4 Best Video Editing Software for Beginners [Easy-to-Use]

Posted on by Keelan Balderson

Content creation is a popular and accessible hobby, and individuals have access to countless video editing software that will help them pursue it.

Nowadays, people love to capture every moment of their lives either by taking photos or recording themselves with video recording software.

While a large selection to choose from can be great, it can also be quite daunting, especially for those who have no experience in editing videos.

So, to help you in that regard, we’ve selected four Windows 10 video editing software tools that reign supreme in terms of functionality, features, and convenience.

The editing software you choose will most likely depend on your budget, how serious you are about editing, and the equipment you use.

How hard is to learn how to edit videos?

Many people see editing videos as some kind of science that is difficult to learn. The truth is that, with enough patience and interest, anyone can do it.

Besides, it really depends on what you mean by editing, since it covers a wide spectrum. Cropping and cutting a video? That’s really easy. It takes you minutes to do it. Creating detailed effects and transitions? That’s something else.

That being said, there are plenty of tutorials and videos on the Internet that will teach you the ropes. Remember, practice makes perfect. We even have an article about editing videos in 4K that will show you how it’s done.

The level of difficulty and the learning curve also depends on the software you’re using since some of them are easier to learn or offer more guiding steps to the user.

For example, a person with almost no background knowledge will have difficulty learning to use Photoshop, because the tool was created for more advanced users.

What are the best video editing tools for beginners?

Adobe Premiere Elements

Adobe Premiere Elements is one of the most beloved video editing and video stabilization software on the market for nonprofessional consumers.

This is a great tool that allows you to create dynamic collages with your pictures and videos. With this software, you can easily add any song to your videos.

Movie magic is at your fingertips, and the creative possibilities are endless. Create, edit, organize, and share your work with the world.

Powerful AI will create beautiful collages, slideshows, or will add effects to your videos automatically. All of these are possible thanks to Adobe Sensei AI Technology.

The automation doesn’t just stop there. Intelligent editing will help you make precise selections, see effects in real-time, and improve grainy videos.

Adobe Premiere Elements has the face detection feature, and it allows you to center your videos around specific people. Thanks to the tagging system you can even sort videos by places, events, and albums in order to access them quickly.

Regarding the text, you can add videos inside it. This great software has the ability of color adjustment and playback control, so you can easily speed up your videos or create slow-motion effects.

After you’re done editing your videos, you can easily burn them to a DVD or upload them directly to YouTube, Facebook, Vimeo, or your own website.

Here are some of the software’s best features:

  • Intelligent editing
  • Automation
  • Step-by-step guides
  • Create & share
  • Smart tags to find videos
  • Automatic catalog structure backup

Adobe Premiere Elements

Adobe Premiere Elements is a great video editing software tool with intuitive features for beginners.
Free trial Visit website

Cyberlink PowerDVD 21

Cyberlink PowerDVD 21 software makes it easy for novices to learn video editing basics. It will teach you how to become a pro through unobtrusive and entertaining methods.

Part of the reason why this program is so easy for beginners is its unique ability to create express projects. In a way, you can see Express projects as an automatic editor.

In other words, all you have to do to create a professional-level video is to open the Express Project option, then import your videos.

After you import your videos and move them to the specific order you want them in, the software will do the rest.

Once the video is finished rendering, you have the option to directly upload the video to popular social media and video websites such as Facebook, YouTube, Daily Motion, etc.

Another special feature found in the Cyberlink software is its complete 360-degree editing capabilities. More and more videos are filmed in 360 degrees and now Cyberlink has the ability to edit these types of videos.

For 360-degree videos, you also have a wide range of tools you can use for transitions, animations, and more.

Most video editors only support videos with 60 frames per second or less. However, the PowerDVD 21 can import and edit videos up to 240 FPS.

Thus, slow-motion footage from GoPro, sports cameras, etc can be edited with no trouble.

This video editor also supports the ultra-high-definition 4k format. Other leading formats compatible with PowerDVD are XAVC-S, H.265, AVCHD, and 3D.

Audio and color editing is essential for any successful, attractive film. Thankfully, users of PowerDVD have access to both AudioDirector and Color Director.

As their names suggest, you will be able to fine-tune your audio and color to perfectly complement your videos.

Here are some of its core features:

  • All major formats supported
  • Hi-Res audio support
  • See YouTube like never before
  • Save time finding your last location
  • Listen anywhere
Cyberlink PowerDVD 21 Ultra

Cyberlink PowerDVD 21 Ultra

Compact, packed with features, and optimized for speed, PowerDVD 20 Ultra gives you everything you need.
Check price Visit website

Vegas Movie Studio 2022

Vegas Movie Studio 2022 is a great video editing software that supports a wide range of features, including video stabilization.

This tool is perfect for both basic and advanced users due to its simple and advanced editing modes. It allows 3D editing and has 4K resolution, which should be more than enough for most users.

Note that it also packs video stabilization features and advanced audio editing, so you can have full control over the audio effects.

The tool supports a wide range of file formats: you can burn your videos right to DVD or Blu-ray discs. If you want, you can preview your DVD movie and see how its menus work in action.

Import recorded media on any device by simply using drag and drop and benefit from convenient templates that work in a variety of situations.

Vegas Movie Studio will create an elegant, unified workflow. You can even create your own soundtracks, 2D or 3D animations.

The software gives you everything you need to start telling a story in the most unique and powerful way and share it with friends, family, or the rest of the world.

What are you waiting for? Capture what’s important to you and tell a memorable story through the edited footage.

Let’s have a look at the software’s main features:

  • Frame-precise keyframes
  • Full track handling
  • Multicam editing supporting up to 4 cameras
  • Find and close gaps
  • Real-time preview

Vegas Movie Studio 2022

Vegas Movie Studio 2022 is a professional video editing software with support video stabilization and many other advanced features.
Check price Visit website

AVS Video Editor

One other multimedia product that is great for beginners with no previous background knowledge comes from AVS4YOU, precisely their Video Editor.

It’s included in the bundle and offers basic and professional-level editing tools, depending on your needs. Cutting, trimming, joining videos, and adding all kinds of effects has never been easier.

Process videos in any resolution: HD, Full HD, 2K Quad HD, 4K Ultra HD, and DCI 4K. Open, modify, and save video using popular codeсs H.264, H.265 (reading only), MPEG-4, etc.

The integrated video cache technology will speed up the process of editing HD videos. All you have to do is record the video, open the tool, and make it look professional.

By buying the AVS4YOU Multimedia Suite, you get access to editing, remaking, and converting tools that come with all the necessary features to create everything just the way you want it.

AVS Video ReMaker lets you cut or delete unwanted parts of a clip, or change the scene sequence. You can edit AVCHD, MOD, MTS/M2TS, TOD, etc. video files recorded with camcorders and video cameras.

With the video converter, you can convert your files into any other popular data format. This is useful when you’re planning to import the end result to a specific device.

Additionally, you can transfer videos from camcorders or video cameras to your PC, or create your own DVDs.

Here are some of the product’s core features:

  • Cut, split, and join as many videos as you want
  • Fix shaky footage with video stabilisation
  • Chroma key will change your background
  • Make vivid slideshows
  • Process HD video resolutions
  • Edit and save videos in all major formats
  • Hardware acceleration for faster processing

AVS Video Editor

Create awesome content and let your imagination loose thanks to AVS Video Editor, the ultimate multimedia editing family bundle.
Check price Visit website

5 best video editing tips for beginners

Just like in any other hobby or job, there are some tips and tricks recommended for beginners:

➡ Get a beefy PC: Using a powerful computer will make rendering videos faster and better, so upgrade your rig if the current one is old.

➡ Practice the 3-2-1 rule: In case you didn’t know, the 3-2-1 rule is used by woodworkers, and it implies measuring twice and cutting once. Be precautious and patient with your work.

When it comes to video editing, the rule is applied when backing your data. Precisely, it encourages you to save the files in different places.

As expected, there are other methods of data backup. This article dedicated to backing up data in Windows 10 contains all the information you need.

➡ Remember your creative goal: Never edit aimlessly. Always keep your story and goal in mind. This will help you remain focused and become happy with the end result.

➡ Take advantage of keyboard shortcuts: Perhaps you are not used to keyboard shortcuts, but they do make your life easier. It takes a while to get used to them, but afterward, you’ll be thankful.

➡ Use color correction: Color is a central visual element, and should not be overnighted, that’s why you should always use color correction and color grading.

This Windows 10 video editing software is ideal for everyone, regardless of whether you are a hobbyist, aspiring filmmaker, or simply a curious person.

We also suggest using an app from this list including the best video optimizer software. These tools will optimize the size and provide video formats for different purposes.

As you can see, we want you to have the best products and recommendations available at the moment. So, which video editing software have you decided on? Let us know in the comments below.

5 Best Video Editors With Special Effects for Windows 10 & 11

Posted on by Claudiu Andone

Video editing can be complicated and when it comes to special effects, Hollywood studios have whole armies of people handling that particular aspect.

However, with AI and advanced technologies, that power has gradually been transferred to us through dedicated software that allows us to apply them with a click of the mouse.

Of course, you can’t expect Michael Bay level results right away, but you will certainly transform your videos into masterpieces.

That’s why we have created a selection of the best video editors with special effects that will help you make a difference.

What should you look for in a good video editor with special effects?

The first step is to determine whether you’re a pro editor or just a beginner because video editor software has different levels of complexity.

As you might expect, that will also influence the price of the tool so if you’re looking for a basic editor with simple transitional effects, you will find plenty of budget-friendly alternatives.

However, if you’re a pro working in a video production studio or you want to get there soon, you need a professional tool that is used in that environment.

We thought of all possible budgets and levels of knowledge when we collected for you the best video editor with special effects.

What are the best video editors with special effects?

Adobe After Effects – Data-based animation

adobe after effects cartoonizer

Adobe After Effects is a visual effects software tool you can use in many post-production scenarios, ranging from television production, video games, or even the movie industry.

So, it’s specialized in special effects, and it works perfectly with Adobe Premiere Pro to produce a studio-level quality video from start to finish.

However, it’s mostly dedicated to professionals so it will be pretty complicated to master if you’re a beginner.

But once you start to become friends, this tool will help you have limitless possibilities, from animating a character or removing an object from the screen completely to generating complicated effects like rain or snow.

The toolset for this software is really impressive, including all the professional-level features you may expect for unlimited creativity.

Most such pro tools are very pricy and After Effects is not an exception, but you can still test it for a full 7 days for free which is great.

Here are some of the main features of Adobe After Effects:

  • Data-Based Animation
  • Lifelike Virtual Reality Videos
  • Virtual Reality Video Composition Editor
  • Full compatibility with other products from the Adobe family
  • Can be tested freely for 7 days

Adobe After Effects

Complete your professional video production with a set of full-blown Hollywood special effects.
Free trial Visit Website

Adobe Premiere Pro – Motion tracking support

Adobe Premiere Pro is one of the best video editors on the market right now, and as the name suggests, it’s dedicated to professional editors.

If you also get Adobe After Effects, this duo can perform seamlessly in any studio for any kind of video production.

However, Premiere Pro doesn’t lack special effects on its own. In fact, you will find a lot of plug-ins for creating realistic effects like snow, fire, rain, and more.

And if you add the green-screen background you’re up for an editing and post-production job with professional-level results.

This tool is also great for creating 4K, 8K, and VR 180 videos from start to end and it comes with native support for H264, HEVC, and ProRes including ProRes HDR formats.

All in all, if you need a pro video editor with advanced image processing and special effects like the ones you see in sci-fi movies, Premiere Pro is what you’re looking for.

Let’s see what are the most important features of Adobe Premiere Pro:

  • Excellent Adobe After Effects integration
  • Motion Tracking support
  • Extensive collection of online learning and training resources
  • Excellent toolset
  • Support for 4K, 8K, and VR videos

Adobe Premiere Pro

Get one of the best studio-level video editors with great special effects for start-to-end production.
Free trial Visit Website

Autodesk Maya – Intuitive modeling tools

Interface Autodesk Maya

First of all, Autodesk Maya is not your run-of-the-mill video editor but a fully-fledged environment that was specifically designed for video creation.

And yes, it’s designed especially for pros so if you’re just starting the journey into video creation, editing, or special effects, you can stay away from this one.

However, the plethora of menus, tools, and features included in this powerful software are very well-placed and handy for any video production purposes.

One of the most important features of Maya is the integrated programming language called MEL that allows you to create your own scripts or download some already created by other users.

So, unlike other professional video production software, with Maya, you can actually create your own effects to implement them in your productions.

The software also has an integrated renderer called Arnold that can be used to review the scenes you created in real-time and how they changed by the effects you apply.

Take a look at its most notable features:

  • Complex effects from explosions to cloth simulation
  • Create 3D animation sequences
  • MASH nodes — curve, world, placer, etc.
  • Shape 3D objects and scenes with intuitive modeling tools
  • Brush-based grooming tools – XGen

Autodesk Maya

Create your own special effects and animations with this video production powerhouse.
Free trial Visit Website

Wondershare FilmoraPro – Customizable animations

Wondershare FilmoraPro is a friendly video editor that even beginners can use to apply a lot of special effects and video enhancements.

In fact, you get plenty of features like easy-to-use motion tracking, animation editing, and more to make your videos really spark.

And the drag-and-drop way of using the elements and clips is making it all seem like you’re playing and having fun along the way.

Most of all, FilmoraPro doesn’t require a lot of resources like the professional tools mentioned above. It works just fine even on a Windows 8 PC with as little as 4 GB of RAM.

So, whether you just create a family video from the last trip or you’re working on a commercial for social media, this tool will deliver all the tools necessary, including filters, color correction, and a lot more.

More importantly, you get to use it on a free trial basis during which you’ll only be able to download your videos with a watermark.

Let’s see some of its best features:

  • Multi-track capability
  • Built-in library of special effects, transitions, elements, objects, filters, and more
  • Friendly and easy-to-use interface
  • Available as a free trial
  • Customizable animations available

Wondershare FilmoraPro

Spice up your videos with incredible special effects and filters that will wow everyone.
Free trial Visit Website

NUKE – Huge library of filters

Designed by FOUNDRY, NUKE brings special effects integration to a whole new level by using machine learning tools.

It’s a professional tool that allows artists to create and apply their own high-quality sequence-specific special effects.

What is mind-boggling is that you can actually train neural networks to complete tasks using a node called CopyCat and then apply it to other areas of a sequence.

This includes filters and tools like removing motion blur, beauty work, upres, matte generation, and a lot more.

And if that’s not amazing enough, NUKE comes with 3D environments that allow you to render complex scenes into real environments that can replace whole sets.

With over 200 creative nodes, this software offers everything you need for digital compositing, including keyers, rotoscopes, color correction, vector paint tools, and more.

Review some of its best features below:

  • Over 200 creative nodes
  • Machine learning tools
  • Can replace whole sets by using 2D footage
  • Huge library of filters and special effects
  • Free trial available

⇒ Get NUKE

What are the types of special effects used in movies?

Nowadays, unless you’re a specialist, it’s hard to detect special effects from actual footage because of the advancements in computer and software technology.

However, we can discern some of the top types of special effects used very often in today’s cinematography.

➡ CGI (Computer Generated Graphics)

CGI is the norm today, and it’s used in the majority of commercials and movies you see now on the screen.

With some of the tools included on our list, you can replace just about any and all other elements, special effects, and objects on footage or simply create videos on the spot.

However, CGI technology ranges from a simple rain effect that can look more or less natural to a full-blown fight between some Transformer robots

Obviously, the prices of the tools will also vary from only a few dollars to thousands just for renting software.

➡ Animation

Although animation is included in the CGI department, you can also animate everything ranging from elements in a photo to a computer-generated character.

Animation in Filmora

This is also an effect that you will find in most production nowadays and it’s easy to create with all the editors from our top, in a diverse complexity.

➡ Stop motion

The Stop motion technique is probably one of the most time-consuming special effects to create animations, but the patience will pay off in the end.

It’s hard because it implies the use of real figurines and objects that have to be moved individually for every shot.

And after all the shots have been taken, you need to merge them, frame by frame with audio, sets, and all the environmental elements.

The special effect is mainly used in cartoons and all the software we presented in this article will help you join the shots and reach great results.

This concludes our article with the best video editors with special effects you can use on Windows 10 and 11 and we hope that you already made your decision on one product.

If you’re in a rush and you want to create a video fast, you should also look at our list including the best online video editors without watermark, and take your pick.

Have you worked with any video editors from our list? Tell us all about your experience in the comments section below.

FIX: Outlook error 0x8004210B on Windows 10/11

Posted on by Matthew Adams

Outlook error 0x8004210B can arise when users try to send emails with that application. It typically arises for users utilizing Outlook as a client application for webmail, such as Gmail.

Many users choose Outlook for its ease of use and also the fact that it enables access to multiple email accounts from one central UI.

The good news is that the issue is minor and there are several easy tricks you can try to fix it.

The error message states:

Sending reported error (0x8004210B): The operation timed out waiting for a response from the sending (SMTP) server.

As a result, Outlook doesn’t send emails, so let’s see how you can fix that.

How do I fix Outlook error 0x8004210B?

1. Set up a new Outlook account

  1. To set up a new Outlook account, press the Windows key + R.
  2. Input Control Panel in Run, and press the Enter key.
  3. Click Mail in the Control Panel.
    Mail Setup window Outlook Error 0x8004210B on Windows
  4. Click the Email Accounts button.
  5. Click New to open an Add Account window.
    Account Settings window Outlook Error 0x8004210B on Windows
  6. Fill out the email account details in that window.
  7. Press the Next button.
  8. Return to the Email tab on the Account Settings window.
  9. Select the old email account, and click Remove to erase it.
  10. Select the new account on the Email tab. Then select the Set as Default option.

Error 0x8004210B can be due to a corrupted Outlook account. Apply the above steps in that regard.

2. Repair a corrupted Outlook profile

Alternatively, you could try repairing a corrupted Outlook profile. You can do that from the Accounts Settings window. We covered more in the quick guide that provides further details for fixing corrupted Outlook accounts.

3. Check Outlook’s email settings

  1. Some users might need to configure Outlook’s email settings to fix error 0x8004210B as follows. First, click Account Settings on Outlook’s File tab.
    Account Settings button Outlook Error 0x8004210B on Windows
  2. Click Account Settings on the menu that opens.
  3. Double-click the Outlook account the issue arises for on the Email tab.
  4. Click the More Settings button to open Internet Email Settings.
  5. Select the Outgoing Server tab.
    Outgoing Server tab Outlook Error 0x8004210B on Windows
  6. Select the My outgoing server (SMTP) requires authentication checkbox if it’s not selected.
  7. Select the Use the same settings as my incoming mail server option.
  8. Click the Advanced tab.
    Advanced tab Outlook Error 0x8004210B on Windows
  9. Change the Outgoing server port value to 587.
  10. Click the OK button to exit.

4. Delete stuck emails

  1. To fix that, click Outlook’s Send/Receive tab.
  2. Click the Work Offline option.
    Work Offline option Outlook Error 0x8004210B on Windows
  3. Click Sent Items on the left of Outlook.
  4. Right-click emails with attachments there and select the Delete option.
  5. Click Work Offline again to restore Outlook’s connected status.
  6. If you can then send emails again, you’ll still need to fix the attachment to send it.
    • Try fixing the attachment by changing its file format to a supported one or compressing it to reduce file size.

In more recent Outlook versions, error 0x8004210B can arise due to stuck emails with unsupported attachments. Apply the above steps to correct that easily.

5. Uninstall antivirus software

  1. To uninstall antivirus software, right-click your Start menu button and select Run.
  2. Enter appwiz.cpl in the Run accessory, and press the OK button.
    Programs and Features applet Outlook Error 0x8004210B on Windows
  3. Select the antivirus utility in the Programs and Features applet.
  4. Click the Uninstall option, and select Yes to provide further confirmation.
  5. Go through the uninstaller wizard that opens.

