Page 933 • Windows Report

TunnelBear not working, no Internet access [Fixed]

Posted on March 12, 2021September 23, 2025 by Milan Stanojevic

Most IT administrators spend a fair amount of time performing troubleshooting on VPNs before successfully deploying a new one.

However, troubleshooting a VPN is similar to troubleshooting problems with your WAN connectivity, owing to its complex nature as data travels via multiple links before reaching its destination.

Something can go wrong at each link in the VPN connection, so knowing the problems and having troubleshooting procedures will help you debug the VPN connection.

Below are the troubleshooting scenarios plus their solutions, to help you when TunnelBear is connected but not working.

FIX: TunnelBear connected but not working

1. Unsuccessful deployment of TunnelBear VPN

At the very minimum, a VPN implementation comprises a RAS PPTP server and a client both of which are connected to the internet, and a PPTP connection in between server and client. If your ISP service or internet connection is available, you can connect to your server or LAN from wherever you want in the world.

The problem is that most VPNs aren’t that simple. More often than not, the VPN’s server is on a routed LAN segment, usually behind a firewall, and the client connection also uses the ISP network which has its own routers and firewalls.

The solution to this is to start with an NT server that has minimal number of installed services, and then limit the protocols to just two – TCP/IP and PPTP. You can also save time by updating your server with service packs before trying to troubleshoot the client connections. NT 4.0 Service Packs 5 (SP5) and SP6a will correct most PPTP connection problems including those related to fragmented packets, dropped and refused connections.

Tip: Keep the server configuration as simple and straightforward as you can for purposes of troubleshooting.

2. TunnelBear VPN connected but client cannot log on

You may also encounter a problem when TunnelBear is connected but the client cannot log on.

There are three possible causes for this:

Configuring domain and server accounts

This happens if your RAS server is configured as a domain controller or standalone system. If configured as a domain controller, ensure the user’s domain account has dial-in permission. If not a domain controller, RAS server authenticates the client’s credentials by default against the local SAM.

The standalone server can be authenticated either with a local account on the RAS server, or with an edit to the registry that forces it to authenticate credentials against the domain SAM. In both cases, you have to have dial-in permission for the account you supply.

If TunnelBear gives you so many headaches while using it, we strongly recommend you changing it. Our advice is to go for a highly reliable VPN tool such as the one recommended below.

This US-based company, owned by Kape Technologies, offers OpenVPN protocol support as well as PPTP/L2TP/SOCKS5 for improving compatibility with various networks and devices.

Having many more servers than TunnelBear, this VPN ensures that you will almost always have where to connect to and still get good Internet speeds.

Our top reasons to go with this solution are:

Latest and greatest protocols and technologies used
10 simultaneous devices can be connected with one subscription
VPN Kill-switch provided with the PIA client
Use their own private DNS servers
No-logs policy

Private Internet Access

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Configuring computer accounts

If your computer is an NT server, it must have an account in the domain. If it is a new system, however, create the new account in Server Manager before testing the connection. If you already have an account but it has been disconnected, the password may not be synchronized with the server, because for every account, a hidden password is generated which the PDC resets automatically.

Therefore, if you’ve been offline for a while, the password may differ from the one on the PDC, but you can delete your account and re-add it to fix this problem.

Negotiating client authentication

A RAS server can use 3 authentication protocols to authenticate PPTP users: Password Authentication or PAP protocol, Challenge Handshake Authentication or CHAP, and Microsoft CHAP (MSCHAP). The authentication protocols that your computer and server negotiate for logon depend on the encryption settings selected when you configure the server’s incoming VPN ports, and the client PPTP connection network settings.

The options available on the server and client include allowing any authentication, requiring encrypted authentication, or requiring Microsoft encrypted authentication. For the latter, clients that don’t support MSCHAP V2 cannot log on successfully.

What you need to do is enable logon auditing in User Manager and try the connection again. This gives you a picture of what is hindering TunnelBear from working when you check the records in the NT Event Viewer’s Security log, like if the username is invalid, or password expired, or an invalid account and whether VPN ports are available.

3. Connected but cannot browse using LAN

If you’re using TunnelBear VPN and you managed to log on but cannot browse using LAN, first ensure you set the workgroup to target the NT domain name on all Win9x clients. It’s recommended that you understand how the four TCP/IP settings affect your network connection.

When you have users working from home with high connection speeds, browsing via LAN is a great option for remote users. Here’s how to troubleshoot browsing issues:

Check browsing

If you’re browsing and get error 53 from your system “the network path was not found” it means the client cannot resolve NetBIOS names. Ensure the WINS server has been assigned, either statically in PPT connection’s Network Settings, or dynamically using ipconfig for all clients or Winipcfg for Win9x clients. If you don’t have a WINS server address, enter it manually, then reconnect the VPN and try to browse again.

Set up the default gateway

Check the default gateway setting for the PPTP connection, and if it still points to your ISP, it means every client request to browse the LAN goes direct to your ISP rather than to TunnelBear VPN connection. Thus, the ISP may block ports required for NetBIOS name broadcasts.

Routers and firewalls can also prevent the transmission of NetBIOS names unless you enable unicast traffic on UDP ports 137 and 138, and TCP port 139. NetBIOS names are proprietary to Microsoft so some ISPs may not let such data flow through their infrastructure. Also check if your antivirus is blocking internet access.

You can manually delete the route and add a static route to the VPN server’s virtual interface – the address assigned to the VPN interface (it is also the first available DHCP address in your RAS server configuration).

Enable NetBEUI

You can install NetBEUI on the RAS server and remote clients to resolve browsing issues. This can be done for incoming connections on the server’s VPN ports, and select Net BEUI in the PPTP connection on the client. This connects the client to the server with NetBEUI over TCP/IP. This is the easiest way to get a fully browsable LAN.

If you still cannot browse, try connecting to a network share manually, or review TunnelBear VPN server configuration as many server problems affect browsing, however, the list of potential issues is too long to cover in this article.

4. Connected but cannot browse the internet

This problem happens in two scenarios: first, the VPN server may not let remote client’s access the internet when TunnelBear is connected, in which case, if you close the TunnelBear VPN connection, the client can browse because the default gateway reverts to the gateway specified by the ISP.

The second scenarios is that Windows may overwrite the ISP gateway with the VPN server-defined gateway when the client connects, so there’s no path to the internet. For this, you can manually add a static route to the ISP’s default gateway to resolve it, by trying the VPN’s gateway first, then the ISP gateway.

5. Connected but doesn’t appear in the Network Neighborhood

If you get this problem even with a fully functional TunnelBear VPN connection, configure your PPTP connection with TCP/IP only and connect, then authenticate to the VPN server. When the client expands Network Neighborhood, it shows itself and other clients in the list, but the remote system never appears in the Network Neighborhood on LAN. If you want remote clients to appear on the LAN browse list, install NetBEUI on the RAS server and RAS clients.

Share with us your experience with TunnelBear VPN connection, and if these solutions helped, by leaving a comment in the section below.

5 Best RGB Motherboards For Your PC To Buy

Posted on March 12, 2021October 4, 2023 by Milan Stanojevic

Picking a new motherboard isn’t easy, but if you’re looking for something flashy, in this guide we’ll help you choose the best RGB motherboard for your needs.

Not only do you need to check the quality of the products, but you also need to find the ones that fit your specific color theme. If you’re a gamer, perhaps check our best gaming motherboards list for more information.

This article will focus on RGB motherboards, both ATX and Micro ATX, so without further ado, let’s get started.

What are the best RGB motherboards for your PC?

Asus ROG Strix B450-F

AMD AM4 Socket suited for pairing with 3rd,2nd, and 1st Gen AMD Ryzen CPUs
Aura Sync RGB synchronizes LED lighting with the majority of PC compatible gear
Equipped with debug panel LEDs
8-channel HD audio with the ROG exclusive SupremeFX S1220A
5-Way Optimization with Auto-Tuning and Fan Xpert 4

No built-in Wi-Fi

Check price

The Asus ROG Strix B450-F is a B450 motherboard that is compatible with AMD Ryzen CPUs. It is budget-oriented but it is classed as a mid-range card which is also overclockable, so the value-for-price is amazing.

The board supports both Crossfire and SLI multi-GPU configurations, and it is also equipped with a 6+2 phase VRM.

Its case and the heat sinks are fully black, with customizable RGB lights. The board is an ATX motherboard which means it will fit in a bigger case such as a Middle Tower or a Full Tower.

GIGABYTE Z390 AORUS Elite

Supports 9th and 8th Generation Intel Core Processors
Dual Channel Non-ECC Unbuffered DDR4
Intel Gigabit LAN with cFosSpeed
RGB FUSION support
Two M.2 slots

No Bluetooth of Wi-Fi

Check price

The Gigabyte Z390 AORUS Elite is the best and most multi functional motherboard you can get as an Intel CPU user. It has every feature you can wish for, including the signature AORUS design with RGB lighting in multiple places on the board and RGB headers.

The board has really good VRM cooling with a 12+1 Phases Digital VRM Solution with DrMOS. The board has 4 DIMM slots as well as two M.2 slots.

This is an ATX motherboard, it supports SLI and Crossfire, and fits best in a Middle or a Full Tower.

ASUS TUF Gaming X570-Plus

AMD AM4 socket compatible with 2nd and 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen CPUs
Active PCH heatsink, VRM, and M.2 heatsink
Exclusive Realtek L8200A Gigabit Ethernet
ASUS Aura Sync RGB lights compatible with other PC components
4 DDR4 RAM sockets

No SLI or Crossfire support

Check price

The ASUS TUF Gaming X570-Plus is the best choice if you’re an AMD CPU user. The ASUS TUF is a game-centric product lineup with military-grade components. In addition, the board has an all-black design with subtle RGB lights.

This motherboard comes with WiFi and Bluetooth 5, as well as VRM heatsinks for overclocking. It is an ATX motherboard so you need to have at least a Middle Tower or a Full Tower for it to fit.

ASUS Prime Z390-A Motherboard

Compatible with the 9th and 8th generation Intel Core processors
4 Dual-channel DDR4 RAM slots
FanXpert 4 with AIO Pump Header
5X Protection III Hardware-level safeguards
Aura Sync RGB lights that are compatible with most PC accessories

No integrated WiFi or Bluetooth

Check price

Another great choice for the Intel CPU users is the ASUS Prime Z390-A Motherboard. The board is more suited for white-themed PC cases and it has plenty of RGB lights.

Additionally, the motherboard has heatsinks for all the important parts to ensure no overheating while allowing for overclocking.

It also supports two-way SLI and three-way Crossfire. Lastly, the board is an ATX, which means it fits best in Middle Towers and Full Towers.

ASUS TUF Gaming B550M-PLUS

AMD AM4 Socket and PCIe 4.0 compatible with the Zen 3 Ryzen 5000 and 3rd Gen Ryzen CPUs
8+2 DrMOS VRM with high-quality alloy chokes
Fan Xpert 4 and the UEFI Q-Fan Control utility
Industry-leading gaming audio & AI noise-canceling mic technology
Aura Sync RGB lights compatible with most PC parts

No SLI or Crossfire support

Check price

Our last product is the ASUS TUF Gaming B550M-PLUS, a board compatible with AMD CPUs. It is a Micro-ATX which means it can fit virtually in any PC case. The motherboard and its heatsinks are black and it has subtle RGB.

The Thermal pad and M.2 heatsink allow the board to be overclocked without a problem. Lastly, it has all the ports you need and a cool custom IO shield.

There are plenty of choices in this RGB motherboard list for different CPU users, different prices, and different PC case sizes. We hope we provided all the information and that you managed to find best RGB motherboard for your needs.

Feel free to share any stories and information regarding RGB motherboards in the comment section below.

How to use the new Facebook app on Windows 10

Posted on March 12, 2021February 21, 2025 by Claudiu Andone

The Facebook app returned in the Microsoft Store after a year after it was removed by its owner last year.

The new app is still in its Beta testing version and it’s now in a form of a PWA (Progressive Web App) and it looks totally different, but it’s still nothing stunning about it.

And that’s because it looks almost like you would open Facebook in a regular web browser.

How can I use the new Facebook app in Windows 10?

The new PWA requires you to have the latest version of Microsoft Edge installed on your PC.

The reason behind that is that according to Aggiornamenti Lumia, the PWA uses the Microsoft Edge Chromium installation of the Facebook website.

In the same way, if you go to the Facebook website by using the latest Microsoft Edge version and try to install it as an app, you will be redirected to open the Facebook app.

What are the requirements and how to install the new Facebook app?

So, in order to use the new Facebook (Beta) app, you need to have the Windows 10 version 19003 or later installed on your PC and the latest version of Edge.

To make sure you have the latest Windows updates head over to Update & Security from Settings and hit the Check for updates button.

To update Edge, you just need to click the three horizontal dots from the top right corner, select the Help and feedback option and click on About Microsoft Edge. The latest update will download and install automatically.

Now, all you need to do is to look for Facebook in the Microsoft Store, or hit this direct link from the store.

Once again, the Facebook app doesn’t offer any added features over it’s browser iteration but it can be more convenient and faster to use as a Windows 10 app that from a tab in a browser.

What do you think about the new app? Will you install it on your Windows 10 PC? Let us know about all that in the comments section below.

FIX: Sync does not support your web browser

Posted on March 12, 2021September 17, 2025 by Teodor Nechita

The sync browser option is a great feature that allows for a quick update between your browser and Google account.

From the settings, you can manage which data you want to sync, you can review the data and you can also manage the overall stored web and app activity.

Unfortunately, when trying to use the sync option, some users are getting the following error message:

Sync does not support your web browser. For your security, please use a current version of Chrome or Firefox.

There are s a few simple steps that you can take that will help solve this issue and we will explore them, in detail, in this article.

How can I fix the Sync does not support your web browser error?

1. Use a specialized browser

OperaOne is one of the world’s most popular and used browsers and it definitely comes with fantastic features that recommend it.

This is an error-free browser and the sync with your Google account happens within seconds and is extremely simple to manage.

Moreover, the browser has smart tab management features, a built-in ad blocker, VPN and even AI.

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2. Update your browser

Chrome

Open your Google Chrome browser.
Click on the settings button in the upper-right corner of the screen.
From the drop-down menu select the Help option.
Now select About Google Chrome option.
Google Chrome will automatically check for updates and install them.

Firefox

Open your Mozilla Firefox browser.
Click the Open menu button in the upper-right corner of your screen.
Next, click on the Help option at the bottom.
Select About Firefox.
Mozilla Firefox will now search for updates and install the available ones.

Edge

Open Microsoft Edge browser.
Click the Settings and more icon in the upper-right corner of the browser window.
From the drop-down menu that appears, go to Help and feedback.
Next, select About Microsoft Edge from the side menu.
If there are any available updates, install them and restart the browser.

3. Check the security options

Open another browser than the one you are currently using and see if you are getting the same error.

If not, then return to your initial browser go to the settings and search for the security option.

You need to make sure that there are no plug-ins, add-ons, that might be blocking the Sync links.

4. Ensure the Sync option is on

On your computer, open your browser.
At the top right, click on Profile
Sign in to your Google Account.
Next, click Turn on sync and select the Turn on option.

Sync does not support your web browser is an error message that can appear due to various reasons.

Fixing this problem is easy, by following the steps indicated in this article.

We would love to know which solution worked best for you, so don’t hesitate to let us know in the comments section below.

Full Fix: PureVPN not Working [Connection Errors & More]

Posted on March 12, 2021September 23, 2025 by Milan Stanojevic

PureVPN is one of the best VPNs you can get for your device. And, although it’s not exactly free, you can get a PureVPN free trial.

Some Windows 10 users have raised concerns as to what to do when PureVPN doesn’t work on the operating system.

This article looks at the possible reasons why PureVPN Windows 10 is not working, and the corresponding solutions to fix the problem.

Why is my PureVPN not working?

Firstly, you have multiple causes that generate working issues with this VPN client and it involves separate resolutions.

It’s possible that your VPN is not properly configured so the protocols are set incorrectly. Plus, you should double-check your VPN credentials to see if they are correct.

According to other users, there are various issues regarding PureVPN functionality and these are like this:

PureVPN invalid credentials or account disabled
PureVPN an error occurred in connection
PureVPN unable to connect to remote server
PureVPN unable to fetch your details – PureVPN api_login_18
PureVPN error code 4001, 5012, 1
PureVPN error 5040, 5059, 5006
PureVPN not working on Android, Firestick, Windows 10
PureVPN not connecting after update
Connected to PureVPN but cannot browse the internet

Quick Tip:

As an alternative, this suggested VPN doesn’t have any issues connecting to their servers like PureVPN.

ExpressVPN has a long history of offering quality services such as unlimited bandwidth, VPN speed test, or streaming optimized servers in 94 different countries. Plus, you have private DNS security for each server.

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How to fix PureVPN Windows 10 not working?

Here are some possible reasons why PureVPN is not working on Windows 10:

PureVPN connection issues

1. Reinstall OpenVPN protocol

If you recently upgraded to Windows 10, you may encounter some minor connectivity issues with PureVPN.

If you installed PureVPN’s client, uninstall it, then restart your computer, and download and install PureVPN again.

Check your connectivity by trying to browse or download from the internet while connected, and while not connected to PureVPN.

NOTE: After reinstalling PureVPN, if you get the message to install OpenVPN, right-click on the PureVPN icon from the system tray and select reinstall OpenVPN.

