Fix W11 Installation assistant is not working

Windows 10 won't upgrade to a newer version

If when hovering over the upgrade icon on the taskbar you get:

Your version of Windows 10 would reach the end of service soon, Click to download a newer version of Windows 10 to stay supported. or An unsupported version of Windows will no longer receive software updates from Windows Update. These updates include security updates that can help protect your PC from harmful viruses, spyware, and other malicious software which can steal your personal information. Windows Update also installs the latest software updates to improve the reliability of Windows—such as new drivers for your hardware.

and you are unable to perform updates then this guide is for you. There are several things you can do to fix this issue presented here, it is advisable to follow them in a way how they are presented for best performance and system safety.

Run setupdiag
Download and run Setupdiag from the official MICROSOFT website. SetupDiag is a standalone diagnostic tool that can be used to obtain details about why a Windows 10 upgrade was unsuccessful. It works by examining Windows Setup log files to determine the root cause of a failure to update or upgrade the computer. Once the scan is completed, check the generated log files. The SetupDiagResults.log will be generated and saved in the same folder where you downloaded Setupdiag. Open SetupDiagResults.log using Notepad. You may need to take a look at these folders:
- \Windows\Panther
- \$Windows.~bt\sources\panther
- \$Windows.~bt\Sources\Rollback
- \Windows\Panther\NewOS
If there are any issues or conditions that are blocking the upgrade, they will be listed here.
Edit TargetReleaseVersionInfo Registry key
Press ⊞ WINDOWS + R to open the run dialog In run dialog type Regedit and press ENTER Locate: HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate Locate two DWORD files, if they do not exist, create them as: TargetReleaseVersion TargetReleaseVersionInfo Set the value of TargetReleaseVersion to 1 If you are stuck on Windows 10 1909 and want to upgrade to Windows 10 20H2 now, you need to set the value for TargetReleaseVersionInfo to 20H2 Reboot the computer
Use Windows 10 update assistant
Visit Microsoft.com and hit the ‘Update now’ button visible on the page Download tool and run it Click on Update now to start the upgrade process

The current state of Government vs BigTech

BigTech platforms Google and Facebook were hit with a series of antitrust lawsuits by the US federal government and states on charges they are operating monopolies and abusing their power. Below is the status of the cases, as well as government probes of Apple and Amazon in their current states

Two lawsuits against Facebook

In a defeat, Judge James Boasberg said the Federal Trade Commission, which had sued Facebook in December asking that Facebook be forced to sell WhatsApp and Instagram, failed to show that Facebook had monopoly power in the social-networking market, among other problems. However, the FTC could file a new complaint by July 29. He threw out a related state lawsuit entirely, saying that the attorney's general had waited too long. They are looking at their options.

Four lawsuits against Google

The US Justice Department sued Google in October, accusing the $1 trillion company of illegally using its market muscle to hobble rivals. A trial date was set for September 12, 2023. A lawsuit by 38 US states and territories accuses Google of abusing its market power to try to make its search engine as dominant inside cars, TVs, and speakers as it is in phones. This was consolidated with the federal lawsuit for purposes of discovery. Texas, backed by other states, filed a separate lawsuit against Google, accusing it of breaking antitrust law in how it runs its online advertising business. Dozens of state attorneys general sued Google on July 7, alleging that it bought off competitors and used restrictive contracts to unlawfully maintain a monopoly for its app store on Android phones.

Justice Department investigates Apple

This probe, revealed in June 2019, appears to focus on Apple's app store. Some app developers have accused Apple of introducing new products very similar to existing apps created by other developers and sold in the Apple Store, and then trying to banish the older apps from the store because they compete with Apple's new product. Apple says it seeks to have only the highest-quality apps in the app store.

Justice Department probing Facebook and Amazon

In July 2019, the Justice Department said it was expanding its Big Tech probes to include "search, social media, and some retail services online", an apparent reference to Facebook and Amazon.