McAfee, Kaspersky, and other antivirus software might be blocking Outlook from the email server. Uninstalling the software as outlined above might leave some residual files behind.

You can uninstall some antivirus software with more specific and thorough uninstaller utilities provided by their publishers. So, check if there’s a specific uninstall utility for your antivirus package.

6. Use a different email client

You clearly experience severe problems with your actual email client, so take into consideration the option to try out a different email client.

With countless free color themes to match precisely your style and a minimalist, lightweight design, rest assured that you can’t go wrong when choosing Mailbird.

In fact, it isn’t about simply avoiding the error 0x8004210B. Mailbird also integrates perfectly with other applications that you use daily – Dropbox, Twitter, Evernote, Facebook – you name them.

⇒ Get Mailbird

If the above resolutions don’t resolve error 0x8004210B for you, you might need to contact your ISP for further support.

The Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant for Outlook might also provide a fix for the issue. Click Download on the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant page to try that utility out.

Need a better email client? If so, just check out these email clients that support multiple accounts.

If you’re not ready for such a change, we also have a Troubleshooting Outlook Hub waiting for you.

Let us know which of our methods helped you with your Outlook issue. Do so by leaving us a message in the comments section below.

Posted in Fix

FIX: AVG installation failed on Windows 10/11

Posted on by Milan Stanojevic

Antivirus is one of the most important software that you have on your PC. Tools such as AVG are designed to protect you from malicious programs, so it’s always a good idea to have an antivirus installed.

Installation problems can always occur, and today we’re going to show you how to fix AVG install error on Windows 10 and 11.

How do I reinstall my AVG?

Fix – AVG install error

If you can’t install AVG due to installation errors, you might want to consider using Ninite.

Ninite is a special service that lets you install the most popular programs with just a single installation.

Ninite supports a wide range of applications, and by using it, you’ll skip many installation dialogs and unnecessary bundled apps.

To install AVG using Ninite, simply go to Ninite’s website, check AVG, and download it. After that, run the setup file and wait while AVG is installed.

Fix: AVG install error 0xc0070643

1. Use a third-party uninstaller

While installing AVG antivirus you can sometimes install AVG PC Tuneup as well, since two applications are often bundled.

If you have AVG install error 0xc0070643, you need to remove AVG PC Tuneup tools from your PC.

To complete the uninstall process, you need to make sure all software leftovers and stubborn apps are removed from your PC. The easiest way to do this is with the help of uninstaller software.

2. Repair your registry

Users reported that error 0xc0070643 can appear due to problems with your registry. It seems that there are certain registry permission problems that prevent you from installing AVG.

To fix this problem, you need to download and install a third-party registry cleaner and DLL fixer on your PC. After problems with the registry are resolved, restart your PC and try to install AVG again.

3. Use the AVG Remover tool

If you get installation error 0xc0070643, one of the ways to fix it is to run AVG Remover tool. During the installation process, some AVG files will be stored on your PC.

Those files can interfere with future attempts to install AVG, therefore it’s crucial to remove those files.

To do that, you need to download AVG Remover. Run the tool and wait until it removes the previous installation of AVG.

After the tool removes AVG installation, restart your PC and check if the problem is resolved.

Some users are also suggesting to shut down your PC after you use this tool and turn it back on again, so you might want to try that as well.

Download AVG Reset Access tool

Users are also suggesting downloading AVG Reset Access tool. After downloading the tool, run it and check if the problem is resolved.

Another tool that users are recommending is the AVG BFE Fix tool. Simply download AVG BFE Fix, run it and it should fix the problem.

After using all three tools, AVG install error 0xc0070643 should be resolved. We have to mention that few users reported that this method didn’t work for them.

According to them, the AVG Remover tool didn’t fix the problem, and they were still getting 0xc0070643 description: event exec_finished error while trying to install AVG.

To fix this problem, you need to run AVG Remover from Safe Mode. To do that, follow these steps:

  1. Open the Start Menu and click the Power button.
  2. Hold the Shift key on your keyboard and choose the Restart option from the menu.
  3. Now you’ll see three options available. Choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup settings and click the Restart button.
  4. When your PC restarts, you’ll see a list of options available. Choose Safe Mode with Networking by pressing F5 on your keyboard.

Once the Safe Mode starts, all third-party applications and drivers will be disabled, so there’s nothing that will interfere with the AVG Removal tool.

Simply run the tool and follow the instructions on the screen to remove AVG. After doing that, restart your PC and try to install AVG once again.

4. Download and install the offline version of AVG

If you can’t install AVG antivirus due to error 0xc0070643, you might want to try using the offline installation.

AVG, just like many other programs, uses an online installation that downloads the necessary files as you install the application.

This makes downloading AVG a bit faster since the setup file is only a few MB in size, but this method has its flaws.

If there’s any problem with your Internet connection or with AVG’s servers, your installation might fail, and you’ll get error 0xc0070643.

To avoid this problem, it’s recommended that you try using an offline installer.

This installer is significantly larger in size, and it will take you a couple of minutes more to download the setup file, but you should be able to avoid this error completely by using this method.

You can download the offline installation from AVG’s website or from a reliable third-party source.

Keep in mind that offline installation might be hidden in AVG’s download section, so you’ll need to look carefully for it.

5. Remove AVG entries from the registry

According to users, they were unable to install AVG due to problems in their registry.

Apparently, there are some AVG instances in their registry that can prevent AVG from installing, and in order to fix that, you need to remove those instances manually.

Changing your registry can lead to system instability if you’re not careful, therefore we strongly suggest that you export your registry and use that file as a backup in case anything goes wrong.

To fix AVG install error 0xc0070643, do the following:

1. Press Windows Key + R and enter regedit. Press Enter or click OK.
avg-install-error-regedit-1

2. Registry Editor will now start. In the left pane, navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREAVG

3. Right-click AVG and choose Delete from the menu.
avg-install-error-regedit-2

4. Close Registry Editor.

After closing Registry Editor, try to install AVG again and check if the problem is resolved.

6. Check your permissions

Sometimes error 0xc0070643 can occur if you don’t have the necessary permissions to access the installation folder.

In order to install AVG, SYSTEM needs to have certain privileges. To do that, follow these steps:

  1. Locate the AVG installation directory, right-click it and choose Properties.
  2. Go to the Security tab click Edit button.
    avg-install-error-security-1
  3. Select SYSTEM from the list, and make sure that Full control option in Allow column is checked.
    avg-install-error-security-2
  4. Click Apply and OK to save changes.

If this process seems a bit complicated to you, you can use the AVG Reset Access tool to change permission settings with just a few clicks.

7. Disable all other antivirus/firewall tools

Antivirus tools are necessary if you want to keep your PC protected from malicious users, but it’s usually a bad practice to have multiple antivirus tools or firewalls installed.

Different security tools can sometimes interfere with each other, and in some cases, security tools can even prevent you from installing AVG antivirus.

According to users, AVG install error 0xc0070643 is caused by other antivirus tools, so before you try to install AVG, be sure to disable or uninstall other third-party antivirus or firewall tools.

Users reported that the Comodo firewall was interfering with AVG installation, but keep in mind that almost any third-party tool can cause this problem to appear.

8. Make sure that you have the necessary files

According to users, they were unable to install AVG due to 0xc0070643 description: event exec_finished error message.

This error is caused by missing files related to Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2012 Update 4.

To fix the problem, make sure that you download the necessary files and install them.

Users reported that Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2012 Update 4 was causing the problem on their system, but you might have to download a different version for your PC.

All the necessary files are available for download from Microsoft’s website.

9. Make sure that you have enough space on your C drive

Few users reported 0xc0070643 description: event exec_finished error message while installing AVG antivirus, and according to them, this message was caused by the lack of hard drive space.

Users reported that the installation error was resolved after freeing some space on their C drive.

Apparently, you need to have more than 4GB of free storage space on your C drive before you can install AVG on your PC.

We have to mention that AVG doesn’t take 4GB of storage space, but it requires this space to be available on your C drive in order to work properly.

10. Change Antivirus

In case you’ve tried out all of the solutions, yet nothing seemed to help, there’s always the option of changing AVG Antivirus with an entirely new antivirus tool. Before you switch to a different security suite, follow our detailed guide to uninstall AVG Antivirus safely so you avoid leftover files and software conflicts.

That being said, know that the market is full of such tools, some of which offer a free version, or even a free trial with full capabilities for you to test out.

TotalAV is among our top recommendations because it offers real-time protection on all fronts while being lightweight. It is easy to use and has one of the highest detection rates, plus it offers tons of useful features such as online payment support, parental controls, and webcam protection.

Fix – AVG install error 0xC007277B

Run setup as administrator

Users reported AVG installation error 0xC007277B, and according to them, you can easily fix this and some other installation errors simply by running AVG setup as administrator.

Running a setup as an administrator is quite simple and in order to do it simply right-click the AVG setup file and choose the Run as administrator option from the menu.

After doing that, the installation should start with administrator privileges and you won’t have any problems with it.

Fix – AVG install error 0x80070091

Solution: Remove AVG installation directories

If you can’t install AVG due to install error 0x80070091, you need to remove AVG installation files. To do that, delete the following folders:

C:Program FilesAVG

C:Program Files(x86)AVG

Instead of removing these folders manually, you might want to use the AVG Remover tool that will scan your PC and remove most AVG-related files from it.

Fix – AVG install error 0x6001f916, 0xe001f90b, 0x6001f90b or 0xe001f916

Restart your PC

If encounter 0x6001f916, 0xe001f90b, 0x6001f90b or 0xe001f916 error during AVG installation, it means that you need to restart your PC to complete it.

After restarting your PC, the installation will be completed and AVG antivirus will be installed to your PC.

Fix – AVG install error 0xe001d026 or 0xc00700652

Disable any additional installations

Install error 0xe001d026 or 0xc00700652 appears if you have another installation running in the background.

To install AVG properly, you need to be sure that there are no additional installations running in the background.

Almost any installation can cause any of these errors to appear, so be sure that nothing is updating or installing in the background before you try to install AVG.

Fix – AVG install error 0xe001f915

Start AVG installation again

Several users reported error 0xe001f915 while installing AVG. This error code usually appears if the installation is stopped by a user or another application.

This error can also appear if a certain component of AVG installation is stopped. This isn’t a serious error, and in order to fix this problem, you just need to restart the AVG installation.

Fix – AVG install error 0xe001d028

Remove problematic software

If you encounter error 0xe001d028 while installing AVG antivirus, it means that you have one or more applications that are in conflict with AVG.

Usually, those are antivirus or firewall applications, and if you have any additional third-party security software installed, we advise you to remove it before installing AVG.

Keep in mind that other third-party applications can interfere with AVG installation and cause 0xe001d028 error to appear.

AVG has a list of problematic applications and this list includes the following:

  • Ashampoo Firewall FREE
  • Better File Rename
  • BeTwin VS
  • TotalAV 4
  • Lock Folder XP
  • Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware
  • PC MACLAN
  • PC Tools Antivirus
  • Sunbelt Personal Firewall
  • System Protect
  • Webroot Spy Sweeper

This is the list of problematic applications that don’t work with AVG antivirus according to AVG, but there might be also a few other applications that aren’t included in the list.

If you have any of these problematic applications on your PC, you can try updating them and check if that fixes the problem.

If the issue still persists, you need to uninstall these applications and try to install AVG again.

Fix – AVG install error 0xe0060006

Use the AVG Remover tool

Error 0xe0060006 or 0xE0018D06 usually appears if AVG installation is failing, which means that there’s a problem with AVG installation file.

To fix this problem, you need to run the AVG Remover tool and remove your current AVG installation. After that, try to install AVG again.

AVG is a great antivirus tool, but as you can see, there can be some issues while installing AVG. If you encounter any AVG install errors, be sure to try some of our solutions.

Microsoft launches Matte Black Surface Go 3 and Surface Pro 8 with LTE

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Microsoft’s Surface Go 3, the company’s most affordable Windows 11 tablet is now available in a new Matte Black finish. You can pre-order this new black Surface Go 3 on the US Microsoft Store today, and it starts at $549 for the model with an Intel Pentium 6500Y processor, 9GB of RAM, and a 128GB SSD.

If you prefer to get the Matte Black Surface Go 3 with the more powerful Intel Core i3 processor, the WiFi-only model will cost you $629.99 and the version with an LTE modem is priced at $729.99. As usual, the Surface Go Type Cover and Surface Pen are sold separately.

In addition to this new Matte Black Surface Go 3, Microsoft has also started offering a new Surface Pro 8 with LTE for business customers (via Windows Central). This new LTE model starts at $1,349.99 for the version with an Intel Core i5 CPU, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage. The most expensive model is priced at $1,849.99 and it comes with an Intel Core i7 CPU, 16GB of RAM, and 256 GB of storage.

This new Surface Pro 8 LTE is currently only available in the classic Platinum finish, and it’s not clear yet if it will remain exclusive to the Microsoft Store for Business. Anyway, both the Surface Go 3 and the Surface Pro 8 are now available with an LTE modem, and this is great news for consumers interested in using the Windows 11 tablets on the go.

How to Disable the Unsafe WiFi Network Popup on Bitdefender

Posted on by Kazim Ali Alvi

Security and privacy over the network are of prime concern. And, that’s why we rely on a good third-party antivirus. But, the BitDefender incessantly spams users with an Unsafe Wi-Fi network notification even on home networks and most are looking for ways to disable it.

Though the notification means no harm and is actually there to help protect the system from malware attacks and ensure security over the network, encountering it over home networks seems to annoy many.

Also, since the notification further promotes their VPN as a way to solve the problem, it further adds to the exasperation.

In the following sections, we will tell you why the notification pops up and will walk you through the steps to disable the Unsafe Wi-Fi network notification in Windows 11.

Why do I see the unsafe Wi-Fi network notification from BitDefender in Windows 11?

When BitDefender identifies a network with weak security, you will receive an Unsafe Wi-Fi network notification. Now, the question is which networks fall into the category and why is your network found to be unsafe?

Generally, it’s the password that’s the culprit. BitDefender categories passwords with both upper and lower case letters, and numbers as a strong password. This basically means that Hello1 is a safe password while alskdjfhg is not. Though it doesn’t make much sense, that’s how it works.

So, you have two options to disable the unsafe Wi-Fi network notifications. Either choose a password that matches the requirements of BitDefender or follow the steps listed below without the need to change your password.

How can I disable the unsafe Wi-Fi network notification in Windows 11?

  1. Press Windows + S to launch the Search menu, enter BitDefender in the text field at the top, and click on the relevant search result that appears.Launch BitDefender to disable unsafe wi-fi network (notification)
  2. Click on the Protection tab in the navigation pane on the left.Protection tab to disable unsafe wi-fi network (notification)
  3. Click on Open under the Vulnerability option.Vulnerability
  4. Next, navigate to the Settings tab from the top.Change settings to disable unsafe wi-fi network (notification)
  5. Disable the toggle for Wi-Fi Security Advisor.Disable Wi-Fi Security Advisor to disable unsafe wi-fi network (notification)

That’s it! The unsafe Wi-Fi network notification has now been disabled and you wouldn’t be receiving any from BitDefender from now on.

How can I set my Wi-Fi as Home/Office network in BitDefender?

  1. Launch the BitDefender app and select the Protection tab from the left.Protection tab
  2. Click on Settings under the Firewall option.Firewall settings
  3. Navigate to the Network Adapters tab.Network adapters
  4. Click on the Wi-Fi dropdown menu and select Home/Office from the list of options that appear.Click on Wi-Fi dropdown menu

The connected Wi-Fi will now be configured as the Home/Office network. Changing the Wi-Fi type is also known to disable the Unsafe Wi-Fi network notifications in Windows. So, if the method listed in the previous section didn’t work, this one certainly would.

That’s all there is to disabling the Unsafe Wi-Fi network notification from BitDefender in Windows 11. Once done, you will no longer be receiving a notification for networks with passwords that don’t adhere to BitDefender’s requirements.

Just ensure the one you switch to is fast and stable as your Bitdefender product files may fail to download.

In case your Wi-Fi uses an older security standard, learn how you can change it. Though the article is for Windows 10, it works perfectly well on the latest iteration as well.

Tell us your experience of BitDefender in the comments section below.

Twitter Windows and web app add new Communities, Super Follows, and Spaces functionality

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

The Twitter web experience and Windows app for computers and tablets running Windows 10 and Windows 11 updated with a variety of new features and functionality over the past month or so.

Among the more noteworthy changes include additional tools for Communities and Spaces, an improved DM experience, support for the newly launched Super Follows paid content, and the addition of a location option when composing a tweet.

Here’s the full release notes of new Twitter feature additions and updates:

New

  • Communities: We’ve been working on a number of things to help you manage and personalize your Communities. Community admins are now able to edit themes, banners, rules, and whether the Community is open or invite-only. More coming soon, keep up with everything with @HiCommunities.
  • DMs: There’s been a lot of work done to improve the scrolling experience within DMs. Scrolling through historical content should now feel much smoother, and the conversation will consistently stay pinned to the bottom when it needs to.
  • Spaces: Currently available to a limited number of hosts, we’re working to bring playback of recorded Spaces to Twitter.com. Learn more here, and keep up with all things Spaces with @TwitterSpaces.
  • Super Follows: The ability to compose exclusive Tweets for your Super Followers is now available to all creators on Twitter.com.
  • Twitter Blue:  We’re exploring ways to take the Twitter experience to the next level. Now launched in select countries, Twitter Blue is an opt-in, monthly paid subscription giving you access to exclusive features to help you customize your Twitter experience. Along with sign-up and subscription management, we’re starting with a set of features including undo Tweet, top articles, reader mode, ad-free articles, and Bookmark folders. Learn more and stay up to date with @TwitterBlue.
  • Tweets: When new Tweets come in on timelines they’ll be grouped behind a new Tweets bar. This helps maintain your position while scrolling, and allows you to view new content when you’re ready.
  • Tweets: The Tweet composer on web now supports the ability to add a location to your Tweets if location services are enabled in your browser.

Updated

  • Accessibility: Improved accessibility role coverage for all modal views by default. This should improve usage generally for screen readers.
  • Accessibility: We’ve added badges to a number of different types of media for calling out when there is alt text applied.
  • Misinformation Labels: We’ve updated the look and feel of our misinformation labels to provide additional context and signal for associated Tweets.
  • Video: The player will now more gracefully handle requests to adjust the seek position, especially on longer videos. This should result in fewer dropped requests when seeking rapidly, or on slower network conditions.
  • Spaces: You can now report a Space from the preview screen instead of needing to join the Space to report. Reporting a Space will also display a toast to confirm the report.
  • Super Follows: Tweets and replies which are classified as exclusive will now show the proper context within the composer.
  • Tweets: Quote Tweets which contain media with sensitive content warnings will now render as links instead of showing a content preview.

