A lot of users connect to the internet are using VPN on their Windows 10 computers which means that their regions could be different from the actual region of their Windows 10 computers. Thus, if you are facing some issues in updating your computer in this kind of environment, specifically the Windows Update error 0x800F0922, you need to follow the tips given in this guide to help you resolve the issue.
When you encounter this kind of Windows Update error, you might see either of the following error messages on your screen:
“Windows could not search for updates, Code 0x800F0922 Windows Update encountered an unknown error”
Or:
“Windows failed to install the update with error 0x800F0922”
This issue might be caused by two possible reasons such as:
VPN issues
Not enough space on the System Reserved partition
To resolve the problem, here are some tips that might help:
Option 1 – Try disabling the VPN
As mentioned, if you are using VPN, this could be the reason why you’re getting the Windows Update error 0x800F0922 so the most obvious thing to do is for you to turn off the VPN and try to run the Windows Update once more. And if you use a VPN software that works using their software, you can just completely exit or log-off from its account. On the other hand, if you are using a built-in Windows 10 VPN, you can simply turn it off or delete all the settings you have created there. Although it’s understandable that you might have to use a VPN connection to connect to the work network, you really have to disable it at least until the Windows Update is no longer stuck in the error 0x800F0922. It would be best if you do this when you are not working.
Option 2 – Try to free up space in the System Reserved partition
The System Reserved partition is a part of the hard disk created when Windows is first installed on it. It is where the Boot Configuration Database, Boot Manager Code, Windows Recovery Environment, and the reserves space for the startup files are stored. And as mentioned early on, the error might be due to some insufficient space in the System Reserved partition so the next thing you can do is to increase the space in this partition. Note that it is a complex process so you need to make sure that you have made backups to all your data on the computer. So if ever something goes out of hand, at least you have copies of your important files in case you aren’t able to boot into the system at all.
To understand the Xpcom.dll error better, first, you need to know what Xpcom.dll file is. Xpcom.dll is basically a typical DLL (Dynamic Link Library) file. It is associated with Firefox developed by Mozilla Foundation for the Windows Operating System.
DLL file contains small programs similar to exe (executable) files. Just like any other DLL file, Xpcom.dll helps loads and run programs smoothly. Xpcom.dll functions as a shared file that can be used to run multiple programs on your PC.
Xpcom.dll error code occurs when Windows cannot properly load the xpcom.dll file. The error may pop up on the screen in any one of the following formats:
"Xpcom.dll not found."
"The file xpcom.dll is missing."
"Cannot register xpcom.dll."
"Cannot find C:\Windows\System32\xpcom.dll."
"This application failed to start because xpcom.dll was not found. Re-installing the application may fix this problem."
"Xpcom.dll Access Violation."
"Cannot start Firefox. A required component is missing: xpcom.dll. Please install Firefox again."
The xpcom.dll error can occur during program installation or while rebooting your PC or when shutting it down.[/section]
Solution
Error Causes
It is difficult to narrow down a single cause of this error code simply because the Xpcom.dll error code may be triggered due to several reasons. Some of the common causes include:
Invalid or corrupt xpcom.dll registry entry
Viral infection
Outdated PC drivers
Another program overwrote the required version of xpcom.dll
Xpcom.dll file is accidentally deleted or uninstalled
Mozilla Foundation hardware failure
Further Information and Manual Repair
Here are the best, quick and easy DIY methods to resolve Xpcom.dll error code on your system within minutes:
Method 1: Update Window Drivers
To resolve the xpcom.dll error on your system, try updating Window drivers. To do this simply use the driver update wizard from within Device Manager.
The driver update wizard walks you through the entire drive update process, making it easy and hassle-free for you to update drivers.
Method 2: Download and Install Xpcom.dll File
Since DLL are shared files and used to run and load multiple programs, it is possible that you might have accidentally removed this file while uninstalling a program on your system. This is the reason why the Xpcom.dll file goes missing.
To retrieve the Xpcom.dll file simply go to the recycle bin. Reinstall the deleted program. However, if it still doesn’t resolve the error, then it is advisable to download and install the Xpcom.dll file from a trusted DLL file website over the internet.
