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How to Use and Configure Active Hours

The issue with the abrupt system reboots to force Windows 10 updates on a computer has been lessened with Active Hours. This feature keeps a record of the hours during which a system remains active and prevents the installation of updates during such hours. For example, when a system restart is needed to complete the installation of an update, Active Hours delays the update and allows you to finish what you’re doing on your computer. Thus, if you haven’t heard of this feature, then now is the time you do, read this post to configure and use Active Hours in your Windows 10 computer.

There are three ways you can configure Active Hours. The first one is for general users, whereas the rest of the two methods are for users who knows their way about the Windows Registry and Group Policy. To get started, refer to every given option below.

Option 1 – Configure Active Hours via Windows 10 Settings

  • Go to Settings > Update & Security. From there, click on the “Change active hours” option under the Windows Update section.
  • Next, you can select a time (“Start time” and “End time”) during which the restart can occur.
  • After that, click on the Save button and exit.

Note: Keep in mind that the values you’ve entered indicate the hours during which your system is in use, namely, ACTIVE. It is important for your active hour’s interval period and it can be anything between 1 and 18 hours since you can’t go beyond 18 hours. In addition, there is no option to configure different active hours on different days and you can’t specify different active hours for weekends and weekdays as well.

On the other hand, Windows 10 also offer users an option to override Active Hours. All you have to do is go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Restart Options. From there, you can choose a custom restart time when your computer will restart to install the updates but this is only a one-time setting.

Option 2 – Configure Active Hours via Registry Editor

  • Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run utility and type “Regedit” in the field and tap Enter or click OK to open the Registry Editor.
  • Next, navigate to this registry path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsUpdateUXSettings
  • In the given registry path, you can choose to change “ActiveHoursStart” and “ActiveHoursEnd”.

Note: There are no extra settings available in the Registry Editor but you can change the remote computer’s Active hours settings using the Registry Editor.

Option 3 – Configure Active Hours via Group Policy

Note that this option is available for the Windows 10 Pro and Educational or Enterprise versions. It is mostly used by computers in Business or through remote access. To get started, follow these steps:

  • Tap the Win + R keys to launch Run and type “gpedit.msc” in the field and tap Enter or click OK to open the Group Policy Editor.
  • Next, navigate to this group policy setting: Local Computer Policy > Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Updates.
  • From there, look for a policy labeled “Turn off auto-restart for updates during active hours” and double click on it. This will open a new window.
  • Click on the Enabled radio button to enable Active Hours. You also have the option to choose active hours just like in the first given option above. It works just fine except when the following policies don’t override:
    • No Auto-restart with logged-on users for scheduled automatic updates installations.
    • Always automatically restart at the scheduled time.
  • Since Group Policy allows you to reduce the range of active hours, you can configure it if you want it to be less than 18 hours. Just find the policy setting labeled “Specify Active hours range for auto -restarts. The minimum is 8 hours”.
  • After you set the Active Hours, click the Apply and OK buttons to save the changes made.

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Word icon is not showing on .doc & .docx
Recently, a number of users reported seeing plain white icons on their “.docx” files instead of the Word icon. This kind of issue is mostly caused by a conflict with the default program settings in Windows which is why you may not see any Microsoft Word icon on your .docx files. So if you suddenly find that the Microsoft Word icon is either blank or missing and does not show properly on .doc and .docx document files of Office on your Windows 10 computer, then you can check out the potential solutions outlined below. Before you proceed, you can try to restart your computer as there are instances when a simple system restart can resolve some issues like this one. However, if it does not help, create a System Restore point first. This is to ensure that you can always undo the changes you are about to make in case something goes wrong. Once you have that covered, proceed to the following options.

Option 1 – Try to configure .docx files to open with “winword.exe”

You can try configuring the .docx files to open with the winword.exe in order to fix the problem.
  • Right-click on a .docx file and select the “Open with…” option.
  • After that, if a prompt appears with a message saying, “How do you want to open this file”, select the “More apps” option to proceed.
  • Next, scroll down and check the checkbox that says, “Always use this app to open .docx files” option.
  • Then click on the “Look for another app on this PC” link and choose the WINWORD.exe application from one of the following paths based on the installed Office version in your computer and click Open:
    • Word 2016 (64-bit): C:/Program Files/Microsoft Office/root/Office16
    • Word 2016 (32-bit): C:/Program Files (x86)/Microsoft Office/root/Office16
  • Now check if you can now see the Word icon on the .doc or .docx files.