Fixed

  • Accessibility: The password visibility button in the password input field is now properly accessible when tabbing.
  • Accessibility: Improved accessibility labeling and roles for dialog popups which capture focus, such as the alt text badge.
  • Accessibility: We’ve made improvements to handling when avatars should be focusable and when they shouldn’t be.
  • Carousels: Prevent flickering from content resizing when rapidly scrolling through carousels.
  • Composer: The modal composer will now prompt you to save or discard your draft if you’ve made changes, and are exiting the flow from within an inner modal such as the GIF picker or scheduler.
  • Composer: Creating a Tweet thread with a poll will no longer cause an error when adding additional Tweets in the same session.
  • DMs: Fixed cases where messages with long strings such as URLs would cause DMs to exceed the conversation screen width instead of wrapping.
  • DMs: The size of the DM composer button has been changed for mobile devices.
  • DMs: The scroller in the DM conversation window will no longer inappropriately snap you to the bottom when there’s no typing indicator.
  • DMs: When making multiple updates to a conversation group’s avatar, only the most recent update will render within the conversation.
  • Log In: We’ve improved the experience when logging in across mobile and web applications.
  • Log In: Prevent issues with the password input moving outside the viewport on mobile devices.
  • Multi-Account: Resolved instances where adding a new account would put you in a state where your previous account was incorrectly shown as logged-in.
  • Scrollbars: Fixed issues in a number of places where scrollbars were rendering under section headers.
  • Search: Attempting to search for the same query again using the enter key on the search results screen will now query again.
  • Search: The search filters screen will no longer redirect to the Explore page when there’s no query present.
  • Spaces: Prevent instances where the Spaces dock contents would move and flicker unexpectedly.
  • Super Follows: When composing exclusive Tweets, the save draft prompt will no longer be shown as they cannot be saved.
  • Super Follows: Scheduling controls have been disabled for exclusive Tweets as they are not currently supported.
  • Third-Party Sign On: The enter key will now properly submit the request to sign in. Additionally, the account name field should automatically fill with suggestions as expected.
  • Tweets: Tweets sent with the undo Tweet option enabled will no longer stick to the top of the timeline in certain scenarios.
  • Tweets: The new Tweets bar will no longer be shown when you’re already at the top of the timeline.
  • Tweets: Clicking the currently active tab will reveal any Tweets that are currently behind the new Tweets bar.
  • Tweets: Muting or blocking accounts will now properly remove any associated Tweets from the new Tweets bar.
  • Tweets: Corrected issues when there are pending Tweets yet to be sent, and you change accounts.
  • Tweets: Educational banners will now consistently render on the Tweet detail screen.
  • Typeahead: Fixed instances where the typeahead dropdown would be visually cut off on Android devices.
  • Verification: Progressing through the account verification process without an email address will no longer leave you in an unrecoverable state.
  • Video: Resolved instances where captions were unavailable for certain videos.

An app update isn’t required to view the above changes though some features and functionality may be restricted to certain regions as they’re tested.

Want more Windows app news? Follow us on Twitter.

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Microsoft will soon release its latest device, the black Surface Go 3

Posted on by Don Sharpe

In October 2012, Microsoft launched its first Surface tablet running Windows RT. The company is celebrating its 10th anniversary in a matter of months.

The Surface Go 3

It appears that the company is getting ready to launch a new product line. The Surface Go 3, as seen in leaked images, appears to have the same hardware as the existing model, except for its color.

Although a Microsoft listing is yet to be availed, and Amazon Germany listing has surfaced, and it indicates that the new Surface device will be available in stores on January 11. 

LTE version

Microsoft is working on an LTE version of its Surface Go, so it’s likely that the black model of that device will be announced alongside it.

However, Microsoft has not yet officially confirmed the existence of the black hardware. We’ve heard from sources familiar with the matter that Microsoft is gearing up to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of its Surface lineup.

The Microsoft Surface Go 3 could be the first step in this direction if Microsoft refreshes the device this year.

What thrills you most about the release of the Surface Go 3? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.

Windows 11 Floppy Disk: It is Still Supported?

Posted on by Claudiu Andone

You would think that with all the new Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 requirements of Windows 11, Microsoft is moving its OS to a new era.

That might be perfectly true but as a user on Reddit recently showed us, the Redmond giant is not abandoning the obsolete technology.

We’re talking about the old 5.25-inch Floppy Disk Drives and their media and some of the commenters from the aforementioned post say that they still got some data on the soft disks.

In fact, we have a great guide on how to Use a Floppy Disk on Windows 10. You will find it useful on Windows 11 too because the indications are very similar.

Quick info about the Floppy Disk Drive

The first floppy disks, invented and made by IBM, had a disk diameter of 8 inches. In 1976, Shugart Associates introduced the 5.25-inch FDD.

After IBM introduced the 3.5-inch FDD, it became the most popular data storage and transfer in the first years of the 21st century. 

It’s no surprise that 3.5-inch floppy disks can still be used with a Floppy Disk Drive but we wouldn’t expect that the 5.25-inch one would still be supported.

That’s because the old disks are obviously not manufactured anymore and those who are still catching dust in some collector’s stashes are probably demagnetized by now.

Still, as this finding clearly suggests, some users continue to use older equipment to read or transfer data from floppy disks.

The 5.25″ Floppy Disk drive still works in Windows 11

In the YouTube clip posted by the Reddit user, he clearly shows how he inserts the disk onto the Floppy drive and can access a photo stored on it.

Not only that File Explorer from Windows 11 is able to recognize the drive, but it also accesses the data pretty quickly.

However, it’s only an image with a few Kb of data so there is no real surprise there. A real challenge would be to see an early Windows kit installed with the help of those soft disks.

If you’re interested in exploring this idea even more, find out what other useful features W11 has in store for you.

What do you think about this amazing stunt? Tell us all about it in the comments section below.

3 Best Antivirus for NAS Storage to Safeguard Sensitive Data

Posted on by Sonia Martin

The world is digitizing at a head-spinning pace and a couple of dusty drawers or shelves no longer qualify as reliable storage alternatives.

Instead, modern storage systems such as NAS devices and Cloud solutions accommodate our most sensitive files and data. Thus, deploying an antivirus for NAS storage makes perfect sense to security-mindful and privacy-conscious users.

Needless to say that NAS devices are far more secure than a paper file and they boast all kinds of defensive mechanisms from encryption services to backup solutions, firewalls, DDoS protection, and so on.

But the very nature of the information they house makes them a particularly enticing prize for profit-hungry hackers prowling for new targets to exploit.

And let’s not forget they are physical devices after all, prone to hardware malfunction and failure, manual tampering, and many other risks.

Now, we are not trying to diminish NAS devices’ security enhancements, but merely to emphasize that there is no such thing as too much protection when it comes to cyber threats.

So, just how secure is a NAS? Is NAS safe from hackers? Let’s find out together.

Can NAS be hacked?

Unpatched IoT gadgets are high-profile targets in regard to the valuable information they hold and NAS devices make no exception, regardless of the brand.

Take, for instance, the QNAP NAS. It has a long record of ransomware-based attacks exploiting vulnerabilities in outdated firmware, unsecured ports, and so on. Needless to say, it is essential to secure these devices using a reliable antivirus tool specifically designed for QNAP.

While we’re at it, you can also have a look at these best QNAP NAS backup software programs just to be on the safe side. After all, not putting all eggs in the same basket has proved effective so far in the most diverse of scenarios.

Sinology, for instance, another immensely popular NAS provider has known its fair share of large-scale attacks based on weak credentials combinations. And the list could go on and on.

Since there are threats that do not aim to leverage specific vulnerabilities, your device would benefit from a network-wide security solution, capable to repel diverse attacks, from phishing to ransomware, malware infections, and so on.

The best way to add another layer of security is by deploying a good antivirus for Network Attached Storage.

Does NAS need antivirus?

Most hackers cannot be bothered with such sophisticated methods. The truth is, the most common way to compromise a NAS is by a brute-force attack.

Sticking to sensitive security policies such as strengthening your passwords, using encryption tools, multi-factor authentification, or not opening too many ports or connections is always a good idea.

But is it enough to keep your data safe? As you can see, the dangers lurking on the Web are far greater than a few random hackers targeting individual gadgets.

Thus, we suggest you use antivirus tools to prevent and remove malicious threats and maintain your data safe all the time.

Can you install antivirus on NAS?

You can and by all means, you should. There are a handful of security programs specifically designed with storage protection in mind.

Now that that’s out of the way, let’s see how he chose the best antivirus for NAS storage in the first place. Our experienced testers thoroughly scanned the market and compiled this selection of top antivirus solutions for storage devices.

They highlighted that cross-platform compatibility and high scalability are key factors when choosing a security software to safeguard the digital assets stored on a NAS.

As you probably know, not all NAS devices run on the same OS. Some popular alternatives such as QNAP gadgets run on different Linux-based distributions, while others rely on the good old Windows.

If you’re a home user, scalability will not be essential for you since a NAS already delivers plenty of storage space for your files, photos, videos, and so on.

However, things are entirely different when entering the enterprise segment and our guess is, you’d want a solution that is able to grow along with your workforce and secure your thriving corporate data.

As always, personal expectations and habits will shift the balance in one direction or another, but we can all agree that airtight security and good performance are not areas on which you’d want to compromise. So, here goes.

Tip icon Tip
Here are the criteria on which we focused in order to pick the best antivirus for NAS storage:

➡ High scalability and wide compatibility (support for multiple NAS vendors)
➡ Encryption and credentials’ protection modules
➡ Network security tools (exploit-blocking capabilities, Wi-Fi weaknesses identification, firewalls)
➡ Powerful sanitization modules and device protection
➡ Performance optimization features and low CPU consumption rates
➡ Effective threats identification with proactive measures as well as instant reaction capacity
➡ Multi-layered defense to stop diverse, polymorphic, or hidden nuisance of all kinds
➡ Sensitive data protection, anti-hacking, and backup utilities
➡ Automatic updates of virus signatures to keep emergent threats contained

What is the best antivirus for Network Attached Storage?

Bitdefender GravityZone Security for Storage

  • High availability with no downtimes
  • Unlimited scalability and compatibility
  • Multi-layered defense for shared storage systems
  • Effective and centralized management via a unified console
  • Easy deployment with no impact on NAS performance
  • No major inconvenients noticed by our QA team.
imageFree trial

Since scalability and compatibility ranked so highly on our criteria list, why not start there?

Bitdefender’s Security boasts unlimited scalability, allowing you to expand the number of scans as you add more servers and NAS devices into the mix.

The advantage is self-explanatory. You get to enjoy complete peace of mind thanks to an evolutive security solution that will grow along with your data.

Through continuous protection and the highest degree of availability, you can rest assured that no single point at the system or client level will ever be exposed.

Compatibility is at the heart of this best antivirus for NAS storage. Thus, it delivers impeccable defense for ICAP protocols, Citrix ShareFile, and Nutanix Files and it supports a plethora of NAS models from just as many vendors.

Heavy names such as Oracle, HPE, Dell, EMC, Hitachi, or IBM only account for a handful of examples.

Bitdefender’s modular architecture makes it easy to adapt to complex and heterogeneous multi-vendor NAS infrastructures from the same deployment while still keeping protection management as easy as a breeze.

This antivirus for Network Attached Storage relies on the central GravityZone console that allows for a unified management system, as easy to deploy as it is highly customizable.

You get access to the right amount of tools that enable you to tailor security as per your needs and it isn’t much you cannot do.

From defining global policies to setting up exclusions, and default actions, and creating real-time alerts along with comprehensive reports, you get to control security from endpoint to endpoint with granular precision.

When it comes to protection mechanisms, we were pleased to observe that this antivirus for NAS storage combines the most advanced techniques in the industry.

This includes virus signatures, cloud-based lookup, behavioral analysis as well as machine learning in order to deliver multiple layers of in-depth defense for all your shared storage systems and files.

From widespread infections to infamous zero-day attacks and other prolific cyber threats, Bitdefender can eradicate everything thanks to its unmatched, award-winning security that does not hurt your NAS device’s performance in any way.

Kaspersky Security for Storage

  • Performance optimization tools and minimal impact on performance
  • Easy deployment and centralized remote management
  • Flexible scanning options
  • Highly customizable reporting and privilege allocation
  • Effective protection against diverse threats
  • The product is business-only and does not make a good match for home usage.
imageFree trial

Kaspersky is one resourceful vendor that does not fail to reinvent itself in order to stay fresh and deliver crisp security solutions that perfectly adapt to the shifting digital environment.

Flexibility is quintessential for their business and they manage to stay flexible through modular architecture defense solutions that can easily accommodate a bevy of infrastructures and platforms.

Kaspersky’s Network Attached Storage Security supports all major protocols such as ICAP and RPC-based storage systems as well as most major NAS manufacturers including Hitachi, Dell, Oracle, EMC, and more.

Its versatility goes beyond wide compatibility and it reflects all the way down to scanning and reporting levels.

Thus, you can specify with granular precision the type of files you want to include in your scans, those that need to be removed from this process, as well as the depth of anti-virus and anti-malware defense.

Reporting is just as versatile and you can search through large-volume logs, include visual elements into your reports such as graphs and diagrams to make information more digestible, and use filters to customize your data as per your needs.

A complex notification system is available no further than a click away and you can set differentiated privilege levels for each server admin individually for better management.

Speaking of management, you can rely on a dedicated console that allows for a simplified overview of all your operations, notifications, and updates.

Remotely or directly, you name it, Kaspersky delivers it, thus allowing you to keep an eye on each NAS equipment from a centralized location.

All this flexibility wouldn’t make a lot of difference if it weren’t for the integrated performance optimization-focused tools that aim to secure your network without overcharging your servers.

This antivirus for NAS storage boasts a minimal impact on performance.

Through small-sized update files, modular scanning options, and performance-boosting settings, Kaspersky will keep your infrastructure safe without slowing you down.

Similar to Bitdefender’s security solution for storage systems, this program is highly scalable and it will adapt to your increasing data and workload with no hassle and no special requirements or additional deployments.

McAfee VirusScan Enterprise for Storage

  • Convenient multi-scanner configurations
  • Real-time, always-on protection
  • High availability to ensure business continuity
  • Multivendor support and wide compatibility
  • McAfee ePolicy Orchestrator for unified management
  • Setup requires specialized IT knowledge and can be a bit challenging.
imageFree trial

This antivirus for NAS storage may not be the simplest tool to deploy, but it does simplify security once you have it in place.

Thanks to the McAfee ePolicy Orchestrator, you will be able to supervise all security-related actions and decisions from a centralized console with complete management tools including policies and reporting setup.

Thus, you not only streamline administration but also simplify your environment by protecting your entire infrastructure with a single, comprehensive security program that covers NAS devices from multiple vendors, running on multiple operating systems and platforms.

This antivirus for Network Attached Storage will keep a close eye on all your storage environments and instantly alert you in case of virus detection by email, SMS, or SNMP.

Speaking about virus detection rates, McAfee has another trick up its sleeve.

It’s the powerful combination of generic virus identification and state-of-the-art heuristics analysis that allows for instant reaction and blocking of viruses, malware, and other deceitful threats that can hide in ZIP archives stored on your NAS devices.

Think of it as an antivirus with boot scan capabilities that can remove hidden malware from boot sectors, but with additional protective capacities that extend to your entire environment and network.

Its real-time defense can even detect PUPs and you can tweak its multi-scanner configuration in the most convenient way to perfectly suit your infrastructure and needs.

How do I protect my NAS?

How do I protect my NAS?

A sain routine implies sticking to some basic cybersecurity guidelines and this includes credentials and overall network protection. Start by changing the default passwords and go for strong credentials that won’t be easily compromised by brute-force attacks.

Speaking about password policy, it’s best to use multiple factors authentification in order to make sure your data is beyond hackers’ grasp.

Since staying off the grid defeats the purpose of owning a NAS – as in Network Attached Storage – you should secure your connection and network the best you can.

This implies using a traffic encryption tool, deploying a firewall, activating SSL certificates on your NAS to enable HTTPS connection, and securing ports.

Security often calls for tough choices. Thus, some settings may need to be activated, while others (generally the ones you do not use) simply have to go in order to leave as few exploitable loops as possible.

As always, outdated firmware is a recipe for disaster, so make sure your download and install all updates as soon as they become available in order to pump those security patches into your NAS.

Finally, it’s smart to combine NAS storage with performant antivirus software to keep out malware in the first place and you have a solid selection to help you out right here.

Don’t forget to use strong encryption as well as backup services to secure your valuable data against ransomware.

Don’t know where to start? Have a look at these best NAS devices with cloud backup access and set your storage on a safe path today!

Microsoft tears open the Surface Laptop SE and highlights how repairable it is

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Microsoft is highlighting how easy it is to repair the new Surface Laptop SE. The company published an iFixit style teardown video, showing how the entire education-focused device can come apart with minimum tools.

The roughly 8-minute long video begins with the simple step of unscrewing the Torx screws at the bottom of the device. After that, the disassembly continues by prying up the keyboard deck with a spudger tool. This gives access to removing the keyboard deck entirely by detaching just two cables. Other points in the video include steps to remove the display itself, as well as the motherboard, the battery, and the speakers. Microsoft highlights the modularity of the device, and how there’s no adhesive.

Despite the Microsoft video, it is important to note that the Laptop SE isn’t fully modular. The CPU, RAM, and storage are soldered to the motherboard and are non-upgradable. It’s also not a consumer device, but rather one designed for education users. It’s for these users where repairs can be lengthy, but with the Laptop SE being more self-repairable, it reduces the time needed to be spent out of service. We’re hoping the lessons learned from Laptop SE can also come over to the main Surface lineup one day.

SQL Server 2019 Download for Windows 11 [64 bit Version]

Posted on by Cesar Cadenas

Microsoft SQL Server is a database management system whose main purpose is to store and retrieve data that are requested by other apps, whether it’s on the same computer or one across the network. Microsoft has created multiple editions of SQL Server, each of which is aimed at different audiences and workloads.

The different versions of SQL Server can range from single-computer applications to large internet-centric ones with tons of concurrent users. SQL Servers are important for people running businesses and organizations that undoubtedly have an internet presence

You may be happy to know that there is a free version of SQL Server: the Express version. It’s the most scaled-down version but does include no limitations on the number of databases or users supported, plus a core database engine. However, Express only allows one processor to be used, a single GB of memory, and 10 GB for database storage.

Other versions include the Web Edition for low-TCO web hosting, the Standard edition which has some stand-alone services not available on Express, and the Enterprise which can manage databases as large as 524 petabytes.

Is Microsoft SQL Server a must-have service?

Honestly, unless you’re a developer of some kind that writes applications that work with databases, you don’t need SQL Server. It has a very specific certain of circumstances that it will be used in. It’s not something that you typically install on a workstation.

Instead, SQL Server is installed on a server or computer that is shared by dozens, maybe even hundreds of users on a large-scale application. You may typically find Reddit threads or forum posts asking about the service and when it’ll be available. Well, as it turns out, SQL Server recently became available on Windows 11.

Right now, the latest version supported is SQL Server 2019 and this guide will show you how to download and install SQL Server.

It’s helpful to know how to do it correctly if you ever decide to try out the software and you’re a fledgling developer.

And if any of your .MDF files gets corrupted, we have a guide on how to repair an SQL database and retrieve your data quickly.

How do I install SQL Server 2019?

1. Installing SQL Server Express

  1. In a web browser, search for the official Microsoft SQL Server page.
  2. In this page scroll down until you find the free specialized editions.
  3. Under Express, click Download now.
  4. A small window may appear. Select Save File.
  5. After downloading, locate the SQL Server Express installation file and double click it.
  6. If the computer asks if you want to make changes, select Yes.
  7. The Setup wizard for Express appears. For this installation, the guide will choose Basic, but you have the opportunity to create a customized rendition or download the media to install later.
  8. Click Accept at the License Terms.
  9. Click Browse to choose where you want the software to go. Otherwise, click Install.
  10. Give the installation some time to finish.
  11. After installing, click Connect Now.
  12. The Command Prompt will appear stating that you have successfully connected your SQL Server app.
  13. After installing the Express edition, click Install SSMS.

2. Installing SQL Server 2021 Developer Edition

  1. In the Microsoft SQL Server page, select Download now under Developer.
  2. A small window may appear. Select Save File.
  3. After downloading, locate the SQL Server Developer file and double click it.
  4. If the computer asks if you want to make changes, select Yes.
  5. The Setup wizard for Developer appears. For this installation, the guide will choose Basic, but you have the opportunity to create a customized rendition or simple download media to install later.
  6. Click Accept at the License Terms.
  7. Click Browse to choose where you want the software to go. Otherwise, click Install.
  8. Give the installation some time.
  9. After installing, click Connect Now.
  10. The Command Prompt will appear stating that you have successfully connected your SQL Server app.
  11. After installing the Developer edition, click Install SSMS.

