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How to get rid of PuzzleGamesDaily

PuzzleGamesDaily is a Browser extension developed by Mindspark. This extension monitors user activity such as website visits, clicked links and other web-related tasks that It later uses to display targeted ads.

When installed it changed the default home page, search engine and new tab page to MyWay.com, and while browsing the internet with this extension active you will see additional pop-up ads, injected (unwanted) ads, and sponsored links during your browsing sessions.

From the Terms of Use: You hereby acknowledge and agree that by using an MS Product you may be exposed to Content that may be offensive, indecent or objectionable in your community […]
MS Products are exposed to various security issues, and should be regarded as insecure. By accepting this Agreement, you acknowledge and accept that the MS Products and any information you download or offer to share by means of an MS Product, may be exposed to unauthorized access, interception, corruption, damage, or misuse, and should be regarded as insecure. You accept all responsibility for such security risks and any damage resulting therefrom.

This extension has been marked as a Browser Hijacker by several anti-virus scanners and has been flagged for optional removal. It is not considered malicious but many users wish to remove it due to the above reasons.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijacking is regarded as the internet’s constant danger that targets internet browsers. It’s a type of malware program that directs the web browser requests to some other suspicious internet sites. Browser hijacker malware is created for many different reasons. Often, it will force users to particular sites which are aiming to boost their advertising campaign income. Many people believe that these websites are legitimate and harmless but that is not true. Nearly every browser hijacker pose an existent threat to your online safety and it’s vital to categorize them under privacy risks. Browser hijackers could also permit other destructive programs without your knowledge to further damage your computer.

Major signs that your internet browser has been hijacked

There are many signs that indicate your web browser is highjacked: the browser’s home-page is modified; bookmark and new tab are likewise modified; the main web browser settings is modified and unwanted or insecure sites is put into the trusted sites listing; you are getting browser toolbars you have never found before; you observe numerous ads show up on your web browsers or display screen; your browser has instability problems or displays frequent errors; Inability to navigate to certain sites, especially anti-malware and also other computer security software webpages.

So how exactly does a browser hijacker infect a computer?

Browser hijackers attack computers through malicious e-mail attachments, downloaded infected documents or by checking out infected sites. They can be included with toolbars, BHO, add-ons, plugins, or browser extensions. Browser hijackers sneak to your computer in addition to free software application downloads that you unwittingly install along with the original. An example of some infamous browser hijacker includes Babylon, Anyprotect, Conduit, SweetPage, DefaultTab, RocketTab, and Delta Search, but the names are regularly changing.

Browser hijackers could record user keystrokes to gather potentially important information leading to privacy concerns, cause instability on systems, significantly disrupt the user experience, and eventually slow down the computer to a stage where it will become unusable.

Removal

Some hijackers can be easily removed by uninstalling the free software they were included with or by deleting any extension you’ve recently added to your PC. Yet, certain hijackers are far more difficult to discover or get rid of since it could get itself associated with certain crucial computer files that enable it to operate as a necessary operating system process. Inexperienced PC users shouldn’t ever attempt for the manual form of removal, since it needs detailed computer knowledge to carry out fixes on the system registry and HOSTS file.

Anti-malware application is very effective with regards to catching and removing browser hijackers that regular anti-virus software has overlooked. Among the best tools for fixing browser hijacker malware is SafeBytes Anti-Malware. It assists you eliminate any pre-existing malicious software on your system and provides you real-time monitoring and protection from new threats.[/section][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text][section header="How One Can Eliminate Malware that is Blocking Websites or Preventing Downloads"]Malware could cause several different types of damage to PCs, networks, and data. Some malware sits in between your computer and the net connection and blocks some or all websites that you would like to visit. It might also prevent you from adding anything on your computer, particularly anti-malware applications. If you’re reading this article, you may have infected by malware that prevents you from downloading a computer security program such as Safebytes Antimalware on your PC. Refer to the instructions below to eliminate malware through alternative ways.

Install the antivirus in Safe Mode

The Windows OS has a special mode known as “Safe Mode” in which just the minimum required programs and services are loaded. If the malicious software is set to load automatically when PC boots, switching into this mode could prevent it from doing so. To enter into Safe Mode or Safe Mode with Networking, press F8 while the PC is starting up or run MSCONFIG and look for the “Safe Boot” options under the “Boot” tab. After you restart into Safe Mode with Networking, you may download, install, as well as update anti-malware program from there. After installation, run the malware scanner to remove most standard infections.

Switch to a different web browser

Certain malware may target vulnerabilities of a particular web browser that block the downloading process. If you are not able to download the security program using Internet Explorer, it means virus could be targeting IE’s vulnerabilities. Here, you need to switch over to another web browser like Chrome or Firefox to download Safebytes Anti-malware software.

Create a portable antivirus for eliminating viruses
Another option is to store and run an antivirus program entirely from a Flash drive. To run anti-malware using a flash drive, follow these simple steps:
1) On a clean computer, install Safebytes Anti-Malware.
2) Mount the pen-drive onto the same computer.
3) Double-click the Setup icon of the antivirus software package to run the Installation Wizard.
4) Pick thumb drive as the place when the wizard asks you exactly where you wish to install the application. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation process.
5) Now, transfer the thumb drive to the infected PC.
6) Double-click the anti-malware program EXE file on the USB flash drive.
7) Simply click “Scan Now” to run a complete scan on the infected computer for viruses.

A Look at the Best AntiMalware Program

If you’re looking to install anti-malware software for your computer, there are plenty of tools on the market to consider nonetheless, you cannot trust blindly anyone, regardless of whether it is a free or paid program. Some of them are great, some are decent, and some will destroy your computer themselves! When looking for an anti-malware program, purchase one that offers dependable, efficient, and complete protection against all known viruses and malware. When considering the trustworthy software programs, Safebytes Anti-Malware is certainly the highly recommended one.

