How to Fix Missing MSVCR80.dll Error

The Get Coupons Fast Toolbar is a Browser Extension for Google Chrome developed by Mindspark Inc. This extension allows quick access to the most popular coupon websites available. While this might look like a good useful idea, keep in mind that it has been classified as a Browser Hijacker by Several anti-virus applications.

When installed this extension will hijack your new tab page, changing it to a customized version of Search.MyWay.com. While active It records user browser activity, this data is later used to better target ads. While browsing the internet with this extension installed you will see additional pop-up ads, sponsored content, and injected ads into your browser search results and pages. GetCouponsFast usually comes bundled with other PUP-s or Browser Hijackers that may harm your computer and it is recommended you remove it from your PC.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijacking means that a malicious code has taken control over and altered the settings of your internet browser, without your permission. They are created to disrupt browser functions for various reasons. It redirects you to the sponsored sites and inserts ads on your internet browser that assists its developer to generate revenue. While it might seem harmless, these tools were created by malicious people who always look to take advantage of you, so that they could make money from your naivety and distraction. They did not just ruin your browsers, but browser hijackers can also modify the system registry, making your computer or laptop susceptible to various other types of attacks.

Signs of browser hijacker infection

There are plenty of signs that indicate the web browser has been highjacked: 1. you notice unauthorized modifications to your web browser’s home-page 2. you find re-directed to internet sites you never intended to visit 3. the default browser configurations have been modified and/or your default web engine is altered 4. you’ll see many toolbars on your browser 5. you might see never-ending pop-up adverts on your computer screen 6. your browser has become unstable or starts running slowly 7. you are blocked to access the websites of antivirus solution providers.

How does a computer get infected with a browser hijacker?

Browser hijackers might use drive-by downloads or file-sharing networks or an email attachment in order to reach a targeted computer system. They could also come from add-on applications, also known as browser helper objects (BHO), web browser extensions, or toolbars. Some internet browser hijackers spread in user’s computers using a deceptive software distribution method called “bundling” (often through freeware and shareware). Browser hijackers will affect the user’s web browsing experience severely, monitor the websites visited by users and steal sensitive information, cause difficulty in connecting to the web, and eventually create stability problems, making programs and systems freeze.

Removal

Some hijackers can be simply removed by deleting the free software they were included with or by deleting any add-ons you have recently added to your browser. Unluckily, the majority of the software applications utilized to hijack an internet browser are deliberately designed to be difficult to detect or get rid of. And there is no denying the very fact that manual repairs and removal can certainly be a difficult task for a novice PC user. Moreover, there are various risks connected with tinkering around with the system registry files. Installing and running anti-malware software on the affected computer will automatically erase browser hijackers as well as other unwanted programs. In order to get rid of persistent browser hijackers effectively, install the award-winning Anti-Malware tool Safebytes Anti-Malware. Employ a pc optimizer (such as Total System Care) along with your anti-malware to repair various computer registry problems, remove computer vulnerabilities, and improve your computer performance.

How To Get Eliminate Virus That Is Blocking Antivirus Downloads?

Malware could cause all sorts of damage once they invade your computer, starting from stealing your private details to erasing data files on your computer system. Some malware is created to hinder or block things that you wish to do on your PC. It may not permit you to download anything from the net or it will prevent you from accessing a few or all of the websites, in particular the anti-virus sites. If you are reading this article right now, you may have perhaps realized that a malware infection is a reason for your blocked internet connectivity. So what to do if you want to download and install an anti-virus application like Safebytes? There are some steps you can take to circumvent this problem.

Boot Windows in Safe Mode

Safe Mode is actually a unique, simplified version of Windows in which just bare minimum services are loaded to prevent malware and also other troublesome programs from loading. If the malicious software is set to load automatically when the PC starts, shifting into this mode may prevent it from doing so. In order to enter into Safe Mode or Safe Mode with Networking, press the F8 key while the system is booting up or run MSCONFIG and find the “Safe Boot” options under the “Boot” tab. Once you are in safe mode, you can attempt to install your anti-malware program without the hindrance of the malicious software. Right after installation, run the malware scanner to remove standard infections.

