It is no secret that Fortnite is one of the most played games in the world. Epic has done a great job offering it to plenty of other platforms with cross-play feature meaning that you can play with your friends no matter on what platform they are on.
But how Fortnite is a piece of software which is constantly updated and maintained it is pretty normal to have some bugs or issues from time to time.
One of the before-mentioned issues is a connection issue or unable to connect to game servers.
In our article, we will go through common fixes and solutions in order to get you back in-game as fast as possible. Keep on reading.
Check the Epic Games Status page
Check the Epic Games Server Status page to make sure all systems are operational. If the issue you’re experiencing is related to an outage or system-wide issue, you won’t be able to connect to the Epic Games Launcher or Fortnite until it's resolved.
Use a wired connection
Wireless connections are not as stable as wired connections. This means that the signal can be unreliable and result in packet loss, connection problems, or higher latency or ping. Connect directly to your modem or router with an Ethernet cable to eliminate this possibility and have the fastest connection possible.
Disable your firewalls
Often the quickest way to fix connection problems due to firewalls is to temporarily uninstall and/or disable it.
Windows Firewall disable guide:
Click on Start.
Click on Control Panel.
Click on System and Security.
Click on Windows Firewall.
Click on Turn Windows Firewall on or off (You might need to provide the Administrator password at this step)
Under each Network location, select the Turn off Windows Firewall option
Uninstall any other firewalls
Using a third-party firewall may prevent you from being able to connect to the Epic Games Launcher, Fortnite, or another Epic Games product. We recommend removing any third party firewalls temporarily to see if this resolves your issue. If it does resolve the problem, make sure to add the following executables as exceptions to your firewall:
Contact your firewall manufacturer for instructions on how to add these as exceptions to it as this varies between them.
Unblock your network ports
Network ports allow certain types of data to be successfully sent over a network that is used by our services. If you have any of these blocked, it may result in you being unable to connect to our games or use our services properly. To unblock your ports on your router do the following:
Windows
First, you will need to get your default gateway and internal IP address:
Click on Start.
Type cmd and press Enter.
Type ipconfig and press Enter.
Take note of your Default Gateway and IPv4.
Configuring your router to unblock the ports
Open your web browser.
Type your Default Gateway into the address bar and press Enter. (A common Default Gateway is 192.168.1.1)
You may be asked for a username and password. This varies for each router. Before entering anything, try just hitting OK. If that doesn't work, try the common default username and password below:
Username: admin
Password: password
If these don't work, you can check this website for a list of usernames and passwords based on your router model.
Locate the Port Forwarding page in the administration tool and click on it.
Make sure you have Port Forwarding selected and not Port Triggering as this is completely different.
On this screen, you will need to enter the ports and port ranges below with the correct protocol and local IP of which you took note of above: 80 (TCP/UDP), 433 (TCP), 443 (TCP), 3478 (TCP/UDP), 3479 (TCP/UDP), 5060 (TCP/UDP), 5062 (TCP/UDP), 5222 (TCP), 6250 (TCP/UDP), and12000-65000 (TCP/UDP).
If you have any trouble doing the above on your router, make sure to check out the router manufacturer's support site for additional instructions as these will vary from router to router.
VPN and Proxy Servers
Do NOT use VPN or Proxy Servers. These cause issues that can't be resolved by us without having you disable them. Check out this article for information on how to disable your proxy server.
Switch Domain Name Systems (DNS)
Switching your DNS can result in better connectivity and performance for your internet connection. There are two different DNS services we recommend to have you try if you are having issues with your connection. Below are the followings links with instructions on how to change your DNS:
Epic Games Launcher: Edit your Engine.ini file (Windows only)
Editing these settings can result in better download speeds using the Epic Games Launcher:
Click on Start.
Type %localappdata% and press Enter.
Open the EpicGamesLauncher
Open the Saved
Open the Config
Open the Windows
Open ini and add the following lines to it:
[HTTP]
HttpTimeout=10
HttpConnectionTimeout=10
HttpReceiveTimeout=10
HttpSendTimeout=10[Portal.BuildPatch]
ChunkDownloads=3
ChunkRetries=20
RetryTime=0.5
If you’ve tried resetting your Windows 10 computer using the Reset This PC option in order to restore your computer’s factory settings and the process suddenly fails for some reason and you got an error message instead stating, “There was a problem resetting your PC, No changes were made on your Windows 10 computer”, then this post might help you resolve the problem.