If you still get issues, do the following:

Click Start and select Run
Type cmd.exe and press enter
Enter netsh winsock reset on the black screen
Restart your PC

If that doesn’t work, run these commands in the same way as above:

ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
netsh winsock reset catalog
netsh int ip reset reset.log hit

2. Check all connection causes

Here’s what to do when you’re unable to connect PureVPN in Windows 10:

Check that your user credentials are correct i.e. username and password
Switch between different VPN protocols i.e. PPTP/ L2TP/ SSTP / IKEV2 / OpenVPN TCP & UDP
Switch between different servers and/or locations.
Security software and third-party apps can block the PPTP and L2TP protocols especially when your security is set at a level higher than normal. Disable these apps and try again. If it resolves your issue, allow PPTP, L2TP, and IPSec through your software security and then enable the firewall(s).
In case you are connected to a WiFi router, check for PPTP, L2TP, and IPSec pass-through options under the router firewall/security tab and enable them. If you don’t have PPTP, L2TP, and IPSec pass-through options, disable the Router firewall and try again. If it resolves the connection issue, then allow PPTP, L2TP, and IPSec through your router firewall and then enable the firewall.

3. Change the DNS address/ proxy settings

Here’s how to resolve this issue:

Change your DNS – you can change your network adapter DNS to the following:

Google DNS: 8.8.8.8 / 8.8.4.4
Open DNS: 208.67.222.222 / 208.67.220.220

You can also change browser proxy settings based on your browser. If you’re using Internet Explorer, do the following:

From the Tools or gear menu
Select Internet options.
In the Connections tab, click LAN settings.
Uncheck all of the displayed options except Automatically detect settings.
Click OK
Close your browser and open it again.

If PureVPN is not able to connect to remote server, the steps above should do the trick.

4. Change your network configuration

PureVPN may not work in Windows 10 because the operating system isn’t able to apply the network configuration of a previous Windows version to the current version 10.

Some users also reported that they had issues with the search bar, cryptic error messages, or Cortana not working. You can opt for a clean install, or do a reset of Windows.

PureVPN error codes

5. Error 809 – Windows

This error is usually displayed as “The network connection between your computer and the VPN server could not be established.” By default, Windows does not support IPSec NAT-T security associations to servers located behind a NAT device.

Because of the manner in which NAT devices translate network traffic, you may experience unexpected results when you put a server behind the NAT device and use IPSec NAT-T environment.

Here’s how to fix this:

Right-click Start and select Run
Type regedit
Locate the entry: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetServicesPolicyAgent
Right-click and click New
Click to create a new DWORD (32-bit) value.
Add “AssumeUDPEncapsulationContextOnSendRule” and save.
Modify the new entry and change Value Data from “0” to “2”.
Restart your computer and test the connection

Note: If you still cannot connect, try it with OpenVPN TCP / UDP protocols.

6. Telnet Error

Telnet errors are caused during logon to the Telnet server. Here’s how to fix it:

Click Start
Go to Control Panel
Click Programs
Select Programs and Features
Click Turn Windows features on or off
In the Windows Features dialog box, check the Telnet Client check box
Restart Windows & connect VPN

7. Error 720 – Windows

This is usually caused by corrupted WAN mini ports. If you get this while using PureVPN in Windows 10, switch between different servers. If this doesn’t help, do the following:

Create a restore point by typing system restore on the search bar
Exit PureVPN
Right-click Start and select Device Manager
Open Network adapters
Uninstall All WAN Miniport, VPN Client Adapter
Click Scan of Hardware changes. It will populate with new WAN Miniport adapters
Open the application as Run As Administrator

You should be able to connect with RAS protocols (PPTP/L2TP/SSTP/IKEV2) now. If not, reset the TCP/IP Protocol by doing the following:

Go to the search bar and type CMD
Right-click on Command Prompt and select Run as administrator
Type netsh int ip reset resetlog.txt
Restart your computer and connect PureVPN again.

If problem persists, reset the network:

Click Start and select control panel
Click Programs and go to add/remove programs and then to Windows components and uncheck networking
Reboot your computer.
Repeat the same as above this time check networking
Go to Run and type cmd, press enter.
Type netsh int ip reset reset.log and press enter
Type ipconfig /flushdns and press enter

8. Error 691

Make sure the correct username and password are entered. Please check your email for the correct VPN credentials
While typing credentials, ensure that the ‘Caps Lock’ button is turned off, type Username and Password manually, do not copy/paste
Make sure your PureVPN account is not expired

9. Unable To Start OpenVPN Services

Right-click on the PureVPN icon and select Run as Administrator to launch PureVPN Client
Right-click on the PureVPN icon from System Tray and select Re-install OpenVPN.
Once installation completes then re-launch application as Administrator and connect VPN.

10. Error 647

Your PureVPN account can be disabled because of excessive sessions, and payment verification due to incomplete or mismatched information.

Or, more than five devices are connected simultaneously. If this happens, check your inbox for instructions from PureVPN when your account is disabled, or contact their tech support for real-time assistance.

The Windows 10 VPN error 812 reads as: “812: The connection was prevented because of a policy configured on your RAS/VPN server. Specifically, the authentication method used by the server to verify your username and password may not match the authentication method configured in your connection profile. Please contact the Administrator of the RAS server and notify them of this error.”

It comes when the authentication protocol is set via the Network Policy and Access Services (NPS).

To resolve this, you could either switch between different protocols (PPTP/L2TP/SSTP and OpenVPN TCP/UDP) or switch between different servers.

11. Dot Ras Error

Click Start and click File Explorer
Right-click This PC and select Manage
Double-click Services and Applications
Double-click Services
Right-click Telephony, and select Properties
Under the General tab, click Manual next to Startup type
Again on General tab, click Start under Service status, and then click OK
Repeat steps 3 – 5 for the Remote Access Connection Manager service and for the Remote Access Auto Connection Manager service

Warning: These VPN extensions for Chrome leak your DNS

Posted on March 12, 2021September 7, 2025 by Madalina Dinita

Recent reports confirmed that many VPN tools actually leak your IP address to third-party entities. We recently came across a new security report that suggests things are even worse when it comes to Chrome VPN extensions.

As a matter of fact, a whopping 70% of all the tested extensions leak your DNS.

Security researcher John Mason and ethical hacker File Descriptor tested 15 VPN services and found out that 10 of them actually leak your DNS through their browser extensions.

A VPN that doesn’t leak your IP or DNS

Since you can’t rely on extensions too much, you will either have to remove them or go for a full-fledged VPN service. Whichever you may choose, the VPN recommended below is a go-to solution.

This tool is owned by Kape Technologies, and it is backed up by 35,906 servers in 77 different countries, allowing unparalleled access to all geo-restricted content.

The VPN is extremely easy to use, to the point where it can be considered easier to manage than an actual browser extension.

Your connection will remain secure thanks to the encryption, and you won’t have to worry about common VPN-related issues, such as latency or limited bandwidth.

Private Internet Access

A reliable VPN service that is easier to use than a browser extension that offers full security features. Now at a discount price for a limited time only!

Check priceVisit website

As John Mason explains, Chrome uses DNS Prefetching to reduce website loading latency by predicting what websites you’re going to visit.

Chrome provides users with two modes to set up proxy connections after installing a VPN extension: fixed_servers and pac_script.

The majority of VPN extensions use the PAC-script mode. However, this mode allows dynamic HTTPS/SOCKS proxy server host changes. Up to a certain point, this is a good thing as it optimizes the VPN connection depending on what websites users choose to visit.

So, if you use your extension to play games, the script will select a proxy server that’s optimized for playing games.

However, this behavior leaves users vulnerable to DNS leaking. The certain webpage might force visitors to leak DNS requests.

In other words, when you type a website address in the address bar, the suggested URL is actually DNS prefetched. This means that ISPs can then collect this information about the websites that you often visit even if you use a VPN extension.

The list of VPN extensions affected by DNS leaks includes: Hola VPN, TunnelBear, Betternet, Ivacy VPN, DotVPN and more.

Private Internet Access is on the list of VPNs that are not leaking your DNS.

You can mitigate this DNS leak problem by disabling the predictive service from Chrome‘s Settings.

disable predictive service google chrome

DNS leaks may severely affect your online privacy and security. To keep your DNS protected, you can also use DNS Server 1.1.1.1 on your PC, or use a DNS protection tool such as DNS Lock.

Solarwinds not receiving syslog [Troubleshooting Guide]

Posted on March 12, 2021October 4, 2023 by Vladimir Popescu

Solarwinds is a tool that offers network management solutions for gathering and managing logs in order to keep the system up and running.

As with any other tools, Solarwinds is not without its share of errors, and users are complaining that the tool is not receiving syslog data.

Thankfully there are other syslog specialized software you could use, that have been tested and are working perfectly.

We will explore in this article a few solutions for helping you fix this issue, so make sure to keep on reading.

How can I fix Solarwinds not receiving syslog?

1. Use a specialized software

Using a specialized software that comes with advanced syslog management capabilities and is error free, is recommended.

PRTG Network Monitor is also a great tool for helping you to monitor the availability of the hardware, check the bandwidth and many more.

The tool is reliable, efficient and you can even set customized alerts for reporting syslog incidents.

PRTG Network Monitor

Stay on top of everything that happens in your network with the help of the best syslog monitor tool out there.

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2. Ensure the syslog service is running

Open Start and search for SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor.
Go to Advanced Features and select Shutdown NetPerfMon tool.
This will ensure that the Syslog service is running.

3. Check with the vendor

It can happen that the devices are not configured for sending syslog messages on UDP port 514.

In order to see if that’s the case and what would be the next course of action, we would recommend that you contact the vendor.

In doing that you will receive support with configuring the devices to send syslog messages.

4. Check the filter/alert

Open SolarWinds and go to the View tab.
Click on Filter alert/ rules and open each of them.
Edit all alerts and check the actions listed under the Alert Actions tab.

SolarWinds not receiving syslog can be troublesome and stop you from receiving important data.

Solving this error is simple with following the exact steps indicated in this article.

We would love to hear which solution worked best for you in the comments section below.

How to add fonts to GIMP [Download & Install]

Posted on March 12, 2021October 4, 2023 by Milan Stanojevic

GIMP is a free image editor, and it’s an open-source alternative to Photoshop. The software has similar features as other photo editors, and you can easily edit images or add text with it.

Speaking of text, GIMP can work with all sorts of fonts, and you can even add third-party fonts to it. This is pretty easy to do, and in this article, we’ll show you how to add fonts to GIMP.

How can I add fonts to GIMP?

1. Add fonts by using GIMP

Visit any website that hosts fonts.
Locate the font that you want to download and click the Download button.
Choose the option to save the font and select the download location.
Locate the font that you downloaded and open its archive.
Locate the font file and extract it to the desired location. You can do that simply by dragging and dropping it.
Extract the font to a directory on your PC – we extracted the font to D:\WindowsReport (memorize the path you choose because you’ll need it for future steps).
Go to the GIMP’s installation directory, by default it should be:C:\Program Files\GIMP 2\etc\fonts
Locate fonts.conf file and double-click it.
Open the file with Notepad.
Locate the following line : 
It can be found under the entry: <dir>WINDOWSFONTDIR</dir>
Add the path:dir>D:\WindowsReport</dir
Keep in mind that you need to use the file path that you used in Step 6.
Save changes. If you’re unable to overwrite the file, like we were, check our note at the end of this section.
Open GIMP.
Try adding text to your images and you’ll notice that the downloaded font is now available.

Note: If you’re unable to overwrite the fonts.conf file, you’ll need to modify your permissions. When we tried to save our changes, the file wasn’t overwritten, instead, we were asked to save our changes as a new file.

This isn’t what we want, since the original file will remain unchanged, and our new fonts won’t be added. To fix that, we need to change a few permissions.

Locate fonts.conf in the following path: C:\Program Files\GIMP 2\etc\fonts
Right-click the fonts.conf file and choose Properties from the menu.
Go to the Security tab and click the Edit button.
Select Users from the list and check Full control in the Allow You can do the same for the Administrators group. Save changes.
Now try to edit and save the fonts.conf file as we described above.

This method might be a bit complicated, but it’s useful if you want the new font that you downloaded to be available just in GIMP and not system-wide.

And if you just want to add new fonts, you just need to extract them to the same directory that you used and they’ll be automatically added to GIMP.

2. Add fonts globally

Download the desired font.
Locate its archive and open it.
Locate the font file, and double-click it to open it.
You should now see a preview of the font.
Click the Install button.
Start GIMP and the font should be available to use.

Instead of installing the font, you can also move it to the Fonts directory inside your Windows folder, and it will be installed automatically.

Although this method is a lot simpler, it will install fonts globally and in GIMP, so you’ll be able to use them in any application on your PC.

Conclusion

Adding fonts to GIMP is simple, and there are two ways to do that. While the second method of installing fonts globally is a lot faster and simpler, it might not be what some users need.

If you want to install dozens of fonts just in GIMP, then you’ll have to extract them to a specific folder and modify the fonts.conf file accordingly.

If you’re working with different fonts constantly, and you need to organize them better, you might want to consider using font management software in the future.

How to use GIMP 2.10 like a pro? [Tips and Tricks]

Posted on March 12, 2021November 7, 2024 by Milan Stanojevic

GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is a computer application that enables you to edit images in a variety of ways.

The features included in this amazing free software enable you to let your creative part come out to play. The efficiency of the tools found in this software will surely get you started on your creative journey.

This software is built like a hybrid between the important features of Photoshop, and the ease of use of Microsoft Paint.

To learn how to use GIMP 2.10, you may want to read through the tutorials from their website.

The wide range of reading materials enables you to learn every step about how to use the software easily and efficiently.

Reaching the end of your learning process will ensure that you have all the tools required in order to create amazing artworks.

If you don’t own this software yet, you can simply download GIMP, while also reading about the features and capabilities that are included in this amazingly versatile app.

How can I use GIMP 2.10 more effectively?

1. Straighten the horizon

Select the Measure Tool in the Toolbox on the left.
Click on the horizon of the image and drag the selection box to choose an area.
Go to the Tool Options.
Change Clipping to Crop to result.
Hit Straighten.
Navigate to Image > Crop to Content.

Note: At step 5, if you aren’t satisfied with the result, you can click on the Undo button to crop it again.

2. Cropping images in GIMP 2.10

Click on the Crop tool.
You can also hit the SHIFT + C combination to select the crop tool.
Click and drag the cursor to select the area of the image that you want to crop.

Note: To maintain the aspect ratio of the photo, hold SHIFT while cropping the image in step 2.

3. Modify photo colors

Click on Colors.
Choose Hue-Saturation.
Use the slider in Saturation to adjust to boost the image colors.

For more modification, you can tweak the yellow, blue, cyan, red, gree, and magenta area of the photo. If GIMP leaves pronounced edges around the modified colors.

4. Adjust the white balance of your photo

Adjust the white balance automatically

Click on Colors.
Select Autos.
Click on White Balance.

Adjust the white balance manually

Select Colors.
Click on Levels.
Click on the eyedropper icon at the bottom of the new window.
Set a gray point of the photo.

The gray point is an area of the image with natural colors. The rest of the colors will be based on the gray area.

5. Reassign shortcuts in GIMP 2.10

Click on the Edit menu button.
Go to Keyboard Shortcuts.
Remap the shortcut keys in the Configure Keyboard Shortcuts dialog window.

Changing the keyboard shortcuts is smart if you’re already accustomed to those of a different photo editor; Photoshop, for example.

6. Remove the background of an image

Carve out the object in the foreground with the Fuzzy Select tool (optional).
Outline the foreground image using the Free Select tool.
Go to Edit and select Cut. Or use the CTRL + C shortcut.
Click on the Edit menu.
Go to Paste As and choose New Layer.
On the Layers palette.
Before the layer is created, right-click on the layer.
Select To New Layer from the context menu.

To smoothen the edges of the new layer that you are pasting to, you can go to Select > Border. From the Border Selection By field. Here, select 2 px.

We also have a guide on how to blur background in GIMP, so don’t miss it for more tips!

7. Resize images with no quality loss

Click on Image.
Select Image size.
Unmark the checkbox beside Resample Image.
Go back to Image.
Select Scale Image.
Change the measurement unit from pixels to inches.
From the Interpolation field, select NoHalo.
Hit Save.

Note: LoHalo and NoHalo are originated from the Sinc option in earlier editions of GIMP.

You can download GIMP and also read our thorough review of the capabilities of this software, how you can use it, and how to make the most of it.

If you master the usage of GIMP 2.10, you will be able to create amazing art, create vision boards, and edit your vacation photographs with just a few clicks of the mouse.

If there’s a really useful tip that is missing from this how to use GIMP 2.10 guide, kindly let us know about it in the comments below.

More Bluetooth Options Missing: How to Get Them Back

Posted on March 12, 2021October 4, 2023 by Milan Stanojevic

Bluetooth is used on all types of devices, however, many reported that more Bluetooth options are missing on their PC.

This isn’t the only Bluetooth issue, and many reported that Bluetooth is grayed out. If you face this situation, you can find a few ways to fix it in the tutorial below.

Why are my Bluetooth options missing?

Issues with Bluetooth software can sometimes cause this issue to occur.
The necessary Bluetooth services aren’t running on your PC.
Using outdated drivers can cause this issue on your PC.
Conflicts with other third-party applications.

What can I do if more Bluetooth options are missing?

1. Re-enable the Bluetooth driver software

Press the Windows key + X, and select Device Manager.
In the Bluetooth section, right-click on the Bluetooth Driver Software.
Choose Disable device and click YES to confirm.
After it has finished, right-click on the driver again and choose Enable device.