Method 3: Scan for Viruses and Repair the Registry
If the error code occurs due to malware infection or is related to registry issues, then simply download Restoro. This is a user-friendly and multi-functional PC Fixer deployed with 6 scanners including a powerful antivirus and a registry cleaner.
It is compatible with all Windows versions. Simply run it to remove all types of viruses infecting your system and clean/repair the registry.
Click here to download Restoro and resolve the Xpcom.dll error on your PC.
Microsoft store is ready and prepared for Windows 11 official release on October 5th and it is coming with some surprises.
It has officially confirmed that many open source and free applications will be in it like Opera, VLC, discord, Libre office, etc. It seems that Microsoft wants to place its store as one place to go for all of your software needs.
Another great surprise is the coming of Epic games store implementation. It was officially confirmed but not explained in detail, will we have Epic store opened in Windows store or we will only get installer as a package we will see but this is some great news.
As for how it states now, it seems that the Windows store aims to eliminate searching the web for applications and bring them all into one environment with reviews and ratings so you know which one to install and use. It also features a great search engine to find proper applications for your needs.
The new store will come to Windows 10 as well but after all Windows 11 has been mostly released and adopted. So expect it via update in two or three months' time.
It would be great if some larger companies decide to join MS stores like Autodesk, Adobe, the Foundry, etc so you can install everything you need from it but one can only hope.
New Tab Aid is an extension for Google Chrome. It is published by Spigot Inc. It is classified as a potentially unwanted browser hijacker as it injects Yahoo search into your new tab windows. This extension also adds recently viewed tabs under the search bar. It also redirects all your searches to Yahoo instead of your default browser search engine. It is often found bundled with other software found on the internet and not installed directly by the user. For these reasons, numerous anti-malware utilities flag New Tab Aid as potentially unwanted or malicious.
About Browser Hijackers
Browser hijackers (sometimes called hijackware) are a kind of malicious software that changes internet browser configurations without the user’s knowledge or permission. These types of hijacks appear to be increasing at an alarming rate around the world, and they could be actually nefarious and often harmful too. Browser hijackers could do more than just modifying homepages. The idea is to force users to visit specific websites that are looking to improve their website visitor traffic and produce higher ad earnings. Even though it may seem naive, all browser hijackers are damaging and therefore always regarded as security risks. Browser hijackers can even allow other vicious programs without your knowledge to further damage your personal computer.
Major signs that your web browser has been hijacked
There are numerous signs of browser hijacking:
1. the home page of your respective web browser is changed all of a sudden2. you see new unwanted bookmarks or favorites added, typically directed to advertisement-filled or pornography sites3. the default web browser settings are changed and/or your default web engine is altered4. unwanted new toolbars are added to your browser5. you observe numerous ads show up on your browsers or computer screen6. your web browser gets sluggish, buggy crashes regularly7. Inability to navigate to particular websites, particularly anti-malware and other security software sites.
How does a browser hijacker infect a computer?
Browser hijackers might use drive-by downloads or file-sharing networks or even an email attachment in order to reach a targeted computer. Many web browser hijackings come from add-on applications, i.e., toolbars, browser helper objects (BHO), or plug-ins added to browsers to provide them additional features. Browser hijackers sneak into your computer in addition to free software application downloads also that you unintentionally install alongside the original. Popular examples of browser hijackers include Conduit, CoolWebSearch, Coupon Server, OneWebSearch, RocketTab, Searchult.com, Snap.do, and Delta Search.
Browser hijacking can result in severe privacy issues and also identity theft, affect your browsing experience by taking control of outgoing traffic, substantially slows down your personal computer by consuming a lot of resources, and cause system instability also.
How to fix a browser hijack
Certain browser hijacking could be quite easily stopped by discovering and eliminating the corresponding malware software through your control panel. However, most hijackers are hard to get rid of manually. No matter how much you attempt to remove it, it may come back again and again. Moreover, browser hijackers could modify the Windows registry therefore it can be very hard to repair manually, particularly when you’re not a very tech-savvy individual.
