WinRAR not extracting .exe files in Windows 10/11

If you have tried to extract a .exe file from an archive on your Windows 10 device only to get an error message, rest assured you are not the only one.

Although WinRAR is widely used, it does come with its share of errors, unfortunately.

There are many reasons why you could not extract the .exe file and the most common ones are faulty files due to an interrupted download process or even to viruses.

Nevertheless, we’ve got you covered in both cases.

In this article we will present you some easy steps that will allow you to extract .exe files in no time.

What can I do if WinRAR is not extracting .exe files?

1. Give WinZip a try

Before going into the detailed solution steps, it could be a good idea to think about using a different tool to extract your files.

There are several other great software out there, but after several tools, we would like to recommend you give WinZip a try.

This is an all-in-one tool that goes way beyond simply offering some compression features. With WinZip, you can share, manage, and password-protect your files while you compress them.

Moreover, if in the compressing process the quality of the file is compromised, then there is no use in proceeding with such a process. This is another great feature of using WinZip.

Your videos and images quality will remain intact, regardless of how large the files are.

WinZip easily connects with Dropbox, Google Drive, or OneDrive for better workflow and file management.

Here are some key features:

  • Advanced compression features.
  • Strong encryption level.
  • Signature of new and existing PDF.
  • Microsoft Teams integration.
  • Background tools.
  • File deletion for duplicate files.
  • Advanced file management features.

”WinZip”

”WinZip”

”Extract
”Free
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2. Use the Repair option

  1. Locate the corrupted RAR file and right-click on it.
  2. From the options, select Open with WinRAR.
  3. Click on the Tools option and select Repair archive.
  4. Next, choose the destination where you want the repaired RAR file to be saved.
  5. After the repairing process has been completed, click OK.

3. Check your Antivirushow to fix antivirus blocking powerpoint recover

It’s not uncommon for different extracting errors to appear due to your antivirus software. 

Therefore, checking if the issue is caused by it or not, is an important step before moving forward.

In order to check if the error is caused by your current security software, make sure to disable it from the program’s settings and try to extract the files again.

If it did not work, we would suggest you try installing different antivirus software and then see if the process works.


4. Update WinRAR

  1. Launch WinRAR on your Windows PC.
  2. Next, click on Help and then select About WinRAR.
  3. In the About WinRAR window, look for the WinRAR version info and the edition.
  4. Go to the WinRAR download page and open it on your PC.
  5. Click the Latest version of WinRAR under English WinRAR and RAR releases. Make sure to choose the correct edition 32-bit/64-bit depending on your PC’s Operating System.
  6. Click Continue to download WinRAR.
  7. Run the installer and proceed with the installation. Make sure you have closed the WinRAR app before running the installer to prevent any errors.

5. Uninstall and re-install WinRAR

Reinstall the problematic games

  1. Press the Windows key + R.
  2. Type appwiz.cpl and click OK.
  3. Next, in Control Panel, select WinRAR.
  4. Click on Uninstall. Make sure to confirm the action by clicking on Uninstall/Yes.
  5. Once uninstalled, reboot the computer.
  6. Download and reinstall the app from the official WinRAR page.

5. Download the RAR file again

If the archive has been corrupted due to a faulty download process, then this may be the reason to why you cannot extract the .xls file.

Before proceeding with downloading the archive, make sure that your are connected to the Internet and that your connection is stable.

Depending on the file size you will need to wait a bit longer for the download to be finished.

We recommend that you indicate a different location for the file to be extracted to.

With this last step, we conclude our list of suggestions. We hope that one of them has helped you extract the .exe file from your WinRAR archive.

If you have additional suggestions or recommendations, please let us know in the comments section below.

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How to fix WinRAR not working on a mapped drive

WinRAR is great archiving software with an abundance of features, but some users reported that WinRAR is not working on a mapped drive.

This can be a problem for some users, and in today’s article, we’ll show you a couple of methods that you can use to fix this issue for good.

What do I do if WinRAR is not working on a mapped drive?

1. Use WinZip

ffind files winzip

If WinRAR is not working on a mapped drive, you might want to try using WinZip instead. The software works with over 24 different file formats, and that includes RAR files as well.

The application is pretty simple to use, and you can unzip or archive files with just a couple of clicks. It’s worth mentioning that the software has an encryption feature, so you can encrypt your archives.

There’s 128-bit and 256-bit AES encryption available, allowing you to password protect your files with ease. Another feature is the ability to convert PDF files to Word files, and vice versa.

The software also works as a file manager, so you can organize your files, and there’s even a file splitting feature, so you can easily split large files in order to send them faster.

Overall, WinZip is great file archiver software, with a wide array of features, so be sure to download it and try it out.

Other useful features:

  • Easy file sharing
  • Support for cloud storage
  • Ability to access and manage files on local PC and network devices
  • Available on Mac and PC
  • Compatible with over 24 different file types

”WinZip”

”WinZip”

”WinZip
”Free
&aff_sub2=Native” current_url=”true” button_text=”Get it now” image=”https://windowsreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/winzip-logo-210×160.png”]

2. Disable SMB2

  1. Press Windows Key + X and select Windows PowerShell (Admin).
    powershell admin winrar not working on mapped drive
  2. When PowerShell starts, enter the following command:
Set-SmbServerConfiguration -EnableSMB2Protocol $false

After the command is executed, MB2 will be disabled and the problem with WinRAR not working on the mapped drive will be resolved.

Note: Disabling SMB2 permanently isn’t advised, and you can enable SMB2 by running the following command:

Set-SmbServerConfiguration -EnableSMB2Protocol $true

3. Extract the files on a local drive

hard drive winrar not working on mapped drive
  1. Extract the files on the local drive.
  2. Once the process is finished, move the extracted files to a mapped drive.

This is just a workaround, but several users reported that this method worked for them, so you might want to try it out.

If WinRAR isn’t working on a mapped drive, most likely there’s an issue with the SMB2, but if you don’t want to disable it, we suggest using WinZip instead of WinRAR.

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How to share large photo files [Google Drive, Dropbox]

Photos are a great way of preserving memories, and they are also important for work, especially if we’re talking about high-quality ones.

However, while storing a large photo file can be easy, sharing it with others can be especially troublesome, especially if you are doing it online via cloud hosting or storage services.

First, there is the problem of how much time it takes to upload and then download the file to and from the cloud.

Secondly, there’s always the matter of security when it comes to sharing data online.

That being said, we’ve constructed this step-by-step guide that will show you exactly how you can share large photo files via some of the most common cloud storage services.


How can I share large photo files efficiently?

Use a third-party tool to help you

ffind files winzipIn order to drastically reduce the upload and downloads times of your photo files, you will first have to reduce the disk space that they occupy.

The best way to reduce the size of your photo file is via a file archiver, and we recommend you try out the best there is, namely WinZip.

Not only is WinZip incredibly good at archiving all types of data, but it gives you a wide variety of archive formats to choose from, depending on your taste.

The next step is to protect your data via encryption, and WinZip also happens to support encryption that it describes as being banking-level.

Next up it is time to take the archive and share it via either cloud or email.

This is yet another feature that WinZip shines att, as it allows direct integration with some of the most well-known cloud storage services, such as Google Drive and OneDrive.

How can I send large photo files via email?

A great way of sending data via email is if your base program features email integration. This makes it so that you don’t have to open multiple programs in order to perform a single task.

Here’s how you can use WinZip to perform all of the tasks listed above with one simple command:

  1. Download and install WinZip
  2. Navigate to where the photo file is stored
  3. Right-click the file and select Zip and Share (WinZip Express)

In the next WinZip windows that appears, you will gain access to everything you need to perform all of the tasks described earlier in the article, including:

  • The ability to archive the file, and choosing in what format
  • The possibility of archiving the file
  • Choosing whether to save the new zip file on PC, send it to the Cloud, or export it via Email.

”WinZip”

”WinZip”

”Sending
”Free
&aff_sub2=Native” current_url=”true” button_text=”Get it now” image=”https://windowsreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/WinZip-button-210×160.png”]

Note: In order to make use of this functionality, you need to have the desktop client of the Cloud service installed on your PC.

Additionally, in order to send the files via email, an email address needs to be provided and linked with WinZip.


By following these steps, you should now be able to send large photo files faster, and in a more secure way, all thanks to just one tool.

Let us know what other methods you use to make sending large photo files more efficient by leaving us a message in the comments section below.


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How to unzip/extract XZ files [Windows 10, Mac]

File compression can come in a variety of forms, and they all depend on what exactly you are looking for when creating them.

For example, some users may want maximum compression, even if it does mean using more time to archive and unzip it.

On the other hand, there are those that prefer lossless compression, and that’s precisely what you can get if you opt for the XZ compression format.

This file format is a single-file compression format, so it doesn’t offer any archiving capabilities. However, it does offer lossless compression, making it ideal for those that want to preserve the data exactly how it was.

Of course, you can’t talk about compressed data without knowing a method of unzipping it, so we created this article to teach you precisely how you can unzip an XZ file on both a Windows 10 PC and a Mac.


How do I open an XZ file?

1. How do I unzip an XZ file on Windows?

Use a third-party archiving tool

XZ file is a compressed file format, and therefore gaining access to its contents involves extracting or unzipping it with a dedicated tool.

Since we like using the best available, we also urge you to try WinZip for this particular task, since it is lightweight, powerful, and very versatile in terms of what it can do and what kind of files it can handle.

For example. since you may be using XZ files for the sake of lossless compression, WinZip will provide you with safe decompression at incredible speeds, so you don’t have to worry about wasting time.

More so, WinZip can also encrypt your data, so your data will also be secured from unauthorized access.

Here’s how you can use WinZip to open an XZ file:

  1. Download and install WinZip
  2. Navigate to where your XZ file is located
  3. Right-click the file, and select WinZip from the context menu
  4. Select what type of action you want to take, and where to extract the data if that is what you need.
  5. Depending on the file’s size, you’ll have to wait for WinZip to decompress it
  6. Go to where the data was extracted and inspect whether everything is functional.

”WinZip”

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”Free
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2. How do I extract an XZ file on Mac?

Use a third-party archiving tool

Similar to the Windows solution, if you’re not an expert in command lines, and prefer GUI-based software, we recommend you give a third-party unarchive a try, and one of the best on the market is ironically called The Unarchiver.

Here how you can use The Unarchiver to extract XZ files:

  1. Download and install The Unarchiver
  2. Right-click your XZ file and select Open With…
  3. Select The Unarchiver from the context menu
  4. Choose a file location to extract the file
  5. Wait for fr the unzipping to be complete, and then review the contents

These are the most basic solutions if you ever need to open or extract an XZ file on either a Windows or a Mac PC.

If you know of other methods that can be used to help, let us know by leaving your suggestions in the comments section below.


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FIX: Undertale won’t launch

Undertale is one of the best if not the best indie game Steam has to offer. From the moment the game was introduced, it received worldwide recognition that led to multiple awards and millions of sold digital copies.

If there is a super-undemanding-stable game category, Undertale must be at the leading spot.

However, there are issues that may prevent you from enjoying this amazing game. It seems that the game won’t launch for no apparent reason.

But, don’t worry, we prepared a few workarounds to help you overcome this issue.

What can I do if Undertale won’t launch?

  1. Use the Steam tool to repair local files
  2. Start the game from its folder instead of Steam
  3. Delete the Steam_api.dll file
  4. Extract Undertale.exe file
  5. Install DirectX and the latest redistributables
  6. Reinstall the game

1. Use the Steam tool to repair local files

  1. Open the Steam Client.
  2. In Library, right-click Undertale and open Properties.
  3. Open the Local files tab.
  4. Choose Verify integrity of game files.
  5. Restart Steam and try running the game.

2. Start the game from its folder instead of Steam

  1. Close the Steam client and exit from the notification area.
  2. Open Task Manager and stop the Steam process.
  3. Find your way to the Undertale installation folder.
  4. Double-click Undertale.exe and run the game.

As we all know, with the implementation of the Steam desktop app, all the games run through the client. However, on some occasions, the Steam app can provoke a lot of problems.

Note: Have in mind that the Steam client may start, nonetheless. If that is the case and the game is still faulty, move on to the next solution.

3. Delete the Steam_api.dll file

  1. Close your Steam and kill all its related processes in Task Manager.
  2. Go to the Undertale installation folder.
  3. Find the steam_api.dll file and back it up.
  4. Delete the files from the folder.
  5. Start the game using Undertale.exe.
  6. Additionally, you may try and run it through Steam if Undertale.exe won’t start the game.

Note: This may prove harder to do for many games, but the Undertale should function well. If things take a wrong turn, you can always restore a file from the backup location.

It’s quite hard to play Steam games independently, without Steam DRM. However, there are some games that are DRM-free, and luckily, that is the case with Undertale, too.

4. Extract Undertale.exe file

  1. Close the Steam app and kill all its processes in Task Manager.
  2. Find your way to the Undertale installation folder.
  3. Right-click on Undertale.exe and choose Extract here with WinZip.
  4. When asked to replace or rename Undertale.exe, choose rename and change its name to UndertaleOld.exe.
  5. The new Undertale.exe that is extracted is your new game launcher.
  6. Try launching the game.

Note: Some witty users from Steam community forum presented this interesting solution for this issue. Namely, it seems that the game’s exe file can be extracted with WinZip. 

In the case of any problems, you can delete the newly appointed launcher and rename UndertaleOld.exe to just Undertale.exe.

⇒ Get Winzip

5. Install DirectX and the latest redistributables

Also, an important thing, besides your graphics drivers being up to date, is to install the latest version of DirectX and C++ Redistributables.

The absence of those might lead to you experiencing a plethora of issues with Undertale.

The latest version of DirectX can be downloaded from the dedicated Microsoft website.

When it comes to the Visual C++ Redistributables, you can download the latest version from this Microsoft page.

6. Reinstall the game

  1. Go to the Steam client.
  2. Open Library and right-click Undertale.
  3. Choose Uninstall.
  4. Open the Steam client and Library.
  5. Find Undertale and select Install.

We came to the last resort. If you haven’t solved your Undertale issues with the previous workarounds, reinstallation is the only viable option.

After the process is finished, you should be able to play the game seamlessly.

We hope you were able to start the game by using these workarounds. In addition, if you have any questions or suggestions, please be free to tell us in the comments below.

Explore our excellent Gaming section for the latest tiles and tips.

Our Tech Troubleshooting Hub is the ultimate source of PC, software, and gaming solutions.

Top 7 Dual-Pane File Managers for Windows in 2026

Windows File Explorer is a decent file manager, but many users prefer those using dual-pane.

These types of file managers have their advantages, and many of them offer some advanced features that File Explorer lacks.

Since these applications can be so useful, today we’re going to show you several great dual-pane file managers for Windows 10.

What are the best dual-pane file manager for Windows 10?

WinZip

Winzip

WinZip is known as the best archiver tool ever made, but did you know that it’s also a great file manager software?

First of all, this tool is great at protecting your files safe using banking-level file encryption. And you can also convert your files to pdf using WinZip to pdf and then password-protect them. 

Do you want to share your files? It’s easy as selecting your files and adding to a ZIP file big enough to be sent as an attachment to an email. 

WinZip also has awesome cloud integration so you can upload the files to any of you cloud storage platform like Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive and more, and then send the link to anybody.

This modern file manager software also helps you regain a lot of your hard drive space by compressing your older files or the ones that you don’t use very often.

It also helps you compress MP3 files so that you can save space on your audio device. It’s easy as selecting your audio file and selecting the location you want to save it to.

WinZip can also help you backup your files really fast. You can just archive and save the files to a safe location but you can also make this process automatic.

Here are a few important features of WinZip:

  • Best compressing and decompressing speed
  • Compatible with a lot of file types
  • Cloud storage integration
  • Dual-pane user interface
  • High security encryption

”WinZip”

”WinZip”

”WinZip
”Free
&aff_sub2=Native” current_url=”true” button_text=”Get it now” image=”https://windowsreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/winzip-logo-210×160.png”]

WinNc

WinNc is another dual-pane file manager for Windows 10. The application has a tabbed interface allowing you to open multiple directories.

Using this tool, you can perform basic tasks such as copying, moving or deleting, but you can also compress or uncompress files and create links.

The application also supports some advanced options such as disc burning and it can even create ISO files. In addition, you can also convert audio or create self-extracting .exe files from .zip archives.

WinNc uses different colors for different actions, so you can easily distinguish files that are being copied or moved. In addition, you can queue your actions and perform multiple tasks with ease.

There’s also a built-in file viewer, slideshow viewer, and multimedia player so you can preview your files with ease.

Find some other notable features of WinNc:

  • Quick Access feature that lets you open frequently accessed folders with ease
  • Favorite folders
  • FTP support
  • Modern, easy-to-use interface
  • Built-in file viewer

⇒ Download WinNc Commander


AB Commander

Another great dual-pane file manager that we want to show you is AB Commander. The application offers support for tabs, so you can switch easily between several open directories.