Use an alternate web browser to download security software

Web-based malware can be environment-specific, aiming for a particular browser or attacking particular versions of the browser. The best solution to avoid this issue is to choose an internet browser that is known for its security features. Firefox contains built-in Malware and Phishing Protection to keep you secure online.

Run anti-virus from a pen drive

Another option would be to make a portable anti-malware program onto your USB flash drive. To run anti-virus using a pen drive, follow these simple measures: 1) Download Safebytes Anti-Malware or Windows Defender Offline onto a virus-free PC. 2) Plug the USB drive into the clean computer. 3) Double-click the Setup icon of the anti-malware program to run the Installation Wizard. 4) Select thumb drive as the place when the wizard asks you where you wish to install the application. Follow the directions to complete the installation process. 5) Unplug the flash drive. Now you can utilize this portable anti-virus on the infected computer. 6) Double click the Safebytes Anti-malware icon on the pen drive to run the application. 7) Click the “Scan Now” button to start the virus scan.

SafeBytes Anti-Malware Overview

Want to download the best anti-malware application for your desktop? There are many applications on the market that comes in free and paid versions for Windows systems. Some are very good ones, some are ok types, while some are just fake anti-malware programs that will damage your personal computer themselves! While looking for an antimalware program, pick one that offers reliable, efficient, and total protection against all known viruses and malware. On the list of recommended software is SafeBytes AntiMalware. SafeBytes has a good history of quality service, and customers appear to be happy with it. Safebytes is among the well-established PC solutions companies, which provide this all-inclusive anti-malware application. With its outstanding protection system, this tool will automatically detect and remove most of the security threats, which include adware, viruses, browser hijackers, PUPs, trojans, worms, and ransomware.

SafeBytes possesses a variety of wonderful features that can help you protect your computer from malware attacks and damage. Listed below are a few of the great ones:

Real-time Protection: SafeBytes provides round-the-clock protection for your computer restricting malware intrusions in real-time. They are very efficient in screening and getting rid of numerous threats because they’re regularly improved with new updates and alerts. Robust Anti-malware Protection: Built on a highly acclaimed antivirus engine, this malware removal tool has the capacity to find and remove various stubborn malware threats such as browser hijackers, PUPs, and ransomware that other common antivirus programs will miss. Web protection: SafeBytes checks the hyperlinks present on a webpage for possible threats and tells you if the website is safe to explore or not, through its unique safety rating system. Minimal CPU and Memory Usage: SafeBytes is a lightweight and simple to use antivirus and anti-malware solution. As it utilizes very low computer resources, this software leaves the computer power exactly where it belongs: with you. 24/7 Customer Service: Support service is available 24 x 7 x 365 days via chat and email to answer your queries. Overall, SafeBytes Anti-Malware is a solid program since it has lots of features and could identify and remove any potential threats. Now you may realize that this tool does more than just scan and delete threats on your computer. So when you need advanced forms of protection features and threat detections, purchasing SafeBytes Anti-Malware could be well worth the dollars!

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you don’t want to use malware removal software and prefer to eliminate GetCouponsFast manually, you could do so by going to the Windows Add/Remove Programs menu in the control panel and deleting the offending program; in cases of browser extensions, you can remove it by visiting the browser’s Add-on/Extension manager. Additionally, it is advised to reset your web browser settings to their default state. Lastly, check your hard disk for all of the following and clean your registry manually to remove leftover application entries after uninstallation. Please keep in mind that only advanced users should attempt to manually edit the system files since deleting any single vital registry entry results in a serious problem or even a PC crash. Moreover, certain malicious programs are capable to defend against its removal. It is recommended that you do the removal process in Windows Safe Mode.

Error 2 - What is it?

Error 2 is a typical Battle.net error code. Battle.net is a desktop app that allows you to access all Blizzard games. It enables Blizzard gamers around the world to play multiplayer matches together, online. Error 2 occurs when you are unable to connect to the login server. This error code is displayed in the following format:

Battle.net Error #2: Unable to connect. Please try again later. If the problem persists, please contact technical support.

