Taskbar has disappeared from the Desktop

If you are trying to connect to the internet using the Microsoft Edge browser but encountered an error message instead that says, “Can’t connect to the proxy server”, read on as this post will show you how you can fix this error. This kind of error in Microsoft Edge could be caused by incorrect proxy settings or worse, malware. To fix this error, here are some suggestions you need to check out:

Option 1 – Try to check your internet connection

The first thing you can do to resolve the “Can’t connect to the proxy server” error in Microsoft Edge is to check your internet connection. There are times when your internet connection or Wi-Fi router can cause such problems. In such cases, you have to ensure that you have a valid internet source and if you are using a Wi-Fi router, you can try to use another connection and then see if the error is gone or not.

Option 2 – Try to disable the manual proxy set up from the Settings

In case you miss it, there is actually an option in the Settings panel that you can use to set up proxy in your Windows 10 computer. So if you encounter the “Can’t connect to the proxy server” error, you should disable manual proxy for the meantime and check if it fixed the error or not.

• Tap the Win + I keys to open the Windows Settings.
• Then go to Network & Internet > Proxy.
• And on your right-hand side, ensure that the Automatically detect settings are enabled and that the Use a proxy server option under the Manual proxy setup is disabled.
• Now try to open any website again and see if the problem’s fixed.

Option 3 – Try disabling the VPN

Like pointed out earlier, if you are using VPN, this could be the reason why you’re getting the “Can’t connect to the proxy server” error so the most obvious thing to do is for you to turn off the VPN and try to load a website in Edge again. 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.

Option 4 – Disable the proxy server for your LAN

If your PC was just attacked by some adware or malware as of late, it is possible that it has changed the network settings in the system and might display spam advertisements. Thus, you have to disable the proxy server for your LAN. To do that, refer to these steps:

• 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.

Option 5 – Temporarily disable Firewall and third-party antivirus

Firewall and antivirus programs are known to block files the instant it detects a threat to the system. However, there are some cases when it can also block a file even when it’s a safe one. Thus, your antivirus or firewall programs might be the reason why you can’t download anything on your Windows 10 computer. To isolate the issue, you need to temporarily disable both the Firewall and antivirus programs and then check if you can now download anything from the internet. Do not forget to enable them again as disabling them can leave your computer vulnerable to cyber threats.

Option 6 – Clear the browsing data of Microsoft Edge

• Open Microsoft Edge.
• Then click on the three horizontal dots to open the menu.
• From there, click on Settings. And under Settings, click the “Choose what to clear” button under the Clear browsing data section.
• Next, check all the checkboxes and then click the Clear button to clear the browsing data in the Edge browser.
• Restart Edge.

Option 7 – Try to reset, repair or reinstall Edge via Settings

You can reset, repair or reinstall the Edge browser through Settings. If none of it helped, you can try the following:

• Open File Explorer and then go to this path – C:/Users/YourUsername/AppData/Local/Packages

Note: Before you type in the path in the Address bar, make sure that you put your user account name in place with the “YourUsername”.

• Tap Enter to proceed.
• Next, look for the folder named “MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe” then right-click on it.
• Click on Properties and uncheck the option “Read-only” under the General tab in the Properties window.
• Click on Apply and then OK to save the changes made.
• After that, look for the MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe folder again and delete it. And if a prompt stating “Folder Access Denied” appears on your screen, just click on the Continue button to proceed – doing so will delete most of the content inside the folder except for the folder named “AC”.
• Restart your PC.
• Now all you have to do is to re-register Microsoft Edge using PowerShell. In the Start Menu, search “Windows PowerShell”.
• Right-click on Windows PowerShell from the search results and select the “Run as administrator” option.
• Type in this command in the PowerShell windows and tap Enter – Cd C:/Users/YourUsername

Note: Once again, make sure that you key in your user account name in place of “YourUsername.

• After that, type in this command and tap Enter – Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers -Name Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)AppXManifest.xml" -Verbose}
• Restart your PC.

Option 8 – Scan your computer for malware using Windows Defender

Your computer could be infected with malware which might have triggered the “Can’t connect to the proxy server” error. To fix this, you need to scan your computer using a reliable program like Windows Defender.

• Tap the Win + I keys to open Update & Security.
• Then click on the Windows Security option and open Windows Defender Security Center.
• Next, click on Virus & threat protection > Run a new advanced scan.
• Now make sure that Full Scan is selected from the menu and then click the Scan Now button to get started.

The standard icon place in the Taskbar inside Windows 11 is in the center. Some users welcomed this change, some not so much. If you are part of the user base that is not so much thrilled with this Microsoft’s idea of innovation, do not worry, there is an easy way to move all icons and start button on the left inside Taskbar.