It also supports all standard file management options while offering some advanced features like a built-in image viewer as well as a text editor.

Speaking of images, you can change their resolution or rotate them. We have to mention that there’s also support for file splitting and folder synchronization.

Each pane has a folder tree so you can easily navigate through your directories. Speaking of navigation, the application has history and favorites lists,  allowing you to easily access your favorite folders.

Other notable features of AB Commander:

  • Multiple file renaming
  • File type filter
  • Advanced search for specific strings
  • File splitting
  • Folder synchronization

⇒ Download AB Commander


One Commander

Another useful dual-pane file manager is One Commander. The application has a modern design, so it looks visually appealing and supports two different themes that you can easily switch between.

You can use the column view if you prefer the dual-pane view along with tab support tabs so you can work with multiple folders easily.

The application has an address bar that shows you all available subfolders and works similarly to a folder tree, a great feature since it allows you to navigate to any folder with ease.

Although this feature is useful, it might take some users a while to get used to it. Fortunately, you can minimize the address bar and it will work like a standard address bar in File Explorer.

One Commander’s other interesting features:

  • History panel to access any previously visited folder
  • Droplist for storing files
  • Built-in audio, video, and text preview
  • Unique design
  • List of favorite folders for easy access

⇒ Download One Commander File Manager


Total Commander

Probably one of the most popular file managers for Windows is Total Commander. This is another dual-pane file manager, and like most entries on our list, it fully supports tabs.

The application supports the drag and drop method, so you can easily use both File Explorer and Total Commander simultaneously.

If you’re an advanced user, you’ll be happy to hear that there’s a built-in command line that you can use to start programs with different parameters.

The application has a built-in file viewer so you can view any file in hex, binary, or text format. There’s also a Bitmap viewer as well as an HTML viewer.

You can switch between several different views and show thumbnails if needed. It’s worth mentioning that Total Commander supports multi-rename so you can easily rename several files at once.

Notable features of Total Commander:

  • Native support for ZIP, ARJ, LZH, TAR, GZ, CAB, RAR, and ACE archives
  • Built-in FTP client
  • Enhanced search feature
  • Perfect for both basic and advanced users
  • File comparison and folder synchronization

⇒ Download Total Commander


Free Commander

Another great file manager that we have to mention is the Free Commander. The application allows you to choose between dual-pane or single-pane view and there’s also support for tabs.

In addition, you can also show a folder tree for each pane and use it to navigate to the desired directory with ease.

The application also has a built-in file viewer so you can easily view images or any other file in hex, binary, or text format.

We have to mention that Free Commander works with ZIP archives, and you can easily view files and images inside an archive. If you want to work with other types of archives, you can do that via various plug-ins.

The application offers a powerful search engine, and you can use it to search through folders and archives alike.

Other Free Commander features:

  • Create and verify MD5 checksums
  • Folder comparison and synchronization
  • Built-in DOS command line
  • Folder splitting
  • Visually appealing user interface

⇒ Download Free Commander


File Voyager

If you’re looking for a free file manager, we have to recommend FileVoyager. This is a dual-pane file manager with a tabbed interface so you can easily open multiple directories.

The application allows you to browse disks, folders, and archives, and there’s also an FTP feature available. All standard file management options are available and you can access them with a single click.

The application can work with various file archives, but it can also play both audio and video files. We have to mention that FileVoyager requires codecs to do that, so be sure to install them.

As for additional features, the application allows you to compare files and folders, and there’s also a folder synchronization feature.

Here are a few other mentionable features of FileVoyager:

  • Each pane can be turned into a preview pane
  • Preview audio, video, images, and ebooks
  • Ribbon toolbar and breadcrumbs navigation
  • Syntax highlighting
  • File viewer in text, binary, or hex formats

⇒ Download FileVoyager

If you’re looking for a file manager that offers more features than File Explorer, we suggest that you try any of the tools from our list. We also have a guide on the best file manager for Windows 11, so don’t miss it.

Many file managers on our list are completely free, so feel free to try them.

Monster Hunter World packet loss: How to fix it?

Monster Hunter: World is an awesome video game where you hunt epic monsters in various regions. You can either kill or trap the monsters you’re assigned to hunt, depending on your preferences.

Alright, that may not sound exactly great, but get this: the game rewards you with parts from each monster you hunted. You can use the parts to craft more and more powerful gear, needed to hunt more dangerous beasts.

Last, but not least, Monster Hunter: World comes in two flavors. Depending on your social needs, you can be a lonely wolf and hunt by yourself, or team with up to 3 more players to take out monsters together.

Naturally, playing in a party will also increase the difficulty of the monsters you’re hunting. But look at us derailing from the real topic we wanted to discuss, which is packet loss in Monster Hunter: World.

What is packet loss in Monster Hunter: World?

Packet loss is the same, regardless of where you encounter it. It happens whenever packets of data get lost somewhere along the way and never make it to their destination.

Many mistake it for high latency, and they’re not to blame, considering that they cause similar issues. But truth be told, these two events couldn’t be more different. For once, when your connection has latency, the packets eventually make their way to their destination.

In packet loss, well, they get lost for good. So strictly from a resource management standpoint, it’s worse to experience packet loss. The symptoms of packet loss in Monster Hunter: World include:

  • High latency
  • Sluggish character movement
  • Unresponsive menus
  • Sudden game freezes and FPS drops
  • Rubberbanding (when characters get stuck for a while and then suddenly teleport)
  • Game crashes or disconnections

As you can see, it’s not exactly a joking matter, especially if you’re just about to deliver the killing blow to an epic monster with your friends.

What can cause Monster Hunter: World packet loss?

There’s a huge number of reasons you may experience packet loss in Monster Hunter: World. However, one of the most frequent causes of packet loss is network congestion.

To put it shortly, this phenomenon can be observed whenever a certain portion of your connection gets overcrowded. For instance, if your ISP can’t handle traffic properly, you may notice slowdowns at certain times of day. That’s definitely network congestion.

However, this is absolutely not the only thing that can trigger packet loss. These are some of the most common causes:

  • Subpar connection quality (cheap Internet subscription plans)
  • Using Wi-Fi instead of wired connections
  • Old, worn-out Ethernet cables
  • Outdated network adapter drivers on your system
  • Improper router configuration (even being behind a double NAT can slow you down)
  • Outdated router firmware
  • Using a physically limited router (i.e. using a 150 Mbps router on a 300 Mbps connection)
  • Game server issues (you should check for those on forums)
  • ISP bandwidth throttling and improper traffic routing

It’s worth to be mentioned that the underlying issue can occur anywhere between your PC and the game server. Which is exactly why diagnosing and fixing packet loss is usually no walk in the park.

How to fix Monster Hunter: World packet loss?

1. Use a trustworthy VPN service

  1. Buy a premium VPN subscription (we highly recommend Private Internet Access)
  2. Download and install the VPN on your PC
  3. Launch the VPN and log into your account
  4. Connect to a fast server of your choice (nearby servers are usually the fastest)
  5. Launch Monster Hunter: World
  6. Check if there’s any improvement

Note that using a VPN service such as Kape Technologies’ PIA can do wonders for connectivity issues, but only if they’re not on the farther ends of the connection.

To be more specific, if you’re getting packet loss because of chewed-up Ethernet cables, a VPN won’t help. However, replacing the cables will.

Private Internet Access

Private Internet Access

Looking for a VPN to fix packet loss in Monster Hunter: World? PIA might be just the one you need.
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Same goes if the issue is on the game server’s host side. A VPN will still use the origin and destination points of your connection but will try to find a way around your ISP’s default connection.

Thus, it goes without saying that using a VPN to fix packet loss will only work if your ISP is somehow responsible for this situation, either through bandwidth throttling or other ways of limiting your connection.

2. Flush your DNS

  1. On your Windows PC, launch CMD as administrator
  2. Type the following commands in this exact order:

ipconfig /flushdns
ipconfig /registerdns
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
netsh winsock reset

Now it’s very important that you restart your Windows PC as soon as the last command is executed. Only after rebooting you can launch Monster Hunter: World once more and check if the packet loss issue is still there.

Often times, cached data gets stacked in unhealthy build-ups, which can interfere with your connection’s well-being. To prevent that from happening, you can flush and renew your DNS, as well as use the Netsh Winsock reset command.

We also recommend switching from your ISP-assigned DNS to a public, free DNS. We’ve tested Google’s Public Free DNS, Cloudflare, and OpenDNS, and they’ve all shown promising results.

You can, of course, choose whichever you prefer.

3. Manually troubleshoot

  • Restart the game, your PC, router, and/or modem, if necessary
  • Call your ISP and ask them nicely if they can look into the issue and maybe even fix it
  • Check if the Monster Hunter: World servers are up and running, and not undergoing maintenance
  • Inspect your end of the connection thoroughly and look after any malfunctioning component
  • Replace or fix any troublesome component on your end of the connection
  • Check the quality of your Ethernet cables and upgrade them if necessary (for instance from Cat 5 to Cat 6)
  • Always use wired connections instead of Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi packet loss happens way more often)
  • Contact Monster Hunter: World if you think there’s something wrong on their side
  • Avoid peak hours if you suspect your network is congested (or use a VPN to avoid it)
  • Update your system drivers (especially network adapter drivers)
  • Lower the quality settings of the game
  • Close any programs or services on your PC that might be heavy on the bandwidth (torrent & VoIP clients)
  • Choose a different broadcast channel on your wireless router if you’re using Wi-Fi
  • Run a pathping test to see if you’re leaking packets on your end of the connection
CMD pathping

There you have it, a list of suggested fixes that may help you alleviate your Monster Hunter: World packet loss issue. Keep in mind that not even taking all these suggested steps might fix your issue, especially if you have no clue on what’s causing the leak.

However, performing as much steps as you can from the list above may help you increase the quality of your connection. That, in turn, may help you reduce the percentage of lost packets, and even increase your connection’s speed.

Final thoughts on Monster Hunter: World packet loss

All things considered, packet loss can be a bummer, whether you encounter it in Monster Hunter: World or any other place. However, with enough patience and determination, things can significantly improve.

It’s worth noting that, while using a VPN is still one of the most popular fixes for packet loss, it may not help at all if there’s something wrong on your end, or if the game servers have issues.

[wl_navigator]

How to fix Salesforce after the latest Edge update

A lot of trouble seems to have emerged after Edge rolled out the latest stable version last week (v86).

As shown recently, the changes implemented in the downloading process generated some discontent.

Similarly, users have taken to the forums to point out that Salesforce has become unusable for the past few days.

When I click on an url, a new tab is opening in a visual force page. It looks like the app lay-out is not supported or something like that.

Another user is offering more details:

I am working in the version:  86.0.622.38. It looks like the apps in Salesforce are no longer supported in the latest version of Microsoft Edge.

Quick tip:

Whenever an app proves faulty in a specific browser, the easiest solution is to test it in a different one

On this note, we’re pretty sure that Salesforce is perfectly functional in Opera.

Not only it is faster, and considerably lighter compared to Edge, but it comes with multiple exclusive features such as ad blocker, built-in messenger apps, customizable speed dials,  separate workspaces, or visual bookmarks.

The built-in free and unlimited VPN is also one of the main perks of the free, user-friendly browser.

Opera

Opera

Use Salesforce in Opera to improve your workflow and take advantage of all the exclusive features this browser offers.

How do the changes in Edge affect Salesforce users?

How do the changes in Edge affect Salesforce users?


More specifically, with the release of Edge 86, SamesSite cookies are set as SameSite=Lax by default. (Until the Edge 86 release, the default was SameSite=None; Secure. )

This means that any website using non-secure access (HTTP) is blocked and also that custom Salesforce integrations relying on cookies can’t be accessed anymore.

Salesforce has notified its users about the upcoming changes while also mentioning that all editions of Lightning Experience and Salesforce Classic are impacted.

What should I do to make Salesforce work in Edge?

fix salesforce not working on edge 86


1.Revert the changes

According to Salesforce, developers can opt in to explicitly use setting SameSite=None; Secure. However, this might affect the security of the used apps.

2. Switch to HTTPS connection

First, one can check the connection type used in their org. From Setup, in the Quick Find box, enter Session Settings, then select Session Settings.

If some sites or portals are still using HTTP connection (although the secure one should have been enabled by default), you can request the changes as follows:

  1. From Setup, in the Quick Find box, enter Sites, then select Sites.
  2. Click the site you want to edit, and ensure that the Require Secure Connections (HTTPS) checkbox is selected.

One can also run some tests in a sandbox as suggested in this Trailblazer Community article.

Note that resetting the Edge settings or clearing the browser cookies and cache will not solve the issue.

We hope that the problem is clarified now. If you have any comments on this topic, please use the dedicated section below.

We’ve also covered a similar topic with Salesforce not working in Chrome, so you might want to check that out as well.

[wl_navigator]

How to Fix WinRAR No Archives Found Error Quick & Easy

Using WinRAR is fairly common for reducing the size of large attachments and even saving some storage space on the PC.

However, users report getting a strange error message No archives found or  Does not appear to be a valid archive when trying to extract files through WinRAR.

These are some of the most common error messages found during WinRAR extraction.

Several reasons could have led to this message, such as viruses on your device, an incomplete download process, or using untrustable third-party tools for performing the file compression.

Don’t worry; we’ve got you covered in all cases. In this article, we will explore in more depth what you need to do to fix the error and safely extract your files.

How can I fix the No archives found error in WinRAR?

1. Use a dedicated software

The No archives found error usually appears when the initial compression of the files has been corrupted or if you have some viruses on your device that may have altered the file structure of the RAR file.

There are several tools out there that you can use to compress large files, but to avoid getting this kind of error, we would recommend that you use a reliable tool, such as WinZip.

This amazing tool allows you to compress, manage, and share all your files quickly and without compromising their quality.

Sharing, editing, watermarking, or moving the files stored on your PC or in the cloud service are other useful features you will have access to after installing this software.

If you are concerned about the privacy of the compressed files, we have good news.

WinZip uses a protection algorithm similar to the one used for bank protection. Your files will remain confidential throughout the entire process.

Using this software is very easy; all you need to do is download it and run the installation package on your device. Afterward, you can select the files or folders that need to be compressed.

Let’s have a look at some of its key features:

  • File splitter features.
  • Repairs faulty ZIP file.
  • Extract multiple files option.
  • Compression features.
  • Password protection feature.
  • Data back-up and sharing options.
  • Supports multiple compression formats: Zip, Zipx, RAR, 7z, TAR, GZIP, VHD, XZ, and more.

WinZip

Compress, store, and share all your files with this error-free software. Get the best deal now!
Free Trial Visit Website

2. Use WinRAR Repair

  1. Launch WinRAR and then select the location where the corrupted file is saved.
  2. Next, click on the corrupted archive file (RAR or ZIP file).
  3. Click on the Repair button in the tool and choose the repair archiver from the drop-down list that appears.
  4. Choose the location that you want to save the new archive after repairing the file.
  5. Next, click on OK to save settings.
  6. After the repair process is completed, go to the folder chosen as the location for the new archive and access the repaired file.

3. Use the shortcut menu

  1. Launch WinRAR.
  2. Right-click on the corrupted archive.
  3. Click on extract files in the shortcut menu that pops up.
  4. Move to the Extraction path and options menu.
  5. Next, select a folder to save decompressed archives.
  6. Check the box indicating keep broken files in Miscellaneous.
  7. Click OK to start the extraction process.

Note: Although this method works well in some cases, trying all the alternative methods listed above is recommended before resorting to this method to repair archived files.

4. Open the file with File Explorer

  1. Click on the corrupted ZIP file.
  2. Select Properties, on the Home tab and open it.
  3. Set Open with File Explorer, on the General tab,
  4. Next, at the bottom unblock the Security option and click OK.
  5. Go to Extract in the View tab on the selected file and click Extract All.

This is all. You can easily fix the No archive found error using a dedicated error-free tool such as WinZip or by using one of the other alternatives we’ve described in this article.

We hope one of our suggestions helped you solve the error, and if you have additional comments or suggestions, please let us know in the comments section below.

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Why does WinRar never expire? Let’s find out

In the new digital age, most of our communication has transitioned to the online environment. Managing your documents on your Windows 10 device is not always as easy as it seems.

Having some easy ways to transfer large files or store them without compromising on their quality, has become a priority for almost everyone.

While any archiving software can simply unzip and zip files, there are plenty of other options available on the market that don’t do only that but offer you a wide array of other incredibly useful features.

Quick tip: Use WinZip

If you want to have access to a full set of features that include a variety of options, you don’t have to look any further than WinZip.

WinZip has some amazing features to offer and can help you unzip files easily, encrypt the data, break up archives, and also rebuild them easily. Besides the seamless integration with iCloud Drive, Dropbox, Google Drive, it also works perfectly with ZIP, ZIPX, RAR, LHA, 7Z, JAR, and WAR formats.