Solution

Error Causes

Error 2 may be triggered due to several reasons. These include:

• Program conflict
• Security software conflict
• Bad DNS cache entry
• Issues with network devices
• Viruses and malware
• Registry corruption

Error 2 is not a fatal error like the blue screen of death error codes. However, this error may hamper your ability to play Blizzard multi-player games. To overcome this problem it is advisable to fix error 2 immediately.

Further Information and Manual Repair

To resolve this error you don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars to hire a professional and get it fixed. Here are some of the easy do-it-yourself methods to resolve this error on your PC. These methods require no technical expertise or knowledge. Let’s get started:

Method 1

Error 2 may sometimes pop up on the screen due to program conflict. This happens when you have Blizzard games and other programs running on your PC at the same time. In such a situation, it is advisable to close background applications to resolve conflicts between Blizzard games and other programs running in the background.

Method 2

Sometimes antivirus programs and firewalls can also hinder and interfere with the game’s connection to our servers. In this event, the best way to fix the error is to temporarily uninstall your security software.

Method 3

If error 2 is triggered by the issues with network devices then simply power cycle network devices to re-stabilize the connection. Power cycling router and modem allow you to reset and reestablish a connection to your ISP. To do this, shut down the computer then power down/unplug the router and the modem. Allow the modem to sit for 60 seconds, unplugged. Then turn it on and allow it to boot up till the front panel connection lights show a steady connection. Now turn on the router and do the same as you did with the modem. After that start the computer and allow it to completely boot up. Now try logging on to the Blizzard gaming server. This will hopefully resolve the issue.

Method 4

Viruses and malware infections can also trigger error 2. In such a situation install an antivirus and remove all malicious programs infecting your PC.

Method 5

If the cause of the error is related to registry corruption, then it is advisable to download Restoro. This is a user-friendly PC Fixer with a registry cleaner. The registry cleaner removes all unnecessary and obsolete files corrupting the registry, cleans and repairs the corrupted registry in a few minutes. Click here to download Restoro on your PC to resolve error 2. For further information you may be interested in these similar issues:

Error Code 0x8024001b- What is it?

At its most basic level, Error Code 0x8024001b is an error that can cause problems with the installation and updates of software and operating system updates. The most common version of this error appears in Windows 10, but a similar error with a matching code number has been present in previous versions of the operating system, back through Windows 7.

Common symptoms include:

• Programs freezing or locking up during use
• The appearance of an error message regarding installation difficulties
• Computer shutting down or freezing during operation
• Difficulty in running multiple programs at the same time

Solution

Error Causes

There are two main causes for Error Code 0x8024001b, both of which are fairly simple:  Updates needed for the Windows Update tool itself and software that causes Windows Update to fail during installations through conflicts in system files. While these may seem like technical issues, these problems are actually easily resolved with a few simple steps. The average user can use the methods listed below to fix the problems on their own.

Further Information and Manual Repair

For users who want to address Error Code 0x8024001b for themselves, the steps below can be followed to address the two primary causes for the error. If you have difficulty in completing these steps or are not confident in your computing skills and ability to follow the listed steps, contact a Windows repair technician.

Here are the top methods to resolve Error Code 0x8024001b on your own:

Method One:  Check for Updates to Windows Update

In some cases, the Windows Update tool may need an update for itself. When you attempt to run updates or install wizards for other software, it can cause conflicts with the Windows Update process, slowing down your computer or causing it to freeze.

If you are attempting to run multiple installations or updates at the same time, it may also cause Error Code 0x8024001b to arise on your computer.

To resolve this issue, close out all programs, with the exception of the Windows Update tool. Within the tool, select “Check for Updates” and install any updates that are needed. When finished, you should restart your computer to ensure that all updates have been fully applied before attempting any other installations or updates.

Method Two:  Uninstall Conflicting Software

Another problem that can cause Error Code 0x8024001b is the presence of conflicting software. If Error Code 0x8024001b has only recently appeared on your computer, consider removing any software that has been added to your computer, running the Windows Update process, and restarting your computer before attempting to reinstall the problem software.

