Best MMO games to play during this winter

Anxiety from all these digital threats lurking everywhere? An antivirus program can help put your mind at ease.

What can a virus do to your device?

A virus is malicious software that can affect pretty much any device and does so in a variety of ways. Be it your computer, your phone or your smart lightbulb - as long as there’s access to the internet, malware can get to it.

How exactly does this kind of attack manifest itself? Well, there’s a wide variety of effects ranging from mild to severe. Among other things, they depend on which type of malware attacks your device - a virus, spyware, ransomware, adware or something else.

These are some of the things you can expect to happen:

• Slow performance
• System crashes
• Theft of data and sensitive information
• Connectivity issues
• Constant browser redirects
• Strange messages sent to your contacts 
• Interference with files

It really can be the stuff of nightmares. So, if you want to sleep peacefully knowing that your devices are completely safe, you should definitely consider getting an antivirus.

P.S. don’t let its name fool you - an antivirus does indeed protect your devices against more than just viruses.

What is antivirus software exactly?

Antivirus software is designed to help you battle and ward off malware. Basically, it scans your device to detect any suspicious activity and offers tools to get rid of the culprit. 

At first, antiviruses were developed to fight against viruses only, but nowadays they cover a lot more ground. Here are some of the biggest benefits of getting yourself a powerful defender.

Advantages of antivirus software

1. It fights those pesky ads

Look, constant ads that pop up everywhere aren’t the absolute worst thing that can happen on your computer. If anything, they are annoying, like when you’re trying to sleep but that one fly in your room just won’t stop buzzing.

Now, there’s a free, well-established solution for that - installing an ad blocker. And we’re about a hundred and ten percent sure you’ve already done that on each and every browser you use.

However, “if I can’t see it, it doesn’t exist” isn’t the most ideal approach for your online safety. Ad blockers can’t block everything and they won’t protect you from potential adware. An antivirus on the other hand offers that layer of protection against malware snuck into pop-ups and spammy websites.

2. It protects you from hackers

Hackers don’t target government institutions only. They’ll target regular people too if they have something to gain.

There are different types of hacking, such as phishing e-mails, transmission of malicious programs, credential reuse, denial of service and more. In any case, they take control of your device and hijack your data.

The good thing is that, as threats evolve, antiviruses evolve too and there are tons of quality programs on the market that can keep you secure for an affordable price.

3. It keeps your files and data safe

When malware enters your device, it can target pretty much any file and get access to any and all data.

Installing an antivirus program will make sure that every single file, new or old, is monitored at all times, warning you against threats immediately. That way, you can make sure to react before your other files become infected and data is lost or stolen.

Another great thing for data protection is that the best antivirus software normally comes with a password manager, so no one can use malware to steal your passwords.

4. It blocks all kinds of malware

As we already stated, malicious attacks can be performed in many ways and malware comes in in different shapes an sizes, such as:

• Trojan horse
• Spyware
• Ransomware
• Adware
• Rootkit
• RAT (remote access Trojan)
• Keyloggers
• Worms
• Botnets

Nowadays, antivirus software is designed to fight against all of these types. That’s why more often than not we hear the term 'antivirus' used interchangeably with 'anti-malware,' like in this article.

5. It keeps your children protected

You can’t keep your eyes on your kid every second of the day and you can’t protect them from everything. But at least you can limit their exposure to the threats they can encounter at every corner of the digital world.

An antivirus program will block harmful or suspicious websites and ads, which is great both for you and your children. To take it a step further, though, many such programs come with special parental controls and offer monitoring as well. It’s a great solution for keeping your kids safe online without sounding like the irritating, overbearing, controlling parent who “just doesn’t get it!”

How to pick one

There are definitely lots of different antivirus programs out there, both free and paid. We recommend you look for a paid option, since free ones are unfortunately a lot more susceptible to being compromised through malicious attacks.

Now, there are a few factors to consider when choosing the right software. If you use your PC for basic things then a basic antivirus will suffice. However, the more complex your use and the more sensitive the data you deal with, the stronger it needs to be.

It’s also crucial that you take into account the features it includes. As we already mentioned, some programs have additional security options. For example, depending on the package you select, Bitdefender provides:

• Webcam and mic monitoring
• Parental control
• Firewall
• VPN
• Password management
• Identity theft protection

Some are included in plans and some are separate products, so make sure to check out all the offers.

