4 Ways of keeping drivers updated

USB Keeps Connecting and Disconnecting

External hard drives have become essential these days as they tend to be very useful to many users. They are usually used for storing system images like system backups, Windows installation media, or for personal use. However, if you are not able to utilize your external drivers for some reason then that could be a huge problem. One of the common issues with hard drives is when your USB device or external hard drive just keeps connecting and disconnecting. This kind of issue could be caused by a faulty USB port, some issues with the USB drivers, your computer’s Power Options, corrupted or damaged system files, and many other factors. The connecting and disconnecting issue with USB devices and external hard drives isn’t really new and has been experienced by many users for years now. Although this issue has somewhat decreased in Windows 10, there are still some users who encounter it every now and then. Worry not though for there are fixes that you can try to resolve the problem. Refer to the following straightforward solutions to resolve the issue with your USB device or external hard drive.

Option 1 – Plug your external device on a different port

If your USB device keeps on connecting and disconnecting then the first thing you can do is to try connecting it to a different port. This will help you isolate the problem. In some cases, the port where the USB is connected can be malfunctioning or obsolete so you need to check that possibility by plugging your USB device into a different USB port.

Option 2 – Update or reinstall your USB drivers

As mentioned earlier, the problem could be due to some issues with the USB drivers. It could be that it has to be updated or you need to reinstall it. To do that, follow these steps:

First, click the Start button and type “device manager”.
Then click on the “Device Manager” from the search results to open it.
From there, look for the “Universal Serial Bus controllers” option and then right-click on each one of the USB drivers and select the Update Driver from the menu.
Restart your PC and then click the “Search automatically for updated driver software” option.

You also have the option to update the motherboard and the USB driver from the manufacturer’s official website.

Option 3 – Try turning on the USB External drive

There are times when your system turns off some drives in order to conserve your computer’s power, etc. as a result, the driver that’s required to run your external hard drive properly ends up getting disabled. To fix this, you can prevent your system from turning off your external USB drive by following these steps:

You need to make sure that the external drive is connected to your system first.
Next, go to the Start Menu and type “device manager” in the field, and click on the appropriate result to open the Device Manager.
After opening the Device Manager, expand the category of the Universal Serial Bus controllers.
Then double click on your USB Mass Storage device and take note that the name might be different on your system.
Now go to the Power Management tab and uncheck the checkbox for the “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power” option and click OK to save the changes made.

Option 4 – Turn off USB Selective Suspend

Another thing you can try is to turn off USB Selective Suspend especially when the issue has something to do with the Power Options. There are certain systems that are configured to disable USB devices after some time which could be the root cause of the problem. Thus, you need to turn off USB Selective Suspend. Here’s how you can do it:

In the Start Menu, search for “control panel” and open the related search result.
Then go to Power Options and click on the “Change plan settings” option.
Next, select “Change advanced power settings” and look for the USB settings and then expand it.
From there, you will see the USB Selective Suspend setting. Disable it and click OK.
Now restart your computer and check if it resolves the problem or not.

Option 5 – Format your drive

To get started formatting your drive, tap the Win + E keys and then go to the access page of the drive.
Next, right-click on the drive and select Format.
After that, uncheck the “Quick Format” option and then format your drive properly.
Now once the formatting process is finished, unplug the drive and plug it back in afterward.
Check if the error is already fixed. If the drive is not initialized, tap the Win + R keys and hit Enter.
After opening the Run dialog box, type “diskmgmt.msc” and hit Enter to open Disk Management.
From there, right-click on the drive volume and select initialize disk.
Next, select the correct partition type and proceed.

How to fix Windows 10 Error 0x803f7000

Error code 0x803f7000 -What is it?

Error code 0x803f7000 refers to an issue in Windows 10 with downloading apps through Windows Store. When you choose the app or game to download, it heads to Downloads in the Store app. Then it says it is acquiring a license but then fails. When you click the “See details” link, you see the error code 0x803F7000. It could mean that the date and time or region settings in your Windows 10 are incorrect or there are some problems with the Windows Store Cache.

Symptoms

This error appears when you are running Windows 10 and trying to download an app through the Microsoft store. The error code may appear with this message: “Something went wrong. The error code is 0x803f7000, in case you need it”
You might also see this message along with the error code: "It looks like you've reached your device limit for installing apps and games from the Store on your Windows 10 device. If you want to install apps and games from the Store on another Windows 10 device, remove a device from the device list."

Solution

Error Causes

There may be several reasons for this error:

This problem may arise if the date and time in Windows 10 are incorrect.
If the region has been set incorrectly.
Problems with Windows store cache.
Windows store server overloaded.
The Windows version you are using is pirated.

Further Information and Manual Repair

Method 1:

Correcting date and time:

Open up Control Panel > Clock, Language, and Region.
Then click on Date & Time.
Now click on Change date & time to correct your time.

Method 2:

Correcting region:

Navigate to Control Panel > Clock, Language, and Region.
Then click on Region.
Then click on the Location tab.
Now set your actual region from Home location section.
Click Apply & OK.

Method 3:

Resetting Windows Store:

Press Windows Flag Key + X from your keyboard. Then select Command Prompt (Admin). It will launch Command prompt as administrator.
Then type wsreset and hit Enter.
Wait for a few seconds. It will automatically open Windows Store.
Then try to download any apps.