Carefully follow each one of the options given below to resolve the “There was a problem resetting your PC error on Windows 10.
Option 1 – Try renaming the System and Software hive
If you’re still able to boot to the desktop of your Windows 10 PC, open an elevated Command Prompt from the WinX menu.
Now use the CD command and change the directory to Windows\System32\config folder. Simply type in the following command and hit Enter:
cd %windir%system32config
After that, you have to rename the System and Software registry hives to “System.001” and “Software.001”, respectively. To do that, just type each one of the following commands and hit Enter after you type each of them.
ren system system.001
ren software software.001
On the other hand, if your Windows 10 PC isn’t able to boot to the desktop, you can just access Command Prompt from the Advanced Startup options or you can also boot into Sage Mode and open Command Prompt from there and then run the given commands above.
Note: If you only want to use the Refresh your PC option, you must only rename System hive and not Software hive. On the other hand, if the Software hive is really corrupted, you might not be able to use the Refresh your PC option in such a case. Thus, you really need to rename the Software hive as well. Once you’ve renamed the Software hive, you won’t be able to use the Refresh your PC option but only the Reset your PC option.
Type “exit” to close the Command Prompt and then restart your PC and try resetting your PC again.
Option 2 – Try to disable and re-enable the Windows Recovery Environment
If the first option didn’t help, you can try disabling the Windows Recovery Environment and then enable it back again. To configure a Windows Recovery Environment or Windows RE boot image and recovery options, you have to use the REAgentC.exe tool.
Tap the Win + S key and type “REAgentC.exe” to open the REAgentC.exe tool.
After that, type the following command and hit Enter to disable the Windows RE:
reagentc /disable
After disabling the Windows RE, you need to enable it back by typing the following command:
reagentc /enable
Option 3 – Try to boot the USB recovery drive
If the two previous options failed, you need to try another workaround which is to boot to the USB recovery drive > Troubleshoot > Recover from a drive. From there, follow the on-screen instructions and you should be good to go.
Windows Setup in Continuous Reboot Loop – What is it?
After upgrading to Windows 10 operating system from Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1, a lot of Windows users are complaining about the Windows setup in a continuous reboot loop. The computer would just keep on rebooting every time the machine is booted and this incites frustration for a lot of Windows users.
Solution
Error Causes
When Windows launched the third update for Windows 10, users trying to upgrade to Windows 10 encountered an endless reboot loop problem. The computer will crash repeatedly. The KB3081424, which is a roll-up of bug fixes of Windows 10, continuously fails once you start the update process and then triggers a message showing: “We couldn’t complete the updates, undoing the changes.” The undoing process will then cause a system reboot mandatorily.
Once you log back on your computer again, the Windows 10 update will try to reinstall KB3081424. You will not be able to stop the update which will cause your Windows setup in a continuous reboot loop.
The KB3081424 will not be successfully installed since if it fails for the first time, that initial failure can be detected to create a bad entry in your Windows 10 registry. This will then prevent your subsequent attempts to reinstall KB3081424 to make it work correctly.
Further Information and Manual Repair
In order to fix the problem of Windows 10 setup in a continuous reboot loop, there are a few methods you can try. Try following these simple steps and you’ll be able to get rid of the problem.
Note: If you’re not highly confident to solve this issue on your own, it is highly recommended to consult an authorized computer technician who would be knowledgeable enough to fix the issue for you. In addition, you can also use a system optimizer to resolve the issue.
Method One: Check For Windows Update
Microsoft Windows released an updated fix for the Windows setup in continuous reboot loop problem. You can try fixing the issue through Windows Update.
Open Settings
Go to Update & Security
Select Windows Update then choose Check for updates
At this point, an additional update will be installed and downloaded to your operating system to resolve the continuous reboot loop problem.
Method Two: Eliminate Bad Registry Entry
Before KB3081424 attempts to install again, you can try doing this solution:
Click on the Start menu then type regedit
Once the window opens, go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionProfileList
Create a backup for your registry key (since this process is a bit risky). Select ProfileList then click on File and Export then choose your backup name.