And don’t worry if you have multiple PCs or you’re looking for protection for your smartphone or tablet as well; Bitdefender has suitable solutions for your needs. Of course, you can also just pick their classic antivirus software if you’re not in need of advanced protection.

Another important point is how regularly the software is updated and enhanced. The more frequent the updates the better, as bugs can make the program more vulnerable. Other things we advise you consider are user-friendliness, impact on performance, reputation (user reviews especially) and, of course, price.

The bottom line

Fact is: anyone can be a malware victim. Don’t let it be you.

You can’t put a price on peace and security, so don’t be reluctant to pay for yours - especially since a lot of options out there are extremely affordable. Is $159.00 a year really too much to pay for cross-platform protection for up to 10 devices? We don’t think so.

Explore your options and protect your files and data before it’s too late.

There are cases when your Windows 10 PC can encounter an issue where it gets stuck and will display a message that says, “Preparing Security Options”. If this is happening to your Windows 10 PC, you won’t be able to use your keyboard or even mouse and your screen will only be stuck on the screen as mentioned above. As your computer is still stuck, you will be left with no choice but to shut it down and restart it. Tap the F11 key as soon as your PC powers on. This will take you to the Advanced Startup options where you can carry out some steps. If it still didn’t work, you have to boot your Windows 10 PC into Safe Mode and then try out the troubleshooting options below.

Option 1 – Try using System Restore

You can do this option either by booting into Safe Mode or in System Restore. If you are already in the Advanced Startup Options, just directly select System Restore and proceed with the next steps. And if you have just booted your PC into Safe Mode, refer to the steps below.

• 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 2 – Uninstall the Windows Updates you’ve installed recently

The issue could be caused by Windows Updates so you need to check if it’s indeed the case. The best way you can do so is via Safe Mode.

• Boot your PC into Safe Mode and then tap the Win + I keys to open Settings.
• After that, click on Update and Security and then select Windows Update from the left side menu column.
• Next, select the “View installed update history” option on the right-side column and click on Uninstall Updates which will open a window that will show the list of all the installed updates on your PC.
• From there, select the update you want to uninstall and click the Uninstall button located in the lower right corner of the window.

Option 3 – Try disabling the Fast Startup

• Boot your PC into Safe Mode.
• Then tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Next, type in “control” to open Control Panel.
• After that, select Hardware and Sound and click on Power Options.
• Select “Choose what the power buttons do” from the left side menu pane and click on Change settings that are currently unavailable.
• Afterward, uncheck the “Turn on fast startup (Recommended)” entry and click on Save Changes.
• Now restart your PC and check if the problem’s fixed.

Option 4 – Try running both the SFC scan and CHKDSK utility

You can do both SFC and CHKDSK using Safe Mode and Advanced Startup options. For Advanced Startup options, click on the Command Prompt option and proceed with the steps. And if you have booted your computer into Safe Mode, follow these steps:

• Tap the Win + X keys or right-click on the Start button and click Command Prompt (admin).
• After that, type in this command and tap Enter to run the System File Checker or SFC – “Sfc /scannow”.
• Alternatively, you can use this command instead if the previous command didn’t work – “sfc /scannow /offbootdir=c: /offwindir=c:windows”.
• Wait until the SFC scan is done with the process and then restart your PC.
• Next, run the CHKDSK utility and once it’s done checking your disk for errors and then reboot your PC to save the changes made.

Option 5 – Try resetting Windows 10

You can reset your Windows 10 PC using either the Advanced Startup Options or by booting into Safe Mode.

• Tap the Win + I keys and go to Update and Security > Recovery.
• Then click on Get Started under the Reset this PC section.
• After that, follow the on-screen instructions with how you want to reset your PC and what files and settings you want to revert.
• Then it will reset your PC by reinstalling it

Option 6 – Try to rename the SoftwareDistribution folder

In this option, the Command Prompt is supposed to be like the one in option 4. You can use both ways there to open the Command Prompt.

• Open an elevated Command Prompt as admin and type in the commands below and tap Enter right after you typed in each one of them
• net stop wuauserv
• net stop bits
• rename c:windowsSoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.bak
• net start wuauserv
• net start bits

Note: You can also rename the SoftwareDistribution folder to “SoftwareDistribution.bak” or “SoftwareDistribution.old” after you boot your PC into Safe Mode.