Option 2 – Try changing the default Word icon via Registry Editor

  • Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run utility.
  • Then type “Regedit” in the field and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor.
  • Next, navigate to this path located in the left pane: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTWord.Document.12DefaultIcon
  • From there, double click on the default value at the right pane and based on the Word version you are using as well as the architecture (32 bit or 64 bit) and then copy-paste the corresponding value in the Value data box:
    • For Word 2016 (64-bit) keep it as C:/Program Files/Microsoft Office/root/Office16/wordicon.exe,13
    • For Word 2016 (32-bit) Keep it as C:/Program Files (x86)/Microsoft Office/root/Office16/wordicon.exe,13
  • Once you’re done, tap Enter and then close the Registry Editor.
  • Restart your computer and see if the problem’s fixed.

Option 3 – Try to rebuild the Icon cache

You may want to rebuild the Icon cache as it could also help fix the issue.
  • Tap Win + E to open File Explorer and then click Folder Options and click Views to show Hidden System Files.
  • After that, go to C:Users%username%AppDataLocal folder and look for a file named Iconcache.db and delete it.
  • Next, go to C:Users%username%AppDataLocalMicrosoftWindowsExplorer.
  • From there, look for the following files and delete them.
    • iconcache_32.db
    • iconcache_48.db
    • iconcache_96.db
    • iconcache_256.db
    • iconcache_1024.db
    • iconcache_1280.db
    • iconcache_1600.db
    • iconcache_1920.db
    • iconcache_2560.db
    • iconcache_exif.db
    • iconcache_idx.db
    • iconcache_sr.db
    • iconcache_wide.dd
    • iconcache_wide_alternate.db
  • Restart your computer. This will purge and rebuild the icon cache.

Option 4 – Try fixing Office apps

Fixing the Office apps can help you resolve the Word icon issue. All you have to do is open Settings > Apps. From the app list, look for the Microsoft Office Desktop apps and select it and then click on the Advanced options and click Fix. After that, wait until the process is completed and restart your PC. However, if the problem still persists, repeat the steps again but this time, click on Reset instead of Fix.

Option 5 – Try to repair Office Installation

If the options given above didn’t work, you can try to repair the Office installation and see if it can fix the problem.
  • Open Control Panel and click on Programs and Features.
  • Next, right-click on the Office program that you want to repair which in this case is, Word.
  • Select Change and click Repair > Continue. After that, Office will start to repair Microsoft Word.
  • Wait until the process is done and then reboot your computer.
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A Guide to Fixing Error 0x8007007e on Windows 10

Error Code 0x8007007e – What is it?

Error code 0x8007007e often occurs when users attempt to use Windows Update but are unable to access updates or webpages. To resolve this issue, you will need to use tools that detect and correct corrupted files as this is usually the main reason for the error.

Solution

Restoro box imageError Causes

Once this error code is encountered, it's a clear indication that your Operating System has malfunctioned. This could be a consequence of an incorrect or failed installation of software. The software might leave invalid entries in the Windows registry. Improper shut down of your system and a malware attack are also causes of error code 0x8007007e. Additionally, someone with little or no technical knowledge might have deleted a system file by accident. Missing system files can also equate to other error codes such as registry error code 19.

You may not always be able to prevent issues from affecting your computer, but proper measures can be taken to limit your risk of experiencing problems like error code 0x8007007e. See the following suggestions below:

  • Ensure proper system maintenance by regularly using your automated tool. This will ensure your system is in good shape and error-free. It will also clean your system regularly leading to a boost in PC performance
  • Keep antivirus software up-to-date. Antivirus software if crucial for the proper functioning of your computer. Keeping your antivirus updated is one of the best ways you can avoid problems with your PC.

Further Information and Manual Repair

Method One: System File Checker

System File Checker is a Windows tool that allows users to check their system for corrupt or bad system files. The utility scans for corrupt files and repairs them as well as files that may have gone missing.