From the ProfileList IDs, remove anything with ProfileImagePath in it.
Close Regedit then reboot. By this time, the KB3081424 should properly install.
Method Three: Perform A Startup Repair
Another thing you can try to solve the Windows setup in continuous reboot loop problem is to perform a startup repair from a working computer.
Ensure that all unnecessary devices are disconnected from your computer as your computer might detect them.
If you are connected to a network, you need to disconnect from this as well.
On a working computer, download the Windows 10 ISO then you can perform a startup repair.
Boot your computer from the Windows 10 DVD.
To change your BIOS option to boot from the Windows 10 DVD, follow these steps:
Boot your computer then press the F2 function key to enter setup.
NOTE: You must do this quickly since the BIOS loads rapidly.
Once you’re inside the BIOS, navigate to the Boot Configuration screen. On this screen, you’ll be able to change the first device to be loaded.
Go to Removable Devices then hit Enter. Removable devices could either be a thumb drive or DVD. Select DVD to put it at the top and be the first boot device.
Save your changes by pressing on the F10 function key. A setup confirmation box will appear with a message Save configuration changes and exit now. Select Yes.
Exit BIOS by pressing on the ESC key. You should be prompted to boot from the Windows 10 DVD at this point.
If you're not able to execute the aforementioned processes on your own, get help or download and install a powerful system optimizerto assist with the windows continuous reboot loop process and other Windows 10 error messages.
The issue with the abrupt system reboots to force Windows 10 updates on a computer has been lessened with Active Hours. This feature keeps a record of the hours during which a system remains active and prevents the installation of updates during such hours. For example, when a system restart is needed to complete the installation of an update, Active Hours delays the update and allows you to finish what you’re doing on your computer. Thus, if you haven’t heard of this feature, then now is the time you do, read this post to configure and use Active Hours in your Windows 10 computer.
There are three ways you can configure Active Hours. The first one is for general users, whereas the rest of the two methods are for users who knows their way about the Windows Registry and Group Policy. To get started, refer to every given option below.
Option 1 – Configure Active Hours via Windows 10 Settings
Go to Settings > Update & Security. From there, click on the “Change active hours” option under the Windows Update section.
Next, you can select a time (“Start time” and “End time”) during which the restart can occur.
After that, click on the Save button and exit.
Note: Keep in mind that the values you’ve entered indicate the hours during which your system is in use, namely, ACTIVE. It is important for your active hour’s interval period and it can be anything between 1 and 18 hours since you can’t go beyond 18 hours. In addition, there is no option to configure different active hours on different days and you can’t specify different active hours for weekends and weekdays as well.
On the other hand, Windows 10 also offer users an option to override Active Hours. All you have to do is go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Restart Options. From there, you can choose a custom restart time when your computer will restart to install the updates but this is only a one-time setting.
Option 2 – Configure Active Hours via Registry Editor
Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run utility and type “Regedit” in the field and tap Enter or click OK to open the Registry Editor.
Next, navigate to this registry path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsUpdateUXSettings
In the given registry path, you can choose to change “ActiveHoursStart” and “ActiveHoursEnd”.
Note: There are no extra settings available in the Registry Editor but you can change the remote computer’s Active hours settings using the Registry Editor.
Option 3 – Configure Active Hours via Group Policy
Note that this option is available for the Windows 10 Pro and Educational or Enterprise versions. It is mostly used by computers in Business or through remote access. To get started, follow these steps:
Tap the Win + R keys to launch Run and type “gpedit.msc” in the field and tap Enter or click OK to open the Group Policy Editor.
Next, navigate to this group policy setting: Local Computer Policy > Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Updates.
From there, look for a policy labeled “Turn off auto-restart for updates during active hours” and double click on it. This will open a new window.
Click on the Enabled radio button to enable Active Hours. You also have the option to choose active hours just like in the first given option above. It works just fine except when the following policies don’t override:
No Auto-restart with logged-on users for scheduled automatic updates installations.
Always automatically restart at the scheduled time.
Since Group Policy allows you to reduce the range of active hours, you can configure it if you want it to be less than 18 hours. Just find the policy setting labeled “Specify Active hours range for auto -restarts. The minimum is 8 hours”.
After you set the Active Hours, click the Apply and OK buttons to save the changes made.
Error 0x8007005 is a typical Windows Error Code.