Option 7 – Try rebuilding BCD

Rebuilding the BCD can help you in fixing the stuck Windows 10.

• You can start by booting into the installation environment for Windows 10 from an installation media.
• After that, click on Repair your computer and on the blue screen, select Troubleshoot and then select the Advanced options menu.
• Next, select Command Prompt and type in the commands below one by one, and tap Enter right after you do so.
• exe /FixMbr
• exe /FixBoot
  • exe /RebuildBcd

What Is Runtime Error R6034?

Runtime Error r6034 is one of the most commonly occurring errors.  This error usually arises in Windows Vista and Windows 7. The message that appears to the user states ‘An application has made an attempt to load C runtime library incorrectly, please contact the support team for more information’. As the message suggests, this problematic error occurs simply because an application attempts to load the C runtime library without a manifest.

Solution

Error Causes

Runtime Error r6034 occurs when the system compiler fails to compile the working application. While this is the primary reason, there are some other conditions that trigger Runtime Error r6034 which are outlined below.

• Existence of viruses and malware in the system.
• Corrupt or missing system files.
• Power outages.
• Hardware problems.
• Hardware driver problems.

There are several other reasons that may trigger Runtime Error r6034 that are beyond the scope of this article. Regardless of what triggers this error, it is crucial to ensure that it is fixed as soon as possible.

Further Information and Manual Repair

There are several ways to deal with Runtime Error r6034. However, one of the most effective ways is listed below as follows.

• When this error occurs, restart your computer. Make sure you press F8 before the windows logo is displayed.
• Choose safe mode and press enter.
• Go to the ‘Start’ button and type ‘msconfig’ in the search box. Press enter.
• The MSConfig program will now open.
• Choose ‘Start up’ in the general tab and then click on the ‘Load Start Up’ item.
• Click on the ‘Services’ tab. Now click ‘Hide all Microsoft Services’ and then choose ‘Disable All’.
• Close the system configuration window.
• Restart the computer.

After restarting your computer, you will notice that the Runtime Error r6034 has been removed. If this approach fails to deliver the desired results, it is advised to follow the steps listed below.

• Go to the start button. In the search box, type ‘System Restore’.
• When System Restore appears, click on it.
• The system restore window will open. Make sure any process or application that’s open is now closed.
• In the System Restore window, if a calendar list appears, it means the restore point is open. Now choose the point from where the error appeared and click Next.
• This process may take some time. Your system will restart automatically and the Runtime Error r6034 will disappear.

Wallpapers by MyWay is a browser hijacker, also known as Wallpaper Homepage adware. It was developed by Mindspark Interactive Network, Inc and it is widely promoted on the Internet as a genuine search engine powered by Google with an ability to customize homepage background and add some quick access links. This hijacker can be found in the most popular web browsers including Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, and IE. Generally Wallpaper by MyWay hijacker appears on the user’s computer without the user being fully aware of its modification.

While installed users will experience additional ads showing up in their search results, as well as sponsored content and pop-up ads. This extension has been flagged by several anti-virus scanners and it is recommended to remove it from your computer.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijack is a very common type of online fraud where your web browser settings are altered to allow it to do things you never intend. Browser hijacker malware is designed for many different reasons. These are generally used to force visitors to predetermined sites, manipulating web traffic to generate ad revenue. Nevertheless, it’s not that harmless. Your internet safety is jeopardized and it is also really irritating. Additionally, hijackers can make the entire infected system fragile – other harmful malware and viruses would take hold of these opportunities to get into your system very easily.

Signs of browser hijacker infection

Symptoms that your browser is hi-jacked include: 1. you see unauthorized modifications to your web browser’s home-page 2. you find yourself regularly directed to a different site than the one you meant 3. the default web engine and the default browser settings is modified 4. find new toolbars which you did not add 5. you notice lots of pop-up ads on your computer screen 6. your internet browser has instability issues or displays frequent errors 7. you’re blocked to access those sites of anti-malware solution providers.

Exactly how browser hijacker finds its way onto your computer

Browser hijackers can enter a computer by some means or other, for instance via file sharing, downloads, and e-mail also. Many internet browser hijackings come from add-on programs, i.e., browser helper objects (BHO), toolbars, or plug-ins added to web browsers to provide them additional functionality. A browser hijacker can be installed as a part of freeware, shareware, demoware and fake programs. An example of some popular browser hijackers includes Babylon, Anyprotect, Conduit, DefaultTab, SweetPage, RocketTab, and Delta Search, however, the names are often changing. Browser hijackers could record user keystrokes to collect potentially valuable information that leads to privacy issues, cause instability on systems, significantly disrupt user’s browsing experience, and finally slow down the system to a point where it will become unusable.