First off, you’re going to disable your Bluetooth driver using the Device Manager feature, and then you’ll enable it back on. Also, if you can’t add Bluetooth device to Windows 10, we have a special guide that can help with that.

2. Check whether the Bluetooth Support service is on

Press the Windows key + R to open Run.
Type services.msc and press OK.
Navigate to Bluetooth support service and double-click on it.
Start the service by clicking the start button.
Set the Start up type as Automatic.

If Bluetooth support is disabled, this may explain why more Bluetooth options are missing on your computer.

So, make sure that Bluetooth support is active. If this is not the case, follow the instructions listed above to enable it manually.

3. Install the default drivers

Press the Windows key + R.
Type devmgmt.msc and press Enter.
Expand the Bluetooth category.
Right-click on the Bluetooth hardware and select Uninstall.
Right-click on the empty space and select Scan for hardware changes.
Your PC will automatically install the default drivers.
Restart the PC.
Open the Bluetooth category again, and check if the driver has been successfully installed.

4. Check whether the drivers are up to date

Launch Device Manager again, and go to Bluetooth.
Right-click on the device, and select Update driver.
Opt for Automatic (Search automatically for updated driver software).

Once you update the drivers, check if more Bluetooth options are still missing. As an alternative to the standard solution presented above, you can as well use dedicated support for installing and updating any Windows drivers.

5. Download the Bluetooth drivers from the manufacturer’s site

Download the driver from the manufacturer’s site for Windows 10.
Right-click on the driver setup file and click on Properties.
Click on the Compatibility tab, and check the Run this program in compatibility mode for box.
Select Windows 10 from the drop-down menu, and proceed with the installation.
Restart your PC.

6. Alternate Boot into safe and normal mode

Press Windows key + R to open Run.
Type msconfig and click OK.
Go to the Boot tab and put a check on Safe Boot.
Reboot the PC – once in Safe mode, the drivers should install automatically.
Press Windows key + R.
Type msconfig and click OK.
Go to the Boot tab and uncheck Safe boot.
Boot back into normal mode.

Some users said that alternating between Safe Boot and Normal Mode fixed the problem.

7. Enable Bluetooth on Taskbar

Press Windows key + S.
Type Bluetooth in the dialogue box.
Select Bluetooth and other device settings.
Choose More Bluetooth options.
Check the box Show the Bluetooth icon in the notification area.
Press Apply to save changes.

Also, if Bluetooth is not detecting or recognizing devices in Windows 10, you may want to take a closer look at our Bluetooth not finding devices guide and fix it with ease.

8. Use the Bluetooth troubleshooter

Press the Windows key in order to open the Start menu.
Type troubleshooting in the search box.
Click on the Troubleshooting tab.
Select the option Hardware and Device.
Click Next to run the Hardware and device troubleshooter.

Windows 10 features a series of built-in troubleshooting tools that can help you fix general technical issues in just a couple of minutes.

So, if your Bluetooth Settings are still unavailable, try running the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter.

If you’re having issues connecting devices, we have a great guide on what to do if the Bluetooth speaker isn’t showing up on Windows 10.

We hope that one of the solutions described above helped you solve your problem. For more suggestions, please access the comments section below.

5 Best WiFi Adapters For Streaming & Gaming

Posted on March 12, 2021October 4, 2023 by Loredana Harsana

The most important aspect in streaming and gaming activities is having a high-quality WiFi adapter, and today we’re going to show you the best WiFi adapter for streaming.

A good WiFi adapter should provide good security for your network, compatibility with various operating systems and an excellent antenna.

What is the best setup for WiFi adapter?

The optimal setup for WiFi adapter is a environment that doesn’t have too much wireless interference. Also, keep a close eye on signal strength.

What is the best WiFi adapter for game streaming?

The best adapter for streaming is usually the one with the fastest speed and low latency.

Picking the best adapter isn’t as easy as you think, but in this article we tried to find the models that offer the best performance, and help you find the best adapter according to your needs.

What is the best WiFi adapter for streaming?

TRENDnet AC1900

Windows Compatibility - Supports Windows 10, 8.1, 8 and 7
5 GHz band with speed up to 867 Mbps for a memorable gaming experience
2.4 GHz band reaching up to 300 Mbps speed for fast internet browsing

Compatible with PC only

Check price

This device comes with a Bluetooth 4.2 that can achieve excellent speed of up to 2.5 times faster than its predecessor the Bluetooth 4.0.

You’ll surely benefit from the broad wireless range that allows you to connect from a large distance, thanks to the two external high-gain antennas.

Another great characteristic of this device is that it can be easily installed, all you need to do is plug the adapter into an available PCI-E slot for a desktop upgrade.

TP-Link AV600

Wi-Fi Clone and WPS buttons for coppying the router’s SSID and Password
Compatible with all power line adapters
Power saving quality for reducing consumption with up to 85%

Devices won't automatically switch to the nearest AP

Check price

With 600Mbps Ethernet power and up 300Mbps WiFi, this adapter is perfect for online entertaining like streaming your favorite movies or gaming.

The AV600 Home Plug connections give you the possibility to increase the signal in areas located far away from the device or separated by thick walls.

Thanks to the QoS protocols you can increase you network efficiency because this feature helps routing the most important traffic first.

Netgear Nighthawk

Explicit Beamforming for extra speed, range and reliability
Flexible placement with magnetic cradle
Compatible with Microsoft Windows 7, 8, 10 (32/64 bit); Mac OS X 10.8.3

Issues with downloading software updates

Check price

From Netgear comes probably the best WiFi adapter for streaming with AC1900 WiFi speed of up to 600Mbps on 2.4GHz, and 1300Mbps on 5GHz. This dual band WiFi gives you the possibility to connect to multiple networks and and it can reach extreme speed with AC1900 router.

With four internal antennas for enhanced performance and the 3×4 MIMO design that improves bandwidth capacity you get optimum functionality from this device.

TP-Link AC1900

Fast speed connection for 4K HD video streaming
Improved stability thanks to the Heat Sink feature
Beamforming for increased real-time performance

No Linux support

Check price

TP-Link introduces a power adapter that allows speeds dual band speeds of 1300/600Mbps and transfer rates that are 3 times faster than wireless N connections.

One important perk is that the WiFi coverage is enhanced by the power radio with detachable antennas. It also incorporates the Heat Sink feature that provides better stability and helps dissipate the heat generated by the adapter.

Fast speed connection for 4K HD video streaming
Improved stability thanks to the Heat Sink feature
Beamforming for increased real-time performance

No Linux support

ASUS PCE-AC88

Up to 60% faster Wifi on desktop
Flexible antenna placement for a better signal
Excellent stability thanks to the customized heatsink

Problems with the PCIe card

Check price

Asus introduced a W-iFi power adapter with dual-band 4×4 AC3100 Wi-Fi that reaches 2100Mbps (5GHz band) and 1000Mbps 2. 4GHz band, a device that is ideal for smooth streaming and gaming,

Maximize coverage is facilitated by an external magnetic 4-antenna base. The speeds and bandwidth is enhanced by the quoted network. PCE-AC88 has a major influence on the quality of the WiFi reception and makes 4×4 router function at maximum capacity.

An excellent WiFi adapter can make the difference between a pleasant night of streaming a movie with your friends and hours of annoying interruptions caused by a a lagging internet connection.

That why is important to choose a great device designed for this type of interactive purposes and we hope that we helped you find the best WiFi adapter for streaming.

We’d like to hear about your opinions so share your experience in the comment section below.

Google invokes ‘Scroogled’ as it lambasts Microsoft in ongoing journalism debate

Posted on March 12, 2021 by Kareem Anderson

In an effort to defend its position amid growing financial concerns from international and domestic journalism compensation, Google penned a blog post attacking Microsoft.

Google’s SVP of Global Affairs, Kent Walker recently published a piece titled “Our ongoing commitment to supporting journalism” where he takes time to reinforce Google’s commitment to supporting journalism amid an ongoing conversation about compensation and publishing. Walker points out that Google is one of the world’s leading financial supporters of journalism and their recent $1 billion commitment over the next three years to license news content for its Google News Showcase platform.

“We welcome the discussion of ways to create a better economic future for quality journalism, especially as the news media business model has been facing increased challenges for many years. But proposals that would disrupt access to the open web (such as requiring payment for just showing links to websites) would hurt consumers, small businesses, and publishers. That’s why we’ve engaged constructively with publishers around the world on better solutions and will continue to do so.”

However, the post takes a sudden and sharp turn into attacking Microsoft for “naked corporate opportunism,” “attempts at distractions,” and “willing to break the way the open web works,” among other claims. What started out as a defense presumably aimed to shift public opinion to its side regarding its ongoing negotiations with Australia over licensing journalism from local platforms, quickly turned to a roasting of Microsoft’s recent involvement in SolarWinds, and the new Exchange Server hacks. Walker spent 337 of his 531-word post invoking old sentiments of “Microsoft’s longtime practices” which included a reference to the company’s seven-year-old Scroogled marketing campaign.

“This latest attack marks a return to Microsoft’s longtime practices. And it’s no coincidence that Microsoft’s newfound interest in attacking us comes on the heels of the SolarWinds attack and at a moment when they’ve allowed tens of thousands of their customers — including government agencies in the U.S., NATO allies, banks, nonprofits, telecommunications providers, public utilities, police, fire and rescue units, hospitals and, presumably, news organizations — to be actively hacked via major Microsoft vulnerabilities. Microsoft was warned about the vulnerabilities in their system, knew they were being exploited, and are now doing damage control while their customers scramble to pick up the pieces from what has been dubbed the Great Email Robbery. So maybe it’s not surprising to see them dusting off the old diversionary Scroogled playbook.”

Ironically, after venturing heavily into all of the things Walker perceives as issues Microsoft should address before attempting to lobby against Google’s journalism licensing negotiations, he sums up his post with, “Microsoft’s attempts at distraction aside, we’ll continue to collaborate with news organizations and policymakers around the world to enable a strong future for journalism.” While it is true that Microsoft is currently at the center of an international hacking exploit that’s affected millions, Walker also omits Google’s own efforts to use this opportunity to leverage its own political lobbying to issue questions to congress when investigating its competitor’s involvement. Eventually, Walker gets back on track when discussing Microsoft’s switch to AI bots over actual journalism as a way to undercut the company’s current lobbying against Google’s position.

Sandwiching the Microsoft attack fest post, Walker returns to the origin of his post by ending with, “We look forward to continuing to engage with regulators and news publishers to ensure a thriving and healthy publishing industry,” which feels like another detour from the Exchange Server, Scroogled, SolardWinds journey he went on.

In the end, it’s nice to know that, unlike Facebook, Google is willing to negotiate with local journalists on an amicable solution going forward and has already committed financially to ensuring progress on the matter; however, I’m not sure the anti-Microsoft diatribe moves the needle of public opinion in their favor when their opponent is fair compensation for journalist and not the Scroogled boogeyman of years past.

Your Browser is Not Supported for Security Reasons [Full Fix]

Posted on March 12, 2021October 7, 2025 by Tashreef Shareef

When accessing a banking or trading platform, you may encounter your browser is not supported for security reasons error.

Websites that deal with sensitive information such as eCommerce, banking, and trading sites insist on using an up-to-date modern browser to make your experience as secure as possible.

Apart from outdated and out-of-support browsers, this error can also occur due to third-party extension incompatibility, malware, adware infection, and corrupted browser data.

In this article, we have listed a few troubleshooting steps to help you resolve Your browser is not supported for security reasons error.

What to do if your browser is not supported for security reasons?

1. Switch to a modern browser

If your current browser does not meet the security and data protection standards of the website you are trying to access, an error will be shown asking the user to upgrade to a newer browser.

Newer browsers tend to support more robust encryption technology and privacy features.

Opera One browser, with its latest release, offers tons of improvement and is among the best browsers concerning user privacy without compromising on the traditional browser features.

It comes with a built-in ad blocker to help you load webpages faster by blocking unnecessary banner and pop-up video ads. It also features a free VPN to bypass region restrictions without depending on a third-party VPN client.

Opera One also provides tons of handy productivity features. Plus, it comes with built-in AI and modular AI-ready design for integration of current and future AI.

It is overall an excellent choice when it comes to performance, feature set, and security.

Opera One

Ensure full security online that also has built-in features to protect your privacy with this great browser option.

Free Visit Website

2. Disable compatibility view in Internet Explorer

Launch Internet Explorer browser if you are using a Windows computer.
Click the Gear icon on the top-right corner of the screen.
Choose the Compatibility View Settings option.
In the new window, locate the site that is showing you the error.
If found, select the website name, click the Remove button.
Make sure to uncheck Display all websites in the Compatibility View box is unchecked.
Click OK to save the changes and exit the settings window.
Relaunch the browser and check if the error your browser is not supported for security reasons is resolved.

Although rare, the Compatibility View option in Internet Explorer, when enabled, can cause issues. If the problem persists, proceed with the next set of steps.

3. Troubleshoot extension conflict

Edge

Click on Menu and select Extensions.
In the Extensions window, locate the newly installed extensions and disable them one by one.

Chrome

Launch the browser and click the Menu icon in the top right corner.
Go to More Tools and then choose Extension.
On Microsoft Edge,

Firefox

Open Firefox and click the Menu icon from the top right corner.
Choose Add-ons from the context menu.
In the Add-ons window, toggle the switch to disable all the add-ons one by one.

Once all the add-ons are disabled, relaunch your browser. Try accessing the website with your browser is not supported for security reasons error and check if the error is resolved.

If the error is resolved, you may have a third-party extension creating conflict with the website.

To find the conflicting add-on, enable all the add-ons one by one until you find the problematic tool and remove it from your browser.

4. Perform a full security scan

Hackers can infect a computer with numerous means, including through shareware and freeware. Your browser may prevent you from accessing and sending any sensitive information if it detects any suspicious activity.

Performing a complete system scan with your antivirus can help you detect and remove adware from your system.

We strongly recommend you pick a well-rounded antivirus software with high detection rates.

Security utilities are essential for a seamless web experience, thus getting one that gets constant updates and is capable of protecting your system on multiple fronts is crucial.

5. Reinstall your browser

Press the Windows key + I to open Settings.
Click the Apps option and wait for the installed apps list to load.
Search for your browser from the list of installed apps.
Select and click the Uninstall button. Confirm the action by clicking on Yes/Uninstall.
Once uninstalled, restart the computer.
After the restart, download and install the fresh copy of the browser from the official page.
Run the installer and check for any improvements.

Your browser is not supported for security reasons error usually occurs due to browser extension conflict or malware infection.

You can also try to use alternate browsers with better security and encryption support to resolve the error.

Browsers are prone to various issues, and we wrote about troubleshooting methods for resolving UC Browser error in one of our earlier guides, so don’t miss it.

This browser does not support inline PDFs [Fixed]

Posted on March 12, 2021September 24, 2025 by Tashreef Shareef

Most modern browsers come with built-in PDF support. However, some browsers may lack support for embedded PDF, aka inline PDFs. This can result in the browser does not support inline PDFs error.

The full error reads:

This browser does not support inline PDFs. Please download the PDF to view it.

As the error indicates, the user must download the PDF to view it as there is no option to view it on the fly. This error usually occurs on older browsers with no inline PDF support.

That said, the reasons can vary, and even newer browsers with inline PDF support can trigger this error. You can follow the steps in this article to resolve this browser does not support inline PDFs error.

How do I fix this browser does not support inline PDFs error?

1. Try an alternate browser with inline PDF support

As discussed earlier, if your browser does not have an inbuilt PDF reader available, the PDF will not be displayed. If you are still using older browsers like Internet Explorer that lack PDF support, it is time to try an alternate browser like Opera One browser.

Opera One, like most modern browsers, comes with a built-in PDF viewer. Users can opt to download or open the PDF files directly in the Opera One browser. The latest release now offers faster browsing, excellent privacy features, and customization.

Unlike the more traditional browser, Opera One offers a built-in ad blocker and cookie tracker blocker, free VPN, and built-in chat messaging apps shortcuts to help you browse safely.

Key features of Opera One:

Inline PDF viewer support
Built-in free VPN
Adblocker and tracker blocker support
Social media shortcuts
Native AI and modular AI-ready design

Opera One

Avoid encountering the inline PDF error in the long run by using this capable and fast browser.

Free Download Visit website

2. Enable PDF reader add-on in IE

Make sure you have the Adobe PDF reader installed. You can download it from the Adobe page.
Make sure to uncheck the options to install third-party apps before downloading the installer.
Once installed, launch Internet Explorer.
Click the Gear icon (Settings).
Choose Manage Add-ons from the Settings menu.
In the new Window, open the Toolbars and Extensions tab.
Click the drop-down menu under Show and choose Add add-ons.
Locate the PDF Reader add-on and set it to Enabled.
Close the Add-ons window and try to open the PDF that was giving you the error.

Adobe PDF Viewer offers an add-on to enable inline PDF support for Internet Explorer. If your work requires Internet Explorer, try enabling the PDF viewer add-on to enable inline PDF support.

3. Troubleshoot extension compatibility

Google Chrome & Edge

Click the menu icon and go to Tools and choose Extensions.
For Edge, click the menu icon and choose Extensions from the context menu.
Locate any recently installed PDF viewer or security plugin and disable it.

Firefox

Click the menu icon and choose Add-ons. You can also press Ctrl + Shift + A to access the add-ons tab.
Scroll through the list and disable any security or PDF viewer add-on installed.

Once the add-ons are disabled, relaunch the browser and check if this browser does not support inline PDFs error is resolved. If the issue persists, reinstall the browser.