This error occurs during installation or Windows update. The error 0x8007005 is prompted as an ‘Access Denied’ message. It is typically generated when you either lack file or registry permission to perform the installation.
Solution
Error Causes
Narrowing down the ultimate reason for the error 0x8007005 can be difficult because there are multiple causes for this error occurrence.
However, some of the common causes include:
Administrative issues
Viral Infection
To perform a successful Windows update, it is vital to resolve this error on your system. Furthermore, you must also hurry in fixing this issue on your PC especially if the underlying cause of this error is malware or viruses.
Malware can damage your PC badly. It can expose your computer to serious threats like privacy issues, data breaches, cyber crimes and identity thefts.
Further Information and Manual Repair
To fix the error 0x8007005 on your PC, you don’t have to hire a professional and pay hundreds of dollars. In fact, you can resolve it all by yourself even if you are not technically sound.
Here are some easy DIY methods for you to try:
Solution 1: The error may occur if you don’t have administrator’s permission and there are many user accounts to access the PC. The easiest way to fix the error and perform a successful Windows update is to log on from the administrators account.
Once you log on as the administrator, then try installing the updates again.
Solution 2: Sometimes the file and registry permissions may get changed by malware. Therefore, to fix the error, it is advisable to download an antivirus and perform an entire PC scan.
The antivirus will help remove all sorts of viruses infecting your system and fix the issue.
However, please note anti-viruses are known for slowing down PC performance so you might have to compromise on your system’s speed once to install this software.
Solution 3: Download Restoro.
Downloading Restoro is perhaps the best and the fastest way to resolve error 0x8007005 without compromising on your PC’s speed. Plus this software also resolves all registry issues too.
Restoro is an advanced and multi-functional PC Fixer.
It is deployed with powerful utilities including an antivirus that detects and removes all kinds of malicious software including viruses, Trojans, spyware and malware. To ensure your PC speed is not affected, it also features a system optimizer. The system optimizer boosts the speed of your PC significantly.
Other Restoro Features
In addition to this, it also includes a registry cleaner.
The registry cleaner simultaneously detects all registry-related issues and resolves them instantly. It cleans the registry, fixes the damaged files, and restores the registry back to normal.
It is safe, bug-free, and efficient. You can install it on any Windows version. It has a user-friendly interface and simple navigation making it easy for all levels of users to operate.
Click here to download Restoro on your PC and resolve error 0x8007005 now!
The Error Code 0xC1900208 – 0x4000C is an error that is caused by an installed application or program on your computer that is not compatible with Microsoft Windows 10. The incompatible application prevents you from being able to complete the upgrade to Microsoft Windows 10 and will continue to do so until the issue is resolved.
Common symptoms include:
You receive a dialog box displaying Error Code 0xC1900208 – 0x4000C
You are unable to successfully complete the Microsoft Windows 10 upgrade process.
Solution
Error Causes
Error Code 0xC1900208 – 0x4000C is caused by a non-compatible application or program that is currently installed on your computer, and is not allowing the Microsoft Windows 10 upgrade to finish the installation and update process.
The upgrade is stopped due to an incompatible app or program.
Out of date or no longer supported software can cause this error to occur.
Device drivers that are not up to date or no longer compatible.
The computer might pick up malware along the way and might be preventing the upgrade. If error code 0xC1900208 – 0x4000C is not rectified, you’ll not be able to proceed with your Windows 10 upgrade.
Further Information and Manual Repair
The good news is, error code 0xC1900208 – 0x4000C is a relatively common problem that is usually easily fixed by the user at home, though it can be a little time-consuming. To elude this time-consuming process, use a powerful tool to rectify the issue in no time (TSC). Before making any attempts to repair this error, ensure to perform a compatibility test.
Check the compatibility of applications and programs installed on your computer to locate and remove, or fix the one that is incompatible. (Don't stop at the first one you find, there could be multiple incompatibility issues.)
Check to ensure all programs and software are not outdated or no longer supported, and remove or fix any outdated or unused, unnecessary programs or software. (This is also a great way to free up space and clean your computer up a bit.)
Check to ensure that all of your device drivers are current, up to date, and compatible with Microsoft Windows 10, and replace or update where necessary.