Virus Blocking Access To Safebytes Site And Preventing Anti-Malware Downloads - What To Do?
Malware can cause all kinds of damage if they invade your computer, from stealing sensitive information to deleting files on your computer system. Certain malware goes to great lengths to stop you from installing anything on your computer system, especially anti-malware software programs. If you’re reading this, you probably have affected by malware that prevents you from installing a computer security application like Safebytes Anti-Malware. Although this sort of issue will be tougher to get around, there are a few actions you can take.
Eliminate malware in Safe Mode
If any malware is set to load immediately when Microsoft Windows starts, getting into Safe Mode could block this attempt. Just minimal required applications and services are loaded whenever you start your personal computer into Safe Mode. The following are the steps you need to follow to take out viruses in Safemode.
1) Tap the F8 key repeatedly as soon as your PC boots, however, before the large Windows logo shows up. This should bring up the Advanced Boot Options menu.2) Select Safe Mode with Networking with arrow keys and hit ENTER.3) When this mode loads, you should have the internet. Now, obtain the malware removal application you want by using the web browser. To install the software, follow the directions within the installation wizard.4) Once the application is installed, let the diagnostic scan run to eliminate viruses and other threats automatically.
Switch over to an alternate browser
Malicious program code may exploit vulnerabilities on a particular browser and block access to all anti-malware software sites. The most effective solution to avoid this issue is to choose a browser that is well known for its security measures. Firefox contains built-in Malware and Phishing Protection to keep you safe online.
Install and run antivirus from your USB drive
Another way is to download and transfer an antivirus application from a clean computer to run a scan on the affected system. Do these simple measures to clean up your affected computer using a portable antivirus.
1) Download the anti-malware program on a virus-free computer.2) Insert the USB drive on the same system.3) Double-click the exe file to open the installation wizard.4) When asked, select the location of the pen drive as the place in which you want to put the software files. Follow the instructions on the computer screen to finish off the installation process.5) Now, transfer the USB drive to the infected computer.6) Double-click the Safebytes Anti-malware icon on the pen drive to run the software.7) Run Full System Scan to detect and get rid of all sorts of malware.
Ensure the Safety of Your PC by Installing SafeBytes Anti-Malware
These days, anti-malware software can protect your computer from various types of internet threats. But exactly how to decide on the best one among many malware protection application that is available on the market? As you might be aware, there are several anti-malware companies and products for you to consider. Some of them are good, some are ok types, and some will destroy your computer themselves! When searching for antimalware software, pick one that provides reliable, efficient, and full protection against all known viruses and malware. One of the highly recommended software by industry experts is SafeBytes Anti-Malware, the most dependable program for Microsoft Windows.
SafeBytes anti-malware is a powerful, very effective protection tool designed to assist end-users of all levels of computer literacy in detecting and eliminating malicious threats out of their computer. This program could easily detect, remove, and protect your computer from the most advanced malware attacks including spyware, adware, trojan horses, ransomware, parasites, worms, PUPs, along with other possibly damaging software programs.
SafeBytes has excellent features when compared to various other anti-malware programs. Let’s look into some of them below:
Active Protection: Malware programs trying to get into the computer are discovered and stopped as and when detected by the SafeBytes real-time protection shields. This tool will constantly monitor your computer for any suspicious activity and updates itself continuously to keep current with the latest threats.
Antimalware Protection: With its enhanced and sophisticated algorithm, this malware removal tool can identify and remove the malware threats hiding in your PC effectively.
Web Security: Safebytes allots all websites a unique safety rating that helps you to get an idea of whether the webpage you’re about to visit is safe to browse or known to be a phishing site.
Lightweight: SafeBytes is well known for its minimal impact on computer resources and great detection rate of diverse threats. It operates quietly and efficiently in the background so you are free to utilize your personal computer at full power all of the time.
24/7 Customer Service: For any technical concerns or product assistance, you can get 24/7 professional assistance through chat and email.
Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)
If you wish to manually remove NewTabAid 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 NewTabAid
The 0x00000bcb is a PC Windows error code that occurs when Windows cannot connect to the printer successfully thus hampering the installation of your system.