Browser hijacker removal methods

Certain types of browser hijackers can be quickly removed from your computer by deleting malicious programs or any other recently installed shareware. However, the majority of hijacking codes are certainly not easy to get rid of manually, as they go deeper into the operating system. Furthermore, manual removals require in-depth system knowledge and therefore can be a very difficult job for novices. Installing and running anti-malware programs on the affected computer can automatically delete browser hijackers and other malicious programs. One of the top tools for repairing browser hijacker infections is SafeBytes Anti-Malware. It helps you get rid of any pre-existing malicious software on your computer and gives you real-time monitoring and protection against new threats. Use a system optimizer (such as Total System Care) along with your anti-malware to fix various registry issues, remove computer vulnerabilities, and improve your computer overall performance.

How To Get Remove Malware That Is Preventing Antivirus Installation?

All malware is detrimental and the consequences of the damage will vary according to the specific type of malicious software. Some malware goes to great lengths to stop you from downloading or installing anything on your computer, especially anti-virus software programs. If you are reading this article, you may have infected by a virus that stops you from downloading a security software such as Safebytes Antimalware on your PC. Refer to the instructions below to remove malware in alternative ways.

Use Safe Mode to fix the issue

If the malware is set to run at Windows start-up, then booting in safe mode should avoid it. Only the minimum required applications and services are loaded when you boot your laptop or computer into Safe Mode. To launch your Windows XP, Vista, or 7 computers in Safe Mode with Networking, follow the instructions below. 1) After switching on the computer, press the F8 key before the Windows splash screen starts to load. This would conjure up the Advanced Boot Options menu. 2) Select Safe Mode with Networking with arrow keys and hit ENTER. 3) When this mode loads, you should have an internet connection. Now, make use of your web browser normally and navigate to https://safebytes.com/products/anti-malware/ to download and install Safebytes Anti-Malware. 4) After installation, do a complete scan and allow the program to remove the threats it discovers.

Switch to some other internet browser

Malicious code might exploit vulnerabilities in a specific internet browser and block access to all anti-malware software websites. When you suspect that your Internet Explorer happens to be hijacked by a trojan or otherwise compromised by online hackers, the most effective course of action would be to switch over to a different internet browser such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Apple Safari to download your chosen computer security software – Safebytes Anti-Malware.

Install anti-malware on a flash drive

Here’s another solution which is creating a portable USB anti-malware software package that can scan your computer for malware without needing installation. Adopt these measures to employ a flash drive to fix your corrupted PC. 1) On a clean PC, download and install Safebytes Anti-Malware. 2) Plug in the pen drive into the uninfected computer. 3) Run the setup program by double-clicking the executable file of the downloaded software, with a .exe file format. 4) Choose the flash drive as the destination for saving the software file. Follow the activation instructions. 5) Now, transfer the thumb drive to the infected computer. 6) Double-click the antivirus software EXE file on the thumb drive. 7) Click on the “Scan Now” button to start the malware scan.

How SafeBytes Anti-Malware Keep your Machine Virus Free

If you are looking to download an anti-malware application for your computer, there are plenty of tools on the market to consider but you just cannot trust blindly anyone, no matter whether it is a free or paid program. A few of them do a good job in eliminating threats while many will ruin your computer themselves. You must select one that is dependable, practical, and has a good reputation for its malware source protection. When considering commercial anti-malware application options, many people select well-known brands, like SafeBytes, and they are quite happy with it. SafeBytes is a powerful, real-time antivirus application that is designed to assist everyday computer user in safeguarding their PC from malicious threats. With its most advanced virus detection and repair technology, this software will help you protect your personal computer against infections caused by different types of malware and other internet threats, including adware, spyware, viruses, worms, trojans, keyloggers, ransomware, and potentially unwanted program (PUPs).