Federal Trade Commission on Amazon

In its investigation of Amazon, the FTC is likely looking at the inherent conflict of interest of Amazon competing with small sellers on its marketplace platform, including allegations that it used information from sellers on its platform to decide what products it would introduce.

Fix Windows Update error 0x80070003

If you are trying to run Windows Update but encountered an Error 0x80070003, read on as this post will guide you on how you can fix it. This kind of error in Windows Update can occur when you activate Windows Firewall or download from the Windows Store. This kind of error indicates that the Windows Update service or WUAUSERV is not started or that the Background Intelligent Transfer Service or BITS can’t be started. Aside from that, you can also encounter this error with the other Windows Update components. To fix the Windows Update error 0x80070003, you can try to run the built-in Windows Update troubleshooter or replace the old Configuration file named “Spupdsvc.exe”. You can also try to reset the Windows Update components or check the status of all the Windows Update-related services, as well as run a System File Checker scan.

Option 1 – Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter

Running the built-in Windows Update troubleshooter is one of the things you can first check out as it is known to automatically resolve any Windows Update errors like error code 0x80070003. To run this troubleshooter, Refer to these steps:

Tap the Win + I keys to open Settings.
From there, click Update and Security and go to the Troubleshoot section.
Next, select Windows Update and click the “Run the troubleshooter” button and wait until it’s finished, and then try to run Windows Update again.

Option 2 – Try replacing the old Configuration file named “Spupdsvc.exe”

The next thing you can do to fix the Windows Update error is to replace the Spupdsvc.exe file. This is a process file that comes under the Microsoft Update RunOnce service. So when an update becomes available for your computer, the process responsible for performing the upgrade is notified. In addition, the RunOnce entry is also added to the registry for the spupdsvc.exe and this process is executed when your computer restarts and when you log on.

In the Start Search, type “command prompt” and from the search results, right-click on Command Prompt and select the “Run as administrator” option.
Next, execute this command to replace the old configuration of the Spupdsvc.exe file with a new one: c m d (remove spaces on CMD) /c ren %systemroot%System32Spupdsvc.exe Spupdsvc.old
After that, try to run Windows Updates again and check if the error is now gone.

Option 3 – Try deleting the files from the SoftwareDistribution folder and resetting the Catroot2 folder

The downloaded Windows Updates are placed in a folder called “SoftwareDistribution”. The files downloaded in this folder are automatically deleted once the installation is completed. However, if the files are not clean up or if the installation is still pending, you can delete all the files in this folder after you pause the Windows Update service. For complete instructions, refer to the steps below.

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

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

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

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

Type each one of the following commands.

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

After that, exit Command Prompt and restart your computer.

Option 4 – Check the status of some Windows Update Services

Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
Next, type “services.msc” in the field and hit Enter or click OK to open Services.
From the list of Services, look for the following services and make sure that their Startup type is as follows:
- Windows Update – Manual (Triggered)
- Background Intelligent Transfer Service – Manual
- Cryptographic Services – Automatic
- Workstation Service – Automatic
After that, check if the Service status of the listed services above are set to Running. If they’re not, click on the Start button to start these services and then check if the Windows Update error 0x80070003 is now fixed or not.

Option 5 – Run the System File Checker Scan

If manually resetting the Windows Update components didn’t work, you can run a System File Checker scan instead. It is a built-in command-line utility that replaces bad and corrupted system files with good system files that might be the cause why you’re getting the error when you try updating your computer. 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.

Restart your computer.

Mastodon test and review

What is Mastodon? Mastodon is an open-source microblogging network very similar to Twitter. You can make 500 characters post messages called toot (tweet), share videos or images, and follow other people. But unlike Twitter, Mastodon is decentralized, meaning the entire Mastodon is not run by a single company pulling all strings.

Mastodon can be used directly in your web browser or through a mobile client on a smartphone or tablet. It includes features that seem copied from Twitter-like replies, boosts (retweets), favorites (loves), a timeline view, blocking, and voluntary content warnings that hide sensitive content.