One of the most important features of this app is the ability to repair ZIP files, includes a powerful cleaner tool, and everything is wrapped nicely into a user-friendly and beautiful interface.

All in all, if you want an error-free tool that will extract RAR and ZIP files fast and efficiently, then WinZip is the best way to go.

”WinZip”

”WinZip”

”Archive,
”Free
&aff_sub2=Native” current_url=”true” button_text=”Get it now” image=”https://windowsreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/winzip-logo-e1594725366607-210×160.png”]

How come WinRar never expires?

The team behind WinRar chose this way of promoting their product, which doesn’t involve stopping your access to the software entirely.

WinRar just limits the number of features available for you and keeps reminding you that you can buy it every time you open the software.

This can surely get annoying over time, thus our recommendation of the powerful WinZip.

Is WinRar free software?

WinRar is not a free software, but they have chosen the strategy of letting users have access to the trial version indefinitely, in order to improve the chances that the user will at some point want to buy the product.

The fact that WinRar does actually accommodate the basic needs of archiving and unzipping files is unquestionable and while it’s free to use, allowing it to remain like this, could create a better possibility for the user to spend some money at some point.

We hope that this article has offered more in-depth details about RAR files and their utility.

If you have additional comments and suggestions, please let us know in the comments section below. title here

Why does WinRAR last forever?

Even though the capabilities of the WinRar software are not fully-fledged as a trial version, it still offers some basic archiving options, and this makes most of the users satisfied with using it.

Because the market is over-saturated with a variety of software options, most people tend to stick with the one they have been using for a while.

If you’d like to take your archiving experience to the next level, we recommend that you try out WinZip by clicking the link above.

[wl_navigator]

How to fix Among Us game bugs easily

Among Us is a very surprising game for all intents and purposes.

It was first released 2 years ago but fell into obscurity quite fast, but now it is among the most popular games on Steam and Itch.io.

However, it doesn’t matter how long a game has been on the market, bugs are still something that can be found.

Because of Among Us’s sudden surge in popularity, we’ve decided to cover some of these bugs, as well as provide you with solutions to fixing them.


Quick tip:

Among Us is one of those pocket-sized games that can deliver hours of fun.

Join hundreds of thousands of players in the hottest game of the season!

Among Us

Among Us

A game of deception and betrayal where you never know who to trust. Get Among Us today and play on!

How do I fix common bugs in Among Us?

1. Stuck in the wrong region bug

According to the Steam forum reports, there is a bug that is triggered by changing your region mid-connection:

There is a bug where if you change regions while connecting, the game may overwrite your region data with the wrong region. This makes you connect to the wrong region later. It can easily cause room codes to not be found.

While this scenario is probably hard to replicate on a daily basys it is still something worth noting.

Solution:

Luckily enough, the same post provided users with a solution. If you own the Steam version of Among Us, all you need to do is delete the serverInfo2 file.

It is located in the following location:

%appdata%\..\LocalLow\Innersloth\Among Us


2. Innocents can sometimes vent

According to a Reddit post, there have been reports of games where innocents could sometimes vent:

On the map MIRA HQ we had a game where an innocent was able to vent. When we voted him off, he was counted as an innocent.

Solution:

Unfortunately, this seems like a glitch in the game’s coding and not a client issue on the user’s side. As such, the only thing you can do is wait for a hotfix.


3. Dead players could call meetings with other players

One mechanic-breaking bug was also reported on Reddit where users stated that they could call on meetings in otherwise impossible situations:

This has happened to me only a handful of times, but in (2 imposter) games, there were times that i found one imp kill someone and I report the body, only to notice the second imp killing me before the players convene.

So literally a dead player calling a meeting of players. Imps go scot free cos no crewmates witness the crime and i can’t communicate with them. Is this, like the title suggests, a glitch or an intentional game mechanic?

Solution:

Just like with the previous issue, this seems like a glitch in the game’s coding and not a client issue on the user’s side. As such, the only thing you can do is wait for a hotfix.


4. Players getting kicked randomly out of matches

Sometimes Among Us matches can be cut short because of error messages, as per the reports of some players:

Can you help me? When I join a game, 9 seconds in I get kicked because of ‘sent 6 pings that remote server can not respond to’. How do I fix this

Solution:

This issue is most likely caused by faulty Wi-Fi settings, so try resetting your router and connect to the game again.


5. Role distribution RNG seems off-balanced

Many Among Us players have reported that sometimes they can go for up to 20 games without ever playing an imposter:

I’ve played 20-25 games with my friends so far and not once have I ever been imposter. I joined 3 imposter games and still haven’t been imposter once after 5 more games. Is there a setting or something that prohibits that?

Solution:

This itself is not much of an issue but rather poor luck in terms of RNG. Since the number of crewmates is much higher than that of imposters, it goes without saying that the chance of you being given the role of the imposter is also very low.

Because of the randomness, this already slim chance can seem even lower.


6. Characters walk out of cameras

Since the game is all about navigating throughout the ship, bugs that limits your movements and ability to participate in events can mean a lost match.

That’s exactly the case with a  bug reported by users where their characters would become uncontrollable:

Strange bug, my character keep walking out of camera, I couldn’t do anything and couldn’t participate in the ensuing votation. […]

Solution:

This is more of a workaround rather than a solution, but whenever you move your character, try to keep your camera on him, and never pane away so that he never ends up off-screen


7. Players get kicked out of the ship randomly

Apparently, players could end up outside the map and could no longer go back inside until the end of the match:

I was off the map and couldn’t get back on, there was a barrier. So was green

Solution:

Unfortunately, this is a visual bug that has more to do with the game’s coding. If you do encounter this bug, all you can do is wait for the next game hotfix.


8. Imposters kills everyone in seconds

The purpose of the game is to either kill everyone as an Imposter or find the imposters as Crewmates.

That being said, a bug where an imposter can kill everyone in mere seconds means a ruined game, and that’s what some players have been reporting:

There were 3 of us together, and the impostor killed all 3 our us at the same time in like 2 seconds

Solution:

Unfortunately, it is unknown whether this happens because the imposter is exploiting a bug, or if he is hacking.

As such, the only long-term solution would be to report the player after the match.


That pretty much wraps up our list of common bugs and issues found in Among Us.

If you know of any other bugs that broke the game for you, let us know by leaving us a message in the comments section below.


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WinRAR not responding / stuck when opening archive

The popular data compression, encryption and archiving tool WinRAR for Windows can stop working when extracting a large zip or RAR file. It will show a not responding error message when it’s at about 98%.

WinRAR can get stuck or stop responding due to several reasons. One of the reason is download error where the file can get corrupted during the download The issue can also occur with zip files with a changed file extension.

In this article, we explore a few troubleshooting steps to help you resolve the WinRAR not responding problem.

How do I fix the WinRAR not responding on Windows 10 problem?

1. Use WinZip for file compression

WinRAR not responding

WinZip is a popular compression software that can help you fix the WinRAR not responding issue. Using a good WinRAR alternative, like WinZip, can help if there is a glitch with the app during file extraction.

Apart from the best-in-class file compression, WinZip also offers some additional features. For one, it comes with a versatile file management system on Windows computers and devices.

It also comes with easy sharing by email, cloud, social media and IM, PDF conversion, watermarking, and excellent encryption to protect your personal data. With Dropbox, Google Drive, and OneDrive integration, it offers access to cloud storage accounts.

Key features of WinZip:

  • Supports all major file formats including Zip, RAR, 7Z, and GZIP.
  • Bank-level encryption for file protection.
  • Built-in file manager to access and manage files on your PC, network, and cloud.
  • PDF conversion, watermarking, and easy sharing features.

”WinZip”

”WinZip”

”Avoid
”Free
&aff_sub2=Native” current_url=”true” button_text=”Get it now” image=”https://windowsreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/WinZip-button-210×160.png”]

2. Check your antivirus software

WinRAR not responding

If you are noticing your PC to have stopped responding along with WinRAR, check your antivirus. Your antivirus software may have started scanning the zip file to protect your PC from malware and adware.

To confirm if the antivirus is causing the issue, do the following.

  1. End the WinRAR extraction process. Open Task Manager and then kill the WinRAR process.
  2. Right-click on your antivirus icon by expanding the system tray.
  3. Select Disable temporarily or similar options.
  4. Once the antivirus is disabled, try extracting the file again with WinRAR.

Once completed, turn on your antivirus again and then try compressing or unzipping the file. If the issue persists with the antivirus on, install a different antivirus and see if that resolves the error.


3. Update WinRAR

WinRAR stuck archiving file

  1. Launch WinRAR on your Windows PC.
  2. Click on Help and then select About WinRAR.
  3. In the About WinRAR window, look for the WinRAR version info and the edition.
  4. Next, open the WinRAR download page on your PC.
  5. Click the Latest version of WinRAR under English WinRAR and RAR releases. Make sure to choose the correct edition 32-bit/64-bit depending on your PC/OS.
  6. Click Continue to download WinRAR.
  7. Run the installer and proceed with the installation. Make sure you have closed the WinRAR app before running the installer to prevent any errors.

Once installed, unzip a file and check if the app continues to get stuck or stops responding.


4. Check for permission issues

WinRAR not responding

  1. Press the Windows key, and type WinRAR.
  2. Right-click on the WinRAR app and select Run as Administrator.
  3. Try compressing any file and check for any improvements.

If running WinRAR as administrator fixes the issue, do the following.

File compression stuck at 99%

  1. Right-click on WinRAR desktop shortcut and select Properties.
  2. In the Properties window open the Compatibility.
  3. Under Settings, check Run this program as an administrator.
  4. Click Apply and OK to save the changes.
  5. Launch WinRAR and check for any improvements.

5. Reinstall WinRAR

File compression stuck at 99%

  1. Press the Windows key + R.
  2. Type appwiz.cpl and click OK.
  3. In Control Panel, select WinRAR.
  4. Click on Uninstall. Confirm the action by clicking on Uninstall/Yes.
  5. Once uninstalled, reboot the computer.
  6. Download and reinstall the app from the official WinRAR page.

The WinRAR not responding/stuck when opening archive problem can occur due to outdated WinRAR version or permission issues. Updating the app to the latest version can fix the problem. 

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Microsoft Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint to get state-of-the-art image captioning technology

Microsoft announced today that it has developed a new image captioning system that can generate captions for images automatically. The new capability is launching first in Azure Cognitive Services today and will propagate soon to Microsoft Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint, the company said this morning.

The AI model was trained with a huge dataset of images paired with word tags, and each tag was mapped to a distinct object in an image. Then the researchers fine-tuned the pre-trained model for captioning on the already captioned images dataset. The training process helped the model to learn how to compose a sentence. The new AI model leverages the visual vocabulary to generate captions for images containing novel objects accurately.

While the researchers admit the AI isn’t perfect, but it’s two times better than the image captioning model currently being used in the company’s products and services. The researchers found that it can create captions that are more descriptive and accurate than the captions written manually by humans.

“We’re taking this AI breakthrough to Azure as a platform to serve a broader set of customers,” said Xuedong Huang, a Microsoft technical fellow and the chief technology officer of Azure AI Cognitive Services in Redmond, Washington. “It is not just a breakthrough on the research; the time it took to turn that breakthrough into production on Azure is also a breakthrough.”

Since the last couple of years, Microsoft has been working on an ambitious goal to infuse the power of AI across several of its products and services to improve productivity. With this new automatic image captioning system, Microsoft aims to help all users access the vital content in any image for people with vision impairment.

What do you think about the project, and how the researchers can improve it? Let us know in the comments down below.

Microsoft rolls out Windows Search Box improvements for the Windows 10 May 2019 update and higher

Along with a new Dev channel build today, Microsoft is rolling out a small change for Windows 10 that most people should notice. Indeed, the company announced some improvements for the recent searches experience in the Windows Search Box, detailing it should make them easier to get back to.

Rolling out in a server-side update for Windows 10 version 1903 (the May 2019 Update) and higher, there are is just one thing to note. According to Microsoft, you can now remove individual items in the recent search list in Windows Search by clicking the “x” that shows when you hover your mouse over the items. You also will notice that the recent list still shows the last four items that you’ve searched for and opened from Windows Search Box.

Windows 10 Search

You’ll be able to turn this feature off if you don’t like it. Simply click Search history on this device under Settings, Search, and Permissions and History. Please be aware, though that if you’ve not used Windows Search Box before and have 0 recent items, the recent list will be hidden.

Windows 10 Insider build 20236 adds new option to change your display’s refresh rate in the Settings app

Microsoft has just released the Windows 10 preview build 20236 for Insiders in the Dev Channel, which brings a new option for changing the refresh rate of your display right from the Settings app. The new option is available in Settings > System > Display > Advanced display settings, the available refresh rates in the dropdown menu will vary depending on your display.

That’s the only new feature in this build, and it’s nice to see another option from the legacy Control Panel being added to the Windows 10 Settings app. This new build also includes a long list of fixes and known issues, including a fixed for a bug causing File Explorer to crash when renaming a file. The Windows Insider team has also fixed another issue causing the same app updates to appear repeatedly in the Microsoft Store app. You can find the full list of changes, bug fixes, and known issues in the build 20236 below:

Changes and Improvements

  • To improve accessibility of PDFs for Narrator and other screen reader users, in the cases where Unicode is not provided by the printing application, we’re updating our Microsoft Print to PDF option to make an attempt to convert the provided font glyphs to Unicode.

Fixes

We’ve fixed an issue where after taking recent builds some Insiders received an unexpected Compatibility Assistant notification that “Microsoft Office is no longer available”.

  • We’ve fixed an issue where some Office applications were crashing or missing after updating to a new build.
  • We fixed an issue that could result in the same app update installing repeatedly on the previous build.
  • We’ve fixed an issue where some devices are experiencing a DPC_WATCHDOG_VIOLATION bugcheck
  • We fixed an issue resulting in some Insiders experiencing an UNHANDLED_EXCEPTION in dxgkrnl.sys bugcheck in the last few builds.
  • We fixed an issue that could result in a 0x800F0247 error when installing driver updates.
  • We fixed an issue that could result in sihost.exe crashing when trying to share an app via the Share option when right clicking a tile in Start.
  • We fixed an issue where if “Animate controls and elements inside windows” was turned off in Performance Options, dragging a tile to another tile group in Start would result in the dragged tile no longer responding to mouse click.
  • We fixed an issue resulting in Narrator sometimes reading out an incorrect number of nodes in File Explorer’s navigation pane (for example, saying 1 of 2 items, instead of 1 of 4 items).
  • We fixed an issue that could result in the icon next to “Scan with Microsoft Defender” (when right clicking a file in File Explorer) being very small or large.
  • We fixed an issue where the icon next to “Scan with Microsoft Defender” when right clicking a file wasn’t updating to reflect high contrast when high contrast was enabled.
  • We fixed an issue that could result in File Explorer crashing when renaming a file.
  • We fixed an issue from recent builds resulting in clicking on items in Timeline not launching the corresponding app.
  • We fixed an issue from recent builds impacting certain apps with search boxes, where the search box would disappear when scrolling the app even if it was supposed to stay visible.
  • We fixed an issue resulting in intermittent connectivity loss when connecting to a PC via remote desktop connection, as a result of the connected PC attempting to sleep.
  • We fixed an issue where when using the windns.h API to discover services on the local network, the TTL value of the discovered service wasn’t used – instead using the default value of 120 seconds.
  • ]We fixed an issue where the “Listen to this device” checkbox state in microphone properties wasn’t persisted on upgrade and would revert to default.
  • We fixed an issue where adjusting volume also muted/unmuted when “App volume and device preferences” was open.
  • We fixed an issue that could result in the Network & Internet Settings Status page sometimes unexpectedly not showing all current connections.
  • We fixed an issue that could result in your cursor disappearing when typing into Command Prompt with a Chinese IME active.
  • We fixed an issue that could result in the touch keyboard sometimes not making any sounds while typing even though the setting to have sound while typing was enabled.
  • We fixed an issue where the French AZERTY touch keyboard layout was French keyboard is missing number hint labels on the A/Z keys, and the Select All/Undo labels were at the top instead of bottom.
  • We fixed an issue where the child keys on the Japanese 12-key touch keyboard layout weren’t following the updated key design.
  • We fixed an issue where Narrator was unexpectedly saying “Expressive Input Panel” when you touched a text candidate in the touch keyboard.
  • We fixed an issue that could result in the touch keyboard getting stuck in a suspended state after waking a PC from sleep, leading to it not invoking automatically when setting focus to a text field.
  • We fixed an issue with the updated touch keyboard design where when using Arabic the clipboard icon would appear on the wrong side of the copied text in the candidate bar.
  • We fixed an issue with the Thai touch keyboard layout, where the shift-state characters were placed in inconsistent locations on the keys.
  • We fixed an issue where when using the updated Emoji Panel design, Narrator wasn’t reading the category names in the Most Recently Used section.
  • We fixed an issue with the Emoji Panel when using Narrator, where after inserting an emoji, Narrator would then stay silent on navigating further to other emoji.
  • We fixed an issue where it wasn’t possible to use the arrow keys to navigate through the gif section of the Emoji Panel.
  • We fixed some contrast issues in the updated Emoji Panel and touch keyboard expressive input area when using high contrast.
  • We fixed an issue that could result in the Voice Typing settings menu drawing off screen.
  • We fixed a regression that was breaking NVIDIA CUDA vGPU acceleration in the Windows Subsystem for Linux. Please see this GitHub thread for full details.