Moving icons in Taskbar

1. Open Windows settings by using ⊞ WINDOWS + I key combination
2. Click on Personalization
3. Select Taskbar
4. Click on Taskbar Behaviors
5. Click on the drop-down menu beside Taskbar Alignment
6. Select your desired option of icon alignment
7. Close settings

Your options will be active right away and you will see icons switching to the position of your choosing.

WeatherGenie is a Browser Extension that allows users to check the current weather in any town at any time. This extension adds the “Weather:” search option to your new tab, and changes your default search engine to Yahoo.com. It also ads system Registry Entities that allow it to run each time the computer is restarted, several task schedulers are also added to allow it to run at various times during the day.

While installing this extension monitor browsing data from your computer. You may also see additional injected ads, sponsored links, and pop-up ads through your browser sessions. Weather games have been marked as a Browser Hijacker by several anti-virus scanners and are therefore not recommended to keep on your computer. It is flagged as potentially unwanted for optional removal.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijacking is a very common type of online fraud where your web browser settings are altered to allow it to do things you do not intend. Browser hijackers could do a variety of things on your PC. Often, hijackers will force hits to sites of their preference either to increase targeted traffic generating higher ad earnings, or to gain a commission for every user visiting there. Even though it might seem naive, all browser hijackers are harmful and thus always regarded as security risks. As soon as the malware attacks your computer or laptop, it begins to mess things up a whole that slows your system down to a crawl. In the worse case, you might be pushed to tackle serious malware threats too.

How you can know whether the web browser is hijacked?

Symptoms that an internet browser is hi-jacked include: 1. you notice unauthorized modifications to your web browser’s home-page 2. bookmark and the new tab are also changed 3. the essential web browser settings are modified and unwanted or insecure sites are put into the trusted sites list 4. you’re getting new toolbars you have never witnessed before 5. you’ll notice random pop-ups start showing on a regular basis 6. web pages load slowly and at times incomplete 7. you can’t navigate to particular web pages, such as security software-related websites.

How does a PC get infected with a browser hijacker?

There are a number of ways your PC can become infected with a browser hijacker. They usually arrive by way of spam e-mail, via file-sharing networks, or by a drive-by download. They can be included with toolbars, BHO, add-ons, plugins, or browser extensions. Other times you might have mistakenly accepted a browser hijacker as part of a software bundle (generally freeware or shareware). A good example of some popular browser hijackers includes Conduit, Anyprotect, Babylon, SweetPage, DefaultTab, RocketTab, and Delta Search, but the names are regularly changing. The existence of any browser hijacker on your system might substantially diminish the browsing experience, record your internet activities that lead to critical privacy concerns, diminish overall system performance and cause software instability as well.

The best ways to get rid of browser hijackers

Some browser hijacking can be simply reversed by identifying and eliminating the corresponding malware software from your control panel. But, many hijackers are harder to find or eliminate as they could get themselves connected with certain crucial computer files which allow them to operate as a necessary operating-system process. Besides, browser hijackers could modify the Computer registry so it could be very tough to repair manually, especially if you’re not a very tech-savvy individual. You can go for automatic browser hijacker removal by just installing and running a reliable anti-malware application. SafeBytes Anti-Malware discovers all kinds of hijackers – such as WeatherGenie – and eliminates every trace quickly and efficiently. Utilize a pc optimizer together with your antivirus software to repair various registry issues, remove system vulnerabilities, and improve your computer performance.

How To Get Rid Of Malware That Is Blocking Anti-Malware Installation?

Practically all malware is detrimental and the effects of the damage may vary based on the specific type of malware. Some malware goes to great lengths to stop you from downloading or installing anything on your PC, particularly anti-virus software programs. If you’re reading this, chances are you’re stuck with a malware infection that is preventing you to download or install the Safebytes Anti-Malware program on your system. Refer to the instructions below to get rid of malware through alternative ways.

Remove malware in Safe Mode

Safe Mode is actually a special, basic version of Windows where only bare minimum services are loaded to stop viruses and also other problematic programs from loading. In the event the malware is blocking internet access and affecting your computer, starting it in Safe Mode enables you to download anti-malware and run a scan whilst limiting possible damage. In order to enter into Safe Mode or Safe Mode with Networking, press the F8 key while the PC is starting up or run MSConfig and locate the “Safe Boot” options in the “Boot” tab. Once you’re in Safe Mode, you can attempt to install your anti-malware software without the hindrance of the malware. After installation, run the malware scanner to get rid of most standard infections.

Switch to an alternative internet browser

Some malware mainly targets specific internet browsers. If this is your situation, use another internet browser as it can circumvent the computer virus. The best solution to avoid this problem is to opt for a web browser that is well known for its security features. Firefox contains built-in Phishing and Malware Protection to help keep you safe online.