Mastodon also has some great features that Twitter does not have like automated post deletion for the older post of a certain age, requiring approval for follows without restricting your account, and opting out of search engine indexing.

Currently, there are also no ads on Mastodon meaning no ad tracking or ad network surveillance.

How Does Mastodon Work?

Mastodon is a social media network made of nodes called servers or instances each running special software meaning anyone can run their own Mastodon instance (if they have a proper dedicated server). When you have your own instance it can be linked in the federation or remain private, so individuals or companies can have control over individual Mastodon servers.

The software itself is open source based on the social networking protocol ActivityPub which was developed by WWW Consortium.

While using Mastodon, people sign up for accounts with specific instances. Once logged in, you can view a local timeline (of posts from that instance only) or, if the instance is federated with others, see a federated timeline comprised of toots from people in other instances. Mastodon users can send messages to each other using their Mastodon account names that are similar to email addresses in that they feature the server address as well as the user name.

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

Firewall is preventing or blocking connections

As you know, the Windows Firewall is designed not just to protect your computer from viruses and malware, and other security threats but it’s also designed to block any program from accessing the internet. Users are given the option to block both inbound and outbound traffic for any apps on their computers. However, this kind of option can often lead to not being able to access the internet. In such cases, when you try to run the Windows Firewall Troubleshooter or the Windows Network Diagnostic troubleshooter, it will throw an error message that says, “Windows Firewall is preventing connections to your computer. The Windows Firewall rule HSS DNS Leak Rule may be blocking your connection”. If you are in this kind of scenario, then you’ve come to the right place as this post will guide you on how exactly you can fix this error. When you encounter this kind of error, there are several options you can check out to fix it. You can try to allow an app or feature through the Windows Firewall or uncheck the HSS DNS leak rule in both private and public. For more details, refer to the suggestions provided below.

Option 1 – Try to allow an app or feature through Windows Firewall

The first thing you can do to get rid of the error is to allow a feature or app through the Windows Firewall. To do this, follow these steps:

Open the Windows Defender Security Center.
From there, select the Firewall and Network Protection option.
Next, click on the “Allow an app through firewall” option and then click on the “Change Settings” button and make sure that you have administrative privileges.
After that, select the app or feature you want to allow through the Firewall from the menu. You also have the option to manually add the app by using the “Add an App” option.
Then select the between the type of network an app can access such as:
- Private Network will allow the app to connect to the internet only at home or work.
- Public Network will allow the app to connect to the internet from anywhere, including Public WiFi hotspots.

Once done, restart your computer and see if it fixed the error or not.

Option 2 – Try to uncheck the HSS DNS leak rule in both private and public

The next thing you can do to fix the error is to uncheck the HSS DNS leak rule in both private and public. You can do this by following these steps:

Open the Windows Defender Security Center.
From there, select the Firewall and Network Protection option.
After that, click on the “Allow an app through firewall” option and then click on the “Change Settings” button and make sure that you have administrative privileges.
Next, scroll down until you see the HSS DNS leak rule in both private and public option and then uncheck it.
Now restart your computer and check if the error is now gone.

File is Too Large for the Destination Error

The file is too large for the destination file system is the error when you try to copy a file larger than 4GB on a drive formatted in the FAT32 file system. FAT32 is the old file system used in previous Windows versions and it was replaced by superior NTFS, altho FAT32 is still used because of its compatibility fact that it could be accessed in various operating systems its disadvantage among others is that it can not hold files larger than 4GB in size. This refers to the size of a single file, so if you have a file that is this large and when you try to copy or move it on a drive formatted in FAT32 you will get this message, and the operation will not be able to complete.

Format drive

In order to actually transfer the file in its glorious size, I am afraid that you will need to format destination drive in NTFS or if you have data on drive which you do not want to lose with formatting, use third-party software to convert file system from FAT32 to NTFS without losing data. I would recommend AOMEI partition assistant, it is a free and proven application letting you both manage your partitions and convert any one of them into another file system without data loss. You can get AOMEI here.