Depending on the type of Windows operating system on your computer, you may need to follow varying instructions. However, note that Windows operating systems including Windows 10 and Windows 8 or 8.1 and Windows Vista all provide access to System File Checker via Command Prompt.

Once you run System File Checker, the tool should be able to repair and replace corrupted files. However, in cases where the repair process does not take place, you can attempt a manual repair by replacing the corrupt file the tool identifies with a good file. The process may require technical knowledge of Command Prompt so consider help from a Windows repair technician or consider contacting Windows for instructions based on your computer’s operating system.

Method Two: Run System Restore Tool

The System Recovery Options menu in Windows contains many tools which can enable users to resolve serious errors. In the case of Error Code 0x8007007e, one of the best tools in this menu is System Restore.

When an error occurs which inhibits users from accessing key functions on their system, System Restore enables the user to restores the computer to an earlier period without causing harm to files, photos, or documents.

However, once you run this tool, you will only be able to access files available within the period to which your computer is restored. For this reason, carefully consider which period is best suited to your purposes. Also, ensure you restore the system to a time when error code 0x8007007e was not present on your machine.

If System Restore does not resolve the error, you may undo the restoration changes. Ensure you have sufficient free space on your machine hard disk before you proceed (300 MB at least for hard drives above 500MB or at least 50 MB for smaller sized disks).

Method Three: Download Automated Software

When it comes to resolving error codes, it can often be a frustrating and tricky venture, especially when you are attempting to fix the problem manually. The Internet is awash with bits and pieces of instruction, some misleading at best with uncertain success rates.

But what if there was a one-stop-shop or better yet a tool that offered solutions for error codes including 0x8007007e?  Download a powerful automated tool that offers easy and effective, user-friendly solutions for users with varying error code problems.

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Hello everyone and welcome to another great tutorial from errortools.com I hope everyone is feeling great and that you are prepared to boost the performance of your computer. This time we will speed up Windows startup time and overall performance by eliminating startup programs that we don't need and do not use. Microsoft itself and some application developers tend to have some applications or some services always active and set to be loaded on Windows startup. If you want to change which of these applications are starting up with your Windows and change them, follow this easy guide and you will be speeding up your Windows in no time. First thing is to open a task manager, fastest and most direct way of doing this is with a keyboard combination of CTRL + SHIFT + ESC keyboard with ctrl shift and esc markedWhen Task Manager opens, click on the startup tab on top. task manager startup tabOnce you click on startup you will get a list of applications that are set to be started when Windows is booted. startup applicationsYou can now click on the application and then click on disable on the bottom button, the application status will update in task manager to disabled and it will not be booted anymore when Windows starts. In this same manner, you can enable back some applications if you changed your mind about them. Please note that some applications are using some services and must have them running or they will not work properly. The best practice is to disable applications you are positive you will not use or use rarely so you do not want them to slow down Windows.
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Option 1 – Restart your computer and try installing the Updates again

You can restart your computer and then try installing the updates once again. There are instances when a simple restart resolves Windows Update errors. Aside from that, it would also be better if you make sure that your internet connection is working and that it’s stable. And so after you restart your computer, check for updates once again and see if you’re still getting the error or not.

Option 2 – Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter

Running the built-in Windows Update troubleshooter is one of the things you can first check out as it is known to automatically resolve any Windows Update errors like error code 0x80072EE2. To run it, go to Settings and then select Troubleshoot from the options. From there, click on Windows Update and then click the “Run the troubleshooter” button. After that, follow the next on-screen instructions and you should be good to go.

Option 3 – Try to disable your antivirus program

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

Option 4 – Try to restart the Background Intelligent Transfer Service

The Background Intelligent Transfer Service or BITS is a part of the Windows Update service and is the one that manages the background download of Windows Update, as well as scans for new updates and so on. And if Windows Update is experiencing some problems, you can try restarting BITS but make sure that you have admin privileges to do so.
  • Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
  • Next, type “services.msc” in the field and hit Enter to open Windows Services.
  • From the list of Services, look for the Background Intelligent Transfer Service and double-click on it to open Properties.
  • After that, you need to set the Startup type to “Automatic (Delayed Start) and click on Apply.
  • Now click the Stop button to stop BITS and then click the Start button to restart the service.
  • Click OK to save the changes made and then restart your PC.