With any method that you use, it is important to remember to keep your Windows Updates current at all times. This is the best way to avoid the appearance of Error Code 0x8024001b and similar errors in the future, as stacked up updates are more likely to cause issues and conflicts with your other installed software and operating system.

While there are some tools out there that claim to be able to fix Error Code 0x8024001b for you, it is important to always thoroughly investigate the publisher and distributor of such software, as some of the tools available on the Internet will actually introduce malware and adware on your computer in the name of “protecting” your computer or resolving an error.

If you have tried to use both methods above and have not fully resolved Error Code 0x8024001b, get in touch with someone who is a qualified computer repair professional and is familiar with your particular version of the Windows operating system to assist you in finalizing your resolution.

Method Three: Use An Automated Tool

If you wish to always have at your disposal a utility tool to fix these Windows 10 and other related issues when they do arise, download and install a powerful automated tool.

Instaling and removing applications from your Windows can sometimes leave some traces that are unpleasant and can cause annoyances. One of these annoyances is the program in the startup section of the task manager.

If you ever opened task manager and went into the startup section trying to disable some of the startup items on your Windows boot there might be a chance that you have experienced and seen a program without any icon or information about it just sitting there.

This is due to some applications being removed from the system but for some reason, it still shows itself in startup and it is quite annoying. So here we will show you how to get rid of this annoyance so your startup is clean again without junk in it.

Removing a program from startup

Locating the source of the issue

The first thing of course is to open the task manager itself and navigate to the startup tab. Inside the startup tab right-click on the column header and tick or enable Startup type and command line. Now you will see the location of the supposed file (that is missing or you could just go there by right-clicking on the item, but here it is greyed).

99% of the time startup type will be registry since the file is missing, if it was a file fix would be just to simply delete the file in the folder but since it was installed and not properly removed registry key is still present but the file cannot be found. After confirmation that the file is indeed missing and that the startup type is registry open the registry editor by typing Regedit in search and pressing enter.

Removing the key from registry

Inside Registry editor navigate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run. Inside on right part, you will see all auto-start entries added by installed applications.

Locate one that is causing issues by comparing its path with the path inside the task manager command line and delete the key. Once the key is deleted right-click on RUN on the left part and choose HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE to quickly jump on that key location and repeat the process of key deletion if needed. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE will delete startup entry for all users and sometimes entry will not be present here since the application is not installed for all users or there are no other users on the machine.

After the procedure is finished, reboot your systems in order to apply changes.

The Windows 10 Telemetry and Data Collection features are auto-enabled and they collect all sorts of user activity and sends it to Microsoft. Microsoft says that the data collected only enhances the overall user experience and Windows functionality better but the number of data breaches happening across the globe has forced users to be extra cautious about their data privacy. So naturally, from stronger passwords and other services management, it is only logical to turn off Windows data gathering. To do so:

• Press ⊞ WINDOWS + R to open the run dialog.
• In the Run dialog type: taskschd.msc
• Press CTRL + SHIFT + ENTER key combo to open Task Scheduler in admin mode.
• On the left pane, navigate to the: Task Scheduler Library > Microsoft > Windows > Customer Experience Improvement Program
• At the location, on the middle pane, right-click on the task named Consolidator and select Disable from the context menu...
• Repeat the process with all other tasks listed in the middle pane.
• Exit Task Scheduler.

Every time a new drive or any storage device is connected to a Windows 10 computer, the operating system tends to allot a drive letter to it automatically. Not only that, as the OS also maps the location of the drive which helps it point the letter to the exact port location of the drive and serve requests from the user. As a result, it builds up a bit of cache as per the pattern in which the user uses the storage of the computer. This whole process is known as “Auto Mounting” which works for hard disks or optical drive readers that are connected using the SATA ports and even for USB drives that are connected using the USB ports. There are several ways you can enable or disable the Auto-Mount feature in Windows 10. You can do it using the MountVol tool or the Registry Editor or the Diskpart utility. Before you proceed, it is recommended that you create a System Restore point first so that you can always undo the changes you made in case anything goes wrong.