Split file

Another option if you are not keen on installing third-party tools or formating is to divide large files into smaller ones that are less than 4GB in size. You can use any archiving application since built-in Windows ZIP support will not let you split file into various different sizes. The best tool in my humble opinion is WinRAR, but you can choose any proven one. When file is split into parts less than 4GB in size, you will have no issues copying or move the file to the destination drive.

Fix Device requires further installation Error

If you are trying to connect an external device to your computer but you suddenly encounter an error that says, “Device requires further installation”, then you’ve come to the right place as this post will guide you on how exactly you can fix this error. In most cases, USB sticks, headphones, speakers, and other external devices, install drivers automatically once you connect them to your computer which means that the drivers are downloaded and installed in the system as soon as the external device is plugged in. However, if the driver has become corrupted or outdated, you might encounter an error like the

“Device requires further installation”

Aside from corrupted or outdated drivers, the error could also be caused by pending updates, an incorrect version of the Intel PROSet Wireless driver, or checking the wrong event. Whatever the cause is, this post will provide you with some potential fixes that can help you resolve the problem. But before you troubleshoot the problem, ensure that your Windows 10 computer is updated to its latest version and you must also not forget to check that you’re checking the correct event on the Event Viewer. Once you have these things covered, proceed to the instructions below.

Option 1 – Try to update the device drivers to the latest version

One of the most likely root causes of the “Device requires further installation” error is either outdated or corrupted drivers in your computer. This kind of problem is more common on several devices like scanners and printers for which the drivers are provided with them.

First, boot your computer into Safe Mode.
After that, 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. From there, look for any outdated device drivers and click on each one of them.
After that, right-click on each entry of the device drivers and select the “Uninstall Device” option from the menu.
Now restart your computer.
After restarting your computer, go to the Settings app and Check for Updates in the Windows Update section.

Note: You also opt to download the latest versions of the device drivers directly from the website of the manufacturer. Once you’ve downloaded them, you can install them into your computer right away and then try connecting the external device again. On the other hand, you can also try to reinstall the device drivers.

Option 2 – Try to install the latest version of the Intel PROSet Wireless driver

A lot of users who experience the problem reported that their wireless driver wasn’t also working properly and it was then found that it was caused by the outdated Intel PROSet wireless driver. Thus, to fix the problem, you need to install the latest version of this driver from the intel.com website and install it on your computer. When you download the driver, make sure that your computer is running an Intel system and then download the correct driver depending on whether your computer is a 64-bit system or a 32-bit one.

100sOfRecepies Removal Tutorial

100sOfRecepies is a Browser Extension developed by MindSpark Inc. that provides users with hundreds of recopies for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert. This extension may appear very handy at the start, however, it may monitor your browser activity, and send it back to the developer to better serve ads. This extension injects itself into the System Registry allowing it to run each time your computer is restarted.

While browsing the internet with this extension installed you may see additional ads, sponsored links, and pop-up ads displayed in your browser. Many anti-virus scanners have detected this extension as a Browser Hijacker and are therefore not recommended to keep on your computer.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijacking is actually a form of an unwanted program, often a web browser add-on or extension, which causes modifications in browser settings. They are made to disrupt web browser programs for various reasons. Usually, it’ll force users to predetermined sites which are aiming to increase their advertisement income. Nevertheless, it’s not that harmless. Your internet safety is compromised and it is also very annoying. In a much worst case, your browser could be hi-jacked to download malware that may do a great deal of damage to your laptop or computer.

Major symptoms that your web browser has been highjacked

The typical symptoms that indicate having this malware on your computer are: 1. the browser’s home page is changed 2. bookmark and the new tab are also modified 3. the default search engine is changed and the browser security settings have been lowered without your knowledge 4. find new toolbars which you did not add 5. unstoppable flurries of pop-up ads show up on your personal computer screen 6. your web browser gets slow, buggy crashes often 7. Inability to navigate to certain websites, particularly anti-malware and also other security software webpages.