Option 5 – Try installing the updates in a Clean Boot State

It could be that some third-party application is the one that’s causing the problem so it’s best if you put your computer in a Clean Boot state. During this state, you can start the system with a minimum number of drivers and startup programs that will surely help you in isolating the root cause of the issue.
  • Log onto your PC as an administrator.
  • Type in MSConfig in the Start Search to open the System Configuration utility.
  • From there, go to the General tab and click “Selective startup”.
  • Clear the “Load Startup items” check box and make sure that the “Load System Services” and “Use Original boot configuration” options are checked.
  • Next, click the Services tab and select the “Hide All Microsoft Services” check box.
  • Click Disable all.
  • Click on Apply/OK and restart your PC. (This will put your PC into a Clean Boot State. And configure Windows to use the usual startup, just simply undo the changes.)
  • After that, try to install the Windows app again.
Note: If you are able to install the app without any trouble at all then it means that the error is caused by some third-party application on your computer. You need to look for the culprit and uninstall it once you found it.

Option 6 – Run Microsoft’s online troubleshooter

Running Microsoft’s online troubleshooter might also help you fix the Windows update error code 0x80072EE2. This online troubleshooter is known to help in fixing Windows Update errors, it scans your computer for issues that might be causing the problem and then fixes them automatically.
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How to Fix DISM Error 1726 in Windows 10
What is DISM Error 1726? Every time you encounter some issues in your Windows 10 computer, especially when it comes to corrupted system files, you can always use the SFC scan and if the SFC can isn’t able to resolve the issue, there is also the DISM tool you can use which usually resolve the vast majority of system file corruption sufficiently. However, there are times when even the DISM commands experience issues as well. Such is the case with the 1726 error: “The remote procedure call failed”.

Some users reported that this DISM problem happens right before the process is supposed to end. According to experts, this error in DISM occurs due to any of the following reasons:

  1. A third-party program might have interrupted the DISM operation and is the one that triggered the 1726 error: “The remote procedure call failed”.
  2. The error could also pop up when there is a pending corruption repair. This usually happens when you tried to run a DISM command previously that was terminated manually or was halted because of some malfunction.
  3. Lastly, the error could also occur because the process that’s responsible for the procedure is disabled or was prevented from running.
Whichever the case is, here are some suggestions that might help you in resolving the 1726 error: “The remote procedure call failed”.

Option 1 – Try updating your PC to the latest Windows build available

Since the problem is specific to certain builds in Windows 10, you need to make sure that your computer is updated before you try other troubleshooting steps. Thus, follow the steps below to update your Windows 10 PC.
  • Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
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  • Once the update has been installed, restart your PC and run the DISM command again and see if the problem is fixed.

Option 2 – Try to change the Startup Type of the Remote Procedure Call service

As stated early on, the error might also be caused by a disabled Remote Procedure Call service or RPC or that it might be prevented from running for some reason. In case you don’t know, RPC is the service control manager for both COM and DCOM servers and it’s responsible for performing object variation requests, exporting resolution as well as distributing collection for the servers. And so if the server is disabled, all programs that are using COM and DCOM including the DISM commands, will not function correctly. Thus, you need to make sure that the RPC service is scheduled to enable itself on every system boot. To do so, here’s what you have to do:
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  • Then go to the General tab and change the drop-down menu next to Startup type to Automatic.
  • After that, click the Apply button and then OK to apply the changes made.
  • Restart your PC and run the DISM command once again at the next startup.

Option 3 – Try to modify the RpcSs registry key value

If the option didn’t work, you can also try enabling the RPC service using the Registry Editor. Before you proceed, make sure to create a System Restore point first and then follow the steps below afterward.
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  • Type “Regedit” in the field and hit Enter or click OK to open the Registry Editor. And if a User Account Control prompt appears, just click on Yes.
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  • After selecting the aforementioned registry key, go to the right pane and double-click on the Start value.
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  • Exit the Registry Editor and restart your PC and check if the 1726 error in DISM has already been resolved or not.