3. Installing SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS)

  1. Clicking Install SSMS will take you to the SQL Server Management Studio download page.
  2. Click on the SSMS download hyperlink to start installation.
  3. A small window may appear. Click Save File.
  4. Locate the SSMS installation file and double-click it.
  5. If the computer asks you to make changes, click Yes.
  6. The SSMS installation wizard appears. You can change the file’s location by clicking Change.
  7. Then, click Install.
  8. Give the installation process some time.
  9. Once SSMS has finished installing, click Close.
  10. Now you will have to connect to your server.
  11. Start by opening the search bar.
  12. In the search bar, type in SSMS to bring up the SQL Server Management Studio App.
  13. Click the first entry you see to open the app.
  14. When the SSMS app open, you will be given the opportunity to authenticate your connection to the server.
  15. In the Server type drop-down menu, you can select what type of server you’re trying to connect to.
  16. Then add the Server name.
  17. Next select how you to authenticate your credentials. In this case, Basic Authentication will be chosen.
  18. Add your user name and password.
  19. Then click Connect to establish a connection between you and the server.
  20. Once you’ve been successfully authenticated, the Object Explorer on the left will be filled with database entries and other SQL objects.
  21. If you want to connect to another server, click on File in the top left corner.
  22. In this new drop-down menu, click Connect Object Explorer. The previously seen authentication window will appear.

In some cases, you may also need to install additional connectivity components. One of the most widely used is the ODBC Driver 17 for SQL Server, which allows applications to connect to SQL Server through the ODBC interface. This is especially useful if you plan to integrate SQL Server with external apps or reporting tools.

Are there other helpful apps or software that developers should download?

A useful software addition that comes highly recommended is QT TabBar. It changes the way File Explorer looks on Windows 11 and enables multiple tabs to open for a single window. It’s useful for giving the ability to jump between different windows without needing to have multiple instances open.

The main problem with having multiple windows open is that it soon becomes taxing on the computer’s CPU, which in turn causes performance issues and severe slowdown.

Plus, it can be annoying having to jump from window to window. Save yourself a lot of problems and download QT TabBar.

It may also interest you to know that Windows 11 may soon receive support for more widgets, although details are a little vague right now.

It is known that the OS’ third-party widget features will require a new version of the Windows Web Experience Pack.

There’s also a new software tool coming from GitHub called WSA PacMan that allows you to sideload Android apps in Windows 11. It’s easy to download and easy to use without needing to contend with ADB commands.

Hands on with Windows 11 SE on the Surface Laptop SE: feels a lot like EdgeOS

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Microsoft is known for “special” editions of Windows. There’s Windows 10 in S mode and Windows 11 in S-mode, and recently, the company announced Windows 11 SE. This cloud-first Windows edition is uniquely designed for education customers, and only comes pre-installed on low-cost devices like the Surface Laptop SE.

It’s not a version of Windows that you can “buy” and install on your own, but it does offer the power and reliability of Windows 11, with a couple of key changes. Also, it’s intended to help make IT administrators’ lives easier so that they can provision Windows 11 SE devices for schools in a few simple steps with Microsoft Intune for Education.

I recently purchased a Surface Laptop SE which comes with the new OS, and here are my thoughts on why I think it’s a version of Windows that feels like “Microsoft EdgeOS.”

A few notes

Though education is the intended audience, Microsoft isn’t limiting who can buy devices with Windows 11 SE. You can’t find these devices through Microsoft’s own consumer store, but you can buy Windows 11 SE devices through Microsoft’s partners, which is how I got my Surface Laptop SE.

Going this route as a consumer means that Windows 11 SE will behave differently. The OS is designed for education customers and not the average consumer or for personal use. These customers use cloud-based tools like Microsoft Intune to provision Windows 11 SE devices for students. It’s through that provisioning that admins can load select Microsoft approved Win32 and Microsoft Store apps for students to use.

Without Intune, though, the experience on Windows 11 SE is limited to the pre-installed apps like Edge, Office, Flipgrid, and Minecraft for Education. There are also select system apps like Groove, Photos, Paint, Calculator, News, and To Do.

Though Windows 11 SE supports Microsoft-approved Win32 Microsoft Store apps, you can’t install these apps on your own through Windows 11 SE itself. There’s no Microsoft Store app, either. Intune is how everything is done. You can see how it compares to other Windows editions above.

Yet signing into a Windows 11 SE device without Intune and with just a Microsoft Account will work just fine, but the experience will be limited. With no Intune, you’ll face app and management issues. Microsoft even warns that if you use a Windows 11 SE device for personal use, it might be “too restrictive.” Yet, it’s those restrictions that make Windows 11 SE unique from the Microsoft fan’s and consumer’s point of view.

No Widgets

First off, one of the big changes in Windows 11 SE that applies to all users (using Intune or not) is the omission of Widgets. This is one of the signature features in Windows 11, and it gives quick access to news, weather, and other content. Yet in Windows 11 SE, Microsoft removed it for education users for a more distraction-free environment. Pressing Windows Key + W does nothing and the Taskbar doesn’t have the icon either. Even the Taskbar settings lack the Widgets setting.

File Explorer behavior

File Explorer in Windows 11 SE behaves very differently from Windows 11’s. Instead of opening in a windowed mode, it opens full screen by default. This lets you see more on your screen, with minimum distraction. All apps respect the behavior, too, and will load full screen by default. It makes sense for students, as it can help with focus.

Changes to Snap layouts

Windows 11’s other signature feature is Snap layouts. With the feature, you can stack your windows in six different ways for better productivity. In Windows 11 SE, though, Snap Layouts are limited to just two side-by-side options. This reduces the complexity for students, to again help with focus. Note that even on larger monitors, Snap Layouts are limited to just two layouts. Resolution size does not impact the Snap layout limit, and it looks to be baked into Windows 11 SE itself.

Other system limits

Focused on education, Windows 11 SE locks the end-user out of some features in Windows 11. We already mentioned the lack of the Microsoft Store, and installing Win32 apps, but there’s more. As an example, you can’t get into Command Prompt (though the app is installed.) There’s also no Windows PowerShell installed. In addition, you can’t even get into the classic Control Panel. It’s listed, but clicking it will lead to an error message.

Unlike Windows 10 and Windows 11 in S-mode, Windows 11 SE systems also can’t “upgrade” to standard Windows 11 Pro or Home. In one FAQ, Microsoft says there is no way to switch to a different version of Windows from Windows 11 SE.

Yet, it also indicates that should you like to use a Windows 11 SE device for personal use, you can purchase a license of the Windows version you like, erase all data, with the caveat of there being no way back to Windows 11 SE.

And about those app limits. While IT admins can load Win32, UWP, and Microsoft Store apps to Windows 11 SE devices with Intune, there are some limits. There are only 6 approved types of apps for Windows 11 SE.

  • Content Filtering apps
  • Test Taking solutions
  • Assistive technologies
  • Classroom communication apps
  • Essential diagnostics, management, and
  • supportability apps

Any apps that fall outside of those parameters can not be installed on Windows 11 SE. Microsoft says that Windows 11 SE supports a curated set of apps that are chosen based on feedback from educators and IT admins, and is open to supporting new apps by request.

Versus Windows 10 in S mode and Windows in S mode

Windows 10 In S Mode 2

So how does Windows 11 SE stack up against S-mode Windows versions? Well, as we said so far, Windows 11 SE has a more simplified user interface, there’s no Microsoft Store, and there’s no way to switch to regular Windows 11. Microsoft also indicates that Windows 11 SE has built-in enhancements to optimize performance on low-end hardware. It says that Windows 11 SE is cloud-first, so it requires less memory and uses a smaller footprint than traditional Windows Pro, so it can perform faster, Another key fact? Windows 11 SE is optimized for institutional use, but Windows 10 in S mode was also available to consumers.

Cloud-first and Edge-first

All that explained, Windows 11 SE (in the way I used it) feels like a Microsoft take on the original version of Chrome OS (which was essentially just a web browser.) So far, in my time with my Surface Laptop SE, it’s been a cloud-first device. Files saved locally (when offline) sync up to OneDrive once connected.

In addition, Edge is the way to go on the Laptop SE as without any way to access to installing Chrome via Intune, it’s the key to the web. Oh, and speaking of the web, Edge even lets me create PWAs, too. Instagram, Twitter, are just a few examples of what I’ve created and used.

I definitely won’t be editing videos on the Laptop SE, but it feels like a no-nonsense laptop where you can just get work done, with little distraction. Performance has been great on my higher-end model, especially for web browsing. I’ll be planning a hands-on video in a few days, and also will be talking about the Laptop SE on the next OnPodcast, so be sure to stay tuned for more!

How to leave a team in Microsoft Teams

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

So you’re looking to leave a Teams meeting?  A handy tool for remote collaboration, Microsoft Teams has become a lifesaver for online professional communications, especially since the Covid-19 pandemic first hit the world.

Of the many features that Teams comes packed with, the most important—and one which acts as a fulcrum for all others— is the one of creating specific teams. In some cases, however, leaving a team is often something you’ve might have to do. Maybe you were added to the wrong Team. Or perhaps you’re now done with the project and, therefore, don’t need to be the part of the team anymore. Whatever your specific reason, in this article, we’ve covered the exact steps you need to follow for leaving a specific Team. Let’s get started.

How to Leave a Team in Microsoft Teams

Be it the desktop app or the Teams version on android, leaving a team in your Teams app is a simple affair. Simply follow the steps below, and you too can leave a team easily.

Leaving a team in the Teams desktop app

Here’s how you can leave a team in the Teams desktop app:

  1. Click on the Teams option from the left panel.
  2. From the list of Teams, choose the one you’d like to leave now.
  3. Click on the three dots for a specific team and select Leave the team.

leaving a team on teams app

You’ll then get a confirmation dialog box. Click on Leave the team, and you’ll be successfully exit that specific team.

How to leave a team in the Teams mobile app

To leave a team in the Teams Android app, first you’ve to navigate to the Teams navigation tab.

From the available list of teams, click on the options menu (three dots) of the specific team you’d like to leave and select Leave team.

You’ll then be asked for a confirmation again. Click on OK to leave the team.

Wrapping it up

And that’s all about leaving a team in Microsoft Teams app, folks. Whatever your reason for leaving a team, if you follow the above listed methods you’ll be able to do so successfully.

Fix: Windows Filtering Platform Has Blocked a Packet

Posted on by Kazim Ali Alvi

Windows 11, the latest iteration in the series from Microsoft, is said to be the most advanced and user-oriented. However, encountering errors remains as common, if not more than the previous version. In this article, we will be taking up the Windows Filtering Platform has blocked a connection problem.

The error arises when certain packets or connections are blocked by the Base Filtering Engine. Though the problem may seem intricate to most users, its solutions are rather simple and have been listed out in the following sections.

For those encountering the error in Windows 11, it’s likely that the upgrade didn’t go through successfully and there’s some kind of misrecognition in Windows Firewall.

But, before we head to the fixes, it’s imperative that you understand the role of the Windows Filtering Platform and its main features.

How does the Windows Filtering Platform help developers?

Windows Filtering Platform, a set of system services and API (Application Programming Interface) allows developers to create network filtering applications. It was first introduced in Windows Vista and has been a part of the Windows ecosystem ever since.

It can also be used to build independent firewalls, antivirus, amongst other network-related applications. With this, an application can access and modify packets while these are being processed.

The three main features of the Windows Filtering Platform are as follows:

  • Base Filter Engine
  • Generic Filter Engine
  • Callout Modules

Now that you are fairly acquainted with the concept, let’s head to the most effective fixes for the Windows Filtering Platform has blocked a connection problem in Windows 11.

How can I fix the Windows Filtering Platform has blocked a connection error in Windows 11?

1. Disable the Firewall

  1. Press Windows + S to launch the Search menu. Enter Windows Defender Firewall in the text field at top and click on the relevant search result that appears.Launch Windows Defender Firewall to fix windows filtering platform has blocked a connection
  2. Next, click on Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off from the list of options on the left.Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off
  3. Tick the checkboxes for Turn off Windows Defender Firewall (not recommended) under both Private network settings and Public network settings, and click on OK at the bottom to save the changes.Disable firewall to fix windows filtering platform has blocked a connection

After making the changes, restart the system and check if the Windows Filtering Platform has blocked a connection problem is eliminated in Windows 11. If not, head to the fix listed next.

2. Run DISM tool

  1. Press Windows + S to launch the Search menu. Enter Windows Terminal in the text field at the top, right-click on the relevant search result and select Run as administrator from the context menu.Launch elevated Windows Terminal to fix windows filtering platform has blocked a connection
  2. Click Yes on the UAC (User Account Control) prompt that pops up.Yes
  3. Click on the downward-facing arrow at the top and select Command Prompt from the list of options. Alternatively, you can hit the Ctrl + Shift + 2 to launch Command Prompt in a new tab in Windows Terminal.Open Command Prompt tab
  4. Next, paste the following command and hit Enter to execute it:DISM/Online /Cleanup-image /ScanhealthExecute DISM to fix windows filtering platform has blocked a connection
  5. Finally, execute the following command:DISM/Online /Cleanup-image /RestorehealthRun DISM to eliminate windows filtering platform has blocked a connection problem

3. Perform a quick SFC scan

  1. Press Windows + R to launch the Run command. Enter wt in the text field, press and hold the Ctrl + Shift keys, and then either click on OK or hit Enter to launch an elevated Windows Terminal.Open elevated Windows Terminal from Run command
  2. Click Yes on the UAC (User Account Control) prompt.Click Yes
  3. Click on the downward arrow and select Command Prompt from the menu that appears.Launch Command Prompt tab to fix windows filtering platform has blocked a connection
  4. Next, type/paste the following command and hit Enter to run the SFC scan:sfc /scannowRun SFC scan to fix windows filtering platform has blocked a connection

The SFC (System File Checker) scan is used to identify corrupt system files, and if any are found, replace them with their cached copy stored on the system. So, if it’s the corrupt system files that are causing the Windows Filtering Platform has blocked a connection problem in Windows 11, running the SFC scan should fix it.

After executing the command, wait for the scan to complete, then restart the computer and check if the problem is eliminated. If the issue still persists, you can try using a third-party repair app that has more advanced features.

4. Restart Windows Security Center

  1. Press Windows + R to launch the Run command. Enter services.msc in the text field, and either click on OK or hit Enter to launch the Services app.Launch Services
  2. Locate and double-click on the Windows Defender Firewall service.Windows Defender Firewall
  3. Check if the Service status reads Running.Check service status
  4. If not, click on the Start button under Service status to run the service.Start Windows Defender Firewall service to fix windows filtering platform has blocked a connection
  5. Next, press Windows + S to launch the Search menu. Enter Windows Terminal in the text field, right-click on the relevant search result that appears, and select Run as administrator from the context menu.Launch elevated Windows Terminal to fix windows filtering platform has blocked a connection
  6. Click Yes on the UAC (User Account Control) prompt that appears.Click Yes
  7. Next, execute the following command and then restart the PC:reg add "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender" /v "DisableAntiSpyware" /d 1 /t REG_DWORD /fExecute command to fix windows filtering platform has blocked a connection
  8. After the computer restarts, paste the following command and hit Enter:reg add "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender" /v "DisableAntiSpyware" /d 0 /t REG_DWORD /fExecute the following command to fix windows filtering platform has blocked a connection

Once done, again restart the computer and check if the Windows Filtering Platform has blocked a connection problem is fixed in Windows 11.

5. Disable your antivirus

Note icon NOTE
We have listed the steps to disable the built-in Windows Security app. In case you are using a third-party antivirus, check its settings or head to the FAQ section on the manufacturer’s website for the steps to disable it.
  1. Press Windows + S to launch the Search menu. Enter Windows Security in the text field at the top, and then click on the relevant search result that appears.Launch Windows Security
  2. Click on Virus & threat protection.Virus & threat protection
  3. Click on Manage settings under Virus & threat protection settings.Manage settings
  4. Next, click on the toggle under Real-time protection to disable the antivirus.Disable real time protection to fix windows filtering platform has blocked a connection
  5. Lastly, click Yes on the UAC (User Account Control) prompt that pops up.Confirm change

Oftentimes, the antivirus is known to conflict with the network settings and lead to a bunch of errors. This the generally the case with third-party antiviruses but the built-in Windows Security is also sometimes found to be the culprit.

Hence if the above fixes haven’t worked, you can try disabling the antivirus and check if the Windows Filtering Platform has blocked a connection problem is eliminated in Windows 11.

In case the error persists, uninstall the third-party antivirus app and verify if that changes the situation. Also, check out our curated list of the best antivirus software for Windows 11.

6. Create a new local account

In many cases, it was a corruption in the user account that led to the Windows Filtering Platform has blocked a connection problem. If that’s the case, and the above methods have fixed it, you can create a new local account on your Windows 11 PC.

While there is a lot of debate around whether you should go for a Microsoft account or a Local one, the latter should be a better choice here since it’s not linked to any servers and can be used independently on the device.

Once you have created a new local account, the error should not be present in the Event Viewer anymore.

Which is better, Windows 11 or Windows 10?

With Windows 11 finally launched, most have been nothing but excited to get their hands on the latest iteration. But, a lot of users have been skeptical of the upgrade owing to various factors.Windows 11 and WIndows 11 comparison

The primary reason is that they are accustomed to Windows 10 and it will take some time to get familiar with the new OS. But, that’s not a good enough reason since Windows 11 offers both a slightly better user interface along with a bunch of other features and security enhancements, meant to improve your experience.

If you too are confused between the two, go through our guide where we compare Windows 11 and Windows 10.

That’s all there is to the Windows Filtering Platform has blocked a connection problem in Windows 11 along with the most relevant fixes for it.

In case the methods listed above do not eliminate the Windows Filtering Platform has blocked a packet error, you can either perform a system restore or reset Windows 11 to its factory settings.

Tell us which fix worked and your thoughts on the whole Windows 11 vs Windows 10 debate in the comments section below.

Dolby Atmos Not Working in Windows 11? Here’s How to Turn It On

Posted on by Kazim Ali Alvi

Follow the steps below to quickly enable Dolby Atmos and fix common issues on Windows 11. This guide will help you restore immersive sound and get the most out of your audio experience.

What do I do if Dolby Atmos is not working in Windows 11?

1. Run the built-in audio troubleshooter

  1. Press Windows + I to launch the Settings app and then click on Troubleshoot on the right in the System tab.
    Troubleshoot to fix windows 11 dolby atmos not working
  2. Next, click on Other troubleshooters.
    Other troubleshooters
  3. Locate and click on the Run button next to the Playing Audio troubleshooter.
    Run Playing Audio troubleshooter to fix windows 11 dolby atmos not working
  4. Wait for the troubleshooter to detect the problem and follow the on-screen instructions to fix the error.

Whenever dealing with an error in Windows, it’s recommended that you first run the relevant built-in troubleshooter for it, if one exists. These are known to fix a plethora of problems with minimal effort from your end.

2. Update Windows 11

  1. Press Windows + I to launch the Settings app, and then select Windows Update tab from the navigation pane on the left.
    Windows Update
  2. Click on Check for updates to scan for any available newer versions of the OS.
    Check for updates to fix windows 11 dolby atmos not working
  3. If any are available, download and install them to your system, since running an older version of the OS is known to cause problems with the functioning.

3. Update the sound driver

  1. Press Windows + S to launch the Search menu, enter Device Manager in the text field at the top, and then click on the relevant search result that appears.
    Launch Device Manager to fix windows 11 dolby atmos not working
  2. Locate and double-click on the Sound, video, and game controllers entry.
    Sound, video, and game controllers
  3. Now, right-click on the devices listed under it one at a time, and then select Update Driver from the context menu.
    Update sound driver to fix windows 11 dolby atmos not working
  4. Select Search automatically for driver from the two options in the Update Drivers window.
    Search automatically for drivers

Windows will now automatically look for the best available driver on the system and install it for the device. The major drawback here is that only the hard drive is scanned for updates and not the web servers or Windows Update.