How does a browser hijacker infect a computer?

There are several ways your computer can become infected with a browser hijacker. They generally arrive by way of spam e-mail, via file sharing websites, or by a drive-by-download. They could also come from add-on software, also known as browser helper objects (BHO), web browser plug-ins, or toolbars. Some browser hijackers spread in user’s computer systems using a deceptive software distribution technique known as “bundling” (generally through freeware and shareware). An example of some well-known browser hijacker includes Babylon, Anyprotect, Conduit, DefaultTab, SweetPage, RocketTab, and Delta Search, but the names are continually changing. Browser hijackers could record user keystrokes to gather potentially valuable information that leads to privacy issues, cause instability on computers, drastically disrupt the user experience, and eventually slow down the PC to a point where it will become unusable.

Browser Hijacker Malware – Removal

Some browser hijacking could be quite easily stopped by discovering and eliminating the corresponding malware program from your control panel. But, most hijackers are hard to get rid of manually. No matter how much you try to remove it, it can come back over and over. Moreover, browser hijackers could modify the Computer registry so that it could be very tough to restore all of the values manually, particularly when you are not a very tech-savvy person.

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

All malware is bad, but certain kinds of malicious software do a lot more damage to your PC than others. Some malware sits in between your computer and the internet connection and blocks some or all sites which you want to check out. It would also block you from adding anything to your machine, especially anti-virus programs. So what to do when malicious software keeps you from downloading or installing Anti-Malware? Do as instructed below to eliminate malware through alternate ways.

Eliminate malware in Safe Mode

In the event the malware is set to load at Windows start-up, then booting in safe mode should avoid it. Just the minimum required applications and services are loaded when you boot your computer in Safe Mode. Listed below are the steps you need to follow to start your computer into the Safe Mode of your Windows XP, Vista, or 7 computers (go to Microsoft website for instructions on Windows 8 and 10 computers). 1) At power-on/startup, press the F8 key in 1-second intervals. This will invoke the “Advanced Boot Options” menu. 2) Choose Safe Mode with Networking with arrow keys and hit Enter. 3) When this mode loads, you should have an internet connection. Now, use your internet browser to download and install Safebytes. 4) As soon as the software program is installed, allow the scan run to remove viruses and other threats automatically.

Switch over to an alternate web browser

Malicious program code could exploit vulnerabilities on a particular web browser and block access to all anti-virus software sites. The best way to overcome this problem is to choose a browser that is known for its security measures. Firefox contains built-in Malware and Phishing Protection to keep you secure online.

Install and run anti-malware from the Thumb drive

To effectively get rid of the malware, you might want to approach the issue of running an anti-virus program on the affected PC from a different perspective. Do these simple measures to clear up your infected computer by using a portable antivirus. 1) On a virus-free PC, download and install Safebytes Anti-Malware. 2) Insert the pen drive on the same PC. 3) Run the setup program by double-clicking the executable file of the downloaded software, with a .exe file format. 4) When asked, select the location of the USB drive as the place where you want to put the software files. Follow the instructions on the screen to finish off the installation process. 5) Now, transfer the USB drive to the infected computer system. 6) Double-click the EXE file to open the Safebytes program right from the thumb drive. 7) Simply click “Scan Now” to run a scan on the affected computer for viruses.