Option 4 – Try to disable the Windows Search service temporarily

Some users also recommended disabling the Windows Search service for the meantime as it could be the one that’s interrupting the DISM process.
  • Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
  • In the field, type “services.msc” to open the Services window again and hit Enter to open it.
  • Next, scroll down over the services list and double-click on the Windows Update service.
  • Afterward, go to Windows Search properties and click the General tab and then click the Stop button to stop the service from running temporarily.
  • Now try running the DISM commands again and see if the problem’s fixed or not.
  • Restart the Windows Search service and then restart your PC as well.
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Windows 11 android apps update

One of the selling points of Windows 11 was the ability to run Android apps natively in it without the need for any third-party software. It is not a big surprise that even after its release Microsoft is evolving and expanding Windows 11 and its features.

Windows 11 Android apps

Microsoft is now rolling out an update for the Windows Subsystem for Android on the Dev Channel of the Windows Insiders program. The new version upgrades the core operating system from Android 11 to Android 12.1 (also known as Android 12L), which means the new system and app features in Android 12 and 12.1 are now available on Windows for the first time. However, not the new features in those updates apply to the modified version that runs on top of Windows. For example, one of the main improvements in 12.1 was a dual-pane notification panel for larger screens, but Android app notifications on Windows just show up in the Windows notification panel.

The upgrade also improves how Android apps integrate into Windows. The Windows taskbar will now show which Android apps are currently using the microphone, location, and other system services — similar to many native Windows applications. Toasts messages (the small popups that some apps use for temporary messages) are now displayed as Windows notifications, and the titlebar on Android apps will use the current activity name for the title.

Full changelog

  • Windows Subsystem for Android updated to Android 12.1
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  • Updated Windows Subsystem for Android Settings app: redesigned UX and diagnostics data viewer added
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The new update is limited to Windows Insiders for now, but once Microsoft fixes all the bugs, it should start rolling out to everyone on Windows 11 that has the Android Subsystem enabled.

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Razer is making only 1337 smartwatches
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Way more. Way faster. Way ahead of the game. Get time on your side with the limited-edition Razer X Fossil Gen 6 Smartwatch—only 1,337 pieces worldwide. Designed for the next generation of gamers, supercharge your style with customizable straps, dials, Razer Chroma™ RGB effects, and more.
Now, I am a fan of Razer and I like their products, mostly keyboards and mouse altho chair is also very good and in top of the product line in that field but I can not really stand behind this product and decision, and the only reason why I can not stand behind it is this 1337 (leet, or elite) a limited number of available pieces that is nothing more than a gimmick to sell watches at a higher price. Watch itself is not really bad, as a matter of fact, it has some solid hardware statistics.

Technical characteristics

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Conclusion

Watch is Dropping on 01.10.22, 8 AM PST which is 4 days from now and altho it is an interesting device with solid hardware I can not stand behind it due to its limited edition numbers and with $329 price tag. With the same amount of money, you can get yourself Samsung or Apple watch with more features packing. But of course, that is just my personal preference and if you want to own this limited edition Razer smartwatch, go for it.
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High Efficiency Image File Format (HEIF) is a container format for individual images and image sequences. The standard covers multimedia files that can also include other media streams, such as timed text, audio, and video. A HEIF image using High-Efficiency Video Coding, HEVC, requires only about half the storage space as the equivalent quality JPEG. HEIF also supports animation and is capable of storing more information than an animated GIF or APNG at a small fraction of the size. HEIF files are a special case of the ISO Base Media File Format (ISOBMFF, ISO/IEC 14496-12), first defined in 2001 as a shared part of MP4 and JPEG 2000. Introduced in 2015, it was developed by the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) and is defined as Part 12 within the MPEG-H media suite (ISO/IEC 23008-12). HEIF was adopted by Apple in 2017 with the introduction of iOS 11, and support on other platforms is growing.