Known issues

  • We’re working on an issue where new applications will fail to install with a Windows Installer service error on x86 systems. Windows x64 isn’t affected.
  • We’re working on an issue where when attempting to perform a Reset this PC using the Keep My Files option will fail with the error, “There was a problem resetting your PC. No changes were made”.
  • We’re looking into reports of the update process hanging for extended periods of time when attempting to install a new build.
  • Live previews for pinned sites aren’t enabled for all Insiders yet, so you may see a grey window when hovering over the thumbnail in the taskbar. We’re continuing to work on polishing this experience.
  • We’re working on enabling the new taskbar experience for existing pinned sites. In the meantime, you can unpin the site from the taskbar, remove it from the edge://apps page, and then re-pin the site.
  • We’re working on a fix for an issue causing some devices experiencing a KMODE_EXCEPTION bugcheck when using certain virtualization technologies.
  • We are working on a fix for an issue where selecting an IME candidate or hardware keyboard text prediction candidate may insert the candidate adjacent to the one selected.
  • We’re investigating an issue reported by some Insiders wherein the taskbar is obscuring the Power button in the Start menu. If this is happening on your PC, you may need to use the Windows key plus X menu to shutdown for the time being.
  • We’re investigating reports from some Insiders that they’re experiencing APC_INDEX_MISMATCH bugchecks.

Lastly, the Windows Insider team announced today some Windows Search improvements that are rolling now to all Windows 10 users running the May 2019 Update or higher. This is a server-side change to display some of your recent searches when you open Windows Search Box, and you can learn more in our separate post.

Zoom announces new features, including Teams Together Mode-like “Immersive scenes”

While Zoom has become a verb in this new era of rampant video conferencing, it seems with its latest round of feature updates that the platform is officially tossing its hat into the ring for serious enterprise alternatives.

Announced via its blog today, Zoom unveiled a slew of new features that are available now and some, that will be available in the near future that should put it on par with the likes of Microsoft Teams, Slack, and Google Hangouts.

As Zoom has whimsically called it, Zoomtopia 2020 is the branding for a full platform introduction of new features that include Immersive scenes, new reactions & animations, video waiting rooms, recording highlights, and high-fidelity audio.

Drilling down into just some of the new features, the addition of Immersive scenes is reminiscent of Microsoft Team’s recent partnership with the NBA, as it mimics what used to be in-person-like settings. Perhaps, more applicable and useful than being an audience at a stadium will Zoom’s replica classroom setting for the millions of families now homeschooling.

Classroom

Zoom’s new customized lobbies also add a bit more professionalism as well as adding lower thirds to more clearly identify who is speaking at times.

Other high-level features coming to Zoom also include a new Nomadic E911 for Zoom Phones which will automatically initiate protocols to alert internal safety team members and E911 dispatchers simultaneously.

The designated internal safety team member also gets an alert on Zoom Chat. A safety team member can listen in and then connect to the call to offer assistance to the person who needs help, or to provide additional instruction to the emergency responders. To assist the emergency responders further, the safety team can trigger Zoom Rooms Digital Signage to help locate the person needing help.

In addition, Zoom Phone will also get SMS integration by allowing members in a call queue to transfer text responses between team members. This new feature should reduce redundancy for members who communicate across several messaging apps. Unfortunately, Zoom Phone SMS is only in beta right now but should start rolling out more widely in early 2021.

AI is also coming to Zoom to help with spam detection. Admins will be able to set a threshold for AI-based spam detection to reduce the number of spam calls winding up in voicemail boxes.

Beyond all of the consumer-facing updates, Zoom is also working to implement Zapps, the company’s new third-party app development platform as well as OnZoom which is aimed at attracting content creators.

According to a report from ZDNet, “Zapps is about bringing apps into the Zoom experience with a click.” In a similar platform expansion model, OnZoom looks to be the company’s attempt to create a dashboard for event creators who host events on the platform. With OnZoom, creators can track items such as ticket sales, gross income, cancellations, event minutes, and total tickets sold among other things.

The two initiatives highlight’s Zoom’s broader ambitions for the platform that look beyond being a go-to resource during a pandemic but to become a pillar platform for future communications of all types. It’ll be interesting to see how Microsoft evolves Teams to keep parity and mindshare with Zoom going forward.

How to fix Pinnacle Game Profiler not opening in Windows 10

For those who don’t know, Pinnacle Game Profiler is software with which you can set up custom controller profiles for Windows games.

However, some users have stated in forum posts that Pinnacle Game Profiler doesn’t start for them in Windows 10. All sorts of errors occur out of the blue.

The software often crashes upon launch as well. These are a few resolutions that might fix PGP when it doesn’t start.

How can I fix Pinnacle Game Profiler startup issues?

  1. Disable your antivirus software
  2. Run Pinnacle Game Profiler as Administrator
  3. Update your Pinnacle installation
  4. Reinstall Pinnacle Game Profiler
  5. Adjust the date in Windows 10

1. Disable your antivirus software

  1. Press the Windows key + X hotkey, and then open Task Manager from the Win + X menu.
  2. Select the Start-up tab in the snapshot directly below.
  3. Then select your antivirus software there, and press the Disable button.
  4. Restart Windows after removing the antivirus utility from the startup.

Some antivirus software, such as Norton packages, can also conflict with PGP. Thus, turning off antivirus utilities might also fix PGP.

You can usually temporarily disable an antivirus utility by selecting a disable or turn off setting on its system tray icon’s context menu. Or you can temporarily remove the utility from the Windows 10 startup as outlined above.

After doing so, think of using an antivirus solution such as Vipre since it works quietly in the background and never leads to such Pinnacle Game Profiler startup errors.

Besides that, make sure that there’s no compromising involved when it comes to keeping your PC safe from malware, ransomware, and other online threats.

Quite the opposite, you’re about to enjoy top-rated protection and preconfigured settings – yes, they are part of the package for those who aren’t exactly tech-savvy.

In case you need to switch to a more efficient antivirus that doesn’t interfere with the Pinnacle program, you can choose from the best antivirus software on Windows 10.

2. Run Pinnacle Game Profiler as Administrator

  1. Right-click your Pinnacle Game Profiler shortcut and select Properties.
  2. Select the Compatibility tab shown directly below.
  3. Select the Run this program as an administrator option.
  4. Click the Apply button, and press the OK button to close the Pinnacle Game Profiler Properties window.

First, note that you need to run Pinnacle Game Profiler as an administrator. You can run PGP as admin by right-clicking its shortcut and selecting Run as administrator.

You can also configure the software to run as an Administrator. In order to do so, just take a look at the above steps.

3. Update your Pinnacle installation

  1. Some users have fixed PGP by updating the Pinnacle installation. To do that, right-click the Start button and select Run.
  2. Enter appwiz.cpl in Run’s Open text box and click OK to open the Programs and Features applet shown directly below.
  3. Select Pinnacle Game Profiler and press its Uninstall/Change button.
  4. Then select the Update Pinnacle Installation option there.
  5. Press the Next button.
  6. Note that the InstallShield Wizard window includes a Repair Pinnacle Installation option, which might also come in handy for fixing PGP.

4. Reinstall Pinnacle Game Profiler

Some users have confirmed that reinstalling Pinnacle Game Profiler has gotten the software up and running. Uninstall your current PGP software with a third-party uninstaller.

If you’re not sure what to do next, it is always a good idea to rely on powerful uninstaller software to remove certain programs and apps from your PC.

To find the most reliable solution for reinstalling the PGP program, try out the best uninstaller software on the market.

5. Adjust the date in Windows 10

  1. Open Cortana’s search box by pressing the Type here to search button.
  2. Enter the keyword date in the search box, and then select Change the date and time.
  3. Toggle both the Set the time automatically options off if they’re on.
  4. Then you can press the Change button to open the window in the snapshot directly below.
  5. Select a date about one month back, and press the Change button.

A few users have also stated that they’ve fixed PGP not starting by adjusting the Windows system date to a month prior to the actual date before opening the software.

That’s a curious fix that probably won’t work for everybody, but it’s worth a shot. Just refer to the above procedure in order to adjust the date in Windows.

Those are some of the resolutions that some users have kick-started Pinnacle Game Profiler with. If you’ve fixed PGP with an alternative resolution, feel free to share it below.

New PowerToys pre-release version improves Video Conferencing Mute feature, and more

Microsoft has rolled out a new experimental build (version 0.24) for its PowerToys utilities for Windows 10. The update aims explicitly to address existing issues affecting the new Video Conferencing Mute tool and includes all the fixes introduced in version 0.23.2.

The changelog for this release also mentions “telemetry for settings,” but the company hasn’t provided more details about it yet.

Here’s the full list of improvements and fixes in PowerToys version 0.24:

Software/Hardware compatibility:

Camera overlay image:

  • image dialog doesn’t work when running settings as admin

Status toolbar:

  • it shows always, even when the option to hide it is on
  • it always use the light theme
  • always open on startup even when disabled #6396

Microphone:

  • not all microphones are muted
  • offer option to select which microphone to mute

Settings UI:

  • settings info for hotkeys valid modifiers – #6246 (comment)
  • Fixed possible crash in PowerToys when the module is turned off

Code cleanup:

  • move VideoConferenceViewModel.cs from Settings.UI to Settings.UI.Lib
  • move toolbar out of the VideoConferenceSettings

Telemetry:

  • add telemetry for settings

It is important to note that it’s a download-only release, and users will not be able to install it via WinGet. “This release will not be on WinGet due to the driver still prompting for permission during install time,” the company explained.

Those who are interested in installing the experimental version can head to the GitHub page now to download the tool.

TY the Tasmanian Tiger just got an HD re-release on Xbox One and Xbox Series X

The classic video game, TY the Tasmanian Tiger, just received an HD re-release on Microsoft’s family of Xbox One consoles. This game, like most Xbox One titles, will also be playable on the upcoming Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S consoles as well.

As its name suggests, TY the Tasmanian Tiger HD is an HD remaster of the original game which came out on the OG Xbox console way back in 2002. Very little appears to have been changed beyond the slight visual upgrade which should appease gaming purists. Xbox Achievements have also been added.

Here’s the game description:

G’day, mate! Are you ready to explore the wilds of the Australian Outback in this remastered version of the classic game, TY the Tasmanian Tiger? Join TY on a RIPPER of an adventure to free his family from the DREAMING and stop the nefarious evil genius BOSS CASS from removing mammals from the top of the food chain.

To help you on your quest, you’ve got a BEAUT arsenal of boomerangs, sharp teeth, and the help of a few friends! So don’t be a galah – let’s head down under, and have a CORKER of a time! BEAUTY, BOTTLER, BONZA!

Are you a long-time fan of TY the Tasmanian Tiger or will this be your first time playing? Let us know in the comments and then follow us on Twitter and Facebook for more Xbox gaming news.

TY the Tasmanian Tiger HD
TY the Tasmanian Tiger HD
Developer:
Krome Studios Inc
Price:
$29.99

Twitter updates on Windows 10 and web in preparation for the USA election

The official list of changes that have been made to the Twitter web app over the past month or so has been released and the developers seem to have been a lot busier than what many assumed.

In addition to a variety of accessibility improvements, trending topics were given more information, the Settings UI was made a lot quicker to navigate, and preparations have been made for the disabling of regular RTs in the USA during the weeks leading up to the election.

Here’s the full list of changes:

New

  • Accessibility: We’ve improved accessibility for tab components on Twitter.com! You can now use the left and right arrow keys to navigate across individual tabs when the tab component is focused, and enter to select a new tab. Tab navigation will move you to the selected tab, and then into its contents.
  • Elevating the Quote Tweet composer: Beginning October 20 through at least the end of Election week in the US, we’ll be making changes to encourage consideration when amplifying Tweets. The Retweet action will now open the Quote Tweet composer directly. If you don’t add anything to the composer, it will still appear as a Retweet. You can find more information about these changes here.
  • Trends: For topics that are trending with multiple terms, we now render the additional context under a “Trending with” footer. These additional terms will link to the appropriate search page.
  • Settings: We’ve given our settings screens a refresh! Discoverability and navigation should be improved as we’ve reduced the number of steps needed to find your Privacy and safety settings. We’ve also grouped settings differently to increase clarity and better match user expectations. Sections are now represented with icons which adds a bit of flair, and helps with visual delineation.

Updated

  • Accessibility: Added improvements to the composer so that screen reader announcements when you’ve gone over the character limit are less aggressive. The announcements will also let you know how many characters you’ve gone over.
  • Conversation Controls: You will no longer see the conversation controls education prompt for every Tweet in a conversation.
  • DMs: We’ve rolled out a number of updates to DM conversations. 1-1 conversations now include a header with user profile information, and group conversations without titles will now list participants. We’ve also consolidated block and report actions on message requests.
  • DM Drawer: The DM drawer will now animate when you open and close it.
  • Navigation: Some items in the side navigation may now shrink or appear under the “more” menu to prevent vertical scrolling when the window is short.
  • Toasts: Muting and unmuting accounts will now cause the account name to be shown in the toast.
  • Toasts: Saving and deleting searches will now display toasts.

Fixed

  • Accessibility: We’ve fixed issues with focus rings being present on parent elements when focusing their children. Focus states on parents and children will now behave more consistently, and we’ve added focus rings to elements that didn’t have them previously.
  • Accessibility: The video player volume slider will now open when you’ve focused the volume button.
  • Accessibility: Quote Tweet contents will now be read by screen readers as part of the content of the parent Tweet.
  • Composer: When composing a Tweet with multiple URLs, the card that’s shown in the composer preview will match the card that’s shown after the Tweet is sent.
  • DMs: Fixed an issue where cards would resize rapidly in DM conversations due to the presence of scrollbars. This would cause a strobing effect, and was an uncommon occurrence.
  • Events: Fixed an issue with the Events header where longer titles in right-to-left languages would be truncated in the wrong spot.
  • Lists: List screens will no longer show faulty error states when there’s data available.
  • Scrolling: Your scroll position in timelines will no longer be lost when you have the DM Drawer open.
  • Tweets: The action menu will now close after clicking “Why am I seeing this ad?”.
  • Tweets: Fixed issues with Tweets that were in scheduled or drafted states not displaying the correct Quote Tweet when being updated in the composer.
  • Typeahead: On Safari, spelling suggestions should no longer interfere with the suggestions popover menu.
  • Typeahead: Prevent scenarios where selecting a suggested item would actually select the previous item in the list.
  • Typeahead: Fixed an issue where automatically completing an item would sometimes leave two copies of the mentioned item.
  • Video: Carousels with video will now play properly when moving between items with reduced motion enabled.
  • Video: When viewing video at smaller screen sizes, the control bar elements and buttons will now dynamically resize to prevent overlapping controls.

Have you noticed any of these changes in the Twitter web app or do they all come as a surprise? Let us know in the comments below and then follow us on Twitter for more tech news.

Twitter
Twitter
Developer:
Twitter Inc.
Price:
Free

Best File Manager for Windows 10 [Out of 15 Tested in 2026]

Many tech-savvy users aren’t happy with Windows Explorer and this is why many are choosing a different file manager software.

Windows Exporer lacks certain features that third-party file managers have such as advanced search, bulk rename, FTP client, tabbed interface, dual panes, and this can be a deal-breaker for some advanced users.

If you’re looking for the best file manager software for Windows 10, read on to find out.

What’s the best file manager software for Windows 10?

1. WinZip

WinZip is by far the most well-known archiver software but it’s also an excellent file management software.

This software is very good at protecting your files because it can encrypt them with banking-level technology. WinZip can also convert your files to the PDF format which you can password afterward. 

Managing your files also implies sharing them and WinZip also has cloud integration with Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, and more. You can upload the files and send the link to anybody.

Another easy way of sharing the files is to ZIP them in a smaller file that can be sent as an attachment to an email. 

Backing up your files will be also easier by compressing them with WinZip and depositing them to the chosen location but this process can be also automatic.

Let’s review some of the best features of WinZip:

  • Decompress almost any major file formats, including ISO
  • Unsurpassable compression and decompression speed
  • Old and unused files detection with built-in Cleaner Tools
  • Compress files to reduce email attachment size
  • Easy access and management of your local, network, or cloud files
  • Splitting and joining files options

”WinZip”

”WinZip”

”WinZip
”Free
&aff_sub2=Native” current_url=”true” button_text=”Get it now” image=”https://windowsreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/winzip-logo-210×160.png”]

2. Frigate3


If you’re looking for the best file manager for Windows 10, you should also check out Frigate3.