Option 1 – Enable or disable Auto Mounting via MountVol tool

In this option, you will be using the mountvol command in the Command Prompt. Refer to the steps below.

• Tap the Wins key once and type in “command prompt” in the field.
• From the search results, right-click on Command Prompt and select the “Run as administrator” option to run it with admin privileges.
• Next, type the following command and tap Enter to enable the Auto Mount feature:

mountvol /E

• On the other hand, if you want to disable the Auto Mount feature, type the following command instead:

mountvol /N

• After that, type the command below to remove all the previously assigned drive letters:

mountvol /R

• Finally, restart your computer.

Option 2 – Enable or disable Auto Mounting via Registry Editor

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Then type “Regedit” in the field and tap Enter to open the Registry Editor.
• After that, navigate to this registry key: ComputerHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetServicesmountmgr
• Next, look for a DWORD named “NoAutoMount”. If you can’t find a DWORD with that name then simply create a new DWORD with the same name and make sure that the base is selected to Hexadecimal.
• Now double click on that DWORD and change its value to 0 if you want to enable it, otherwise, input 1 as its value to disable it.
• Restart your computer.

Option 3 – Enable or disable Auto Mounting via Diskpart utility

• Tap the Wins key once and type in “command prompt” in the field.
• From the search results, right-click on Command Prompt and select the “Run as administrator” option to run it with admin privileges.
• After opening Command Prompt as admin, type the following command and hit Enter to launch the Diskpart utility:

diskpart

• After that, a User Account Control prompt will appear. Just click on the Yes button.
• Next, type the following command and hit Enter:

automount

• Following the command you entered, you will an output that either says, “Automatic mounting of new volumes enabled” or “Automatic mounting of new volumes disabled” which means you can use it to check the status of Auto Mount.
• Now if you want to enable the Auto Mount feature, type the following command and tap Enter:

automount enable

• And if you want to disable the Auto Mount feature, just enter the following command:

automount disable

• To remove all the assigned letter and history of drives that were connected previously, type the following command:

automount scrub

• Finally, restart your computer.

All malware is detrimental and the magnitude of the damage will vary greatly depending on the type of infection. Some malware variants modify internet browser settings by adding a proxy server or modify the PC's DNS settings. When this happens, you'll be unable to visit certain or all the sites, and therefore not able to download or install the required security software to clear out the computer malware. If you’re reading this article, chances are, you’re stuck with a virus infection that is preventing you from downloading and/or installing the Safebytes Anti-Malware program on your computer. Refer to the instructions below to remove malware through alternate methods.

Method 1: Install Anti-Malware in Safe Mode with Networking

If the malware is set to load automatically when Microsoft Windows starts, entering safe mode may block the attempt. Since only the minimal applications and services start-up in safe mode, there are rarely any reasons for conflicts to happen. You will need to do the following to remove malware in Safe mode.

• 1) Tap the F8 key continuously as soon as your computer boots, however, before the large Windows logo or black screen with white texts come up. This would invoke the Advanced Boot Options menu.
• 2) Choose Safe Mode with Networking using arrow keys and press Enter.
• 3) When you are into this mode, you will have access to the internet once again. Now, utilize your web browser normally and download Safebytes Anti-Malware.
• 4) After installation, do a complete scan and allow the software to get rid of the threats it detects.

Method 2: Utilize An Alternate Internet Browser to Download Anti-Malware Software

Malicious program code may exploit vulnerabilities in a specific web browser and block access to all antivirus software sites. If you suspect that your Internet Explorer has been hijacked by computer malware or otherwise compromised by cybercriminals, the most effective plan of action is to switch to an alternate web browser such as Chrome, Firefox, or Safari to download your chosen security program - Safebytes Anti-Malware.

Download SafeBytes Anti-Malware for Malware Removal

Method 3: Install and Run Anti-Malware From a USB Drive

To effectively remove the malware, you might want to approach the problem of installing an antivirus software program on the affected computer from a different angle. Adopt these measures to employ a flash drive to fix your infected computer.