SafeBytes is a powerful, real-time antivirus application that is designed to assist the average computer end user in safeguarding their PC from malicious threats. Using its cutting-edge technology, this software can help you eliminate several types of malware which includes computer viruses, trojans, PUPs, worms, ransomware, adware and browser hijackers.

SafeBytes anti-malware takes PC protection to a totally new level with its advanced features. Here are some of the good ones:

Active Protection: SafeBytes provides real-time active monitoring and protection against all of known viruses and malware. They are extremely efficient in screening and removing numerous threats because they’re continuously improved with latest updates and alerts.

Best AntiMalware Protection: Using a critically acclaimed malware engine, SafeBytes offers multilayered protection that is intended to catch and eliminate threats that are hidden deep in your computer’s operating-system.

Fast Multi-threaded Scanning: SafeBytes’s virus scan engine is among the quickest and most efficient in the industry. Its targeted scanning vastly increases the catch rate for viruses that is embedded in various computer files.

Website Filtering: Safebytes assigns all sites a unique safety ranking that helps you to get an idea of whether the website you’re about to visit is safe to view or known to be a phishing site.

Lightweight Tool: SafeBytes gives complete protection from online threats at a fraction of the CPU load because of its enhanced detection engine and algorithms.

24/7 Online Support: Support service is available for 24 x 7 x 365 days via email and chat to answer your concerns.

To sum it up, SafeBytes Anti-Malware is pretty great for securing your computer against all kinds of malware threats. There is no doubt that your computer system will be protected in real-time once you put this tool to use. You will get the very best all-around protection for the money you spend on SafeBytes Anti-Malware subscription, there is no doubt about it.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you would like to perform the removal of PuzzleGamesDaily manually rather than utilizing an automated software tool, you can follow these measures: Go to the Windows Control Panel, click the “Add or Remove Programs” and there, select the offending program to uninstall. In case of suspicious versions of browser plugins, you can actually remove it via your web browser’s extension manager. You may even want to reset your web browser settings, and also clear your browser cache and cookies.

To make sure of complete removal, find the following registry entries on your computer and remove it or reset the values appropriately. However, this can be a difficult task and only computer professionals can carry out safely. Furthermore, certain malware is capable of replicating or preventing removal. It is advisable that you carry out the removal process in Safe Mode.

Files:
%Documents and Settings%\%UserName%\Application Data\%random%
%AllUsersProfile%\Application Data\.dll

Registry:
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\KB8456137 = %LocalAppData%\KB8456137\KB8456137.exe
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\28949824-6737-0594-0930-223283753445\InProcServer32 (Default) = \.dll

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Enable or Disable Optional Windows Features
As you know, Windows operating system comes with tons of features. Some of which are not intended to be used by normal customers or users directly which means that only a small percentage of the huge user base of the operating system leverages the use of such features. However, they’ve added some major value to the feature list of the operating system. You can find these features under the “Turn Windows Features on and off” option. This indicates that if you want to, you can just type in “Turn Windows Features on and off” in the search box and then enable any feature that you want to enable. Aside from that, there are other ways you can disable or enable the optional Windows Features in your Windows 10 computer.

Option 1 – via Control Panel

  • Open Control Panel and select Uninstall a Program.
  • After that, select the “Turn Windows features On or Off” option on the left side.

Option 2 – via Command Prompt

  • Tap the Win + X combination on your keyboard or right-click on the Start button and then click on Command Prompt (Admin). Alternatively, you can also type “cmd” in the Cortana search box and right-click on the Command Prompt icon, and select the “Run as administrator” option.
  • If a User Account Control or UAC prompt appears, click on Yes.
  • Next, type in the following command to see the list of the available features.
DISM /online /get-features /format:table | more
  • Now all you have to do is copy the name of the feature that you want to enable and for you to do that, you need to execute the following command:
DISM /online /enable-feature /featurename:[Enter the name of the feature here] –All
Note: Now if you want to disable a feature that’s already enabled in your computer, refer to these sub-steps:
  • First, you need to check what features are enabled, and for you to find out, enter this command: DISM /online /get-features /format:table | find “Enabled" | more
  • And if you want to check the detailed information about a particular feature, you can enter this command: DISM /online /get-featureinfo/featurename:[Enter the name of the feature here]

Option 3 – via Windows Powershell

As you know, the Windows Powershell is a very important tool in Windows 10, and a powerful one at that since you can do a lot of things using this command line. So while you use this tool you need to populate the list of available features first and then you have to download the feature your desired feature.
  • Search for PowerShell in the Cortana search box and then run it with administrator privileges.
  • Next, type in the following command to populate the list of available features:
Get-WindowsOptionalFeature –Online
  • After that, enter the following command to install any feature you want to enable from the list of available features:
Get-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName *Type feature name*
  • Now enter the following command to enable your desired feature:
Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName “Type feature name” –all
  • And if you want to disable any enabled feature, just enter the following command:
Disable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName “Type feature name”

Option 4 – via an external installation source

You also have the option to fetch the latest features from an updated offline source. The source could be an ISO any other type of image or just a folder. So you need to decide if you want to use Windows Powershell or Command Prompt.
  • If you want to use Command Prompt, just enter this command: exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:< /All /Source:<Enter the path of the feature here>
  • If you want to use Windows Powershell, use this command: Install-WindowsFeature –Source “<Enter the path of the feature here>”
Note: If you want to get the latest features, you need to get the latest version of the image of the operating system that you are trying to install the feature from.
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Completely Remove SafeSearch Guide

SafeSearch is an ad-supported, cross web browser plugin for Internet Explorer and Firefox/Chrome. The browser extension will modify the default or custom settings of the browser including the home page, search settings, and in some cases will modify Internet Explorer’s load time threshold, place a lock file within Firefox to prevent changing settings as well as disable the browser’s Content Security Policy in order to allow for cross-site scripting of the plugin. For these reasons, it has been classified as a browser hijacker.