There are lots of wonderful features you’ll get with this security product. Some of them are listed as below:

Robust Anti-malware Protection: Using its advanced and sophisticated algorithm, this malware elimination tool can detect and remove the malware threats hiding within your computer system effectively. Active Protection: SafeBytes gives you round-the-clock protection for your PC limiting malware attacks in real-time. It will check your personal computer for suspicious activity at all times and safeguards your PC from unauthorized access. Fast Scan: This computer software has one of the fastest and most efficient virus scanning engines in the industry. The scans are very accurate and take a short amount of time to complete. Web Protection: Safebytes allots all sites a unique safety score that helps you to have an idea of whether the website you’re about to visit is safe to view or known to be a phishing site. Light-weight: SafeBytes gives complete protection from online threats at a fraction of the CPU load due to its enhanced detection engine and algorithms. 24/7 Customer Service: Expert technicians are at your disposal 24/7! They will quickly resolve any technical issues you may be experiencing with your security software. To conclude, SafeBytes Anti-Malware is really great for securing your PC against all kinds of malware threats. Malware problems will become a thing of the past once you put this software program to use. So if you’re looking for the best anti-malware subscription for your Windows-based PC, we highly recommend SafeBytes Anti-Malware software

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you’d like to manually remove Wallpapers by MyWay without using an automated tool, it may be possible to do so by removing the application from the Microsoft Windows Add/Remove Programs menu, or in cases of web browser extensions, going to the browsers AddOn/Extension manager and removing it. You will probably also want to reset your internet browser to its default configuration settings. If you opt to manually delete the system files and registry entries, use the following checklist to make sure you know exactly what files to remove before performing any actions. Please keep in mind that this is for professional users only and might be difficult, with wrong file removal leading to additional system errors. In addition, some malware is capable of replicating or preventing deletion. Carrying out this malware-removal process in Safe Mode is recommended.

There are times when we delete a system files without meaning to on your Windows 10 computer. This happens a lot for users sometimes mistake a system file for a malware-laden file or junk file when it’s actually a system file from the System32 or SysWOW64 folder. In such cases, it could affect your computer. For instance, you might not be able to reboot your PC or open Settings. If you have removed system files from any of these folders by accident and you desperately want to restore them, read on, as this post will guide you in resolving the problem. Restoring them isn’t actually hard, just make sure that you have system admin access. The good thing is that there exists Windows Resource Protection which protects registry keys and folders and even critical system files. So if there are any detected changes to a protected system file, the modified file is restored from a cached copy located in the Windows folder. However, if the Windows Resource Protection program fails to restore these files, you need to check out the given fixes below.

Option 1 – Run System File Checker scan

To restore the system files you deleted, you can try running System File Checker or SFC scan. System File Checker is a command utility built into your computer that helps restore corrupted files and missing files. Refer to the following steps to run it:

• Boot your PC into Safe Mode.
• Hit the Win + R keys 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 while before it finishes. Once it’s done, you could get the following results:

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

• Reboot your computer.

Option 2 – Try to run the DISM tool

Aside from System File Checker, you can also run the DISM or Deployment Imaging and Servicing Management Tool as it could help in restoring the system files on your Windows 10 computer. Using this built-in tool, you have various options such as the “/ScanHealth”, “/CheckHealth”, and “/RestoreHealth” which could help you resolve the problem.

• Open the Command Prompt with admin privileges.
• Then type in the following commands and make sure to hit Enter right after you type each one of them:
  • Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
  • Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
  • exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
• Do not close the window if the process takes a while as it will probably take a few minutes to finish.

Option 3 – Try performing a System Restore

Running System Restore can also help you bring back the system files. You can do this option either by booting into Safe Mode or in System Restore. If you are already in the Advanced Startup Options, just directly select System Restore and proceed with the next steps. And if you have just booted your PC into Safe Mode, refer to the steps below.

• 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 4 – Try to run Automatic or Startup Repair

Startup Repair, previously known as Automatic Repair, is an advanced tool in Windows that can help you diagnose various system issues, including this one. This tool will scan system files, configuration settings, registry settings, and so on in order to fix the problem on its own. To run Startup Repair, all you have to do is boot into the Advanced Startup Options and then go to Troubleshoot > Advanced option > Startup Repair and then run it. This will resolve the problem if you have deleted any system file that’s essential to your Windows 10 PC.

Option 5 – Reset your computer

• Tap the Win key or click on the Start button located in the Taskbar.
• Then click on the Power button at the bottom right portion of the screen.
• Next, press and hold the Shift key on your keyboard and then click on Restart. This will restart your Pc into the Advanced Startup options.