In case the drivers were not updated using the Device Manager method listed above, you can check for a newer version in Windows Update or manually download and install them.

After updating the driver, check if Dolby Atmos starts working in Windows 11.

If that sounds like too much trouble, you can always go with a reliable third-party app for the job. There are a bunch of these out there, but we recommend using Outbyte Driver Updater, a dedicated tool that scans all available sources for updates and keeps the installed drivers up-to-date.

4. Reinstall the sound driver

  1. Right-click on the Start icon or press Windows + X to launch the Quick Access/Power User menu, and then select Device Manager from the list of options.
    Device Manager
  2. Next, click on the carat icon before the Sound, video and game controllers entry to expand and view the devices under it.
    Sound, video, and game controllers to fix windows 11 dolby atmos not working
  3. Now, look for a warning icon (exclaimation mark in a yellow triangle) next to any of the devices, right-click on it, and then select Uninstall device from the context menu.
    Uninstall device
  4. Tick the checkbox for Attempt to remove the driver for this device and then click on Uninstall.
    Reinstall driver to fix windows 11 dolby atmos not working
  5. After uninstalling the malfunctioning device, restart the computer.

When you restart the computer, Windows will automatically install a fresh driver to replace the corrupt one that was previously installed. Once done, check if the Dolby Atmos not working issue in Windows 11 is eliminated.

5. Roll back driver update

  1. Press Windows + R to launch the Run command, type devmgmt.msc in the text field, and then either click on OK or hit Enter to launch the Device Manager.
    launch Device Manager
  2. Double-click on the Sound, video and game controller entry.
    Sounds, video and game controller
  3. Right-click on each of the devices listed here one at a time, and then select Properties from the context menu.
    Device properties
  4. Navigate to the Driver tab, and then click on the Roll Back Driver button.
    Roll back driver to fix windows 11 dolby atmos not working
  5. Next, select a reason for uninstalling the update and then click on Yes to proceed.
    Choose a reason to uninstall to fix windows 11 dolby atmos not working

If Dolby Atmos stopped working after updating the sounds drivers in Windows 11, it’s time you roll back the driver update. Doing this will reinstall the previous driver, and in all likelihood fix the issue.

6. Enable exclusive mode

  1. Press Windows + S to launch the Search menu, enter Change System Sounds in the text field at the top, and then click on the relevant search result that appears.
    Change system sounds to fix windows 11 dolby atmos not working
  2. Next, navigate to the Playback tab from the top.
    Playback tab
  3. Right-click on the default playback device and select Properties from the context menu.
    Properties
  4. Go to the Spatial sound tab, click on the Spatial sound format dropdown menu and then select Dolby Atmos for headphones from the list of options.
    Dolby Atmos for headphones to fix windows 11 dolby atmos not working
  5. Next, navigate to the Advanced tab, tick both the checkboxes under Exclusive Mode, and then click on OK at the bottom to save the changes.
    Give exlusive mode permissions to fix windows 11 dolby atmos not working

You can also follow this complete guide on how to enable Dolby Atmos on Windows 11 to make sure your spatial sound settings are configured correctly.

7. Reset the Dolby Access app

  1. Press Windows + I to launch the Settings app and then select Apps from the list of tabs in the navigation pane on the left.
    Apps tab
  2. Click on Apps & features on the right.
    Apps & features
  3. Locate the Dolby Access app, click on the ellipsis next to it, and then select Advanced options from the menu.
    Advanced options to fix windows 11 dolby atmos not working
  4. Click on the Reset button.
    Reset to fix windows 11 dolby atmos not working
  5. Again, click on Reset in the prompt that pops up.
    Confirm reset

Wait for the reset process to complete and then check if the Dolby Atmos not working issue in Windows 11 is eliminated.

Why is Dolby Atmos not working in Windows 11?

There could be a bunch of reasons behind Dolby Atmos not working on your Windows 11 system, but more often than not, it’s the drivers that are the culprit. It could both be a case of outdated or corrupt drivers, along with issues in the current version.

Apart from that, it could be a problem with the OS, misconfigured settings, or the Dolby Access app itself. Whatever be the case, we have listed the relevant fixes for each to get things back up and running in no time.

If you are able to identify the problem, say a corrupt driver, directly head to the relevant method and execute it. Otherwise, you can follow the steps in the listed sequence for quick and effective troubleshooting.

How can I install Dolby Atmos in Windows 11?

You can easily install the Dolby Atmos app from the Microsoft Store, spend a few minutes setting it up and enjoy the surround system technology as it’s meant to be. Though, make sure your system is compatible with it or you have external hardware that is.

In case you have none, there’s always the option to use the built-in feature for surround sound on your headphones with the Dolby Atmos app. This doesn’t require specialized hardware and will work with any set of headphones or earbuds.

These are all the ways you can eliminate issues that are preventing Dolby Atmos from working in Windows 11 and experience total sound immersion just the ways it is in movie theaters.

For more details, check out our guides on how to install Dolby Atmos on Windows 11 and which browsers support Dolby Atmos.

If case you are facing trouble with Dolby Atmos in Windows 10, check our dedicated guide to fix the issue.

Tell us which fix worked along with your experience of Dolby Atmos in Windows 11, in the comments section below.

Fix: You Don’t Have Permission to Access on This Server

Posted on by Sagar Naresh

The You don’t have permission to access on this server error is a relatively common one that can arise in alternative browsers. Browsers occasionally display that error message in tabs when users try to open specific websites. When that error arises, users can’t open a website in the browser.

One error that was often reported was Server execution failure in Chrome, but we covered that one in a separate guide. You’d think that Chrome is probably the most likely place to encounter this error. But users reported various contexts, so let’s check it out.

What does it mean I don’t have permission on this server?

The issue usually appears if you’re having problems with your firewall. Often the problem can appear due to your VPN configuration or your proxy.

Sometimes, even your browser cache can cause this issue to appear. The error is somewhat universal, and here are its most common variations:

  • You don’t have permission to access this server Safari, Chrome, and Firefox: All browsers are affected by this issue. The cause can be your extensions or something else.
  • You don’t have permission to access this server Roblox, Minecraft: Many games are affected but this issue. But it’s not just the games, many reported Gamestop Access Denied Website Error.
  • You don’t have permission to access the requested URL on this server: The issue can occur due to a lack of certain privileges or your settings.
  • Sparknotes access denied: The error can affect various web apps, including Sparknotes.
  • You don’t have permission to access on this server Mac, iOS, or Android: Speaking of the error, there is a high possibility of also encountering the related error You don’t have permission to access this Airbnb resource.
  • ASOS access denied: This issue occurs due to a corrupted cache in your browser.
  • You don’t have permission to access this server IRS: This happens when you try to access the IRS website, however, our solutions can help you fix that.
  • You don’t have permission to access / this server. Apache: This is a server-side issue on Apache servers. To fix it you need to change your configuration.
  • You don’t have permission to access this server reference: This is just a specific error, which can be fixed by any of the solutions mentioned here.

How do I fix you don’t have permission to access on this server error?

1. Disable VPN software

  1. Press Win + R keys to open the Run dialogue.
  2. Type ncpa.cpl and click OK to open the Control Panel.
  3. Select Network and Sharing Center.
  4. Click on Change adapter settings.
  5. Right-click your VPN to select the Disable option for it.
  6. Check if the problem is gone.

After disabling your VPN check if the problem persists. Your VPN software can assign you an IP address forbidden on that particular server or website.

2. Turn off VPN extensions

  1. Launch Google Chrome.
  2. Click the 3-dot button at the top right of the browser.
  3. Select the More Tools submenu.
  4. Click Extensions to open that tab.
  5. Toggle off the VPN extension.
    Chrome's extensions tab you don't have permission to access on this server
  6. Restart the browser.

VPN extensions for browsers can do the same thing as dedicated VPN software, so if you’re getting Access denied on this server message, be sure to disable them.

Apart from disabling just the VPN service, you can try toggling off each extension, one by one and see if this helps resolve the problem at your end.

3. Use a premium VPN service

Unfortunately, free VPNs often fail at bypassing firewalls, so you might still get the Access Denied: You don’t have permission to access this server error in your web browser.

Disabling your free VPN could fix it. But you won’t be able to take advantage of its security and privacy features anymore.

A better long-term solution is to turn to a paid VPN service like ExpressVPN. Websites will have a harder time identifying and blocking the VPN IP addresses because they aren’t public. Besides, this VPN has servers in 163 locations in 106 countries for you to explore if you get blocked on a specific IP.

⇒ Get ExpressVPN

4. Deselect the proxy server option

  1. Press the Windows key and S simultaneously to open the search box.
  2. Type internet options and open it.
  3. Select the Connections tab on that window.
  4. Click the LAN settings button to open the Local Area Network (LAN) Settings window.
  5. Deselect the Use a proxy server for your LAN option if it’s selected.
  6. Click OK to close the LAN window.

Some users might be able to fix the Access Denied error by deselecting the Use a proxy server option. This option is usually used by companies when all the network traffic has to be filtered by a proxy.

If the default save location cannot be set, you will also have issues accessing the data you want to reach.

5. Clear browser data

  1. Chrome users can do that by pressing the Ctrl + Shift + Delete.
  2. Select All time on the Time range drop-down menu.
  3. Select the Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, and Cached images and files checkboxes.
    Chrome's Clear browsing data options you don't have permission to access on this server
  4. Click the Clear data button.

Clearing browsing data might also resolve the You don’t have permission to access the requested url on this server, because it makes the browser think you have never visited the website before.

6. Clear all data for a specific website in Firefox

  1. Press the Ctrl + H hotkey on Firefox.
  2. Right-click the website that doesn’t open in the History sidebar to open a context menu.
    Forget About This Site option you don't have permission to access on this server
  3. Select the Forget about this site option.

Firefox’s users can fix the Access Denied error by clearing all data for the specific website the error arises for. This was suggested by one of our readers. Deleting history and cache data for a specific website that you are facing trouble with will help you resolve the problem.

7. Reset your browser

7.1 For Google Chrome

  1. Launch your browser.
  2. Type the following in the address bar: chrome://settings/
  3. Click on Reset and cleanup.
  4. Click the Reset settings to their original defaults.

7.1 For Firefox

  1. Enter the following in the address bar. about:support
  2. Press the Refresh Firefox button.
  3. Click on Refresh Firefox to confirm.

Resetting your web browser will clear all data and disable VPN extensions.

8. Run the Troubleshoot mode

  1. Launch Firefox.
  2. Click on the 3-line icon on the top-right.
  3. Select Help.
  4. Select the Troubleshoot mode.
  5. In the Restart Firefox in Troubleshoot Mode prompt that appears, select Restart.
  6. Click Open.

When you run Firefox in troubleshooting mode, it helps you to jot down the problem that is causing the error. Troubleshoot mode disables all extensions, switches to the default theme, turn off hardware acceleration, and disables JIT, and all other customizations and modifications.

So, the Access Denied error is usually a network issue. Disabling VPNs or clearing browser data are the most probable fixes for it. If the problem is still there, visit our 1005 Access Denied article for more potential solutions.

For users facing the site is not secure error, we have a guide that lists some of the best solutions to resolve it. You can refer to our guide to fix the Chrome and Safari error code 224003.

Please let us know which solution worked best for you. Also, write us a comment if you have any other suggestions for solutions that we should include here.

Microsoft Edge Canary tests smoother scrolling feature

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Microsoft is testing a smooth scrolling feature in the Canary version of Microsoft Edge. Currently hidden behind a flag, the feature works as the name suggests, boosting the web browsing experience on displays that support variable refresh rates (via Neowin/Reddit.)

According to the flag listing in Edge Canary, toggling this feature on will allow Windows to temporarily boost the refresh rates of a display when scrolling. That is, of course, if the display supports a variable refresh rate, and has the driver. Usually, only displays that are AMD Freesync or Nvidia G-Sync support the technology. On these displays, scrolling up and down in Edge should feel a lot more fluent thanks to smooth scrolling.

If you want to try this out for yourself, visit Edge://Flags and search for refresh-rate-boost-on-scroll. You can then toggle it to “enabled.” Reaction to the feature has been positive, and it seems as though the community thinks it’s a welcomed change. We’ll have to wait and see if Microsoft makes an official announcement when it rolls out to Edge Dev, and eventually the regular version of Microsoft Edge.

Microsoft Teams will soon automatically delete meeting recordings

Posted on by Don Sharpe

Microsoft has announced plans to introduce an auto-deletion feature for Microsoft Teams recordings. According to a recent blog post on the Microsoft website, this new feature will be implemented due to overwhelming customer requests.

Default lifetime

The default lifetime of a recording will be 60 days or 30 days for A1 users. However, admins will be able to disable the feature if they don’t want recordings disappearing into the ether.

Microsoft’s blog post, which announced the new auto-deletion feature for your local files, explained how the company decided on a default time frame and also explains how the user can change it:

The 60-day default was chosen because, on average across all tenants, 99%+ of meeting recordings are never watched again after 60 days. (…) However, this setting can be modified if a different expiration timeline is desired.

Archiving chats

You’ll need to create a Teams group, assign this group the right to auto-archive channels and apply the relevant retention policy. Then, you’ll need to assign the right to auto-archive channels to users who want their old chat messages preserved. 

These are the steps required for archiving chats. You can find more about these steps in Microsoft’s official blog post. The ability to delete files physically begins in the third week of January 2022.

In the upcoming months, if you happen to notice OneDrive freeing itself up without any actions prompted by you, this might be the main reason for the sudden change. 

What do you think of Microsoft Teams’ new auto-deletion feature? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.

Microsoft Edge 97 has arrived in the Stable Channel, and with it, full support for Citations

Posted on by Don Sharpe

Microsoft Edge has received some new features, which are now available for everyone on Stable Channels of Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Due to the holidays, they took a bit more time than usual with Edge this month, but they are happy to announce that their February release includes Citations in preview. 

Citations are a way for you to tell students about the sources you used and where you found your information on the web.

Citations

By integrating a new feature known as Citations into Microsoft Edge, the company is giving students an easier way to manage and generate citations from academic online sources in the correct format.

Citations are Edge’s answer to the tabbed browsing experience favorites and collections, but with links that can be used in the text. There’s even a Citations button for easy access.

Microsoft Edge 97 brings new and exciting security features to both Windows 10 and macOS. With support for Microsoft Endpoint Data Loss Prevention (DLP), your assets remain safe and secure. A new platform security feature, Control Flow Guard (CFG), combats memory corruption vulnerabilities in the browser.

Automatic HTTPS

A new feature called Automatic HTTPS will automatically upgrade navigations from HTTP to HTTPS on domains that support the more secure protocol.

The new design feature will be available for Edge users over time, beginning with version 97.

Finally, this Edge update improves the preferences you set for websites. You can now tell Edge to use your current profile when signing into sites that have multiple accounts, such as work and school accounts, on your device. You can turn this feature on or off by entering into Settings, then Profile preferences.

Microsoft Edge 97 should update to the newest version automatically, but you can force the update by opening the About page in the browser. 

Which feature excites you most about Microsoft Edge 97? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section.

Is Windows 11 Faster on Older Computers?

Posted on by Don Sharpe

Microsoft is preparing an update for Windows 11 that could make the operating system more attractive to people with older or less powerful computers.

The latest Insider build, Windows 11 Build 22526, is currently available to members of the Insider early access program. It includes a number of fixes and enhancements.

Microsoft is using the latest build of Windows 10 to try a new approach to indexing file locations. The company hopes that this change will make it easier for users to find files they need in File Explorer.

Enhanced Windows 11 performance

Although Windows 11 brought with it a number of performance improvements, File Explorer continues to frustrate users with its slow response times and tendency to crash.

When searching for files, the search feature can be frustrating because it takes so long to return relevant results, especially when the user has a large number of files on their computer.

The latest update should make sifting through large quantities of files more efficient, which will be beneficial from a productivity perspective.

File indexing

Windows 11 users with older computers will especially benefit from the new system because their machines might not be as powerful or fast as newer systems. But better file indexing is just one of many new features in the latest Windows 11 build.

The release notes state that the newest version of the operating system offers support for wideband speech when using Apple AirPods which should improve audio quality for voice calls and a new windowed approach to familiar Alt + Tab functionality.

But for enterprise customers, Microsoft has enabled its Credential Guard service by default and is protected with a layer of virtualization-based security.

Available on the Dev channel

The Windows 11 developer build is available only to members of the Dev Channel, who are willing to receive the newest features in their software.

It is unclear when these new features will be ready for public use. But if you have problems with File Explorer, the chances are high that they will soon have solutions.

Are you excited to see Windows 11 get more coverage on computers with weaker processors? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.

Latest Windows 11 preview build brings slight changes to Alt+Tab UI

Posted on by Alexandru Poloboc

It’s 2022 and Microsoft has just released the first Windows 11 Dev Channel build for this new year, one that is packing a handful of notable new changes and enhancements.

This brings the new OS to build 22526, which also brings an updated Alt+Tab interface, support for wideband speech using AirPods, and the indexing of more file locations by default.

Let’s dive right into it and uncover more of what the Redmond tech company prepared for its first 2022 release.

Improved Alt+Tab UI and better Airpods support with this build

By far, the most notable change this week is the introduction of a new Alt+Tab interface, even though this is just another A/B test, meaning some testers may not get this new UI just yet.

This new and apparently improved UI is a windowed version of the Alt+Tab experience, which is currently full-screen.

Microsoft officials stated that the new UI is nothing more than an experiment, meaning it may not get released to the general public, and that feedback from Insiders will be key to whether or not it will.

Another worth-mentioning improvement is the added support for wideband speech when using Apple AirPods products (AirPods, AirPods Pro, or AirPods Max), meant for improving audio quality for voice calls.

Also with build 22526, Credential Guard will now be enabled by default on Windows 11 Enterprise (E3 and E5) licensed PCs that are enterprise-joined.

And let’s not forget to mention that the tech giant is experimenting with indexing more file locations so that using search to find important files in Files Explorer is quicker.

Fixes

[File Explorer]

  • Did some work to help address an issue where if you’d used search in File Explorer, and then explorer.exe crashed, the next time you tried to search in File Explorer it wouldn’t work.

[Search]

  • We’ve made another fix to help address the recent searches flyout getting stuck on the screen (appearing transparent except the border).
  • Improved the resolution of app icons displayed in search results when the display scaling was set to greater than 100%.

[Spotlight collection]

  • If you’re using spotlight collection, the current image should migrate on upgrade now (if the build you’re upgrading from is Build 22523 or higher).

[Widgets]

  • Fixed an issue result in the Widgets board potentially not having the correct resolution when hovering over the entry point on a secondary monitor.
  • Addressed an issue where the Widgets board would temporarily be blank, showing only an Add Widgets button (which also opened to a blank dialog).

[Other]

  • Fixed a bugcheck with KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED remote desktop users were encountering when attempting to shutdown or restart.
  • Microsoft Store should no longer show a message that trying to install the latest Web Media Extension update is returning error code 0x80073CFB.
  • Addressed a DWM crash impacting some Insiders on the previous flight.
Note icon NOTE
Some fixes noted here in Insider Preview builds from the active development branch may make their way into the servicing updates for the released version of Windows 11 that became generally available on October 5th, 2021.

Known issues

[General]

  • You may be unable to sign-in to certain apps such as Feedback Hub. Restarting your PC should correct the issue.
  • We’re investigating reports that some Insiders are seeing driver and firmware update failures in recent builds with the error 0x8007012a.

[Start]

  • In some cases, you might be unable to enter text when using Search from Start or the taskbar. If you experience the issue, press WIN + R on the keyboard to launch the Run dialog box, then close it.

