?

Speaking about Windows updates, such files are usually behind a screen that suddenly gets pixelated. Don’t worry, we will explain everything.

Now, a grainy display in Windows 10 is generally triggered when using a non-native resolution to display images on your PC or laptop.

Your device struggles to fill the screen and adds more pixels to keep the image uniform. By rendering at such a large size, individual pixels become distinguishable and make the whole Display look grainy or fuzzy.

Now, this is a general definition, but there are particular cases to mention and such is the Windows 10 Update pixelated screen.

If the monitor was working just fine, but suddenly becomes pixelated after installing a Windows update, it’s clearly an indication of software conflict or incompatibility triggered by the recent changes.

You might want to revert them and check if the Display works fine in order to narrow down the list of potential culprits or update your drivers and graphics card adequately. Moreover, if the selection rectangle isn’t working properly, we can help out.

Why is my laptop screen going fuzzy?

There are two potential causes for a distorted and fuzzy image on the screen of a laptop computer: software faults or hardware problems. A virus or faulty graphics program would be examples of problems caused by software.

A problem with the hardware is a far more serious issue since it indicates that the actual monitor itself has to be replaced.

That’s about it, we hope at least one of these solutions helped you reset the pixelated Display back to normal. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, just let us know in the comments below.

HP Envy x360 Keyboard & Mouse Not Working: 5 Easy Fixes

Posted on September 30, 2022September 29, 2025 by Kazim Ali Alvi

HP Envy x360 is a premier laptop with 2-in-1 functionality and has been loved by users worldwide. But, some have been reporting issues with it. The most common is that the HP Envy x360 keyboard and mouse are not working.

In most cases, when a device stops working, we instantly believe that it’s the hardware at fault. Based on research, we found that it’s generally outdated drivers, misconfigured settings, or conflicting devices that affect the functioning of the keyboard and mouse, as is the case here.

So before you take your HP Envy laptop to a repair shop, try the methods listed here to fix the keyboard and mouse not working issue.

What can I do if the keyboard and mouse are not working in HP Envy x360?

1. Some basic checks

First, restart the laptop, and check if the problem is fixed. This particular method eliminates any trivial bug or conflicting process and has been a lifesaver for many.

If that doesn’t work, it’s time to identify whether the problem lies with the device or the system. One of the simplest ways to do that is to enter the system BIOS. In case the keyboard and mouse work there, they are most likely fine and need not be replaced.

In case both these methods don’t work, try the following solutions before taking your laptop to a repair shop.

NOTE

Before you move forward, boot Windows into Safe Mode to get the keyboard and mouse to work. In case these work for a while when you boot the OS, execute these methods within that time frame.

2. Disable the Intel (R) Integrated Sensor Solution device

Press Windows + S to launch the Search menu, enter Device Manager in the text field, and click on the relevant search result.
Double-click on the System devices entry.
Now, right-click on Intel (R) Integrated Sensor Solution, and select Disable device from the context menu.
Click Yes in the warning box that pops up.

The Intel (R) Integrated Sensor Solution driver has been found to conflict with a bunch of processes, and disabling it has fixed the HP Envy keyboard and mouse not working issue for many.

Remember to create a restore point before making the change. This will ensure that you can revert to the original settings, in case things don’t go as planned.

3. Update the keyboard and mouse drivers

Press Windows + R to launch the Run command, type devmgmt.msc in the text field, and either click on OK or hit Enter to launch the Device Manager.
Now, double-click on the Keyboards entry.
Right-click on the keyboard that’s not working, and select Update driver from the context menu.
Next, select Search automatically for drivers.
Windows will now scan through all the relevant drivers on the system and install the best one.

Drivers play a critical role in the effective functioning of a device, and if they are outdated or corrupt, the device may stop working. If Device Manager couldn’t find an update, try the other methods to manually install the latest driver version in Windows.

Similarly, update the mice drivers, and check if the HP Envy keyboard and touchpad not working problem is fixed.

If you want to speed up the process, you can use a dedicated tool like Outbyte Driver Updater to update and fix corrupt drivers in bulk. You can set it up to regularly scan your drivers and automatically install updated versions whenever they become available.

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4. Turn off fast startup

Press Windows + S to open the Search menu, type Control Panel, and click on the relevant search result.
Click on System and Security.
Now, click on Change what the power buttons do under Power options.
Next, click on Change settings that are currently unavailable.
Uncheck the box for Turn on fast startup (recommended) and click on Save changes.
Now, restart the computer, and check if the problem is resolved.

Fast Startup, though beneficial, has often been found to affect the functionality of connected devices and, in extreme cases, cause them to stop working. Disabling it has worked for some users, so try that.

5. Disable tablet mode

Another underlying cause, though it doesn’t make much sense, is the Tablet Mode in Windows 11. When it is enabled, the keyboard and mouse stop functioning for many. This method may not work for all, but there’s no harm in trying it out.

The process to disable Tablet Mode in Windows 10 and the latest iteration is different. While in the former, you could do it from the settings, in Windows 11, the screen has to be rotated to the normal position. Once the mode is disabled, spacing between the Taskbar icons will reduce.

If none of the methods listed here have worked, you can always reset Windows to its factory settings. Though that would not be the case for most.

Also, find out what to do if the USB ports are not working in HP Envy laptops, another common issue with the series.

Tell us which fix worked, or if you know of one that’s not listed here, drop it in the comments section below.

How to Fix the Bluetooth Mouse if it’s not Working in Windows 10/11

Posted on September 30, 2022October 26, 2025 by Ivan Jenic

Some users have reported problems with their Bluetooth mouse after a Windows upgrade, so we’re here to offer a couple of solutions for this problem. A Bluetooth mouse can cease responding when using the computer and that typically happens when it goes to sleep and is woken up by pressing a key or the power button, or if more than one Bluetooth mouse is attached to the same computer.

The Bluetooth host can occasionally lose contact with the mouse. As a result, the host rejects subsequent attempts to reconnect or changes the adaptive frequency hopping to a new frequency, losing device acknowledgment. While polling other devices, the Bluetooth host stops the flow control.

How can I fix Bluetooth mouse problems in Windows 10?

1. Update the Bluetooth Driver

Go to Search, type device manager, and open Device Manager.
Find your Bluetooth mouse, right-click on it, and select Update driver.
Click on Search automatically for drivers.
Restart your computer and try to connect your Bluetooth mouse again.

Installing the wrong driver versions can cause permanent damage to your system. Thus, we suggest updating drivers automatically by using a dedicated tool.

⇒ Get Fortect Driver Updater

2. Change the Power and Sleep settings

Click on the Start menu and select the Settings app.
Open the Settings app and click on System.
Navigate to the Power & Sleep tab, then uncheck both On battery power, stay connected to WiFi while asleep and When plugged-in, stay connected to WiFi while asleep options.

3. Check if the Bluetooth service is running

Press the Windows key + R to open the elevated Run command line.
In the command line, type services.msc and press Enter.
Navigate to Bluetooth support service; if it’s set to Started, it is okay. If not, right-click and choose Start.

4. Run the system troubleshooter

Click on the Start menu and select the Settings app.
Click on Update & security.
Choose Troubleshoot from the left pane, and click on Run the troubleshooter under the Bluetooth icon.
Follow the instructions.

5. Reconnect the Bluetooth mouse

Open the Control Panel, then go to Hardware and Sound.
Click Add a device.
Select your Bluetooth mouse, then hit Enter. To complete the procedure, adhere to the on-screen directions.

Note: Ensure the device is turned on and the batteries don’t need to be replaced.

Also, make sure your device is discoverable. Check if you installed the device using the correct program; if not, reinstall it and install it correctly.

6. Change your mouse frequency

Wireless mice are prone to frequency disruptions. And that’s exactly what can happen to your mouse, as well.

To change your mouse frequency, you’ll need to open your mouse utility software, look for the option for changing mouse frequency, and set the mouse frequency from 500 Hz to 250Hz.

7. Roll back your drivers

Go to Search, type device manager, and open Device Manager.
Look for your Bluetooth mouse, right-click and choose Properties.
Under the Driver tab, choose to Roll back driver.
Follow further on-screen instructions.
Restart your computer.

For users experiencing problems specifically with Logitech devices, this step-by-step guide on Logitech mouse not working offers targeted solutions that complement standard Bluetooth troubleshooting methods.

8. Change the Power management options

Go to Search, type device manager, and open Device Manager.
Double-click the USB Hub device in the Device Manager to open its properties.
Navigate to the Power Management tab and uncheck Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power. Click OK to save changes.

Note: Remember that you need to repeat these steps for all devices connected to the USB Hub.

9. Optimize the Bluetooth signal

Maybe your issue is technical, and nothing’s wrong with your configuration or software.

So, ensure nothing is blocking your Bluetooth signal if none of the solutions from the above work. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

First, place your wireless mouse closer to the wireless transceiver.
If your keyboard is also wireless, place both the keyboard and mouse at an equal distance from the transceiver.
Finally, turn the transceiver on its side or upside down.

10. Check for Windows Updates

Click on the Start menu and select the Settings app.
Click on Update & security.
On the left pane, click on Windows Update, and you may also click the Check for updates button on the right.

Besides regular system updates, Microsoft usually delivers various drivers through Windows Update. So, there’s a chance a new driver for your Bluetooth devices (mouse) is ready.

If you can’t install it through the Device Manager, you’ll probably want to try it through Windows Update.

Another benefit of installing the latest Windows 10 updates is system stability.

If a bug in your system causes your Bluetooth mouse to stop working, there’s a chance Microsoft will release a fix as part of some update.

Additionally, here are some more problems with your Bluetooth device that you can encounter along the way:

Bluetooth not working Windows 10 – If the Bluetooth connection doesn’t work correctly, you can try and update your Bluetooth drivers.
Bluetooth not detecting devices Windows 10 – The computer can’t detect Bluetooth devices, can be fixed if you make sure you are pairing your devices correctly.
Bluetooth paired but not connected Windows 10 – The Bluetooth driver can cause this; fix it by updating or replacing your driver.
Windows 10 Bluetooth couldn’t connect – This appears when your Bluetooth mouse constantly fails to connect to your computer.

How do I fix the Bluetooth mouse if it’s not working on Windows 11?

On Windows 11, the steps to fix this error are very similar.

You must note that both operating systems have so much in common, and except for occasional UI differences, there will be few visually noticeable differences.

So we recommend you choose a solution and apply it to any of your Windows 11 devices, and it should be compelling enough.

How do I resync my wireless mouse?

This will vary from manufacturer. But generally, the USB receiver has a Connect button located someplace on it. Once you press it, the receiver’s light should begin to flash. The USB receiver flashing light should stop after pressing the Connect button on the keyboard or mouse.

And there you go. This article will come in helpful if your Bluetooth mouse is not working on Logitech, a laptop, a Lenovo or Dell device, or if it is not working but connected.

Users sometimes complain that the Bluetooth mouse is not working after a restart. Our guide should also help you fix this.

That would be all; I hope at least one of these solutions helped you to solve the problem with the Bluetooth mouse in Windows 10.

Lastly, if you have any questions or comments, write them down in the comment section below.

5 Ways to Fix High Ping & Stuttering in Age of Empires 4

Posted on September 30, 2022September 22, 2025 by Henderson Jayden Harper

Games like Age of Empires 4 perform best when you have a good network connection and a stable computer performance. However, users complain about the Age of Empires 4 high ping issues that cause the game to lag and stutter.

The Age of Empires 4 is one of the series of historical real-time strategy video games. However, users report that the game suffers from high ping, which affects many parts of the game.

Furthermore, pings mean the time it takes for your device to communicate with the server. It measures how long it takes for a small amount of data to be transmitted from your device to an online server and back again. An outrageous rise in the ping rate can result in stuttering or lag in your device.

Fortunately, there are some ways to fix the high ping & stuttering in Age of Empires 4. As we go further into this article, we’ll discuss the causes and fixes for high ping in your game.

Why am I suddenly getting high ping?

Issues with your network connection: Sending a certain amount of data from your device to the online game server requires a fast, smooth, and reliable network connection. However, you can experience a rise in ping if the network connection is slow or unstable. It can cause the Age of Empires 4 account sign-in to fail and lag.
Firewall interference: The firewall checks the data packets transacted between your device and servers (sent and received), so it takes a lot of time to do so. Hence, you may experience high ping in your game if your game is not allowed through Windows Firewall.
Not enough bandwidth: When many apps are running on your device concurrently, the bandwidth allocated for the game won’t be enough to keep it stable. So, low bandwidth can cause the Age of Empires 4 game pass to be disconnected.

You may be interested in how to fix network congestion on your computer for better performance.

How can I fix high ping issues in Age of Empires 4?

1. End process for apps using more bandwidth

Press Windows + R keys simultaneously to open the Run window.
Type resmon in the text space and press Enter to prompt the Resource Monitor.
Click the Network option in the Resource Monitor window.
Check the Total volume to know the programs occupying most of your network resources.
Right-click on the program using much bandwidth, then select the End Process option from the function menu.
Click on End Process to confirm the action.

Restart your PC and check if the high ping issue persists. It will fix the AOE 4 disconnecting issue on your PC.

2. Check your network connection

An easy way to fix network issues is by power cycling your router. Restarting it allows it to load faster and smoother.

Likewise, we recommend you switch to another network connection and see if the high ping issue persists.

3. Update Network drivers

Press Windows + I keys to open Windows Settings.
Navigate to the Windows Update tab and click on the Advanced options.
Select Additional options and click on Options updates.
Expand the Drivers updates section, then check the box.
Click the Download & install button.