Method 1:
Use the get Microsoft Windows 10 application on your computer to check its compatibility, follow the steps below to run the check.
Look at the taskbar, to the right; you will see an icon for Microsoft Windows 10, right-click the icon. Locate the option in the menu to check the status of your upgrade. This will open an app for getting Microsoft Windows 10.
Next, you will see 3 lines on top of one another on the upper left side, this will open a drop-down menu, once you have this menu open, locate the option to check the compatibility of your computer.
Microsoft Windows will then run a check of your entire computer to check for compatibility with Microsoft Windows 10. Once it has finished its check, a pop-up window will display whether or not your computer will work with Microsoft Windows 10, and will also display a list of any hardware and software that are not compatible with the upgrade.
This may not catch everything and there may still be incompatible programs so the previous steps, though time-consuming may still be necessary.
Method 2:
Once the incompatible applications are discovered, use the control panel to remove/uninstall them. The steps are below:
Locate your computer’s Control Panel.
Choose the option that says “Programs”
From the options available, select the ‘Programs and Features’ link.
Locate the app in the queue or menu.
Right-click and choose the uninstall option.
… another option
You can also locate the app on the ‘app homepage’, right-click and choose the ‘uninstall’ option. If after following these steps the problem is still not corrected, download and install an automated tool for a quick fix.
BSOD or Blue Screen of Death errors are one of the toughest issues you can encounter in Windows 10 as well as the hardest ones to resolve as they simply shut the system down or restart it abruptly and claims that it isn’t possible to boot Windows again. One of the difficult BSOD errors is the Machine Check Exception BSOD error. The reason why it is hard to fix is that in most cases, it occurs soon after Windows loads which gives users little to no time in resolving it. To make things worse, the system also freezes right before it displays the blue screen error and shuts the system down.
Usually, the Machine Check Exception Stop error occurs due to the failure or overstressing of the hardware components. And in the case of almost all Blue Screen of Death errors, the issue usually has something to do with the drivers. So if you frequently see this BSOD error from time to time, now’s the time to act on it by following the solutions given in this post.
Option 1 – Update the Device drivers
Tap the Win + R keys to launch Run.
Type in devmgmt.msc into the box and tap Enter or click OK to open the Device Manager.
After that, a list of device drivers will be displayed. Look for the device driver you and then select either “Update driver” or “Uninstall device”. And if you find any “Unknown device”, you need to update it as well.
Select the “Search automatically for updated driver software” option and then follow the instructions to complete the process.
If you have chosen to uninstall the driver, follow the screen options to complete the process and then restart your PC.
Connect the device and Scan for hardware changes – you can see this option under Device Manager > Action.
Option 2 – Try running the Blue Screen Troubleshooter
The Blue Screen troubleshooter is a built-in tool in Windows 10 that 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.
Option 3 – Try running the System File Checker
System File Checker or 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 with good system files that might be causing the Machine Check Exception BSOD error. 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
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.
Option 4 – Run the Startup Repair
In the Blue Screen where the Machine Check Exception error is displayed, tap the F8 key to go to the Startup Settings where you can find Startup Repair and then run it. Note that this is a must-try option especially if you are unable to start your computer and if you can use your computer for a few moments.
Option 5 – Run the DISM tool
There are cases when the Machine Check Exception error is caused by the Windows System Image so you need to repair it using the DISM or Deployment Imaging and Servicing Management tool. The DISM tool is another command-line tool in the Windows operating system that could help users fix various corrupted system files. To use it, follow these steps:
Open the Command Prompt as admin.
Then type in this command: Dism /Online /CheckHealth
Do not close the window if the process takes a while as it will probably take a few minutes to finish.
Option 6 – Try resetting the BIOS
If you have made some modifications in the BIOS that might have caused this error, you have to revert those changes to resolve the issue. On the other hand, if you have made a couple of changes and you do not remember which is which, you might have to reset the BIOS.
Option 7 – Try resetting Windows 10
To fix this BSOD error, you can try resetting Windows 10. Doing so won’t get rid of any file in your system – instead of erasing all your media files and documents, this reset option resets all the system settings and files.
Bad_Pool_Header is one of the types of BSOD (Blue Screen of Death) error codes. This error triggers a problem with Windows memory allocation.
When this error message occurs, the screen turns blue and locks the user out of the application running on the system. The computer shuts down or restarts.