[Taskbar]

  • The taskbar will sometimes flicker when switching input methods.
  • The network icon sometimes goes missing in the taskbar when it’s supposed to be there. If you encounter this, please try using Task Manager to restart explorer.exe.
  • If you have multiple monitors connected to your PC and right-click on the date and time on the taskbar on your primary monitor, it will crash explorer.exe

[Search]

  • After clicking the Search icon on the Taskbar, the Search panel may not open. If this occurs, restart the “Windows Explorer” process, and open the search panel again.

[Settings]

  • When viewing the list of available Wi-Fi networks, the signal strength indicators do not reflect the correct signal strength.
  • Settings may crash when going to System > Display > HDR.
  • There is a blank entry under Bluetooth & Devices.
  • We’re working on a fix for an issue impacting some Insiders, resulting in Settings crashing when trying to access the Installed Apps, Startup Apps, and Default Apps pages. If you are one of those impacted and need to uninstall an app, using winget should work.

[Widgets]

  • Changing the taskbar alignment can cause the Widgets button to disappear from taskbar.
  • When having multiple monitors, Widgets content on taskbar may get out of sync between monitors.
  • With the taskbar left-aligned, information such as temperature is not shown. This will be fixed in a future update.

[Voice access]

  • Some text authoring commands, e.g., “select that” or “delete that”, may not work as expected across Windows applications.
  • Recognition of some punctuation marks and symbols such as @ sign is not accurate

Microsoft advertisements reach 1 billion people across Bing , Outlook, AOL, Yahoo, MSN, more

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Microsoft just hit a new milestone. According to the company’s own internal data, and Comscore, a platform that evaluates media across platforms, Microsoft advertisements now reach 1 billion people (via Mediapost/ MSPU.)

Per Mediapost, Microsoft ads hit those 1 billion people across Bing, Outlook, AOL, Yahoo, MSN, and other publisher partners and Microsoft properties as of March 2021. This is apparently known as overlapping audiences, which is a phenomenon you might be familiar with. Basically, using multiple Microsoft products or services. The overlapping audiences allow Microsoft to expand its reach.

It’s so much good for Microsoft that the research from GWI, another audience insight tool, shows that 64% of people in the U.S. who use Windows devices also visit Microsoft advertising properties, per Mediapost. In turn, these people are more likely to make a purchase. Microsoft’s own numbers last showed that its own search advertising revenue went up to $788 million, or 10% in its last quarter so there’s extra truth to the numbers. Whether or not MSN or Microsoft News powered things like News & Interests in Windows 10, or Widgets in Windows factor into that growth is unknown, but it would not be surprising.

New Microsoft PowerToys brings new Always on Top feature for Windows apps

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Microsoft PowerToys, the company’s set of Windows tools for power users has been updated this week with a new Always on Top feature. This top-requested feature can pin an application window so that it will remain always on top on your desktop, even when focus changes to another app window.

Always on Top can be activated with the Win + Ctrl + T shortcut, and users can also customize the visual outline of the pinned window in PowerToys settings. There are also options for turning off Always on top when the system-level Game Mode feature on Windows is on, and users can also manually exclude some apps from Always on Top.

Another top-requested addition in this new PowerToys update is the addition of web search to PowerToys Run, the quick launcher that looks similar to Spotlight on macOS. You can open PowerToys Run by pressing Alt + Space and start typing in the search bar, and web searches will open in your default web browser.

If you only want to search the web with PowerToys Run, you’ll need to use the “??” command then add what you’re looking for in the search field. Compared to Windows Search, PowerToys has more options for power users without sacrificing performance, and the tool is quite elegant overall.

This latest Microsoft PowerToys update also includes plenty of bug fixes, and it’s available to download from GitHub and the Microsoft Store. There are over 10 different tools to help Windows users be more productive, and the open-source project also welcomes contributions from everyone.

E3 2022 will once again be a virtual event this year

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

The Entertainment Software Association announced yesterday that its E3 annual trade show won’t be held in person for the third year in a row. In a statement provided to VentureBeat, the organization cited “the ongoing health risks surrounding COVID-19 and its potential impact on the safety of exhibitors and attendees.”

The ESA has also confirmed that E3 2022 will once again be a virtual event this year and that the annual show wasn’t going away. “We remain incredibly excited about the future of E3 and look forward to announcing more details soon,” the trade group said.

E3 used to be the biggest event of the video game industry in June of each year, but its influence actually started to wane even before the pandemic hit when big publishers such as Sony or EA decided to stop participating. In the past two years, we’ve seen major video games announcements being spread out across multiple events throughout the summer, and E3 should once again compete with Geoff Keighley’s Summer Game Fest.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has definitely hit the trade show industry pretty hard in the past couple of years, and the recent Omicron surge suggests that things aren’t coming back to normal anytime soon. However, CES 2022 did go as planned in Las Vegas this week despite Microsoft and other big tech companies canceling their physical presence. As of this writing, Mobile World Congress 2022 is also set to come back to Barcelona next month, and the Game Developers Conference is still scheduled as an in-person event in March.

Google is working with PC manufacturers to bring the best of Android to Windows

Posted on by Don Sharpe

Google plans to work with Windows PC makers to ensure their flagship smartphones are compatible with the most popular operating system on the market.

At the Consumer Electronics Show in 2022, Google announced that it would be working with Acer, HP, and Intel to bring new capabilities to Windows PC for Android.

Fast pair

One of the most exciting developments to come from Microsoft’s annual conference is Fast Pair, a Bluetooth feature that makes pairing Android devices with Windows-based laptops quick and easy.

This includes Android features such as syncing text messages and sharing files using Nearby Share, which behaves similarly to Apple’s AirDrop.

In addition to Android and Windows integration, Bluetooth connection between devices will be easier with the new Fast Pair feature. This will arrive in Windows PCs later in 2022.

Among other announcements made at the annual consumer tech conference, Google unveiled Fast Pair, a feature that is expected to work with more than just Windows.

Windows and Android integration

Windows integration is aimed at helping Android users be more productive, but it is hoped that it will also make the Android experience nicer and easier.

By pairing Bluetooth devices like headphones to other smart products, such as TVs and Chromebooks, Google said users will be able to listen to audio from those devices on their headphones.

The growth in connectivity between devices will be enhanced by Matter, a new standard soon to launch that will improve connectivity between the internet and smart devices.

If you work in an office and you’re responsible for taking notes on a smartphone that you later have to bring into the office to share with co-workers, Windows Phone’s easy file sharing feature will likely appeal to you.

Beyond Fast Pair, Google revealed a dozen other software-related announcements at the Consumer Electronics Show this year, all of which are useful to consumers – although one feature that may appeal to businesses is faster unlocking of devices.

Wearable devices

For years, Android phones have worked with Chromebooks. Now, Google is extending that functionality to smartwatches running Wear OS.

Android Wear devices will be able to unlock Android phones, tablets, and Chromebooks faster using the new Smart Lock system.

BMW will also use the same technology in its cars to unlock the doors when an Android phone is detected.

BMW users who own phones equipped with Ultra-Wideband technology will be able to unlock their vehicles without even taking their cell phones out of their pockets.

Which features are most exciting to see from the integration between Windows and Android? Let us know in the comment section below.

More users consider downgrading to Windows 10 because of the new Start menu

Posted on by Alexandru Poloboc

The Windows 11 Start menu saga continues, with users constantly expressing discontent and disappointment when it comes to this important OS element.

We remind you that these mixed emotions started ever since the new operating system was simply a toddler learning how to take its first steps.

Many months later, and several updates that sort of tweaked the Start menu, and users are still not at all happy with what Microsoft considered improvements for it.

And, with the community constantly asking for core features to be brought back, and the tech giant refusing to give in, it looks like this will drag on for quite a while, until one of the sides simply has enough.

The Windows 11 Start menu is simply not enough for most

What can the average user do when faced with this situation? Some of the more tech-savvy ones will surely find ways to bypass Microsoft-imposed standards.

But what about the people that are not that that comfortable using registry hacks? Or what about when the mother company disables such methods from being used?

Sure, there are all sorts of third-party software solutions out there, designed to modify how the Start menu looks, but what if users don’t want all these apps installed on their devices?

Well, the last thing they could actually do is talk about and hope to cause enough ruckus that Redmond developers would again follow community advice and actually change something.

This is pretty much what is happening nowadays, and social media platforms, as well as forums, are overflowing with posts that have the words start and menu in their description.

Indeed, at some point, there was a registry hack that would allow anyone to revert the menu back to the appearance it had on Windows 10.

However, Microsoft made sure that didn’t work anymore and they patched that so-called system gap with an update, recently.

Many have gone a different route, as we mentioned above, and downloaded third-party apps that brought back the old style of the menu, the one we got so familiar with on Windows 10.

Why, you ask? Well, it’s mostly because the only customization options we have for the Windows 11 Start menu so far are showing more pins, more recommendations, or default.

Oh, we almost forgot about the fact that you can change its alignment as well, from the center, as it is by default, to the left, like the old one was positioned.

So, because of this lack of options and functionalities, many are already considering downgrading back to Windows 10, hoping that sometime in the future something will change.

It’s also true that the Start menu, as well as the taskbar, have been sort of the main focus point for Windows 11 naysayers, especially because of the limited way in which they are allowed to interact with them.

It will be interesting to see what will happen in the future and if the Redmon-based tech company will decide to fulfill these wishes and restore a little bit of Windows 10, in the form of these elements.

The major irony here is that most crave a new, futuristic and enhanced experience, but as soon as it is given, it’s picked apart, chewed, spat back out, and left for dead.

Right now, there aren’t any major bugs that affect the Windows 11 Start menu, so we can consider it pretty stable. However, if it doesn’t work properly for you, we can help you with fixing it.

We remind you that only four months have passed since the release of this brand new operating system, so a lot of changes can still occur.

All that’s left to do is wait and see when Microsoft decides the future for this important OS element, and what direction it’s going to lean towards.

What are your feelings about the Windows 11 Start menu? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.

Batch Convert HTML to PDF [Free Guide & Tools]

Posted on by Loredana Harsana

Users have been asking how they can convert batch files from HTML to PDF in a simple way. We have found the answer for you through the aid of IceCream PDF Converter software.

To install the app, follow the software’s official download page then proceed with the installation steps displayed on the screen.

HTML (HyperText Markup Language) is a web language that is used to build documents (or websites) that are displayed in a web browser.

The PDF format is widely used to save and transmit information to others via the Internet without causing the information to lose its formatting integrity.

What does IceCream PDF Converter do?

Icecream PDF Converter converts PDF files of any size, and it can even handle numerous files at the same time, including bulk converting HTML to PDF, which is really convenient. You will be able to queue up PDFs in bunches and convert them all with a single click once the feature is implemented.

When converting to PDF (Word to PDF, JPG to PDF, ePub to PDF, and so on), you have the option of merging all of the files into a single PDF and using a variety of output file options.

The PDF file can be converted to DOC, JPG, and other formats. The app also comes with a built-in PDF reader and is capable of handling password-protected documents.

Beyond converting PDFs, it may also assist you in merging many documents or images into a single PDF file allowing you to customize your personal folders.

All of IceCream’s programs are completely free to use and include a plethora of features and customization choices to enhance the overall user experience. The utility does not spy on you and does not contain any other kind of malicious software.

How do I save multiple webpages as PDF?

Make sure you read our dedicated guide on how to save a webpage as PDF if you want to find out how to do it in any browser of your choice.

How do I save a Chrome HTML document as a PDF?

In general, it is an easy task, as all you have to do is right-click anywhere on the webpage then choose Print, and select Save as PDF.

Is there a way to Print an entire website?

You can print an entire webpage by pressing Ctrl + A then right-clicking anywhere on the page and selecting Print.

But without further ado, let’s see how you can batch convert HTML files to PDF in both Windows 10 and 11. Follow along!

How can I batch convert HTML files to PDF in Windows 11 & 10?

Use IceCream PDF Converter

  1. Go to IceCream’s official download page and select the Free Download option.free-download batch convert html to pdf
  2. Proceed with the installation steps, select the language you want to be displayed then wait for the process to complete before you can batch convert HTML to PDF for free.english-icecream batch convert html to pdf
  3. Click on the To PDF option from the main menu to convert files into PDF. topdf batch convert html to pdf
  4. Now click on the Add file button and select the desired documents.add-file batch convert html to pdf
  5. If you wish to also merge the documents click on the Merge all into one PDF option, followed by Convert. Otherwise just click on Convert.convert batch convert html to pdf
  6. Once the files are converted, you will be prompted with a button that opens the newly created folder. Click on it to see the PDF files.open-folder batch convert html to pdf

And that’s it! The user interface is straightforward and easy to use and you can use the app to batch convert HTML to PDF on Mac devices as well. The free version of this software allows you to convert a maximum of three files at once, each with a maximum of 5 pages.

However, the PRO version will allow you to bulk convert HTML files to PDF with an unlimited number of pages, as well as convert all HTML files in folder to PDF.

To upgrade the app, you can simply click the Upgrade to PRO button from the bottom side of the main menu.

Icecream PDF Converter

Try this excellent HTML to PDF batch converter tool to manage your files better.
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How can I batch convert HTML files to PDF in Windows 10?

Although Windows 11 has some important improvements and an elevated design, it’s not much different from Windows 10.

And in fact, when trying to convert a batch of HTML files to PDF, our solution of using the Icecream PDF Converter will work perfectly on Windows 10 as well.

You won’t notice any difference because the app works seamlessly on most Windows operating systems.

Which file type is most likely to contain malicious code?

The most common types of malware are viruses, which can delete files or directory information, spyware, which can gather data from a computer system without your knowledge, and worms, which can replicate and tunnel through your computer’s memory and hard drive.

Malware can infect your computer in a variety of ways, but one of the most prevalent is through opening an email attachment that contains malware.

For example, you can receive an email from an unknown sender that instructs you to open a file that you are unfamiliar with.

EXE files are one of the most often used file formats in the Windows operating system. It contains an executable program, which may be launched by simply double-clicking on the file in question.

BAT files are text files that contain a series of line commands that will run whenever the file is opened, making them a popular choice among malevolent programmers.

The CMD file format is a common file type for malware writers to use. In some cases, it can be used to erase files from a directory, or it can replicate itself and open a program repeatedly to deplete a computer’s resources, causing the computer to slow down and eventually fail (fork bomb).

The COM file is a type of executable file that is widely used to execute a set of instructions. If you open a file that includes malware and the instructions are followed, your computer will be harmed as a result of the actions.

Because we live in the digital age, malware is a constant concern. You may be a target, whether or not you are aware of it. As a result, it is critical to be aware of file types that may be potentially dangerous.

Also, keep in mind that you should never open email attachments from unknown senders. The use of suited antivirus software for your OS, which can identify and eradicate malware before it has a chance to spread, is also recommended.

If you need more PDF editing options, we recommend that you take a look at the best free & paid PDF editors for Windows 11.

And lastly, if you are interested to batch convert HTML to PDF online instead of using software, you can use the html2pdf.com online tool.

Did our guide help you convert HTML to PDF in high quality? Let us know in the comments section below right away. Thanks for reading!

Microsoft says it’s investigating the issues with the unresponsive Guide button

Posted on by Alexandru Poloboc

Please note that, If you’ve been having issues where the Xbox Guide button lately, and it appears to be slow and unresponsive, you’re not alone.

Many users have been affected by this issue and Xbox Engineering Lead Eden Marie has officially confirmed the team is trying to figure out what is causing it.

Multiple Xbox users have reported such problems recently, saying that the guide button has a laggy response, which triggered developers to get this sorted out as soon as possible.

The Xbox team is trying to solve the controller problem

it was also confirmed that the issue is widespread and affects everybody, but the team is hoping to get enough logs from Insiders to diagnose the issue thoroughly.

Furthermore, users report this issue to be even worse with certain types of games, so it’s best you pause gaming for a little bit until this is fixed, if it really stops you from actually enjoying it.

Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S users have been experiencing issues with the Guide button for a number of weeks.

Since it was confirmed that this nasty issue has spread to a large number of users both inside and out of the Xbox Insider Program, it’s clearly a priority for the company.

Because of this problem, there is an estimated 5-10 second delay between pressing the Xbox Wireless Controller’s Guide button and the menu popping up on the screen.

And although this doesn’t necessarily affect the gameplay experience, it does hinder the quality of life use of the console.

The silver lining here is that the Xbox team is already aware of the issue and is actively trying to diagnose and solve the problem.

However, it won’t be easy, considering they require a bit of crowdsourcing to find the cause. Filing a bug report immediately after experiencing an issue may help expedite the process and help a fix to rollout.

Have you also been experiencing this problem with your Xbox controller? Let us know in the comments section below.

5 Best Antivirus Software for Dell Laptops [2026 Reviewed]

Posted on by Sonia Martin

Along with titans Lenovo and HP, Dell dominates the PC market. With remote work on the rise, Dell laptops sales were resurrected and the courageous VMWare and EMC acquisitions allowed this vendor to further consolidate its leading position.

Thus, it’s only natural to want to enhance your digital security with antivirus for Dell laptops. But rumor has it that Dell laptops are by default secure and equipped to face the Web and all the dangers that come with it. So, are Dell laptops secure?

What virus protection comes with Dell?

If we’re talking Windows and we surely are, the Microsoft Defender Antivirus is by default on duty. While it does a fine job keeping common viruses at bay, the Internet is famous for housing ill-intended links, websites, and people relentlessly trying to exploit whatever vulnerabilities they can find in exchange for a good profit.

It’s not a question of brands, but a universally valid fact with which we must all deal. Take, for example, HP laptops. Similar to Dell, they are considered safe to a certain extent due to integrated antivirus solutions.

But that does not mean they are not vulnerable to more sophisticated threats and they do require a good antivirus for HP laptops to stay fully operational and virus-free.

Now, most Dell systems have preinstalled antivirus software and it can be the Defender or something else. Which antivirus comes with Dell?

It’s usually McAfee, either in the form of a free 30-day trial or up to 36 months’ worth of subscriptions. You might be wondering: Why does Dell use McAfee? Before anything else, we have to clarify that they do not own McAfee.

Instead, the 2 companies have developed a fruitful commercial relationship as we often encounter between hardware and software providers, and McAfee’s top-rated reputation and long expertise recommend it for the job.

Does my Dell need antivirus?

Since Dell laptops come with preinstalled antivirus programs, you can rely on the tools at hand to harden your device against online threats or deploy a third-party antivirus software for Dell laptops.

Our guess is you value your digital assets, be it confidential information, valuable data, or online privacy, and you’d want a solution that won’t comprise your security.

Just like any other brand, Dell laptops are only as secure as you make them. Thus, deploying the best antivirus for Dell laptops becomes quintessential for sensible security practices.

If you’re looking for that one program to meet all your expectations, you’re about to hit de jackpot. The cybersecurity jackpot, that is.

Tip icon Tip
Keep in mind that most Dell computers have preinstalled antivirus protection.

Since running multiple security programs simultaneously can cause your system to lock up or generate all kinds of incompatibility errors, software clashes, interferences, and so on, you should uninstall the built-in solution before deploying a third-party antivirus for Dell laptop.

Make sure you remove all traces of the software in order to avoid conflictual settings. You can rely on a specialized uninstaller tool to completely eliminate any leftovers, stubborn registry keys, and any other reminiscences of the previous antivirus software package before setting up the alternative.

Which antivirus is best for Dell laptops?

Antiviruses don’t really see PC brands, so the magic is in the specs. And that’s where our quest for the best antivirus for Dell laptops started. We made sure all the entries in this top are fully compatible with the Dell infrastructure.

Of course, your personal habits will heavily influence the decision, along with budget considerations, preferred operating system, and so on.

Nevertheless, there are a couple of criteria with broad applicability that are bound to set you on the right track.

A multi-layered defense that combines different techniques and technologies in order to cover a wide spectrum of web nastiness is a must.

Efficiency when it comes to performance is just as important. Thus, you need to make sure you pick an antivirus solution that not only secures your device but allows for a smooth and fast digital experience.