Solution
Error Causes
Like any other computer hardware device, printers also need additional software to function called the driver. Unsuccessful installation of driver software leaves behind locked files in the registry information that causes the next installation to fail as well.
And so eventually, when you try to connect the printer with your system, you see a 0x00000bcb error message pop up on your screen.
To ensure you fix this error code for good you need to make sure the printer software installation is carried successfully the next time you do it. And for that, you need to get rid of the locked files and bad registry keys that are preventing successful printer software installation.
Further Information and Manual Repair
The inability to install the printer support software countless times can be frustrating and cause inconvenience as it can prevent you from getting printouts. To resolve this error code, many people pay hundreds of dollars to technicians.
Nonetheless, there is a way to resolve this issue on your PC without hiring a professional or having technical expertise. Wondering how? Restoro is your answer.
This is a two in one highly functional system optimizer and registry cleaner PC repair tool. It includes multiple utilities allowing PC users to fix practically all types of PC errors in seconds. To use Restoro, you don’t need to be technically sound. It is simple and very easy to operate.
The powerful registry cleaning utility integrated into Restoro enables PC users facing error code 0x00000bcb messages to clean up the registry in no time and ensure quick and successful printer software install.
With this helper, you can swiftly clean up unnecessary and locked files and bad registry keys. The advanced registry cleaner scans for all junk files, invalid entries, bad keys, and corrupt files accumulated in your system. Once the files causing the 0x00000bcb error are scanned all you have to do is click on the fix button to repair. It’s that easy!
It cleans up the registry, wipes out the clutter, and clears up the disk space in seconds. Once the registry is cleaned, you can then try installing the printer software again.
And once the printer software is installed successfully, your system will be able to connect to your printer without displaying 0x00000bcb error messages.
In addition to this, you will also experience a great difference in the speed and performance of your PC. Here's how to Install and use Restoro to Fix PC Errors
Restoro also includes other utilities like privacy error fixer, Active X and Class detector, and system stability repair. So along with registry issues, you can also scan your system for privacy errors like viruses and malware, thus keeping your PC secure from data breaches and system security issues.
This multi-functional tool is worth downloading. It is safe, efficient, useful, and utility load. With this helper, Windows compatibility is not an issue. Restoro is compatible with all PC Windows versions. So, no matter what Windows version you are using, you can run this repair tool with ease.
So, what are you waiting for? Download it now to resolve the 0x00000bcb error code and ensure a successful printer connected to your computer.
Click here to install Restoro on your system.
This post will guide you on what to do if your keyboard shortcuts or hotkeys are not working on your Windows 10 computer. A lot of users use hotkeys as they make things easier for them as they use their computer. However, there are instances when these hotkeys suddenly stop working. It’s actually one of the most common problems with keyboards. And so to resolve this problem, you can try out some suggestions prepared on this post.
Option 1 – Clean the keyboard keys physically
Your keyboard might not be working properly due to some dirt or other corrosion. First, you need to shut down your computer and then unplug the keyboard if you are using a desktop computer and then prepare it for cleaning. After that, use a small cotton ear cleaning tool to get between the creases and clean them. You can dip it slightly in alcohol to make it more efficient in cleaning dust and dirt. And if you can, you have the option to pull apart the keyboard completely and then wipe away all the corrosion from the inside. Once you’re done, put the keyboard back together and then plug it back into your PC. Now turn your PC on and check if the hotkeys are now working.
Option 2 – Try running the Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter
The first thing you can do to fix the problem is by running the Hardware Troubleshooter. Although it won’t make much of a difference, there’s still a possibility that it could automatically fix the problem with these function keys. To use it, refer to these steps:
The first thing you need to do is click on Start and then on the gear-like icon to pull up the window for Settings.
After opening Settings, look for the Update and Security option and select it.
From there, go to the Troubleshoot option located on the left-hand side of the list.
Next, select Hardware and Devices from the list and open the Troubleshooter and run it. Once it is doing its job, wait for it to complete the process and then restart the system.
After the system restarts, check if the problem’s now fixed. If not, refer to the next option given below.