Solution
Error Causes
There is no one particular cause for the occurrence of the Bad_Pool_Header error code. It may appear on your system due to multiple reasons such as:
Device driver issues
Cluttered disk
Disk writing issues
Faulty memory hardware
Driver issues and disk writing issues occur when your try to update new driver versions.
During this process, users often forget to remove the files of the uninstalled version from the registry. And due to the presence of the uninstalled driver files in the registry updating and disk writing becomes an uphill task which leads to the Bad_Pool_Header display on the computer screen.
The main database of your system is the registry so you need to keep it clean to avoid disk cluttering. The hard disk clutters because the registry saves all the activities that you perform in your system. It saves junk files, internet history, invalid entries, and other unnecessary files.
This occupies a lot of your disk space thus resulting in disk cluttering and faulty memory hardware issues triggering the Bad_Pool_Header.
Ignoring the Bad_Pool_Header error is not wise. It is advisable to repair the Bad_Pool_Header right away as it can lead to serious threats like system failure and data loss.
Further Information and Manual Repair
The easiest, time and money-saving way to resolve the Bad_Pool_Header error on your system is to install Restoro.
This is a high and multi-functional repair tool that features a powerful inbuilt registry cleaner, anti-virus, and a system optimizer. This tool is the one-stop solution for all your PC-related errors including the Bad_Pool_Header blue screen of death error.
Whether it’s a driver issue, faulty memory, or cluttered disk, all the causes triggering the Bad_Pool_Header error code fall under the registry which is why it is recommended to install Restoro.
Its innovative and powerful registry cleaner scans detect and repair all the errors related to the registry in one go including the Bad_Pool_Header errors.
With this helper, you can easily remove all the unnecessary files cluttering your hard disk and damaging your registry. It wipes out the clutter in seconds and frees up disk space.
Why Should You Clean The Registry?
Sometimes the registry also gets cluttered by malicious software like viruses, spyware, and malware. These may also take up your disk space and prevent you to perform disk writing successfully and also corrupt the registry.
The privacy error finding utility embedded in Restoro helps you scan for such malicious software on your system and removes them immediately. It lends the software anti-virus properties.
When it comes to using repair tools, many users who are not technically sound often worried.
They think it may be difficult to operate. If you think the same way, let us tell you that Restoro is very easy to use. It is integrated with a high-functional yet user-friendly interface complemented by simple navigation.
Restoro Special Features
This makes it simple for all levels of users to operate it regardless of whether they are technically adept or not.
Restoro is compatible with all Windows versions. You can download it with ease and run it for scans on any Windows version you have installed on your system.
To get started, all you have to do is:
It really sucks when you can’t fully enjoy the newest version of your favorite OS.
Windows 11 is still relatively fresh and consequently has some annoying little bugs that really ruin our experience. The good news is that you’re not alone and most of them are easy to fix.
Here are 5 commonly reported Windows 11 issues and what you can do to get rid of them.
1. Windows 11 audio problems
One of the absolute most irritating things in the world is struggling with the sound on your computer. Windows 11 users have reported facing the issue of low or no sound. If you’re currently experiencing the same frustration, you can be relieved. Chances are fixing it will only take a few minutes.
The first thing to check would be whether you accidentally muted your device by pressing the mute button on your keyboard. Yes, we know it sounds a lot like the old “have you tried turning it off and on again?” But it’s important to leave no stone unturned, and the most obvious things are usually the ones we easily overlook.
Moreover, if you have several audio output sources, check whether the right one is selected. You can do this via the Action Center or through Settings. If you want to use the same source every time, we also recommend you set it as the default one.
It’s also important to have a good, up-to-date audio driver. More often than not, this will be the true cause of your audio struggles. Make sure to update your driver, and if that doesn’t work out, you can always un- and reinstall it or install a different one.
Lastly, if all attempts remain unsuccessful, run the audio troubleshooter to figure out what’s actually going wrong.
2. Unable to find files
Such a powerful new operating system, yet it can’t seem to do the simplest thing imaginable? The File Explorer not responding on Windows 11 is one of the most frustrating and most common problems with Microsoft’s newest iteration of its awesome OS.
However, 9/10 times it can be fixed by simply restarting your PC. You could also try killing the Windows Explorer process in the Task Manager and then rerunning it.