Updating network drivers helps your PC connect faster with your network and fix issues like AOE 4 being unable to find or join matches and AOE 4 being offline.

Another option is to update all drivers using specialized software. Outbyte Driver Updater is a smart tool that automatically and safely detects and updates all outdated drivers on your system.

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4. Allow Age of Empires 4 through Windows Firewall

Press the Windows + I keys simultaneously to open the Settings app.
Click on Update & Security, then select the Windows Security option from the left pane of the screen.
Click the Virus & threat protection option.
Scroll down and click on Manage ransomware protection.
Toggle on to allow app through Controlled folder access, then click the + Add an allowed app button and Browse all apps.
Go to the game’s installation folder, select the RelicCardinal executable file and launch it.

Close the Settings app and restart your device.

5. Reboot the computer in Safe Mode

On the sign-in screen, press Shift while clicking the Power button.
Hold the shift key to open the Advanced Recovery Options.
Click on Troubleshoot and select the Advanced options.
Click on Startup Settings and select Restart.
Press 4 to Enable Safe Mode.

The computer will restart safely, and all underlying causes of the high ping in Age of Empire 4 will be fixed.

Is 100ms ping good?

A 100ms ping is good for gaming as it is a stable and good ping time. So, 50ms – 100ms is a good ping.

Conclusively, we hope you’ve been able to fix the high ping issue in AOE 4. Read the best VPNs to solve Paladin’s high ping and stuttering on your PC. Also, you can check our article about how to fix Arma 3 ping issues in a few quick steps.

Microsoft IPP Class Driver Missing on Windows 11 [Download & Install]

Posted on September 30, 2022May 10, 2024 by Claudiu Andone

Windows 11 came with exciting changes, but some inherent issues that can affect your printer have surfaced.

One of these problems is that some of our readers discovered that the Microsoft IPP class driver is missing.

This means that the system cannot communicate with the printer correctly, and some of its features are not working.

First, let’s clear out what is an IPP driver and what it does in the printer-PC relationship, and then we will provide some solutions for this issue.

What is the Microsoft IPP class driver?

An IPP driver is an Internet Printing Protocol that allows the communication between a client device like a computer, a mobile device, etc., and the printer or print server.

It helps you send one or more print jobs and perform other tasks, such as monitoring the printer and the print job status or canceling a print.

It’s also a secure protocol used by a vast majority of printers, so it’s essential to install it for your printer to work correctly.

So, all the printer drivers have this protocol embedded nowadays, and if you can’t use the printer with all its features, it’s a problem with the existing driver.

If the Microsoft IPP class driver is not installed, let’s see how we can solve this problem with one of the solutions below.

What is the difference between IPP and HTTP?

IPP, or Internet Printing Protocol, is an internet protocol that establishes communication between the client device and a printer. It allows for tasks such as querying the status of a printer, getting the status of print jobs or canceling individual print jobs.

IPP can run over the internet or without it, and thanks to access control, authentication, and encryption, it is a more secure printing mechanism than others.

HTTP is another secure way of transferring or sending data between a web server and a web browser. For example, IPP makes use of HTTPS as its transport protocol.

How can I fix the missing Microsoft IPP class driver?

1. Run the printer troubleshooter

Click the Start button and select Settings.
Choose System from the left menu and click on Troubleshoot from the right.
Select Other troubleshooters.
Click the Run button to the right of the Printer section.
The system will identify if there is any problem with your printer and will suggest any further actions.

2. Remove and reinstall the printer

2.1 Remove the printer

Click the Start button and choose Settings.
Select the Bluetooth & devices from the left pane and click on Printers & scanners from the right.
Select your printer and select Remove.

2.2 Reinstall the printer

Click the Start button and choose Settings.
Select Bluetooth & devices from the left menu and pick Printers & scanners from the right.
Click on the Add a device button.
If the printer is connected correctly, it should be detected. Click on it and select Install. If not, you can click the Add manually button.
You have a lot of options to choose from. For example, if you have a local printer, select the first option and if it’s a network printer, select the fourth option. We went through with the first one because it’s more common.
The system will search through the available printer. If it gets detected, select the printer and click Next to install it. If it doesn’t, go back to the previous step, select the last option, and click Next.
Select the port your printer is connected to from the drop-down menu, then choose Next.
Select the printer brand and model, then hit Next. If you can’t find it, click the Windows Update button, and in a few minutes, the list will be populated with many other printer brands and models. If you already have the driver, select the Have Disk button.
Click the Finish button after installing the driver.

3. Get the latest driver from the printer manufacturer’s website

Visit the printer’s manufacturer support website. In our example, we navigated to the HP printers support website and entered the model and number of the device.
Download the needed software.
The downloaded file is self-installing, so running it will also install the printer automatically.

If installing the printer using the usual method, you should try getting the correct driver from the manufacturer’s website support page.

The process described above is just an example of how to do that, and it’s different for each manufacturer, so adapt your technique to find the correct one for your printer.

Moreover, if you’re not tech-savvy, we recommend using a dedicated driver updating tool. This software solution is ideal for those who want to keep their computer in tip-top condition and avoid any printer-related issues.

4. Enable the Internet Printing Client

Open the Start menu, type control panel, and open it.
Choose Programs.
Click on Turn Windows features on or off.
Please scroll down and find Print and Document Services, click on it to expand, then check the Internet Printing Client box.

5. Clear the spooler and restart the service

5.1 Stop the Print Spooler service

Click Start, type services, and open it.
Under Services, double-click Print Spooler.
Select Stop, then OK.

5.2 Empty the Spool folder and restart the Print Spooler service

Press the Windows + E to start File Explorer.
Navigate to the following path (administrative privileges are needed to access the folder): C:\\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS
Delete all contents in the folders if there are any.
Open the Start menu, type services, and open it.
Double-click the Print Spooler service again.
Click Start.
Go to the Startup type list and select the Automatic box.
Click Apply, then click OK.

How do I enable IPP on my printer?

Open Control Panel.
Choose Programs.
Click on Turn Windows features on or off.
Please scroll down and find Print and Document Services, click on it to expand, then check the Internet Printing Client box.
Go to View Devices and Printers in Control Panel.
Hit the Add a Printer option.
Click on The printer that I want isn’t listed link.
Select the Select a shared printer by name option.
Type in the address of your printer.
Click Next.

How to set your printer as the default in Windows 11?

Click the Search icon from the Taskbar, type control panel, and select the app from the results.
Find the Hardware and Sound section and click on View devices and printers.
Right-click on your device and select Set as default printer.

We hope our guide helped you fix the Microsoft IPP class driver missing on Windows 11, and now your printer runs with all the features.

If you’re still stuck, here’s how to install the latest printer driver on Windows 11. Just as always, let us remind you to ensure you get the correct driver for your product when using the manual procedure.

For any suggestions or questions, use the comments section below, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

9 Ways to Fix Windows Installer Service Can’t be Accessed

Posted on September 30, 2022November 24, 2025 by Milan Stanojevic

We all have all sorts of applications that we use daily installed on our Windows 10 PCs. Unfortunately, a few users reported Windows Installer Service could not be accessed error while trying to install new applications.

This sounds rather serious, but always a way to fix this error. This guide will give you a bunch of solutions to help you resolve the problem.

Why is Windows Installer not working?

Here are some of the common reasons for Windows Installer not working issue.

The Windows Installer Engine is corrupted.
There is a virus or malware on your PC.
The Windows Installer service is missing some important files.
Some of the system files are missing or corrupt.
There is already an earlier version of the program installed on your PC.

How can I fix Windows Installer Service could not be accessed error on Windows 10?

1. Reset the Windows Installer Service registry

Press Win + R and type regedit, and click OK.
Click on File and select Export.
Select All as Export range, enter the name of the file and click Save. In case anything goes wrong, you can just run this file and restore your registry.
Once you’ve created your backup, close Registry Editor.

With registry backup created, you need to create a .reg file and add it to the registry. To do that, follow these steps:

Open Notepad.
Paste the following text into Notepad. Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\MSIServer] "DisplayName"="@%SystemRoot%system32msimsg.dll,-27" "ImagePath"=hex(2):25,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,72,00,6f,00,6f,00, 74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,6d, 00,73,00,69,00,65,00,78,00,65,00,63,00,20,00,2f,00,56,00,00,00 "Description"="@%SystemRoot%system32msimsg.dll,-32" "ObjectName"="LocalSystem" "ErrorControl"=dword:00000001 "Start"=dword:00000003 "Type"=dword:00000010 "DependOnService"=hex(7):72,00,70,00,63,00,73,00,73,00,00,00,00,00 "ServiceSidType"=dword:00000001 "RequiredPrivileges"=hex(7):53,00,65,00,54,00,63,00,62,00,50,00,72,00,69,00,76, 00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,67,00,65,00,00,00,53,00,65,00,43,00,72,00,65,00,61,00, 74,00,65,00,50,00,61,00,67,00,65,00,66,00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,50,00,72,00,69, 00,76,00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,67,00,65,00,00,00,53,00,65,00,4c,00,6f,00,63,00, 6b,00,4d,00,65,00,6d,00,6f,00,72,00,79,00,50,00,72,00,69,00,76,00,69,00,6c, 00,65,00,67,00,65,00,00,00,53,00,65,00,49,00,6e,00,63,00,72,00,65,00,61,00, 73,00,65,00,42,00,61,00,73,00,65,00,50,00,72,00,69,00,6f,00,72,00,69,00,74, 00,79,00,50,00,72,00,69,00,76,00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,67,00,65,00,00,00,53,00, 65,00,43,00,72,00,65,00,61,00,74,00,65,00,50,00,65,00,72,00,6d,00,61,00,6e, 00,65,00,6e,00,74,00,50,00,72,00,69,00,76,00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,67,00,65,00, 00,00,53,00,65,00,41,00,75,00,64,00,69,00,74,00,50,00,72,00,69,00,76,00,69, 00,6c,00,65,00,67,00,65,00,00,00,53,00,65,00,53,00,65,00,63,00,75,00,72,00, 69,00,74,00,79,00,50,00,72,00,69,00,76,00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,67,00,65,00,00, 00,53,00,65,00,43,00,68,00,61,00,6e,00,67,00,65,00,4e,00,6f,00,74,00,69,00, 66,00,79,00,50,00,72,00,69,00,76,00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,67,00,65,00,00,00,53, 00,65,00,50,00,72,00,6f,00,66,00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,53,00,69,00,6e,00,67,00, 6c,00,65,00,50,00,72,00,6f,00,63,00,65,00,73,00,73,00,50,00,72,00,69,00,76, 00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,67,00,65,00,00,00,53,00,65,00,49,00,6d,00,70,00,65,00, 72,00,73,00,6f,00,6e,00,61,00,74,00,65,00,50,00,72,00,69,00,76,00,69,00,6c, 00,65,00,67,00,65,00,00,00,53,00,65,00,43,00,72,00,65,00,61,00,74,00,65,00, 47,00,6c,00,6f,00,62,00,61,00,6c,00,50,00,72,00,69,00,76,00,69,00,6c,00,65, 00,67,00,65,00,00,00,53,00,65,00,41,00,73,00,73,00,69,00,67,00,6e,00,50,00, 72,00,69,00,6d,00,61,00,72,00,79,00,54,00,6f,00,6b,00,65,00,6e,00,50,00,72, 00,69,00,76,00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,67,00,65,00,00,00,53,00,65,00,52,00,65,00, 73,00,74,00,6f,00,72,00,65,00,50,00,72,00,69,00,76,00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,67, 00,65,00,00,00,53,00,65,00,49,00,6e,00,63,00,72,00,65,00,61,00,73,00,65,00, 51,00,75,00,6f,00,74,00,61,00,50,00,72,00,69,00,76,00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,67, 00,65,00,00,00,53,00,65,00,53,00,68,00,75,00,74,00,64,00,6f,00,77,00,6e,00, 50,00,72,00,69,00,76,00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,67,00,65,00,00,00,53,00,65,00,54, 00,61,00,6b,00,65,00,4f,00,77,00,6e,00,65,00,72,00,73,00,68,00,69,00,70,00, 50,00,72,00,69,00,76,00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,67,00,65,00,00,00,53,00,65,00,4c, 00,6f,00,61,00,64,00,44,00,72,00,69,00,76,00,65,00,72,00,50,00,72,00,69,00, 76,00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,67,00,65,00,00,00,00,00 "FailureActions"=hex:84,03,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,03,00,00,00,14,00,00, 00,01,00,00,00,c0,d4,01,00,01,00,00,00,e0,93,04,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetServicesmsiserverEnum] "0"="RootLEGACY_MSISERVER000" "Count"=dword:00000001 "NextInstance"=dword:00000001
Click File.
Select Save as. Type the file name as repair.reg and set Save as type to All Files and click Save.
Close Notepad.
Locate the repair.reg file, right-click it, and choose Run as administrator.
If prompted, click Yes.

After you’ve added repair.reg to the registry, try to install the problematic application again and check if the Windows Installer Service could not be accessed error appears.

2. Start the Windows Installer Service manually

Right-click on the Start menu and choose Command Prompt (Admin) from the menu.
Type net start MSIServer and press Enter to run it.

To check if the Windows Installer Service is running, you need to do the following:

Open the Start menu, type Services, and open it.
Open Windows Installer service.
Check the Service Status to see if the Windows Installer service is running.
If the service isn’t running, click the Start button to start it.

You can also follow this detailed guide on how to enable Windows Installer Service when the service refuses to start or keeps stopping.