From the publisher: SafeSearch created by AVSoftware is the unique search engine that filters malicious sites or sites with bad reputations. Every website is weighted on several critical factors – vendor reliability, child safety, privacy issues, user opinions, and ratings.

SafeSearch has been found to be bundled with 3rd party software and malware and therefore is not recommended to keep on your computer.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijacking is amongst the internet’s constant problems that target browsers. It’s a kind of malware program that directs web browser requests to some other malicious sites. They’re created to disrupt browser functions for several purposes. Typically, the idea is to force users to visit certain websites that are trying to improve their visitor traffic and produce higher ad revenue. Even though it might seem naive, all browser hijackers are damaging and therefore always regarded as security risks. Furthermore, hijackers can make the entire infected system vulnerable – other dangerous malware and viruses will take hold of these opportunities to intrude into your PC effortlessly. Browser hijacking symptoms There are several signs of web browser hijacking: home-page is changed; you see new unwanted bookmarks or favorites added, usually directed to advertisement-filled or pornography websites; the main web browser settings are altered and undesirable or insecure sites are added to the trusted websites list; you notice many toolbars on your internet browser; unstoppable flurries of pop-up advertisements show up on your PC screen; web pages load very slowly and at times incomplete; you cannot visit specific sites like homepages of security software.

So how does a PC get infected with a browser hijacker?

Browser hijackers infect computers in numerous ways, including via a drive-by download, a file-share, or an infected e-mail. They could be included with toolbars, add-ons, BHO, plugins, or browser extensions. Also, some shareware and freeware can put the hijacker within your computer through “bundling”. An example of some notorious browser hijacker includes Conduit, Anyprotect, Babylon, SweetPage, DefaultTab, Delta Search, and RocketTab, but the names are continually changing.

Browser Hijacker Malware – Removal

Certain hijackers could be removed simply by uninstalling the related freeware or add-ons through the Add or Remove Programs in the Microsoft Windows control panel. However, the majority of hijacking codes are certainly not simple to remove manually, as they go much deeper into the operating system. Moreover, manual removal expects you to perform several time-consuming and intricate procedures that are tough to conduct for novice computer users.

What you can do if Virus Stops You From Downloading Anything?

Malware can cause all kinds of damage once they invade your PC, from stealing your personal information to erasing data files on your PC. Certain malware variants alter internet browser settings by adding a proxy server or modify the computer’s DNS settings. In these instances, you will be unable to visit certain or all of the websites, and thus not able to download or install the necessary security software to eliminate the malware. If you are reading this, you may have got infected by malware that stops you from downloading a computer security program like Safebytes Anti-Malware. Even though this type of issue will be tougher to get around, there are a few actions you can take.

Install antivirus in Safe Mode with Networking

Safe Mode is actually a unique, basic version of Windows where only minimal services are loaded to counteract malware and other troublesome applications from loading. In case the malware is set to load automatically when PC boots, switching into this particular mode may well prevent it from doing so. In order to get into Safe Mode or Safe Mode with Networking, press F8 while the system is booting up or run MSCONFIG and locate the “Safe Boot” options under the “Boot” tab. Once you reboot into Safe Mode with Networking, you can download, install, as well as update anti-malware software from there. At this point, you could run the antivirus scan to remove computer viruses and malware without hindrance from another application.

Switch over to an alternate browser

Malicious program code might exploit vulnerabilities in a particular browser and block access to all anti-malware software websites. If you suspect that your Internet Explorer has been hijacked by a computer virus or otherwise compromised by hackers, the most effective approach is to switch over to an alternate web browser such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Apple Safari to download your favorite security program – Safebytes Anti-Malware.

Install security software on a flash drive

To successfully eliminate the malware, you might want to approach the issue of installing an antivirus software program on the affected PC from a different perspective. Do these simple measures to clean up your infected computer using a portable antivirus. 1) Use another virus-free PC to download Safebytes Anti-Malware. 2) Mount the pen-drive onto the same system. 3) Run the setup program by double-clicking the executable file of the downloaded application, which has a .exe file extension. 4) Select the USB drive as the location when the wizard asks you exactly where you would like to install the application. Follow the on-screen instructions to finish the installation. 5) Transfer the flash drive from the uninfected PC 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 virus scan.

Ensure the Safety of Your Computer by Installing SafeBytes Anti-Malware

If you’re looking to install an anti-malware application for your computer, there are numerous tools in the market to consider but you just cannot trust blindly anyone, irrespective of whether it is a free or paid program. Some of them are good but there are several scamware applications that pretend as authentic anti-malware software waiting to wreak havoc on the computer. When searching for an anti-malware program, choose one that provides solid, efficient, and full protection against all known computer viruses and malware. When considering the dependable software programs, Safebytes AntiMalware is certainly the strongly recommended one. SafeBytes can be described as a powerful, real-time anti-spyware application that is made to assist regular computer users in safeguarding their PC from malicious threats. This tool can easily identify, remove, and protect your computer from the latest malware intrusions such as spyware, adware, trojan horses, ransomware, parasites, worms, PUPs, along with other potentially harmful software applications. SafeBytes anti-malware comes with a myriad of enhanced features that sets it aside from all others. Here are a few popular features present in this software: Anti-Malware Protection: By using a critically acclaimed malware engine, SafeBytes gives multi-layered protection which is designed to catch and eliminate threats that are hidden deep inside your computer system. Real-time Active Protection: Malware programs trying to get into the computer are identified and stopped as and when detected by the SafeBytes active protection shields. They’re highly efficient in screening and getting rid of various threats because they are continuously revised with the latest updates and safety measures. Safe Web Browsing: SafeBytes provides an instant safety rating on the web pages you are about to visit, automatically blocking risky sites and ensure that you’re certain of your safety while browsing the net. Low CPU and Memory Usage: This software is lightweight and will work quietly in the background, and will not have an effect on your computer efficiency. 24/7 Customer Service: SafeBytes provides 24/7 technical support, automatic maintenance, and updates for the best user experience.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you wish to manually remove SafeSearch 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 SafeSearch