This is a highly configurable software that also features a modern, transparent interface.

An interesting feature for Frigate3 is the built-in size-manager feature. It’s extremely useful to find big files on your PC so that you can delete them and regain a lot of hard disk space.

Another nice addition to this software is a built-in text editor which can come in extremely handy if you’re not a big fan of Notepad.

Here are other notable features of Frigate3:

  • Ability to view FTP and files and archives easily
  • Built-in file viewer for popular file types
  • Compatible with all major archive file types
  • Folder comparison
  • Advanced search system
  • Multi-rename feature

⇒ Download Frigate3


3. Directory Opus

Another file manager that you should try is Opus Directory. It’s easy to use and customize.

Some interesting features of this file manager are the ability to edit the metadata and the built-in FTP client, so it can be really helpful for more advanced users. 

To really take advantage of the dual pane feature, Opus Directory comes with a viewer pane that lets you preview files and single or dual file display with single or dual folder trees.

This tool also features folder tabs so you can manage directories in a similar way as the tabs in a browser.

Here are several most notable features that this software offers:

  • Ability to easily sort, group, or filter files
  • Can assign status icons, colors, ratings, or tags to your files in order and organize them easier
  • Support for various archive formats, such as Zip, 7-Zip, RAR
  • Synchronization and duplicate finder features
  • CD/DVD burning
  • Support for jump lists and indexed search

⇒ Download Directory Opus


4. Total Commander

Total Commander is one of the most known and probably the best file manager for Windows 10. This application has a long history and an abundance of features.

This tool has a Drag and Drop interface compatible with File Explorer and it also has Command-line support that allows you to launch programs with certain parameters.

Other features for advanced users is the built-in file viewer that allows you to view files in hex, binary, or text format and the FTP client.

Total Commander also has the ability to split or combine large files.

As for other features, here are few notable ones:

  • Multi-rename tool
  • File compare feature
  • Ability to split or combine large files
  • Duplicate finder
  • Advanced file search that can search inside archives
  • Ability to handle all popular file archive types

⇒ Download Total Commander


Looking to organize your files better? Check out the best file rename software in this article


5. FreeCommander

Another great file management software is definitely FreeCommander. It’s convenient to use because the dual-pane can be configured horizontally or vertically and you can also switch to a single pane mode.

The user interface is also smart, using tabs to allow you to work with multiple folders easily and the optional tree view also helps organizing your files a lot better.

As for Windows integration, FreeComander offers quick access to system folders, Control Panel and Start Menu and even a DOS command line.

Here are some of the other features of FreeCommander:

  • Support for ZIP archives, other formats require plugins
  • Structureless view for both files and folders
  • Quick access to system folders, Control Panel and Start Menu
  • Ability to easily copy, move, delete, or rename files/folders
  • Ability to search files inside archives
  • Checksum verification
  • Works with file paths larger than 255 characters
  • Built-in FTP/SFTP client

⇒ Download Free Commander


6. One Commander

Unlike other entries on our list, One Commander is available as both a Universal app and the Win32 application.

This tool has a minimalistic user interface but can also work in columns and dual-pane layouts and features tabs.

If you have a complicated file structure, you’ll be happy to hear that One Commander can work with file paths longer than 260 characters and supports batch file operations.

If you’re interested in other features, look below:

  • Built-in file and picture preview
  • Ability to organize favorites into groups
  • Quick filtering feature for currently opened folder
  • Ability to add todo tasks and notes to any folder
  • Ability to view metadata
  • Can monitor folders for changes

⇒ Download One Commander


7. XYplorer

XYplorer is probably the best file manager for Windows 10 in regards to features and it doesn’t even need installation.

Its interface is very smart, using tabs that allow you to work with multiple folders, and dual Breadcrumb bars for easy navigation.

All it’s even easier to see with the Mini Tree built-in feature that lets you access visited folders quickly.

For better file organization, XYplorer also comes with tag-based and color-mode management and the ability to queue file operations.

Here are few of other worth-mentioning features:

  • Fully compatible with ZIP archives
  • Advanced and fast file search
  • Duplicate file finder
  • Can check hash values of files
  • Multi-level undo/redo
  • Wipe feature that can permanently delete files

⇒ Download XYplorer


8. Xplorer²

If you need an alternative file manager software for Windows 10, Xplorer² might be just what you need.

This nice tool offers instant preview for text, graphics, audio, and video files, but also easy access to the file metadata.

It’s easy to edit a text file because Xplorer² comes with a built-in text editor.

This tool also comes with advanced file management features such as splitting, merging, shredding, etc.

Regarding the features, here are the most notable ones:

  • Extensive search feature
  • Ability to search for specific keywords in documents
  • Ability to manage files from multiple folders by using scrap containers
  • Folder comparison and synchronization
  • Support for DOS commands and scripts
  • Visual filters that allow you to easily manage large folders
  • Support for both concurrent and queued file transfers

⇒ Download Xplorer²


Having problems with corrupted files on Windows 10? Check out the best repair tools available today


9. Altap Salamander

Altap Salamander is probably a less-known file management software but it comes with a lot of features.

This smart software is free even for commercial use so don’t have to worry about a licence to use it at your office.

A nice feature is that Altap Salamander can execute external commands using the User Menu or the Command Shell window.

If you’re looking for a password manager, look no further because this tool also has a built-in one.

Here are some of its other important features:

  • Folder comparison
  • File encoding conversion
  • Windows Encrypting File System (EFS) is supported
  • File shredding using Gutmann or DOD 5220.22-M methods
  • Clean and sleek user interface
  • Extensive keyboard navigation options

⇒ Download Altap Salamander


10. Windows File Manager

We left Windows File Manager last because we all know it from a previous era. Although you can still download and use it, it has been long replaced by its more advanced counterpart, Windows File Explorer.

This old tool has an extremely simple, dual pane interface but working with it is very simple and intuitive.

As you would expect, Windows File Manager is natively compatible with Windows OS so it’s also very well integrated.

For instance, you can easily start Command Prompt or Powershell from the menu, and the same goes with accessing network drives.

This software is very basic, but you can easily organize your files and folders with it.

Let’s review some of the Windows File Manager’s best features:

  • Dual-pane window
  • Hard drive management controls
  • Native full integration with Windows OS
  • Quick access to the folders and files that you use frequently
  • Easy starting for Command Prompt and PowerShell
  • Simple and straightforward user interface

⇒ Download Windows File Manager

This wraps up our list of the best file management software to use in Windows 10. If you’re on Windows 11, check our guide on the best Windows 11 file manager software that you can use.

If you have any other suggestions or questions, don’t hesitate to leave them in the comments section below and we’ll be sure to check them out.

How to set up Chromecast without location services

For those of you that haven’t got your hands on these devices yet, Chromecast is a line of digital media players developed by Google.

These devices are made to be small dongles that allow you to stream digital content off of the Internet on HD TVs and Home Audio systems.

Users can also get to control the device connected to the dongle via their mobile or through web apps that support Google Cast technology.

However, as fun and entertaining as these devices may seem, many users have a few issues when it comes to installing them.

For example, many are complaining about the fact that you need to activate location services in order to make the Chromecast work:

My mom recently bought chromecast for her house and is trying to set it up. However, in order to set it up through google home on her phone she has to give location access to the app, which she doesn’t want to do. When I set my chromecast up about a year ago I don’t think this was the case. Is there really no way of setting up her chromecast without giving google access to her phone’s location?

Since privacy is a sensitive issue and Chromecast is becoming more and more popular, we’ve decided to create this detailed guide where we will be showcasing exactly what you need to do in order to install and use your Chromecast device without needing location services.

How do I set up Chromecast without location services?

1. Manually disable Location Services after Chromecast setup

1.1. Set up Chromecast as normal

  1. Plug in your Chromecast device into your TV
    • Only use the provided AC adapter
  2. Download the Google Home app on your mobile device or tablet
  3. Connect the mobile device or tablet to the same Wi-Fi network as the Chromecast dongle
    • For Chromecast Ultra, connect directly to the network via an Ethernet cable
  4. Open the Google Home app
  5. At the top left of the Google Home app home screen, tap Add
  6. Select Set up device and then choose Set up new devices

Your Chromecast device should now be ready to use, but it is currently using your location services by default.

1.2. Manually turn off location services after setting up the Chromecast device

  1. Access the Location History section of your Google Account
  2. Choose whether your account or your devices can report Location History to Google
    • Your account and all devices:
      • At the top, turn Location History on or off.
    • Only a certain device:
      • Look under This device or Devices on this account, and turn the device on or off.

2. Use a VPN after setting up your Chromecast

2.1 Use the VPN on your device and use Cast Tab or Cast Desktop

  1. Set up Chromecast as presented in solution 1.1.
  2. Open the Google Home app and select Cast Tab or Cast Desktop before you connect the VPN

Once the VPN is connected, they will be on separate networks and your PC won’t be able to find the Chromecast device.

Basically, you are connecting the PC to a VPN, then casting the screen via the Chrome cast device.

2.2. Install a VPN on your router

Some VPN developers allow you to install their VPNs straight to the routers, allowing all the devices connected to its network to benefit from it.

Speaking of which, if you’re on the market for a solid VPN choice, we recommend you try the most suited for streaming content.

However, this particular solution is not as effective due to the inherent speed limitations of a router-based VPN connection. Many routers may connect to an external VPN, which allows everything on your local network to use the VPN, but not speed it up.

That is why using a VPN service that is great for streaming can be necessary.

To put your entire home network behind a VPN, install the software on your router or as a separate hardware device.

Routers that enable VPNs typically do not require any software to be installed; they are already capable of connecting to the VPN. You simply need to specify the settings.

  • Do you need a Google account to set up Chromecast?

Yes, you cannot use a Chromecast device without a Google account.

  • Can I set up Chromecast without the Google Home app?

No, you cannot set up Chromecast without using the Google Home app.

By following these steps, you should now be able to enjoy your Chromecast device without having your Location services setting activated.

Let us know which solution you used and how effective it was for you by leaving us a message in the comments section below.

KB4577671 causes update errors with Windows 10 1903/1909

The October Patch Tuesday updates were just released so everyone is looking at the changes affecting their OS.

The most important features were applied to all the versions of Windows 10, but of course, there are major differences between the versions, especially the older ones, Windows 10 v1507, and the newest, Windows 10 v2004.

As you might have guessed, some versions of Windows 10 have received more attention, while others turned up to have even more issues after the update.

That’s precisely the face with KB4577671, this month’s cumulative update to Windows 10 v1909.


KB4577671 may remove some optional features

This patch may have the same effect on Windows 10 version 1903, not only v1909 and the issue produces the same effect. 

Microsoft states in the release note that when you’re trying to update to both above mentioned Windows 10 versions, you could receive a dialogue with the title What needs your attention at the top.

This dialogue will also be accompanied by the error, Continuing with the installation of Windows will remove some optional features. You may need to add them back in Settings after the installation completes.

This error will appear when trying to update from an older Windows 10 version to versions 1903 or 1909.

Microsoft also specifies the possible cause of this issue:

You might receive this compatibility warning when LOCAL SYSTEM accounts are blocked in a firewall from accessing the internet via HTTP.

This is caused by the Windows 10 Setup Dynamic Update (DU) being unable to download required packages.

The Redmond giant didn’t provide a solution for this problem but has promise to find one and publish it in the next update.


It is important to understand that whether or not a certain cumulative update comes with a few issues, it is important to install them nonetheless for security reasons.

Of course, if you want to avoid any problems while applying the updates, you should follow a few steps in order to apply these patches, otherwise, they may end up needing to use the Windows Update Troubleshooter.

Those of you running this version of the OS should nevertheless get this update as soon as possible at least for the security improvements.

To do that, simply head over to this article we’ve created where you can read the changelog of all other cumulative updates, as well as get direct download links to the required updates.

However, you can also read the full history of the Patch Tuesday changelogs in this complete list.

What are your thoughts about this cumulative update? Let us know if you’ll be applying the update as soon as it becomes available in your region by leaving us a message in the comments section below.

[wl_navigator]

Users May face Drivers issues after Patch Tuesday updates

The monthly Patch Tuesday updates are finally here, bringing much-awaited new features, fixes, improvements, and important security updates.

As you may know, Patch Tuesday means the release of cumulative updates for all major versions of Windows 10, so everyone will be receiving them.

Keep in mind that each version of Windows 10 is different from the other, and this also applies to the cumulative updates.

However, once in a while it so happens that all cumulative updates may come with driver issues and not only, and that’s precisely the case with this month’s updates.

The October Patch Tuesday may cause driver installation issues

According to the official Microsoft changelog regarding each cumulative update, it seems that installing these latest cumulative updates may lead to problems when installing third-party drivers.

When installing a third-party driver, you might receive the error, Windows can’t verify the publisher of this driver software.

You might also see the error, No signature was present in the subject when attempting to view the signature properties using Windows Explorer.

This issue is present in the cumulative updates for all major versions of Windows 10, ranging from the oldest, 1507, up to the newest, 2004.

That being said, until Microsoft manages to release a set of patch fixes within the following days, users are advised to ask the driver vendor or device manufacturer for a correctly signed and updated driver.

If you want to speed up the process, rest assured that we can help you out.

How to update drivers in Windows 10?


As said before, contacting the driver vendor or device manufacturer isn’t always the quickest solution. If you lack the time to do so, simply download Outbye Driver Updater and update all your drivers with just a few clicks.

More precisely, you need to install and launch the tool. At this point, Outbyte Driver Updater will go through a complete scan of your system and find out how many out-of-date drivers you have in mere seconds.

Then, it will reveal all scan results, and finally, download the selected drivers within the program itself.

Do keep in mind that Outbyte Driver Updater doesn’t simply update drivers to the correctly signed, latest versions, but also fixes corrupted ones.

And since its database is of 18 million driver files and you can even schedule driver scans, rest assured that all your hardware devices will use the appropriate drivers.

⇒ Get Outbyte Driver Updater

If updating your drivers isn’t your current priority, remember that Patch Tuesday is very important.

Not only does it bring the functionality improvements that avid Windows users wait for, but the improved security is a welcome addition, especially to those that rely on Windows Defender.

If you want to download the latest cumulative update, visit this detailed guide where we’ve showcased not only a detailed changelog, but we have also provided you with direct download links to the Windows Update Catalog.

What’s your take on this latest cumulative update? Let us know your opinion by leaving your feedback in our comments section below.

CVEs found in October finally dropped to just 88

With the October Patch Tuesday updates, the center focus of pretty much everyone is the security improvements.

Of course, with new updates, everyone is looking for the new features and improvements but the central point of the Patch Tuesday updates is the list of CVEs that accompany it.

With the current pandemy, 2020 was a hard year for security. Unfortunately, the numbers detected until now exceeded the entirety of last year.

Here’s a little rundown on the number of CVEs that have been tracked down this year:

There is, however, a little spark at the end of the tunnel as the October Patch Tuesday delivers only 88 vulnerabilities that have been detected and dealt with.

It’s the second month of this year with less than 100 flagged vulnerabilities and the smallest number this year.

As usual, these affect both Microsoft and Adobe products, ranging in severity from Important to Critical.


Only 88 vulnerabilities were identified this month

As it was expected, the Microsoft products were found the most vulnerable, with 87 out of the total of 88, the remaining vulnerability attributed to Adobe products.

Vulnerabilities found in Adobe Products

This month vulnerabilities were found for one Adobe product, and that is Flash.

It’s imperative to note that Flash will reach the end of life at the end of this year. Also, the patch is meant to fix a NULL pointer Deference bug.

Vulnerabilities found in Microsoft Products

There were a lot more Microsoft products affected by vulnerabilities according to the new discoveries.

These include products like Microsoft Windows, Office, Exchange Server, Microsoft Dynamics, Visual Studio, .NET Framework, Windows Codecs Library, and more.

Of the 87 total vulnerabilities discovered, 11 were rated as Critical, 75 were listed as Important, and one was labeled as Moderate.

What were considered the most severe CVEs?

Of the 87 discovered vulnerabilities, there are some that stood out:

  • CVE-2020-16898
    • Windows TCP/IP Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
  • CVE-2020-16947 
    • Microsoft Outlook Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
  • CVE-2020-16891
    • Windows Hyper-V Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
  • CVE-2020-16909
    • Windows Error Reporting Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

As mentioned above, vulnerabilities suffered an abrupt fall, and while October does boast only 88 vulnerabilities, this is just a reminder that only last month there were 147 vulnerabilities found.

If you want to read the complete list of all identified CVEs for the October Patch Tuesday updates, check this dedicated article, and you’ll find all the information there.

For download links and more information, this comprehensive article will give you all the details.

If you have any knowledge of any other vulnerabilities that were not covered this month, then it will probably be fixed by the next Patch Tuesday updates.