3. Re-register Microsoft Installer Service

Right-click on the Start menu and select Command Prompt from the menu.
If you own a 64-bit version of Windows, enter the following lines and press Enter after each line:
- %windir%system32msiexec.exe /unregister
- %windir%system32msiexec.exe /regserver
- %windir%syswow64msiexec.exe /unregister
- %windir%syswow64msiexec.exe /regserver
After you’ve entered all the lines, close Command Prompt and restart your computer.
If you own a 32-bit version of Windows 10, you need to enter the following commands:
- msiexec /unregister
- msiexec /regserver
Close Command Prompt.
Restart your computer. Now check if the Windows Installer Service could not be accessed error still appears.

4. Use regsvr32 command

Start Command Prompt as an administrator.
Type the below command and press Enter to run it. regsvr32 c:windowssystem32msi
Close the Command Prompt and try to install the problematic application again.

5. Use SFC and DISM commands

Right-click on the Start menu and choose Command Prompt (Admin).
Type the below command and press Enter to run it: sfc /scannow
SFC scan will now start. Remember that this can take about 15 minutes, so don’t interrupt it.

Once the scan is finished, check if the problem persists. If the issue is still present, or if you could not run an SFC scan, you might have to use a DISM scan instead. To do that, follow these steps:

Start Command Prompt as administrator.
Run the below command: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
The scanning process will now start. Remember that this process can take about 20 minutes or more, so don’t interfere with it.

Once the scan is done, check if the issue persists. If you were unable to run the SFC scan before, or if the SFC scan was unable to fix the problem, repeat it and check if Windows Installer Service could not be accessed error is still there.

Third-party software that can do this process automatically might be an easier and more reliable solution.

6. Uninstall the older version of the program you wish to install

If you already have the older version of the program you want to install on your computer, we advise you to remove that version from your PC before trying to install the newer version.

This is a simple solution, but it might work for you, so be sure to try it out.

If you can’t remove a particular application due to Windows Installer Service could not be accessed error message, you might be able to solve the problem simply by using an uninstaller software.

In case you’re not familiar, uninstaller software is an application that can remove any application from your PC.

In addition to removing applications, these tools will also remove all files and registry entries associated with the application you want to remove.

There are many options available, you can certainly find the best uninstaller software that fits your budget and specific needs.

7. Install Windows Installer Redistributable

Download Windows Installer Redistributable.
After the file is downloaded, double-click it to start the installation.
Follow the instructions on the screen.

8. Delete the duplicated msiexec file

Go to C:\Windows\System32 directory.
Look for msiexec.exe. Now look for another msiexec file. This file will be 0KB in size and it won’t have a .exe extension.
Rename the duplicated msiexec file to msiexec.old.

After doing that, you just need to go to the Services window and restart the Windows Installer service.

9. Change Remote Procedure Call service settings

Open the Start menu, type Services, and open it.
Double click Remote Procedure Call (RPC) service.
Now navigate to the Log on tab and select Log on as Local System Account and check to Allow this service to interact with the desktop checkbox.
Save changes and restart your PC.

How can I fix Windows Installer Service could not be accessed on Windows 11?

Reset Windows Installer service.
Check if the Windows Installer service is enabled or not.
Delete the old version of the software.
Reset your Windows PC.
Perform a clean install.
Install the latest Windows Installer Redistributable.

Can I disable Windows Installer?

Open the Start menu.
Type services and open the app.
Locate the Windows Installer service and open it.
Under the Startup type drop-down menu, select Automatic.
Select Stop button for the Service status section.
Press Apply and OK.

Windows Installer Service could not be accessed error messages can create a lot of problems, but we hope that some of our solutions were helpful to you.

See our guide on Windows Installer Service missing for additional causes and recovery methods on Windows 10 and 11.

If you have any more questions or suggestions, feel free to leave them in the comments section below.

HP Recovery Manager Restoration Incomplete: Fix It in 5 Steps

Posted on September 30, 2022October 4, 2023 by Loredana Harsana

When trying to restore or recover your crashed HP computer, you may run into an HP Recovery Manager Restoration issue where it doesn’t complete. This is a problem that happens all the time, and there are some simple solutions to fix it.

Many HP users experienced a Blue Screen of Death, where the computer screen simply turns blue with an error message. You can’t access anything without restoring or recovering the machine.

For those stuck in this loop, this is a detailed look at some quick fixes you can handle on your own. Read this to the end to find out more.

What can I do if my HP Recovery Manager restoration is incomplete?

1. Check your HP Recovery Manager settings

Open the HP Recovery Manager.
This will take you to another screen with different options. Click the Advanced options button.
Select the Startup Settings option. Ensure that the Enable backup logging and Enable system restore options are activated.
If you’re having trouble restoring your system, try selecting the Create a recovery disk option and following the instructions.
Click OK to save your changes and close the window.

2. Use the Windows System Restore tool

Press Windows + R to open the Run command, type rstrui in the text field, and click OK.
Select the Choose a different restore point option, and click Next.
Now, select a restore point from the list and click Next.
Verify the restore details, and click on Finish to start the process.

After doing so, your computer should boot up normally, and the HP Recovery Manager restoration incomplete problem should be resolved.

3. Use HP System Recovery to reinstall your operating system

3.1. Back up your data

Open the Control Panel and select System and Security.
Go to Backup and Restore.
If this is your first time using Windows Backup, then choose Set up backup and follow the setup prompts.
If you’ve created a backup before, select Back up now to update it.
Wait for the backup process to complete.

3.2. Use the Boot Device Options

NOTE

The steps listed here may be different for your computer model, though the concept remains the same. If the keys listed here don’t work as intended, look for the correct ones on the manufacturer’s website or in the computer manual.

Shut down the computer. Disconnect all peripheral devices and remove all USB devices and media cards.
Turn on the computer and immediately press Esc repeatedly until the Startup Menu opens. Press F9 to open Boot Device Options.
Under Legacy Boot Sources, select ATAPI CD/DVD Drive or Removable Device, and press Enter
The computer will restart, and then the Windows loading screen should appear.
Press any key when prompted, and then follow the on-screen instructions to restore the system from the recovery partition on your hard drive using HP System Recovery.
After the recovery process is complete, reconnect all the devices that were removed earlier.
Turn off the computer, then wait for 5 to 10 seconds to turn on the computer again, and verify that Windows starts correctly.
If prompted to sign in, enter your username and password, and then click OK.
After your computer restarts, select an account type and follow the instructions on the screen to set up Windows.

Now, check if the HP Recovery Manager restoration incomplete problem is resolved. If not, head to the next method.

4. Run the HP Hardware Diagnostics tool

Download the HP Hardware Diagnostics tool from the HP website.
Open the file and follow the on-screen instructions to install the tool.
Launch the tool and click on the System Tests button.
The test will start running. Let it finish until it reaches 100%.
Restart your computer once the test is complete.

Now, try using the HP Recovery Manager again, and verify if the restoration incomplete problem is resolved.

5. Contact HP Support for further assistance

If you’re struggling with the HP Recovery Manager Restoration incomplete error, don’t worry! You can always contact HP Support for help.

First, visit the HP Support website. You can enter your product number or search for your product manually. Look for the Contact HP Support link and click it. This will take you to a page with various support options.

Furthermore, if you want to speak to someone on the phone, select the Call HP support option. Alternatively, you can use the Get chat support option to chat with an HP representative online.

Whichever method you choose, someone from HP Support will be more than happy to assist you further with your HP Recovery Manager issue. So don’t hesitate to reach out for help.

We hope this article has helped you resolve the HP Recovery Manager Restoration Incomplete error.

Also, find out the exact steps to use the HP Recovery Manager.

If you have any other queries regarding the problem or know of a solution that’s not listed here, drop it in the comments section below.

Bad Sector Repair Tool for Windows 10 & 11 [2026 Guide]

Posted on September 30, 2022January 8, 2024 by Milan Stanojevic

The role of a hard disk in a computer system is extremely important because it holds all your valuable information and keeps the operating system working properly. And when the data on it is lost, a bad sector repair tool comes into the picture.

The data on the bad sectors may be temporarily or permanently lost depending on the cause of the problem.

Hardware errors are impossible to fix with software and can only be rectified by creating a backup and replacing the hardware itself. If the damage is caused by software errors then you can fix them by using bad sector repair software.

A hard drive contains millions of sectors that, over time, can get damaged or become inaccessible for a variety of reasons – logical corruption, physical damage to the disk, etc.

When a section of the hard drive is inaccessible, in the worst-case scenario, it can cause the operating system to crash. This is one of the most frequent root causes for Blue Screen of Death errors, aka BSoD errors.

So, let’s find out all about the issue and the best bad sector repair tools with a free download to fix things.

How to fix bad sectors permanently?

Bad sectors are the part of the hard drive which have been rendered unreadable. And over time, several of these may come up due to various reasons, for instance, improper shutdown, overheating, malware, or physical damage.

Frankly speaking, the possibility of fixing bad sectors is usually bleak, and this is where advanced third-party bad sector repair tools may come to your aid.

check disk as a bad sector repair tool — *Check Disk*

Though Windows offers a built-in utility, Check Disk, to automatically identify and eliminate issues with the hard drive. Also, you may defragment the hard drive, but that wouldn’t work for an SSD.

What is the best HDD bad sector repair tool?

Stellar Data Recovery: Simply the best

Stellar Data Recovery software allows you to recover lost or deleted files, folders, photos, documents, videos, and other files, even if your hard drive was severely corrupted or due to accidental deletion or formatting.

It has been perfecting its software for more than 25 years. During this time, this company has received more than 100 awards for its top-of-the-line products.

This is one of the leading names on the market in regards to the recovery of files a hard drive failure or formatting and offers you 3 great options that cover users’ needs from basic users to the most advanced.

Stellar Data Recovery

Recover any file format on any storage device with the most powerful tool available on the market!

Free trial Visit website

1. Stellar Data Recovery – Standard

The Standard version of this software is designed for the average PC user that needs help in recuperating lost or corrupted files like Office documents, emails, spreadsheets, presentations, photos, videos, audio files, and others.

Stellar Data Recovery-Windows Standard is limited to recovering data up to 1GB which is more than enough for the average PC user.

It can also recover data from external storage devices such as external hard drives, SD cards, USB flash drives, Cameras, Camcorders, etc.

Stellar Data Recovery Standard offers an easy-to-use and very user-friendly interface in order to make it as easy as possible for you to quickly undo any data loss issues encountered. And it does so while preserving the original structure of the data.

All you need to do is connect the affected storage media (internal or external), launch the software and run a scan.

Stellar Data Recovery V8’s very performant search feature will help you to easily locate specific files by searching by custom filters like file name, size, file type, and even by last modified date and created date.

In order for you to dig even deeper inside the affected hard drive, Stellar Data Recovery Standard has a Deep Scan feature specifically designed to tackle damaged and formatted devices.

Sometimes we find that an entire partition of our hard drive is missing. This powerful software has a built-in option called Cannot Find Drive that can recover an entire partition at once and even allows you to preview the data before you recover it.

⇒ Get Stellar Data Recovery Standard edition

2. Stellar Data Recovery – Professional

The professional version of this amazing software holds all the capabilities mentioned above in the Standard version with a few key added options:

It recovers data that was deleted/lost from unbootable systems
NTFS, exFAT, and FAT (FAT16/FAT32) support for formatted drives
Selective file recovery with over 300 pre-listed files types or recover files with a particular file extension
You can save and load scan information in order to save time

You can find a step-by-step guide to using this tool on the Stellar knowledge base page.

⇒ Get Data Recovery – Professional edition

3. Stellar Data Recovery – Technician

This version of the software is the ultimate bad sector repair tool, and includes all the options covered in the first two versions with a plethora of additional features:

Safe and risk-free data recovery from logically corrupt or inaccessible RAID 0, RAID 5, and RAID 6 servers
Data recovery for formatted or deleted volumes
Remote recovery – recovers data remotely over a network
It can create Virtual RAID when probable RAID construction fails
The tool can recover data from lost/deleted FAT, exFAT, and NTFS partitions
RAW recovery – of the entire RAID array
It can create images of your hard drive containing bad sectors
It facilitates recovery from hard disks with 2 TB or more storage capacity
Track hard-disk performance with SMART attributes (display data in real-time)
Set out threshold and Critical limits to monitor and analyze temperature, performance statistics, and health of hard disks

⇒ Get Stellar Data Recovery Technician

All the versions of the software have multiple languages support: English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, and Chinese. You can easily change it either in pre-installation or post-installation from the Advanced Settings.

AOMEI Partition Assistant: Offers several repair options

AOMEI Partition Assistant has a variety of very efficient tools, all tied up by a very user-friendly interface that simplifies your PC disk partition management and offers a safe environment for you to work.

It allows you to create, resize, move, merge, and split partitions without losing any data and even repairs MBR (Master Boot Record) with ease.

AOMEI Partition Assistant supported devices include:

Traditional hard disk drives (HDD), solid-state drives (SSD) and SSHD
External hard drive (USB 1.0/2.0/3.0), PC card, all-flash drives, Thumb Drives, and other removable media
All storage devices recognized by Windows – IDE, SATA, iSCSI, SCSI disk, IEEE1394 (FireWire), etc
Hardware RAID, including RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 10, etc.
Up to 128 disks in one system
Hard disk with 4096, 2048, 1024, 512 bytes sector size
Supports TFS, FAT32/FAT16/FAT12, exFAT/ReFS, Ext2/Ext3/Ext4

If your computer doesn’t boot and you see an error information message like operating system not found, missing operating system, or invalid partition table that shows you that there is something wrong with the MBR.