Make a bootable USB anti-virus drive

Here’s yet another solution which is using a portable USB anti-virus software that can scan your system for malware without needing installation. Follow these steps to employ a USB flash drive to clean your corrupted computer system. 1) Download the anti-malware on a virus-free PC. 2) Insert the USB drive on the same computer. 3) Double-click the Setup icon of the anti-malware program to run the Installation Wizard. 4) Choose the flash drive as the location for saving the file. Follow the instructions to complete the installation process. 5) Now, transfer the flash drive to the infected computer. 6) Run the Safebytes Anti-malware directly from the flash drive by double-clicking the icon. 7) Click on “Scan Now” to run a scan on the affected computer for viruses.

Top Features of SafeBytes Anti-Malware

Today an anti-malware tool can protect your computer or laptop from various forms of online threats. But how do choose the best one amongst several malware protection software that is available in the market? Perhaps you might be aware, there are several anti-malware companies and tools for you to consider. A few of them are great but there are many scamware applications that pretend as genuine anti-malware software waiting to wreak havoc on the computer. When searching for an anti-malware tool, pick one which provides dependable, efficient, and complete protection against all known computer viruses and malware. One of the highly recommended software is SafeBytes AntiMalware. SafeBytes carries a superb history of excellent service, and customers are happy with it. Safebytes is one of the well-established PC solutions companies, which offer this comprehensive anti-malware tool. When you have installed this software, SafeByte's sophisticated protection system will ensure that absolutely no viruses or malware can seep through your computer. SafeBytes anti-malware takes PC protection to a whole new level with its advanced features. The following are a few of the great ones: Active Protection: SafeBytes provides complete and real-time security for your PC. It will inspect your personal computer for suspicious activity at all times and shields your personal computer from illegal access. Robust Anti-malware Protection: Safebytes is based on the best virus engine within the industry. These engines can find and eliminate threats even during the early stages of a malware outbreak. Fast Scan: SafeBytes’s high-speed malware scanning engine reduces scanning times and extends battery life. Simultaneously, it’ll effectively identify and remove infected computer files or any online threat. Internet Security: SafeBytes checks and provides a unique safety ranking to every website you visit and block access to web pages considered to be phishing sites, thus safeguarding you from identity theft, or known to contain malicious software. Very Low CPU and Memory Usage: SafeBytes is a lightweight tool. It consumes a very small amount of processing power as it runs in the background so you are free to use your Windows-based PC the way you would like. Premium Support: For any technical issues or product assistance, you could get 24/7 professional assistance via chat and email. To conclude, SafeBytes Anti-Malware is pretty great for securing your laptop or computer against all sorts of malware threats. Malware problems will become a thing of the past when you put this software program to use. So if you’re looking for a comprehensive antivirus program that’s still easy to use, SafeBytes Anti-Malware is exactly what you will need!

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

To remove WeatherGenie manually, navigate to the Add/Remove programs list in the Control Panel and choose the program you want to remove. For internet browser extensions, go to your browser’s Addon/Extension manager and choose the plug-in you wish to disable or remove. You’ll probably also want to reset your browser to its default configuration settings. In order to ensure the complete removal, manually examine your hard drive and Windows registry for all of the following and eliminate or reset the values as needed. Please keep in mind that only experienced users should attempt to manually edit the registry because deleting any single critical system file results in a serious problem or even a system crash. In addition, certain malware is capable of replicating or preventing deletion. It is advisable that you do the removal process in Safe Mode.

There are instances when you have to connect to another Windows 10 PC via remote connection from another Windows 10 PC. However, when you encountered an error saying, “Your password may have expired or the remote pc might not accept blank passwords” while doing so then read on as this post will walk you through how you can fix it. Here is the full content of the error message:

“Your password may have expired, or the remote PC might not accept blank passwords. Try connecting again. If this keeps happening, ask your admin or tech support for help.”

It is unknown what the exact cause of the error message is as it could involve several factors. Even so, there are still various potential fixes you can try to fix this kind of error. You can try to check if your password has expired or troubleshoot any issues with the network. You could also use a remote desktop application or configure the settings of firewall or restart the remote desktop service. For more details, refer to each one of the given options below. But before you proceed, make sure that you have someone to help assist you on the other side to help you troubleshoot the issue.

Option 1 – Try to check if the password has expired

The first thing you can do to fix the problem is to check if the password has expired as it could be the reason why you’re experiencing this problem. You have to make sure that you are using a user account that is on the remote computer and then check if the user account password has not expired yet. And if your PC is not within your access, then you can just ask someone to verify the password for you.

Option 2 – Try to troubleshoot network issues

To troubleshoot network-related issues that might be the one that triggers the error, you need to run the Network Troubleshooter. To get started, refer to these steps:

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

Option 3 – Try to use a remote desktop software

A number of users reported that the issue occurred when they used the universal app for Remote Desktop and they were able to fix it by switching to the Remote Desktop application. Thus, you can try to switch to the remote desktop software and see if it fixes the problem or not.