Our seasoned testers here at Windows Report had a blast deploying each of the antiviruses in this selection on one of our machines. We used a Dell XPS 15, a true pioneer in many ways, with an i7 processor, 8 GB of RAM, and 500 GB worth of storage.

From stress-testing, speed and performance measurements during quick and in-depth scans, functionalities comparison, and more – everything went under the radar with satisfactory results.

That’s how we were able to determine if each antivirus had what it took to make the cut. And they sure did.

Tip icon Tip
Here are the main criteria on which we focused in order to pick the best antivirus for Dell laptops:

➡ Prevention, proactive or early threat detection (high scores in independent testing laboratories and low false-positive rates)
➡ Instant identification and reaction to suspicious files (real-time protection is a must along with on-the-spot isolation/quarantine capabilities)
➡ Strong removal capacities (to completely flush away and neutralize all malicious apps and signs of infection previously detected)
➡ Backup and recovery functions (to safely retrieve data and/or programs post-sanitization)
➡ Impact on performance (low CPU consumption, performance optimization, lightweight infrastructure, small-sized update files)
➡ Customizable scans and options, exemption settings, plus comprehensive reporting
➡ Multi-layered defense and multi-tech blends (IA, machine learning, heuristics, Cloud, virus signatures databases, etc.)
➡ Good price/value ratio (multi-device coverage, license transfers, cross-platform compatibility)
➡ Online privacy-oriented tools (audio and/or video protection, traffic and/or data encryption, anti-hacking and anti-ransomware defense)
➡ Network surveillance and web filtering modules
➡ Automatic virus definition updates to keep emergent threats contained

Bitdefender Total Security

  • Dedicated profiles with adjustable visual settings
  • Privacy Firewall and Network Threat Prevention
  • Built-in VPN, audio and video protection
  • Integrated file shredder and password manager
  • Anti-loss and anti-theft tools
  • We did not notice any major inconvenients.
imageFree trial

We love ESET and we’re not afraid to shout it out loud. However, if it were possible to have two contenders in the 1st position, Bitdefender Total Security would have been the obvious choice.

Similar to our previous recommendation, this best antivirus for Dell laptops takes great pride in its dual nature. It’s as ruthless with viruses as it’s delicate on your system and we are completely smitten with this adaptive approach.

This best antivirus for Dell laptops relies on revolutionary AI-based technologies to detect, block, and even predict threats with the best scores in the industry.

Its improved real-time data protection looks beyond viruses and is able to detect the newest threats thanks to a unique combination of advanced behavior-based threat defense, web filtering technology, and a top-rated virus engine.

In fact, its multiple protection layers will neutralize all existing and emerging threats. Thus, you can rely on built-in anti-phishing and anti-fraud protection, a Safe online banking module with a dedicated browser, Bitdefender VPN to encrypt your Internet traffic plus anti-tracker, anti-ransomware shield, and more.

Since virus removal itself can cause a fair share of havoc, remediation capabilities are not to be ignored. Fully anticipative, Bitdefender boasts a Rescue Environment in order to deal with rootkits, clean up and restore your data before Windows even starts.

Now, we mentioned Bitdefender’s lightweight infrastructure earlier on. But is it really possible to get impeccable protection without sacrificing speed or computing power?

With this best antivirus for Dell laptops, you can get the best of both worlds: airtight security and uncompromised performance that never skips a beat. Trust us, we tested it long and hard while constantly monitoring the Task Manager and the CPU gauge barely flinched.

Bitdefender Total Security does not settle for having a minimal impact on your system’s resources. It raises the bar with patented technologies that enhance overall performance and speed up boot time such as the OneClick Optimizer.

The Battery Mode takes it to the next level by tweaking system settings and updates in order to allocate resources where it matters the most.

Dedicated Game, Movie & Work Modes further pause background activities and halt notifications to allow you to get the most out of your Dell rig.

Finally, the exclusive Bitdefender Photon technology perfectly adapts to your configuration and specs in order to save up on computing resources while the Global Protective Network feature takes heavy scanning to the cloud in order to guarantee uncompromised system performance and speed.

TotalAV

  • Real-time malware and ransomware protection
  • WebShield blocks phishing and malicious sites
  • Disk cleaner and startup manager for a faster Dell
  • Works across Windows, Mac, Android and iOS
  • Low impact on performance
  • VPN and password vault only in the higher plans.
imageCheck price

TotalAV is a simple, lightweight antivirus with real-time protection, WebShield browsing protection and built-in clean-up tools. One licence covers Windows, Mac, Android and iOS.

McAfee Total Protection

  • 256-bit AES storage encryption
  • Built-in file shredder and password manager
  • Secure VPN and Identity Protection Service
  • Advanced home network security
  • Multi-faceted defense against malware and more
  • There is no free trial available.
imageCheck price

Our quest for the best antivirus for Dell laptops would not be complete without McAfee, the official recommendation to secure Dell systems, as indicated by the manufacturer itself.

You might be wondering: Why does Dell recommend McAfee? Well, it’s the perfect balance between award-winning antivirus, performance optimization, and comprehensive privacy and online identity protection tools that make it an ideal choice for securing Dell laptops.

McAfee Total Protection delivers a comprehensive Internet security suite that can repel ransomware, spyware, and other malicious attacks on a multitude of platforms and devices without slowing you down.

In fact, Performance Optimization is a big deal for this best antivirus for Dell laptops and it spares no effort in order to provide uncompromised speed along with multi-faceted security.

Thus, McAfee will automatically detect resource-intensive apps in order to free up bandwidth when you need it the most.

Privacy is also privileged and you get a plethora of options to encrypt data, erase your digital footprints in order to avoid tracking, anonymize your browsing and secure your Wifi connection to its core.

From spam filtering capabilities to 256-bit AES storage encryption and McAfee shredder for your sensitive files, password management, Secure Browsing module, everything is included and available right at your fingertips.

The Identity Protection Service with Dark Web monitoring and a secure, bank-grade encryption VPN will keep you, your data, and your traffic safe from exploits of all kinds.

Speaking about network traffic, you also get firewall protection that will prevent hackers from accessing your home network.

Avast Premium Security

  • Complete anti-spyware shield (webcam, password and sensitive data protection)
  • Sandboxing features to isolate and test files
  • Automatic software updater
  • File shredder and password manager
  • Advanded firewall + web shield
  • Traffic encryption is not included (Avast SecureLine VPN is only available in the Ultimate edition).
imageFree trial

We know that antiviruses are steadily shifting towards more complete security suites with all kinds of improvements, enhancements, and add-ons.

Since threats evolve, cybersecurity guardians have to step up their game in order to retaliate and Avast Premium Security is one tuned-up antivirus with many bonuses up its sleeve.

As they like to put it, Premium Security is more than just antivirus, it’s an end-to-end security suite designed to cover all your needs in terms of protection.

Thus, it can keep you safe from ransomware attacks, remote access hacking attacks, malware, viruses, scams, spyware, and more.

This best antivirus for Dell laptops will make sure you never land on a spoofed site thanks to its unique combination of web filters that block suspicious pages and downloads and real site module that checks sites’ authenticity in order to prevent data or money theft.

Your sensitive data – including your webcam and browser-stored passwords – are not only shielded against ransomware and spyware, but also against remote access attacks.

As if that weren’t enough, you also get a sandbox tool that allows you to open suspicious files in a safe environment without creating any vulnerabilities which can later be exploited by hackers.

Speaking about exploits, a Wifi inspector will detect any weakness in your Wi-Fi network and the advanced firewall will take it from there.

AVG Internet Security

  • Password and webcam protection
  • Safe shopping and banking module
  • Link and PUA scanners
  • Advanced firewall and web filtering capacities
  • Complete protection against malware and ransomware
  • VPN is not included (This privacy tool is only available in the Ultimate edition).
imageFree trial

AVG is yet another strong contender that simply cannot be omitted when searching for the best antivirus software for Dell laptops.

Just as our previous recommendations, it boasts comprehensive tools tailored to neutralize a plethora of threats and keep you safe while browsing, working, or having fun online.

Its aim is to successfully protect every part of your digital life and we must admit it does a spectacular job securing your passwords, payments, browser, webcam, emails, network, system, privacy, and personal files against ransomware, viruses, malware, hackers, and more.

This best antivirus for Dell laptops relies on a complex infrastructure combining top-rated antivirus engines, AI-powered malware detection, behavioral analysis, and cyber capture to deliver impeccable defense.

Propelled by real-time updates, AVG Internet Security will even scan for PUA that is harder to detect by traditional means and the toolbar remover will eliminate potentially dangerous browser extensions.

Speaking about scanning, you won’t have to worry about painstakingly long scans that drain your Dell laptop’s resources.

We tested its Turbo Scan feature and we are thrilled with the results. Customization is key for this security software, thus you can even scan links in order to pinpoint suspicious websites.

Moreover, the Web Shield checks for hidden malware before downloading items, while the Fake Website Shield will automatically guide you away from spoofed pages.

Finally, an enhanced, fully customizable firewall will make sure your files are safe from hacking and exploits while the Wi-Fi Guard will automatically alert you when trying to connect to an unsecured wireless network.

Bottom runners

Besides the products that made the list after our rigorous testing process, there have been other antiviruses that proved their capabilities.

Even though they will most likely not with an award for the best antivirus for Dell laptops anytime soon, they could still make good options to consider.

➡ TotalAV

With real-time award-winning protection, this antivirus for Dell laptops safeguards your device, your online identity, and even your transactions.

Its high compatibility makes it a great protection option for laptops, smartphones, desktops, and tablets. Thus, you won’t have to worry about specs matching up or not.

➡ Avira Free

Avira does not hold back when it comes to securing your digital life. Its extensive security suite includes multiple layers of protection against the most diverse threats.

It will protect you against ransomware, scams, malware, and viruses and it even throws a free VPN into the mix to anonymize your web browsing.

And did we mention that this best antivirus for Dell laptops does not cost a single dime?

➡ F-Secure

F-Secure’s flagship edition is tailored to protect all your devices, including your Dell laptop. Its state-of-the-art tools and techniques include advanced parental controls, banking, and browsing protection.

It also boasts a convenient gaming mode with enough optimizations to keep your digital experience smooth and snappy, just as you like it.

How can I tell if my Dell laptop has a virus?

How can I tell if my Dell laptop has a virus?

Viruses have an infamous reputation and we all know they’re bad for us. But bugs take many forms and not all of them flutter a big, flashy blue screen marked with a Virus tag to announce their presence.

In fact, malware grows more sophisticated with each day that passes by. Emergent threats are now polymorphic and there is even hidden malware that can bypass average protection systems and only act out when it’s too late.

Not all of them are designed to take over your PC, some are coded to exfiltrate data without ever getting in your way. Others monopolize resources or hijack your browser, so infection is not always easy to spot.

But the signs will definitely be there, you just need to know where to look. After all, the devil is in the details.

How do I know if I have a virus on my Dell laptop?

  • Overall system drowsiness and/or unresponsiveness
  • Programs running slowly, apps crashing, freezing, and/or suddenly closing by themselves
  • Random pop-up windows, adware, and/or security warnings assaulting your screen
  • Browser redirects or untriggered homepage modifications
  • Abnormal delay in loading the desktop, stuck or laggy loading frames
  • Unusually high CPU usage and low virtual memory
  • Unknown incons or entries
  • Inability to change desktop settings, antivirus icons missing
  • Inability to open EXE files, entries under Device Manager or C:drive missing

Does any of this sound familiar? Whether it is an isolated symptom or a combination of signs, don’t delay and start troubleshooting.

Should you need an extra hand, feel free to help yourself to our guide on how to recover your PC after a malware infection. You can also rely on a good antivirus with boot scanning to remove hidden malware.

How can I protect my Dell laptop from viruses? Start by installing a good antivirus for Dell laptops, back up your files regularly, and don’t forget to update your OS to keep things running smoothly.

The new Windows 11 Notepad has also been released to the Beta Channel

Posted on by Alexandru Poloboc

We know that you really appreciate the Dark Mode feature, regardless of what app we are actually talking about.

Not only does it make the software look a lot better, some say, but it also acts as a major eye strain reliever, which is extremely useful especially if you spend a lot of hours in front of your PC.

We are happy to announce that the Redmond tech giant has already rolled out this feature for Notepad, but only Insiders get to enjoy it for the time being.

Insiders are already testing the new and improved Notepad

Notepad, one of the applications that have been part of Windows for as long as the OS existed, finally receives its very own Dark Mode feature.

Microsoft just released the first preview of a new Notepad app built specifically for Windows 11, featuring a new Fluent design interface that matches the rest of the Windows 11 UI, and the above-mentioned feature.

Although, until now, this feature was only available for Dev Channel Insiders, we’re pleased to inform you that it has now found its way to the Beta Channel as well.

But while the visual updates such as the addition of Dark Mode, updated right-click menu, and Windows’ new design language are nice, the new Notepad also brings some interesting new functionalities.

In the current version of the app that ships with Windows 11, the text search tool and the find and replace tool are two different pop-up windows, accessed by two different keyboard shortcuts.

This redesign combines them into one floating bar instead of the old way of doing things, which takes us back to the much older versions of the operating system.

Redmond officials also stated that multi-step undo will also be included, which replaces the old version’s undo system that only lets you go back one step.

You’d like to know that Word Wrap is still off by default, even though it has been moved to the View menu.

We’re not exactly sure how long it’s going to be until this will be rolled out to the general public, but it will most likely be really soon, considering the app seems to be pretty stable.

If you haven’t upgraded to Microsoft’s latest operating system yet, there is a way you can bring Dark Mode to the Notepad on Windows 10.

What do you think about this redesign? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.

Xbox console users will soon have access to Ubisoft+

Posted on by Alexandru Poloboc

Ubisoft fans this one is for you, and boy do we have some great news to share with everyone today. Your favorite gaming creators are preparing a lot of goodies for you in 2022.

Besides the big reveal of the upcoming arrival of Rainbow Six Extraction to all Xbox Game Pass subscriptions ever since its launch, they also announced that Ubisoft+ is incoming to Xbox consoles.

Ubisoft Plus was originally launched for PC and includes access to more than 100 Ubisoft games, including new titles such as Far Cry 6, at the price of $14.99 per month.

Ubisoft+ will grant free access to DLCs and expansions

Just like any other gaming subscription, Ubisoft+ offers its members access to a curated games library for a monthly cost, as we mentioned above.

When it first came out, back in 2019, it was called Uplay+, becoming  Ubisoft+ last year, and also expanding its reach from just PC to Google Stadia and Amazon Luna.

Besides granting you early access to all the new Ubisoft games, this subscription service also boasts access to most games’ DLC and expansions at no extra cost.

Now this is something that a lot of fans were surely waiting on their favorite company to do, and the fact that the service is also coming to Xbox is an unexpected bonus for them.

We know that, once the announcement has been made, a lot of people have started growing impatient and are wondering when this will start becoming available.

Unfortunately, no specific dates were given as to when Xbox console owners can expect to get their hands on the subscription.

However surprising this would be for some people, this is actually not the first time a major publisher has brought over their subscription service to a console platform.

Other examples include EA bringing EA Play to Xbox, as well as PlayStation some years ago. And who knows, maybe we’ll even see other studios do the same and come up with their own subscription services.

The question on everyone’s lips right now is if this service will be an Xbox exclusive, or if it will at some point also become available for PlayStation users as well.

Would you be willing to purchase Ubisoft’s new subscription for your Xbox console? Share your opinion with us in the comments section below.

New image editor starts rolling out in Windows 11 Photos app

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

If you’re often using the Windows 11 photos app for sharing or viewing images, then it just got a bit better for you. Spotted by XDA Developers, the latest public non-Windows Insider version of the app has several improved image editing tools.

Available in version 2021.21120.8011.0, the enhancements we noticed right away include four key things. You’ll find a relocated cropping tool, new aspect ratio options for images, an easy-to-spot/understand adjustment tab, and new image mark-up options.

A lot of the improvements are self-explanatory and have moved directly under the edit button on an image, instead of a sidebar as in Windows 10. As an example, the cropping tool now opens under an image, with an additional option to flip an image horizontally, and alongside aspect ratio options.

The adjustments section, meanwhile, has moved to the right side of the app. That’s also where you’ll find new filters, which are a bit more clearly labeled. Finally, there’s the new mark-up option, which no longer opens in a separate mode. We’ve included a gallery of these options for you below, should you not yet have this latest version.

Microsoft has been on top of its game recently with these app updates. Over in the Windows Insider Program, Beta Channel testers got a newly updated Notepad. Select Windows 11 users are also getting a new Media player, too.

Best MP4 to MP3 Converters for PC [Free, Paid]

Posted on by Tashreef Shareef

While modern smartphones and desktops can handle all kinds of high-quality audio formats, MP3 is still one of the most popular audio formats average users enjoy.

If you prefer to listen to their music, you can use an MP4 to MP3 converter app to change your favorite video tracks into MP3 format.

Using such a tool, you will actually convert a video file into an audio file. There are several MP4 to MP3 converters online and offline that can help you to do that instantly.

What should you look for in an MP4 to MP3 converter?

There are a lot of tools out there that can help you with the conversion, but not all of them work as seamlessly as they should.

That’s why even if it’s a simple process, you will save a lot of time by considering some of our recommendations when looking for the right one.

➡ Compression and quality

MP3 is a compressed file type but even these audio files can have different quality settings, depending on the input.

If you want the best quality audio, start with an MP4 that has high-quality sound.

Sample rate selection in Adobe

Then, look for a converter that doesn’t downgrade the sound sampling rate for the sake of high-speed conversion. And if you have output choices, that’s a good sign.

➡ Features vs. quality

If you’re just going to make a quick playlist for the road out of your music videos, you can also do that quickly online, never minding the quality, you can do that with an online converter quickly.

Besides the fact that you will extract the best possible audio track, you will be able to edit it and even enhance the sound by using an equalizer or special effects.

In this article, we have put together a list of MP4 to MP3 converter software and online audio tools so that you can convert your favorite video tracks into sound format instantly.

What are the best tools to convert from MP4 to MP3?

Adobe Audition – Multitrack UI improvements

Adobe Audition platform

Adobe has a long history of creating top-of-the-line products when it comes to handling multimedia files and formats.

As such, Adobe Audition is Adobe’s response to the market’s need for an audio editor. Simply think about everything a typical audio editor can do, and Audition will do even more, and better.

Professionals will appreciate how it features both a multitrack, non-destructive mix/edit environment and a destructive-approach waveform editing view.

Of course, for tasks as simple as extracting the audio from MP4 files and converting them into MP3, Adobe Audition is more than enough.

But we need to remind you that this is a tool dedicated to professionals so it will be a little more difficult to master all its features.

Here are some of its best features:

  • Playback and recording improvements
  • Multitrack Clip improvements
  • Third-party effect migration
  • Multitrack UI improvements
  • Add or delete empty tracks
  • Zoom to time
Adobe Audition

Adobe Audition

If you need a tool that will extract the audio from MP4s and convert it into MP3s, then Adobe Audition is the professional tool that you need!
Free trial Visit Website

Adobe Premiere Pro – Timeline-based video editing

Just as Adobe Audition is Adobe’s dedicated audio editor, Adobe Premiere Pro is the de facto video editor.

Since we are looking for a tool that will convert MP4 files into MP3, this seems only natural.

Of course, getting Adobe Premiere Pro just for this would simply be a waste of its capabilities, since it is one of the most used video editors in the world, both a professional and casual level.

It doesn’t matter if you just want to turn a movie into black and white or edit and create your own mini-Hollywood blockbuster, Adobe Premiere Pro has everything that you need.

And if you add Adobe After Effects in the process, you can really spice up your videos in a Michael Bay style.

Just like Audition, Adobe Premiere Pro can be tested for free for 7 days, so don’t hesitate to give it a try, because it will be well worth the effort!