Note: Once you have access to the Advanced Startup options, you have to go to the setting which allows you to Reset your Windows 10 PC. All you have to do is select Troubleshoot > Reset this PC to reach the following screen Afterward, select either the “Keep my files” option and then proceed to the next on-screen instructions that follow to reset your Windows 10 computer without losing your files.

USB devices are one of the commonly used devices every day – from plugging mobile devices for charging using pen drives, you are making use of USB drives. However, there are times when you might encounter an error message saying, “Unknown USB Device” as you plug your USB device on your Windows 10 computer. So if you encounter this kind of error message followed by either of the following explanations, read on as this post will give you a couple of suggestions you can check out to resolve the issue.

• Device Descriptor Request Failed
• Port reset failed
• The device failed enumeration
• Set address failed
• Error code 43

You can fix this error using several ways. You can try changing the Power Options, update or roll back the USB drivers, turn off Fast Startup, or run the USB troubleshooter. Follow the options given below for more details.

Option 1 – Try to change the Power Options

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run utility.
• Then type “powercfg.cpl” and tap Enter to open the Power Options window.
• Next, go to your selected power plan and click the “Change plan settings” option to open a new page.
• From there, click on the “Change advanced power settings” option. This will open a new window where you can see various power consumption options.
• Now look for the USB Settings option and expand it.
• Then set the USB selective suspend setting to “Disabled” for both scenarios: On Battery and Plugged in.
• After that, click on OK and restart your computer to apply the changes made.

Option 2 – Update or reinstall the Universal Serial Bus Controller driver

Since it could be a driver issue, you can try to update or reinstall the Universal Serial Bus Controller drivers using the Device Manager. Refer to the following 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.

Note: If it is a regular USB drive, then it will be listed as a USB Mass Storage Device but if you have a USB 3.0 device, then look for a USB 3.0 Extensible Host Controller.

• Restart your PC and then click the “Search automatically for updated driver software” option.

Note: If updating the USB Controller drivers didn’t work, you can try to reinstall them instead.

Option 3 – Try turning off Fast Startup

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box and type in “control” to open the Control Panel.
• Next, click on the Hardware and Sound section and click on Power Options.
• Afterwards, select the “Choose what the power buttons do” option from the left side menu pane.
• Now click on Change settings that are currently unavailable and uncheck the entry that says, “Turn on fast startup (Recommended).
• Then click on Save Changes and restart your computer and see if it has fixed the problem or not.

Option 4 – Run the Hardware and Devices Troubleshooters

• The first thing you need to do is click on Start and then on the gear-like icon to pull up the window for Settings.
• After opening Settings, look for the Update and Security option and select it.
• From there, go to the Troubleshoot option located on the left-hand side of the list.
• Next, select Hardware and Devices from the list and open the Troubleshooter and run it. Once it is doing its job, wait for it to complete the process and then restart the system.
• After the system restarts, check if the problem’s now fixed. If not, refer to the next option given below.

Many Windows 10 users use a Bluetooth headset as these kinds of Audio devices, as you know, lack wires since wires tend to get entangled and break which could get quite inconvenient. This is why using a wireless headphone is more preferable since it’s much simpler, however, using a wireless headphone also means it comes with a charging requirement and if it fails to charge, there is no music or audio or anything that you need a Bluetooth headphone for. However, wireless headphones are also susceptible to problems as you might encounter some problems when connecting your wireless headphone to your Windows 10 computer. One of these problems include when you try to get sound from the wireless device but nothing happened. This indicates that the Bluetooth headphone is disconnected in some way for some unknown reason even if you’ve already plugged it in. Thus, if you encounter this scenario, then there are several options you need to check out to fix the problem. To start troubleshooting the problem, here are the options you need to use as a reference.

Option 1 – Try turning off the device and turning it back on

The first thing you can do to resolve the problem is to turn off your wireless audio device and wait for a couple of seconds before you turn it back on. In most cases, this should fix the problem. In fact, you can also try to unpair and pair the Bluetooth audio device and see if it fixes the problem or not.

Option 2 – Try to set the headphone as the default device manually

There are times when you plug a headphone, it does not toggle the default audio device. Thus, to fix this issue, you have to set the default audio device to the headphones manually. To do that, follow these steps:

• First, right-click on the volume icon located on the system tray.
• Next, select the Open sound settings option to open the Sound section in the Windows 10 Settings app.
• After that, go to the Output section and select Headphones for the “Choose your output device” option. This should fix the problem for you.