Speaking of which, the next round of updates will be available starting with November 10.

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Windows 10 October Patch Tuesday [DIRECT DOWNLOAD LINKS]

Microsoft has just released the latest round of their monthly feature updates called the October Patch Tuesday Updates.

With the arrival of these updates, new features are expected, along with fixes and improvements to the ones released in the patch.

Additionally, those that love staying online completely safe with the use of a third-party antivirus will appreciate the updates as they also bring security improvements for Windows Defender.

However, keep in mind that the Patch Tuesday updates mean cumulative updates for each major version of Windows 10.

This means that depending on the OS version that you have, these updates will differ to a smaller or greater degree.

For example, Windows 10 v2004 has increased in popularity over the past month, so more and more users are probably curious as to what it may bring, even if Windows 10 v1903 and Windows 1909 are still much more popular.

Just like in previous months, we’ve created this article that will showcase the changelog for each individual version of Windows 10.

Additionally,  we will also be providing you with direct download links straight from the Windows Update Catalog, so you know that they are 100% safe.


Updates included in October Patch Tuesday Updates

Windows 10, version 2004

Windows 10 v2004 is the latest major version of Windows 10, and as such as the most experimental features on it. That being the case you should install this version as soon as possible if your hardware allows it.

Take note that Windows 10 v2004’s system requirements aren’t that high, so don’t worry about compatibility issues.

Cumulative update name:

Improvements and fixes

  • Addresses an issue with a possible elevation of privilege in win32k.
  • Addresses an issue with the Group Policy service that might recursively delete critical files in alphabetic order from %systemroot%\systm32.
    • This issue occurs when a policy has been configured to delete cached profiles.
    • These file deletions might cause stop error 0x5A (CRITICAL_SERVICE_FAILED) boot failures.
  • Addresses an issue with creating null ports using the user interface.
  • Security updates to Windows App Platform and Frameworks, Microsoft Graphics Component, Windows Media, Windows Fundamentals, Windows Authentication, Windows Virtualization, and Windows Kernel.

Known Issues

  • Users of the Microsoft Input Method Editor (IME) for Japanese or Chinese languages might experience issues when attempting various tasks. You might have issues with input, receive unexpected results, or might not be able to enter text.
  • When installing a third-party driver, you might receive the error, Windows can’t verify the publisher of this driver software.
    • You might also see the error, No signature was present in the subject when attempting to view the signature properties using Windows Explorer.

[DIRECT DOWNLOAD LINK]


Windows 10, version 1909

Windows 10 v1909 shares a core structure, core operating system, and an identical set of system files with Windows 10 v1903, therefore all cumulative updates that apply to one version are available to the other as well.

Cumulative update name:

Improvements and fixes 

  • Addresses an issue with a possible elevation of privilege in win32k.
  • Addresses an issue with the Group Policy service that might recursively delete critical files in alphabetic order from %systemroot%\systm32.
    • This issue occurs when a policy has been configured to delete cached profiles.
    • These file deletions might cause stop error 0x5A (CRITICAL_SERVICE_FAILED) boot failures.
  • Addresses an issue with creating null ports using the user interface.
  • Security updates to Windows App Platform and Frameworks, Microsoft Graphics Component, Windows Media, Windows Shell, Windows Cloud Infrastructure, Windows Fundamentals, Windows Authentication, Windows Virtualization, Windows Kernel, and Windows Storage and Filesystems.

Known Issues

  • When updating to Windows 10, version 1903 or Windows 10, version 1909 from any previous version of Windows 10, you might receive a compatibility report dialog with What needs your attention at the top and the error Continuing with the installation of Windows will remove some optional features.
    • You may need to add them back in Settings after the installation completes. 
    • You might receive this compatibility warning when LOCAL SYSTEM accounts are blocked in a firewall from accessing the internet via HTTP.
    • This is caused by the Windows 10 Setup Dynamic Update (DU) being unable to download required packages.
  • When installing a third-party driver, you might receive the error, Windows can’t verify the publisher of this driver software.
    • You might also see the error, No signature was present in the subject when attempting to view the signature properties using Windows Explorer.

[DIRECT DOWNLOAD LINK]


Windows 10, version 1903

Windows 10 v1903 shares a core structure, core operating system, and an identical set of system files with Windows 10 v1909, therefore all cumulative updates that apply to one version are available to the other as well.

Cumulative update name:

Improvements and fixes

  • Same as Windows 10, version 1909

Known Issues

  • Same as Windows 10, version 1909

[DIRECT DOWNLOAD LINK]


Windows 10, version 1809

Those of you still running the Home, Pro, Pro for Workstation, and IoT Core editions of Windows 10 V1809 should know that it will reach End of Service in November.

That is why it is advised that you update your OS to a newer, supported version.

Cumulative update name:

Improvements and fixes

  • Addresses an issue with a possible elevation of privilege in win32k.
  • Addresses an issue that causes apps that use Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) to stop responding when you attempt to close the app.
  • Addresses an issue with the Group Policy service that might recursively delete critical files in alphabetic order from %systemroot%\systm32.
    • This issue occurs when a policy has been configured to delete cached profiles.
    • These file deletions might cause stop error 0x5A (CRITICAL_SERVICE_FAILED) boot failures.
  • Addresses an issue with creating null ports using the user interface.
  • Security updates to Windows App Platform and Frameworks, Microsoft Graphics Component, Windows Media, Windows Shell, Windows Cloud Infrastructure, Windows Fundamentals, Windows Authentication, Windows Virtualization, Windows Kernel, and Windows Storage and Filesystems.

Known Issues

  • After installing KB4493509, devices with some Asian language packs installed may receive the error, 0x800f0982 – PSFX_E_MATCHING_COMPONENT_NOT_FOUND.
  • When installing a third-party driver, you might receive the error, Windows can’t verify the publisher of this driver software.
    • You might also see the error, No signature was present in the subject when attempting to view the signature properties using Windows Explorer.

[DIRECT DOWNLOAD LINK]


Windows 10, version 1803

At first, it as reported that Windows 10, version 1803 has reached the end of mainstream support, and starting with July there wouldn’t be any more optional, non-security releases for this version of Windows 10.

However, Microsoft decided to extend the support for Windows 10 v1803 up until 2021.

Cumulative update name:

Improvements and fixes

  • Adds a notification to Internet Explorer 11 that informs users about the end of support for Adobe Flash in December 2020.
  • Addresses an issue with Microsoft Edge IE Mode that occurs when you enable Configure enhanced hang detection for Internet Explorer mode in Microsoft Edge.
  • Allows administrators to disable JScript in specific security zones.
  • Addresses an issue with a possible elevation of privilege in win32k.
  • Updates 2021 time zone information for Fiji.
  • Addresses an issue with the Group Policy service that might recursively delete critical files in alphabetic order from %systemroot%\systm32.
    • This issue occurs when a policy has been configured to delete cached profiles.
    • These file deletions might cause stop error 0x5A (CRITICAL_SERVICE_FAILED) boot failures.
  • Addresses an issue with creating null ports using the user interface.
  • Security updates to Windows App Platform and Frameworks, Microsoft Graphics Component, Windows Media, Windows Fundamentals, Windows Authentication, Windows Virtualization, Windows Kernel, and Windows Storage and Filesystems.

Known Issues

  • When installing a third-party driver, you might receive the error, Windows can’t verify the publisher of this driver software.
    • You might also see the error, No signature was present in the subject when attempting to view the signature properties using Windows Explorer.

[DIRECT DOWNLOAD LINK]


Windows 10, version 1709

Note: Windows 10, version 1709 has reached the end of service for all of its available editions. If you want to continue receiving security and quality updates, update to the latest version of Windows 10.

Cumulative update name:

Improvements and fixes

  • Adds a notification to Internet Explorer 11 that informs users about the end of support for Adobe Flash in December 2020.
  • Allows administrators to disable JScript in specific security zones.
  • Addresses an issue with a possible elevation of privilege in win32k.
  • Updates 2021 time zone information for Fiji.
  • Addresses an issue with the Group Policy service that might recursively delete critical files in alphabetic order from %systemroot%\systm32.
    • This issue occurs when a policy has been configured to delete cached profiles.
    • These file deletions might cause stop error 0x5A (CRITICAL_SERVICE_FAILED) boot failures.
  • Addresses an issue with creating null ports using the user interface.
  • Security updates to Windows App Platform and Frameworks, Microsoft Graphics Component, Windows Media, Windows Shell, Windows Cloud Infrastructure, Windows Fundamentals, Windows Authentication, Windows Virtualization, Windows Kernel, and Windows Storage and Filesystems.

Known Issues

  • When installing a third-party driver, you might receive the error, Windows can’t verify the publisher of this driver software.
    • You might also see the error, No signature was present in the subject when attempting to view the signature properties using Windows Explorer.

[DIRECT DOWNLOAD LINK]


Windows 10, version 1703

Note: Windows 10, version 1703 has reached the end of service for  Home, Pro, Pro for Workstation, and IoT Core editions.

In order to continue receiving quality and security updates, Microsoft recommends that you get the latest possible version of Windows 10 installed.

Cumulative update name:

Improvements and fixes

  • Updates 2021 time zone information for Fiji.
  • Addresses an issue with a possible elevation of privilege in win32k.
  • Allows administrators to disable JScript in specific security zones.
  • Addresses an issue with the Group Policy service that might recursively delete critical files in alphabetic order from %systemroot%\systm32.
    • This issue occurs when a policy has been configured to delete cached profiles.
    • These file deletions might cause stop error 0x5A (CRITICAL_SERVICE_FAILED) boot failures.
  • Addresses an issue with creating null ports using the user interface.
  • Security updates to Windows App Platform and Frameworks, Microsoft Graphics Component, Windows Media, Windows Shell, Windows Cloud Infrastructure, Windows Fundamentals, Windows Authentication, Windows Virtualization, Windows Kernel, and Windows Storage and Filesystems.

Known Issues

  • When installing a third-party driver, you might receive the error, Windows can’t verify the publisher of this driver software.
    • You might also see the error, No signature was present in the subject when attempting to view the signature properties using Windows Explorer.

[DIRECT DOWNLOAD LINK]


Windows 10, version 1607

Note: Windows 10, version 1607 has reached the end of service for all of its available editions. Update to the latest version of Windows 10 in order to keep your system protected

Cumulative update name:

Improvements and fixes

  • Provides the ability to sync the Microsoft Edge IE Mode unidirectional session cookie when an administrator configures the session cookie.
  • Adds a notification to Internet Explorer 11 that informs users about the end of support for Adobe Flash in December 2020.
  • Addresses an issue with Microsoft Edge IE Mode that occurs when you enable Configure enhanced hang detection for Internet Explorer mode in Microsoft Edge.
  • Addresses an issue that causes apps that use Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) to stop responding when you attempt to close the app.
  • Updates 2021 time zone information for Fiji.
  • Addresses an issue with creating HTML reports using tracerpt.
  • Addresses an issue with the Group Policy service that might recursively delete critical files in alphabetic order from %systemroot%\systm32.
    • This issue occurs when a policy has been configured to delete cached profiles.
    • These file deletions might cause stop error 0x5A (CRITICAL_SERVICE_FAILED) boot failures.
  • Addresses an issue that causes Windows to stop working and generates error 0x17.
    • This issue occurs when Windows Defender Device Guard is enabled, and a driver is loaded with a 4K Microsoft Portable Executable (PE) header.
  • Addresses an issue with creating null ports using the user interface.
  • Addresses an issue that might cause Windows 10 devices that enable Credential Guard to fail authentication requests when they use the machine certificate.
  • Addresses an issue that might prevent you from accessing the Security Options data view in the Group Policy Management Editor (gpedit.msc) or Local Security Policy Editor (secpol.msc). The error is, MMC has detected an error in a snap-in.
  • Security updates to Windows App Platform and Frameworks, Windows Fundamentals, Windows Virtualization, Windows Kernel, and Windows Storage and Filesystems.

Known Issues

  • After installing KB4467684, the cluster service may fail to start with the error 2245 (NERR_PasswordTooShort) if the group policy Minimum Password Length is configured with greater than 14 characters.
  • When installing a third-party driver, you might receive the error, Windows can’t verify the publisher of this driver software.
    • You might also see the error, No signature was present in the subject when attempting to view the signature properties using Windows Explorer.

[DIRECT DOWNLOAD LINK]


Windows 10, version 1507

Note: Windows 10, version 1507 is the oldest version of Windows 10 still active, and it has reached the end of service for some time now.

If your hardware allows it, update to a much newer version of Windows 10.

Cumulative update name:

Improvements and fixes

  • Adds a notification to Internet Explorer 11 that informs users about the end of support for Adobe Flash in December 2020.
  • Provides the ability to sync the Microsoft Edge IE Mode unidirectional session cookie when an administrator configures the session cookie.
  • Addresses an issue with Microsoft Edge IE Mode that occurs when you enable Configure enhanced hang detection for Internet Explorer mode in Microsoft Edge.
  • Allows administrators to disable JScript in specific security zones.
  • Updates 2021 time zone information for Fiji.
  • Addresses an issue with the Group Policy service that might recursively delete critical files in alphabetic order from %systemroot%\systm32.
    • This issue occurs when a policy has been configured to delete cached profiles.
    • These file deletions might cause stop error 0x5A (CRITICAL_SERVICE_FAILED) boot failures.
  • Addresses an issue with creating null ports using the user interface.
  • Security updates to Windows App Platform and Frameworks, Microsoft Graphics Component, Windows Shell, Windows Cloud Infrastructure, Windows Fundamentals, Windows Authentication, Windows Virtualization, Windows Kernel, and Windows Storage and Filesystems.

Known Issues

  • When installing a third-party driver, you might receive the error, Windows can’t verify the publisher of this driver software.
    • You might also see the error, No signature was present in the subject when attempting to view the signature properties using Windows Explorer.

[DIRECT DOWNLOAD LINK]


That pretty much wraps up our list of cumulative updates for this month.

Whichever version of Windows 10 you have, remember that Patch Tuesday is extremely important, especially from a security standpoint.

That is why applying them as soon as they become live is important, especially if you don’t want to deal with Exploit Wednesday and Uninstall Thursday.

That pretty much wraps up this month’s round of Patch Tuesday updates. We hope you found the information listed above useful, and that you will make great use of the direct download links provided.

Let us know what else you want us to include in our monthly Patch Tuesday articles by leaving us your feedback in the comments section below.


Editor’s Note: Patch Tuesday updates are incredibly important, so to better prepare for them and ensure an error-free update process, follow this in-depth guide.


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No Man’s Sky FPS drops & packet loss: How to fix them?

No Man’s Sky is an absolute treasure of a game, where you get to explore a virtually infinite space. The world the game is set in is procedurally generated and would take approximately 585 billion years to discover completely.

But what makes No Man’s Sky really stand out is that you can share this experience with others. Explore planets, rename them, meet aliens, let them teach you words, fight space pirates, and become a master in trading.

Sounds great, we know, and it’s come a long way since its unfortunate release back in 2016. With each update, the game strays farther and farther away from the sheer disappointment the fans greeted the initial release of the game with.

But we’re not here to talk about how awesome No Man’s Sky is, and how it went a long way. No, in fact, we’re here to talk about its shortcomings, because there are still a few of them lingering around.

FPS drops and packet loss seem to be two of the most common issues that regular No Man’s Sky players have to deal with every now and then. Well, we decided to tell you all about these issues, what causes them, and how can they be fixed.

What causes FPS drops and packet loss in No Man’s Sky?

To put it shortly, if you have a bad Internet connection, you’re in for a lot of headaches. Your connection’s quality will highly impact the game, especially if you decide to play with others.

Packet loss and high latency are the most common connectivity issues. The former happens whenever packets of data never make it to their destination, while the latter means the packets take longer than usual to arrive.

The other thing that’s going to cause some hassle is your PC’s performance. If you have a budget PC you mostly use to manage Excel spreadsheets (and even those take quite a while to load), don’t expect No Man’s Sky running at a constant rate of 60 FPS.

You don’t need a supercomputer to run this game, either. However, if you’re experiencing FPS drops and your PC doesn’t have at least the minimum requirements to run the game, there’s nothing much you can do about it.

However, we’ll just assume you did your research and aren’t trying to run No Man’s Sky on your toaster like those Doom fans.

How to fix FPS drops and packet loss in No Man’s Sky?

1. Use a VPN

  1. Get a Private Internet Access VPN subscription.
  2. Download and install the VPN on your PC (technology installed)
  3. Launch the VPN client and connect to your account
  4. Connect to a (preferably fast) server
  5. Launch No Man’s Sky
  6. Check if there’s any improvement

Using a VPN such as Kape Technologies’ PIA can help you solve a bunch of connectivity issues, especially if they occur somewhere between your PC and the remote server.

Look, we’re not pointing fingers, but if you think your ISP is throttling your bandwidth, a VPN will definitely help.