Option 4 – Try to configure Firewall settings

You might also want to configure the settings of the Firewall as it could also help in fixing the problem. It is possible that the firewall is blocking the incoming connection on the remote computer. To check if whether the firewall is the culprit or not, follow the steps below.

• Go to Windows Security and then go to Firewall and network application.
• Next, click on the Advanced Settings link. This will open the classic Windows Defender Firewall and Advanced Security application.
• From there, look for the rule named “Remote Desktop – User Mode (TCP-In)” under inbound rules and check if it has been disabled or not.
• If the rule is disabled, you have to enable it.
• Once done, check if the error is now fixed or not.

Option 5 – Try to restart the Remote Desktop service

If none of the four given options given above worked, you might want to restart the Remote Desktop service as it can help you in fixing the problem. To do so, follow these steps:

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box and type “services.msc” in the field and hit Enter to open the Windows Services Manager.
• Next, from the list of services, look for the Remote Desktop Service and right-click on it, and then click on the Restart option.
• Once done, check it was able to fix the “Your password may have expired or the remote pc might not accept blank passwords” error or not.

Installing a Windows 10 upgrade is definitely not an easy task since the process is not always smooth sailing and you could encounter some errors when doing so. This isn’t unusual since there are various software configurations and hardware configurations as well as services it depends on in order to properly work. So if any of them malfunctions or becomes corrupted, it will affect the process which will result in errors like the error code 0x80300002. When you encounter this kind of Windows Update error, you will see the following error message on your screen:

“We couldn’t install Windows in the location you choose. Please check your media drive. Here’s more info about what happened: 0x80300002”

You can encounter this kind of error if there is corruption in the partition table of the drive where the installation is in progress. In addition, corruption on the Media device could also cause this problem. So if you encounter this error when running Windows Setup, read on as this post will guide you in fixing it. There are several ways to resolve this issue. The first thing you can do is to verify the compatibility between the BIOS and the installation media. You could also try recreating all the partitions as well as recreating the bootable USB drive. For more detailed information, follow the given options below.

Option 1 – Check if the BIOS is compatible with the installation media

The first thing you can do to fix the error is to check if there are any compatibility issues between the BIOS and the installation media you’re using. This is actually one of the most likely reasons why you’re getting the error since this is a complicated point for the Windows installation process. If the installation media is based on GPT, then your BIOS must be based on UEFI. So if you have your bootable media with the MBR partitioning, you need to set your BIOS to Legacy.

• In the Windows Search box, type “command prompt” and from the search results that appear, right-click on Command Prompt and select the “Run as administrator” option.
• After that, execute this command: exe /convert /allowfullOS
• Now, wait until the process is completed since you can track its process on your screen.
• Once it’s done, go to Settings > Update & Security > Advanced Startup options and from there, click on Restart Now. This will restart your computer and give you advanced options.
• Next, select Troubleshoot > Advanced Options where you will see further options including System Restore, Startup Repair, Go back to the previous version, Command Prompt, System Image Recovery, and UEFI Firmware Settings.
• Now select the “Legacy” option. This will take you to the BIOS. Boot Mode is typically available under Boot > Boot Configuration. Once you’re there, set it to Legacy and then save the changes you’ve made. After that, your computer will restart.

Option 2 – Try recreating a new bootable drive

• Insert your USB drive into your PC.
• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box and type in “cmd” and tap Enter to open the Command Prompt. Alternatively, you can also search for “cmd” in the Cortana search box to open Command Prompt.
• Once you’ve opened CMD, type in this command to open the DISPART utility – diskpart
• After that, you should see a new black and white window that would say, “DISKPART>”.
• Next, type in “list disk” in the command line and tap Enter to see the list of all the Storage devices as well as your hard disk connected to your PC. Here, you have to identify your disk’s number.
• Type in this command where “X” is the disk number you have identified and then tap Enter – disk X
• Type in this command and hit Enter to clear the table records and all the visible data on the drive – clean
• Now you have to recreate a new primary partition of the drive so you’ll have to type in this command and tap Enter right after – create part pri
• A new primary partition has been created so you have to select it by typing this command and tapping Enter – select part 1
• Now you have to format it to make it visible to normal users by typing – format fs=ntfs quick

Note: If your platform supports the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface or UEFI, replace the “NTFS” with “FAT32” in the command on Step 10.

• After that, type in this command and tap Enter after – active
• Finally, type this command and hit Enter to exit the utility – exit
• After you prepare the image for the operating system, save it to the root of your USB Storage device.

Option 3 – Try to recreate all the partitions

If none of the first two options given above worked, then you can try to recreate all the partitions instead. All you have to do is restart the Windows installation process and wait until you get to the part that says, “Where do you want to install Windows?”. From there, you will see options like delete, format, extend, create new partitions, and many more. Now you have to select the Delete all the partitions options and then use the “New” button to create new partitions. Just make sure that you have one primary partition at least where you can install Windows 10. After that, continue the installation of Windows on the new partition. Keep in mind that when you create a new partition, it also recreates the partition table configuration which means that the chances of getting an error are very unlikely.