Files: C:Program FilesPrimesoftSafeSearchsafesearch.dll C:Program FilesPrimesoftSafeSearch_safesearch.dll C:Program FilesPrimesoftSafeSearchaanyvkcf.exe C:Program FilesPrimesoftSafeSearchsafesearch.exe C:Program FilesPrimesoftSafeSearchrgzcdhtn.exe Registry: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRunaanyvkcf HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRunSafeSearch HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRunrgzcdhtn HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwarePrimeSoft HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareSafeSearch HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT.QSCH HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTQSCH File HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTSafeSearch.SafeSearchBHO HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTSafeSearch.SafeSearchBHO.1 HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001 HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTInterface28E6CCE2-3F2C-4B3D-9CB4-2FC8715A3ECE HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTTypelib82E9DE01-D860-40E4-B9C1-91F0E8272962 HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTTypelibCB5006EE-F57D-4116-B7B6-48EB564FE0F0 HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTmimedatabasecontent typeapplication/x-QSCH HKEY_USERS.defaultSoftwareNetscapeNetscape NavigatorTrusted External Applications%System%aanyvkcf.exe=yes HKEY_USERS.defaultSoftwareNetscapeNetscape NavigatorSuffixesApplication/x-QSCH HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerToolbar00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionUninstallaanyvkcf HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionUninstallrgzcdhtn
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Fix Windows Update error 0x80246008
Updating your Windows 10 computer does not always go smoothly as there are some errors you can encounter along the way. One of these Windows Update errors is the error code of 0x80246008. This kind of error can occur during different phases of an update that’s being downloaded or installed and even when an update is being initialized. If you narrow down the cause of this Windows Update error, you’ll most likely see that it is related to the deliverability of a file to a computer from the servers of Microsoft. In other words, the error might be due to conflicts from programs like Firewall as well as third party programs like Antivirus or it could also be due to corrupted disk image or system files or it could be that any of the supporting Windows Update components and services are not working properly. Whatever the cause may be, the potential fixes provided in this post can be applicable to Windows Updates as well as the Microsoft Store. Refer to the suggestions provided below to resolve the Windows Update Error 0x80246008 but before you proceed, make sure that you create a System Restore point first.

Option 1 – Apply some tweak in the Windows Registry from Command Prompt

  • Tap the Win + X keys and select Command Prompt (Admin) to open Command Prompt with admin privileges.
  • Next, navigate to the root location of the bootable device inside the Command Prompt command line.
  • Once you’re in the root location, type the following command and tap Enter to execute it:
reg add HKLMSYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlBackupRestoreFilesNotToBackup
  • After that, close the Command Prompt command line and then tap the Win + R keys to open Run utility.
  • In the field, type “services.msc” and click OK or tap Enter to open the Windows Services Manager.
  • From there, look for the following services:
    • Windows Update – Manual (Triggered)
    • Background Intelligent Transfer Service – Manual
  • Now open their Properties and make sure that their Startup type is as mentioned above and that they are running. If they are not running, just click on the Start button.

Option 2 – Run the System File Checker Scan

If the registry tweak 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 to 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:
  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.
  • Restart your computer.

Option 3 – Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter

If the System File Checker wasn’t able to resolve the Windows Update error, you could also try running the Windows Update Troubleshooter as it could also help in fixing any issues related to Windows Update including this one. To run it, go to Settings and then select Troubleshoot from the options. From there, click on Windows Update and then click the “Run the troubleshooter” button. After that, follow the next on-screen instructions and you should be good to go.

Option 4 – Try to disable your antivirus program

Disabling the antivirus program or any security software installed in your computer is always a good idea you can try when the Windows Update process does not go smoothly. So before you try updating your computer again, make sure to disable the antivirus or security program and once the Windows Update is done, don’t forget to enable the antivirus program back again.

Option 5 – 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.
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Fix Windows Update Error 0x8007001E
This post will provide you a couple of fixes you can try to resolve the Windows Update Error 0x8007001E in Windows 10. So if you are one of the users who encountered this particular Windows Update error then you’ve come to the right place. The error code in this error message also happens to be linked to some random BSOD crashes. The error code 0x8007001E is related to a storage space error or out-of-memory-type error. On the other hand, there are also instances when this error has nothing to do with your computer’s space or shortage of memory – it could be that there are broken software components or corrupted system files that are causing this error. Whichever your case is, refer to the options given below to fix the Windows Update Error 0x8007001E.

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 0x8007001E. To run it, go to Settings and then select Troubleshoot from the options. From there, click on Windows Update and then click the “Run the troubleshooter” button. After that, follow the next on-screen instructions and you should be good to go.

Option 2 – Free up some space on your drive

As mentioned, storage space error or out-of-memory-type error might have something to do with this problem so you need to free up some space on your drive. Make sure that you have enough space on your drive (15GB or so should do) and then restart your computer. After your computer reboots, ensure that all the major RAM hoggers are closed before you try to install the update or upgrade again.