Option 3 – Try running the Bluetooth Troubleshooter

As you know, Windows 10 has various troubleshooters with user-friendly interfaces where you can utilize them to fix issues in your PC. And since you’re dealing with some Bluetooth problem, you have to run the built-in Bluetooth Troubleshooter. To do this, follow these steps:

• Open the Windows 10 Settings.
• Then go to Update & Security > Troubleshoot.
• You should find the option for Bluetooth on your right-hand side – click on it then click on the “Run the troubleshooter” option.
• Now follow the next screen options.

Option 4 – Try to update or reinstall the Bluetooth driver

The issue might have something to do with the Bluetooth drivers. It could be that it is outdated and needs to be updated or that you recently updated it and since then you have trouble in removing the Bluetooth devices and so to fix the issue, you can update, roll back or uninstall the Bluetooth drivers. How? Follow the steps below.

• Tap the Win + X keys to open the Device Manager.
• Next, look for the Bluetooth device and right-click on it.
• Select the option “Update driver”.
• After that, a new popup window will appear. In there, select the option, “Search automatically for updated driver software”.

Note: Checking the update may take a few minutes so you’ll have to wait until it finishes. If it is able to find an update, you must install it. And if you want to reinstall the Bluetooth driver, just select the “Uninstall driver” option and follow the next on-screen instructions that follow.

In case you didn’t know, the new Windows 10 v1903 has brought tons of new features around Windows 10 Updates. One of these features is the ability to automatically adjust the Active Hours based on your computer activity. This feature is really useful as it tells the operating system when to install the Windows Updates. A lot of users use the Active Hours feature to ensure that the Windows Update won’t force them to restart their PCs to install the update. So if your computer is turned on, it won’t apply the update during the active hours you’ve specified. In addition, the active hours change for many users and they are not that strict. For instance, if you set the active hours between 10 am to 5 pm, Windows Update won’t be forcing you to restart your computer to install the updates at those times. Note that Windows Update allows enabling an option using where it can monitor the active hours in your computer and change it. To configure this setting, here’s what you have to do:

• Frist, go to Settings > Update & security > Windows Update.
• Next, take note of your current active hours and click on the “Change active hours” link.
• Then toggle the option that says, “Automatically adjust active hours for this device based on activity”. This will change the active hours and if you match it with the previous one, it should be different.

As you can see on the image given above, the earlier active hours were between 8:00 to 17:00 and were changed to 11:00 to 19:00. If you have been using this feature for a while you’ll find how useful and handy it is especially when you’re using your computer and don’t want any notifications like the prompts for Windows Updates to bother you while working.

Device drivers serve as a connection between the hardware in your computer and the operating system. So if any of the device drivers fail, the concerned hardware will stop communicating with Windows. And when you encounter some network-related issues, you can run the Network Adapter troubleshooter to fix them. However, this built-in troubleshooter does not work all the time as there are still problems that it can’t fix on its own and you’ll see the following error message:

“Windows could not find a driver for your network adapter.”

If you encounter this kind of error, read on as this post will help you in fixing the problem but before you get started in troubleshooting the problem, try running the Network Adapter Troubleshooter again.

• Open the Search bar on your computer and type in “troubleshoot” to open the Troubleshoot settings.
• Next, scroll down and select the “Network Adapter” option from the right pane.
• Then click on the Run Troubleshooter” button.
• After that, your computer will check for any possible errors and will pinpoint the root cause of the problem if possible.

Refer to each one of the solutions given below to get started:

Option 1 – Update the Network Adapter drivers

Of course, the first thing you can try to do is to update the Network Adapter drivers to resolve the error.

• Tap the Win + R keys to launch the Run window and then type in the “devmgmt.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 update them all.
• Restart your PC and see if it helped in fixing the BSOD error.

Note: If updating the network drivers didn’t help in fixing the “Windows could not find a driver for your network adapter” error, you can also try to uninstall the very same drivers and restart your Windows 10 PC. After that, the system itself will reinstall the drivers you just uninstalled. Alternatively, you can also download and install the drivers from the manufacturer’s website directly. To reinstall the network adapter driver, refer to these steps:

• Open the Devices Manager from the Win X Menu.
• Then locate the device drivers and right-click on them to open the Properties.
• After that, switch to the Driver tab and click on the Uninstall Device button.
• Follow the screen option to completely uninstall it.
• Finally, restart your computer. It will just reinstall the device drivers automatically.