Option 3 – Try connecting the keyboard to a different USB port
The problem might have something to do with the USB port that’s currently in use by your keyboard. It could be that it’s not working so it makes sense to unplug it and attach it to another USB port. You can also clean the USB port on both ends to ensure that they are not affected by corrosion.
If you have been previously using another keyboard, it might be better if you make sure that the software for the old device has been removed since there are instances when multiple software can cause problems due to similarities in actions.
Option 5 – Update the keyboard driver
You can also update the keyboard driver to fix the problem. There are cases when an outdated or corrupted driver can fix the problem. To do so, follow the steps below.
Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
Then type “devmgmt.msc” in the field and hit Enter to open the Device Manager.
From there, look for the keyboard driver and click on it.
Next, right-click on the keyboard driver and select the Update driver option.
After that, click the “Search automatically for updated driver software” option to proceed.
Option 6 – Reinstall the keyboard driver
If updating the keyboard driver didn’t help, then you might want to reinstall it. How? Follow the steps below.
Tap the Win + R keys to launch Run.
Type in MSC into the box and tap Enter or click OK to open the Device Manager.
After that, a list of device drivers will be displayed. Look for keyboard driver, right-click on it and then select “Uninstall device”.
After that, unplug the device and restart your PC.
Then plug your device back in. Assuming your device is connected to your PC, open the Device Manager again.
Next, click on the Action button and click the Scan for hardware changes button. That should fix the problem.
Note: You could also completely uninstall the driver and go directly to the manufacturer’s website and download the latest driver for your hardware and then install it.
Option 7 – Enable Human Interface Device (HID) Service
Another thing to consider is the Human Interface Device Service. If this service is disabled, then no wonder why your hotkeys are not working. Thus, you need to enable this service. Refer to the following steps to do that:
Tap the Win + R key to launch the Run dialog box.
Then type “services.msc” in the field and hit Enter to open Services.
After opening Services, scroll down until you see the Human Interface Device service.
Double click on HID and make sure that its Startup Type is set to “Automatic” and then click OK.
Restart your PC and check if the hotkeys are now working or not.
Option 8 – Try resetting the keyboard
You might also want to try resetting the keyboard as it can also help in fixing the problem. Setting it back to its default state will surely help.
Like in Windows 10, Windows 11 will also support God mode to be enabled and used. For those readers that do know what God mode is, let me explain it in simple terms. God mode is the icon on the desktop that once clicked will open and let you adjust every option in the control panel and some hidden features for Windows inside one application.
There are a lot of advantages to having this one-click fast access to features, especially if you are a power user. Luckily creating such an awesome icon and enabling God mode is very easy to accomplish, all you have to do is:
Create a new folder where you want to have the God mode icon
As you can see creating and accessing all settings at your fingertips is much easier than most people think. Enjoy your ultimate access to Windows 11 features and if you wish you can drag and drop sections from it into the desktop or anywhere for easy access to that specific topic.
Still sitting on the fence about upgrading to Windows 11 because you don’t know what to expect? Interestingly, the new edition somehow manages to be both a total revamp and still very similar to its predecessor in many ways. It’s really something to experience for yourself.
We do want to give you a sneak peek, though. So here’s an overview of the biggest changes Windows 11 brings to the table.
What’s different in Windows 11?
1. Visual changes
The first thing anyone will notice after switching to Windows 11 is the striking visual difference. The entire interface is smoother, cleaner and more minimalistic than on Windows 10, even resembling the macOS in some instances. Perhaps the most obvious change in appearance is the Start menu and Taskbar location, which is now at the bottom center. It’s actually very neat, but if you’re someone who loves familiarity, don’t worry, you can move it back to the left.
Centralized Taskbar and Start menu
Moreover, you’ll notice that the Taskbar includes a Microsoft Teams icon by default (which you can, of course, remove) and that Live Tiles are gone. The News and Interests section has also been removed - or, shall we say, replaced. As opposed to Windows 10, news, weather forecasts and other information are now displayed as widgets.