Method 4:

Open Command prompt in local machine and type in the Windows Store reset tool exe
Activate Windows by going to Settings>Updates and Security
Run the Modern UI/metro app troubleshooter from Microsoft
Keep trying it several times.
Try changing locale and time zone to the United States as shown below
Go to control panel, Language settings
Select location to the United States
This will reset the language to US English. After this try downloading the apps again.
Try restarting the Windows Updater service or restart the machine once.

You must make sure that you have a good internet connection. You need that for the updates and downloads complete without disruption.

Method 5:

Make sure the app isn’t blocked by the Windows firewall: To make your PC more secure, some apps are blocked by Windows Firewall by default. For proper functioning, you might need to enable an app to receive info through the firewall. For more info, see the "Allow an app to receive info through the firewall," and follow the procedure from start to finish.

Method 6:

Check with your system admin: If your PC is part of a network in an organization, like a business, school, or government agency, your system administrator might have turned off the use of certain apps using the Group Policy. Contact your system admin if you believe that Group Policy is preventing you from using an app.

Method 7:

Make sure your apps are up-to-date: To make the apps working properly, you must keep your apps up-to-date. This could be done by turning on automatic updates in the Windows Store.

Method 8:

Contact the app publisher To view the publisher’s app support info, follow these steps:

On the Start screen, tap or click Store to open the Windows Store.
Search or browse for the app, and then tap or click it.
Scroll to the Details section of the app's description page, and then tap or click the support link for the app under Learn more. The link will open an email message for you to contact support or will take you to a support website.

If you do not possess the technical expertise required to accomplish this yourself or do not feel comfortable doing so, download and install a powerful automated tool to get the job done.

Fix microphone not working in Windows 10

The microphone has become from exclusive niche hardware to everyday requirements. In today's world when we live in a pandemic most of the work has shifted from office to home where people need working computers with microphones, working microphones. So what do we do when the microphone stops working? Keep reading on to find out and hopefully, we will fix this as fast as possible.

Check Microphone Privacy Settings

In 2019, Microsoft introduced new privacy features to Windows that give you more granular control over which apps are accessing your microphone. The side effect of this is that certain apps may be blocked from using your microphone without you even knowing. To find out if this is the issue, go to Settings > Privacy > Microphone. Click Change and make sure the slider is set to On. This will broadly mean that the mic is now enabled on your PC.

Next, make sure the slider under Allow apps to access your microphone is set to On, then look through the list of Microsoft Store apps to make sure the apps you want to use are selected.

You’re likely to be using many apps, not from the Microsoft Store, so to make sure these are enabled, scroll down even further and set the Allow desktop apps … slider to On.

Check Microphone Driver

The outdated or corrupted driver could be the issue for the microphone not working in Windows 10. To check the driver status, follow these steps:

In your Start menu search for Device Manager
In the device manager window search for sound and expand it.
Once expanded, you should see your audio drivers. Note that the names of these will vary depending on the manufacturer.
On Audio, right-click, and select properties. On the General tab, check to see if the device is working properly.
If it is not working properly, click on the driver tab and select the update option.
Repeat for the other audio drivers.
Restart the computer.

Check the Sounds setting

In the taskbar, right-click on the speaker icon at the far-right corner and select the sound option.
On the Recording tab, click on the microphone and select the Properties option.
Select the levels tabs and increase the volume for both microphone and microphone boost.
Go to the Enhancement tab of the same pop-up and make sure that the immediate mode checkbox is checked.
Click Ok and restart the computer.

The sound troubleshooter

Right-click on the sound icon at the far-right corner of the taskbar and select troubleshoot sound problems.
The computer will detect any fault that exists with your audio and recommend fixes for you. You just need to read through the prompts and click the options that you think will work for you.

Try microphone on another computer

If previous steps have not produced results, try the microphone on another computer, if it is not working there then it is a hardware malfunction

Enabling the new Light Mode Theme in Windows

In case you don’t know, Windows now comes with an all-new Light Mode theme which gives a light accent color to the Taskbar, Start, and Notification Area. Aside from that, it also brings new improvements and features. This new theme is somewhere between dark and completely white and in this post, you will be guided on how you can enable this new feature in your Windows 10 computer. Although the Light Mode sure looks stunning and a lot of users love it, it actually switches all the apps plus the Taskbar and Start Menu to the light mode which was not the case before. In addition, the icons in the system tray area, as well as the notification center, are also inverted. To resolve that, there are several ways you can customize the light mode theme as well as activate it in the Windows 10 v1903. How? Refer to each one of the options given below.

Option 1 – Via Theme settings

Windows 10 brought a new theme called “Windows (Light)” which will enable the light mode automatically and will set the accent colors to automatic. This will also apply the new Windows 10 wallpaper on your desktop. To enable Windows (Light), all you have to do is right-click on the desktop and select Themes from the left menu. After that, select the Windows (Light) option under the Change Themes section. This will apply to the Windows (Light) mode.

Option 2 – Via Color settings

The second and more customizable way to activate the light mode is via Settings. Aside from the Light and Dark, Windows also introduced a Custom color option which allows you to decide the default Windows and App mode independently. To enable Light mode via Settings, refer to the steps below.