If the error occurs on browsers like Opera, Firefox, Edge, or Chrome, check if you have a third-party extension conflict. Third-party PDF viewer add-ons can create conflict with the built-in PDF reader.

4. Reinstall your browser

Press the Windows key + R to open Run.
Type control and click OK to open the Control Panel.
Go to Programs and then click on Programs and features.
Select your browser from the list of installed apps and click on Uninstall.
Click OK/Uninstall to confirm the action when prompted by UAC.
Once uninstalled, reboot the computer.
After the restart, reinstall the latest version of the browser and check for any improvements.

This browser does not support inline PDFs error usually occurs on browsers that does not have inline or embedded PDF support. The quickest solution is to use an alternate browser with built-in PDF support.

However, if you need to use the affected browser, follow the troubleshooting steps in the article above to resolve the issue.

Troubleshoot Zoom Meeting connection issues & error codes

Posted on March 12, 2021January 12, 2024 by Tashreef Shareef

Zoom is a popular video conferencing service that offers web, desktop, and mobile applications. Thousands of people rely on Zoom Meeting every day to attend meetings remotely. However, at times the users may experience Zoom Meeting connection issues when trying to access the service.

The Zoom Meeting connection issues are usually followed by an error code, which makes it easy to diagnose the issue. Some of the most common Zoom Meeting error codes are:

Zoom error code 5000/3/4
Zoom error code 10410/2/3/4/5/6
Zoom error code 104110/11/12/14/15/16/17/18

The Zoom meeting connection issues are usually attributed to network issues or security software blocking the connection.

In this article, we have listed a couple of fixes to help you troubleshoot Zoom Meeting connection issues and error codes.

How do I fix Zoom meeting connection issues and error codes?

1. Check your firewall and proxy

1.1 Disable Windows Defender Firewall

Click on Start and select Settings.
Go to Update & Security.
Select Windows Security.
Under Protection Areas, click on Firewall and network protection.
Click on your Active network.
Turn off Windows Defender Firewall by toggling the switch.
Click Yes when prompted by UAC.

1.2 Disable third-party firewall

Launch your third-party antivirus or firewall application.
Go to Firewall settings.
Turn off the firewall temporarily.

If disabling the firewall helps you resolve the Zoom meeting connection issue, contact a network administrator to check your firewall and proxy settings.

If you are the network administrator, try reconfiguring the network firewall with correct ports and destinations. You can learn more about configuring the network firewall for Zoom here.

Stuck with Zoom isn’t configured for this account error? Here’s how we fixed it!

2. Use an alternative service to Zoom

Zoom isn’t the only service of its kind, and while it is indeed very popular, there are plenty of alternatives on the market, some of which are arguably better.

3. Disable your antivirus software

Right-click on the antivirus icon in the taskbar.
If you are using Avast, go to Avast Shields Control.
Select Disable for 1 hour.
Steps to disable antivirus may vary depending on the software.

At times, the antivirus solution installed on your computer can block outgoing connections by a third-party app. To fix the issue, disable your antivirus temporarily, launch Zoom client, and check if the connection goes through.

If the issue is resolved with the antivirus disabled, try adding the Zoom client to the whitelist or trusted applications.

3.1 Add Zoom to trusted applications (Kaspersky)

Launch Kaspersky.
Open the Settings tab.
Go to Antivirus protection and select Web Anti-virus.
Under Security Level, click on Settings.
Click the Add button.
Enter Zoom.us and click OK.

Once done, enable your antivirus again and check if the Zoom meeting network connection failed issue is resolved.

4. Check your ISP for connection issues

If the issue persists, check with your Internet service provider for connection issues.
Also, check with your ISP if you can connect to the Zoom service.

You can fix the Zoom Meeting connection issues & error codes by following the steps in this article. Make sure you contact the network administrator if you need to make changes to the firewall or proxy settings.

Fix: World of Warcraft add-ons reset after update

Posted on March 12, 2021October 4, 2023 by Ivan Jenic

Over the course of 12 years, World of Warcraft has gathered a devoted community. Then that community constantly takes an active involvement in the game advancements.

It upgrades the game, and designs it to its own taste. Once you check out all those add-ons, your look at the game will change, and Vanilla will become just a distant newbie past.

With the Blizzards API update, some of the users had an enormous issue, that resets addon default settings.

If you’ve ever tweaked your addons, you know well how much time it can take.

But, don’t worry, you can retrieve all your settings in a few simple steps.

How can I retrieve my lost addon settings in WoW?

1. Copy original account content to a newly created one

Log off and close the game.
Enter the World of Warcraft installation folder.
Find and back up the WTF folder.
In the WTF folder, look for changes in your account name.
Copy content of account with known number into the newly created one.
Restart the game.

It looks like the original account folder changed from # <single digit at the end of your account name> to #0.

There is a simple workaround explained with these simple steps shown above.

2. Update your addons

After every World of Warcraft API change, addon developers update their packs, as well. So, be sure to have the latest updates for all your in-game addons.

On the other hand, you should get rid of outdated addons.

In addition, you can also rename all your SavedVariable*.lua.bak files to *.lua and see if that restores things. This might be a long shot, but it’s worth a try.

Of course, don’t forget to back up the WTF folder before trying to change files extensions.

Even though it is an awesome MMORPG, World of Warcraft will sometimes encounter disconnections and other types of issue. One category of such problems are the ones related to its add-ons.

These are probably the best solutions for your addon-related issues in World of Warcraft. We are aware of painful redos and how much time and energy the whole process can cost you.

Are you having some other possible solutions or ideas related to the subject? Please be free to share it with us in the comments section.

Why Slack and not Skype? Top reasons for your choice

Posted on March 12, 2021August 28, 2025 by Radu Tyrsina

Why choosing Slack and not Skype? There was a time when Skype used to be the most popular business collaboration software.

Small and growing businesses all over the world were enjoying it for instant team communication.

Those days are long gone. Slack stepped in as an ingenious business collaboration tool that works across a variety of platforms.

Slack offers great value even in its free version of the app and keeps on refining its product on a day-to-day basis to adapt to a constantly changing world.

That’s how it turned into everyone’s favorite work messaging tool in a relatively short amount of time. Are you still undecided? Following the crowd isn’t your style.

Your choice should come from a place of reason, not simply convenience.

Through this article, we aim to provide a clear picture of what to expect from these tools. Both Slack and Skype give you a solid messaging feature to start from, but Slack stands out thanks to a few other efficient features.

How is Slack different from Skype?

1. Fewer communication distractions in your team space

First, let’s talk about the very essence of these tools. Skype’s main function remains video calling. While video calls are still essential to most remote business meetings or quick roundups, they aren’t enough any longer.

Like Slack, Skype currently offers instant messaging and one-on-one or group audio and video calls. Slack holds through the winning card when it comes to one-on-one and group messaging via direct messages or multiple channels.

Moreover, if you can communicate with everyone on Skype, Slack limits the contacts list to those working in your company. This way, unproductive chit-chat is out of the picture for good.

2. Slack integrates with most apps and services

Microsoft Office integration is something Skype really excels at. This includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Outlook as well.

On the other hand, Slack has the capability to integrate with apps and services that your team most likely uses daily.

There’s no need to interrupt the workflow and switch between apps. Imagine users getting all their notifications within the Slack platform directly.

Integration includes BlueJeans, Google Hangouts, Dropbox, Github, Twitter, Trello, Zoom, or Google Drive. That’s how you can share and view Google Docs, Sheet, or Slide files during your most important calls and within conversations.

3. Slack lets you access the right information

If you can only search for text on Skype and view the files folder, Slack takes accessing the right information at a new level.

Search functionality in Slack allows more than finding relevant messages, files, channels, or people. You can easily find what you need within the documents and get work done on time.

4. Configuring notifications is of great importance

Keeping yourself in the loop is the key to working faster and smarter, and hence it is an important feature to consider. Skype lets you control push notifications as per your preferences and its DND saves a great deal of annoyance.

Skype has a better record at notifications, but we think Slack matches up really well against it too. Slack does notify users of all messages that are directed to them.

Even so, features such as the badge appearing before an unread notification or changing the preference of notification appearance and sound are compensatory measures to keep in mind.

5. Slack provides excellent customer support

The coordinated and collaborative customer support in Slack could make a difference in your team’s efficiency in the long run.

The tool provides excellent online customer support on their website, not to mention that Slack’s Twitter page quickly responds to all questions you tweet at them.

If you want, you can also automatically post new support tickets directly in channels. Just remember to keep tabs on the status of tickets without leaving Slack. Meanwhile, Skype offers no support.

6. Can Slack talk to Skype?

Do you know how easy it is to access the familiar voice and video calling you’ve grown to use in the past few years with Skype, right from within Slack?

To integrate Skype and Slack, go to the Skype integration for Slack product page, and click the Add to Slack button.

Confirm the team that you want to integrate with and once the integration is complete, anyone on the Slack team can start a Skype call from a computer.

Typing /skype into the chat does the trick and a join link will appear when the call is set up.

This ends our attempt to help you search for the best team collaboration tool. Slack seems to transform your team from a basic communication tool to a central core of productivity.

Still deciding between Slack and Microsoft Teams? Read our in-depth Slack vs Teams comparison to see features, pricing, and use cases side by side.

You’ve got the key to working faster and smarter, so we are going to let you decide the best, considering all the features compared above.

Fix: User profile AD import job not running in SharePoint

Posted on March 12, 2021October 4, 2023 by Teodor Nechita

In an attempt to incorporate as many apps within the Microsoft Office Suite that are relevant to work environments, Microsoft decided to also incorporate SharePoint.

This versatile collaborative tool can be used as a document management and storage system, but the product is highly configurable and usage varies substantially among organizations.

However, software is software, and SharePoint has its own fair share of bugs and kinks. One good example is a bug users have been reporting where the Active Directory Import timer job does not run:

I created User Profile service application in SharePoint 2016 and created synchronization connection to import users from AD. Then started full synchronization but it is not importing any user from AD. “Profile Synchronization Status” is always in Idle mode.

Since SharePoint relies on organizational work, not being able to import new members can severely affect the program’s functionality.

That is why we’ve decided to put together this list so that you can be guided in a step-by-step manner to a viable solution.

How do I fix the SharePoint user profile import error?

All the servers in the farm that are running the User Profile Service are also not allowed to run timer jobs of the Service Job type.

In our case, importing a user profile is also a service job and it can only run on servers running the User Profile service. This means that there are no servers on the farm that are allowed to run the job.

Change your server’s properties

Press Start
Type in and launch PowerShell with administrative rights
Copy and paste these lines and run them :

$SIs = Get-SPServiceInstance | ?{$_.typename -match "profile service"}
$Farm = Get-SPFarm
$FarmTimers = $Farm.TimerService.Instances
$1onLine = $false
foreach ($SI in $SIs)
{If($SI.Status -eq "Online")
{$1onLine = $true
foreach ($FT in $FarmTimers)
{if($SI.Server.Address.ToString() -eq $FT.Server.Name.ToString())
{if($FT.AllowServiceJobs -eq $false)
{write-host -ForegroundColor Red "Service jobs are NOT enabled on UPS server" $FT.Server.Name.ToString()
write-host -ForegroundColor green "Enabling service jobs on server: " $FT.Server.Name.ToString()
$FT.AllowServiceJobs = $true
$FT.Update()
}
else{write-host -ForegroundColor green "Service jobs already enabled on server: " $FT.Server.Name.ToString()}
}
}
}
}
If($1onLine -eq $false ){write-host -ForegroundColor red "No instances of User Profile Service online in this farm!"}

The PowerShell command written above will l check to make sure there is at least one User Profile Service instance in the farm. Additionally, this sets the AllowServiceJobs property to true for the timer instance on those servers.

If modifying server properties seems too complicated, another solution would be starting the User Profile Service on a server where service jobs are allowed.

By following these steps, you should no longer have any issues with import jobs using SharePoint‘s Active Directory feature.

If you’re aware of other ways to solve this problem, don’t hesitate to share them with us in the comments section below.

Fix: Football Manager 2020 Not Launching

Posted on March 12, 2021October 4, 2023 by John Nedelcu

Football Manager 2020 launched back in November 2019 from developer Sports Interactive to a warm welcome, boasting a Metacritic score of 84 and Very Positive reviews on the Steam platform.

However, users are reporting that Football Manager is not launching on some machines.

Have you encountered issues with Football Manager 2020 not starting? The solutions outlined below will provide some workarounds and get you playing in no time.

What can I do if Football Manager is not launching?

1. Verify the integrity of the game files

Right-click on Football Manager 2020 in your Steam Library.
Click on Properties.
Navigate to the Local Files tab.
Click Verify integrity of game files.

If you’re running the game from Steam, one of the first things to do if Football Manager won’t start is to use Steam’s built-in file verification.

2. Launch Football Manager 2020 with administrative rights

Navigate to the installation folder of the game.
Right-click the fm.exe and select Properties.
Click on the Compatibility tab and tick the box next to Run this program as an administrator.
When Using Steam, right-click on the game in your Steam library and select Properties, go to Local Files and select Browse local files.

When Football Manager is not launching or crashing on start, a lack of administrative rights would be a potential reason.

Nothing happens when you click on Run as administrator? Don’t worry, we’ve got the right solution.

3. Update your graphics card driver

Update your nVidia driver by opening GeForce Experience .
Select Drivers and click on Check for Updates and follow the update wizard.
Update your AMD driver by downloading the Radeon Software Installer and Click on the recommended version, then hit Install.
Update your graphics card driver manually by following our in-depth guide.

All these manual updates are great, but the process is time-consuming and not everyone can do it without some skills.

However, you have a quicker and faster solution, to use dedicated, third-party software that repairs and updates all your drivers in one go automatically.

4. Update Windows 10 to the latest build

You should always make sure that your system is running the latest build of Windows 10 and that all security updates and patches are installed.

To help you manually update Windows 10, we’ve put together a short guide and a list of the latest updates.\

5. Add Football Manager to Firewall and Ransomware exceptions

Press the Windows key + I to start the Settings app.
Select Update & Security.
Select Windows security from the left pane and click on the Open Windows Security button.
Click on Firewall & network protection
Click on Allow an app through the firewall.
Click on the Change settings button.
Scroll through the list until you find Football Manager 2020 and tick the box to its left.

Depending on which antivirus solution you’re using, you will have the option to add certain applications to the exceptions list.

6. Whitelist the game under Ransomare protection

Start the Settings app as indicated in the previous step.
Select Update & Security.
Select Windows security from the left pane and click on the Open Windows Security button.
Click on Virus & threat protection.
Click on Manage Ransomware protection.
Click on Allow and app through controlled folder access, and select Add an allowed app.
Select the Browse all apps button and select Football Manager.

Are you having trouble opening the Settings app? Take a look at this article to solve the issue.

7. Disable software which is known to interfere with Football Manager

Developer Sports Interactive has advised that the following programs have impacted the performance of Football Manager to the degree that they might inhibit it from starting or cause crashes:

MSI Afterburner
Riva Statistics Tuner
EVGA Precision
Toshiba DisplayLink
openhardwaremonitor
xsplit
D3DGear

8. Clear crash dumps and preferences

8.1 Clear crash dumps

Create a new folder somewhere on your system.
Navigate to the following folder: C:\Users\[Your Windows Username]\Documents\Sports Interactive\Football Manager 2020
Cut everything (do not delete these files) contained in this folder and paste them into the new folder created in step 1.
Launch Football Manager 2020.
If it launches with no issues, you can close the game and move back all the files to their original location.

8.2 Clear Football Manager preferences

Navigate to the following folder: C:\Users\[Your Windows Username]\AppData\Local\Sports Interactive\Football Manager 2020
Select all the files in the Football Manager 2020 folder.
Delete the contents of the folder.

Crash dumps can be useful diagnostic tools for troubleshooting, but if Football Manager 2020 is crashing on launch or not responding you you can reset the game by clearing these files.

9. Unable to initialize Steam API error

football manager not launching admin rights

Some users have reported that Football Manager 2020 doesn’t open because of the dreaded Unable to initialize Steam API error. Generally, there are two causes for this error:

Your antivirus or Firewall is blocking Football Manager, in which case you will need to refer to the fix we provided above.
Your Windows account does not have administrative privileges.
- To check if your account has admin rights, go to Windows Settings, select Accounts, and click on Your info and you should see under your name the type of account you have.
- If you don’t see Administrator, log in to an admin account and try re-launching Football Manager.

9. Repair .NET Framework

Football Manager 2020 publisher, SEGA, has responded to some players who have contacted customer support regarding the game not launching.

They advised that a possible solution for Football Manager not starting is to use the .NET Framework Repair Tool.

Like its predecessor, Football Manager 2020 has a strong fan base, and plenty of gamers return to the series with each iteration of the franchise, and just like the previous games in the series, it has faced a few hurdles.

We understand how frustrating not being able to play your games can be.

Luckily, if you are one of the few experiencing issues with Football Manager not launching, this guide has helped you address the crashes and you can be on your way to creating the ultimate team.

10. Ensure you have the minimum system requirements

CPU: Intel Pentium 4 / Intel Core 2 / AMD Athlon 64 (2.2Ghz or more)
GPU: nVidia GeForce 9600M / Intel GMA X4500 / Radeon 3650 (256MB of VRAM)
Memory: At least 2GB of RAM
Storage: 7GB of free space

As you can see, Football Manager 2020 has modest system requirements, but if you are planning on playing on a laptop or a low-end PC, you should make sure that your system meets these specs.

We hope that you managed to fix the Football Manager not loading issues and you are again a happy gamer right now. For any other questions or suggestions, don’t hesitate to reach in the comments section below.