MBR problems can be caused by partitions being infected by a trojan horse virus that your antivirus didn’t remove completely or loading a corrupted backup image for your OS. This problem also occurs on some external hard disks.

You can go to the AOMEI website to see a step-by-step guide on how to repair corrupted MBR on Windows PCs.

AOMEI Partition Assistant

The best tool to manage your disk partitions with great ease and high efficiency!

Check price Visit website

Disk Genius: One of the most trusted repair tool

Disk Genius is one of the oldest software on the market with a great reputation for repairing computers.

Disk Genius is not only a great utility to take care of your PC and system but also to run tests and apply fixes to your hardware. The Disk Utilities feature from Disk Genius is a great dedicated tool for repairing bad sectors on your HDD.

Another important feature of this tool is the backup & restore option, which allows you to save your system configurations before taking any disk repair actions.

Here is a quick overview of the most important processes that it can perform:

Check and repair bad sectors in Windows 10 on HDD, SSD, external HDD, and other storage devices
Disk and partition management: format, resize, split, clone, hide, extend
Create a WinPE bootable disk so you can access your disk when the system crashes or the PC has no OS
Backup and restore partition
Recover lost data from your disk and storage devices

These are only some of its key features, but they’re the most important if you want to keep your disk healthy.

From repairing the bad sectors to recovering lost files – Disk Genius is your disk guardian. You can get a free version from the official website.

Disk Genius

Reliable data disk utilities and data backup and recovery for Windows that you cannot get enough of!

Check price Visit website

Will formatting HDD fix bad sectors?

No, formatting the HDD, or even an SSD, for that matter, won’t fix the bad sectors on it. Though it is beneficial as the bad sectors will be marked, and data will not be stored on it any further. This will minimize the loss of data stored in the bad sectors in the long run.

When you find a bad sector on the drive, the ideal approach is to repair it using a third-party tool or create a backup of the data and transfer it to a new hard drive.

And if faced with the problem, you now know the best bad sector repair tools to employ and get your hard drive to work seamlessly again. Some of the tools also support USB bad sector repair.

If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to comment below.

This is How You Can Link Slack to Trello In No Time

Posted on September 30, 2022September 4, 2024 by Vlad Turiceanu

One of the most important aspects of a company is communication. That is why modern times require modern solutions, and instant messaging apps are a common sight in office environments.

One such app is Slack, and it has pretty much everything you may need to make collaboration as efficient as possible.

One very helpful feature is its ability to allow communities, groups, or teams to join workspaces via a specific URL.

Trello is also a collaboration platform, albeit it is more visually inclined, which gives teams perspective on projects. In a somewhat similar fashion to Slack, Trello tells you what’s being worked on, who’s working on what, and where something is in a process.

Can Slack and Trello be linked?

Given how the two services can be of such great use for companies and coordinative work, it is only natural that you’d think about connecting the two services in one way or another.

One of the few ways you can link Trello and Slack together is via the Trello for Slack app.

The Trello app for Slack makes it easier for you to manage cards on your boards, change due dates, and attach conversations to cards straight from the Slack interface.

Are Trello and Slack the same?

Although both of these apps are used to manage workflow or projects, they do not provide the same duties in this regard.

Trello is a project management tool that makes it simple for teams to organize their work, while Slack is primarily an instant messaging platform that also includes some task management capabilities.

How can I connect Slack and Trello?

1. Install the Trello app for Slack

Go to the Trello page in the Slack App Directory and click Add to Slack. Remember that you first need to log into your account and workspace in order to install any Slack apps.
Next click Add to Slack.
Choose a Trello team to link to Slack then click Install to finish the linking process.

2. Link the Trello and Slack accounts

Launch Slack select Trello from the Apps section.
Type /trello in the message field press Enter or click Send.
Click Link Trello account and select Allow.

3. Add a Trello bot to Slack channels

Select a channel then type /invite @trello into the message field
Hit Enter or click Send to add the Trello bot to the channel.

4. Link Trello boards to Slack channels

Type /trello link and your board’s name or URL into the message field.
Hit Enter or click Send and select Link to Channel.

By following these steps, you should be able to make use of the entirety of Trello’s features straight from within the Slack app.

You can now better manage who you are talking to, and project assignment and management will also become a breeze.

Does Slack have a Kanban board?

Kanban boards are a tool for agile project management that is supposed to assist visualize work, restrict the amount of work that is now in progress, and increase productivity.

It can assist in the establishment of order in the day-to-day work of agile as well as DevOps teams. Kanban boards are helpful for technology and service teams because they help teams commit to the appropriate amount of work, in the right time period.

Your Kanban board is going to be built immediately into Slack, giving you a quick visual overview of all the tasks that are currently being worked on.

If you want to use other services, we also have a great guide on how to connect Google Calendar to Slack, so don’t miss it.

Do you think connecting your Trello and Slack accounts will result in increased work productivity? Let us know your opinions in the comment section below.

Windows Failed to Apply Printer Connections Settings [Fix]

Posted on September 30, 2022October 4, 2023 by Claire Moraa

Group Policy is a powerful tool for managing Windows computers. But there are times when it just doesn’t work as you expect. Perhaps you have an existing policy that has been working fine, but now it doesn’t seem to be applying some settings or adding new printers.

If you’re trying to import printers using GPOs on your domain controllers and they’re not working, then there might be something blocking outbound connections such as your firewall.

Most of the time, you’ll find that you don’t have permission to perform this operation. In such a case, you may need to set the account to an administrator account to enable you to make any changes.

Why can’t I add a shared printer?

If you are wondering why you are unable to add a shared printer, below are some common causes:

The printer is offline – The printer you are trying to add may not be on the network. If the printer is offline, it will not appear as a shared printer in the list.
You are not on the same network – To use Group Policy to add shared printers, you must be able to connect to the print server. If your client computer is not connected to a domain, or if the printer is not on the same subnet as the client computer, you will not be able to add shared printers through Group Policy.
The policy admin is not an administrator – It is possible that the policy admin is not an administrator on the computer. If this is the case, they will not be able to install printers or add printer drivers. To fix this, you need to make sure that the policy admin has admin privileges on the computer.

Now that you are aware of why you are unsuccessful in adding a printer, below are some easy troubleshooting solutions.

How can I fix a Group Policy that is not adding printers

1. Ensure you have permissions

The first thing to do is to ensure that you have permissions on the GPO. If the Group Policy printer access is denied, it’s probably because you are using a standard account. You can change this can be done by running GPMC as an Administrator. If you start the Group Policy Editor with elevated permissions, then it will automatically use those permissions when you open it up.

When adding a network printer to your computer and it isn’t working, ensure that you have the correct permissions. If your account is a part of the Administrators group, you should be able to add printers from any computer on your network.

2. Restart Group Policy Service

Press the Windows + R keys simultaneously to open the Run command.
Type in services.msc, then press Enter.
Navigate to the Group Policy Client and right-click on Services.
Select Properties and change the Startup type to Automatic.
Click on Start, then Apply.
Hit OK to save the changes.

3. Remove the default printers

If you have added a printer before and it was not added correctly, then there are chances that the policy is still referring to that printer.

The solution is to remove that printer from all of your client computers and then try adding it again. This will make sure that only the correct printers are being added by Group Policy. If Windows failed to apply the deployed printer connections settings, you can refresh your connection.

Another thing you should do is test if any of your printers have gone offline. To test if this is the case, try printing something from one of your computers using one of these offline printers. If it prints successfully then there must be another issue.

4. Refresh policy settings

Hit the Windows key, type cmd and select Run as administrator.
Type in the following command and press Enter: GPupdate/force

The Group Policy refresh process happens automatically every 90 minutes. However, you can update it manually. This will refresh all the policies on that computer, including any printer policies.

5. Reset Group Policy Editor

Hit the Windows key, type cmd and select Run as administrator.
Type in the following commands and press Enter after each one: RD /S /Q "%WinDir%\System32\GroupPolicyUsers" && RD /S /Q "%WinDir%\System32\GroupPolicy" gpupdate /force
Restart your PC.

This can be useful if you’ve changed a setting and then realize that it wasn’t what you wanted. You can use this option to undo an incorrect setting before applying it to other computers.

If none of these solutions works for you, try restarting your PC in Safe Mode or reinstalling Windows.

You may also encounter an issue where Windows is stuck at applying Group Policy so check out our article on how to approach this situation.

As always, we appreciate your feedback so feel free to share any additional thoughts you may have on this topic down below.

Windows 11 2022 rollout blocked for some over printer driver issues

Posted on September 30, 2022 by Radu Tyrsina

Last week, Microsoft announced that it’s beginning to roll out the Windows 11 2022 Update which features a ton of improvements. But it seems that some users have encountered some bugs with the update, more specifically printer drivers.

This is not the first time Microsoft has encountered printer-related issues, as is the case with the Windows 10 update rolled out in July which caused users to see duplicate copies of printers on a device after installing it. In this particular instance, if you upgraded your device to run on the Windows 11 2022 Update, then you may not be able to detect all the features in printers especially those using either the Microsoft IPP Class Driver or Universal Print Class Driver.

According to the statement issued by Microsoft:

Windows needs connectivity to the printer to identify all the features of the printer. Without connectivity, the printer is set up with default settings and in some scenarios might not get updated once connectivity to the printer is restored. You might be affected by this issue if your printer is unable to use printer specific features such as color, two-sided/duplex printing, paper size or type settings, or resolutions higher than 300x300dpi.

Consequently, Microsoft has now placed a compatibility hold on all Windows devices with the affected printer drivers, thus preventing them from upgrading to the Windows 11 2022 Update. However, if you are currently facing this issue Microsoft has provided a workaround for it.

You will need to uninstall any installed printers using Microsoft IPP Class Driver or Universal Print Class Driver from your device. In turn, you will be able to install the Windows 11 2022 Update. However, it may take up to 48hrs before you can make the update on your device. Restarting your device as well as checking for updates can expedite the process.

Microsoft has indicated that it is currently working on a fix for this and we should expect it as an update in an upcoming release. Let us know if you have encountered this issue in the comment section below.

How to install and set up Microsoft Teams on Android

Posted on September 30, 2022August 30, 2025 by Radu Tyrsina

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As unexpected and uncertain as the Covid-19 pandemic was, it brought along many changes to our work culture with it. One such shift was the rise of online communication tools in the midst of the work-from-home phenomenon. This has resulted in a massive uptick in new subscriptions for Teams, Microsoft’s flagship online communications app. For the stats nerds, the app now boasts 270 million regular users, up from the 22 million users it had in 2019.

With this huge rise in demand, the app naturally tries to be cross-compatibility, and therefore, is available on various operating systems. In this article, we focus our effort on how you can install and set up the Teams app on your Android device. So, let’s get started.

How to install and set up the Teams app on Android

Like most apps on Android, you can find the android version of the Teams app on the Google PlayStore. Here’s how:

Head to the PlayStore, type in ‘teams’ in the search bar above, and select the search option on your keyboard.
You’ll get taken to a new page. From here, click on Install to begin the download. The app will be downloaded and installed in a few seconds.
As soon as the download gets finished, click on Open. The app will start booting up; give it a few minutes to complete the installation.

You’ll then have to type in your login credentials—your Teams email and password, basically. After that, you might have to wait a few seconds while the app signs you in.

From the next screen, click on Next after you’re signed in. The app will then try to confirm some privacy settings; click on Got it to finalize. Do this, and you’ll be finally taken to the main menu of your Teams app, set to the Activity tab by default.

From here, switch the tab, and you’ll be able to do everything you can on a Teams account on your PC—be it chatting with a team member or glossing over the different channels.

However, if you don’t have a Teams account, the Android app will let you create one from there. Let’s see how.

  Creating a new account on the Teams Android app

First, click on the No account? Create one for free button. Then select the type of account you’d like to create: Personal or Business.

On the next screen, type in your Microsoft email address, or create an account using your phone number by clicking on Use a phone number instead. Click on Next.

Type in the relevant phone number, enter the four-digit confirmation code sent to your phone and follow the instructions onscreen. Your new account will be created.

Click on Get Started to go ahead with the Teams app, and you’ll be able to use it on your Android device from here on.

Installing the Teams app on an Android smartphone

As the Teams app has slowly gained popularity, more and more users will need the ease of access that an Android app provides. If you’re one such user, this short guide is all you need to install the Teams Android app on your device. Of course, as we’ve said above, the Teams app is available for multiple operating systems; for instance, we’ve also covered how you can install it on Linux. Moreover, Microsoft keeps adding new features and functionalities to the app regularly.

Puffin Browser Not Connecting to Network [2 Safe Fixes]

Posted on September 30, 2022September 21, 2025 by Ola-Hassan Bolaji

The Puffin browser is a secure and fast browser with minimal data consumption. It protects you against malicious links and hackers with its high-level security features.

However, like most modern browsers, it is not free from errors, and an example is the Puffin browser not connecting to the network. This issue is pretty common because the browser renders your web pages in the cloud to make loading and content rendering faster.

With all these processes, it is expected that a network issue will arise at some point. In this guide, we will take you through three effective fixes to solve the problem.

Why is my Puffin browser not connecting to the network?

With the complexity of the routing process of the Puffin browser, the causes of its network problems can sometimes be difficult to trace. But below are the popular ones:

Unstable network connection – A weak or unstable network connection happens when the router is too far away or another source jams it.
Corrupt browser data – When you get corrupted browser data, you must delete those files as they cause miscommunication across the browser.
Outdated app – An outdated app won’t communicate with the other software correctly, as its protocols aren’t updated.
Presence of bugs in the app – Bugs can cause a plethora of issues within an app, including not being able to connect to the network.