First, open Settings and go to Personalization.
After that, select “Colours” from the left menu.
Next, select Light under the “Choose your color” section to activate the light mode in Windows 10. This will activate light mode all over your computer.

Note: If after activating light mode, you find that you don’t like it and you want to keep things as they were before (Light App Mode and Dark Windows Mode), you can achieve that using the Custom option. All you have to do is select Custom from the drop-down menu to decide the default Windows and app mode independently. After that, select light under the default app mode and dark under the default Windows mode so that you can keep things as they were before the update. On the other hand, you can also try the opposite version of the light Windows mode and Dark app mode since Windows increased the level of customizability which allows users to use an option of a completely light mode.

Fixing netio.sys Blue Screen error in Windows

One of the most important components of a computer in the network. The network, with the help of network devices, makes it possible for all kinds of devices to exchange information. One of the files associated with the network driver is the netio.sys file. It is a system file used by third-party programs to interact with the devices on the network. If you encounter a Blue Screen of Death error that’s related to the netio.sys file then you’ve come to the right place as this post will guide you in fixing it. Here are some of the Blue Screen errors related to the netio.sys file:

KMODE EXCEPTION NOT HANDLED
PAGE FAULT IN A NONPAGED AREA
IRQL NOT LESS EQUAL
SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION
DRIVER IRQL NOT LESS OR EQUAL
SYSTEM THREAD EXCEPTION NOT HANDLED

To fix the netio.sys Blue Screen errors on your Windows 10 computer, you can check out each one of the following suggestions.

Option 1 – Try to use the System File Checker

One of the built-in tools in Windows that you can use to fix Blue Screen errors is the System File Checker. This built-in command utility can help you restore corrupted or missing files as well as replace bad and corrupted system files. Chances are, the netio.sys file might be corrupted so to fix it, use System File Checker.

First, right-click on the Start button and click on the “Command Prompt (Admin) option.
Next, type in the sfc /scannow command and hit Enter to execute it.

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:

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

Finally, restart your computer.

Option 2 – Try checking the Memory for any errors

The first thing you can do to check the memory for errors is to run the CHKDSK utility. The CHKDSK utility repairs hard drive errors that might be causing the problem.

You need to open “This PC” first.
And then right-click on your operating system partition for Windows.
Next, click on Properties and navigate to the Tools tab.
After that, click on the Check button under the Error Checking section.
A new mini window will appear and from there, click on Scan drive.
Now let it scan your disk drive partition to check for errors and then restart your computer.

After running the CHKDSK utility, it’s now time to fix issues with your RAM by running the Memory Diagnostic tool. This tool in windows can help resolve the Blue Screen errors related to the netio.sys file by checking and automatically fixing any memory-based issues. To run it, refer to these steps:

Tap the Win + R keys to open Run and type mdsched.exe and hit Enter to open the Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool.
After that, it will give two options such as:
- Restart now and check for problems (Recommended)
- Check for problems the next time I start my computer
Once your computer has restarted, perform a basic scan or you could also go for the “Advanced” options such as “Test mix” or “Pass count”. Simply tap the F10 key to start the test.

Note: After you select your preferred option, your computer will restart and check for memory-based issues. If it finds any issues, it will automatically fix them and if there’s no issue found, then it’s most likely not a memory-based issue so you should try the other options given below.

Option 3 – Try to update or rollback or disable Network drivers

You might also want to update, roll back or disable your Network drivers to resolve the netio.sys Blue Screen errors.

Tap the Win + R keys to launch the Run window and then type in the “mdsched.msc” command and hit Enter to open the Device Manager window.
Under the Device Manager, you will see a list of drivers. From there, look for the Network Adapters and expand it.
Then right-click on each one of the Network drivers and depending on your preference, you can either select “Update driver”, “Disable device” or “Uninstall device”.
After that, restart your PC and see if it helped in fixing the netio.sys Blue Screen error.

Option 4 – Perform System Restore

Performing System Restore can also help fix BSOD errors, including the ones related to the netio.sys file. To run System Restore, follow the steps below.

First, tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
After that, type in “sysdm.cpl” in the field and tap Enter.
Next, go to the System Protection tab then click the System Restore button. This will open a new window where you have to select your preferred System Restore point.
After that, follow the on-screen instructions to finish the process and then restart your computer and check if the problem is fixed or not.

Option 5 – Run the Blue Screen Troubleshooter

Troubleshooting Blue Screen of Death errors wouldn’t be complete without the Blue Screen troubleshooter. As you know, it is a built-in tool in Windows 10 that helps users in fixing BSOD errors like Storport.sys. It can be found on the Settings Troubleshooters page. To use it, refer to these steps:

Tap the Win + I keys to open the Settings panel.
Then go to Update & Security > Troubleshoot.
From there, look for the option called “Blue Screen” on your right-hand side and then click the “Run the troubleshooter” button to run the Blue Screen Troubleshooter and then follow the next on-screen options. Note that you might have to boot your PC into Safe Mode.