If these don’t help, check whether there are any pending Windows 11 updates. A single missing update can compromise your PC’s functionality, so always make sure to install them all on time.
Should none of that work, then there are other ways to solve the File Explorer problem. However, then the issue is probably a bit deeper and it’s no longer in the ‘easy fix’ territory.
3. Start menu not working
Just like the File Explorer, the Start menu is a fundamental element of your OS. So, it’s only natural that its malfunction grinds your gears. It may be more customizable than on previous Windows versions, but it doesn’t always work smoothly.
If you’re facing the so-called Start menu critical error, there are a few things this could be caused by. Usually it means you turned off your system while an important update was still being installed, there is a corrupt file on your PC, or Windows forcefully stopped a program.
Whatever the reason, the solution should be pretty simple. Try the basic steps: restarting your File Explorer (like we explained above) and signing out and back into your account. If that doesn’t do anything, you may want to try uninstalling third-party start menu apps (if you have any), since they can interfere with your default programs’ functionality.
Now, those are the easy fixes. If you get nowhere with them, you might need to identify the root cause and search for more complex solutions than that.
4. Snipping tool not working
Our beloved screenshot tool was introduced with Windows 10 and Microsoft decided to keep it. However, you were probably just as disappointed as us when you tried to run it and failed.
Normally, this can be fixed by installing the latest Out-of-band (OOB) update, or even pending updates in general. Even if your system appears to be up-to-date, run the checker just in case.
Another cool thing Windows 11 lets you do is ‘Repair’ and ‘Reset’, which is the easiest way to troubleshoot your Snipping tool. If this fails, you can also try the good old un- and reinstall method. Simply uninstall the tool through the Control Panel and reinstall it from the Microsoft Store.
Furthermore, in the case of an upgrade from Windows 10 to 11, it may be that the old Snipping tool version is interfering with the launch of the new one. If you don’t care that much about the additional options available with the enhanced screenshot tool, you can use the old version instead.
Simply go to your C Drive, find the Windows.old folder, search for the tool and open it from there. Make sure to pin it to your taskbar as well, if you know you’re going to use it often.
5. Can’t install the latest update
The latest Windows 11 version, 22H2, has brought tons of enhancements to our dearest operating system. Unfortunately, a lot of users still haven’t had the opportunity to experience it. A mere update of your OS version should be the one thing that goes smoothly, but sometimes that’s not the case.
Failure to install 22H2 can be caused by a few things. Most commonly, the issue is caused by lack of storage space or corrupted files, but there could be other culprits.
There are a couple of things you could try. For example, it’s crucial that your drivers be up-to-date and some important services be enabled. These are: Windows Modules Installer, Background Intelligent Transfer Service, Cryptographic Service, Windows Update services.
To enable them, search ‘Services’, find the service you need and right-click on it. Open ‘Properties’ and select the startup type ‘Automatic’.
It may also be necessary to unplug all peripherals that aren’t crucial and disable third-party antivirus tools until after the update is finished.
Ultimately, you can run the Windows Update troubleshooter to detect and fix other possible issues.
Summary
Tiny bugs like these are nothing out of the ordinary. That said, we still all hate when they happen.
Hopefully some of our solutions have helped you to a smoother Windows 11 experience. But if you’re still struggling, feel free to reach out to us. We’d be happy to help!
Error Code 46 is a device driver error that occurs when Windows fails to access the connected peripheral device to the computer as Windows is in a process of shutting down.
Users experience this error on any Windows 2000 and later operating system versions and usually see a pop-up with the following message:
“Windows cannot gain access to this hardware device because the operating system is in the process of shutting down. (Code 46)”
Solution
Error Causes
Error Code 46 is caused when there is a temporary problem with windows system files which prompts that the system is undergoing a shut down when in fact is it not.
This prevents access to the connected devices. This error may also be caused by a registry issue in which case it has either become corrupted or damaged.
Further Information and Manual Repair
Unlike all other Windows error codes, code 46 is relatively easy to fix with the right knowledge and does not pose any serious threat to the well-being of your PC. Here is how you can do it.
Method 1 – Restart your PC
The simplest method to resolve Error Code 46 is to run a restart of your computer.