Stellaris and Cities: Skylines are free to play on Xbox One and Xbox Series X this weekend

Posted on March 11, 2021 by Radu Tyrsina

The Stellaris: Console Edition and Cities: Skylines video games are currently both completely free to play until the end of the weekend for all current or last-gen Xbox console owners with an active Xbox Live Gold subscription.

Any Xbox Live Gold member with a console in the Xbox One or Xbox Series X families can play both titles in full and unlock Xbox Achievements until end of Sunday at 11:59 PM PDT. As is usual with Free Play Weekend promotions, Stellaris and Cities: Skylines have both been discounted for those wanting to continue playing after the free play period is over.

Both versions of Stellaris: Console Edition currently have an impressive 65% discount while all versions of Cities: Skylines have been reduced by 75%.

Are you going to play either of these Xbox games this weekend? Let us know which ones in the comments below and then follow us on Twitter and Facebook for more Xbox gaming news.

Download
QR-Code

Stellaris: Console Edition

Developer:
Paradox Interactive

Price:
Free

Download
QR-Code

Cities: Skylines – Xbox One Edition

Developer:
Paradox Interactive

Price:
Free

5 best printers with USB port for home&office

Posted on March 11, 2021October 4, 2023 by Loredana Harsana

Printers vary widely based on whether they’re for home or business use, what do you intend to print with them, and color output. Speaking about the USB ports a printer might have, there are 2 kinds.

The port located mostly on the back of the printer is used to connect the device to your PC. The other USB port is usually in the front or near the printer panel and is used to print files from a USB device.

In this article, we will be looking at some of the best printers with both USB ports available on the market, in different price ranges.

What are the best printers with USB ports?

HP Color PRO M479fdw

4.3-inch color touchscreen with editable shortcuts
High volume printer, more than 4000 pages per month
2-sided printing by default

A little large and heavy for home use

Check price

The HP Color LaserJet Pro M479fdw is a midrange color laser all-in-one printer, the best option for small business or home use.

It has a great printing speed of up to 28 ppm (page per minute) color or black. Furthermore, the input paper tray holds put up to 300 sheets A4 paper size, but you can add an additional tray of 550 sheets.

Printers can be an open door for cyber attacks, but this model comes with an embedded suite of security features that will help you avoid any of them.

If you’re looking for a reliable and solid printer but easy to use, HP Color M479fdw is the best multifunctional printer you can buy.

HP Color M283fdw

Print speed of 22 ppm color and black
Wide range of paper support
Works with Alexa

Lacks near-field communication (NFC)

Check price

The HP Color M283fdw model is another great printer from HP, suitable for office or home use.

When it comes to the quality of prints and the speed, you will not be disappointed. As you would expect from a laser printer, text and other printed content are very crisp and high quality.

With the Hp Smart app installed on your phone, you will take advantage of remotely printing features. This allows you to manage the printer, see print jobs, receive notifications, and scan on the go.

HP Color M283fdw offers a great balance of functionality and quality for any household and small business.

Brother MFC-J995DW

Compact design
Reasonable printing costs
Print from and scan to the cloud

Loud and slow

Check price

The Brother MFC-J995DW is an excellent entry-level choice for a home or an office that has bulk printing needs.

It uses clean, familiar cartridges that hold more ink and work with an internal ink storage tank. The printer deliver up to 1-year of printing without the need to replace cartridges.

You can print to it from just about any device wirelessly and, for mobile, you don’t even need a network to do it, thanks to its NFC.

Brother MFC-J995DW is a feature-rich and intuitive machine, incredibly efficient, just perfect for any kind of use.

Epson WorkForce WF-7710

Auto-duplexing ADF and scanner
Decent photo quality
Large 4.3-inch touchscreen display

High running cost

Check price

The WorkForce WF-7710 model from Epson is one of the best all-in-one printer option available on the market. It is a wide-format printer, capable of borderless prints up to 13 by 19 inches.

It also scans, copies, and faxes up to the tabloid size of 11 by 17 inches. Those extra inches provide a substantially larger print area for your spreadsheets and promotional flyers.

It features just about every connectivity option available, including Ethernet 10/100bps, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, connecting to a single PC via USB, and near-field communication (NFC).

If you need to create wide and borderless images, then this printer is one of the best you can buy.

Canon MB2720

Low running cost
High speed of up to 24 black and white ipm and 15.5 color ipm
Compatibility with all popular OS

Does not support automatic two-sided scanning

Check price

The MB2720 Wireless All-In-One Printer belongs to the Canon MAXIFY family of five printers. Being and AIO printer, is suited for office use also.

It features a 500 sheet paper capacity with two trays of 250 sheets. Furthermore, it can handle 20,000 pages as a maximum duty cycle per month, which is great if you need to print many documents.

The printer works with multiple Wi-Fi-enabled devices like iOS and Android phones. It is also compatible with Canon Print application, Google Cloud Print, and AirPrint.

Canon MB2720 is an attractive printer because it offers a winning mix of modest price, multiple connectivity options, and good output quality.

Even if important steps for digitalization were made nowadays, we still need to have documents on paper. Because of this, printers remain a necessary device to have.

All of the above printers are new models and have many connectivity options, including USB. You can also scan or print to USB whenever you need.

Microsoft issues update on the shuttering of its Business and Education app stores

Posted on March 11, 2021 by Kareem Anderson

As Microsoft continues to evolve its app developer vision from Metro to UWP to PWA’s, so too goes its vision of distributions. Today, March 11, 2021, Microsoft notified customers that it will no longer have apps that will “be available for acquisition” through its Microsoft Store for Business and Education.

Today’s warning follows a year-long transition away from the specific Business and Education Store form of distribution for Windows enterprise and education app developers. Taking a 30,000-foot view of Microsoft’s conceptual app development vision, funneling business and education development through these two portals makes little sense now, especially in light of the infrequent attention developers are showing towards the Windows 10 platform. Couple the fact that commercial devs have been hesitant to rewrite apps for the UWP platform as well as adopting web and cloud-based options, it’s become apparent the need to end support for these terrestrial distribution channels.

Well the Microsoft Store for Business and Education are dead. If this doesn't show the death of UWP not sure what does. No way to purchase new apps for distribution in a month. @maryjofoley pic.twitter.com/ONoHHFSgML

— Hoyty (@hoyty) March 11, 2021

As of now, Microsoft is clarifying that users who have already downloaded their institution’s apps from their respective channels will still be able to receive updates for them for now. No new paid apps will be distributed through the stores after April 14, 2021, and after that date, users will need to have an existing Azure Active Directory account to navigate the stores.

ZDNet journalist Mary Jo Foley is also hearing from sources within Microsoft that as early as June 2020 the two stores were scheduled to be deprecated but understandably roadmaps have adjusted according to the world during the pandemic.

While Microsoft was mum on the shuttering of its commercial app stores during its recent virtual Ignite 2021 conference, BUILD is just around the corner and hopefully, Microsoft will have a clearer picture for its new vision of app development and distribution.

5 Best Monitors With Speakers And Webcam

Posted on March 11, 2021October 4, 2023 by Vladimir Popescu

Today more than ever we use a lot of tools like Skype, Google Meeting, and Discord for daily work or for games. All these applications require a webcam and speakers.

One of the best solutions available for you is to have a monitor with a built-in camera and speakers. In this way, you won’t have to look for other devices, that might need additional drivers.

In this article, we’ll help you choose the best deals on monitors with built-in speakers and webcam, whether you’re a gaming enthusiast or simply work from home.

What are the best monitors with speakers and webcam?

HP Elite

23.8 inches screen with FHD resolution
60-hertz refresh rate
Sleek, elegant design

The integrated webcam is not the best

Check price

The HP Elite display is one of the best monitors for your home office or gaming room. It is a great piece of device that comes with an incorporated microphone and camera.

This monitor is Skype for Business certified for optimal video and audio experiences with an HD webcam, expertly-tuned Audio by Bang & Olufsen, and microphone.

You will like this monitor not only for the beautiful design but also because of its adjustable tilt, and up to 150 mm height adjustment.

Dell P2418HZm

Adjustable stand pivots, tilt, and height
Versatile connectivity options, including VGA, DisplayPort, and HDMI
USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 ports

The camera does not fold when not in use, you have to switch off an above button

Check price

Dell is another well-known brand in computing and accessories. The model Dell P2418HZm is very affordable and is perfect for gaming or work station.

With the 2MP Full HD infrared sensor camera, you can engage in meetings and login to your device with the secure facial recognition feature with Windows Hello.

It is a 24 inches monitor with good image clarity and FHD resolution with 1920×1080 pixels. The slim borders let you enjoy a smooth, less obstructed view when working across multiple monitors.

HP HC270CR

Pivot Rotation
Anti-glare monitor
USB 3.0 hub

Built-in webcam only works with Windows PC, it is not supported for Mac or Chromebook

Check price

The HP Business Class HC270CR is another good monitor choice from HP, a little more expensive than the HP EliteDisplay model.

It is a 27 inches large monitor and has adjustable tilt and height. The resolution on this HP monitor is excellent, with 2560 x 1440 pixels. So, the display is crisp and sharp.

It includes many connectivity options for your laptop or desktop – like VGA, HDMI, and Display port. It also has an RFID reader, 720p webcam, and USB 3.0 hub.

ASUS VK278Q

Sharp and accurate display with bright colors
Affordable
2 milliseconds response time

No USB port

Check price

The Asus VK278Q model is a perfect addition to your home. Produced by Asus Company, which is known for its quality and performant products, it cannot disappoint you.

It has a 27 inches display, with 16.7 million colors and a 1920 x 1080 resolution, every detail is flawless. You’ll have a clear view, no matter where you’re sitting due to its viewing angle of 170 degrees.

This monitor features an integrated webcam of 2 MP, which is also rotable for improved flexibility. To ensure the best sound quality, there are two built-in speakers.

Philips Brilliance 329P9H

LowBlue Mode technology to reduce harmful shortwave blue light
IPS Technology
Built-in USB-C Docking Station

Highly expensive

Check price

If you don’t have a limited budget and want the best you can buy, Philips Brilliance is definitely an ideal monitor due to its design and awesome features.

It is a large monitor of no more than 32 inches, so you need to have some space on your desk for it. The resolution is outstanding, 4K UHD with 3840 x 2160 pixels.

It also comes with an amazing secure pop-up webcam. It pops up when you need it and securely folds back into the monitor when you are not using it. Better than having to puss a button.

The webcam is also equipped with advanced sensors for Windows Hello facial recognition. You can use this feature for Windows login instead of typing your password.

With more and more activities taking place in online environment, you need the proper device to make your communications easier. A monitor with webcam and speakers is a prefect and easy solution.

All of the above monitors are very performant and will help you stay connected with your friends, family or work.

Best 14 Inch Laptops For Every Budget

Posted on March 11, 2021October 4, 2023 by Teodor Nechita

Laptops have risen to popularity as soon as they appeared on the market, mainly for the fact that they are highly portable while allowing you to take advantage of a complex variety of technological benefits.

Coming in a multitude of sizes and incorporating features that respond to the latest tech advancements, laptops are on top of the users’ preferences.

In this article we’re going to take a look at the best laptops of the moment with a 14 inch display that suits every budget and need.

What is the best budget 14 inch laptop?

ASUS Laptop L406

Slick and light weight design 0.7 inches thin and 2.87 lbs
One year free Microsoft 365 personal subscription
High image quality through Intel UHD Graphics 600

Non-responsive pad

Check price

This device comes with an Intel Celeron N4000 processor and a resolution of 1366×768 pixels with a NanoEdge Bezel for optimal viewing comfort.

It offers a 64GB of flash memory storage and 4GB RAM which allows running multiple applications whether you’re handling your office work or streaming movies.

No matter where you feel inspired to perform your tasks, you can take your laptop along with you because you benefit from fast wireless connection through WiFi 5 (802.11ac).

Another aspect that makes this device highly portable is the battery that last up to 12 hours which is 3 times more than average lithium-ion batteries.

HP 14 14.0″ WLED-Backlit

SVA anti-glare micro-edge WLED-backlit for an excellent visual experience
Windows 10 Home in S Mode for out of the box use
Headphone and microphone combo

Can't install printer drivers in Windows S

Check price

With an AMD Athlon Silver 3050U processor and AMD Radeon Vega 3 Graphics, this laptop can be the device you can rely on in almost any context.

Multitasking will become a breeze improving your volume of work because this device incorporates 4GB DDR4-2400 SDRAM and 128GB Solid State Drive.

Some other fine perks that you’ll find useful are the two SuperSpeed USBs Type-A and the SuperSpeed USB Type-C, for connecting any type of gadget you feel like to your device.

Lenovo IdeaPad 3

Privacy with physical webcam shutter
Great bandwidth for using several applications at once
Easy connectivity through Bluetooth 4.1 and up to 2x2 Wi-Fi 5

No USB-C

Check price

With this device you get a slick design, impeccable audio clarity and a Full High Definition screen with narrow side bezels, making it one recommendation that you should definitely catch your eye.

The AMD Ryzen 5 3500U Mobile Processors and the Radeon Graphics make an ideal combo in providing you with an excellent experience regarding your every day work.

You can switch between fast or a powerful performance, as well as quiet battery saving mode, considering the tasks you’re performing.

Lenovo Flex 5 14″

Portable and lightweight 3.64 pounds and 0.82 inches thick
Long lasting battery of up to 10 hours
Lenovo Active Pen included

The 360 hinge can be fragile

Check price

This 2 in 1 laptop features a full high definition touchscreen tablet with 4-side narrow bezels, 16GB RAM and 256GB SSD of flash memory.

Thanks to the 360 hinge this device can be positioned in Tent or Stand mode for those moments when you want to relax by watching your favorite TV Show.

With the AMD Ryzen 5 4500U mobile processor and Radeon graphics, you get optimal performance for any type of activity, from office work, to gaming or downloading movies.

Acer Swift 5 Intel Evo

Antimicrobial technology solution
Amazing long lasting battery of up to up to 15 hours
Preinstalled Windows 10 fur immediate use

Loud fan noise

Check price

If high-performance is what you aim for, then look no further than this laptop that incorporates an Intel core i7-1165g7 processor and a FHD touchscreen with LED-backlit IPS and antimicrobial Corning Gorilla Glass. This device can absolutely satisfy even the most demanding users out there.

The 16 GB RAM along with the 1TB SSD and the Intel Iris Xe graphics ensure optimum functionality even when you’re running multiple complex tasks.

It also features the latest connectivity technology like dual-band Intel Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5.1 for an excellent internet experience.

We narrowed down the overwhelming variety of 14 inch laptops that are on the market to the ones that come with excellent features and are also accessible price wise.

So whether you’re going for a complex laptop or one that incorporates basic characteristics, we hope that our guide helped you in choosing the right device for your needs.

We want to hear your opinions and recommendations so please access our comment section bellow.

AOL Account Not Responding [Quick fix]

Posted on March 11, 2021September 3, 2025 by Vladimir Popescu

Like any person in the world, your AOL mail is an extension of your work. You need to send and receive emails every day, and it can be extra stressful when AOL is not responding to your actions.

In order to recover your webpage, there are steps that you can do without asking for professional help.

Note: It is always a good idea to ask for assistance from AOL customer service support. However, for an unresponsive webpage, there are simple troubleshooting steps that you can try easily. Fixing the problem on your own saves you time.

How can I recover unresponsive AOL webpages?

1. Clear caches and cookies from your browser

The best way to clear the cache and cookies from your operating system is to use specialized browser cleaner software.

A dedicated tool will scan your browser and create a report of all the unnecessary data you have stored. Upon your approval, it will permanently remove all of that, thus improving overall performance.

Moreover, these tools come with additional online security features as well as PC cleaning features that can find and remove useless files stored all over your system.

2. Restart your computer

Even though it might seem like an obvious solution, in the case of some users this method has proven useful.

Restarting your computer can solve issues about AOL webpage not responsive, and to do so, you can follow these steps:

Click on the Start button from your taskbar.
Hover your mouse over the Power button.
Choose Restart from the options presented.

3. Reset your Wi-Fi connection

An AOL webpage not loading could simply be a case of poor or no Wi-Fi connection.

Restarting your modem/router will reset the data packages that are sent through your router, thus allowing the connection to be refreshed.

It is recommended that you use the Reset button, but if you can’t find it, or you can’t access it, then you can also pull the power cable out of the router, wait for 15-30 seconds, and then plug it back in.

4. Check your browser

Often, the problem with the AOL webpage not loading is an outdated browser. Update your browser to resolve the issue.

The process of updating your browser will vary from one software to the other, the reason for which we are unable to describe the steps.

If you feel that this process is too cumbersome, or you just want to resolve this issue fast, we recommend that you change your browser to a more capable and less prone to errors option.

⇒ Get Opera

5. Turn off hardware acceleration

Hardware acceleration is quite helpful in boosting your computer performance.

But this function can sometimes result in “Page not responding” error. So turn off this option by going to the Advanced section under Settings.

6. Turn off Sandbox Mode in Chrome

Go to Properties.
Select the Shortcut tab.
At the Target section, add -no-sandbox at the end.
Click Apply first and then OK.

7. Temporarily disable your antivirus

This step must be a final resort since it is quite dangerous to leave your computer without an antivirus.

Once you have disabled your antivirus, check if your webpage issue is resolved. And then enable your antivirus back on.

If for any reason all the troubleshooting steps failed to work and still AOL is not responding, it is time to contact customer support.

This option must be the last choice, especially if you do not have a lot of time to spare. However, you should not ignore the problem.