HEIF files can store the following types of data:

Image items
Storage of individual images, image properties, and thumbnails.
Image derivations
Derived images enable non-destructive image editing and are created on the fly by the rendering software using editing instructions stored separately in the HEIF file. These instructions (rectangular cropping, rotation by one, two or three quarter-turns, timed graphic overlays, etc.) and images are stored separately in the HEIF file, and describe specific transformations to be applied to the input images. The storage overhead of derived images is small.
Image sequences
Storage of multiple time-related and/or temporally predicted images (like a burst-photo shot or cinemagraph animation), their properties, and thumbnails. Different prediction options can be used in order to exploit the temporal and spatial similarities between the images. Hence, file sizes can be drastically reduced when many images are stored in the same HEIF file.
Auxiliary image items
Storage of image data, such as an alpha plane or a depth map, which complements another image item. These data are not displayed as such but used in various forms to complement another image item.
Image metadata
Storage of EXIF, XMP and similar metadata which accompany the images stored in the HEIF file.
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Fix Google Chrome screen flickering issue
If you are using your Google Chrome browser and suddenly notice a constant flickering after you’ve upgraded your Windows 10 computer, read on as this post will help you sort out the issue. A lot of users have reported this screen flickering issue in Chrome after having upgraded their devices to a recent Windows 10 build. The bizarre thing about this problem is that it only affects the Google Chrome browser and when it occurs, the Chrome browser will start to flash or flicker. According to users who experience the problem in Chrome, it seems to get worse when they try to play videos on YouTube or other streaming sites. To resolve this problem, many users tried to use Chrome in Incognito Mode, cleared the browser cache as well as cookies. They even tried resetting the browser settings and reinstall Chrome but nothing seems to work. Worry not though as there are still other options you can try to fix the problem and they’re easy ones so you’ll have no problem following them. The screen flickering problem in Chrome appears to be related to the Windows background and color settings as well as incompatible display drivers. This is why it is advised that you have both the video card drivers and Chrome browser updated to prevent the same problem from happening again. To get started troubleshooting the screen flickering issue in Chrome, refer to the following options.

Option 1 – Try modifying the background and colors settings

  • Tap the Win + I keys to open the Settings app.
  • From Settings, go to Personalization to load the Background Preferences and if this window does not appear, just select the Background option from the left side panel.
  • Next, select a Solid Color as the new background from the drop-down menu.
  • After that, check if the problem is fixed. This should be fixed especially if the one that’s causing screen flickering is the Windows automatic background switching.
  • Once you’ve selected the Solid color as the background preference, go to the Colors tab under Personalization. This will open a new window and from there, check the box of the “Automatically pick an accent color from my background” option.
  • Now close the Settings app and open Chrome again.

Option 2 – Try to update or rollback the Graphics driver

You can try to update your Graphics card driver using the Device Manager in your computer to resolve the blank dialog boxes problem or you can also go directly to the website of your graphics card manufacturers like NVIDIA, Intel, or AMD and go to the section called Drivers then check if there’s a new available update – if there is, download and install it. To update your Graphics driver via Device Manager, refer to these steps:
  • First, boot your computer into Safe Mode.
  • After that, tap the Win + R keys to launch Run.
  • Type in devmgmt.msc into the box and tap Enter or click OK to open the Device Manager.
  • After that, a list of device drivers will be displayed. From there, look for the Display Adapters and click on them.
  • After that, right-click on each entry under the Display Adapters and select the “Uninstall Device” option from the menu.
  • Now restart your computer.
  • After restarting your computer, go to the Settings app and Check for Updates in the Windows Update section.
Note: If updating the Graphics driver didn’t fix the problem, you can also try to roll back to its previous version and see if that helps.

Option 3 – Try to disable the Hardware Acceleration

For better performance, Google Chrome uses the Hardware Acceleration by default. Unfortunately, there are just some cases when your hardware, GPU to be specific, might not be able to cope with the requirements, resulting in the black screen issue. And if this is your case, you should try to disable the hardware acceleration from your Google Chrome browser settings panel. To do so, follow the steps below.
  • Open the Google Chrome settings page.
  • Click on the Advanced button to get more options.
  • Look for the option called “Use hardware acceleration when available” and then disable it by toggling the button to the left.
  • After that, check if the screen flickering issue in Chrome is fixed.