The error is most commonly a temporary registry glitch that prevents you from accessing the device connected to your computer. Upon restarting your computer, it will resume working properly as before.
There is no need to run a troubleshooting wizard, use system restore, or run anti-virus software to scan and remove malware or spyware. A simple restart is all that is needed.
Method 2 – Install DriverFIX
Although the error code can be resolved upon restarting the computer, there’s a possibility of damaged or corrupted Windows registry files. This can be fixed by using a program like DriverFIX.
DriverFIX, with its user-friendly approach to help you fix your PC issues, comes with an integrated database that detects which drivers you need to reconfigure within just a few seconds and downloads it automatically.
It further ensures that your drivers are installed in their entirety leaving no room for any corrupted or damaged registry.
Error Code 46 may not be much of an issue, however, to prevent any risk of a Windows system corruption can be disastrous for your computer.
DriverFIX helps you fix your PC registry and device driver problems with user-friendly software and an integrated database. The database which consists of detailed information on what device driver needs to be installed will automatically download the required device driver without you need to refer to your hardware instruction manual.
Registry problems resulting from incomplete program installations and viruses such as malware and spyware damaged registry files. This affects your PC in serious ways.
DriverFIX further has an automatic backup and restoration system that helps create system ‘checkpoints’ which allow you to roll back to a healthier state and resume operations. This can help you avert any Windows error codes in the future.
There are times when you install a Windows update to your Windows 10 computer but you only got an error message saying, “The update isn’t applicable to your computer”. This is unusual as Windows was the one that downloaded them in the first place. To understand the reason behind this error, read on as this post will also give you a couple of suggestions you can try to fix the problem.
One of the main reasons why this error occurs is that your computer might not have the required installed updates and many more. Other reasons include:
The update might be replaced. There are instances when a newer Windows version is already available on the computer and that the version you are trying to manually install is an older version which is why the Windows update failed.
The update might already be installed. There are times when the update process is still in progress and the earlier payload might have already been installed.
It could also be that it’s a wrong update for architecture. As you know, updates are designed accordingly based on the architecture of the computer so if the update you are trying to install does not match the architecture of your CPU then it’s no wonder you’re getting an error message.
Your computer might be missing a prerequisite update. There are Windows updates that depend on other updates so if you missed one and you’re installing another one, it could be the reason why you’re getting the error.
To fix the problem, here are some suggestions that might help.
Option 1 – Try verifying the package and the Processor Architecture
As pointed out earlier, updates are made according to the Windows versions. Thus, if one of the updates failed to install, you need to check if it’s applicable or not. The best way to do that is by searching the Windows update name on the official website of Windows.
It could be that the Processor Architecture is not compatible with the Windows Update you are trying to install. If you have an X86-based processor, you can’t install x64-based installations of Windows and vice-versa. This usually happens when you’ve downloaded the update manually and then tried installing it.
Option 2 – Try checking if the update is old
The issue might be because you are trying to install an old Windows update which is why it didn’t work. To check, go to Settings > Update and Security > View Update history. From there, you can look for the update.
Option 3 – Try checking if the update is already installed
To verify the update, just go to the Windows Update history once more as you did in option 2, and then see if the update is already installed or not.
Option 4 – Try checking the prerequisites
AS mentioned earlier, there are some updates that depend on other updates before they get installed on your computer. The best way to verify is by checking the Microsoft Knowledge Base (KB). And to verify if the prerequisite updates are installed or not, just run the command below in PowerShell:
get-hotfix KB1111111, KB2222222, KB3333333
Note: In the command given above, you need to replace “KB1111111, KB2222222, KB3333333” with the actual update KB numbers.
Option 5 – Try running the Windows Update Troubleshooter
As you know, Windows 10 has various auto-repair built-in tools to help users fix small issues which used to get fixed manually. And in this case, you will need the Windows Update Troubleshooter to fix the issue.
Go to Settings and click on Update and Security.
From there, click Troubleshoot and click on Windows Update and then click the “Run the troubleshooter” option.
After that, it will try to detect and automatically fix common issues in the Windows Updates which can be resolved by Windows itself. Note that the process may take several minutes before it completes so you need to wait until it’s done. Once it’s done, in case you have some pending update that wasn’t realized by the system early on, it will apply the fix right away and restart the Windows Update service.