You either fix it on your own or ask for help from people who know best. The bottom line is the unresponsive AOL webpage gets resolved.

How to Fix Rocket League Packet Loss [No Latency Variation]

Posted on March 11, 2021October 1, 2025 by Vlad Constantinescu

Rocket League is essentially football with cars. You’re on a field, you control a car, there’s a huge ball in the middle and two goals. You have to use your mad driving skills to push the ball into the opponent’s goal.

It might sound simple because it is. But the truth is that Rocket League can take months, or years to master. You can perform boosts, twists, turns, and even drive on the arena’s walls.

If you’re the lone-wolf type of player who enjoys playing solo, then this article won’t help you much.

However, if you’re a social gamer and like to share the joy of gaming with your peers, you might relate to the following sections.

Have you ever heard of rubberbanding? How about experiencing ball jitters?

Has it ever happened that you drive the ball all the way through your opponent’s goal, only for it to disappear and spawn itself in a whole different area of the arena?

If you answered yes to some or all of the questions above, you might be suffering from packet loss. Or high ping. Or both.

Why am I getting packet loss in Rocket League?

Packet loss can have a huge number of reasons. To put it shortly, even if you have poor Ethernet cables you can trigger packet loss. That’s how wide the range of culprits is.

Some of the most common issues include:

Rocket League: packet loss in every game
Constant packet loss in Rocket League
Rocket League packet loss on PS4, PS5, Xbox (Xbox One, Xbox series X)
Rubber banding Rocket League
Rocket League packet loss with good ping rates
Rocket League keeps disconnecting mid game

Packet loss can have a huge number of reasons. To put it shortly, even if you have poor Ethernet cables you can trigger packet loss. That’s how wide the range of culprits is.

We’ve explained everything you need to know about packet loss and how to fix it in a comprehensive guide.

Although most of the time packet loss seems to come and go by itself without any apparent reason or fix, sometimes you might be able to fix it.

Rocket League packet loss fix

1. Use a VPN

Get a good VPN for Rocket League. We recommend ExpressVPN.
Download the dedicated ExpressVPN app and install it on your device.
Log in with your credentials or activation code.
Connect to the server of your choice.
Check if the packet loss issue still persists.

Using a VPN might not always work, especially if the issue is on either end of the connection (i.e. you or the server you connect to).

However, if you suspect that your ISP is throttling your connection or just doesn’t do a great job with routing, a VPN such as this one can be of help.

To make sure, you can run a ping test on google.com and see if there’s any packet loss. If there’s no packet loss there, it means that there’s a problem with Psyonix’s servers. Thus, using a VPN won’t fix your problem.

ExpressVPN

Fix network irregularities and get unlimited bandwidth to get rid of packet loss in Rocket League!

Free trial Visit website

2. Troubleshoot your connection

In our packet loss guide, we’ve explained how to run some simple tests using Windows’ built-in tools. Depending on the tests’ results, the packet loss issue might be present in 4 different locations within your connection:

➡️ you (your PC, router)

➡️ your ISP

➡️ the network distributor

➡️ the server you want to connect to

According to the location you’ve managed to isolate, there are different courses of action. You can either:

➡️ try to solve it on your side by checking if your PC, router, and cables are alright

➡️ call your ISP if the issue seems to be on the hops that correspond to their network

➡️ contact Psyonix if the last hop is the one that triggers the packet loss

There are a bunch of things you can do to minimize the chance of packet loss occurring because of you.

Check for bad cables, make sure your router and PC are properly configured, always use wired instead of wireless if possible, and install up-to-date software.

Rocket League packet loss: test it quickly

Run a packet loss test as we’ve described in our guide.
Note the hop with the largest ping.
Troubleshoot the affected node as needed.

Unfortunately, there’s no guaranteed way to get rid of packet loss. Mostly because what causes it can range from a bad wire to an overloaded network.

Therefore, you might want to log off for a while and check again later if the problem’s still there. More often than not, packet loss disappears as swiftly as it appears and you won’t even notice it.

However, if you’re sure it has something to do with your ISP (and not with you, your hardware, or the Rocket League servers), you might consider using a VPN.

High ping can also lead to packet loss in Rocket League.If you experience high ping, and it’s never happened before, it’s probably a server-side issue.

In this case, you can use a VPN to improve your ping, especially if your ISP throttles your connection.

A VPN such as ExpressVPN can help you improve your gameplay by reducing ping and packet loss incidence greatly. However, remember that not even a VPN will fix all of your connection issues magically.

5 Best Firewall Routers For Medium Business

Posted on March 11, 2021October 4, 2023 by Milan Stanojevic

Malware and virus protection is a crucial component for any business network, that’s why firewalls are known to be an essential tool in handling various types of malicious software threats.

However, the best router combo for small or medium enterprises is a router with an incorporated firewall. This kind of device ensures that confidential data is secured against spam or unknown ISPs and is perfect for organizations with limited resources.

So, in this article, we’re going to analyze what are the best options for the best hardware firewall for medium business.

What is a business-grade router?

In short, a business-grade router is defined as a device with superior security, multi-user, and advanced network with web dashboards and business deployment.

Compared to consumer routers, small or medium businesses need higher Internet coverage, VPN or cloud support, and reliable maintenance.

What are the best firewall routers for medium businesses?

Sophos XG 106W

Highly efficient thanks to the Next-generation network protection
Security Heartbeat unique feature for synchronized security
Fast modular connectivity

Heavy

Check price

This is the best business router with firewall from Sophos due to optimal wireless connection, speed of up to 5GHz, a Firewall of 3500 Mbps, and a VPN with a capacity of 360 Mbps. No wonder this piece of equipment occupies the first spot on our list since it’s a device that is perfect even for a small home office.

One element that will surely add an important layer of security to your online work is the next-generation firewall that is designed to reach 480 Mbps.

No internet security is complete without a high-quality antivirus and this firewall router apparently doesn’t fall short and comes with an Av Proxy of 450 Mbps.

What definitely stands out about this device is a one-of-a-kind component, the Sophos Security Heartbeat, that can identify the source of infection and limit access to other network resources.

Cisco RV160W

4 Ethernet ports, 1 WAN port
SPI firewall, port forwarding/triggering, DoS protection
IPsec, PPT, and L2TP pass-through support
Support for guest networks
QoS support

Wi-Fi performance could be better

Check price

Cisco RV160W comes with 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports and a single Ethernet/SFP WAN port. Wi-Fi support is available, and there’s 2×2 802.11ac Wave 1 Wi-Fi available.

The router has a guest Wi-Fi feature, so you can separate your Wi-Fi network in your office and protect your devices from unauthorized access. The device has IPsec VPN support, allowing you to encrypt all your traffic for maximum protection.

Cisco RV160W also has a business-grade firewall, so you can rest assured that only authorized applications and users can communicate with your business network.

Synology RT2600ac

4x Gigabit LAN, 1 WAN port, Dual WAN support
4×4 MIMO Omni-directional antenna
Up to 800Mbps on 2.4GHz, up to 1.73Gbps on 5GHz
Firewall, intrusion protection, denial-of-service protection
Content filtering

Minor firmware issues

Check price

Another great firewall router for medium businesses is Synology RT2600ac. The device comes with 4x Gigabit LAN ports and a single WAN port. It’s worth mentioning that the device has dual WAN support.

The router has 4×4 MIMO Omni-directional high gain antennas, and it supports both 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks. Regarding the speed, it can achieve up to 800Mbps on 2.4GHz, and up to 1.73Gbps on 5GHz.

Synology RT2600ac also has a built-in firewall, and it can work as a VPN server and provide encryption for all devices connected to your network.

TP-Link Multi-WAN Router

Highly secure VPN
Speed testing
Powerful firewall with filtering
DoS defense
Omada SDN support

DHCP interface could be better

Check price

This is a great firewall router for medium business and it comes with five Gigabit ports in total. With this device, you can optimize bandwidth usage through one device using four available WAN ports.

Additional features include integrated Omada’s Software Defined Networking (SDN), cloud-based controller, and cloud access. As for security, there’s an advanced firewall available.

Also, there’s DoS protection, IP/MAC/URL filtering, speed tests, as well as a secure VPN that supports up to 20 LAN, 16 OpenVPN, 16 L2TP, and 16PPTP connections.

Cisco Meraki MX67

Intrusion prevention (Source Fire Snort based)
Network asset discovery and user identification
Real-time diagnostic and troubleshooting over the web

Advanced Security Licensed required

Check price

This firewall router comes with a wireless connection combined in a device that provides LAN port bandwidth of up to 1000 Mgps and supports the Cisco IOS operating system.

It allows content filtering, provides intrusion detection and prevention, and offers an Advanced Malware Protection feature.

With this device, you get a firewall throughput of 450 Mbps and a VPN performance of 200 Mbs.

One of the best characteristics is the auto VPN self-configuring site-to-site ability, an element that makes the router quite user-friendly.

What are the benefits of a business router?

The enterprise firewall router is a beneficial device because it offers complex and essential networking resources, connectivity, and security for multiple devices. Therefore, small to medium businesses can take full advantage of its features and use the same Internet connection.

Whether you have a home office or you own a space with a few employees, we gave you some of the best solutions out there regarding these devices.

Tell us more about your experience and maybe drop us some recommendations by accessing the comment section below.

VyprVPN vs NordVPN, ExpressVPN, PIA, PureVPN

Posted on March 11, 2021September 28, 2025 by Ivan Jenic

VyprVPN is a popular VPN provider used by many worldwide to enjoy security and access geo-restricted websites.

The VPN provider hosts its own servers and is known for its excellent services coupled with its friendly interface.

However, over the past 2 years, there have been several complaints of VyprVPN being blocked in several countries around the world.

China was able to block the VPN for a while last year which led to Users not being able to access contents.

There have also been complaints from the Middle East in accessing government censored services such as VoIP.

We are not explicitly discouraging you from using this service but it is recommended for you to look for alternative VPNs that provide more reliability and advanced encryption options.

If you are having problems with your VyprVPN, here below are some great alternative VPN services you should consider switching over to.

Which VPN is better? Comparison guide

Private Internet Access (recommended)

A powerful VPN such as Private Internet Access (PIA) may provide peace of mind, speed, and consistency to its users.

This Kape Technologies VPN solution has a strict zero-logs policy, which is great if you’re a private person. It will always encrypt your data, whether you’re at home or in public.

Once up and running, you also get a reliable unblocker of geo-locked streaming services including Netflix, Hulu, and HBO Go.

Besides enjoying enhanced security, keep in mind that you’ll get extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Opera too. They work as proxies that will hide your IP address with ease.

Take a closer look at some Private Internet Access key features:

Supports both AES 128-bit and AES 256-bit specifications
Useful PIA MACE ad-blocking feature
Consistently faster than similar VPNs
P2P torrent-friendly
Ten simultaneous connections
Option to use prepaid gift cards
30-day money-back guarantee

Private Internet Access

Private Internet Access is about to become your top VPN choice. Currently available at a major discount!

$2.69/mo. Buy it now

CyberGhost

Cyberghost gives full VPN features and excellent customer support. The provider has been in the business for a long time which is evident in their large customer base.

You get access to over 6400 servers in 89 countries, with this you have a wide range of options to pick from.

Their servers are known for their speed and performance which is important if you use it for gaming.

In addition, CyberGhost has all security features including, DNS leak protection and DDoS protection features. These features prevent accidental leaks of the IP address to your ISP.

The VPN is easy to use and automatically picks the fastest server nearest to your location.

CyberGhost comes at a discounted price at this moment and includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.

CyberGhost VPN

Looking for a viable alternative to VyprVPN? Check out CyberGhost VPN.

$2.75/mo. Buy it now

NordVPN

NordVPN is preferred by users that want extra security. Since they provide over 5400 servers across 59 countries, this enables you to choose any server for your activities.

Also, their security features include a kill switch option and DNS leak protection-which helps to keep your identity safe when browsing.

All servers are encrypted with 256-bit encryption which ensures your data connection is not open to hacks and government trackers.

This Tefincom & Co., S.A. VPN also has excellent customer support features with an easy to use interface which guides users on how to use the software efficiently.

NordVPN

Choose it over VyprVPN and you won’t be dissaponted! Get the best deal right away!

$3.71/mo. Buy it now

TunnelBear

Developed by McAfee, LLC, TunnelBear is a popular service provider that gives customers excellent performance and user interface.

TunnelBear has servers in 23 countries that give you numerous options to connect to geolocation blocked websites.

You also get unlimited bandwidth for the paid versions with fast server speeds, not to mention the security suites such as kill switch and DNS leak protection system.

TunnelBear

Get TunnelBear if you want a great alternative to VyprVPN.

$4.17/mo. Get it now

ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is one of the best all-round VPN services available with many excellent reviews from customer base around the world.

You get reliable and performance-based servers when you use their services. Also, this Express VPN International Ltd. service enables up to seven devices on a single connection.

The stealth mode enables you to access geo-blocked contents undetected. The security features hide your IP from your ISP and government trackers giving you secure browsing.

Since they own their servers, don’t think about reliability issues. They also offer excellent customer support to users and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

ExpressVPN

Need to replace VyprVPN with a better VPN solution? Check out ExpressVPN.

$8.32/mo. Buy it now

PureVPN

PureVPN is renowned for its emphasis on reliability and performance. The VPN provides a wide location of servers as you get access to over 2000 servers in 140 countries.

This means you can connect to any geo-blocked content all around the world. You also get to use five devices on a single subscription with the VPN compatible with multi-devices.

Moreover, their servers have impressive speeds and are encrypted with state of the art encryption protocols.

You also have your online activity safe as the VPN maintains a no log policy. You can access this VPN with a number of packages available.

PureVPN

In need of a VPN that can protect your privacy 24/7? Check out PureVPN.

$3.33/mo. Buy it now

Hotspot Shield

Hotspot Shield is a good VPN service that has been in existence for a long time. The VPN offers users about 3200 servers in 70+ countries.

Developed by AnchorFree, this VPN is known for its simplicity and good server speeds. In addition, DNS leak protection and kill switch options are available. This ensures your online activities are well secured.

Hotspot Shield offers both free and paid versions with the premium plan starting at $6,99 a month billed annually.

Hotspot Shield

Want to replace VyprVPN with a better service? Why not try Hotspot Shield for a change?

$2.99/mo. Buy it now

In conclusion, the VPNs we mentioned above can be used on your PC if VyprVPN is blocked or you simply want a more reliable choice.

We do appreciate it if you share your experience with us. Feel free to comment below.

FULL FIX: Avira Phantom VPN failed to connect to the service

Posted on March 11, 2021September 30, 2025 by Milan Stanojevic

Most of us know about Avira’s antivirus software, but did you know it also has a VPN service? It is called Avira Phantom VPN.

This VPN, like most other service providers in the same industry, offers web anonymity by changing your IP address, secure encryption to protect your private communications, unblocks geo-restricted content, is fast and runs silently in the background, plus has no logs and supports the IPv4 and v6 protocols.

You can also connect to as many devices as you like with Avira Phantom VPN, and connect from any of its servers in 36 locations, plus its so easy to use.

This VPN doesn’t track the sites you visit, virtual locations used while surfing, your real IP address, or any information that can link you to any action like file downloads or website visits.

However, it does track diagnostic data to improve the product (optional tracking), and tracks if you’re a free or paid users, plus how much data you consume so as to calculate the costs of providing their infrastructure for free.

So what happens when the Avira Phantom VPN won’t connect? This article looks at what to do when Avira Phantom VPN failed to connect to the service.

FIX: Avira Phantom VPN failed to connect to the service

Under certain circumstances, after updating to a more recent version, the Avira Phantom VPN service will hang and you cannot use it anymore even after a reboot, then it displays the message: Internal error: failed to connect to the service.

1. Uninstall and reinstall the VPN

In order to fix the Avira Phantom VPN failed to connect to the service, one of the solutions is simply to uninstall and reinstall the VPN.

Does this help? If not, try the next solution.

2. Change your VPN

If Avira Phantom VPN failed to connect to the service or it won’t connect, you can try using the recommended VPN below that is among the best VPNs for Windows.

Best VPN for privacy

This is a US-based VPN, owned by Kape Technologies, that offers OpenVPN, AES-256 encryption, and zero log policy. It lets you surf anonymously, unblock websites and protect your online privacy.

It is a pretty reliable service with enough history behind it that proved its worth. It offers a fast service and a safer web offering as it protects your data.

It even includes the possibility of blocking ads when connected to it.

Here are the main reasons we recommend this solution:

30-day money-back guarantee if anything is not working for you
Connect up to 10 devices with a single subscription making it ideal to share with family members
A network of over 35,906 servers so you can rest assured about speeds
Compatible with a long list of devices, including routers

Private Internet Access

PIA VPN is a premium alternative to Avira Phantom VPN, it comes with good connection speeds, privacy protection and no ads options.

Check priceVisit website

Best free VPN

The VPN recommended below protects your privacy on a multi-platform privacy solution, using the highest encryption available with 256-bit encryption technology.

Plus your IP will remain hidden, and you get Wi-Fi protection if you’re in a public area. They are owned by the same company as the previous solution – Kape Technologies.

However, its best quality is the fact that you can test it with all its complete, unlimited features for free for one day on your Windows 10 device without using your credit card.

It has 6,600 servers in 88 countries, so you can access streaming sites, whether the services are blocked or not where you reside.

Its Unblock Streaming feature lets you access many popular streaming services without testing servers manually.

It also comes with a strict no-logs policy that doesn’t track your internet activity, multiplatform apps for your laptop, and other devices and security for conversations.