This post will guide you in fixing the “Communication with service process failed” error in Windows 10. This error is related to the Intel Driver and Support Assistant application. Although this error does not reportedly cause any loss of functionality in the computer, however, it still indicates that there is something wrong with some of your driver modules. Intel has taken a bold step and combined its older modules into this new application (Intel Driver and Support Assistant) recently. This application enables users to scan their computers for any available updates from Intel. This is the main application of Intel and provides users a way to update their driver software automatically instead of manually updating it. However, with the recent reports submitted by some users, it seems that something is wrong with this application, and users to have to deal with the “Communication with service process failed” error. This error might be caused by several reasons, for one, it could be that the application is corrupted or incomplete in its nature which is possible since this is still a developing and newly released app. It could also be that there are other utilities or modules that conflict with the Intel software. Whichever the reason may be, you can try out the options given below to resolve the problem but before you proceed, make sure that you have an administrator account as well as an active and stable internet connection.

Option 1 – Disable DSATray in Startup

If you receive this error message every time you start your computer then this means that the application is not able to launch properly. Like pointed out, it could be that it is still incomplete in nature or it conflicts with other applications. Thus, you can try to disable the service from the startup and check if it fixes the problem.

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Then type “taskmgr” in the field and hit Enter to open the Task Manager.
• After that, go to the Startup tab and look for the Intel Driver and Support Assistant app.
• Right-click on the app and select Disable.
• Restart your PC and check if the error is now fixed or not

Option 2 – Reinstall the Intel Driver and Support Assistant

If the first option did not work, you can try reinstalling the Intel Driver and Support Assistant app. To do so, follow these steps:

• In the search box, type in “control” and then click on Control Panel (desktop app) among the search results.
• After that, select Programs and Features from the list which will give you a list of all the programs installed on your computer.
• From there, look for Intel Driver and Support Assistant and select it and then uninstall it.
• After you have the app uninstalled, open your browser and go to Intel’s official website. From there, download the driver utility manually.
• Once the download is finished, right-click on it and select “Run as administrator” and install the app on your PC with elevated access.
• Restart your PC and then check if the error is now fixed.

It really sucks when you can’t fully enjoy the newest version of your favorite OS.

Windows 11 is still relatively fresh and consequently has some annoying little bugs that really ruin our experience. The good news is that you’re not alone and most of them are easy to fix.

Here are 5 commonly reported Windows 11 issues and what you can do to get rid of them.

1. Windows 11 audio problems

One of the absolute most irritating things in the world is struggling with the sound on your computer. Windows 11 users have reported facing the issue of low or no sound. If you’re currently experiencing the same frustration, you can be relieved. Chances are fixing it will only take a few minutes.

The first thing to check would be whether you accidentally muted your device by pressing the mute button on your keyboard. Yes, we know it sounds a lot like the old “have you tried turning it off and on again?” But it’s important to leave no stone unturned, and the most obvious things are usually the ones we easily overlook.

Moreover, if you have several audio output sources, check whether the right one is selected. You can do this via the Action Center or through Settings. If you want to use the same source every time, we also recommend you set it as the default one.

It’s also important to have a good, up-to-date audio driver. More often than not, this will be the true cause of your audio struggles. Make sure to update your driver, and if that doesn’t work out, you can always un- and reinstall it or install a different one. 

Lastly, if all attempts remain unsuccessful, run the audio troubleshooter to figure out what’s actually going wrong.

2. Unable to find files

Such a powerful new operating system, yet it can’t seem to do the simplest thing imaginable? The File Explorer not responding on Windows 11 is one of the most frustrating and most common problems with Microsoft’s newest iteration of its awesome OS.

However, 9/10 times it can be fixed by simply restarting your PC. You could also try killing the Windows Explorer process in the Task Manager and then rerunning it.

If these don’t help, check whether there are any pending Windows 11 updates. A single missing update can compromise your PC’s functionality, so always make sure to install them all on time. 

Should none of that work, then there are other ways to solve the File Explorer problem. However, then the issue is probably a bit deeper and it’s no longer in the ‘easy fix’ territory.

3. Start menu not working

Just like the File Explorer, the Start menu is a fundamental element of your OS. So, it’s only natural that its malfunction grinds your gears. It may be more customizable than on previous Windows versions, but it doesn’t always work smoothly. 

If you’re facing the so-called Start menu critical error, there are a few things this could be caused by. Usually it means you turned off your system while an important update was still being installed, there is a corrupt file on your PC, or Windows forcefully stopped a program. 

Whatever the reason, the solution should be pretty simple. Try the basic steps: restarting your File Explorer (like we explained above) and signing out and back into your account. If that doesn’t do anything, you may want to try uninstalling third-party start menu apps (if you have any), since they can interfere with your default programs’ functionality.