Blu-ray player does not recognize the disc

So, you just made some popcorns, dimmed light, relaxed in from of the TV, pressed play on your application and Blu-ray drive can not read your movie. Your movie night failed sadly, but there is hope and in this article, we are going to explore and offer you solutions on what to do when something like this happens so you do not miss another movie night and some hard-earned relaxation. Please note that in this article we are assuming that you are using a Blu-ray player on your PC, so some of the solutions presented are meant only for this case. So the first thing that you are supposed to do is to check the disc itself. You can turn the disc around and visually check the disc for fingerprints and scratches which can be fatal for disc playing, alternatively, you can try to play the same disc on another device and if it fails there also it is not the disc, it is your drive. So if it is no issue with the disc let's see that seems to be a problem with the drive. The common thing that could stop disc reading are cables, check all connections and cables in the back of your device to be sure that everything is plugged in correctly and nicely. After checking cables if the issue persists lens cleaning is the next step. Over time lens from the Blu-ray, the device becomes dirty and dust accumulates on it, there are special cleaning discs on market made especially for this purpose, to clean the dirty lens of optical devices. If you have one put it in and clean your lens. After lens cleaning with a specialty disc, a good idea would be to use compressed air in a can to reduce the dust inside so no excess dust will accumulate quickly again on the lens itself.

So the device is cleaned and checked and still no disc playing?

Update firmware first. In order to accomplish this visit your device manufacturer's website and follow instructions there on how to upgrade firmware. If this did not helped also update or reinstall device drivers. Go to device manager and update drivers for your device by right-clicking on it and choosing update driver. If none of the things helped, go to command prompt as administrator and type in SFC /scannow, leave the process to finish, and reboot.

How to Resolve Error 80073712 in Windows 10

Error Code 80073712—What is it?

Error code 80073712 is one of the dozens of error codes affecting Windows 10 users. It occurs when users attempt to upgrade their operating system but experience a failure. The error code usually results from problems associated with missing or damaged files within Windows Update. Common symptoms of this error code include the following:

The inability of Windows Update to successfully complete the upgrade process
Message box highlighting the presence of error code

Solution

Error Causes

In the case of error code 80073712, the issues preventing Windows Update from completing the upgrade process are most likely due to problems with files within Windows Update. For instance, there may be corruption within the Component-Based Servicing (CBS) manifest.

Further Information and Manual Repair

Manual repair methods offer solutions to Microsoft users who are experiencing Windows error codes like the upgrade error code 80073712 in Windows 10. The manual repair methods in this article are not guaranteed to fix problems unrelated to this error code. Thus, be certain you are experiencing error code 80073712 before you attempt to implement the solutions provided below.

Method One: Run Windows Update Troubleshooter

Since issues related to Windows Update may be causing error code 80073712 to occur, one of the best solutions you can consider is to run the Windows Update Troubleshooter. This troubleshooter will be able to detect and fix corruptions within Windows Update files or any other issues directly related to Windows Update. To implement this manual repair method, follow the steps listed below:

Step one: Open your Internet browser
Step two: Type www.microsoft.com/downloads
Step three: Type Windows Update Troubleshooter in the search bar at the top-right corner of the Microsoft website.
Step four: Select Windows Update Troubleshooter then wait for the webpage to load.
Step five: Select Run troubleshooter

Once you run the troubleshooter, you should be able to verify and fix any errors within Windows Update files. Restart your machine after the troubleshooting process is complete them proceed by checking Windows Update to see if you are able to complete the upgrade. If Windows Update downloads the upgrade and the installation of the upgrade occurs, the problem has been resolved. Otherwise, error code 80073712 will reoccur, in which case you will need to move to manual repair method two.

Method Two: Run DISM Tool

Another option available to Windows users experiencing error code 80073712 is to download and run the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tool. This tool checks for inconsistencies or corruptions that may be preventing Windows Update services from functioning correctly. To download and run the tool, follow the instructions below:

Step one: Type Command Prompt in the search box near the Start button
Step two: Right-click Command Prompt, then click Run as administrator, providing administrator password or confirmation where necessary.
Step three: Select Allow
Step four: Press Enter after typing the following command:

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

Wait a few minutes to ensure that the process is complete. Once you’ve run the DISM tool, it will detect errors, for instance within registry data, and correct or replace them. Restart your machine after running this tool then check Windows Update. Attempt to download the upgrade to see if you have successfully resolved error code 80073712. If you experience an upgrade failure, move to the next manual repair method mentioned below.

Method Three: Perform a Clean Install of Windows 10

The issues related to error code 80073712 may also be resolved by performing a clean install of Windows 10. This manual repair method ensures that any previous versions of your Windows operating system are removed before you attempt to access an upgrade. This can prove effective as it helps users avoid issues that would otherwise cause error codes or poor PC performance in cases where errors are present on one’s system.

To successfully perform a clean installation of Windows 10, be prepared to follow step-by-step procedures that include the following:

Step one: Download and run media creation tool
Step two: Click Run, then select Create installation media for another PC
Step three: Select changes to the installation options, then select Next
Step four: Choose USB flash drive or ISO file, then click Next
Step five: Select drive, then Next
Step six: Select Finish, then restart your computer, ensuring that the media option you choose, whether USB flash drive or DVD, is in your machine before you choose to reboot.
Step seven: Press any key then follow the prompts provided to set up Windows 10.