Option 4 – Try to disable “Smooth Scrolling” in Chrome

Disabling “Smooth Scrolling” in Chrome might also help you fix the issue. To do so, follow these steps:
  • Open Chrome and type “chrome://flags” and hit Enter.
  • Next, look for a flag named “Smooth Scrolling”. You can scroll down until you find it or search it in the Search Flag bar. Note that Smooth Scrolling is enabled by default in the newer versions of Chrome.
  • After that, select the drop-down menu and select Disabled.
  • Then click on the “Relaunch Now” button.
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How to remove AudioToAudio (Browser Extension) from your PC

AudioToAudio is a browser extension for Google Chrome developed by Mindspark Inc. This extension allows users easy access to popular audio converting websites.

When installed, it changes the default search engine, home page, and new tab to MyWay.com. While active AudioToAudio gathers user browsing activities such as, but not limited to: visited websites, clicked links, search queries. This data is later used/sold by the Mindspark ad network to better target ads. While browsing the internet with this extension enabled, you will see additional injected ads, sponsored content (such as links to web pages, banner ads, affiliate shop links, etc), and even pop-up ads from time to time if the regular ads are blocked. AudioToAudio has been marked as a Browser Hijacker by several anti-virus applications and is marked for removal by most of them.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijacking is a form of unwanted software, commonly a web browser add-on or extension, which causes modifications in web browser’s settings. They are created to interfere with browser functions for various purposes. Typically, hijackers are developed for the benefit of cyber hackers often through revenue generation from forced ad clicks and website visits. However, it isn’t that innocent. Your online safety is compromised and it is also extremely annoying. Some browser hijackers are programmed to make particular modifications beyond the browsers, like changing entries in the computer registry and letting other malware further damage your computer.

How to determine if your browser has been hijacked

When your web browser is hijacked, the following might happen: 1. your web browser’s homepage is suddenly different 2. you get re-directed to sites you never meant to visit 3. The default search page of the web browser is changed 4. discover new toolbars that you simply did not add 5. you see numerous ads pop up on the web browsers or computer screen 6. webpages load slowly and often incomplete 7. Inability to navigate to certain websites, especially antivirus and also other computer security software sites.

How they infect computers

There are many ways your computer or laptop can become infected with a browser hijacker. They usually arrive by way of spam email, via file-sharing networks, or by a drive-by-download. They can also be deployed via the installation of an internet browser toolbar, extension, or add-on. A browser hijacker could also come bundled up with some free software that you unknowingly download and install the browser hijack, compromising your PC security. Some of the most well-known hijackers are AudioToAudio, Babylon Toolbar, Conduit Search, OneWebSearch, Sweet Page, and CoolWebSearch.

Removing browser hijackers

Some hijackers could be removed by just uninstalling the related freeware or add-ons through the Add or Remove Programs in the Microsoft Windows Control Panel. But, the majority of hijackers are quite tenacious and require specialized applications to eliminate them. Novice computer users shouldn’t ever attempt the manual form of removal, as it requires thorough computer knowledge to carry out repairs on the computer registry and HOSTS file. Browser hijackers can be effectively removed by installing and running anti-malware software on the affected PC. Safebytes Anti-Malware has a sophisticated anti-malware engine to help you prevent browser hijacking in the first place, and mop up any existing issues. In addition to anti-malware, a system optimizer tool, similar to Total System Care, could help you resolve Windows registry errors, eliminate unwanted toolbars, secure online privacy, and increase overall computer performance.

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

All malware is bad, but certain types of malware do more damage to your computer than others. Some malware types alter internet browser settings by including a proxy server or change the PC’s DNS settings. In these cases, you will be unable to visit some or all internet sites, and thus not able to download or install the required security software to remove the malware. If you are reading this article, you probably have got affected by malware that prevents you from installing a computer security program like Safebytes Anti-Malware. There are a few actions you can take to get around this problem.

Install in Safe Mode

In Safe Mode, you are able to modify Windows settings, un-install or install some applications, and remove hard-to-delete viruses and malware. In the event the malware is blocking access to the internet and affecting your PC, running it in Safe Mode allows you to download anti-malware and run a diagnostic 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 are in Safe Mode, you can attempt to download and install your anti-malware software without the hindrance of the malicious software. Now, you can actually run the antivirus scan to remove computer viruses and malware without any interference from another application.