Option 3 – Run the SFC scan

The SFC or System File Checker scan could detect and automatically repair damaged system files that could be causing the Windows Update Error 0x8007001E to appear. SFC is a built-in command utility that helps in restoring corrupted files as well as missing files. It replaces bad and corrupted system files with good system files. To run the SFC command, follow the steps given below.
  • Tap Win + R to launch Run.
  • Type in cmd in the field and tap Enter.
  • After opening Command Prompt, type in sfc /scannow and hit Enter.
The command will start a system scan which will take a few whiles before it finishes. Once it’s done, you could get the following results:
  1. Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.
  2. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them.
  3. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them.

Option 4 – Run the DISM tool

Running the DISM Tool helps in repairing the Windows System Image as well as the Windows Component Store in Windows 10 which might be the reason behind the Windows Update error 0x8007001E. Using this built-in tool, you have various options such as the “/ScanHealth”, “/CheckHealth”, and “/RestoreHealth”.
  • Open the Command Prompt as admin.
  • Then type in this command: 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.
  • Once it’s done, restart your computer and then check if the issue is resolved or not on the next startup.

Option 5 – Perform a System Restore

You can also try to perform a System Restore as it can also help you fix the Windows Update error 0x8007001E. 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 6 – Try running Microsoft’s online troubleshooter

You also have the option to run Microsoft’s online troubleshooter which could help you fix Windows Update errors including the Windows Update error 0x8007001E.
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Can’t connect to this network Windows issue
Can’t connect to this network Internet connectivity issues present a complex problem with simple solutions for PC and laptop users. First, it is usually recommended that users rule out problems with the internet connection, router, and Wi-Fi settings before proceeding to troubleshoot settings on your PC/laptop. Once the rest are ruled out, we can then proceed with the following troubleshooting steps and guidelines to fix your wifi connection issue: The first step is to update your windows network adapter driver. Connectivity problems may arise if your network driver is not updated or if it is incompatible with the network adapter. To do so, you may resort to any third-party driver scanning and installing programs found online. This solution should have resorted if users don’t want the hassle of perusing through windows settings that users may not be familiar with. However, this solution requires a pre-existing internet connection other than wifi, so it is recommended you have a backup internet connection via ethernet.

The second step is to uninstall the driver for your network adapter. This solution is to be reported if there is an issue with the driver as restarting the PC after the following steps let windows reinstall the driver again:

  • Open the quick access menu on your keyboard by pressing the Windows key and X key at the same time and select “Device Manager” from the menu list.
  • From the list of devices, select “Network Adapters”
  • Usually on the top of the list is the Wireless Network Adapter
  • Right-click the Wireless Network Adapter and select the option to “Uninstall device”
  • You will be given a confirmation in a new separate window to proceed. Click “Uninstall” to proceed.
  • After completing the previous steps, try rebooting your Windows PC and reconnecting to see if it works.

A third step is to disable the 802.1 1n modes of your network adapter by following the next steps:

  • First press the Windows logo key and the X key at the same time to bring up the quick-access menu. And like the previous step, select “Device Manager”
  • From the list of devices, select “Network Adapters”
  • Right-click the Wireless Network Adapter from the drop-down menu and select properties
  • Under properties, select the “Advanced” tab then select the 802.1 1n Mode. To the right drop-down menu change the option to  “Disabled” and click “Ok”
  • After, try to re-establish the connection to see if the steps have worked.
In the event that any of the preceding did not fix your problem, it helps to take a second look at the router and network settings using the interface provided by your ISP. A simple reset to the back of your router often fixes the issue. Also, try to check if you have any other administrative capabilities over the network to determine whether your device, in particular, has been MAC filtered or if the frequency of your wireless adapter is not compatible with the broadcast frequency of your router.
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Remove CalendarSpark Browser Hijacker

CalendarSpark is a browser extension developed by MindSpark. This extension allows an easy way to print or view calendar templates and make schedulers for a day/week/month/year. This browser extension hijacks your browser home page and search engine, changing them to MyWay.com. While the extension is installed it monitors your browsing activity and collets visited websites, clicked links, and sometimes even personal information, which it later uses to display targeted unwanted ads through your browsing sessions.

While browsing the internet with this extension installed you will see additional sponsored links, ads, and sometimes even pop-up ads on websites that are not supposed to have any of these. Several anti-virus scanners have detected this extension as a Browser Hijacker, and due to its data collecting behavior, it is not recommended to keep it on your computer.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijackers (sometimes called hijackware) are a kind of malware that modifies web browser configuration settings without the computer owner’s knowledge or permission. These kinds of hijacks are raising at an alarming rate across the world, and they could be truly nefarious and sometimes harmful too. Browser hijacker malware is created for a number of reasons. These are generally used to force hits to a specific site, manipulating web traffic to generate ad revenue. However, it’s not that harmless. Your online safety is jeopardized and it is also extremely irritating. In a worst-case scenario, your browser could be hijacked to open up your computer system to a host of additional attacks.

Indications of browser hijack

When your browser is hi-jacked, the following could happen: your home page is reset to some unknown webpage; you get redirected to sites you never intended to visit; The default search page of the web browser is changed; unwanted new toolbars are added to your internet browser; you’ll find random pop-ups start showing on a regular basis; your internet browser starts running slowly or exhibits frequent errors; Inability to navigate to certain websites, particularly antivirus as well as other security software sites.

Exactly how browser hijacker finds its way onto your PC

Browser hijackers can enter a PC by some means or other, including via file sharing, downloads, and e-mail as well. They could also be deployed via the installation of an internet browser toolbar, add-on, or extension. A browser hijacker can be installed as a part of freeware, shareware, demoware, and pirated programs. An example of some well-known browser hijacker includes Conduit, Anyprotect, Babylon, DefaultTab, SweetPage, RocketTab, and Delta Search, but the names are regularly changing. Browser hijackers could interrupt the user’s web surfing experience significantly, track the websites visited by users and steal sensitive information, cause problems in connecting to the net, and then finally create stability issues, causing programs and computers to freeze.