Method Four: Download an Automated Tool

If you wish to always have at your disposal a utility tool to fix these Windows 8 and other related issues when they do arise, download and install a powerful automated tool.

Easy Remove FreeRideGames PUP Removal Tutorial

Free Ride Games is a desktop casual game program and potentially unwanted application. It sets its player to run in startup boot with Windows and installs additional files outside of its designated installation folders. The software reads PC information to display targeted advertising and runs a background process that cannot be shut down even by exiting the FreeRide Player. The player runs in full screen with no visible window controls to exit or minimize, and contains unskippable advertising in its function. While not malicious, the FreeRide Player possesses many traits that as of publication time have caused some AntiVirus programs to designate it as potentially unwanted adware. It has also been associated with adware distribution toolbars such as GameVance.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijacking means a malicious code has power over and modified the settings of your browser, without your consent. Browser hijacker malware is created for a variety of reasons. Typically, hijackers will force hits to websites of their preference either to increase web traffic generating higher ad earnings, or to gain a commission for each and every user visiting there. Many people think that such websites are legitimate and harmless but that is incorrect. Nearly every browser hijacker poses an actual threat to your online safety and it is vital to categorize them under privacy risks. When the malware attacks your computer or laptop, it begins to mess things up a whole that slows your system down to a crawl. In the worse case, you will be pushed to deal with serious malware threats as well.

Browser hijacking signs

There are numerous signs that could indicate a browser hijacking: 1. you find unauthorized modifications to your Internet browser’s home-page 2. when you enter a URL, you find yourself regularly directed to some other website than the one you actually intended 3. the default web engine and the default browser settings are modified 4. discover new toolbars that you didn’t add 5. you might find numerous pop-up adverts on your computer screen 6. your internet browser has become unstable or starts running sluggishly 7. you are blocked to access those sites of security solution providers.

How it infects your computer

Browser hijackers could use drive-by downloads or file-sharing websites or even an email attachment to reach a targeted computer. They can also come from any BHO, extension, toolbar, add-on, or plug-in with malicious objectives. Also, certain freeware and shareware can put the hijacker in your computer through the “bundling” technique. An example of some notorious browser hijacker includes Conduit, Anyprotect, Babylon, DefaultTab, SweetPage, Delta Search, and RocketTab, but the names are constantly changing. Browser hijacking can lead to serious privacy issues and also identity theft, affect your web browsing experience by taking control of outbound traffic, substantially slows down your personal computer by depleting a lot of resources and lead to system instability as well.

How to remove a browser hijacker

Some hijackers could be removed by just uninstalling the related freeware or add-ons through the Add or Remove Programs in the Windows Control Panel. However, most hijackers are difficult to eliminate manually. Regardless of how much you attempt to get rid of it, it might keep returning again and again. Furthermore, manual removals demand in-depth system knowledge and therefore can be an extremely difficult task for beginner computer users.

Can't Install Safebytes Anti-malware due to the presence of Malware? Try This!

Malware can cause all kinds of damage when they invade your system, from stealing your personal details to erasing files on your computer system. Some malware sits in between the computer and your net connection and blocks a few or all internet sites that you really want to check out. It might also prevent you from adding anything on your PC, particularly anti-malware applications. If you are reading this, chances are you’re stuck with a malware infection that is preventing you to download and/or install the Safebytes Anti-Malware program on your system. Even though this sort of problem can be harder to get around, there are a few actions you can take.

Install the anti-virus in Safe Mode

If the virus is set to load automatically when Microsoft Windows starts, entering Safe Mode could block the attempt. Only minimal required applications and services are loaded when you boot your computer or laptop into Safe Mode. To launch your Windows XP, Vista, or 7 PCs in Safe Mode with Networking, please do as instructed below. 1) At power on, hit the F8 key while the Windows splash screen begins to load. This will bring up the Advanced Boot Options menu. 2) Select Safe Mode with Networking with arrow keys and hit ENTER. 3) When you are into this mode, you should have online access once again. Now, get the malware removal application you want by using the browser. To install the software, follow the directions in the setup wizard. 4) Following installation, run a complete scan and let the program delete the threats it discovers.