To add to the cleanliness of the UI, Microsoft also enhanced the ‘Snap Layouts’ feature to help you better organize your windows and maximize screen real estate. It’s similar to app grouping on your smartphone. In Windows 10 this feature is slightly restricted, as it requires some manual resizing and dragging. In Windows 11, you can just hover over the minimize/maximize option on a window, select a layout and throw the windows in there.
Snap Layouts
2. New accessibility features
Microsoft has certainly paid attention to accessibility with Windows 10, but Windows 11 takes this to a whole new level.
One of the ways Windows 11 has taken things up a notch is by adding the long-awaited ‘Live Captions’ feature and advanced Narrator options.
Live Captions apply both to media played on your PC as well as your own speech when you’re using the microphone. Keep in mind that, as with almost all kinds of subtitles, you have to be prepared for a potential delay. However, it’s barely noticeable and doesn’t take away from the usefulness of this awesome new feature whatsoever.
As for the Narrator, there are three new voice packs to choose from. Microsoft has tried to put emphasis on a more natural voice than we are used to. So, now you can choose between Aria, Jenny and Guy, who will read pretty much anything off your screen out loud. Aside from this, Microsoft has also expanded the list of braille displays supported by the Narrator feature. For users with anxiety or trouble concentrating, a welcomed addition is the Focus app, which is no longer part of the Clock app. It’s now separate and called ‘Focus Sessions’, automatically triggering the Do Not Disturb mode when activated. It blocks all pop-ups and flashes and lets you work in peace until you’re ready to switch it off.
3. Android apps
Android users may rejoice! Windows 11 supports the use of your favorite applications now.
Microsoft has done this by integrating the Amazon Appstore to the Windows 11 Microsoft Store. From there, you can download your favorite Android apps and use them on your PC in a smartphone-like window.
Unfortunately not too many apps are supported at this time, but Microsoft is working on making the emulation possible for many more. Also, the option is only available in specific regions at this moment - check out if you’re one of the lucky ones.
4. Improved gaming performance
Avid gamers will be happy to hear that Microsoft has put some effort into streamlining Windows 11 for their gaming needs.
To give gamers a supreme visual experience, Windows 11 offers the ‘Auto HDR’ feature. As long as your monitor is HDR-compatible, this feature will automatically adjust the colors, brightness and contrast of games without any input from you.
Another update is DirectStorage, which we were introduced to in Windows 10 already. In Windows 11, it’s been improved to tweak loading times and overall gaming performance efficiency even better. The predisposition for it to work optimally is that your device has an NVMe SSD.
The Xbox Game Bar also helps gamers towards a smoother experience. It allows in-game screenshots, viewing processes that are running (similar to the Task Manager), monitoring the CPU and GPU performance and frame rate, integrating the Xbox App and more. There’s also a number of widgets you can now use with the Game Bar, for example the Spotify widget.
Xbox Game Bar
Another cool addition is the Xbox Game Pass, which unlocks hundreds of games to play on your Xbox App, with new additions coming in every month.
5. Smart App Control
Aside from a sleek new look and better accessibility for all users, Windows 11 also comes with a security power-up. Bear in mind that this feature is only available on clean Windows 11 installs.
Smart App Control (SAC) is an AI-powered new feature designed to protect your PC from potential threats. It blocks untrustworthy apps and adware and helps detect potentially unwanted apps, maintaining your PC’s performance and keeping your system safe.
It comes with an ‘Evaluation’ mode, which you should definitely select when running SAC for the first time. That way, the app monitors your usage and assesses whether you’re a candidate for SAC. Some users need it to be on all the time, for others it might be too distracting. Evaluation mode will turn SAC on or off based on your usage.
Don’t disable SAC again unless you’re absolutely sure you don’t need it, since reenabling it will require a fresh install. We recommend you don’t turn it off, as it is a neat feature protecting your data and files from malware at all times.
Summary
Have we piqued your interest in trying Microsoft’s latest OS? It’s a pretty exciting new iteration, but we’ll let you find out for yourself. We hope you like it!
Things have stirred lately with Chinas ban on crypto mining and many used GPUs will flow the market probably. But should you buy a used GPU?