Now, those are the easy fixes. If you get nowhere with them, you might need to identify the root cause and search for more complex solutions than that.

4. Snipping tool not working

Our beloved screenshot tool was introduced with Windows 10 and Microsoft decided to keep it. However, you were probably just as disappointed as us when you tried to run it and failed. 

Normally, this can be fixed by installing the latest Out-of-band (OOB) update, or even pending updates in general. Even if your system appears to be up-to-date, run the checker just in case.

Another cool thing Windows 11 lets you do is ‘Repair’ and ‘Reset’, which is the easiest way to troubleshoot your Snipping tool. If this fails, you can also try the good old un- and reinstall method. Simply uninstall the tool through the Control Panel and reinstall it from the Microsoft Store.

Furthermore, in the case of an upgrade from Windows 10 to 11, it may be that the old Snipping tool version is interfering with the launch of the new one. If you don’t care that much about the additional options available with the enhanced screenshot tool, you can use the old version instead.

Simply go to your C Drive, find the Windows.old folder, search for the tool and open it from there. Make sure to pin it to your taskbar as well, if you know you’re going to use it often.

5. Can’t install the latest update

The latest Windows 11 version, 22H2, has brought tons of enhancements to our dearest operating system. Unfortunately, a lot of users still haven’t had the opportunity to experience it. A mere update of your OS version should be the one thing that goes smoothly, but sometimes that’s not the case.

Failure to install 22H2 can be caused by a few things. Most commonly, the issue is caused by lack of storage space or corrupted files, but there could be other culprits.

There are a couple of things you could try. For example, it’s crucial that your drivers be up-to-date and some important services be enabled. These are: Windows Modules Installer, Background Intelligent Transfer Service, Cryptographic Service, Windows Update services.

To enable them, search ‘Services’, find the service you need and right-click on it. Open ‘Properties’ and select the startup type ‘Automatic’.

It may also be necessary to unplug all peripherals that aren’t crucial and disable third-party antivirus tools until after the update is finished. 

Ultimately, you can run the Windows Update troubleshooter to detect and fix other possible issues.

Summary

Tiny bugs like these are nothing out of the ordinary. That said, we still all hate when they happen.

Hopefully some of our solutions have helped you to a smoother Windows 11 experience. But if you’re still struggling, feel free to reach out to us. We’d be happy to help!

Sticky Notes is one of the useful programs and in the early days, the option is available for users to change the font size of the text a lot easier. However, for some unknown reason, Microsoft decided to get rid of this feature in the latest Windows Update. One would expect that the feature will be replaced by an even more useful feature but it’s not which makes the Sticky Notes app worse than before. Worry not though for it doesn’t have to stay that way as there is another thing you can try to change the font size in your Sticky Notes app and that’s what we’re going to cover in this post. As mentioned, Microsoft removing this font feature is quite strange and in the past, users asked for this feature and since it’s no longer available, you can try following the steps given below to bring it back. And for that, you need to go to the Ease of Access section in the Settings app. Refer to the steps given below for more instructions. Step 1: First, tap the Win + I keys to open Settings and then go to the Ease of Access section. Step 2: After going to the Ease of Access menu and select Display from the list of options. Step 3: From there, you should see an option that says “Make text bigger”. And then use your mouse to navigate to the slider to change the size of the font. Note: Take note that after doing all the steps above, it will change not just the Sticky Notes app but also everything in Windows 10. This method is actually the best since it only changes the size of the apps rather than a wholesale change in your Windows 10 computer. Step 4: Next, scroll under Display until you see the “Change the size of apps and text on the main display” option where you’ll see that the option is 100% but you’ll want to change that to 125%. Step 5: After that, click on the drop-down menu and select 125% and then restart your Windows 10 computer. Step 6: Now open the Sticky Notes app and check if you can now change the font size in the Sticky Notes app.

As you know, Windows has a built-in Automatic Maintenance feature that takes care of important tasks such as security scanning and updating, Windows software updates, Disk Defragmentation, System Diagnostics, Disk Volume Errors, and many more. So if you receive an error message saying, “Windows is unable to run automatic maintenance, The maintenance schedule is unavailable”, then this post will guide you in what you can do to resolve this issue. Here are some suggestions you can try if the Automatic Maintenance in your Windows 10 PC is not able to run.

Option 1 – Enable Automatic Maintenance

It is possible that Automatic Maintenance has been disabled so you can try enabling Automatic Maintenance on your Windows 10 PC. To do so, follow these steps:

• Go to Control Panel.
• From there, select System and Security > Security and Maintenance > Automatic Maintenance.
• After that, set the time you want to run the Automatic Maintenance and then check the checkbox saying, “Allow scheduled maintenance to wake up my computer at the scheduled time”.
• Click OK to save the changes.

On the other hand, you can also enable Automatic Maintenance via the Registry Editor. But before you proceed, you need to create a System Restore Point first.