Here are some of the best features of Adobe Premiere Pro:

  • Timeline-based video editing
  • Video cropping and merging
  • image effects and filers.
  • Soundtrack addition
  • Basic special effects
Adobe Premiere Pro

Adobe Premiere Pro

Get the best video editor in the world so that converting MP4 files into MP3 will come as easy as it can get.
Free trial Visit Website

WinX HD Video Converter Deluxe – Easy to use

WinX HD Video Converter Deluxe, as the name suggests is a video converter that also comes with MP4 to MP3 file conversion feature.

WinX HD Video Converter Deluxe offers similar features as Uniconverter. It also comes in a basic free and advanced premium version.

It offers advanced features such as full 4K support allowing the user to convert 4K UHD videos, the ability to customize the output profiles with a built-in setting, and lossless transcoding for converting without quality loss.

The batch convert features allow you to convert multiple MP4 files to MP3 format simultaneously. The built-in lightweight video editor allows you to create and edit your personalized video with ease. It offers all the basic video editing features including trim, rotate, crop, effect, enhance, and watermark.

With an intuitive user interface and a free basic version, the WinX HD Video Converter Deluxe is an excellent MP4 to MP3 converter to get you started.

Beyond this, it is worth mentioning that WinX HD Video Converter Deluxe can convert MP4 to other formats besides MP3. E.g. AAC, AC3, WMA, OGG, FLAC, ALAC, so make sure to check it out today!

Take a look at its most notable features:

  • Can convert MP4 files to a lot of other formats besides MP3
  • 4K UHD video support
  • Batch conversion
  • Easy to use and reliable
  • Ultra-fast conversion
WinX HD Video Converter Deluxe

WinX HD Video Converter Deluxe

If you have an MP4 video file and you just need the audio to be extracted from it, then you can rely on WinX HD Video Converter Deluxe!
Free trial Visit Website

Switch MP3 Converter Software – Online database

The next entry on our list is yet another tool that is made with the average user in mind, as it boasts a simplistic interface and controls, and a pretty straightforward purpose: the ability to convert to and from the MP3 format.

As an example, this program can easily convert WMA, WAV, CDS, AIFF, MPEG, AVI, and more to MP3 files or convert MP3 files to another audio format.

More so, it allows you to batch convert thousands of MP3s at once, but it comes with a CPU optimizer so that such massive conversions don’t mean your PC will be sluggish at all.

Therefore, with such a potent program you will convert audio files easily and get your music fast, while also normalizing audio levels while converting MP3 files.

Here are some of the best features of Switch MP3 Converter Software:

  • Can extract MP3 files from imported videos or DVDs, including MP4s
  • It can access an online database to add song information to MP3s
  • Lets you play audio tracks prior to MP3 conversion
  • Automatically normalize audio levels in MP3s
  • Batch-convert thousands of MP3s at once
Switch MP3 Converter Software

Switch MP3 Converter Software

Easily convert MP4 files to MP3 ones and access an online database with this great program.
Free Visit Website

Uniconverter – Drag-and-drop functionality

Best mp4 to mp3 converter

With support for over 150 video formats and the ability to download videos from 1000+ online video-sharing websites, Uniconverter is a popular MP4 to MP3 converter you can use for high-quality conversion.

Uniconverter offers a highly optimized timeline to convert audio from various formats to MP3. It is a multipurpose file converter with integrated video editing and downloading features.

To convert any MP4 files, you need to drag and drop the files into the timeline. Unfold the profile list to get all profiles.

Under the General Audio section, set MP3 as the desired output format. Set a start and end time to trim the MP4 file and click Clip to confirm.

You can also customize the output by changing the export settings. Finally, click on Convert to start converting the file.

While Uniconverter offers more features with the premium license, basic audio conversion can be done using the free version of the tool.

Take a look at some of its best features:

  • Drag-and-drop functionality
  • Support for over 150 video formats
  • Download videos from more than 1000 video-sharing websites
  • High optimization timeline
  • Integrated video editor
Uniconverter

Uniconverter

Drag and drop your favorite MP4 file and convert it with ease into an MP3 one by using Uniconverter.
Free Trial Visit Website

VideoProc Converter – Screen Recorder

VideoProc Converter is another top-level software that allows you to easily and efficiently transform files from one format to another, and most importantly, MP4 to MP3s.

This software runs perfectly on both Windows 11 and macOS 12, ensuring that even when using the latest OS releases you won’t encounter any annoying problems, and the quality of the results will be optimal.

This software is the only fully-accelerated video processing software that uses the GPU to process files effectively, even when dealing with 4K or 8K quality levels.

When it comes to the actual processing speeds, it can reach levels of up to 47x, making it one of the fastest on the market.

Some other useful features:

  • Video, audio, and DVD converter
  • Works with any format, including devices like smartphones, action cams, drones, camcorders, etc.
  • Amazing quality results
  • Cut, crop, and merge capabilities
  • Advanced editing features – video stabilization, GIF creation, video enhancement
  • Screen Recorder
VideoProc Converter

VideoProc Converter

VideoProc Converter will ensure that all your MP4 files will be converted to MP3 quickly and with amazing quality.
Free trial Visit website

Vidmore Video Converter – Batch conversion feature

Vidmore Video Converter, as the name suggests is a video converter that also comes with MP4 to MP3 file conversion feature.

Vidmore Video Converter offers similar features as Uniconverter. It also comes in a basic free and advanced premium version.

Vidmore comes with advanced features such as full 4k support allowing the user to convert 4K UHD videos, the ability to customize the output profiles with the built-in settings, and lossless transcoding for converting without quality loss.

The batch convert features allow you to convert multiple MP4 files to MP3 format simultaneously.

The built-in lightweight video editor allows you to create and edit your personalized video with ease. It offers all the basic video editing features including trim, rotate, crop, effect, enhance, and watermark.

With an intuitive user interface and a free basic version, the Vidmore Video Converter is an excellent MP4 to MP3 converter to get you started.

Let’s review some of its best features below:

  • Create and personalized videos easily
  • Batch conversion feature
  • Simple and intuitive UI
  • 4K UHD video support
  • Lossless transcoding

⇒ Get Vidmore Video Converter

Online Audio Converter – Cloud storage integration

Online Audio Converter is yet another basic yet free online audio converter that probably has the most user-friendly interface among all the online audio converters.

It can also fetch MP4 files from cloud storage services, including Google Drive, Dropbox, and even URLs.

Using the app is easy. Open Online Audio Converter and click on Open Files. If you want to import from your Google Drive or Dropbox, click the respective icon.

Select the format you want to convert the imported file to (MP3, WAV, M4A, etc.). Drag the slider to set the output quality. Click the Advanced setting button to change bitrate, sample rate, channels, fade-out, and in options.

Click the Convert button to start converting the file. Once done, download the converted file to your computer.

Take a look at some of its most important features:

  • No need to install software on your PC
  • User-friendly interface
  • Cloud storage integration
  • Advanced features like bitrate, sample rate tunning
  • iPhone ringtone creator

⇒ Get Online Audio Converter

VLC Media Player – Customizable interface

VLC Media Player is one of the most popular free and open-source media players available on all the major computer platforms. One not-so-known feature of VLC is its ability to convert MP4 files to MP3 format.

As you might already have it installed on your machine, we will explain how to do that with just a few clicks.

Open the app on your computer. Click on Media and select the Convert/Save option. Click on Add, select Browse and choose the MP4 file that you want to convert to MP3.

Click on Convert/Save again. Under Settings, in Profile, choose Audio as MP3. Click on Browse and select the file destination. Hit Start to convert the file.

VLC Media Player may not be the most feature-rich MP4 to MP3 converter available; however, the fact that most of the users have it installed on their system makes it the best converter for basic conversion tasks.

Here are some of the best features of VLC Media Player:

  • Stream and download YouTube clips
  • Free to use
  • Simple but customizable interface
  • Context menu integration
  • Can play any type of media you may throw at it

⇒ Get VLC Media Player

So, these are our top pics to convert MP4 to MP3 in Windows and other platforms, and we hope that you found exactly what you were looking for.

We also have another tip: if you want to extract the best sound quality, try converting the audio to an uncompressed format like the WAV or WAVE.

If you are looking for a way to convert M4A to MP3, we recommend you check out this guide to find easy steps.

The file will be a lot bigger than an MP3, but it will sound a lot better, depending on the input video, of course.

And while we’re on the subject, you might also want to take a look at our best audio converter software for PC list and get even more suggestions.

Have you used any of the products from our list? Tell us about your experience in the comments section below.

How to Fix the Oobesettings Error on Windows 10 & 11

Posted on by Vlad Turiceanu

The oobesetings error in Windows 11 is a blue screen error that occurs because of a damaged Registry. A problem with the Registry can lead to errors that prevent your computer from booting correctly or even starting at all. If you get this error when trying to open a new file for the first time, you’re probably experiencing a normal memory shortage. Increasing your virtual memory may help correct the problem.

Your computer might not have enough installed memory to handle all of your programs at one time. Alternatively, one can install more RAM or reduce the size of your programs so they run faster.

What can I do to fix the oobesttings error in Windows 11?

1. Restart your device

The easiest way to fix this issue is by restarting your computer. This will solve the challenge if it occurs due to temporary causes like a pending service pack or an installed application that might conflict with your current settings.

2. Use the SFC utility

  1. Click on the Search icon on your taskbar and type cmd.type
  2. Select the Run as Administartor option.
  3. Then, key in the following command: sfc/scannowrun
  4. Wait for the scan to complete, then restart your device to check whether the issue has been resolved.

For more advanced features, we recommend using specialized repair software. They will scan your system for corrupted files and repair them automatically with healthy components from its extensive database.

3. Repair the registry

  1. Press Windows key + R key on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.launch
  2. Then, key the following code in the Run window and press Enter key on your keyboard to open the Windows Registry Editor: regedit enter
  3. Navigate through the following path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SYSTEM/CurrentControlSet/Control/Session Manager/ Memory Management.navigate
  4. Right click on CommitLimit value in right pane and choose the Delete option. Click Yes button when you get a confirmation message.select
  5. Close the Windows Registry Editor and restart your computer.

4. Reset Windows 11

  1. Press Windows Key + I key to open Settings.launch
  2. Navigate to the System section and select Recovery.choose
  3. Now click the Reset PC button.select
  4. Select the desired option. In most cases, it’s better to use Remove everything, but if you choose it, be sure to back up your files beforehand.select
  5. Select the type of reinstall that you want. We used the Local reinstall.
  6. Confirm your reinstall settings.confirm
  7. Click Reset to start the process.select
  8. Follow the instructions on the screen to finish it.

If you still have problems after trying all the other solutions, reinstall Windows. This will delete all your files, and you’ll start over with a fresh system.

However, it is important to note that this solution should be used as a last resort. Here’s one of our detailed guides on how to download Windows 11 ISO or update from Windows 10 to get things up and running again.

Why does the oobekeyboard error occur in Windows 11?

If you are getting this error variation instead, let us tell you that the oobekeyboard error will prevent you from using your computer. It is a serious challenge that occurs due to corruption in your Windows 11 system files. 

Moreover, the error can appear because of a damaged OS registry. A faulty hard drive often leads to this issue as well.

You may have received the error message because your system files are corrupt or a critical system file has been deleted or misplaced. 

Furthermore, the problem also occurs if your Windows 11 registry is missing or damaged. If you do not repair the errors on your own, the oobekeyboard error will continue indefinitely and prevent you from using your PC.

The best way to fix the error is to run a complete diagnostic scan with an advanced cleaner program. This software will automatically scan and repair any problems that are found within seconds, ensuring that your computer will run more efficiently and without errors. 

We also have a guide that will help you understand the OOBEEULA error on Windows 11 and show you how to overcome it effortlessly.

You may use one of these best registry cleaner tools since they are fully compatible with Windows 11 as well.

Why is the Surface Go Oobesettings Something went wrong error occuring?

The Surface Go Oobesettings Something went wrong error appears in Windows 11 when your device is infected by malicious third-party software.

Therefore, it is important to note that the error can show up in different ways, depending on the particular infection. The error message itself is not dangerous, but it indicates that you need to take immediate action to fix the problem by using a great antivirus.

Microsoft has acknowledged this issue and will most likely solve it in a future release. It only affects PCs that connect to the Internet during OOBE when a new computer is setting up for the first time, for example, or when you’re installing Windows 11 after using Refresh or Reset.

The oobesettings is a Windows utility that is used to reset the user settings and preferences in Windows 11. It displays a wizard that helps you configure your computer after a network or hardware change, such as adding or removing an add-in card, changing the power settings, or installing new software.

It performs an automatic configuration of the operating system by detecting basic hardware components, configuring Microsoft Office, and updating the system settings. The utility is part of Windows and does not require any installation to run.

Why does the oobesettings error appear in Windows 11? 

It is a very common issue for Windows 11 users. Usually, the error will appear when you open or use a certain application, especially some applications of games. When you start to use the application, you will get an error message like: 

Cannot start [some name]. This app has failed to start because oobesettings.dll was not found.

The cause of the oobesettings error message is a corrupt registry. This is one of many error messages that can occur when you are unable to open a file or access the data that you need. It can be frustrating to look for a solution but the good news is that it’s possible to fix these error messages.

Tip icon Tip
To avoid this kind of error in the future, it is recommended that you create regular backups and store them in different disks or locations (if possible).

Does the oobemsangcenroll error affect Windows 11?

Oobemsangcenroll is another error message that you get when an update isn’t successful. This can happen for several reasons, but it’s always important to talk to your IT administrator about any updates that aren’t correctly installed. 

In some cases, there’s a conflict between new and old components that need to be resolved before you upgrade everything. If this happens, make sure you have a backup just in case you need to revert to the previous version of the software.

Moreover, visit our guide on how to fix Microsoft Security Essentials OOBE errors to help you resolve the issue effectively and efficiently.

If none of these methods works for you, it’s possible that there’s some other issue at play here. For example, if you’re using a VPN or proxy server.

It could also very well be interfering with Windows’ ability to connect properly with its own settings. If that’s the case, try disabling these programs and see if things improve.

Therefore, if this error occurs during an upgrade, revert to your previous version of Windows and then run Windows Update again. This should resolve any outstanding issues and allow you to continue upgrading without problems.

Which of the above methods helped you resolve the problem? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.

Anti-Hacking Software: 7 Best to Use [2026 Reviewd]

Posted on by Madalina Dinita

Cryptocurrencies and especially Bitcoins have triggered a massive frenzy among users. Many installed crypto-mining software on their computers hoping to strike digital gold.

Recent reports from many cybersecurity companies revealed that many entities (including torrent developers) have installed crypto-miners on users’ computers without telling them.

Taking into account this severe threat, you should really consider installing a crypto-jacking blocker on your computer.

For the time being, the offer is not as diverse as the one for, let’s say antivirus software, but we’re sure that many software developers will make building crypto-jacking blockers their priority in the future.

Without further ado, here are the best anti-cryptocurrency mining tools that you can install on your Windows 10 computer.

What are the best tools to block coin miners?

TotalAV – Blocks the sites that mine on your PC

TotalAV antivirus scan
Bitdefender protection windows screen

Most cryptojacking arrives through a web page running a mining script or a bundled download, and TotalAV covers both routes. WebShield blocks known malicious sites, including those hosting miners, and real-time protection stops miners bundled with software from installing.

Scheduled scans catch anything already running, the ad blocker in the higher plans cuts down the scripts that load in the first place, and one subscription covers Windows, Mac, Android and iOS.

  • WebShield blocks malicious and mining sites
  • Real-time protection against bundled miners and malware
  • Scheduled scans to catch anything already running
  • Ad blocker in the higher plans
  • Windows, Mac, Android and iOS
TotalAV

TotalAV

This well-known effective antivirus will keep you safe from crypto miners.
Check Price Visit Website

Bitdefender Total Security

Consider this market-leading antivirus to get unbreakable privacy against crypto mining threats.
Check price Visit website

Malwarebytes Premium – Trusted online attack shield

antivirus tools for Amazon Fire device

Malwarebytes Premium is a powerful anti-malware software that keeps your computer safe no matter how vicious the threats.

This security solution also blocks CoinHive, one of the most infamous cryptocurrency miners, alongside other miners.

Here is how Malwarebytes motivates their decision to introduce an anti-crypto miner module:

The reason we block CoinHive is because there are site owners who do not ask for their users’ permission to start running CPU-gorging applications on their systems. […] However, for those that do not know about this kind of technology, its purpose, or what it could do to their system, we are not comfortable allowing greedy website owners to abuse these users and so, we block it.

Of course, you can always change your mind and allow the crypto miner to run on your computer by adding it to the exceptions list.

Let’s take a look at some more of its core features:

Malwarebytes Premium

Keep your device protected from harmful ransomware and spyware attacks. Get the best deal now!
Check price Visit website

Avira Free Security – Efficient crypto defense

When it comes to free antiviruses, most of the choices on the market run pop-up ads for ad revenue. Avira Free Security, however, is completely free and doesn’t run any type of ads.

In addition, it comes with an in-built fast VPN and other privacy-related tools, as well as a PC cleanup tool. The software is popular and has been used by millions of people worldwide.

Let’s have a look at Avira Free Security’s main features:

  • Anti-scam, spyware, ransomware, malware protection
  • Privacy protection
  • Free fast VPN
  • Cleanup and optimization tool

Because some platforms are difficult to access due to geolocalization concerns, a VPN can assist you in hiding your IP address.

When you are in a location where you are unable to access it due to geoblocks, a VPN can save the day and allow you to advance. Nonetheless, it is important to recognize that not all VPNs are totally compatible with bypassing restrictions, such as a bitcoin platform.

This is where Avira Free Security shines with sites like Binance and eToro.  If you want to go deeper and learn more on this topic this comprehensive guide will help you.

Avira Free Security

Avira Free Security is a completely free strong antivirus software used by millions of people.
Get it free Visit website

Avast Free Antivirus – Reliable online protection

Avast Free Antivirus offers a strong defense against online threats. Even if this is the free version of the software, it utilizes advanced AI and machine learning systems.

In other words, the software is more than capable of dealing with viruses that were never seen before. The advanced AI surpasses the standard industry antivirus by miles.

Avast Free Antivirus is capable of finding Trojan viruses easily, it also quarantines suspicious files and gives detailed reports of its scans.

Let’s take a look at some more of its core features:

  • Do not disturb mode
  • App behavior shield
  • Lightweight
  • Low energy consumption
  • Advanced scanner for malware, ransomware, etc

Avast Free Antivirus

One of the best anti-malware tools in the world, now completely free!
Free download Visit website

MinerBlock – Greatest crypto security extension

minerblock block cryptominers

MinerBlock is another anti-cryptocurrency mining extension that you can use to protect your computer’s resources.

This tool can block all web-based cryptocurrency miners irrespective of their source.

The extension uses two approaches to kill crypto-miners:

  • It blocks requests/scripts loaded from a blacklist
  • It detects potential mining behavior inside loaded scripts and kills it immediately.

In this manner, the extension can block inline scripts as well as miners running through proxies.

⇒ Get MinerBlock

CryptoPrevent – Complete virus defense

cryptoprevent anti cryptominer

CryptoPrevent is a small tool that you can use alongside your main antivirus or anti-malware solution.

Since crypto-miners are a relatively new thing, these two traditional security solutions don’t usually focus on identifying and blocking them.

In other words, CryptoPrevent fills this security gap proving users with protection against new and emerging malware threats.

CryptoPrevent does not slow down your system’s performance and it doesn’t affect computer speed in any way.

⇒ Get CryptoPrevent

How do you know if your PC is being used for mining?

To know for sure if somebody else uses your PC to mine cryptocurrencies is when you’re having slower performance, CPU overheating, or laggy task execution.

At the same time, you should look for excessive power consumption and draining computer resources.

There you go, these are eight of the best crypto-jacking blockers that you can install on your Windows 10 device.

If you have other suggestions or recommendations, let us know in the comments section below.