Without further ado, let’s jump into the list of solutions to fix the Puffin browser not connecting to the network issue.

What can I do if the Puffin browser is not connecting to the network?

Before we head to the slightly complex solutions, try these quick ones first:

Ensure you are connected to a network and have a high Internet speed. This is usually a common reason users face the problem.
Check for any pending browser updates and install them.
Try opening other websites in case the problem is limited to just one. This way, you will be able to verify that.

If none work, head to the fixes listed next.

1. Clear cache

Click the menu button (three horizontal lines) in the top right corner. Select the Settings option.
Choose Clear browsing data on the left pane.
Check the checkbox for Cached images and files and click the clear button.

The cache is an important browser data that helps to improve your browsing experience. But they cause a lot of problems when corrupt.

The Puffin browser gathers many cache files with its mode of operation. So, there is a high chance that they can get corrupt. And this causes the Puffin browser not connecting to the network issue.

After clearing your cache, relaunch the app, and try to visit another website.

2. Uninstall and reinstall the Puffin browser

Press the Windows key and select Settings.
Select the Apps option.
Scroll down to the Puffin Secure Browser app and click on it.
Select the Uninstall option and follow the simple onscreen instructions to complete the process.
Go to Puffin’s official website.
Click on Download Windows Installer and wait for the download to complete.
Click the downloaded file and follow the onscreen instructions to complete the installation.

This is the last resort if all the fixes above do not solve the Puffin browser not connecting to the network issue. Some bugs might be affecting the Puffin browser’s performance, causing it not to connect to a network. Uninstalling and reinstalling the app should remove all the bugs disturbing it.

It is also worth noting that this fix has proved to solve the Puffin browser not working issue on Firestick, Android TV, and Nvidia Shield. So you can consider it a general fix to fall back on if nothing works.

Does Puffin browser Pro still work?

The Puffin browser Pro and free version still work on Windows 7 (SP1) and 10, macOS 10, 14, and newer, and all Android OS.

However, the developers announced that the browser would be discontinued on iOS devices in 2022 due to the Apple store’s policies. But it will work till the beginning of 2023 before it stops working totally.

Is there a replacement for the Puffin browser?

Thankfully, there are lots of effective alternatives. The major selling point of the Puffin browser is security. And this is just one of the many features of the renowned Opera One browser.

Opera One is a top-notch browser that assures your online security. It has a free built-in VPN that ensures you surf the web unnoticed. There is also the ad blocker that protects you against malicious links disguised as ads online.

Add its anti-tracking feature, and you know you’re 100% safe with Opera One. But that is not all you get from this browser. It also comes with a built-in AI and a modular AI-ready design.

It is pretty simple to use and intuitive. Regarding browsing speed, it is up there with the very best in the industry. It just combines so many features without errors, like the network not connecting on the Puffin browser.

⇒ Get Opera One

The Puffin browser not connecting to the network issue can be exasperating, especially if you don’t have any other secure browser. Fortunately, it is quite easy to solve.

Do you want to know more about how safe the Puffin browser is? Check our detailed guide that touches on everything its privacy and security features.

Feel free to let us know the fix that worked for you in the comments section below.

5 Ways to Fix Group Policy if It’s Slow to Generate Reports

Posted on September 30, 2022October 2, 2025 by Claire Moraa

Group Policy is one of the most important tools you have for managing and configuring your network. The problem is that it can be slow to generate reports and sometimes even hangs for minutes at a time. This can be frustrating when you’re trying to get something done quickly.

The reason Group Policy can be slow to generate reports is that it requires several steps. If it is taking too long to generate reports, you might be able to fix it by changing some settings or disabling certain features in Group Policy Management Console (GPMC).

In some instances, Group Policy Editor may be greyed out meaning you can’t access some options. Luckily, our detailed article explains how to quickly fix this issue.

How long does it take for Group Policy to update?

The time it takes Group Policy to update depends on the number and complexity of the Group Policy Objects (GPOs) that are in the environment and the speed of the network.

Other factors include:

Speed of your network – The faster the network, the faster the Group Policy will be applied.
Amount of data being pushed out through Group Policy – If you’re applying hundreds or thousands of policies at once, it can take longer than if you’re applying only a handful of policies.
Number of computers that will receive these policies – The more computers receive them, the longer it will take.
Speed of your computer’s processor and memory – The faster these two things are, the more efficiently Group Policy will be able to apply itself and therefore the faster it will complete its job.

Why is GPO so buggy?

If you find that your GPO is buggy, there is a possibility that you have a corrupt user profile. This can happen for a number of reasons: malware infection, user error or faulty third-party software. The easiest way to check if this is the issue is to simply log out and back in again.

If everything goes back to normal after logging out and logging back in, then you know that your local profile has been corrupted and needs to be repaired. You can also switch users and check whether you experience the same problems.

Also, editing system policies unnecessarily can cause the GPO to be buggy. Don’t edit registry keys unless absolutely necessary. Registry keys are used by various parts of Windows for storing configuration information, such as application settings or browser settings.

If you change these keys without knowing what they do, you could break some aspect of the operating system or other software.

How do I speed up Group Policy processing?

1. Decrease the number of GPOs that are processed at once

Group Policy processing is done in parallel, but there are limits to how many GPOs can be processed simultaneously. If you have too many GPOs applied at once, then you will experience delays when applying them.

Sometimes, the server may get stuck at applying Group Policy. To solve this problem, consider applying fewer policy settings or using Security Filtering to only apply certain policies to certain groups.

2. Use a faster network

If your network isn’t fast enough to support the number of users on it, consider upgrading your hardware or adding more bandwidth. A fast network will allow for better response times from the clients themselves and make Group Policy processing more efficient.

If you have older hardware or slow links between your domain controllers, this will help tremendously. By using faster hardware and faster links between domain controllers, you’re able to process Group Policy faster because the travel time between servers and clients is lessened.

3. Disable or uninstall unnecessary software

Some programs use up more memory than they need to perform their tasks, which can cause the Group Policy slow in generating reports. If you don’t need a program, disable it or uninstall it entirely.

Uninstall programs that were installed with other programs. Many programs come bundled with other software that you might not need, such as toolbars and browser extensions. You can remove these extras from your system through the Control Panel.

In this case, we recommend you use a dedicated tool to make sure it’s done properly. CCleaner can help you in this case by managing all your programs in one list and allowing you which app, even if it’s built-in, you want to uninstall.

⇒ Get CCleaner

4. Refresh policy settings

Hit the Windows key, type cmd and select Run as administrator.
Type in the following command and press Enter: GPupdate/force

5. Reset Group Policy Editor

Hit the Windows key, type cmd and select Run as administrator.
Type in the following commands and press Enter after each one: RD /S /Q "%WinDir%\System32\GroupPolicyUsers" && RD /S /Q "%WinDir%\System32\GroupPolicy" gpupdate /force
Restart your PC.

And that’s how you speed up your Group Policy if it is slow at generating reports. If you would like to address more issues, we recommend you install the Group Policy Management Console.

You might also want to enable GPedit.exe on Windows 11 to use it alongside the GPMC. Sometimes, however, Windows may not find GPedit.msc but we have covered various ways to fix this issue.

Let us know of any other solution you have tried in the comments section below.

How to pin shortcuts to your taskbar on Windows

Posted on September 30, 2022August 30, 2025 by Radu Tyrsina

In this article

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The Windows taskbar is the central hub for all kinds of apps and files on your Windows desktop. It comes with a bunch of apps set up there by default. However, you don’t have to stick with preset apps or icons. Among a host of things that Windows lets you tweak about it—be it hiding your taskbar or even centering it in Windows 10—you can also pin new taskbar shortcuts within it.

In what follows, we’ll look at the different ways to pin new app shortcuts on your taskbar on Windows PC. Let’s get started.

How to pin shortcuts to your Windows taskbar

So, there’s no one way to go about this. But don’t panic, as we’ll cover all of the methods one by one. So let’s start with the desktop shortcuts first.

1. Pin shortcuts by dragging and dropping from desktop

When you’re on your PC’s desktop, you can simply drag the app icon you’d like to add to the taskbar and then drop it there. That’s it. Do this, and your taskbar will have a new shortcut.

2. Through the Start menu

Alternatively, if the app you’d like to add to the taskbar is not on the desktop, then using the Start menu is your best bet. Here’s how you can get started:

Press the Windows key and click on All apps to see a complete list of all the apps on your Windows. Then right-click on the app you’d like to add, select More, and click on Pin to taskbar.

Your taskbar will get a new shortcut as soon as you do this.

3. Through File Explorer

File Explorer is the default GUI application used for accessing and managing files on Windows. All you’ve to do is open the File Explorer, locate the file you’d like to pin to the taskbar, right-click on it and select Pin to taskbar.

That’s it — your app will be pinned to the taskbar.

4. How to pin programs that are running

In some cases, you might already be running the processes you’d like to pin in the background. In cases like that, it’ll be best to right-click on the app icon from the taskbar and select Pin to taskbar from the list of available options. The new shortcut will be pinned to the taskbar.

5. Pin websites to your taskbar

Apart from the methods discussed above, Windows also lets you add entire websites as a shortcut to your taskbar settings. While the specifics may be different for different browsers, the general structure and process of carrying out the tasks are pretty similar. Here’s an example of using Microsoft Edge:

Microsoft Edge

If you’re on Microsoft Edge, follow the steps below:

Click on the Settings menu (three dots) from the top-right corner, and select Apps > Install this site as an app.
Click on Install to confirm the installation.
Then check the radio box for Pin to the taskbar, and click on Allow.

That’s it; your new Progressive Web App (PWA) will now have an icon on the taskbar. You can follow a similar method for other browsers.

Pinning shortcuts to the taskbar on Windows

These are all the different ways to add new shortcuts to your taskbar on Windows. Microsoft has made tons of improvements in the taskbar over the years, so you can expect them to follow a similar trend and keep improving the taskbar settings. Meanwhile, you can make sure you’re managing your taskbar settings like a pro.

Group Policy Not Applying? 5 Simple Ways to Force it

Posted on September 30, 2022October 13, 2025 by Claire Moraa

Group Policy applies settings to users and computers in Active Directory domains. A domain is a collection of objects that belong to one another — users, groups, computers and so on.

You can use Group Policy to configure settings and preferences for these objects at the domain level. Once configured, all the members of the domain will receive those settings as soon as they’re applied.

This makes Group Policy ideal for managing large networks. It saves you from having to set up individual configurations for each computer or user.

Group Policy should apply almost instantaneously depending on a number of factors. However, if you wait several minutes or longer and the policy isn’t applied, then something is wrong.

Although it is a core Windows feature, it is not available on each version. Nonetheless, no need to worry as we have covered ways how to install the Group Policy Editor using the Group Policy Management Console.

How long does it take for Group Policy to apply?

Applying a Group Policy is not an instantaneous process. The answer depends on a number of factors. The size of your Active Directory domain, the number of GPOs linked to the domain, and how many policies are being applied at once all play a role.

If you have a small number of GPOs that targets a few computers, it will take a relatively short time for them to apply. On the other hand, if you have many GPOs that target many computers, it will take much longer to apply.

How often is Group Policy applied?

Group Policy objects are applied every 90 minutes by default. However, this interval can be changed using the Gpupdate command.

Group Policy is applied in two phases:

Background refresh – This phase occurs every 90 minutes by default and forces a refresh of Group Policy in the background. It does not require a user logon or computer restart and results in a new version of the GPO. The background refresh operation continues even if there are no changes to GPOs in a domain.
User logon – This phase occurs when a user logs on to a system and applies any changes made since the last logon or reboot occurred. It always applies policies from all domains in that forest, regardless of whether they have been updated since the last logon or reboot occurred.

What can I do if Group Policy is not applying?

1. Ensure you are signed in to the administrator account

If you’re logged in as a standard user, you won’t have access to the resources needed to fix the problem. You’ll need to log off and sign back in again before making any changes. An administrator account has administrative privileges that can modify settings. Unless of course CMD has been disabled.

You will need to set the account as an administrator. Alternatively, you can create another user account and then assign yourself the administrator privileges.

2. Create another user account

If you’re struggling to get Group Policy to apply, it might be worth checking your user account. If the account is corrupt, it can cause problems with Group Policy.

To check whether your account is corrupt, try logging on with another account. If this works fine, then there’s a problem with your user account. You may need to fix it by deleting and recreating it.

3. Uninstall recently added programs

If you’ve been using some third-party software or custom scripts to configure your system’s registry, then there’s a chance that these tools could have corrupted some of your registry settings.

This can cause problems with the GPO application. Some GPOs require certain registry values to be present in order for them to be applied successfully. You’ll need to find out if any changes were made in this area and restore them if necessary.

You can quickly uninstall these programs with CCleaner. This tool helps you manage your apps more easily because it lists all of them in one place and lets you uninstall any program you prefer. It can also remove junk and build-up files that can cause issues to your PC.

⇒ Get CCleaner

4. Refresh policy settings

Hit the Windows key, type cmd and select Run as administrator.
Type in the following command and press Enter: GPupdate/force

If you have recently made changes to your policies and want them immediately applied, running this command will force them to be refreshed immediately even if they haven’t been refreshed since your last logon.

You don’t need to restart the computer after running this command because it doesn’t change anything in memory but rather refreshes policy settings from the server.

5. Reset Group Policy Editor

Hit the Windows key, type cmd and select Run as administrator.
Type in the following commands and press Enter after each one: RD /S /Q "%WinDir%\System32\GroupPolicyUsers" && RD /S /Q "%WinDir%\System32\GroupPolicy" gpupdate /force
Restart your PC.