• 1) Use another malware-free PC to download Safebytes Anti-Malware.
• 2) Plug the thumb drive into the uninfected computer.
• 3) Double click on the executable file to open the installation wizard.
• 4) Choose the drive letter of the USB drive as the place when the wizard asks you exactly where you would like to install the anti-virus. Follow activation instructions.
• 5) Now, transfer the thumb drive to the infected computer.
• 6) Double-click the antivirus program EXE file on the USB flash drive.
• 7) Click on the “Scan Now” button to start the malware scan.

If no other method of downloading and installing the antivirus software works, then you've no other option than to hit the last resort: a full Windows reinstallation, the only approach known to have a 100% rate of success at virus removal.

When you upgrade or update your Windows 10 computer but you suddenly got Error 0x8024a206 while trying to install the updates, it is due to a rouge update that was downloaded or because of some corrupted component in Windows. In case you don’t know, any file downloaded by Windows is verified for its integrity and if the files don’t pass the integrity test, then Error 0x8024a206 will most likely pop up during the Windows update or upgrade.

Option 1 – Reset the Windows Update components to the default

You have to stop a couple of services such as BITS, Cryptographic, MSI Installer, and Windows Update Services. And to do that, you need to flush the contents in the SoftwareDistribution folder. The Software Distribution folder in the Windows operating system is a folder that can be found in the Windows directory and is used to store files temporarily which might be required to install the Windows Update on your PC. Thus, it is required by the Windows Update and maintained by WUAgent. Aside from that, it also contains all the Windows Update History files and once you delete them, you will most likely lose the Update history. As a result, the next time you run the Windows Update, it may result in a longer detection time.

• Open the WinX Menu.
• From there, open Command Prompt as admin.
• Then type in the following command – don’t forget to hit Enter right after typing each one of them.

net stop wuauserv net start cryptSvc net start bits net start msiserver

• After entering these commands, it will stop the Windows Update Service, Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS), Cryptographic, and the MSI Installer
• Next, go to the C:/Windows/SoftwareDistribution folder and get rid of all the folders and files thereby tapping the Ctrl + A keys to select them all and then click on Delete. Note that if the files are in use, you won’t be able to delete them.

After resetting the SoftwareDistribution folder, you need to reset the Catroot2 folder to restart the services you just stopped. To do that, follow these steps:

• Type each one of the following commands.

net start wuauserv net start cryptSvc net start bits net start msiserver

• After that, exit Command Prompt and restart your computer, and then try to run Windows Update once more.

Option 2 – Re-register DLLs related to Windows Update

DLL files, also known as Dynamic Link Library, are parts of applications that are separated from the core program so that they can be used again as well as independently be updated. The DLL files are loaded into memory and then used. Note that they have to be registered with Windows so they can be loaded. So if they’re not, the main program will fail. And this is the same with the DLL files related to the Windows Update. Thus, you need to register them in order to resolve Error 0x8024a206.

• In the Cortana search box, type “command prompt”.
• From the search results that appear, right-click on Command Prompt and select the “Run as administrator” option.
• After that execute the commands listed below one after the other and don’t forget to hit Enter right after you key in each one of them.
  • regsvr32 JSCRIPT.DLL
  • regsvr32 MSXML3.DLL
  • regsvr32 WUPS2.DLL
  • regsvr32 WUPS.DLL
  • regsvr32 WUAUENG.DLL
  • regsvr32 WUAPI.DLL
  • regsvr32 WUCLTUX.DLL
  • regsvr32 WUWEBV.DLL

Note: You also have the option to run the commands together via a batch file. Simply create a batch file by copying all the commands in a notepad and then save it as “WURegisterDLL.bat”. After that, run the batch file and it will execute the commands all at the same time. Then you have to restart your computer and see if it has fixed the Error 0x8024a206.

Option 3 – Run the System File Checker

The SFC or System File Checker scan could detect and automatically repair damaged system files that could be causing the Error 0x8024a206. SFC is a built-in command utility that helps in restoring corrupted files as well as missing files. It replaces bad and corrupted system files to good system files. To run the SFC command, follow the steps given below.