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• After that, type “Regedit” in the field and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor.
• Navigate to the following path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionScheduleMaintenance

• Next, look for the “MaintenanceDisabled” key and then double click on it to open it and then set its value to “0”.
• Click OK and exit the Registry Editor.
• Restart your computer.

Option 2 – Check the Task Scheduler Services status

Majority of the tasks in Windows 10 run via services. So it is most likely that either the Service has been stopped or is set to the manual which is why Windows is unable to run Automatic Maintenance. Thus, you need to change it to automatic mode.

• Tap the Win + R keys to open Run.
• Type “services.msc” in the field and hit Enter to open Services.
• Next, look for the Task Scheduler service and tap the T key on your keyboard which should take you to the services that start with T.
• Double click on the Task Scheduler service and select the Automatic option under the Startup Type.
• If it is not started yet, click on the Start button.
• Then click Apply and OK to save the changes.

Option 3 – Check the Status in Task Scheduler

You can also try checking the status in the Task Scheduler. Just open the Task Scheduler > Task Scheduler Library > Microsoft > Windows > TaskScheduler. From there, make sure that Idle Maintenance, Maintenance Configurator, and Regular Maintenance are enabled.

Option 4 – Run the System File Checker

The SFC or System File Checker scan could detect and automatically repair damaged system files that could be causing the Automatic Maintenance issue. 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 5 – Run the DISM tool

The DISM tool is another command-line tool in the Windows operating system that could help users fix various corrupted system files. To use it, follow these steps:

• Open the Command Prompt as admin.
• Then type in this command: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
• The DISM command you entered will repair the corrupted system image. Do not close the window if the process takes a while as it will probably take a few minutes to finish.
• Restart your PC.

Gaming Wonderland is a Browser Extension for Google Chrome developed by Mindspark. This extension allows you to look up some popular browser games, as well as to find multiplayer games. When installed it changes your default search provider and your default home page to MyWebSearch. While browsing the internet, this extension will gather your browsing information, website visits, clicks, and other information that is later sent to Mindspark ad servers and used to better target ads.

While using this extension you will see additional unwanted ads appearing throughout your browser sessions.

Due to the nature of this application and the fact that it has been marked as a Browser Hijacker by several anti-virus scanners, it is not recommended to keep it on your computer.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijacking means that a malicious code has power over and modified the settings of your internet browser, without your consent. They are made to disrupt browser functions for a variety of reasons. These are generally used to force visitors to a specific site, manipulating web traffic to generate ad revenue. It may appear harmless, but the majority of such sites are not legitimate and will present a serious risk to your online safety. As soon as the program attacks your computer or laptop, it begins to mess things up a whole that slows your system down to a crawl. In the worse case, you could be pushed to tackle serious malware threats as well.

Browser hijacking symptoms

When your web browser is hijacked, the following could happen: you find unauthorized modifications to your web browser’s home-page; new bookmarks pointing to pornographic websites have been added to your bookmarks; default web engine is changed; you are finding browser toolbars you haven’t noticed before; unstoppable flurries of popup advertisements show up on your PC screen; your browser gets slow, buggy, crashes quite often; you’re prohibited access to specific websites, including the site of an anti-malware software firm like SafeBytes.

How does a browser hijacker infect a PC

Browser hijackers might use drive-by downloads or file-sharing websites or even an e-mail attachment in order to reach a targeted computer. They could also be deployed through the installation of a web browser toolbar, add-on, or extension. A browser hijacker can also be installed as a part of freeware, shareware, demoware, and pirated programs. A good example of a notorious browser hijacker is the latest Chinese malicious software called “Fireball”, which has attacked 250 million PCs worldwide. It works as a hijacker but can be turned into a fully functioning malware downloader later on. Browser hijackers will affect the user’s browsing experience severely, keep track of the websites visited by users and steal private information, cause problems in connecting to the net, and eventually create stability issues, making applications and computers freeze.

Browser Hijacker Malware – Removal

Some kinds of browser hijackers can be removed from your computer by deleting malicious software applications or any other recently added shareware. At times, it can be a tough task to discover and get rid of the malicious component since the associated file might be running as part of the operating system process. Novice PC users should not try for the manual form of removal, since it calls for thorough computer knowledge to do fixes on the system registry and HOSTS file. Installing and running antivirus applications on the affected system will automatically erase browser hijackers and also other unwanted applications. Safebytes Anti-Malware incorporates a cutting-edge anti-malware engine that will help you prevent browser hijacker infection in the first place, and clean up any existing problems. Use a system optimizer together with your antivirus software to fix various registry problems, remove system vulnerabilities, and boost your computer's overall performance.