Download the antivirus program in an alternate browser

Web-based viruses could be environment-specific, aiming for a specific web browser or attacking specific versions of the browser. If you appear to have malware attached to Internet Explorer, then switch over to a different web browser with built-in safety features, such as Firefox or Chrome, to download your favorite antivirus program – Safebytes. Make a bootable USB antivirus drive Another option is to save and operate an anti-malware software program entirely from a USB drive. To run anti-malware from a USB drive, follow these simple steps: 1) Download the anti-malware program on a virus-free PC. 2) Plug in the pen drive into the clean computer. 3) Run the setup program by double-clicking the executable file of the downloaded application, which has a .exe file extension. 4) Select flash drive as the location when the wizard asks you exactly where you wish to install the application. Follow the directions to complete the installation process. 5) Remove the flash drive. Now you can use this portable antivirus on the infected computer. 6) Double-click the Safebytes Anti-malware icon on the thumb drive to run the software. 7) Click on the “Scan” button to run a full computer scan and remove viruses automatically. How SafeBytes Anti-Malware Keep your Machine Virus Free"]If you are planning to buy anti-malware for your desktop, there are numerous brands and applications for you to consider. Some are very good ones, some are decent, while some are merely bogus anti-malware applications that will damage your computer themselves! You have to look for a tool that has gained a strong reputation and detects not just viruses but other types of malware also. Among few good applications, SafeBytes Anti-Malware is the highly recommended program for the security-conscious end user. SafeBytes anti-malware is really a powerful, highly effective protection tool made to assist end-users of all levels of computer literacy in detecting and removing malicious threats from their PC. After you have installed this tool, SafeBytes sophisticated protection system will make sure that no viruses or malicious software can seep through your PC. SafeBytes has excellent features when compared to other anti-malware programs. The following are some typical features found in this software: Active Protection: SafeBytes provides complete and real-time security for your personal machine. It will check your computer system for suspicious activity continuously and its unrivaled firewall protects your PC from unauthorized access by the outside world. Most effective AntiMalware Protection: Using its enhanced and sophisticated algorithm, this malware removal tool can detect and eliminate the malware threats hiding in your computer system effectively. Web Protection: SafeBytes checks and gives a unique safety rating to each and every website you visit and block access to webpages considered to be phishing sites, thus safeguarding you from identity theft, or known to contain malicious software. Faster Scanning: Safebytes Anti-Malware, using its advanced scanning engine, provides extremely fast scanning which can quickly target any active online threat. Light-weight: This software is lightweight and will work silently in the background, and that does not have an effect on your computer efficiency. 24/7 Online Tech Support: You can get 24/7 technical support to promptly resolve any concern with your security tool.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you wish to manually remove FreeRideGames without the use of an automated tool, it may be possible to do so by removing the program from the Windows Add/Remove Programs menu, or in cases of browser extensions, going to the browsers AddOn/Extension manager and removing it. You will likely also want to reset your browser. To ensure the complete removal, manually check your hard drive and registry for all of the following and remove or reset the values accordingly. Please note that this is for advanced users only and may be difficult, with incorrect file removal causing additional PC errors. In addition, some malware is capable of replicating or preventing deletion. Doing this in Safe Mode is advised.

The following files, folders, and registry entries are created or modified by FreeRideGames.