Removal

Some kinds of browser hijackers can be quickly removed from the computer by deleting malicious applications or any other recently added freeware. Regrettably, most of the software applications used to hijack an internet browser are intentionally designed to be difficult to remove or detect. Furthermore, manual removals require in-depth system knowledge and therefore can be an extremely difficult job for novice computer users.

What you can do if Virus Stops You From Downloading Antivirus?

Practically all malware is inherently dangerous, but certain types of malware do much more damage to your computer than others. Some malware sits in between your computer and your internet connection and blocks a few or all websites that you would like to check out. It will also block you from the installation of anything on your PC, especially antivirus applications. If you’re reading this article now, you might have perhaps realized that virus infection is the real cause of your blocked net connectivity. So how to proceed when you want to download and install an antivirus application like Safebytes? Although this sort of problem can be tougher to circumvent, there are some steps you can take.

Download the software in Safe Mode with Networking

In Safe Mode, you may change Windows settings, un-install or install some program, and eliminate hard-to-delete viruses and malware. In case the virus is set to load immediately when the PC starts, switching to this mode can prevent it from doing so. To boot into Safe Mode, press “F8” key on the keyboard just before Windows logo screen appears; Or after normal Windows boot up, run MSCONFIG, look over Safe Boot under Boot tab, and then click Apply. After you reboot into Safe Mode with Networking, you could download, install, as well as update the anti-malware program from there. At this point, you can run the anti-malware scan to eliminate viruses and malware without hindrance from another application.

Obtain the antivirus program using an alternate web browser

Some malware only targets particular internet browsers. If this sounds like your situation, utilize another browser as it may circumvent the virus. The best way to avoid this problem is to choose a browser that is well known for its security features. Firefox has built-in Phishing and Malware Protection to help keep you safe online.

Install and run anti-malware from the Thumb drive

Here’s yet another solution which is creating a portable USB antivirus software package that can check your system for malicious software without the need for installation. To run anti-virus from a USB drive, follow these simple steps: 1) Use another virus-free PC to download Safebytes Anti-Malware. 2) Plug in the flash drive to a USB slot on the clean computer. 3) Double-click the executable file to open the installation wizard. 4) When asked, choose the location of the USB drive as the place where you would like to store the software files. Follow activation instructions. 5) Unplug the flash drive. You may now use this portable anti-malware on the affected computer. 6) Run the Safebytes Anti-malware directly from the flash drive by double-clicking the icon. 7) Run Full System Scan to detect and clean-up up all types of malware.

SafeBytes Anti-Malware Benefits

If you are looking to install anti-malware software for your PC, there are numerous tools on the market to consider but you cannot trust blindly to anyone, irrespective of whether it is free or paid software. A few of them are great, some are decent, while some will harm your computer themselves! You need to select one that is dependable, practical, and has a strong reputation for its malware protection. While thinking about the dependable software programs, Safebytes AntiMalware is certainly the strongly recommended one. SafeBytes anti-malware is a trusted tool that not only protects your computer system permanently but is also very user-friendly for people of all ability levels. Once you’ve got installed this software, SafeByte's sophisticated protection system will make sure that absolutely no viruses or malicious software can seep through your personal computer. SafeBytes has a plethora of amazing features that can help you protect your PC from malware attacks and damage. Listed below are some of the great features included in the tool. Optimum AntiMalware Protection: Using a critically acclaimed malware engine, SafeBytes provides multilayered protection that is designed to find and eliminate viruses and malware that are concealed deep in your computer’s operating system. Live Protection: SafeBytes offers a completely hands-free real-time protection that is set to observe, block, and wipe out all computer threats at its very first encounter. It will inspect your computer for suspicious activity regularly and its unparalleled firewall shields your computer from illegal entry by the outside world. Faster Scan: SafeBytes Anti-Malware has got a multi-thread scan algorithm that works up to 5 times faster than any other protection software. Website Filtering: SafeBytes checks and provides a unique safety ranking to each and every site you visit and block access to webpages known to be phishing sites, thus safeguarding you from identity theft, or known to contain malware. Light-weight: The program is light-weight and will work silently in the background, and will not impact your computer efficiency. Premium Support: For any technical inquiries or product assistance, you could get 24/7 professional assistance via chat and email.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

To get rid of CalendarSpark manually, navigate to the Add/Remove programs list in the Windows Control Panel and select the program you want to get rid of. For browser extensions, go to your web browser’s Addon/Extension manager and select the add-on you intend to remove or disable. You will probably also want to reset your internet browser. In order to ensure the complete removal, manually examine your hard disk and computer registry for all of the following and remove or reset the values accordingly. But bear in mind, this is a tricky task and only computer professionals can carry it out safely. In addition, certain malicious programs are capable to defend against its deletion. Doing this malware-removal process in Safe Mode is suggested.
Files: calendarspark.dl.myway[1].xml %UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application Data\CalendarSparkTooltab chrome-extension_apfkjcjglfhoemadfobgcacfkdhapiab_0.localstorage-journal %LOCALAPPDATA%\CalendarSparkTooltab http_calendarspark.dl.tb.ask.com_0.localstorage-journal http_calendarspark.dl.tb.ask.com_0.localstorage Calendarspark.exe 310,048 602097e5efa71f01dca1ad60ba108730 %UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\lacjhcgjigifchcapcccoippjdnkbagj %LOCALAPPDATA%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\lacjhcgjigifchcapcccoippjdnkbagj www.calendarspark[1].xml %LOCALAPPDATA%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\lacjhcgjigifchcapcccoippjdnkbagj Registry: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\CalendarSpark HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\LowRegistry\DOMStorage\calendarspark.com HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\LowRegistry\DOMStorage\calendarspark.dl.myway.com HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Wow6432Node\CalendarSpark HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Chrome\PreferenceMACs\Default\extensions.settings, value: lacjhcgjigifchcapcccoippjdnkbagj HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\[APPLICATION]\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall..Uninstaller CalendarSparkTooltab Uninstall Internet Explorer
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Fix Windows Update error 0x80244022
Installing Windows Updates in your Windows 10 computer does not always go smoothly as there are instances when you could encounter some errors along the way. One of these errors is error code 0x80244022 –WU_E_PT_HTTP_STATUS_SERVICE_UNAVAIL HTTP 503. This kind of error can be encountered when you check, download or install any updates. At the time of writing, it isn’t known yet what the exact cause of this error is. However, there are some potential fixes you can check out to fix it. When this error occurs, you will see the following error message on your screen:
“There were some problems installing updates, but we’ll try again later. If you keep seeing this and want to search the web or contact support for information, this may help: (0x80244022).”
To fix error code 0x80244022, refer to the potential fixes provided below.