If the group policy update is not working, you may have to reinstall your Windows version and see if this resolves the problem.

How do you check if Group Policy is applied or not?

To check if Group Policy is applied to a computer, you can use the Gpresult command-line tool. The Gpresult command accepts a number of parameters that allow you to view different parts of the Group Policy settings that are applied to a computer.

To check, follow the steps below:

Hit the Windows key, type cmd and select Run as administrator.
Type the following commands and press Enter after each one: gpresult.exe gpresult /r /scope:user gpresult /r /scope:computer

The two commands specify different policies applied. Computer-based policies affect only computers and not users. User-based policies affect only users.

You may also run into a problem where Group Policy is greyed out but we have adequately covered various ways to address this issue.

If you find out that your version of Windows doesn’t have Group Policy installed, we also have a guide to help you get around it.

Let us know whether you have been able to solve this issue in the comments section below.

How to Update BIOS on Windows 10 [Check Version & Upgrade]

Posted on September 29, 2022February 9, 2024 by Milan Stanojevic

BIOS is a crucial component of every PC that allows you to change your hardware settings without starting Windows.

Your BIOS has many features available, but some advanced users tend to update theirs in order to get access to new features.

Updating BIOS can be a somewhat complicated procedure, so today we’re going to show you how to flash your BIOS on Windows 10.

How do I update my BIOS in Windows 10? The easiest way to update your BIOS is directly from its settings. Before you start the process, check your BIOS version and the model of your motherboard.

Another way to update it is to create a DOS USB drive or use a Windows-based program. If you want to know how to do that, check the steps below.

How can I flash the BIOS on Windows 10?

1. Do I need to update my BIOS for Windows 10?

Flashing your BIOS is an advanced procedure, and if you don’t perform it properly you can cause major damage to your PC.

The main problem with BIOS is that it’s located on a chip on your motherboard, and if the update process goes wrong, you won’t be able to start Windows at all.

In most cases, you don’t even have to update your BIOS unless there’s a major problem with your hardware.

How do I know if my BIOS needs updating? If you have a hardware problem and the only way to fix it is to update BIOS, then you might have to update it.

To perform a BIOS update successfully, you need to be sure that the update process isn’t interrupted by a power loss or unexpected shutdown.

If that happens, the BIOS update process will fail, and you’ll most likely cause damage to your motherboard.

To prevent any problems, be sure to connect your laptop directly to the power outlet or use a UPS for your desktop PC.

Although updating the BIOS can be potentially dangerous, there are certain benefits after updating it. Sometimes, the BIOS update brings support for new hardware, such as support for new CPUs.

Another benefit of BIOS updates is improved stability and potentially new features such as overclocking.

2. How do I check my BIOS version?

Before you update your BIOS, you need to find out which version are you currently using. The easiest way to do that is to use Command Prompt or System Information tool.

Here are more ways to check the BIOS version on Windows 10

Use Command Prompt
Use System Information tool
Try the Registry Editor
Use DXDiag
Use PowerShell

We already covered each method extensively, so make sure you take a look at our full guide on how to check your BIOS version on Windows 10.

In addition to the BIOS version, you also need to know the model of your motherboard. If you don’t have the data readily available you can use our guide to check your motherboard model.

You can see the model of your motherboard by using any hardware information tool such as Speccy or CPU-Z. Here’s a full list of tools to check your system configuration.

After finding the version of BIOS that you’re using, you need to download the new version from your motherboard manufacturer’s website.
Go to the Support or Download section and select your motherboard model. Be sure to download the BIOS update for the exact model of the motherboard that you’re using.
When you download a new version of BIOS, it will be stored in an archive so you’ll need to extract it first.
After that, check the available readme file for instructions and any additional information.

NOTE

Installing the wrong version of BIOS on your motherboard can cause damage, so be extra cautious.
Almost all versions of BIOS have update notes available on the download page so you can easily see what issues the update fix.

3. Update BIOS through Windows

1. Download the newest BIOS version from your motherboard manufacturer’s website and copy it onto an USB flash drive.
2. Open the Start Menu and click the Power button.
3. Hold the Shift key and choose the Restart option.
4. You should see several options available. Choose Troubleshoot.
5. Now select Advanced options and select UEFI Firmware Settings.
6. Click the Restart button and your computer should now boot to BIOS.
7. Once you enter BIOS, look for BIOS update option and select it.
8. Now you need to choose the BIOS update file from your USB flash drive and wait while your BIOS updates.

Some motherboard manufacturers allow you to flash your Windows 10 BIOS simply by accessing it and choosing the update option.

This is relatively simple and in order to do that you need to move the downloaded BIOS update to a USB flash drive. Manufacturers offer tools that will create a USB flash drive with all the necessary files, so you won’t have to transfer them manually.

Before moving the update to the USB drive, be sure that there aren’t any other files available on the drive.

You can access BIOS during the boot sequence by pressing the appropriate key. In most cases that’s Del or some other F key, so keep an eye for a message that tells you to press a certain key to enter SETUP.

In addition, you can always check your motherboard manual to see which key you need to press in order to access BIOS.

Keep in mind that the update process is a bit different for each motherboard model, so be sure to check the instruction manual for details on how to update your BIOS.

4. Create a DOS USB drive

This DOS solution is an older method of flashing BIOS and is probably the most complicated. This process requires you to create a bootable USB flash drive and to copy the new version of BIOS to the drive as well.

In addition, you’ll need a script that will flash the BIOS. This file will usually be available in the archive with your BIOS update, and it will have .exe or .bat extension.

In some cases, this script will have to be downloaded separately. To create a bootable USB drive with a DOS system, you need to use third-party tools such as Rufus.

Simply format the drive using this tool and be sure to check the Create a bootable disk using the FreeDOS option.

After doing that, transfer the BIOS update file and an installation script to the USB drive and restart your PC. Boot your PC from the USB drive and run the setup script using DOS.

This is an advanced procedure, so we highly recommend that you check your motherboard manual for detailed instructions on how to do that.

5. Use Windows-based programs

If using DOS seems too complicated for you, you might want to consider using a Windows-based application in order to update Windows 10’s BIOS.

Many motherboard manufacturers have BIOS update applications available that allow you to update BIOS by using a simple graphic interface.

Although this is the simplest way to do it, there are certain issues with it. Installed software can sometimes interfere with this process and cause BIOS updates to fail.

Security programs can often interfere with BIOS update process and cause all sorts of problems to appear, so it might be best that you disable them completely while flashing your BIOS.

Any system crash or freeze could also affect the update process, so it might be better that you use some different method to update BIOS.

Motherboard manufacturers will often recommend the best method to update your BIOS, so be sure to use that method.

Updating BIOS isn’t a hard process, but it might be potentially dangerous, so be cautious if you decide to update your BIOS.

In addition, be sure to double-check everything before starting. Many BIOS update tools will give you the option to save or back up your current BIOS, so be sure to use this feature.

It’s not necessary that you update your BIOS, especially because you can cause irreversible damage to your motherboard if you don’t do it properly.

However, if you’re having a hardware issue and the only solution is to update your BIOS, be sure to carefully read your motherboard’s instruction manual to see how to update your BIOS properly.

Some computer manufacturers like Asus, Dell, or Lenovo offer a built-in tool to update your BIOS. You can always check your PC’s manual to see if it offers such a tool to make things a little bit easier.

6. Can I perform a BIOS update on Windows 10 without a battery?

Sometimes, you might find yourself in a situation where your laptop battery is not charging. Performing a BIOS update can help you recover a stubborn battery that refuses to charge. But there is a catch.

As you probably know, updating your BIOS requires an AC adapter plugged in or at least 10% of battery autonomy. So how to break this loop and force the Windows 10 BIOS to update?

Here’s how to bypass the BIOS battery requirements:

Download the latest BIOS update file from your manufacturer’s home page and store it at hand.

Next, open the CMD with administrative privileges. (Don’t worry if it does not work from the first attempt, we will show you what to do if you can’t run Command Prompt as admin).
Enable UAC if prompted.
Once you reached the root directory in the C:\Windows\system32> area, type the following: biosfilename.exe/forceit
Note that you must replace the biosfilename value with the exact name of the file you previously downloaded from the manufacturer’s site.
Press Enter and proceed with the reboot in order to complete the BIOS flashing.

Not sure how to access BIOS in Windows 10? Don’t worry, we will guide you from the very beginning. And if you are wondering: What are the best BIOS settings?, rest assured that we have the right answer for you.

In case you’re having additional problems, we have a great guide on what to do if the PC keeps booting to BIOS, so make sure you check it out.

If you have any more questions or concerns with the Windows 10 BIOS update process, please leave them in the comments section below.

9 Easy Ways to Fix Dxgkrnl.sys BSOD Error in Windows 10

Posted on September 29, 2022March 20, 2024 by Milan Stanojevic

Blue Screen of Death errors can cause many problems, and users have reported that file DXGKRNL.sys causes these issues on Windows 10.

They’re unpleasant and unlikely to get solved out of the blue. If you experience such an error, let’s see how to fix it quickly.

Here are some more examples of this problem:

dxgkrnl.sys failed – When facing this issue, check if there is any hardware failure that requires your attention.
dxgkrnl.sys dpc latency Windows 10 – Is this your problem as well? Then, make sure to keep your Windows 10 and graphics card drivers updated.
dxgkrnl.sys Windows 10 won’t boot – In this case, don’t hesitate to run the SFC scan and get further answers.
driver_irql_not_less_or_equal dxgkrnl sys – When bothered by this error, the first thing you should do is turn off Nvidia Surround.

What causes the DXGKRNL.sys BSOD?

The DXGKRNL.sys BSOD is usually encountered when running an outdated version of DirectX. And to update DirectX, you need to update the graphics driver installed on the PC.

Besides, other underlying causes for the error include corrupt system files, problematic drivers, or connecting incompatible hardware to the PC. But these are unlikely scenarios, and the error usually involves the graphics driver.

How can I fix the BSOD error caused by DXGKRNL.sys?

1. Use a third-party BSoD fixer

The easiest and least consuming way to fix the blue screen DXGKRNL.sys in Windows 10 is by installing a third-party repair app that will do it for you.

The software can automatically scan your device for problematic files and restore or replace them with healthy ones, thus keeping your system up and going.

2. Disable SLI

Open the Nvidia Control Panel.
Go to 3D Settings from the navigation pane, and click on Configure SLI, Surround, PhysX.
Make sure the Disable SLI option is selected, and click Apply to save the changes.

Many gamers use two Nvidia graphics cards in SLI mode for better performance. Although this sounds great, it has been reported that SLI can cause the system_service_exception DXGKRNL.sys error.

There’s a memory leak in VRAM when you use SLI on Windows 10, so to fix this issue, it’s advised that you disable SLI.

After disabling SLI on your computer, verify if the DXGKRNL.sys fatal error is fixed.

3. Turn off Nvidia Surround

Nvidia Surround is a feature on Nvidia GPUs that lets you enjoy a 3D experience on multiple monitors.

Although this sounds like a fantastic feature for gamers, this feature has led to issues on Windows 10 and the System_Service_Exception DXGKRNL.sys BSOD error.

So far, the only solution is to turn off Nvidia Surround to fix this error. However, we also have to mention that sometimes Nvidia Surround can’t be turned off easily, and users have suggested using the CTRL + ALT + S or CTRL + ALT + R shortcut to turn it off.

If the shortcut isn’t working for you, try unplugging other monitors and booting with only one monitor plugged in. When you do that, the Nvidia Surround should be turned off automatically.

4. Keep your Windows 10 and GPU drivers updated

It has been reported that the graphics card driver causes this issue. Do you happen to you use the Nvidia graphic card? You should make sure you’re using the latest GPU driver available.

If you want to download any driver easily, you should install a third-party driver updater that will scan your PC for compatible hardware and software and then install the latest drivers.

All you have to do is choose whether to update all of the drivers at once or individually if you have reasons not to install specific ones.

5. Change graphics memory size in BIOS

Restart your computer and keep pressing Del, F2, or F10 while your computer boots. The specific key may be different on your computer and should be listed during boot, or you can verify the same from the system manufacturer’s website.
The Advanced, Advanced Chipset, or Advanced Features menu must be found.
Locate Graphics Settings or Video Settings and change the memory size to 128 MB or more.

If you’re using integrated graphics, you might be able to fix this BSOD error by changing the graphics memory size in BIOS.

Users have reported successfully fixing errors caused by DXGKRNL.sys on ASUS laptops with integrated Intel HD 4400 graphics.

This solution should work for any other laptop or integrated graphic card, including DXGKRNL.sys latency AMD.

We must mention that changing the memory size for the integrated graphic card isn’t the same for all computers, and the process might be different depending on the BIOS you’re using.

6. Check for hardware malfunctions

There have been a few cases where a faulty RAM module or motherboard caused this issue. If your PC is under warranty, you might want to take it to the repair shop and have it checked for hardware malfunctions.

Since any installed hardware might be the underlying cause, the repair shop can quickly identify the one and make the necessary repairs to fix it or replace it with a functional component.

7. Run the SFC scan

Type Command Prompt in the Search bar, and click on Run as administrator.
Click Yes in the UAC prompt.
Type in the following command, and press Enter: sfc/scannow
Wait for the process to finish.
Restart your computer.

If none of the solutions from above managed to fix the DXGKRNL.sys not loaded error, it could be the corrupt system files to blame. And in this case, the SFC (System File Checker) scan will come to your aid.