Files: C:21984fa691bd80870e3e3f15cc83121a5862cef4abf2989844d858b2c64b0f C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143C:21984fa691bd80870e3e3f15cc83121a5862cef4abf2989844d858b2c64b0f C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143%#MANIFEST#%01235B C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143cmhelper.exe C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143ExentCtlInstaller.dll C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143Free Ride Games.exe C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143resourceDll.dll C:WINDOWSRegistrationR000000000007.clb C:WINDOWSsystem32msxml3r.dll C:21984fa691bd80870e3e3f15cc83121a5862cef4abf2989844d858b2c64b0f C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143%#MANIFEST#%01235B C:WINDOWSRegistrationR000000000007.clb C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143Free Ride Games.exe C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1Temp_uninsep.bat C:WINDOWSsystem32rsaenh.dll C:Documents and SettingsUSERLocal SettingsTemp_uninsep.bat C:WINDOWSsystem32shdocvw.dll C:WINDOWSsystem32stdole2.tlb c:autoexec.bat C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143%#MANIFEST#%01235B C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143cmhelper.exe C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143ExentCtlInstaller.dll C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143Free Ride Games.exe C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143resourceDll.dll C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1Temp_uninsep.bat C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143SDMLog.log C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143SDM_DB_143.xml C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143FreeRideGames.exe C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1Temp_uninsdm.bat C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1Temppft3.tmpIKernel.ex_ C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempIEC4.tmp C:Program FilesCommon FilesInstallShieldEngineIntel 32temp.000 C:Program FilesCommon FilesInstallShieldEngineIntel 32IKernel.exe C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143Free Ride Games.exe C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1Temp_uninsep.bat C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143FreeRideGames.exe C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143FreeRideGames.exe C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1Temp_uninsdm.bat C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1Temppft3.tmpSetup.exe C:Program FilesCommon FilesInstallShieldEngineIntel 32IKernel.exe -RegServer01235B C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143cmhelper.exe C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143ExentCtlInstaller.dll C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143Free Ride Games.exe C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143resourceDll.dll C:WINDOWSRegistrationR000000000007.clb C:WINDOWSsystem32msxml3r.dll C:21984fa691bd80870e3e3f15cc83121a5862cef4abf2989844d858b2c64b0f C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143C:21984fa691bd80870e3e3f15cc83121a5862cef4abf2989844d858b2c64b0f C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143%#MANIFEST#%01235B C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143cmhelper.exe C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143ExentCtlInstaller.dll C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143Free Ride Games.exe C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143resourceDll.dll C:WINDOWSRegistrationR000000000007.clb C:WINDOWSsystem32msxml3r.dll C:21984fa691bd80870e3e3f15cc83121a5862cef4abf2989844d858b2c64b0f C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143%#MANIFEST#%01235B C:WINDOWSRegistrationR000000000007.clb C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143Free Ride Games.exe C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1Temp_uninsep.bat C:WINDOWSsystem32rsaenh.dll C:Documents and SettingsUSERLocal SettingsTemp_uninsep.bat C:WINDOWSsystem32shdocvw.dll C:WINDOWSsystem32stdole2.tlb c:autoexec.bat C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143%#MANIFEST#%01235B C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143cmhelper.exe C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143ExentCtlInstaller.dll C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143Free Ride Games.exe C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143resourceDll.dll C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1Temp_uninsep.bat C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143SDMLog.log C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143SDM_DB_143.xml C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143FreeRideGames.exe C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1Temp_uninsdm.bat C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1Temppft3.tmpIKernel.ex_ C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempIEC4.tmp C:Program FilesCommon FilesInstallShieldEngineIntel 32temp.000 C:Program FilesCommon FilesInstallShieldEngineIntel 32IKernel.exe C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143Free Ride Games.exe C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1Temp_uninsep.bat C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143FreeRideGames.exe C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143FreeRideGames.exe C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1Temp_uninsdm.bat C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1Temppft3.tmpSetup.exe C:Program FilesCommon FilesInstallShieldEngineIntel 32IKernel.exe -RegServer01235B C:WINDOWSRegistrationR000000000007.clb C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143Free Ride Games.exe C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1Temp_uninsep.bat C:WINDOWSsystem32rsaenh.dll C:Documents and SettingsUSERLocal SettingsTemp_uninsep.bat C:WINDOWSsystem32shdocvw.dll C:WINDOWSsystem32stdole2.tlb c:autoexec.bat C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143C:21984fa691bd80870e3e3f15cc83121a5862cef4abf2989844d858b2c64b0f C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143%#MANIFEST#%01235B C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143cmhelper.exe C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143ExentCtlInstaller.dll C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143Free Ride Games.exe C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143resourceDll.dll C:WINDOWSRegistrationR000000000007.clb C:WINDOWSsystem32msxml3r.dll C:21984fa691bd80870e3e3f15cc83121a5862cef4abf2989844d858b2c64b0f C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143%#MANIFEST#%01235B C:WINDOWSRegistrationR000000000007.clb C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143Free Ride Games.exe C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1Temp_uninsep.bat C:WINDOWSsystem32rsaenh.dll C:Documents and SettingsUSERLocal SettingsTemp_uninsep.bat C:WINDOWSsystem32shdocvw.dll C:WINDOWSsystem32stdole2.tlb c:autoexec.bat C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143%#MANIFEST#%01235B C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143cmhelper.exe C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143ExentCtlInstaller.dll C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143Free Ride Games.exe C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143resourceDll.dll C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1Temp_uninsep.bat C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143SDMLog.log C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143SDM_DB_143.xml C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143FreeRideGames.exe C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1Temp_uninsdm.bat C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1Temppft3.tmpIKernel.ex_ C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempIEC4.tmp C:Program FilesCommon FilesInstallShieldEngineIntel 32temp.000 C:Program FilesCommon FilesInstallShieldEngineIntel 32IKernel.exe C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143Free Ride Games.exe C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1Temp_uninsep.bat C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143FreeRideGames.exe C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143FreeRideGames.exe C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1Temp_uninsdm.bat C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1Temppft3.tmpSetup.exe C:Program FilesCommon FilesInstallShieldEngineIntel 32IKernel.exe -RegServer01235B C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143cmhelper.exe C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143ExentCtlInstaller.dll C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143Free Ride Games.exe C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143resourceDll.dll C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1Temp_uninsep.bat C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143SDMLog.log C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143SDM_DB_143.xml C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143FreeRideGames.exe C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1Temp_uninsdm.bat C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1Temppft3.tmpIKernel.ex_ C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempIEC4.tmp C:Program FilesCommon FilesInstallShieldEngineIntel 32temp.000 C:Program FilesCommon FilesInstallShieldEngineIntel 32IKernel.exe C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143Free Ride Games.exe C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1Temp_uninsep.bat C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143FreeRideGames.exe C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1TempSDM143FreeRideGames.exe C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1Temp_uninsdm.bat C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1Temppft3.tmpSetup.exe C:Program FilesCommon FilesInstallShieldEngineIntel 32IKernel.exe -RegServer

Problem prevented document from being scanned

If an error suddenly pops up that states, “A problem prevented the document from being scanned” when you’re scanning a document in your computer, then you’ve come to the right place as this post will guide you on how exactly you can fix the problem. A lot of users have reported that they receive a two-layer error message when they try to scan their documents – the first screen throws an error message that says, “Error applying Settings to Driver” while the next error message states, “A problem prevented the document from being scanned”. As a result, the scanning won’t be completed which defeats the whole process of buying a printer with a scanner. As you can see the two error messages point to two different situations, while the other one is pointing at the driver, the second one points to the scanning problem. To resolve these issues, there are several suggestions you need to check such as follows:

Option 1 – Run the Printer Troubleshooter

One of the first basic troubleshooting you can perform to resolve the printer issue is running the Printer Troubleshooter. This built-in troubleshooter can detect and automatically fix the problem for you. To use it, follow these steps:

Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
Next, type “msdt.exe /id PrinterDiagnostic” in the field and click OK or hit Enter to open the Printer Troubleshooter.
Then click the Next button and follow the next on-screen instructions to fix the issue with the printer.