Option 1 – Disable the Proxy server

The first thing you can do is to try disabling the Proxy server as it might be the reason why you’re getting error 0x80244022 for Windows Updates. To disable the proxy server, refer to the steps below.
  • Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
  • Then type “inetcpl.cpl” in the field and hit Enter to pull up the Internet Properties.
  • After that, go to the Connections tab and select the LAN settings.
  • From there. Uncheck the “Use a Proxy Server” option for your LAN and then make sure that the “Automatically detect settings” option is checked.
  • Now click the OK and the Apply buttons.
  • Restart your PC.
Note: If you are using a third-party proxy service, you have to disable it. In addition, if you are also using a VPN, you can try to disable it as well.

Option 2 – Run the DISM tool

You can run the DISM tool as well to help fix the error code 0x80244022 during Windows Update. Using this built-in tool, you have various options such as the “/ScanHealth”, “/CheckHealth”, and “/RestoreHealth”.
  • 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 – Perform a System File Checker scan

The SFC or System File Checker scan could detect and automatically repair damaged system files that could be causing error code 0x80244022 to appear when you try to update your Windows 10 computer. SFC is a built-in command utility that helps in restoring corrupted files as well as missing files. It replaces bad and corrupted system files with good system files. To run the SFC command, follow the steps given below.
  • Tap Win + R to launch Run.
  • Type in cmd in the field and tap Enter.
  • After opening Command Prompt, type in sfc /scannow and hit Enter.
The command will start a system scan which will take a few whiles before it finishes. Once it’s done, you could get the following results:
  1. Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.
  2. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them.
  3. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them.
  • Once done, restart your computer.

Option 4 – Try disabling the Firewall or antivirus program

Disabling the antivirus program or Firewall or any other security software installed in your computer is always a good idea you can try when the Windows Update process does not go smoothly. So before you try updating your computer again, make sure to disable the antivirus or security program and once the Windows Update is done, don’t forget to enable the antivirus program back again.

Option 5 – Try resetting the Windows Update components

  • Open Command Prompt with admin privileges.
  • After that, type each one of the following commands and hit Enter after you key in one after the other.
    • net stop wuauserv
    • net stop cryptsvc
    • net stop bits
    • net stop msiserver
Note: The commands you entered will stop the Windows Update components such as Windows Update service, Cryptographic services, BITS, and MSI Installer.
  • After disabling WU components, you need to rename both the SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2 folders. To do that, type each one of the following commands below, and don’t forget to hit Enter after you type one command after the other.
    • ren C:/Windows/SoftwareDistribution/SoftwareDistribution.old
    • ren C:/Windows/System32/catroot2/Catroot2.old
  • Next, restart the services you’ve stopped by entering another series of commands. Don’t forget to hit Enter after you key in one command after the other.
    • net start wuauserv
    • net start cryptsvc
    • net start bits
    • net start msiserver
  • Close Command Prompt and reboot your PC.

Option 6 – Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter

You might also want to run the Windows Update Troubleshooter as it could also help in fixing Windows Update Error. To run it, go to Settings and then select Troubleshoot from the options. From there, click on Windows Update and then click the “Run the troubleshooter” button. After that, follow the next on-screen instructions and you should be good to go.
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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.
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How to fix Error Code 52

Error Code 52 – What is it?

Error Code 52 is a device driver problem that users experience on any Windows 2000 operating system and later Windows systems.

The error occurs when the operating system prevents the peripheral device connected to the computer from functioning properly and is usually displayed by the following message:

“Windows cannot verify the digital signature for the drivers required for this device. A recent hardware or software change might have installed a file that is signed incorrectly or damaged, or that might be malicious software from an unknown source. (Code 52)”

Solution

driverfix boxError Causes

Error Code 52 is triggered by the following factors:

  • An incomplete program uninstallation
  • An incomplete program installation
  • Hardware is not removed properly
  • System recovery from viruses
  • An improper system shut down

Further Information and Manual Repair

Error Code 52 can pose severe risks to the overall health of your PC and any negligence in fixing it can be disastrous for your computer.

However, since the error code is like other device driver errors, resolving the error is relatively straightforward. Here are a few methods to resolve the error code.

Method 1 – Use System Restore

You can use system restore to roll back the system to a time when there was no error to eliminate the problem. Here is how you can use it:

  1. Log in using an Administrator account
  2. Click ‘Start’ button and select All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore
  3. Click ‘Restore my computer to an earlier time’ and click ‘Next’
  4. Select the last Windows restore point from the ‘On this list, click a restore point’ list, and click ‘Next’
  5. Click ‘Next’ on the confirmation window to proceed
  6. Restart your PC after restoration is complete

By restoring the system via a last saved system checkpoint, you can obtain undamaged Windows system registry files that can help avert the error code.