Option 2 – Try running the Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter

Apart from the Network Adapter Troubleshooter, you can also run another built-in troubleshooter in Windows, the Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter, as it can also help you in resolving the “Windows could not find a driver for your network adapter” error.

• The first thing you need to do is click on Start and then on the gear-like icon to pull up the window for Settings.
• After opening Settings, look for the Update and Security option and select it.
• From there, go to the Troubleshoot option located on the left-hand side of the list.
• Next, select Hardware and Devices from the list and open the Troubleshooter and run it. Once it is doing its job, wait for it to complete the process and then restart the system.
• After the system restarts, check if the problem’s now fixed. If not, refer to the next option given below.

Option 3 – Try performing a System Restore

You might also want to perform a System Restore that might help you in fixing the error. You can do this option either by booting into Safe Mode or in System Restore. If you are already in the Advanced Startup Options, just directly select System Restore and proceed with the next steps. And if you have just booted your PC into Safe Mode, refer to the steps below.

• 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.

Long working hours on a laptop can have some issues with laptop heating and thus slowing down. Today we will take a look at how can you prevent it from heating and keep it in a normal temperature range so it lasts longer and works better.

Close unnecessary programs or browser tabs

Usually, the main reason for high laptop temperature is the heavy and constant workload. Of course, the solution is very simple, turn off unnecessary browser tabs or applications running in the background, and less power will be needed for operation thus directly reducing workload and temperature.

Place it on a hard flat surface

Laptops generally have vents on the side and even under them, these vents, of course, are made so hot air is disposed of through them but if they are covered that will create issues. Placing computers on textiles, pillows, and legs can obstruct their venting holes and increase heat also since they are materials that are not taking heat away.

Your best practice should be placing the laptop onto a hard flat surface so air can flow freely and if you need to keep it in your lap there are lap desks made for this purpose.

Clean the laptop

With some good cleaning, the laptop can stop overheating, and generally, it will be cooler. Vents that has for ventilation can get clogged over large periods of time due to dust which is always present. Compressed air can be a quick easy solution to open the vents and redust it. Other methods include a compressor, vacuum, or brush in order to quickly remove any dust clogs. Taking it into service for complete redusting and paste change is also a great option.

Place it on the dedicated pad

There is some disagreement about using dedicated cooling pads for laptops, some say they are not effective at all, and some swear by them but from my experience good paired laptop and pad can indeed help with cooling it down. Usually, cooling pads will come with fans that will take away heat from the laptop itself reducing its overall heat.

Change your Windows power plan

If your laptop is constantly hot but you are not doing much with him check Windows power settings. There is a good chance it is set to run on a high-performance plan and if this is the case switch it back to a balanced power setting. Power plan like high performance will drain more power and more power will mean more heating. Of course, this will affect performance as well but for regular work that excludes some power gaming, video, and picture manipulations and other demanding tasks this power plan will work just fine.

Take control of the fans inside your laptop

Internal cooling is important and sometimes fans are not running to their full capacity so increasing their speed or changing their plan of work can cool down the computer nicely. Some laptops have fans controlling application already on them, especially gaming laptops but most of them do not. If your laptop does not have it, go to your laptop brand website and see if such an application exists for your model, if it does, download and install it but if there is no such application try general free ones like SpeedFan or Argus Monitor.

Reduce voltage of CPU and GPU

How more power means more heat, reducing the power that CPU and/or GPU take can be reduced inside BIOS by lowering voltage of these 2 components. First, go to BIOS and write down the voltage that is currently assigned to your CPU and/or GPU so you can bring it back if ever needed, also take note that reducing voltage and thus power will not affect negatively your components but increasing it thus overclocking can and will so be careful when bringing voltage back not to overdo it. You can always also reset your BIOS settings to bring them back to factory settings.

Do not use the laptop when charging it

When the laptop is placed on the charger in order to be charged and used at the same time, more power is drawn to it, and since the battery is taking electric charge instead of providing it more heat will be generated now since two different sources will be generating it, the battery itself and computer. When you really can not wait for the laptop to be charged, use it, but turn it off and wait to be fully charged if you can.