⇒ Get CyberGhost VPN

3. Stop the VPN service

You can also restart the Avira Phantom VPN service by doing the following:

Type CMD in the search box
Right click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator

Avira Phantom VPN failed to connect to the service or it won’t connect

This opens up the command prompt screen, type the following lines: net stop AviraPhantomVPN and net start AviraPhantomVPN then press enter
Launch Avira Phantom VPN again

Does this help? If not, try the next solution.

4. Check the license status

Some users have reported that there could have been a downgrade issue on the license they use, and Avira should be able to rectify this issue. If it persists, try and reinstall Avira Phantom VPN.

Does this help? If not, try the next solution.

5. Keep launcher installed

You also need to keep the Avira Launcher installed in order to resolve the Avira Phantom VPN failed to connect to the service problem. If you have a password that won’t reset or gives issues, reset it again through the reset link provided on the Avira Phantom VPN site.

6. Check that the service is running

If Avira Phantom VPN failed to connect to the service, the service may not be running. Here’s how to resolve it:

Right-click Start
Select Run

Type services.msc
Right-click Avira Phantom VPN from the list and click Start

Does the VPN work again? Are you able to connect? If all else fails, try the next solution.

Let us know if any of these solutions helped fix Avira Phantom VPN failed to connect to the service issue, by leaving a comment in the section below.

StrongVPN won’t connect / login failed [Full Fix]

Posted on March 11, 2021October 4, 2023 by Milan Stanojevic

Having a good and reliable VPN is important, however, many users reported that StrongVPN stopped working on their PC. This can be a problem, but today we’ll show you how to deal with this issue.

StrongVPN is a solid VPN client, but sometimes issues with it can occur. Speaking of issues, here are some common problems that users encountered:

Strong VPN stopped working Opera browser, Chrome – This issue is usually caused by your firewall, and in order to fix it, you might have to disable your firewall temporarily.
Strong VPN stopped working Norton – Sometimes antivirus tools such as Norton can cause this issue to occur. To fix the problem, try disabling or removing your antivirus software.
StrongVPN quit unexpectedly – This problem can occur if your installation is corrupted. To fix the issue, reinstall your VPN client and check if that helps.
Strong VPN won’t connect, user authentication failed – These problems are fairly common and in order to fix them, be sure to try some of our solutions.

What to do if StrongVPN won’t connect?

1. Check your antivirus

If StrongVPN isn’t working on your PC, it’s possible that your antivirus is causing the problem. Sometimes your antivirus can interfere with the VPN causing this and many other problems to appear.

To fix the issue, be sure that your VPN is added to the list of exclusions. If StrongVPN is already on the exclusions list, perhaps you can fix the issue simply by disabling certain antivirus features.

If that doesn’t help, your next step would be to disable your antivirus altogether. This should fix the issue in most cases, but if the problem is still there, perhaps the best solution would be to uninstall your antivirus.

If you’re using Windows 10, you should know that Windows Defender will work as a default antivirus even if you choose to remove a third-party antivirus from your PC.

Once you remove the antivirus, check if the problem is still there. If removing the antivirus solves your problem, perhaps this would be a perfect time to consider switching to a different antivirus solution.

2. Consider using a different VPN

In case the problem is still there, perhaps this is the best time to consider switching to a different VPN.

There are many great VPN tools on the market, but if you want a reliable solution, you should try out the solution recommended below.

Developed by Kape Technologies, this is currently the best VPN that will keep you safe while browsing with DNS leak protection and an intuitive PIA MACE ad-blocking feature.

A single license lets users run it on no less than 10 devices simultaneously. And if you’re still not convinced, they offer a 30-day refund if you just tell them you weren’t satisfied.

Private Internet Access

Unlike StrongVPN, Private Internet Access will always connect. Currently available at a major discount!

Check priceVisit website

3. Temporarily disable your firewall

Press Windows Key + S and type firewall. A list of results will now appear. Select Windows Firewall.
Windows Firewall window will now open. In the left pane choose Turn Windows Firewall on or off.
Select Turn off Windows Firewall (not recommended) for both Public network and Private network profiles. After doing that, click OK to save changes.

Another cause for problems with your VPN can be your firewall. As you probably know, your firewall can block outgoing and incoming connections from certain applications, including StrongVPN.

To fix this issue, it’s advised to temporarily disable your firewall. If you’re using a third-party firewall, be sure to disable it and check if that solves the problem.

However, Windows has its own firewall so you might have to disable it as well. To do that, follow the above steps.

Your firewall should now be disabled. Once you disable the firewall, check if the problem with StrongVPN is still there.

If StrongVPN works, the issue is related to your firewall, so be sure to check its settings and make sure that StrongVPN is allowed through it.

Bear in mind that disabling the Windows Firewall isn’t the best security practice, so be sure to turn it back on as soon as you can.

4. Use your phone as a hotspot

According to users, sometimes there might be an issue with your network connection that is preventing you from using StrongVPN. However, you might be able to fix this problem simply by using your phone as a hotspot.

Once you set your phone to work as a hotspot, connect to it and check if that solves the problem.

Bear in mind that this is just a workaround, but if this method works, it’s possible that your ISP is blocking StrongVPN, so be sure to contact it as well.

5. Be sure to try all VPN protocols

If StrongVPN isn’t working properly, it’s possible that the problem is related to VPN protocols. To fix this problem, users are suggesting to try all VPN protocols including L2TP, PPTP, and SSTP.

Bear in mind that this solution only works if you have a PPTP VPN account registered with StrongVPN.

6. Try using a different location or different server type

If StrongVPN doesn’t work on your PC, perhaps the problem is related to the server you’re connecting to. Some users are suggesting to try different server locations or different servers in the same location.

This process requires a bit of trial and error, but it should help you to troubleshoot this issue.

In addition, it’s advised to switch between Windows and Linux servers. Sometimes the issue can be related to the server type, and switching between different server types can help you fix the problem.

7. Try using StrongVPN on a different device

According to users, sometimes this issue can be related to your PC and its settings, and in order to troubleshoot the problem, it’s advised to try using StrongVPN on another device in the same network.

This can be a different PC or your phone. If StrongVPN works on another device, it means that the problem is related to your PC, so you should focus on it and try to pinpoint the issue.

8. Restart your network

In some cases, problems with StrongVPN can occur due to issues with your router. To fix the problem, it’s advised to turn off all network devices including your modem, router, and other network hardware that you might have.

Once you turn off your modem/router, wait for a few moments. After doing that, turn the router/modem back on again. Wait for a few moments while the router boots.

Once your network starts working again, check if the problem is still there. Some users are also suggesting connecting your PC directly to your modem since your router isn’t configured to support PPTP VPN Passthrough.

If connecting the PC directly to the modem solves the problem, be sure to check your router’s settings and enable the PPTP VPN Passthrough feature.

9. Check your date and time

Right-click the clock icon in the bottom-right corner. Now pick Adjust date/time from the menu.
In the new window locate Set time automatically option and turn it off.
Wait for a few moments and turn this feature back on again.

In some cases, StrongVPN might not work if your date and time aren’t correct. Incorrect date or time can cause issues with various certificates, and if there are certificate problems, you might not be able to use your VPN at all.

However, you can fix this problem simply by adjusting your date and time. To do that, follow the steps above.

After doing that, your clock will readjust itself automatically and the problem will be resolved. If you want, you can also click the Change button in order to manually set the date and time.

10. Perform a Clean boot

Press Windows Key + R to and type msconfig. Now click OK or press Enter.
The System Configuration should appear. Head over to the Services tab and check to Hide all Microsoft services. Click the Disable all button to disable the selected services.
Navigate to the Startup tab and click Open Task Manager.
You should now see the list of all startup applications. Right-click the first entry on the list and choose Disable. Do this until you disable all startup applications.
Once you disable all startup applications, head back to the System Configuration Click Apply and OK to save changes, and restart your PC.

If you’re having issues with StrongVPN, it’s possible that other applications on your PC are interfering with it and causing this problem.

To fix the issue, it’s advised to disable all startup applications and services. This is fairly simple, and you can do it by following the steps detailed above.

Once your PC restarts, check if the problem is still there. If not, the issue is most likely related to one of the disabled applications or services.

To fix the problem, enable disabled applications and services one by one until you manage to pinpoint the cause of the problem.

Bear in mind that you’ll have to restart your PC or at least logout and log back in after enabling a certain service or an application. Once you find the cause, remove the application, or keep it disabled.

Problems with StrongVPN can leave your system unprotected online, but we hope that you managed to fix this problem with one of our solutions.

Fix: SonicWall VPN stopped working / not connecting

Posted on March 11, 2021September 15, 2025 by Milan Stanojevic

Many users use various VPN tools to protect their privacy, however, some reported that SonicWall VPN stopped working on their PC. This can be a problem and leave your privacy in danger, but today we’ll show you how to fix SonicWall VPN problems.

There are various issues that can occur with SonicWall VPN, and speaking of issues, here are some common problems that users reported:

SonicWall site to site VPN can’t ping, connected but no traffic, dropping connection – These are some common problems with SonicWall VPN, but you should be able to fix them using one of our solutions.
SonicWall VPN no green light – Sometimes glitches with your router can cause this problem to appear. To fix it, you just need to restart your router.
SonicWall VPN won’t connect – Antivirus is a common cause for VPN problems. To fix this issue, disable your antivirus temporarily and check if that helps.
SonicWall VPN user authentication has failed – Sometimes your firewall can cause this problem with your VPN, so in order to fix it, you’ll have to adjust your firewall settings.
SonicWall VPN hangs on acquiring IP – This problem can occur due to your network drivers, so you might want to reinstall them and check if that solves the issue.

SonicWall VPN stopped working, how to fix it?

Solution 1 – Try a different VPN client

SonicWall Global Client is a good VPN client, but if you can’t fix this issue, perhaps this is the perfect time to consider switching to a different VPN.

There are many great VPN clients on the market, and if you want a reliable VPN client, you should try out the one recommended below

It is owned by Kape Technologies and is a service that has been around for many years, having a really good reputation. They have expanded their network and are continuously improving their servers.

Here are the key features we like about this VPN:

Support for OpenVPN as well as PP2P/L2TP protocols in case you can’t use the dedicated application
Dedicated DNS servers to protect from leaks
Can use AES-256 for encryption, SHA256 for authentication, and RSA-4096 for handshake encryption
Can get and use a static IP from your preferred VPN server

Private Internet Access

Offers PPTP connections that can be configured to work with SonicWall firewall and provides unlimited bandwidth.

Check priceVisit website

Solution 2 – Check your antivirus

According to users, if SonicWall VPN stopped working on your PC, the problem might be related to your antivirus. Sometimes your antivirus can interfere with certain applications and prevent them from connecting to the Internet.

To fix this problem, users are suggesting to add your VPN to the list of exclusions in your antivirus and check if that helps. Alternatively, if your antivirus has a firewall built-in, you can check it as well and make sure that it’s not blocking your VPN.

If that doesn’t solve the problem, try disabling certain antivirus features or disable your antivirus altogether. In some rare instances, you might have to remove your third-party antivirus in order to solve this problem.

If removing the antivirus fixes the problem with your VPN, we suggest that you consider switching to a different antivirus solution. There are many great antivirus tools on the market, but if you want a reliable antivirus that won’t interfere with your system in any way, we suggest that you try out Bitdefender.

⇒ Download Bitdefender Antivirus 2020

Solution 3 – Restart your router

According to users, if SonicWall VPN stopped working, the issue might be related to your modem/router. If you have any issues with the VPN, perhaps the problem is related to your router.

To fix the problem, users are suggesting to restart your router and check if that solves the problem. This is quite simple to do, and you can do it by following these steps:

Locate the Power button on your router and press it.
After your router is turned off, wait for a minute.
Now press the Power button again to boot it.
Wait for about 30 seconds for your router to boot.

Once your router is up and running, check if the problem is still there. Bear in mind that this might be just a temporary solution, so you might have to repeat it if the issue reappears.

Solution 4 – Enable NAT Traversal in your firewall

According to users, sometimes your firewall settings can cause issues with the VPN. If SonicWall VPN stopped working, the issue might be related to NAT Traversal feature on your router.

Several users reported that in order to use SonicWall VPN, you need to have this feature enabled. To do that, just follow these steps:

Open your router’s configuration page.
Go to the Firewall section and enable NAT Traversal feature.

After doing that, check if the problem is still there. If you can’t find this feature, be sure to check your router’s instruction manual for detailed instructions.

Solution 5 – Reinstall your wireless adapter drivers

According to users, if SonicWall VPN stopped working on your PC, perhaps the problem is related to the wireless adapter drivers. To fix the problem, users are suggesting to reinstall your wireless adapter drivers.

Most wireless adapter drivers come with dedicated software, so in order to perform a complete reinstall, it’s advised to remove both the software and the drivers itself. First, we’ll remove the Wi-Fi software.

There are many ways to do that, but the best method is to use uninstaller software such as Revo Uninstaller. By using the uninstaller software you’ll ensure that the driver software is completely removed, along with all of its files and registry entries.

Get Revo Unistaller Pro version

You can also remove the drivers for the wireless adapter. To do that, follow these steps:

Press Windows Key + X to open Win + X menu. Select Device Manager from the list.
Locate your wireless adapter, right-click it and choose Uninstall device.
When the confirmation menu appears, click Uninstall.
Now you just need to restart your PC to apply changes.

After doing that, go to the SonicWall Client settings and reset NAT Traversal to Automatic. Now connect to the hotspot and check if the problem is still there.

Solution 6 – Make sure that you’re using DHCP

Sometimes problems with your VPN can occur if you’re using a static IP Address. To fix the problem, users are suggesting switching to DHCP on your router. This might a bit advanced solution, so before you proceed, we advise you to check your router’s instruction manual for step by step instructions.

Solution 7 – Disconnect from all SonicWall VPN clients

Many users have SonicWall VPN clients installed on multiple devices, and that can sometimes be a problem. If SonicWall VPN stopped working on your PC, it’s possible that other devices are interfering with it.

To fix the problem, it’s advised that you log out of all other SonicWall clients and then try to log in to your SonicWall VPN client. Several users reported that this method worked for them, so you might want to try it out.

Solution 8 – Disable Dead Peer Detection

According to users, sometimes certain network features can interfere with your VPN. Several users reported that SonicWall VPN stopped working due to the Dead Peer Detection feature.

To fix the problem, it’s advised that you disable the Dead Peer Detection feature completely. After doing that, the problem with your VPN should be resolved and everything will start working again.

Solution 9 – Change your configuration

Sometimes issues with SonicWall VPN can be caused by your configuration. If your client isn’t configured properly, you might encounter this and many other errors. However, you can fix that by adjusting your settings.

According to users, you need to enable the Keep alive option on both ends of the site-site VPN. In addition, change the assignment to Zone WAN instead of VPN. After doing that, the problem should be resolved and everything will start working again.

Solution 10 – Enable Restrict the size of the first ISAKMP packet sent option

According to users, sometimes certain VPN settings can interfere and cause problems with your VPN. If your SonicWall VPN stopped working, the issue might be related to the ISAKMP packet sent option. According to users, you can fix this problem simply by doing the following:

Open the VPN properties.
In the General tab, you should see Restrict the size of the first ISAKMP packet sent Enable it.
Click Apply and OK to save changes.

After making these changes, check if the problem is still there.

Solution 11 – Make sure that Disable SPI Firewall option is enabled

According to users, sometimes your router settings can interfere with SonicWall VPN and lead to various issues. Users reported this problem with the Netgear router, and in order to fix the problem, you just need to change a single setting. To do that, follow these steps:

Open your router’s configuration page and navigate to Netgear WAN
Now enable Disable SPI Firewall

After doing that, check if the problem is still there.

There are numerous problems with VPN that can occur, and if SonicWall VPN stopped working on your PC, be sure to try all of our solutions and let us know which solution solved the problem for you.

KB5000802 and KB5000808 cause printing crashes in Windows 10

Posted on March 11, 2021October 7, 2025 by Claudiu Andone

Microsoft just released the new KB5000802 and KB5000808 cumulative updates for Windows 10 but unfortunately, they already started creating problems for a lot of users.

The updates released yesterday are causing Blue Screen of Death crashes when printing to network printers.

Apparently, after the new updates, some users experienced BSoD errors while trying to use a network printer in Windows.

Here’s how one of them is complaining on Reddit:

Hey Jen, several folks over in r/sysadmin, myself included, are seeing a BSOD post-update (on at least Win10 20H2 so far) when sending print jobs to any Windows Server printer share using a type 3 Kyocera KX driver. (i.e., type 4 KX driver and other generic type 3/4 drivers don’t exhibit the issue)

Another user comments on the same Reddit post about the same issue hinting at uninstalling the update to fix the issue:

Same here using Ricoh printers over LAN. With different models and different driver versions. At the moment uninstalling this update is the solution.

How can I fix the Windows 10 network printing issue?

1. What are the errors triggered by KB5000802 and KB5000808?

Until now, from the user testimonials, the brands affected by these printing bugs are Kyocera, Dymo, and Rycoh.

The BSoD error triggered by the updates is the APC_INDEX_MISMATCH which we already covered. However, updating the printer driver recommended in that solution didn’t work this time.

In the meantime, Microsoft has been notified about the issue and they rolled back the updates from the Windows Update.

However, they are still available in the Microsoft Update Catalog so the first step to stop this problem is to avoid installing the KB5000802 and KB5000808 updates.

Update: Microsoft acknowledged the issue and resolved it with the out-of-band update KB5001649, so if you check for updates and install the KB5001649, the issue will be resolved.