Packet loss is, more often than not, caused by network congestion, which is usually the result of improper traffic routing (if it happens on your side and not the game server’s side).

Private Internet Access

Looking for a great VPN for No Man’s Sky? PIA might be just what you need.
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Using a VPN could re-route your traffic around those troublesome nodes. As a result, packet loss could significantly drop and you’ll be able to enjoy No Man’s Sky once more.

Note: servers that are significantly closer to your geographical position are usually faster than those further away.

2. Flush your DNS

  1. On your Windows PC, launch an elevated CMD instance
  2. Type the following commands, one by one, in this exact order:

ipconfig /flushdns
ipconfig /registerdns
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
netsh winsock reset

Restart your PC, then launch No Man’s Sky and see if there’s any improvement. Cached network data build-ups on your PC might translate into connectivity issues and flushing your DNS is an easy way to prevent that.

3. Perform manual troubleshooting

  • Restart the game, your PC, router, and/or modem, as necessary
  • Avoid peak hours if you know your network is prone to congestion (or use a VPN to bypass it)
  • Close any background-running apps and/or services that might take a toll on your bandwidth (torrent, VoIP clients)
  • Perform a thorough inspection of your home network and replace any malfunctioning component
  • Replace old, worn-out cables, and upgrade them if necessary (CAT 5 to CAT 6, for instance)
  • Always use wired connections instead of wireless ones, if possible (Wi-Fi packet loss happens more often)
  • Switch your Wi-Fi broadcast channel to avoid potential interference
  • Make sure your system drivers (especially network drivers) are up-to-date
  • Call your ISP and ask them if they can look into the issue and maybe even fix it
  • Run a pathping test to rule out any packet loss on your side of the connection
  • Try lowering the game’s quality settings and see if there’s any FPS/packet loss improvement
  • Upgrade your Internet subscription plan, if possible

While these suggestions aren’t guaranteed to solve your No Man’s Sky FPS drop/packet loss issues, they’re definitely a good start. Optimizing your PC and Internet connection can go a long way to improve the quality of your gaming session.

Final thoughts on fixing No Man’s Sky FPS drop and packet loss

All things considered, if you’re encountering random FPS drops in No Man’s Sky or even the dreaded packet loss, don’t panic. Your problem might have a simple reason, which is more often than not network congestion or poor PC performance.

One of the easiest fixes for this issue is actually using a VPN. However, it’s worth mentioning that this fix won’t work if there’s something wrong on your end, or if the issue occurs on the game server’s side.

A VPN can only help you if the packet loss is caused by your ISP, whether because they’re throttling your connection, or they route network traffic improperly, causing network congestion.

If your FPS and connection stabilize but you still struggle with input, our guide on No Man’s Sky controller not working shows how to restore full gamepad support.

How to fix WinRAR not enough memory error [Best solutions]

WinRAR is a popular data compression software, which offers encryption, and easy archiving for Windows. Besides this, as you might have guessed already, it easily opens RAR and Zip files.

That being said, at times, when trying to open a large zip file, you may encounter the not enough memory error in this software.

Things can get really serious if not being able to open archives or edit them gets in the way of your work tasks, thus causing you problems in the long term.

The word memory in this error indicates that the RAM temporary swap space or virtual disk space. So the error can occur even if you have enough RAM memory available.

This can get extremely annoying over time even if the error doesn’t stop you from accessing important files, or sending them.

Seeing the error appear time and time again, even though you know you have more than enough RAM memory available, will surely get to you.

For these reasons, in today’s guide, we will explore the best available options for you, if you find yourself in this predicament. Make sure to try out each of the solutions one by one to ensure that you will resolve this problem quickly.

What can I do to fix the WinRAR not enough space on disk error?

1. Change WinRAR extraction path

WinRAR not enough memory

  1. Launch the WinRAR app on your computer.
  2. Click on Options from the toolbar.
  3. Select Settings.
  4. Open the Paths folder in the Settings window.
  5. Under Folder for temporary files section, click the Browse button.
  6. Select the directory to which you want to extract the RAR file, which is triggering the error.
  7. Click OK to save the changes.
  8. Close WinRAR and all the associated windows.

Once you have made the changes, reboot the computer and then try extracting the file with error and check if the error is resolved. When selecting a new directory, make sure the disk has enough space to extract the large file without the error.

2. Reinstall WinRAR

WinRAR not enough memory

  1. Press the Windows key + R.
  2. Type control and click OK to open Control Panel.
  3. Click on Programs > Programs & features.
  4. Select WinRAR from the list of installed programs and click Uninstall.
  5. Confirm the action by clicking on Uninstall.
  6. Reboot the computer and reinstall WinRAR from the official website.
  7. Launch the app and check for any improvements.

3. Use WinZip to extract files

The not enough memory error usually occurs when there is an issue with the WinRAR app. You can easily resolve the error by installing WinZip. You can download and use the app free for ten days. 

WinZip is a premium compression software that allows you to compress, protect, manage, and share all your files quickly and easily. WinZip supports all major file formats, including RAR, GZ, ISO, TAR, IMG TGX, and XZ formats.

You can also use it to create automated backups of your files, as well as email archives so you can clean your inbox without losing important data.

Additionally, WinZip offers versatile file management on Windows computers, easy sharing by email, cloud, social media, and IM, PDF conversion and watermarking feature, and top-level encryption to protect your personal data.

⇒ Get WinZip

The WinRAR error dealing with not enough memory usually occurs due to temporary issues with RAM. This can obviously affect the way you use your system altogether and even stop you from efficiently finishing any work-related tasks.

The implications of having issues with RAM can extend even further than that, reaching the level at which you won’t be able to run any software at the same time. This can affect the health of your PC in the long term.

You can fix this annoying problem simply by using a WinRAR alternative like WinZip. This powerful software not only enables you to avoid any high consumption of RAM while using it but also offers a set of incredible options and features.

If you choose not to use WinZip, then the possible resolution for this problem is to try changing the temporary extraction location or completely reinstalling WinRAR.

Feel free to share your experience with us by using the comment section found below this guide.

Deleted Files Not Going to Recycle Bin in Windows 10 [Fix]

Some Windows 10 users are surprised when the deleted files and other items are not going to the Recycle Bin. And it’s usually the misconfigured settings or an improper parameter to blame.

The Recycle Bin is a repository of files deleted with File Explorer, so you would usually expect to see recently erased files there. However, the Recycling Bin doesn’t always include deleted files.

Where do deleted files go in Windows 10?

Deleted files usually go into the $Recycle.bin system folder from which you can restore them. This folder is in the root C: directory.

However, as it’s a hidden folder, you’ll probably need to adjust some File Explorer settings to see $Recycle.bin in your HDD’s root directory. You don’t need to see that folder, as there’s a direct shortcut to the Recycle Bin.

If you can’t find recently deleted files in the Recycle Bin, they’ve probably been erased. Files in the Recycle Bin aren’t truly deleted, but you can still erase files without them going into the bin first.

Users might get a little confused when that happens, as they expect files to be in the Recycle Bin.

What can I do if deleted files are not going to recycle Bin in Windows 10?

Before we proceed to the slightly complex solutions, here are some quick points to consider:

  • Make sure you’re not pressing the Shift key when deleting a file. Holding the Shift key will erase the file without entering the Recycle Bin.
  • USB flash drives don’t include $Recycle.bin folders, so these files don’t go to the Recycle Bin. As a fix, move the USB stick’s files onto a hard drive folder before deleting them.
  • All files deleted via the Command Prompt bypass the Recycle Bin. So, don’t erase files with CMD if you need to retain them in the Recycle Bin.

If none work, move to the fixes listed next.

1. Use a dedicated data recovery tool

Let us tell you from the start that Stellar Data Recovery has powerful file recovery capabilities, and we’re not talking about time-consuming procedures that you most likely try to avoid.

Most users have no idea how intuitive this tool is. Don’t be one of them, and read our awesome Stellar Data Recovery review to learn all about it.

Whether it’s a lost document you have in mind, a photo, or some videos, Stellar’s tool has you covered. You need to try this widely trusted Windows data recovery solution.

Even inexperienced users will enjoy its user interface, while the data recovery process is self-explanatory.

All you need to do is to select the Recycle Bin folder location, click Scan, and then Recover to get back all recovered data.

Stellar Data Recovery

Don’t know what to do when deleted items are not in Recycle Bin? This tool will help you recover them all.
Check price Visit website

2. Deselect the Don’t move files to Recycle Bin option

  1. To do that, right-click the Recycle Bin icon on the desktop and select Properties.
  2. Then deselect the Don’t Move Files to Recycle Bin setting on the window below.
  3. Click the Apply button to confirm the new setting.
  4. Press the OK button to close the window.

If no deleted items appear in the Recycle Bin, you probably need to deselect the Don’t Move Files to Recycle Bin option Once done, all deleted files will go to Recycle Bin from now.

3. Increase the maximum size limit for Recycle Bin files

The Recycle Bin also includes a Custom size option. That option enables you to adjust the maximum size of files you can delete and move to the Recycle Bin.

If you delete a file that eclipses that maximum figure, you will find deleted files not showing in Recycle Bin.

As such, entering a higher number in the Maximum size text box will also ensure that more files go to the Recycle Bin.

4. Reset the Recycle Bin

  1. Press Windows + X and select Command Prompt (Admin).
  2. Type the following command and hit Enter: rd /s /q C:$Recycle.bin
  3. Then close the Command Prompt, and restart Windows 10.

When deleted files are not going to Recycle Bin in Windows 10 or the latest iteration, another solution is to reset the app to its default settings. This will clear any misconfiguration that might be triggering the error.

Before you leave, find out how to recover files removed from the Recycle Bin.

As for the actual procedure, do keep in mind that it’s easier and less time-consuming to go for Stellar Data Recovery from the very start.

Tell us which fix worked for you in the comments section below.

FIX: G11-570HX mouse driver problem [A4tech]

The G11-570HX is an affordable wireless mouse for Windows computers. However, several users have reported the mouse to have stopped working after connecting to their laptop.

This can happen due to the G11-570HX mouse driver problem.

To fix the error, try updating the mouse driver to the latest version. If that does not work, downgrading to a previous version can help you resolve the problem.

In this article, we explore a few troubleshooting steps to help you resolve the G11-570HX mouse driver problem in Windows 10.

How do I fix the G11-570HX mouse drive problem in Windows 10?

1. Update drivers with Outbyte Driver Updater

Outbyte Driver Updater automatically update drivers

Outbyte Driver Updater is a premium driver update utility that enables you to scan for missing and outdated mouse drivers and update them with one click. It offers a huge database of drivers to update all the peripherals and other components of your computer.

It is a standalone application with lightning-fast scanning. You can choose to update drivers manually one by one or all the drivers automatically at once. The built-in download manager shows the download progress of each file.

Additionally, it also comes with a Backup feature that backups and saves all your drivers to a compressed zip file. The schedule manager can perform automated schedule scan and update notification and backups.

Key features of Outbyte Driver Updater

  • Enables you to download and install missing and outdated drivers.
  • Access a huge database of over 18 million driver files available for download.
  • Driver backup and schedule manager for automated driver scans and updates.

Outbyte Driver Updater

Outbyte Driver Updater

Resolve any network issues fast with this amazing driver updater.
Free trial Visit website

2. Check for driver updates manually

  1. Open the A4Tech download page.
  2. Search for your mouse model number and click on your mouse model.
  3. Click the Download Driver button to download the driver. G11-570HX mouse driver problem
  4. Run the installer and follow on-screen instructions to install the driver.
  5. Restart your computer.
  6. Reconnect the mouse and check if Windows recognizes the mouse.

This Office Shuttle Software also comes with additional features to customize your mouse to assign shortcut keys to open programs, capture screenshot, etc.


3. Run Windows hardware troubleshooter

 G11-570HX mouse driver problem

  1. Press the Windows key + I.
  2. Click on Update & Security.
  3. Open the Troubleshoot tab from the left pane.
  4. Click on Additional troubleshooters.
  5. Click on Bluetooth.
  6. Select Run the troubleshooter button.

The troubleshooter will scan the system for Bluetooth related issues and recommend some fixes. Follow on-screen instructions to apply the fixes and then reboot your computer.


4. Uninstall and reinstall the device

 G11-570HX mouse driver problem

  1. Press the Windows key + R.
  2. Type devmgmt.msc and click OK to open Control Panel.
  3. Expand Mice and other pointing devices 
  4. Right-click on your mouse and select Uninstall Device. Click Yes/Uninstall to confirm the action.
  5. Once uninstalled, restart your computer.
  6. Windows will automatically detect the device and reinstall the required driver after the restart.

The G11-570HX mouse driver problem can occur due to several reasons. To fix the error, update the drivers using Outbyte Driver Updater, or run Windows hardware troubleshooter.

Do let us know which method helped you resolve the problem in the comments.

[wl_navigator]

How to automatically save files in a given folder in Edge 86

With each new upgrade, Microsoft aims to make its Edge browser more and more user-friendly and appealing to its millions of users.

Still, it so happens that by changing some things, as per users’ feedback, others are eliminated, obfuscating a great many other fans.

This is also the situation with the downloading process. Namely, many users noticed that since upgrading from Edge v85 to the stable v86, the Ask where to save each file before downloading option changed to Ask me what to do with each download.

This is what the users complain about on Microsoft’ forums:

I use this feature very heavily for work, it saves a few clicks each time and is very convenient as I download files from a server and save them in specific locations. […] It seems like this removed the handy shortcut I was using since I started using Edge.

Or, similarly:

I really liked the behaviour of Edge that it asked me where to save a file. Now I need to select first if I want to save or open the file.

As such, for many, the new process affects productivity, as it involves more clicks, more options, and more time spent in choosing what to do with a specific file.

What happened to the downloads in Edge?

More specifically, when downloading certain files, the automatic download stops to ask you what to do with the file.

what do you want to do with the file

You have the option to open the file or save it in a chosen location, while also changing the name.

Furthermore, in the Downloads menu of your Edge browser, you see more options that you can use.

edge automatic downloading

According to the forums, this change is a result of user feedback to prevent automatic download for just any type of file.

Before the change, the Save as… menu would open automatically so that the user could directly choose the location and the name of the file.

How can I automatically save files in Edge?

how to automatically save files in edge

The quickest workaround (which is less than a workaround actually), is to change the download settings. It will be helpful for bulk downloads only.

  1. Go to edge://settings/downloads.
  2. Change the default download location to another preferred folder.
  3. Deactivate the Ask me what to do with each download.

This will automatically download your files in the specified location. However, you’ll have to rename them manually afterward.

It might also help to download all the needed files, without clicking an option, then opening the Download menu to view all of them, and then choose which ones to save.

Note that when something similar happened with the newest versions of Internet Explorer, the solution was to change the registry keys.

However, that solution will not work for Edge, because there the problem was that upon download, files would automatically open without asking for user action.

Perhaps something similar will be possible in the future for Edge too. Until then, we hope that the changes don’t affect your activity too much.

We’d like to hear your take on this topic, so feel free to use the comments section below.

[wl_navigator]

Cloud saves on Xbox 360 will soon no longer require an Xbox Live Gold subscription

Even though Microsoft has stopped manufacturing Xbox 360 consoles four years ago, the company is still supporting this old generation with (rare) software updates and continued Xbox Live support. If you’re still having fun on your Xbox 360 but considering making the jump to the next gen, Microsoft has some good news for you.

“For those of you still enjoying Xbox 360, cloud saves will soon be free to all Xbox 360 users, making transferring your favorite games to Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S even easier,” said Peggy Lo, Compatibility Program Lead at Xbox this morning. As of today, cloud saves on Xbox 360 require an Xbox Live subscription, but this restriction is finally going away.

Considering that Xbox One gamers have been enjoying free cloud saves for all games (including backwards compatible Xbox 360 titles) for years, the Xbox Live Gold requirement for this feature on Xbox 360 had become pretty much anachronic. Once Microsoft makes cloud saves free on Xbox 360, you’ll probably need to manually move your local saves to the cloud on your console.

There’s no clear ETA yet for when this change will go live on Xbox 360, but we’ll let you know as soon as we get more information. Sound off in the comments if you appreciate that Microsoft is still taking care of Xbox 360 gamers after all these years.

Top 6 iPhone data recovery software for Windows 10/11

Data recovery has come a long way. From offering just the possibility of recovering data to the assurance of data recovery, there are many third-party iPhone data recovery software for Windows 10.

Most of the software are premium tools, however, offers excellent data recovery solutions. Recovering data from your iPhone is easy.

Simply connect the iPhone to your computer, launch the data recovery tool, and let the tool do its job. However, it’s not so easy finding the perfect recovery software with so many options around.

In this article, we have compiled a list of top iPhone data recovery software for Windows 10 that anyone can use irrespective of their tech expertise.

What are the best iPhone data recovery software tools?