Protect Your Computer and Privacy With SafeBytes Anti-Malware

To help protect your computer or laptop from a variety of internet-based threats, it’s important to install an anti-malware application on your personal computer. However, with countless numbers of antimalware companies in the marketplace, nowadays it’s tough to decide which one you should buy for your laptop. Some of them are excellent, some are ok types, while some will affect your PC themselves! You need to be careful not to pick the wrong product, particularly if you purchase a premium application. Amongst few good applications, SafeBytes Anti-Malware is the strongly recommended software for security-conscious people. Safebytes is one of the well-established computer solutions firms, which provide this complete anti-malware software program. Through its cutting-edge technology, this software protects your personal computer against infections caused by different types of malware and similar internet threats, including adware, spyware, trojans horses, worms, computer viruses, keyloggers, potentially unwanted programs (PUPs), and ransomware. SafeBytes carries a plethora of wonderful features which can help you protect your computer from malware attack and damage. Here are some of the good ones: Robust Anti-malware Protection: By using a critically acclaimed anti-malware engine, SafeBytes provides multi-layered protection which is made to catch and remove threats that are concealed deep in your PC. Active Protection: SafeBytes offers complete and real-time security for your PC. It’ll check your PC for suspicious activity at all times and shields your PC from unauthorized access. Website Filtering: Through its unique safety rating, SafeBytes informs you whether a website is safe or not to visit it. This will assure that you’re always certain of your safety when browsing the online world. Lightweight Utility: SafeBytes is really a lightweight application. It consumes an extremely small amount of processing power as it runs in the background therefore you will not observe any computer performance issues. 24/7 Premium Support: Skilled technicians are at your disposal 24/7! They will immediately fix any technical issues you may be experiencing with your security software.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you’d like to carry out the removal of 100sOfRecepies manually rather than using an automated software tool, you may follow these simple steps: Navigate to the Windows Control Panel, click on the “Add or Remove Programs” and there, select the offending program to uninstall. In cases of suspicious versions of web browser extensions, you can easily remove them through your browser’s extension manager. You may also want to reset your web browser settings, as well as delete browsing history, temporary files, and internet cookies. To ensure the complete removal, find the following Windows registry entries on your system and delete them or reset the values appropriately. Please keep in mind that only advanced users should try to manually edit the registry because incorrect file removal leads to a major problem or even a PC crash. In addition, certain malware is capable of replicating itself or preventing deletion. It is recommended that you carry out the removal procedure in Safe Mode.

Files: %Documents and Settings%\All Users\Application Data0sOfRecipes Toolbar virus %program files %\internet explorer\ 100sOfRecipes Toolbar\[random].mof %program files (x86)%0sOfRecipes Toolbar \ %programData%\suspicious folders\ %windows%\system32\driver0sOfRecipes Toolbar %app data%\ 100sOfRecipes Toolbar virus\ Registry: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MATS\WindowsInstaller\EAF386F0-7205-40F2-8DA6-1BABEEFCBE8914.07.30.07.52.18]ProductName=100sOfRecipes Toolbar [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Tracing\Muvic_RASAPI32] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Tracing\Muvic_RASMANCS] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\EAF386F0-7205-40F2-8DA6-1BABEEFCBE89] DisplayName=100sOfRecipes Toolbar [HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-3825580999-3780825030-779906692-1001\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\50f25211-852e-4d10-b6f5-50b1338a9271] DisplayName=100sOfRecipes Toolbar

A Quick Guide to Resolving IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL Error

IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL - What is it?

IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL error is a type of blue screen of death (BSoD) error. It is a typical Windows PC error that occurs even in the latest Windows versions. The IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL error occurs on the computer screen when a memory address triggers unauthorized access. This leads to the suspension of your login session. The computer screen turns blue.

Solution

Error Causes

IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL error occurs due to several reasons. However, the most common causes for this error code include:

Incompatible device drivers
The poor device driver installation
Faulty hardware
Disk fragmentation
Registry issues
Viruses and malware attack

Blue screen of death error codes like IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL is critical. If not resolved timely, this error code can pose serious threats to your PC. It can lead to system crash and failure, due to which you can also lose your valuable data stored in your system. How to Fix IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL Error Code?

Further Information and Manual Repair

Here are some of the best and easy DIY methods to resolve this error code on your PC:

1. Roll Back Drivers

If the underlying cause of IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL error is poor driver installation, then try this method to resolve the issue. This can be done by simply clicking the start menu. Once you click on it, go to the control panel, then double click the system icon and locate the System Properties window. After that, click the hardware tab and then the device manager button. Now locate the device you recently installed. Double click on the recently installed device driver, click the driver tab, and then the rollback driver button. This will take a while, so wait for the process to finish. After that, reboot the system.