To check for updates, type updates in Windows search and select Check for updates. You should see the Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version 20H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5001649).

Click on Download and install button under it to proceed with the installation.

If you can’t find it and didn’t install it already, you can also find it in the Microsoft Update Catalog.

2. Force uninstall the KB updates

One of the best solutions for fixing this problem and going back to normal printer usage until now is to force uninstall the KB updates.

So, if you are one of those who already installed the new KB5000802 and KB5000808 updates, you can fix this by running the following commands in an elevated Command Prompt window and pressing enter after each one:

wusa /uninstall /kb:5000802

wusa /uninstall /kb:5000808

The first command is for uninstalling the KB5000802 update and the second is for uninstalling the KB5000808 update.

3. Manually uninstall the updates

Press the Windows key + I to open Settings.
Click on Update & Security and go to Windows Update.
Click on View Update History.
Click on the Uninstall updates option.
Locate the update and hit the Uninstall button.

Another great solution would be to rollback your system to a previous restore point.

If you don’t know how to create a restore point, we have an excellent article that will guide you all the way.

4. Enable Direct Printing

Identify the exact name of your printer.
Type cmd in the search tab in Windows and click on Run as administrator to open Command prompt with administrator privileges.
Paste the following command and press Enter to run it (make sure you replace printername with the actual name of your printer): rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /Xg /n "printername"
- That will tell you information about the Direct Printing status.
If Direct Printing is OFF, paste the following command and press Enter: rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /Xs /n "printername" attributes +direct

5. Use a third-party tool to get rid of BSoD errors

Because BSoD errors never have a clear cause, it’s hard to pinpoint exactly what measures should be taken to fix them, so you’re only solution is to use a software repair tool that can go through several troubleshooting procedures.

6. Uninstall and reinstall the drivers

6.1 Uninstall the printer driver

Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager from the list.
Extend the Printers section, right-click your printer, and select Uninstall device.
Restart your PC. The system will install a default driver for your printer.

One of our readers managed to solve this problem by deleting the drivers, so make sure you try this also.

6.2 Update the drivers automatically

The manual remove of the driver will trigger the system to install a default driver that might not be the best for your printer.

Of course, you can also visit the manufacturer’s website, download the exact driver and install it but it’s a lot easier to use a dedicated, third party tool like the one recommended below.

It’s light, easy to install, and it will repair or update all your drivers in a fraction of the time needed for the manual procedure.

⇒ Get Outbyte Driver Updater

We hope that you managed to get back to your printing activities after uninstalling the updates. Do you have any other solutions? Let us know in the comments below so that others can also benefit.

Is it worth getting a VPN? What is the risk using free VPNs?

Posted on March 11, 2021September 12, 2025 by Aleksandar Ognjanovic

For some people, VPN is a must; for others, well, not so much. However, considering the tides of internet growth, online privacy was never as threatened as it is now.

Various leaks informed us about privacy intrusions, FCC is negating the net neutrality, large internet companies and ISPs are profiting on users data, by tracking and profiling them. The internet age of no privacy summarized.

That’s where the VPN comes in handy. Now, a lot of users that are aware of the threat, decide not to pay for VPN and settle for free solutions. And that’s fine. Anything is better than nothing.

Nonetheless, we are doubtful about free VPN solutions and today we decided to explain why is that the case. So, if you’re having any second thoughts, make sure to check the explanation below.

Is VPN something you should spend your money on?

What’s VPN exactly?

VPN is short for Virtual Private Network. It’s basically a safe tunnel that leads from your PC to ‘everything internet’ while enabling you to hide your IP address, avoid tracking, monitoring, and censorship.

The VPN providers provide you with dedicated servers that enable you to switch your current IP and location while maintaining the same levels of accessibility.

Think about it as a rent-a-car, just with the IP address instead of Toyota. The VPN client grants you the location and random IP of your choice, therefore enabling you to be a ghost on the grid.

Just an anonymous user without companies to track your online behavior.

VPN protects you from Internet Service Providers and individual sites that try to track your IP and thus violate your privacy. Furthermore, most of the premium solutions have multiple dozens or even hundreds of available servers for you to choose from.

So you can, let’s say, sit in your comfy home in Calcutta and use New York IP address in order to access the geo-restricted content and avoid tracking.

That’s the main concept for you. However, even though the tools are mostly similar, you might ask what creates a distinction between them.

Is paying for a VPN worth it?

It all boils down to how much you value your privacy, and how restrictive the Internet access laws are in your region.

For example, there are plenty of regions around the world where common websites are blocked, like YouTube or Netflix, or even programs altogether, such as how Skype is blocked in the United Arab Emirates.

More so, certain services are region-locked, the way Hulu is only available in the US. Thus, if you want the freedom of accessing any type of content, then a VPN is your only chance.

What is currently the best VPN I should use?

There are many factors that you should consider when trying to determine what VPN is best for you. Some users focus on high-security levels while others want more access points or a more stable connection.

While some VPN services are better than others and each has its own pros and cons, one VPN stands out because it has the perfect balance of all the criteria you may be looking for.

This service is owned, maintained, and developed by Kape Technologies (the same developers that brought your CyberGhost), and it has over 35,906 servers in 77 countries.

More so, your connectivity is safe and secure thanks to the WireGuard, PPTP, OpenVPN, and L2TP/IPSec technology used.

It also has the ability to easily switch between VPN Gateways means that you are very flexible when choosing your new IP.

More so, a single subscription will give you support to 10 devices simultaneously, so both you and your friends and family can enjoy a more private Internet browsing experience.

Private Internet Access

Browse the Internet in a more secure manner with this amazing VPN, now at a discount price for a limited time only!

Check priceVisit website

Is AVG VPN worth it?

AVG VPN is not exactly the best VPN on the market, but that doesn’t mean it is awful either. However, from a performance-to-price ratio point-of-view, there are certainly better alternatives.

Is Avast VPN worth it?

Just like with AVG VPN, Avast VPN isn’t exactly the best VPN on the market. This product is owned by a company that focuses primarily on antivirus software, so their VPN service isn’t all that much of a priority.

Is Nord VPN worth it?

Nord VPN is a top VPN service that features 5500 servers in 59 different countries, and it has a long history of delivering quality services. More so, if you manage to get it at a discount price, the investment is well worth it.

Is there a real need to use VPN nowadays?

It depends. If you’re concerned about your privacy, you probably should take VPN solutions seriously. People tend to say that they don’t have anything to hide.

On the other hand, that same folk won’t easily share their browsing history or credentials for various accounts, both personal and professional.

And that’s how it should be. That data is yours and only yours, and third-party sites, ISPs, or malicious individuals must be restrained from accessing it.

Therefore, the sole fact that your personal data is exposed to a higher bidder sounds incredibly Orwellian. Even though, for the most part, they tend to use it ‘only’ for advertisement purposes.

The internet is basically free and it’s, arguably, the synonym for the open society nowadays. With FCC (Federal Communications Commission) trying to break the net neutrality concept, one must assume that things are going south in regards to privacy and security for every affected user.

Another point of interest concerns geo-location restrains, where certain users from certain countries are unable to access the restricted content.

That somewhat elitist approach also goes against the concept of the Internet and makes it narrower than it’s supposed to be initially.

So, you can draw your own conclusions, and decide whether you want to protect your privacy or not.

What should you expect from a premium VPN solution?

There’s one, a tad washed-up Andrew Lewis’s phrase that’s frequently used but that doesn’t make it any less true. ”

If you are not paying for it, you’re not the customer; you’re the product being sold.

No one can guarantee you that the paid solution won’t track your data for sure, but at least, there’s the money for goods concept. And don’t forget that this isn’t a tool, but rather a service.

In addition, when it comes to performance and features, freeware solutions are mostly underperforming and quite limited in regards to the number of available servers, and also, they heavily affect the bandwidth.

That places them far behind the subscription-based premium solutions which, on the other hand, offer stable speeds and numerous servers.

What you can expect from premium VPN solutions is:

No data and speed limits.
Support for multiple devices.
Wireless network protection.
Full anonymity while using the service.
The formidable quantity of servers you can choose from.
Stability and valid customer support.
Support for handheld devices.

Don’t settle for less. The prices are going up to $100 per year subscription, but there’s a list of much more affordable solutions out there. Your final choice should depend on your preferences, but most of them should serve you justice.

With that, we can conclude this article. We certainly hope that you were able to learn something new about VPNs and their usability.

Do you think about VPN as a necessity? If so, what’s your VPN of choice? Do tell us in the comments section.

5 Best Mini PCs with Graphics Card Slot [Top Options]

Posted on March 11, 2021October 4, 2023 by Loredana Harsana

Due to technological advancements, many computer’s hardware can be smaller in size. As a result, we can find mini-PCs on the market that have great performance.

A mini-PC works exactly like a desktop or a laptop, but they don’t take up any desk space. This is a significant advantage in situations where space is limited or you don’t really want a tower case.

If you want to take advantage of the small size, low cost, and less noise, you should definitively try out a mini-PC.

In this article, we’ll review the best mini-PCs that come with a graphic card so you can use it to watch high-resolution videos or even to play games.

What are the best mini PCs with graphic card slot?

Intel NUC 8

Intel Quad-Core i7-8705G up to 4.1GHz
AMD Radeon RX Vega
Many connectivity options: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Gigabit Ethernet
Windows 10 Pro

Expensive

Check price

NUC 8 is the most powerful mini-PC that was ever produced by Intel.

Unlike other NUC systems, this system’s dedicated AMD Radeon RX Vega graphics is powerful enough to run VR applications and play graphically demanding games. Moreover, there are six video ports that you can use to connect displays.

You can buy this mini-PC with different storage and memory option, depending on your needs and budget. You can choose from 8GB RAM up to 32GB, and from 128GB SSD up to 2TB SSD.

Intel NUC 8 Mainstream Kit

You can add up to 32GB RAM
8th Generation Intel Core i5 8259U processor
Supports Windows 10

Can't be used out of the box

Check price

NUC 8 Mainstream Kit is another great option if you want to buy a mini-PC with a performant graphics card.

NUC series from Intel can be a ready-to-go computer or a kit, meaning that you have to add some additional components. In this case, you have to add storage. Otherwise, it comes with Intel Iris Plus 655 graphics that supports up to 3 displays in 4K resolution.

If you like to build your own computer instead of an already configured model, this NUC 8 Kit is the best deal.

Beelink U55

Intel Core i3-5005u CPU
5 USB ports
Wi-Fi, Gigabit Ethernet, and Bluetooth

Not the best mini-PC for gaming

Check price

Beelink U55 Mini is a very small mini-PC, easy to carry with you. Even if it’s smaller than a smartphone, this system has the proper amount of resources for Windows 10.

It is equipped with 8GB RAM and a 256GB SSD with a preinstalled Windows 10 Pro, so it can be used as soon as you unpack it. You can extend the RAM up to 32 GB and the storage up to 2TB SSD.

The video card is Intel HD Graphics 5500 with support for dual screen display via 2 HDMI ports, and a maximum resolution of 4K.

Lenovo ThinkStation P330

8th Gen Intel Core i7-8700T
Windows 10 Pro
1 HDMI and 4 mini-Display port for video output

It can get hot at times, depending on the running tasks

Check price

Lenovo ThinkStation P330 is a perfect solution for both business and home use.

Likewise Nuc 8, you can choose the configuration for RAM memory and storage, right before buying. The system supports up to 64 GB RAM and 2TB SSD storage.

As per the graphics card, it comes with NVIDIA Quadro P620 with 2GB GDDR5. Great GPU for video editing software, CAD software, and as well for gaming.

ACEPC T11

Intel HD Graphics 500 with support for 4K resolution
Dual-band Wi-Fi and Gigabit Ethernet for internet connectivity
Very quiet

Not great with intensive tasks

Check price

If you are on a very limited budget, then the T11 model from ACEPC is the best solution for a mini-PC with just enough performance for daily tasks.

It features Intel Atop x5-Z8350 1.44GHz CPU with 4 cores, which can be overclocked to work at 1.92GHz. Along with that comes 4GB of RAM, with the maximum support of 64GB eMMC, which is pretty decent for a mini-PC.

The storage is not great, but it can be expanded up to 128GB by using a Micro SD card, or by simply using USB external HDD/SSD up to 2TB.

Whether you like to configure the PC with your own desired hardware or buy one that’s already configured, these mini-PCs are a perfect choice.

All of the above mini-PCs come with a good processor, and a great graphics card, making them perfect to watch movies in 4K resolution or to play video games.

Microsoft just announced a special roundtable about Bethesda joining Xbox at 10AM PT, watch it here

Posted on March 11, 2021 by Radu Tyrsina

Microsoft has just announced that it will hold a special roundtable this morning to discuss its recent acquisition of Bethesda, which has been made official earlier this week. The event will kick off at 10AM PST, and we hope to learn more about the additional Bethesda games coming to Xbox Game Pass that Microsoft teased two days ago.

Xbox Marketing exec Aaron Greenberg made it clear that today’s event won’t be about new game reveals, but it should be “a great chance to learn more about the teams & people at Bethesda.” To be clear, it’s best to keep your expectations in check.

Microsoft acquired several new studios in recent years, but the company now owns eight new renowned developers with fantastic IPs such as Doom, Quake, Wolfenstein, Fallout, The Elder Scrolls, and more. Most Bethesda games should join Xbox Game Pass sooner or later, and future games will also be available in Game Pass on day one.

Earlier this week, Xbox head Phil Spencer reiterated that some upcoming Bethesda games will be exclusive to Xbox and PC, and it remains to be seen if we’ll get more details during the roundtable. Anyway, the event will kick off at 10AM PST on the Xbox YouTube channel, and we’re looking forward to hearing what the teams have to say.

Perfmon /Report Not Working: 5 Easy Methods to Enable It

Posted on March 11, 2021March 19, 2024 by Vladimir Popescu

Optimal system performance is vital for the effective functioning of the PC. And for that, you can use the built-in Resource and Performance Monitor or a reliable third-party tool. But, many reported that perfmon /report is not working.

This puts users in a tricky spot since they cannot access the critical data related to the PC and thus ensure its upkeep. Don’t worry, though! We have some great insights if Perfmon generating report got stuck. Let’s find out.

Why is perfmon /report not working?

Here are the primary reasons you will find perfmon /report stuck or not working:

Appears to be stuck: In most cases, Resource and Performance Monitor continues to display the diagnostics as running even after a report is generated. So you will have to verify this first.
Corrupt system files: If the system files are corrupt, the built-in tool will have trouble generating a performance report or even running the diagnostics test.
Buggy update: Many users reported the problem only with specific versions of Windows, which probably indicates a bug in these.

What can I do if perfmon /report is not working?

Before we start with the complex solutions, here are a few quick things you can try:

Restart the computer.
Update the OS to the latest available version and check whether perfmon /report is still taking too long and not working.
When running the perfmon /report command, make sure to open Command Prompt with administrative privileges.
Ensure you are generating the report on an administrator account. If not, switch to an administrator account.
Disable the third-party antivirus, if any are installed on the PC, and try again. In case it works, we recommend you uninstall the current one and switch to an OS-friendly antivirus.

If none work, head to the fixes listed next.

1. Use a specialized software

Most of the time, using specialized software is what will have the work done more efficiently and even quickly. Using such software when perfmon is not generating reports is our recommendation.

PRTG Network Monitor will allow you to create and analyze all the system performance reports you need on Windows 10 in practically no time.

PRTG Network Monitor

Analyze and keep track of your entire IT infrastructure, ensuring your computer systems are running smoothly.

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2. Check if the report is already generated

Press Windows + R to open Run, type perfmon in the text field, and hit Enter.
Expand Reports, double-click on System, and then select System Diagnostics.
All the generated reports will be listed on the right. Check if any matches the time frame you ran the tool, and open it.

As stated earlier, your primary approach when perfmon /report is not working should be to verify whether the report has already been generated because, in most cases, it was.

3. Fix corrupt system files

Press Windows + S to open Search, type Command Prompt, and click on Run as administrator.
Click Yes in the UAC prompt.
Paste the following commands individually and hit Enter after each to run DISM:DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
Once done, execute the following command to run the SFC scan:sfc /scannow
After it’s complete, restart the computer, and you should be able to generate a performance report.

As stated earlier, corrupt system files could be why perfmon /report is not working. And the simplest fix, in this case, is to run the DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) tool and SFC (System File Checker) scan.

Besides the quick method mentioned above, we also recommend third-party software because it can perform this action automatically.

It’s a safe and reliable option to use, as it can help you thoroughly scan your computer for corrupt system files and then locate fresh components from its frequently-revised vault.

4. Uninstall recent Windows updates

Press Windows + I to open Settings, go to Windows Update from the navigation pane, and click on Update history.
Scroll to the bottom, and click on Uninstall updates.
Now, click on Uninstall next to the last installed update.
Again, click Uninstall in the prompt to confirm the change.
Once done, restart the computer.

5. Perform a system restore

Press Windows + R to open Run, type rstrui.exe, and click OK.
We recommend you select the Choose a different restore point option, and then click Next.
Choose a restore point from the list, one created before the problem first appeared, and click Next.
Verify the restore details, and click Finish.
Wait for the restore to complete.

If nothing listed previously worked, you can always perform a system restore to get things up and running when perfmon /report is not working in Windows. This is the reason many recommend regularly creating restore points.

As a last resort, you can reset Windows to factory settings, though in most cases, it wouldn’t come to that. Also, find out how to boost Windows performance and check some reliable tools to fix issues in Windows.

For other queries or to share the solution that worked for you, comment below.