Method 2 – Run the Troubleshooting Wizard

If restarting your PC does not help, you will have to find the exact nature of the problem by running the troubleshooting wizard for the device and address the problem accordingly. To do this, proceed with the following steps:

  1. Run Device Manager on your PC
  2. Click on the program under the installed programs that are creating problems for you
  3. Click on the ‘General’ Tab
  4. Click ‘Troubleshoot’
  5. Upon opening, the Troubleshooting Wizard will ask a series of questions regarding the error. Answer the questions and follow its directions for solving the error code.

After following the directions of the Troubleshooting wizard, make sure to restart your PC for the changes to take effect. Then check if your device is still causing problems.

Method 3 – Manually uninstall and reinstall the device driver

Uninstalling and then reinstalling the device driver can help solve the error.

You can do this by firstly logging in as Administrator and open Device Manager. Select the device that is causing the problem and double click it and make sure that the peripheral is connected properly to the PC.

Upon opening, click on the ‘Driver’ tab and then select ‘Update Driver’. Make sure to refer to the system documentation that you received with your PC or computer to check for the motherboard details and driver specifics.

Method 4 – Use software to automatically download the driver

Manually uninstalling and reinstalling the driver will do the trick, however, it may be time-consuming especially when you would have to resort to your hardware user manual.

Therefore, using a program such as DriverFIX can save you a lot of time and frustration in having your device work properly on your computer.

DriverFIX, with its user-friendly approach to help you fix your PC issues, comes with an integrated database that detects which drivers you need to reconfigure within just a few seconds and downloads it automatically.

It further ensures that your drivers are installed in their entirety leaving no room for any incomplete files to remain that create Error Code 52.

It also has the added advantage of being able to backup and restores your files should there be the slightest possibility of system file damage. DriverFIX is the answer to fixing your PC error codes accurately and quickly.

Click here to download DriverFIX to fix Error Code 52 quickly and effectively!

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Fix Error 0x80200056 during Windows Update
You might have experienced a situation where your Windows computer was interrupted due to some battery issues or power failure. It could be that the upgrade process was interrupted because you’ve signed out of your computer or you restarted it by accident. In this case, you will most likely get a Windows Update or Upgrade error 0x80200056. If you are getting this error, read on as this post will guide you in fixing it. This kind of error pops up when the upgrade process was interrupted and could be caused by anything but the baseline here is that your computer was restarted accidentally or someone could have signed out your PC. To resolve the problem, here are some fixes you ought to try:

Option 1 – Try updating or upgrading your computer again

This is the basic thing to do since the process was suddenly interrupted. Just log in to your account and restart the Windows Update or Upgrade process but make sure that your internet connection is stable and that you don’t touch anything so as not to interrupt the upgrade/update process again.

Option 2 – Check if your PC is plugged in or if the battery is full

It is always best to update your computer always when you’re really sure that the power won’t fail. If you’re using a desktop computer, make sure that everything is plugged in. And if you’re using a laptop when this error occurred, make sure that its battery is at 100% but it’s better if you just plug it into power just in case as there are times when the Windows update or upgrade gets stuck for too long like for hours so it will really help if your device is connected to power.

Option 3 – Try running the Windows Update Troubleshooter

Running the built-in Windows Update troubleshooter could also help you resolve the Windows Update errors as well as the error 0x80200056. To run it, go to Settings and then select Troubleshoot from the options. From there, click on Windows Update and then click the “Run the troubleshooter” button.

Option 4 – Delete the contents in the SoftwareDistribution folder

The Software Distribution folder in the Windows operating system is a folder that can be found in the Windows directory and is used to store files temporarily which might be required to install the Windows Update on your PC. Thus, it is required by the Windows Update and maintained by WUAgent. A lot of users tried deleting the files in this folder to fix the problem and so far it has worked. Like them, you can try clearing the Windows Update cache by simply deleting the contents of the folder named “SoftwareDistribution” since Windows apparently can’t clear and re-download the update contents once they are corrupted. Thus, deleting the contents of this folder will make Windows download the contents again which will fix the problem. To do that, follow 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 stop bits
  • After entering these commands, it will stop the Windows Update Service and the Background Intelligent Transfer Service.
  • Next, got to the C:\Windows\Software\Distribution 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.
  • Once all the contents in the Software Distribution folder are deleted, restart your PC and then go back to Command Prompt and input the following commands again.
net start wuauserv net start bits
Since the folder has already been flushed, it will be populated afresh the instant your restart your computer and open Windows Update.

Option 5 – Try running the System File Checker scan

System File Checker or SFC is a built-in command utility that helps in restoring corrupted files as well as missing files. It replaces bad and corrupted system files to good system files that might be causing the error 0x80200056. 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:
  1. Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.
  2. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them.
  3. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them.

Option 6 – Run the Chkdsk utility to repair hard disk errors

You can also run the Chkdsk utility to resolve the Windows Update error 0x80200056. If your hard drive has issues with integrity, the update will really fail as the system will think that it’s not healthy and that’s where the Chkdsk utility comes in. The Chkdsk utility repairs hard drive errors that might be causing the problem.
  • Open Command Prompt with admin privileges.
  • After opening Command Prompt, execute the commands listed below, and don’t forget to hit Enter right after you type in each one of them and if you have installed Windows to some different directory, you must replace “C” with the name of the drive you’ve installed Windows with.
  • chkdsk C: /r /x
  • chkdsk C: /f

Option 7 – Run the DISM tool to repair the Windows Update client

The Windows update/upgrade error 0x80200056 might be caused by some issues in the Windows Update client so you need to run the DISM tool to repair it. Note that you have to use another computer or another Windows from a shared network to fix it.
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