Stellar iPhone Data Recovery (recommended)

Stellar iPhone Data Recovery is the best iPhone recovery software for Windows 10 thanks to its ability to effortlessly retrieve deleted photos, Kik messages, contacts, notes, videos, and not only.

It even recovers all these in the worst data loss scenarios that users fear, including iOS crashes, water damage, lost iPhone, or Jailbreak.

For example, if you are also one of those who bookmark websites on the Safari browser, rest assured that Stellar iPhone Data Recovery gets all bookmarked data back with just a few clicks.

Key features that Stellar iPhone Data Recovery brings to the table:

  • Convenient recovery process that requires no extra technical expertise
  • User-friendly interface for the not-so-techie users
  • Quick retrieval of photos/videos from iPhone, iPad, iCloud, and iTunes
  • English, German, French, Italian, Spanish supported languages
  • Extended compatibility: iOS 13.1.2, 13.1.1 and prior versions

This feature-rich iPhone data recovery tool meets the highest demands when it comes to users who have an active lifestyle and prefer convenience above anything these.

Stellar iPhone Data Recovery

If you’ve accidentally deleted your iPhone data, you can easily recover it by using this sophisticated tool!
Free trial Visit website

FoneLab iPhone Data Recovery

FoneLab iPhone Data Recovery allows you to safely and easily recover lost data from iPhone, iTunes, and iCloud. Whether you want to recover text messages, iMessage, Photos, or Contacts, FoneLab can do it all.

Apart from the aforementioned files, FoneLab can also recover WhatsApp, Kik, Link Viber, and even  Face Messagender data.

It is compatible with iOS 13 and works with all the models from iPhone 4S to iPhone XS Max.

FoneLab iPhone Data Recovery offers the ability to recover data from not only your iPhone but also from iCloud and iTunes.

It can recover data from the iPhone that is water damaged, broken, system problem, locked due to a forgotten password, and accidental deletion of files.

FoneLab iPhone Data Recovery

Recover and export deleted data and files from iTunes backups and iCloud backups but also lost data from any iOS device.
Free trial Visit website

EaseUS MobiSaver

While all the other iPhone data recovery software for Windows 10 allows you to scan the iPhone and preview the recoverable files, EaseUS MobiSaver allows the users to scan the iPhone and recover a few files for free.

EaseUS MobiSaver also comes with a free and premium version of the recovery tool. It allows you to recover most of the iOS file-formats including multimedia files and contacts from devices in different conditions.

The users can recover data from an iOS device, iTunes backup as well as iCloud backup. It also supports iOS 12 and below versions along with supports for iPhone XS Max and older devices.

EaseUS MobiSaver

On a Windows PC, EaseUS MobiSaver iPhone data recovery software will help you easily restore deleted iPhone files in one click.

DoYourData iPhone Recovery

DoYourData iPhone Recovery offers similar functionality as of FoneLad iPhone data recovery software. It offers an easy to use interface, recovery of multiple types of files, and offers both free and premium versions.

On the recovery front, DoYourData iPhone Recovery can recover data in case of accidental deletion, corrupted data during phone upgrade, locked iPhone due to password loss, and even damaged or broken device.

DoYourData iPhone Recovery can help you recover more than 15 types of iOS data including videos, photos, iMessages, voice memos, notes, contacts, WhatsApp messages, and WeChat.

DoYourData iPhone Recovery is compatible with most of the iPhones including the latest iPhone XS Max as well as the oldest iPhone 3GS.

Apart from the iPhone, it can also recover data from other iOS devices such as the iPad and iPod.

⇒ Get DoYourData iPhone Recovery

Syncios iOS Data Recovery

Syncios iOS Data Recovery as the name suggests is another iPhone data recovery software for Windows 10. It allows you to recover data from iOS, iTunes backup as well as recovery from the iCloud backup.

The free version of the software can scan the device for recoverable files. However, to restore the files from the preview, users need a license.

On the compatibility front, Syncios iOS Data Recovery supports iPhone XS Max and older devices including other iOS devices such as iPad and iPod.

Syncios iOS Data Recovery recovers data from the camera roll, photo stream, videos, contacts, call history, messages, message attachments, WhatsApp messages, WhatsApp attachments, notes, calendar, reminder, Safari Bookmarks, Voice Memo, and app documents.

⇒ Get Syncios iOS Data Recovery

Dr.Fone Recover (iOS)

Dr.Fone Recover (iOS) is a popular iPhone data recovery software that comes with all the bells and whistles of a traditional recovery tool.

It allows you to recover data likes contacts, messages, photos, and more from your iPhone using a Windows computer.

It also comes in both the free as well the paid version. The free version allows you to scan the iPhone for any recoverable file and shows the preview.

The premium version is required to recover those files and restore them.

Dr.Fone Recover (iOS) can recover data in case of accidental deleting, system crash, water damage, forgotten password, device damage, device stolen, jailbreak or ROM flashing, and unable to synchronize backup.

However, do note that the software as of now only supports iOS 12. Make sure you check the compatibility before buying the recovery software.

⇒ Get Dr.Fone Recover (iOS)

Which of the above software tools is your choice? With an intuitive interface and tons of features, Stellar’s iPhone Data Recovery shows that losing your data doesn’t have to end up costing you significant amounts of money.

Let us know in the comments area below if that’s your pick as well.

Microsoft Teams Virtual Breakout Rooms a bit late, will be generally available in November

At Ignite 2020, Microsoft announced that it would begin rolling out the new Virtual Breakout rooms in Teams at some point during this month. However, the Microsoft 365 Roadmap listing now suggests that the company has delayed the rollout of breakout rooms.

The entry on Microsoft’s roadmap was updated last week, and it indicates that the feature is expected to be rolled out to all users in November. By the look of things, the release schedule has been updated based on the feedback received from the early adopters. Microsoft is probably working on addressing some additional issues before making it available to everyone.

It is important to note the Breakout rooms feature is getting a lot of use in Zoom these days. Indeed, it’s the most highly anticipated of all the Microsoft Teams new features. With Breakout rooms, meeting organizers will be able to split participants into smaller groups for discussions. In case you missed it, the new capability is currently available in preview, it has been designed to help teachers and companies to facilitate brainstorming sessions. As usual, we’ll keep an eye on its release and will update you once it begins rolling out.

Ancestry Software to Explore Your Genealogy Family Tree [2026]

Genealogy is increasingly becoming a popular hobby and there is a large selection of family tree building software that you can choose from.

Whether online or with a CD-ROM, family tree software is a useful tool that publishes, navigates, and organizes facts and data about a family’s ancestry.

In its most basic form, the software can help organize information about your progenitors, create ancestry books and reports, and share findings online.

You may need to interview the oldest living family member in order to get the right information. But after you accumulate enough information, and with the right tool, everything should work great.

The best genealogy is social, speedy, and has plenty of storage capacity to hold data and records about a family. It should have enough space to add generational names, images, attach files, and hold any other relevant information.

It should be easy to use with a more attractive interface. Though there are many online genealogy services, downloadable software is a better option.

In this article, we will discuss the best free and paid family tree software.

Before choosing a good heritage tool, you might need to know some of the basic features that it offers. Below, we will answer such questions as :

  • How to choose a good family tree software?
  • Can you add ADN data in it?
  • Does it have access to the FamilySearch database?
  • Can you add media in your family tree?
  • Does it create a map of your family history events?
  • Can you use a free family tree software?
  • Will you find online support?

What are the best genealogy software for family tree charts?

MyHeritage

family_tree_software_myheritage_family_tree_builder

MyHeritage Family Tree Builder features one of the best ancestry view navigation tools. The hourglass view can expand the angle of view from descendants’ view to one person view to an entire generation view at once.

The software can merge relatives from other people’s family trees on the MyHeritage.com website. It has a high level of accuracy and automatically checks for duplicate entries in the family tree.

When entering dates, a pop-up calendar appears that supports French and Hebrew Revolution calendars. Reports and charts can display the family tree. Also, you can convert reports to PDF, RTF, or saved as HTML.

The software also allows you to upload directly to MyHeritage.com but not to any other website. The software also supports different types of marriages and gender need not be specified.

You can even enter marital status as ‘engaged’ or ‘other’ in the case of complicated relationships.

MyHeritage

MyHeritage

Discover and create your family history, and track your family back to your ancestors. Get it now!

Legacy Family Tree

legacy family tree software

Legacy Family Tree helps you create informative reports and appealing charts that help you visualize your ancestry and share your findings online.

The Legacy Family Tree can link directly to popular genealogy sites like Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.

It comes with a built-in browser that allows you to research your online family directory and import your findings to your family tree.

Legacy gives you a wealth of options to display your findings and you can choose from any of the 20 report templates provided.

And if you prefer to display your findings in charts, you can choose from the 25 different charts available.

In addition to reports and charts, Legacy allows you to create a full web page for your family history.

This comes in handy especially if you want to share with your family or intend to start a genealogy blog. The interface is smooth and uncluttered.

Legacy uses color-coding to define complex marriages and relationships. It also has inbuilt tools that check for duplicate entries.

In addition to all the identification documents, Legacy also allows you to add media as sources. Legacy Family Tree is considered one of the best and affordable genealogy tree software.

Legacy Family Tree

Legacy Family Tree

A user friendly and one of the most powerful genealogy software for your computer. Try it now
$79.95 Visit website

FamilyTreeDNA

FamilyTreeDNA

FamilyTreeDNA is a trustworthy solution to help you explore your ancestors’ heritage and get a clear picture of your personal history.

With industry-leading tests and a huge DNA matching database, you can choose to explore your paternal ancestry (a male-specific test), your maternal, or your family ancestry (the 2 last tests being suitable for both male and female subjects).

You can learn amazing things about your personal background and heritage including:

  • trace your surname to its roots
  • build your family tree
  • explore the paternal and maternal heritage
  • discover the percentage breakdown of your origins
  • compare matching segments of DNA
  • follow the migration paths of your ancestors, and more

It’s simple! All you need to do is:

  1. Order a DNA kit
  2. Swab the inside of your cheeks for a DNA sample
  3. Use the provided package to send your kit for testing
  4. Get your results in 4 to 8 weeks

⇒ Check out FamilyTreeDNA solutions

OneGreatFamily.com

OneGreatFamily

OneGreatFamily.com is one good place to look for answers when it comes to your family tree as its extensive database relies on over 190 million unique entries.

It’s practically the world’s largest online family tree. Coupled with the best-in-class genealogy tools, OneGreatFamily is sure to deliver the results you were long searching for.

Start with simplistic queries such as the Surname Index, get access to a plethora of valuable Genealogy Resources and explore the lineages of famous ancestors with the Genealogy Browser.

These are just a few tools to get you started on your path to discovering your heritage.

⇒ Check out OneGreatFamily.com

Family Tree Maker

Family Tree Maker banner

Family Tree Maker is a renowned genealogy software with which you can easily grow your family tree. The program provides advanced features without sacrificing simplicity.

You get all the powerful tools you need to discover your family legacy with tree-building tools, simple navigation, data managing features, and more.

FTM will grant you access to an enormous 6 billion historical records database. Plus, you will be able to easily view and share your discoveries through various charts and reports.

You can also use this software to access satellite maps and view locations or track your ancestors’ migration paths.

The novelty is perhaps given by the rich editing tools that can restore a faded family photo to its original glory, file management, and sharing features including a slideshow creator and storage space for your media.

⇒ Check out FTM for Mac and Windows


With this one, we conclude our list of recommendations. Let us know in the comments section below if you have more suggestions.

 

Too many posts were made to a semaphore [FIX]

System errors can affect almost any operating system, and one of those errors is ERROR_TOO_MANY_POSTS.

You can easily recognize this error by its Too many posts were made to a semaphore message, and in this guide, we’re going to show you how to fix it.

How can I fix the ERROR_TOO_MANY_POSTS error?

1. Disable or remove your antivirus

Your antivirus can cause these types of problems to appear. If you can’t find the security feature that is causing the problem, you might want to try disabling your antivirus entirely.

Keep in mind that disabling your antivirus won’t leave your system vulnerable because Windows 10 comes with Windows Defender which works as a default antivirus.

If disabling the antivirus doesn’t solve the issue, you should consider removing your antivirus software. Keep in mind that antivirus tools tend to leave certain files and registry entries behind even after you uninstall them.

These files can also interfere with your system, therefore we recommend using a dedicated removal tool.

Uninstaller software is easy to work with. They are able to get rid of your old antivirus within seconds without leaving any traces behind. We recommend trying the CCleaner because it’s easy to work with and it will get rid of the old antivirus in seconds without leaving any leftovers behind.

If removing the antivirus fixes the problem, try switching to a different antivirus tool and check if the problem appears again.

Modern-day antiviruses are configured to protect your system without affecting its functionality or performance. It may be a good idea to get an antivirus with low CPU usage.

Additionally, make sure that the security software of your choice has a strong firewall and multi-layered protection. Online security features are also very important.

2. Install the latest Windows updates

  1. Press Windows Key + I to open the Settings app.
  2. Navigate to the Update & security section and click on Check for updates button.

Windows will now check if your system is up to date. If any update is available, Windows will download it automatically in the background. After updating the system to the latest version, check if the error message still appears.

Note: Windows 10 is a great operating system, but it has few bugs and compatibility issues. Sometimes system bugs can cause this error to appear while trying to run specific apps.

To make sure that your PC is bug-free, it’s always a good idea to keep your Windows up to date. The updating process is streamlined in Windows 10 and all important updates are downloaded automatically in the background.

3. Perform a Clean boot

  1. Press Windows Key + R, type msconfig and press Enter or click OK.
  2. Go to the Services tab and check the Hide all Microsoft services box. Now click on Disable all button.
  3. Navigate to the Startup tab and click on Open Task Manager.
  4. Select the first item on the list and click on the Disable button. Repeat this step for all entries on the list to disable them.
  5. After disabling all startup applications, close the Task Manager. Now navigate back to System Configuration window and click on Apply and OK to save the changes.
  6. Restart your PC to apply the changes.
Note icon NOTE
After your PC restarts, you need to check if the problem still persists. If not, it’s certain that one of the startup apps or services was causing this issue.

To find the problematic application you need to enable applications and services one by one or in groups. Keep in mind that you need to restart your PC after enabling each set of applications in order to apply changes.

After you find the problematic application, you can keep it disabled, update it , or remove it from your PC.

4. Keep your apps updated

We already mentioned that you need to keep Windows up to date if you want to be sure that your system is bug-free.

Since third-party apps can cause this problem to appear, it’s important to keep them all up to date in order to reduce the chance of any bugs.

If the problem appears while trying to run a specific application, you can try updating that app to the latest version and check if that solves the problem.

In addition to updating your apps, you can also try to reinstall the problematic application as a potential solution.

5. Remove any recently installed applications

5.1 Use the Apps section

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Go to Apps section.
  3. Set Sort by to Install date. Select the application you want to remove and click the Uninstall button. Follow the instructions on the screen to remove the application.
  4. Repeat this step for several recently installed apps.

5.2 Use Control Panel to remove the application

  1. Search for control panel and select it from the results.
  2. Select Programs and Features.
  3. Click on Installed On.
  4. To remove an application, simply double click it and follow the instructions on the screen. Repeat this step for several recently installed applications.
Note icon NOTE
Both these methods are the same and both of them will remove third-party apps from your PC. Keep in mind that the first method will also allow you to see and remove Universal apps.

Universal apps aren’t related to this issue, so there’s no need to remove them in order to fix the problem.

6. Perform a System Restore

  1. Search for create a restore point and select the feature from the results.
  2. Click on the System Restore button.
  3. Select Choose a different restore point and click on Next.
  4. Check Show more restore points option and select the desired restore point. Click the Next button to proceed.
  5. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the restoration.

Once your PC is restored, the problem should be fixed and everything should work normally.

Note icon NOTE
Thanks to the System Restore feature you can restore your PC to an earlier state and revert any recent changes.

Keep in mind that this process can remove any recently saved files, so if you have any important files be sure to back them up in advance.

7. Reset Windows 10

  1. Open the Start Menu and click on Power button. Press and hold Shift on your keyboard and choose Restart from the menu.
  2. You’ll see a list of options. Select Troubleshoot, then Reset this PC and click on Remove everything. You might be asked to insert your installation media, so be sure to have it ready.
  3. Select your version of Windows and choose Only the drive where Windows is installed and select Just remove my files.
  4. You’ll now see a list of changes that the reset will make. Click on Reset to continue.
  5. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the process.
Note icon NOTE
This is a drastic solution and it will remove all files and applications from your system drive, so be sure to create a backup. In addition, you might need a Windows 10 installation media to complete this process.

After you reset Windows 10, you’ll have to install all your applications and move files from the backup. This solution will remove all files from your system drive, so you should use it only if other solutions can’t fix the problem.

Too many posts were made to a semaphore message and the ERROR_TOO_MANY_POSTS error can cause some problems on your PC and prevent you from running certain apps. However, we hope that you managed to solve these problems by using one of our solutions.