Help! Malware Blocking Antivirus Installation And Access To The Web

Viruses can cause plenty of damage to your PC. Some malware variants alter internet browser settings by adding a proxy server or change the PC’s DNS settings. In such cases, you will be unable to visit certain or all websites, and therefore not able to download or install the required security software to eliminate the malware. So what you should do if malware keeps you from downloading or installing Safebytes Anti-Malware? There are a few actions you can take to circumvent this issue.

Use Safe Mode to resolve the issue

In Safe Mode, you may change Windows settings, uninstall or install some programs, and remove hard-to-delete viruses and malware. In case the virus is set to load immediately when the PC starts, shifting into this mode may well prevent it from doing so. To boot into Safe Mode, press the “F8” key on the keyboard right before the Windows logo screen appears; Or right after normal Windows boot up, run MSCONFIG, look over Safe Boot under Boot tab, and then click Apply. Once you’re in safe mode, you can try to install your antivirus program without the hindrance of malicious software. At this point, you can actually run the antivirus scan to get rid of viruses and malware without any interference from another malicious application.

Switch to an alternate internet browser

Some viruses might target vulnerabilities of a specific browser that obstruct the downloading process. If you seem to have a trojan attached to Internet Explorer, then switch to an alternate browser with built-in security features, such as Firefox or Chrome, to download your favorite antivirus program – Safebytes.

Create a bootable USB antivirus drive

Another solution is to save and run an antivirus software program completely from a USB drive. Adopt these measures to run the anti-malware on the infected computer. 1) On a virus-free computer, install Safebytes Anti-Malware. 2) Connect the USB drive to a USB port on the clean computer. 3) Double-click the Setup icon of the antivirus software to run the Installation Wizard. 4) Select the drive letter of the flash drive as the place when the wizard asks you exactly where you want to install the antivirus. Follow the activation instructions. 5) Unplug the USB drive. Now you can use this portable anti-virus on the affected computer. 6) Run the Safebytes Anti-malware directly from the USB drive by double-clicking the icon. 7) Simply click “Scan Now” to run a complete scan on the infected computer for viruses.

Detect And Remove Viruses With SafeBytes Anti-Malware

If you are looking to download the anti-malware program for your PC, there are various tools on the market to consider however, you cannot trust blindly anyone, regardless of whether it is paid or free program. A few are really worth your money, but most aren’t. You must opt for a company that creates industry-best antimalware and has earned a reputation as reliable. On the list of strongly recommended software is SafeBytes AntiMalware. SafeBytes carries a good track record of quality service, and customers appear to be happy with it. SafeBytes anti-malware is trustworthy software that not only protects your system completely but is also quite user-friendly for people of all skill levels. Using its outstanding protection system, this tool will automatically detect and eliminate most of the security threats, including browser hijackers, viruses, adware, PUPs, trojans, worms, and ransomware.

SafeBytes anti-malware takes computer protection to a totally new level with its advanced features. Below are some of the features you might like in SafeBytes.

Anti-Malware Protection: This deep-cleaning anti-malware software program goes much deeper than most anti-virus tools to clean out your personal computer. Its critically acclaimed virus engine locates and disables hard-to-remove malware that hides deep within your personal computer. Real-time Protection: SafeBytes delivers complete and real-time security for your PC. It’ll constantly monitor your pc for hacker activity and also provides end-users with sophisticated firewall protection. Website Filtering: SafeBytes gives an instant safety rating to the pages you are going to visit, automatically blocking unsafe sites and making sure that you are certain of your safety while browsing the net. High-Speed Malware Scanning Engine: SafeBytes’s high-speed malware scanning engine lessens scan times and extends battery life. Simultaneously, it will effectively find and get rid of infected computer files or any internet threat. Low CPU/Memory Usage: SafeBytes is well-known for its low impact on processing power and great detection rate of various threats. It runs silently and efficiently in the background so you are free to utilize your personal computer at full power all the time. 24/7 Premium Support: You can get 24/7 technical assistance to quickly resolve any issue with your security software. To sum it up, SafeBytes Anti-Malware provides outstanding protection combined with very low system resource usage with great malware prevention and detection. You now may know that this tool does more than just scan and remove threats from your PC. If you’re searching for the absolute best malware removal application out there, and if you don’t mind spending a few bucks for it, go for SafeBytes Anti-Malware.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you would like to do the removal of Gaming Wonderland manually instead of using an automated software tool, you may follow these measures: Go to the Windows Control Panel, click the “Add or Remove Programs” and there, select the offending application to uninstall. In case of suspicious versions of browser plug-ins, you can easily get rid of it through your web browser’s extension manager. You may even want to reset your home page and search engine providers, and also delete temporary files, browsing history, and cookies. In order to ensure the complete removal, manually examine your hard drive and registry for all of the following and remove or reset the values accordingly. Having said that, editing the Windows registry is really a difficult job that only advanced users and professionals should try to fix it. Furthermore, some malicious programs have the capability to defend against its deletion. It is advisable that you do the removal procedure in Windows Safe Mode.