• Tap Win + R to launch Run.
• Type in cmd in the field and tap Enter.
• After opening Command Prompt, type in sfc /scannow and hit Enter.

The command will start a system scan which will take a few whiles before it finishes. Once it’s done, you could get the following results:

1. Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.
2. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them.
3. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them.

Option 4 – Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter

Running the built-in Windows Update troubleshooter could also help you resolve the Windows Update Error 0x8024a206. To run it, go to Settings and then select Troubleshoot from the options. From there, click on Windows Update and then click the “Run the troubleshooter” button. After that, follow the next on-screen instructions and you should be good to go.

SD memory cards have surfaced as standard cards for digital cameras and microSD as phone standard memory cards. Most people have and use at least one daily, so naturally copying files and even formatting SD cards is a natural thing to do, but what if you cannot copy files or format SD cards? Fear not because we had this issue and tried several things in order to overcome the problem and after some time here is a list of what can you do if you are facing this exact issue. The list is written from most simple solutions to more complex ones and it is advisable to follow it as presented. That being said, let's dive into solving the problem.

1. Remove Write Protection on SD card

First and in my experience the most usual thing preventing deleting, copying files, and formating SD card is due to write protection. Take an SD card out of the laptop, camera, or card reader and visually inspect it. On side of almost every SD card, there is a hardware lock switch and mark where it needs to be positioned in order to be locked. Even if the switch is positioned on unlocked state, switch it to locked and then back to unlocked. Sometimes this easy moving of switch can resolve some contact issues and the card will start working normally. Another type of lock that could be turned ON is a software one. If for any kind of reason data protection has been turned ON, you will need to turn it off in order to be able to format an SD card. In order to do this follow this guide:

1. Press ⊞ WINDOWS + R to open the Run dialog
2. In run dialog type in diskpart and press ENTER
3. Once diskpart is opened in command prompt type in: list disk and press ENTER
4. Locate your SD card and type in select disk x, where x is disk number followed by ENTER
5. After the SD card is selected type in: attributes disk clear read-only and press ENTER

This process will clear the software lock on the SD card, after following this method try to format the card again, if the problem still exists go to the next solution.

2. Format SD card using Command prompt

Command prompt is a great tool and can perform some commands that are not been able to be completed using file explorer or another tool inside Windows.

1. In the taskbar search box, search for cmd and select the Command prompt
2. On the right part select run as administrator
3. If needed click on YES on UAC prompt
4. Inside command prompt type in diskpart and press ENTER
5. type in list disk followed by ENTER
6. Select your SD card by locating its number in the list and typing select disk X, where is X SD cards number in list and press ENTER
7. Once SD card is selected type in format fs=ntfs quick and press ENTER

This should format SD card but if for reason even this step is provided as unproductive, go to the next solution.

3. Format your card with the Disk Management tool

1. Go into the taskbar and search for Disk Management and open it
2. Select SD card partition that you wish to format
3. Right-click on the partition and select format
4. After the format is done, enter the volume label, file system, and allocation unit size. Confirm with OK
5. Press OK again to confirm the formatting process.

If you have not managed to format your SD card even with this method go to the next solution.

4. Repartition card with Disk part

If all previous solutions have failed there is a chance that the SD card has bad sectors on it. If this is the case that we will need to partition cards in order to isolate bad sectors and use healthy ones.

1. Press ⊞ WINDOWS + R to open the Run dialog
2. In run dialog type in diskpart and press ENTER
3. Once diskpart is opened in command prompt type in: list disk and press ENTER
4. Locate your SD card and type in select disk x, where x is disk number followed by ENTER
5. Type in Clean and press ENTER
6. Type in Create partition primary and press ENTER
7. To select a new partition type select partition 1 followed by ENTER
8. Make partition active by typing active and pressing ENTER
9. Format the drive by typing format fs=ntfs label=SDCard quick followed with ENTER
10. Assign a letter to drive by typing assign letter=h followed with ENTER
11. Type exit to close Command prompt followed again by ENTER and open File Explorer to check if the drive is active

5. Try a dedicated SD card formating fool

If anything failed so far, one last thing you could do is to download and try a dedicated SD card formatting tool. One that I would recommend is SD Memory Card Formatter, which is free software make specifically for formatting SD memory cards.