Short answer: NO, long answer: keep on reading to find out why.
GPU shortage and its cause
As you all know by now, we live sadly in a world struck by a global Pandemic. Due to this awful disease and measures taken against it, many people are either working from home or are at home making the manufacturing of new chips problematic while demand on the market has raised.
Throw into that mix crypto mining which has raised in popularity and you have, well today's market where we have GPU shortage.
Now with the latest news that China has banned the mining of cryptocurrency, there is to be expected that at some point in time mining cards used there will fit the market in the whole world.
Sadly even with a large quantity of GPUs that will become available, the overall price of cards will not be much lowered I am afraid since demand is still very high and many people would not want to purchase used mining cards and neither should you.
Be prepared for the worst scenario
Although this sounds very pessimistic and in most cases, it will not turn out to be true, you should always prepare yourself mentally that you might be in that lower percentage that will end up with a really bad GPU.
What has come up to be absolutely true when considering GPU that were mining is that if anything at all can be done to GPU in order to increase performance, it has been done. Miners want to optimize and almost every GPU if could be overclocked, it was overclocked.
Extensive mining also means that thermal paste has been dried and it is pretty useless at this point and there is a very high chance that fans and heat sinks will need much cleaning or even replacement raising the price of the card itself for mentioned paste, fans, and heat sinks.
There's no way to tell what the previous owner might have done with a graphics card when you're shopping online, so our advice is to assume the worst. Don't trust the seller to give truthful information. Any listing that says it was "never used for mining" at this point is probably a lie.
Age of the GPU matters
Date when GPU itself has manufactured really matters. Newer cards even if used extensively have been used for a much shorter period of time and are not so damaged were ones produced a few years ago have seen a lot of action.
Let’s say that you get RTX 3060, In the worst-case scenario it has been mining since late February of 2021 and basically, it is still under warranty so it should behave OK and put some good work in gaming even in that state.
On another hand, if we take for example GTX 1080Ti which is 4 years old GPU things start to change drastically. 4 years GPU could be worn out even if it was used just for extensive gaming sessions let alone for mining.
No return policy and seller rating
Most of the time you will run into a product that cannot be returned or no refunds policy. This should bring a red flag right away and deter you from purchase.
Sellers with the highest ratings are more trustworthy since many of them will not want to destroy their reputation but these will probably not even have these kinds of merchandise in their store.
Buying with a poor rating seller and no return policy on a product is just asking for trouble. And although some stores do have arbitration and will stand on the customer side there is no guarantee for that and it will take too much time to process.
If you really must buy a second-hand GPU
Of course in these troubled times sometimes due to malfunction or any other reason, there would not be another choice than to buy a second-hand GPU.
In this case, if there is no other option consider sellers with many positive ratings. If you can buy locally that would even be better or the best-case scenario would be if you could visually see and inspect GPU itself in order to see in what state it is.
Look for warranty stickers to see if they are thorn and the card has been tampered with. Also take a good look at screws, if they have scratches card has been opened, probably to replace fan or heating sinks which means that it has worked a lot.
Conclusion
It is very difficult to give the best possible advice on this situation since of GPU shortage, but I would much prefer a new GPU with lower performance than a hi-performance one which was mining.
The Windows 10 system allows users to change the default location of the User folders to another drive. This is probably to make sure that the files stay safe in case the system suddenly crashes. However, in some cases, while changing the path to another drive, for instance, the D drive or any folder, the Windows system recognized it as a hard drive as well so even though the files will be saved on that folder, it will appear as a hard drive in the Windows Explorer or look merged with another folder. It could also be that you had dragged and dropped a user folder to another user folder by accident. So if you’re wondering how you can unmerge the User folders, read on as this post will guide you on how exactly you can do that.
Take note that even if you try to use the File History to restore the User folders, it still won’t work and you won’t be able to move them back to their previous locations nor restore the folders back to their previous versions and it would only state that they are not available. In the instructions given below, we are using the Downloads folder as an example.
Step 1: Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
Step 2: Next, type “Regedit” in the field and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor.