8. Run the Blue Screen Troubleshooter

NOTE

If you can’t find the Blue Screen troubleshooter on the computer, head to the following method.

Press Windows + I to open the Settings app, and click on Update & Security.
Select Troubleshoot from the navigation pane, and click on Addition troubleshooters.
Now, select Blue Screen, and click on the Run the troubleshooter button.
Follow further instructions, and let the wizard finish the process.
Restart your computer.

The following troubleshooting tool we’re going to try is Blue Screen, a built-in troubleshooter in Windows 10. After you are done with it, verify if the problem is resolved. If not, head to the final solution.

9. Run DISM

Press Windows + R to open Run, type cmd, and hit Ctrl + Shift + Enter.
Click Yes in the UAC prompt.
In the command line, copy-paste these lines one by one and press Enter after each: DISM/online/Cleanup-Image/ScanHealth DISM/Online/Cleanup-Image/RestoreHealth

Lastly, run the DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) tool. It has been found to fix many BSOD errors and might help in the case of DXGKRNL.sys.

How do I replace Dxgkrnl sys?

DXGKRNL.sys is a DirectX Kernel File with a .sys (system) extension. It’s a critical file, which, when it goes missing or is corrupt, you are bound to encounter issues.

Now, if you plan to replace it, several websites claim to offer DXGKRNL.sys for download. However, proceed at your own risk after verifying the authenticity and reliability of the source.

A simple solution in case you are getting the DXGKRNL.sys error would be to perform a System Restore, and it would get the file back to its normal state, given you choose a restore point created before the error was first encountered. Another option is to factory reset Windows.

And that’s about it! We hope one of our solutions helped you eliminate the DXGKRNL.sys BSOD error on Windows 10.

Also, please find out the location of the BSOD log file since it will help identify the underlying cause and fix things.

If you have any other questions or suggestions, feel free to leave them in the comments section below, and we will certainly check them out.

7 Best Vpns To Unblock Amazon Prime Anywhere [2026 Tested]

Posted on September 29, 2022October 5, 2025 by Milan Stanojevic

Anyone intending to watch restricted content probably already has a VPN that protects their identity and sensitive data online, while letting them access such content on platforms like Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, or Amazon Prime.

For users of Amazon Prime, those with a FireTV stick (a USB-like tool that connects to HDTVs and is your gateway to the best content).

A VPN will come in handy as you avoid the geo-restrictions that make it difficult to watch your favorite shows in the first place.

Those who want to maximize their Amazon Prime subscriptions as they travel will find a VPN very useful, for unlimited access to shows and movies.

Amazon Prime is quickly becoming a close rival to Netflix which leads the pack, but both have a stellar selection when it comes to shows, series, and movies – and they both lock content geographically.

If you’d like the best VPN for Amazon Prime, we’ve got your back. Check out our top picks for those that actually work to protect your identity but still grant access to the best of Amazon Prime content.

Why is the Amazon Prime region locked?

The central reason for content restrictions to happen on Amazon Prime is the licensing rights for specific countries where Amazon content is available.

More exactly, the streaming platforms can broadcast their content only in the areas where they own the licensing rights.

Which are the best VPN servers for Amazon Prime?

In order to bypass Amazon Prime region restrictions, you need to connect to server countries where the platform is available.

For now, Amazon Prime streaming is available in more than 200 countries around the world, so you can connect to your VPN in territories like the US, Canada, Italy, Greece, Germany, Africa, Asia, and so on.

How do you unblock Amazon Prime with a VPN?

If you made up your mind about Amazon Prime and want to unblock its content with a VPN, the method to do that goes like this:

Sign up for a VPN subscription (we used ExpressVPN).
Install the VPN software on your PC.
Launch the interface after the download.
Connect to servers where Amazon Prime is available.
Go to your Amazon account to start watching your shows.

Therefore, after applying this short guide and setting up your VPN, you should be able to have access to Amazon Prime and watch its content instantly.

What are the best VPNs for Amazon Prime?

Private Internet Access – High-quality streaming results

Private Internet Access is your best choice for streaming Amazon Prime content (among others). Kape’s VPN will undoubtedly unblock any software applications which your ISP generally restricts.

Cleverly bypassing even the strictest censorship, PIA VPN will allow you to enjoy unrestricted and complete access to the internet via a US-based IP address.

Moreover, you can maintain the highest levels of privacy without ever fearing that your identity or location will be exposed.

You will be able to browse anonymously and keep your data safe from tracking or monitoring.

Speaking about data protection, PIA also offers a top-notch encryption system so that you can enjoy all the perks of Amazon Prime without compromising on security.

Let’s quickly look at its key features:

IP masking (to block unauthorized exposure and data leaks)
Supports OpenVPN PPTP IPSEC/L2TP SOCKS5 technologies
Compatibility with all major operating systems (Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iPhone, and more)
Multiple VPN gateways (3278 + servers spread across 45 countries)
Complex encryption algorithms
Additional testing tools included (DNS Leak Test, IPv6 Leak Test, and Email Leak Test)
Integrated Firewall
Optimized for streaming

Private Internet Access

Unblock geo-restricted content on Amazon Prime while keeping your IP Address hidden.

Check price Visit Website

NordVPN – Biggest server coverage

Amazon Prime lets you stream live programs and catch up on what you missed. You can also download preferred titles to watch later, but with geo-restrictions, some content may not be accessible to you.

This is why NordVPN offers security for your internet connection with powerful encryption so that no one can snoop on or monitor your activity online.

Features include a zero-logs policy, tough 256-bit AES encryption, multi-hop VPN tunneling, and connection of up to six devices on servers in 47 countries.

However, the speeds aren’t as blazing fast as the top three – this one has medium speeds.

In addition to that, you can benefit from a password manager that stores all your accounts in one place. So, all your streaming platform accounts are secured with safe passwords and high data encryption.

NordVPN

NordVPN is an excellent VPN tool that can unblock Amazon Prime in unsupported countries.

Check price Visit Website

ExpressVPN – Optimized servers for streaming

Apparently, with Amazon Prime, you get over 300 percent more titles than Netflix, so why throw that away because of restrictions?

One of the best VPNs for Amazon Prime is Express VPN, which has been ranked highly for its blazing fast speeds and excellent encryption.

This user-friendly VPN has servers in 94 countries, provides excellent encryption for your data, and has 24/7 customer support in case you need assistance.

You’re almost guaranteed that you’ll get to watch Amazon Prime in one of these countries.

With ExpressVPN, you can access any content and unblock the sites and apps you love, plus avoid hacking or tracking.

It also has a vast network of over 3,000 VPN servers, unlimited bandwidth, and easy-to-use VPN service for Windows and other operating systems.

Plus, there are zero restrictions on streaming, and downloading from anywhere while your IP is hidden, plus offshore privacy protection with no activity or connection logs.

Other features include DNS/IPv6 leak protection, kill switch, and split tunneling.

However pricey this VPN is, the quality it provides is more than what you pay for – it’s totally worth every dollar.

ExpressVPN

Is Amazon Prime not available in your country? This VPN could help you bypass this geo-restriction.

Check price Visit Website

Surfshark – Affordable premium privacy

Surfshark is one of the few VPN providers to offer unlimited access to all types of devices. Besides, it is perfectly optimized for online streaming, and therefore perfect for Amazon Prime.

This VPN has multiple features to support your online privacy and secure you from geo-blocking on streaming platforms.

You can use protocols like IKEv2 or OpenVPN that help you increase the Internet speed and unblock content easily.

More so, there are effective encryption tools like AES-256 that protect your data while browsing different websites.

In addition to that, the NoBorders mode gives you total online freedom and unblocks streaming content from Amazon Prime.

Let’s quickly look at its key features:

An extensive network of over 800 servers in over 50 countries
Total masking of your local IP address
256bits AES encryption
Zero logs policy which ensures that your Internet activity is known only by you
Automatic Kill Switch protects you in case of disconnection from the service
High-speed streaming
24/7 support if you have any issues

Surfshark

Surfshark can help you bypass unfair geo-restrictions and watch Amazon Prime from anywhere in the world.

Check price Visit Website

CyberGhost VPN – Best anonymization tools

This is a top choice VPN for Amazon Prime that works perfectly well with Windows.

With CyberGhost, you get many advantages that come with using a good VPN such as bypassing censorship, unblocking content from different parts of the world, high-security features, and strong encryption.

It is easy to use and installs seamlessly, plus it comes with the CyberGhost free anonymous proxy that helps you browse anonymously so no one will know who you are online.

Features include permissions for P2P torrenting, military-grade encryption, privacy policy, guaranteed IP change, plus an anonymization server connection for increased protection so you’re anonymous when online.

It has over 5600+ servers in 90 or more countries, superfast connections for streaming online, and it is user-friendly and reliable.

This VPN recently ramped up its unblocking efforts by including Amazon Prime on its roster. You can also select a server based on which streaming service it can unblock, so you don’t have to get tech support or DIY guesswork on what works.

CyberGhost VPN

Eager to stream the latest shows on Amazon Prime but can’t because of geoblocking? CyberGhost VPN can fix that.

Check price Visit Website

VyprVPN – Unlimited content for streaming

Another valuable software is VyprVPN which will greatly help you to catch your favorite content from Amazon Prime.

Firstly, using this solution you can escape government regulations and have unrestricted access to your favorite content online regardless of location.

In relation to that, you can benefit from worldwide content from local streaming or media platforms with increased encryption for your internet traffic.

Moreover, the utility of this VPN implies permanent security even for unsecured public Wi-Fi, in case you’re traveling or working away.

Talking about privacy, with Vypr you have no log information procedure for your private data to keep everything secured. Plus, it also provides AES 256-bit encryption and DNS protection.

In conclusion, this solution is the perfect fit for unlimited streaming content globally, so grab the offer and safely watch Amazon Prime, Netflix, or other popular platforms.

VyprVPN

Eliminate geo-restriction rules and securely watch your favorite shows from different regions wherever you are.

Check price Visit Website

PrivateVPN – Reliable tunneling for streaming

PrivateVPN represents a trustworthy VPN that unlocks any media content like streaming or live TV shows from Amazon Prime.

Using this VPN software, you can benefit from streaming advantages such as unlimited bandwidth with fast servers in 63 locations.

More than this, you have guaranteed access to unlimited content online because of the VPN encrypted tunnel with servers worldwide.

You have 200+ servers globally which can be used to reroute your traffic and change your IP address and thus offer access to Amazon Prime movies immediately.

In addition, this VPN offers support for 10 devices with only one account. You also get reliable security with AES-256 encryption, a server connection that bypasses geo-blocking, port forwarding, and in-house developer support.

PrivateVPN

Get through geo-restrictions issues on Amazon Prime with dedicated VPN servers for streaming.

Check price Visit Website

Ready to try one of these VPNs for Amazon Prime? Let us know which one meets your needs by leaving a comment in the section below.

Which free VPN can bypass Amazon Prime?

You can surely find VPN alternatives that are free, but it’s not recommended to use them for unblocking Amazon Prime if you want high video quality.

However, you can still use a free VPN such as HotSpot Shield VPN to get access to Amazon Prime content, but it may not offer great quality as a premium VPN software.

What is an FBX File & How to Open it on Windows 10

Posted on September 29, 2022October 4, 2023 by Madalina Dinita

FBX file extensions are a type of files representing 3D files and video-related content. Originally created by Kaydara and owned by Autodesk since 2006, the FBX abbreviation stands for Filmbox.

Many Windows 10 users struggle to find the best program to open and edit the FBX files, but we managed to come up with 4 software solutions we found to be really efficient in running the FBX files.

What are the best tools to open FBX files?

Microsoft Paint 3D

Paint 3D is Microsoft’s 2D-3D hybrid graphics editor, and it’s been released with Windows 10 as an alternative to the existing graphics editors on the market.

In 2016, Microsoft Paint 3D was announced and released as part of the Windows 10 Creators Update. The Windows app is popular among the less experienced editors, offering basic 3D models available for editing.

Most tools offered by Paint were kept from its precedent versions and included:

Marker
Pencil
Oil brush
Watercolor brush
Calligraphy Pen
Crayon
Eraser
Pixel pen
Spray can
Fill tool

Microsoft also added a special tool allowing users to transform 2D objects into 3D objects. Standard 3D features such as rotating and changing the object’s location on the 3D axis are also available.

Looking for a tool to create 2D digital pixel art on PC? Check out our dedicated guide.

There’s also an online service available, that allows users to upload their 2D/3D creations onto their Xbox Live profiles. MS Paint 3D also has an option that allows its users to record the entire process of editing.

If you haven’t tried Paint 3D yet, be sure to do so, since it’s completely free.

⇒ Get Paint 3D

Blender

Blender is a free open-source software used for creating the entire 3D pipeline. The software is used to create animated films, visual effects, 3D printed models, 3D applications, video games, and art.

How to open a FBX file in Blender?

Blender is a great tool to use to open FBX files with. Given the fact that it’s one of the most popular dedicated 3D editing software, it is very easy to use.

All you need to do is import the file into Blender, as you would with any other file format, and it will open on the screen within seconds.

1. Download Blender from the official website, and then install it on your PC. If you already have it, skip to step 2.
2. Launch the Blender app.
3. Go to File.
4. Select Import. A drop-down menu will open with multiple file formats to choose from.
5. Select FBX (.fbx) from the list.
6. In the Blender File View window, browse your PC for the FBX file and select it.
7. Finally, click on Import FBX. The file should now be opened in Blender, ready to be edited.

⇒ Get Blender

Looking for super simple animation software? Check out our top picks.