Started as an internal network and has slowly expanded since 1960 internet has taken over the world. In the beginning, it was a means of information change but in the modern age you can run applications and virtual machines over the internet, you can stream video and audio, and you can communicate in real-time with someone on the other side of Earth.

With the internet growing so fast in such a small amount of time it is only logical and wise to take a step back and take a good look at what it offers now, what are great things about it and what are some of the worst.

Good sides of the internet

Information

There are a lot of advantages of the internet, first and foremost is information. Internet was made as an information exchange service and even today you can find a lot of various information about various topics that interest you. A site like Wikipedia is a completely free online encyclopedia and a lot of news companies have their own internet sites where you can find free information and news.

On the other hand, there are also websites like udemy, edx, Coursera, and many others that will offer you the education, some for free, some for money but you can get a glimpse and part of university quality education for just a fraction of price.

Online shopping

Sites like Amazon have used the internet and launched themselves as today's multi-billion companies. In today's world, there is not a single thing you can not buy online. Many sites today are going from the large online marketplace where you can find everything to small niche specialized ones. Also every major brand in the world today has its own online store.

Other shops will offer you music, movies, games, etc. Services like steam, xbox pass, sony pass etc, will let you buy games online, other music, movies, and many more.

Streaming services

Days, when you had to buy movies in order to watch them at home, are gone, thanks to the internet we have plenty of streaming services for movies and tv shows as well as ones for music. If you do not want to spend money on actually purchasing things then a good idea is to have a streaming plan set up when you want it.

Email and messaging

Communication is a great thing and since the dawn of mankind people have been talking and sharing with each other, the internet has made it possible to send mail electronically and instantly and modern chat communication is everywhere. We can not just talk with our friends and family that can be on the other side of the world, we can also talk in real-time with the sales representative, with technical service, or attend online classes with a group of people.

Cloud storage services

Saving your pictures in this digital media age on the hard drive can be risky but thanks to modern technologies you can save most of your precious files on cloud servers for safekeeping. From pictures to documents and even other files that you need and want to save. There are some of them that will offer you a free amount and some basic free plans as well.

Bad sides of the internet

Malware, viruses, and phishing

We could not talk about the bad side of the internet if we do not mention its greatest threat. Bad sites, infected software, phishing emails, and many more malicious threats. Problem is that these kinds of tricks and attacks have become more and more sophisticated and harder to detect and avoid.

Pornography

Pornography is bad, having it freely available to children is even worse. Sadly the only way to regulate this is on a computer-by-computer basis by turning on parent control on each one. There are many studies that go into detail about why this is bad, sadly currently there are no effective ways to isolate this content.

No privacy

When we say there is no privacy we do not mean by using social media and not setting your privacy settings altho that also fits in this point, what we are talking about is data mining of your habits and things you do. It is well known that today lot of websites are using some form of AI recommender system in order to tailor your internet experience to suit your needs better. Most of these AI systems are trained by mining your data and analyzing your habits.

If you have 2 google accounts there is a high probability chance that for the same query you will get different results, depending on your so far browsing habits. The same goes for other services as well.

Dark webshops

There are some great things in dark and deep WEB-like sites with true news and information. Even some legit libraries where you can find and download rare books. Sadly as goes with the internet dark and deep WEB also has its well, dark sides, from disturbing content to shops that sell stolen items to straight stealing your money by parading as legit shops but only to steal your money.

Dating sites

We all try to find someone that is perfectly matched with us but using the online dating site has many proven bad effects on psychology. It also devaluates interaction between people and can lower self-esteem.

Bad habits

Since the internet has become wildly available and popular on various devices like tablets and mobile phones more and more people are spending an unhealthy amount of time on it. Harvesting the benefits of the internet is great but find some time for other people as well.