Step 3: After opening the Registry Editor, navigate to the following registry key:
Step 4: Then double-click on the multi-string value {374DE290-123F-4565-9164-39C4925E467B} located in the right hand pane. And in the Value Data, copy and paste the following value:
%USERPROFILE%Downloads
Step 5: Now click OK and close the Registry Editor.
Note: Look close enough and you’ll see that the multi-string values belong to each one of the folders. From there, you have a Desktop, Favorites, Skydrive, Music, Pictures, and many more.
Step 6: Restart your computer. After that, the operating system will pick up the new folder location during the startup. Here are the values for the other folders:
Step 7: Now all you have to do is to change the location correctly. Start by tapping the Win + E keys to open the Windows File Explorer.
Step 8: After that, right-click on the Downloads folder located in the right-hand pane.
Step 9: Then click on Properties and go to the Location tab then type “D:\Downloads” in the location box.
Step 10: Click the Apply button and then the OK button to save the changes made. Doing so would ensure that not only the Downloads folder is restored but also that it does not stay merged to another folder or appear as a drive.
Windows 10 setup is a bit complicated which is why it’s uncommon to encounter errors along the way. One of these errors you can encounter when running Windows Setup is the error code 0x80070006. If you are trying to fix this error, you’ve come to the right place as this post will guide you on how to do so.
When you get the error code 0x80070006, you will see the following error message:
“Windows cannot install required files. Network problems may be preventing Windows from accessing the file. Make sure the computer is connected to the network and restart the installation. Error code: 0x80070006.”
As stated in the error message, this kind of error in Windows Setup is due to an unstable or unreliable network connection. Such problems can also be triggered by network hardware which includes the network adapters and the network routers. To fix this error, you need to check your internet connection and router or run the built-in network troubleshooter. You could also try using a different USB port or recreate a bootable USB drive as well as get a new Windows image file.
Option 1 – Try checking your internet connection and router
As mentioned, this Windows 10 setup error could be due to an unstable internet connection. To fix it, the first thing you have to do is to check the status of your internet connection and see if it is stable and has enough speed to run the setup. If it’s slow, then it’s no wonder that the setup process failed. To fix that, you can try to reboot your router from its admin panel or you can just turn it off manually and then turn it back on after a couple of seconds. In addition, you also have to check if it’s plugged in properly.
Option 2 – Try to run the Network Adapter troubleshooter
The next thing you can do is to run the Network Adapter troubleshooter. This built-in troubleshooter can help resolve any network issues. It can reset the adapters, remove cached settings, and many more. To run it, follow these steps:
Go to Settings > Update & security and from there select Troubleshoot.
Next, scroll down and select the “Network Adapter” option from the right pane.
Then click on the Run Troubleshooter” button.
After that, your computer will check for any possible errors and will pinpoint the root cause of the problem if possible.
Option 3 – Try to use a different USB port
You might want to check the integrity of the USB port where connected the device if you are using a bootable USB storage device to run the setup for Windows 10. All you have to do is switch the USB port or try to use another bootable USB device and see if it fixes the problem.
Option 4 – Try recreating the Windows 10 installation USB
Recreating the Windows 10 installation USB might help in fixing the problem. You can use a USB drive to do so but make sure that it has a great read-write speed. Follow the steps below to recreate Windows 10 installation USB”
Click this link and then click the Download Tool Now button.
Next, click the “Use the tool to create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file)…” option and follow the next given instructions on the screen.
Now select the ISO file option in step 5.
After that, you should now have an ISO file.
Next, go to the location where you’ve downloaded the ISO file.
Then right-click on the Windows 10 ISO file and select the Open with option and then select File Explorer.
Now click on “setup.exe” and follow the next instructions that appear on the screen. When asked, you have to select either Nothing (clean install) or Keep personal files only option. Take note that you must not select the “Keep personal files, apps, and Windows settings since it doesn’t really work.
Option 5 – Try getting a new Windows image file
If none of the four given options above worked, you might want to get a newer installation image using the Windows Media Creation tool. After that, create the bootable USB drive and once completed and then try to run the Windows 10 setup again.