2. Run Hardware Diagnostic

The IRQL error may also be triggered by faulty hardware. To identify which hardware is causing the error to pop up, you will have to run a hardware diagnostic.

For this, go to the start menu, type Memory Diagnostic in the search bar.
Now access this tool and click on Diagnose your memory problems. As you click it, it will ask you to perform the check by either restarting the PC immediately or on the next restart.
Select the immediate one to get going. The system will carry a scan on the memory and show you the list of problematic errors detected during the scan. To resolve this error then all you have to do is replace the piece of faulty hardware.

Nonetheless, if no faulty hardware is detected, this means the error is related to memory. If so, try method 3 to resolve.

3. Disable Memory Caching

To fix the IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL error, try disabling the memory caching option. This is called BIOS memory caching. This can be done by restarting your PC and pressing the BIOS setup keys to enter the settings screen. Mostly it is an F2 key, however, it may be different in some computers as the motherboards of different makes have their own respective keys. Once you enter the BIOS settings look for options stating memory settings. Access these options and disable the memory caching feature.

4. Scan your PC for Malware

As mentioned above this error message can also result due to the intrusion of malicious software like malware, viruses, and spyware. To detect and remove them from your PC, download an antivirus and perform a system scan. Remove the detected viruses and malware to resolve. Please note, antivirus installation may lower the speed of your PC.

5. Repair Registry and Fragmented Disk

Due to poor PC maintenance, you may experience registry issues. The registry stores all the activities performed on the PC including the unnecessary pieces of information like junk files, internet history, temporary files, cookies, and other flies. Such files take up a lot of disk space. When there is not much space on the storage device, the new data is saved in fragments. This is called disk fragmentation. When this file becomes fragmented it takes time to rearrange the data and reunite it to run the fragmented file on your PC. If not resolved, this leads to registry issues and thereby generating various PC error codes including IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL errors. The best way to clean the registry and repair the fragmented disk is to download Restoro. This is an advanced and multi-functional PC Fixer. It is embedded with multiple system repair utilities including a powerful registry cleaner that detects all registry issues in seconds, removes and wipes out unnecessary files cluttering the registry, cleans and repairs the registry and the damaged files. Other utilities include an antivirus that detects privacy errors and all types of malicious software infecting your system. It also functions as a system optimizer which means by running this software on your PC you won’t be compromising on your system’s performance. The system optimizer utility boosts the speed of your PC. This tool is safe and efficient. It has a user-friendly interface and is compatible with all Windows versions. Click here to download Restoro and resolve the IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL error code right away.

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Fix W11 Installation assistant is not working

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Set the compatibility

Run SFC scan

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Run setupdiag

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Option 1 – Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter

Option 2 – Try replacing the old Configuration file named “Spupdsvc.exe”

Option 3 – Try deleting the files from the SoftwareDistribution folder and resetting the Catroot2 folder

Option 4 – Check the status of some Windows Update Services

Option 5 – Run the System File Checker Scan

How Does Mastodon Work?

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 – Try to allow an app or feature through Windows Firewall

Option 2 – Try to uncheck the HSS DNS leak rule in both private and public

Format drive

Split file

Option 1 – Try to update the device drivers to the latest version

Option 2 – Try to install the latest version of the Intel PROSet Wireless driver

About Browser Hijackers

Major symptoms that your web browser has been highjacked

How does a browser hijacker infect a computer?

Browser Hijacker Malware – Removal

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

Eliminate malware in Safe Mode

Switch over to an alternate web browser

Install and run anti-malware from the Thumb drive

Protect Your Computer and Privacy With SafeBytes Anti-Malware

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL - What is it?

Solution

Error Causes

Further Information and Manual Repair

1. Roll Back Drivers

2. Run Hardware Diagnostic

3. Disable Memory Caching

4. Scan your PC for Malware

5. Repair Registry and Fragmented Disk