Autodesk MotionBuilder

Autodesk MotionBuilder is a 3D graphics editor mostly used for games, film, and television production. This 3D editing software has a Cleanup Scene tool that removes empty or unused assets from the scenes, thus reducing the file size.

Camera controlling has been made easier for MotionBuilder users. The cameras have their own separate pane and the CTRL+select camera option was created in order to make camera switching faster and easier.

In MotionBuilder, every scene can have many different and separate animation tracks. This feature is useful because the user won’t have to save each animation as an independent file.

Autodesk MotionBuilder offers its users a Story tool that allows them to add together a series of clips in order to generate a new animation. Using this tool you can also trim clips, align a clip to another and blend between clips.

⇒ Get MotionBuilder

Mudbox

Mudbox is a digital sculpting program allowing its users to create and edit all kinds of 3D models. It is a very complex software offering a wide range of tools and features.

Some of the most commonly used features include:

Size and Strength
Falloff Curve
Keyboard Shortcuts
Invert Function
Buildup and Flood
Mirroring Geometry
Steady Stroke
Stamp Image and Stamp Spacing
Update Plane and Whole Stroke
Sculpting Tools

Mudbox is quite a user-friendly program. Its interface has been very well thought out, quickly accommodating new users. The software developers implemented painting and texturing features, making users able to paint their models directly in 3D.

Dynamic Tessellation is Mudbox’s tool designed to make the user’s work much easier. It predicts the form of the model users wants to detail. The sculpting tools are able to tessellate the user’s mesh while he is sculpting.

⇒ Get Mudbox

We hope that our list could provide you with software to fit your needs and managed to find out everything you wanted to know about FBX files. If this article was of help to you, please leave a comment in the comment section below.

How to Reinstall a Device in Device Manager Windows 10/11

Posted on September 29, 2022October 10, 2025 by Vladimir Popescu

Using Device Manager to reinstall a device after uninstalling it is very common. Although in most cases, you may not need to at all.

Device Manager is a component of the Windows operating system that controls the hardware attached to the computer. Hence, it enables users to tweak or modify the hardware.

However, there are some cases where users have accidentally deleted devices from Device Manager. This can cause panic in the users.

In such cases, knowing how to reinstall the device might come handy. Thus, the reason we will provide the solutions in this guide.

What happens when you uninstall a device in Device Manager?

After uninstalling a device from the Device Manager, it will stop functioning on your computer.

However, they will be restored if the remaining files are not removed from the system before you restart your PC. Since the Device Manager scans the Computer and automatically loads all drivers available.

How do I reinstall a device after uninstalling it in Device Manager?

1. From Device Manager

1. Press the Windows key, input Device Manager, and click on the result to launch it.
2. Right-click the name of the device and select Uninstall device.
3. Press the Alt + F4 keys together to launch the Windows Shut Down box.
4. In the options box, locate the Restart and click on it.
5. Click OK or press Enter key to restart the PC.

If you want to reinstall a device after you uninstalled it via Device Manager on your Windows 10 device, you need to restart your PC.

A restart will automatically enable the Device Manager to load all drivers available on the PC. Hence, uninstalled devices that are not removed will be reinstalled.

However, if the PC fails to load the device, you can use Fortect Driver Updater to download and install the latest drivers for the device.

⇒ Get Fortect Driver Updater

2. Via Devices & Printers

Press the Windows key, input Device Manager, and launch it.
Click the arrow symbol beside the device you want to remove.
Select Action in the menu bar.
Right-click on the device you want to remove and select Uninstall.
Restart your PC.

These are ways to use Device Manager to reinstall devices on your PC. However, you can also view hidden devices in Device Manager.

Also, if your Device Manager is missing COM ports, you can check out our guide to fix it. For further readings on Device Manager, check out our various articles and guides on this page.

Leave your questions and suggestions below in the comments section, and we’d like to hear from you.

How to Create a Windows 11 Bootable USB on Mac [3 Ways]

Posted on September 29, 2022October 4, 2023 by Loredana Harsana

Windows 11 introduces a wealth of new features along with an overhauled appearance that places a greater emphasis on uniformity and efficiency. Thus, today’s topic is how to create a Windows 11 bootable USB on Mac.

Instead of upgrading, performing a clean installation of Windows 11 is the method that yields the finest results when obtaining the operating system. Using a drive that is bootable in Windows 11, you may do this task.

If you’re working with a Windows PC, making a bootable CD for Windows 11 is a pretty straightforward procedure. On the other hand, if you’re working with a Mac, the process will be a little more complicated.

This post will describe how to accomplish this task without making use of a Windows-based PC or virtual machine (VM), as well as without making use of BootCamp help. Keep on reading!

Can you install Windows 11 on Mac?

Because Windows 11 requires a physical TPM module, only Parallels allows users to install Windows 11 on a Mac at the moment.

This functionality is available on both Intel and the most recent Apple Macs with Silicon M1 chips, as well as the most recent version of macOS Monterey.

Can Windows 11 run on M1 Mac?

You are now able to run Windows 11 on your M1 Mac, which was not previously possible. Furthermore, and probably most impressively, you are able to run Windows 11 on a virtual machine on your M1 Mac.

Parallels operate brilliantly on an M1 Mac in tests, therefore Windows on ARM would be installed into a Parallels Desktop virtual machine on an M1 Mac.

This version of the operating system runs many popular Windows apps designed for Intel-based computers using its own emulation software.

⇒ Get Parallels Desktop 17

Can I install Windows 11 in Mac VirtualBox?

Yes, you may use a virtual machine to install Windows 11 on your Mac if you are a user of the Mac operating system who is interested in trying out the latest version of Windows 11. Even if it is just a free one like VirtualBox.

On the other hand, you should be aware that VirtualBox will only function properly on Intel-based Macs. In order to install Windows 11 on an M1 Mac, you will require Parallels Desktop.

You may make use of a fascinating feature known as virtualization if you are using Windows 11 Pro or a later version (or Hyper-V on Windows). Virtualization makes the creation and usage of virtual computers inside the context of the host operating system possible.

Will Windows 11 be a free upgrade?

It is at no cost. However, the upgrade will only be available to Windows 10 personal computers that are running the most recent version of Windows 10. And that has hardware that satisfies the minimum requirements.

In the Windows 10 settings, under Windows Update, you may check to see if you have the most recent updates available. Take note that in locations where Internet usage is measured, fees from your Internet service provider may be necessary.

Is Windows 11 worth installing?

The upgrade to Windows 11 comes with a number of benefits. Some of these include a slicker new interface, improved security, updated applications, and information widgets.

PC users no longer have an excuse to feel inferior when confronted with the sophisticated user interfaces of their friends’ macOS and Chrome OS devices.

Windows 11 is every bit as polished as its predecessor. With the exception of the occasional appearance of an archaic Control Panel dialog box. The design is pleasant to look at thanks to the rounded window edges, the tiny Taskbar, and the touch-friendly layout.

The OS is safer than before and a significant portion of this may be attributed to the fact that it calls for the utilization of a trustworthy processor known as a Trusted Platform Module.

Despite the greater security, this new requirement caused many Windows commentators to raise their hackles. Because certain older PCs would not be able to run the new operating system.

This being said, let’s see how you can create a Windows 11 installation media from Mac in three straightforward ways. Keep on reading!

How can I create a Windows 11 installation media from Mac?

1. Use the Terminal

1. Connect your USB stick to your Mac.
2. Open the Terminal app by clicking on the launchpad icon in the Dock. Type Terminal in the search field then select the result with its name.
3. Install HomeBrew on your Mac by pasting the following command and pressing Enter: curl -fsSL -o install.sh https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh
4. Enter the following command to finish the HomeBrew installation:/bin/bash install.sh
5. Next, install wimlib by using the following command: brew install wimlib

Wimlib library support the Windows Imaging File Format (WIM). Which allows users to create, alter, extract, and mount WIM files:
6. Type diskutil list and press Enter to bring up a list of all drives on your Mac. Note down the USB stick’s disk identifier that will either be: disk2, disk3, disk4 etc…
7. Use the following command to format your USB stick and make sure to replace diskname with your disk’s name: diskutil eraseDisk MS-DOS WINDOWS11 GPT /dev/diskname
8. Head to Microsoft’s page for the Windows 11 download and select Windows 11 multi-edition under the Disk Image(ISO) section.
9. Select the language you want for your OS then click on the 64-bit download button.
10. Mount the ISO file from your Downloads folder by using the following command and press Enter:hdiutil mount ~/Downloads/filename.iso
11. Next, copy the ISO file into your USB stick with the following command:rsync -vha --exclude=sources/install.wim /Volumes/CCCOMA_X64FRE_EN-US_DV9/* /Volumes/WINDOWS11

Keep in mind that the name of the file must exactly match the one that is shown (CCCOMA_X64FRE_EN-US_DV9). If it is different (due to a different choice in language), be careful to alter it in accordance with the difference.
12. Split and copy the install.wim file since it is larger than 4 GB with this command:wimlib-imagex split /Volumes/CCCOMA_X64FRE_EN-US_DV9/sources/install.wim /Volumes/WINDOWS11/sources/install.swm 3000
13. That’s it! Now you have a Windows 11 USB installer on Mac. You can use it to install Windows 11 on any device you want.

You can easily create a Windows 11 bootable USB on Mac using the built-in Terminal. After you finish installing a few needed tools, you need to download the Windows 11 installation media from the official Microsoft page and copy it to your USB.

The process is not very complicated. Nevertheless, one of the drawbacks of using this technique is that the installation takes up 5.2 gigabytes of space on your computer.

It is not possible to burn a file that is larger than 4 gigabytes on a device that is formatted in FAT32. As this is the only format that is compatible with both Windows and macOS.

In order to get around this issue, you may break the installer down into several smaller files. To do this, you will need to install a package manager called wimlib, which can be done using Homebrew. During the process of making the bootable CD, the Windows installation file will be divided.

2. Use Boot Camp

Access Boot Camp on your Mac by going to Applications followed by Utilities inside Finder.
Inside the Boot Camp utility, check the box next to Create a Windows 10 or later install disk.
Make sure to check the second box if it isn’t greyed out and uncheck the third one. Click on Continue when you are done.
Navigate to Microsoft’s page and download the Windows 11 ISO. By selecting the Windows 11 multi-edition OS, the language that you want to use, then click on the 64-bit download button to start the download process
Back to Boot Camp, select the ISO file that you have just downloaded. Then under the Destination Disk select your USB drive.
Boot Camp will format your USB and will mount Windows 11 on it. A new window will pop up saying that the Windows support software has been saved. That’s it! This is the second way to create a Windows 11 USB installer on Mac.

There is no need for any long Terminal instructions or third-party software. Because Boot Camp Assistant can be used to install Windows on a Mac and build a bootable USB installation drive.

However, on M1 Macs, this approach does not appear to be accessible. Therefore, for them, you need to use the first method to create a Windows 11 bootable USB on Mac.

3. Use a third-party app

The UUByte ISO Editor is a robust application for Windows and Mac that can be used to manipulate ISO files. Because of the burning function, creating a bootable USB or DVD from an ISO image of Windows is quick and simple.

You are able to decompress the ISO image and extract its contents to a local disk thanks to the extracting capability. In addition to that, it contains tools for the generation and manipulation of ISO images, that are easy to use.

Both of the approaches outlined above are free to use and are compatible with Intel and M1 Macs. If, on the other hand, you would rather not use Terminal and instead have an experience based on a graphical user interface (GUI), you may use UUByte ISO Editor, which costs $29.95 but offers a free trial.

The application offers comprehensive compatibility for a variety of Mac models and releases of macOS, and it makes it simple to produce a Windows 11 installation USB flash drive.

Is Windows really better than Mac?

When it comes to hardware, you receive a lot more for your money if you purchase a personal computer (PC), whether it be a desktop or laptop.

There is a large amount of price disparity due to the fact that there are thousands of different PC systems and thousands of different stores selling them. On the other hand, Macs have a price that is virtually always the same, which means it is less likely that you will get a bargain.

The video game business is a massive one. Computer games are getting increasingly complex, and in order to play them, you need a significant quantity of storage space and a graphics card that is at the top of its class.

A PC computer that has the necessary hardware to run contemporary games may be purchased for the same price as a Macbook, which is not capable of running any of the most recent video game titles. Additionally, the Mac OS is not compatible with a large number of video games.

The efficiency of the virtual memory in Windows is significantly higher than that of Mac. A computer with insufficient memory will operate more slowly, but it won’t crash entirely.

A Mac that is running out of memory is in danger of crashing significantly more frequently. This indicates that a Windows PC may function reliably with a lower amount of RAM than before.

We recommend that you do not miss out on our performance and security-wise comparison between Windows 11 and Mac in order to decide which one fits you better.

Why can’t I upgrade to Windows 11?

In addition to the usual requirements for your CPU, GPU, and RAM, Windows 11 demands that you have TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot installed on your system to provide the highest possible level of security.

windows 11 system requirements — *Source: Microsoft*

If you do not fulfill these requirements, the upgrade process will be a tad more complex. Check out our post on how to install Windows 11 without TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot.

The user interfaces of Windows 11 and macOS share a lot of similarities, and with the new design that has rounded edges, the user interface of Windows 11 looks more like macOS than it ever has before.

However, that is not all. The Dock-like Taskbar that was formerly located at the bottom of the screen has been moved to the middle of the screen in Windows 11, making it appear as though Microsoft is modeling its design after that of Apple.

Was this guide useful to you? Did you manage to create a Windows 11 bootable USB on Mac? Let us know by leaving a comment in the section below and sharing your thoughts with us. Thanks for reading!