Option 2 – Try updating the Printer drivers

You might also want to try updating your printer drivers. All you have to do is locate the USB Composite Device. For complete details, follow the steps below.

First, click the Start button and type “device manager”.
Then click on the “Device Manager” from the search results to open it.
From there, look for the USB Composite Device option and right-click on it, and select the Update Driver from the options.
Restart your PC and then click the “Search automatically for updated driver software” option.

Note: You also have the option to download the latest version of your Printer from the manufacturer’s website.

Option 3 – Try to reset the settings of the Printer or reinstall it

If none of the two options given above worked, you can try to either reset the printer settings or reinstall the printer so that it can go back to its default state. However, if it doesn’t work, you can try to uninstall the printer as well as its related drivers. To do so, follow these steps:

First, go to Settings > Devices > Printer and Scanners.
After that, select the printer and select the Remove Device option.
Once done, restart your computer and check again and see if the error is now fixed.

Option 4 – Try to modify the Registry settings for the Still Image devices

In case you don’t know, Windows has Registry settings for the Still Image devices like Scanners and Printers. And these devices have vendor-specific settings that if ended up getting corrupted or misconfigured then you will most likely encounter errors like “A problem prevented the document from being scanned”. Thus, to fix this error, you can try modifying the Still Image devices registry settings, and to do that, you need to follow the instructions below but before that, make sure that you create a System Restore Point first.

Once you’ve created a System Restore point, tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box and type “Regedit” in the field, and then hit Enter to open the Registry Editor.
Next, navigate to this registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlStillImage
From there, right-click on the “StillImage” registry key and delete it.
After that, exit the Registry Editor and restart your computer.
Once your computer has restarted, Windows will recreate the settings of the Still Image devices back to their default settings.

Change Font Size in Sticky Notes in Windows

Sticky Notes is one of the useful programs and in the early days, the option is available for users to change the font size of the text a lot easier. However, for some unknown reason, Microsoft decided to get rid of this feature in the latest Windows Update. One would expect that the feature will be replaced by an even more useful feature but it’s not which makes the Sticky Notes app worse than before. Worry not though for it doesn’t have to stay that way as there is another thing you can try to change the font size in your Sticky Notes app and that’s what we’re going to cover in this post. As mentioned, Microsoft removing this font feature is quite strange and in the past, users asked for this feature and since it’s no longer available, you can try following the steps given below to bring it back. And for that, you need to go to the Ease of Access section in the Settings app. Refer to the steps given below for more instructions. Step 1: First, tap the Win + I keys to open Settings and then go to the Ease of Access section. Step 2: After going to the Ease of Access menu and select Display from the list of options. Step 3: From there, you should see an option that says “Make text bigger”. And then use your mouse to navigate to the slider to change the size of the font. Note: Take note that after doing all the steps above, it will change not just the Sticky Notes app but also everything in Windows 10. This method is actually the best since it only changes the size of the apps rather than a wholesale change in your Windows 10 computer. Step 4: Next, scroll under Display until you see the “Change the size of apps and text on the main display” option where you’ll see that the option is 100% but you’ll want to change that to 125%. Step 5: After that, click on the drop-down menu and select 125% and then restart your Windows 10 computer. Step 6: Now open the Sticky Notes app and check if you can now change the font size in the Sticky Notes app.

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4 Ways of keeping drivers updated

Use one-click solution, DRIVEFIX

Update Windows

Download drivers from the manufacturer's website

Use device manager to update drivers

Do You Need Help with Your Device?

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Option 1 – Plug your external device on a different port

Option 2 – Update or reinstall your USB drivers

Option 3 – Try turning on the USB External drive

Option 4 – Turn off USB Selective Suspend

Option 5 – Format your drive

Error code 0x803f7000 -What is it?

Symptoms

Solution

Error Causes

Further Information and Manual Repair

Method 1:

Method 2:

Method 3:

Method 4:

Method 5:

Method 6:

Method 7:

Method 8:

Check Microphone Privacy Settings

Check Microphone Driver

Check the Sounds setting

The sound troubleshooter

Try microphone on another computer

Option 1 – Via Theme settings

Option 2 – Via Color settings

Option 1 – Try to use the System File Checker

Option 2 – Try checking the Memory for any errors

Option 3 – Try to update or rollback or disable Network drivers

Option 4 – Perform System Restore

Option 5 – Run the Blue Screen Troubleshooter

So the device is cleaned and checked and still no disc playing?

Error Code 80073712—What is it?

Solution

Error Causes

Further Information and Manual Repair

Method One: Run Windows Update Troubleshooter

Method Two: Run DISM Tool

Method Three: Perform a Clean Install of Windows 10

Method Four: Download an Automated Tool

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijacking signs

How it infects your computer

How to remove a browser hijacker

Can't Install Safebytes Anti-malware due to the presence of Malware? Try This!

Install the anti-virus in Safe Mode

Download the antivirus program in an alternate browser

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

The following files, folders, and registry entries are created or modified by FreeRideGames.

Option 1 – Run the Printer Troubleshooter

Option 2 – Try updating the Printer drivers

Option 3 – Try to reset the settings of the Printer or reinstall it

Option 4 – Try to modify the Registry settings for the Still Image devices