Switch over to a different web browser

Malicious code could exploit vulnerabilities in a particular internet browser and block access to all anti-virus software websites. If you suspect that your Internet Explorer happens to be hijacked by a computer virus or otherwise compromised by cybercriminals, the best plan of action would be to switch to an alternate browser like Chrome, Firefox, or Safari to download your favorite computer security program – Safebytes Anti-Malware.

Install and run antivirus from your Thumb drive

Here’s another solution which is creating a portable USB anti-virus software package that can scan your computer for malicious software without needing installation. Adopt these measures to use a USB drive to fix your infected computer system. 1) Download Safebytes Anti-Malware or MS Windows Defender Offline onto a virus-free computer system. 2) Mount the USB drive on the same computer. 3) Double-click the executable file to run the installation wizard. 4) Choose the USB flash drive as the destination for saving the file. Do as instructed on the screen to finish up the installation process. 5) Transfer the USB drive from the uninfected PC to the infected computer. 6) Double-click the EXE file to open the Safebytes tool from the thumb drive. 7) Run Full System Scan to detect and clean-up up all types of malware.

Protect Your PC and Privacy With SafeBytes Anti-Malware

If you’re looking to install an anti-malware application for your computer, there are several tools in the market to consider but you should not trust blindly anyone, irrespective of whether it is paid or free software. A few of them do a good job in removing malware threats while many will damage your computer by themselves. When searching for an antivirus tool, purchase one that offers reliable, efficient, and complete protection against all known viruses and malware. When considering commercial anti-malware software options, most people choose popular brands, like SafeBytes, and are very happy with them. Safebytes is among the well-established computer solutions companies, which provide this all-inclusive anti-malware application. Through its cutting-edge technology, this software will help you protect your PC against infections brought on by various kinds of malware and other threats, including spyware, adware, computer viruses, worms, trojan horses, keyloggers, potentially unwanted program (PUPs), and ransomware.

SafeBytes anti-malware takes computer protection to a whole new level with its advanced features. Here are a few of the good ones:

Robust, Anti-malware Protection: Safebytes is built on the very best virus engine within the industry. These engines can find and eliminate threats even during the early phases of a malware outbreak. Real-Time Protection: Malware programs trying to enter the computer are identified and stopped as and when detected by the SafeBytes real-time protection shields. This software will constantly monitor your PC for any suspicious activity and updates itself regularly to keep abreast of the constantly changing threat scenarios. Internet Security: Safebytes assigns all websites a unique safety rating that helps you to get an idea of whether the webpage you’re going to visit is safe to browse or known to be a phishing site. Lightweight: SafeBytes is a lightweight application. It uses up a really small amount of processing power as it works in the background so you’re free to use your Windows-based computer the way you want. Premium Support: For any technical problems or product guidance, you may get 24/7 professional assistance via chat and e-mail. Overall, SafeBytes Anti-Malware is a solid program since it has loads of features and could detect and eliminate any potential threats. You now may realize that this tool does more than just scan and eliminate threats from your computer. So when you want advanced forms of protection features & threat detections, purchasing SafeBytes Anti-Malware will be well worth the money!

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you’d like to carry out the removal of AudioToAudio manually rather than utilizing an automated software tool, you can follow these simple steps: Go to the Windows Control Panel, click on the “Add/Remove Programs” and there, select the offending application to uninstall. In case of suspicious versions of web browser plugins, you can easily get rid of them through your browser’s extension manager. You may also want to reset your home page and search engine providers, as well as clear your browser cache and cookies. If you decide to manually delete the system files and registry entries, utilize the following checklist to ensure that you know exactly what files to remove before undertaking any actions. However, this can be a tricky task and only computer professionals could carry it out safely. In addition, some malware is capable of replicating or preventing deletion. It is recommended that you do the removal procedure in Safe Mode. For more information and manual removal instructions visit www.ErrorTools.com Download Safebytes Anti-Malware: https://errortools.com/download/safebytes-anti-malware/ AudioToAudio is a browser extension for Google Chrome developed by Mindspark Inc. This extension allows users easy access to popular audio converting websites. When installed, it changes the default search engine, home page, and new tab to MyWay.com. While active AudioToAudio gathers user browsing activities such as, but not limited to: visited websites, clicked links, search queries. This data is later used/sold by the Mindspark ad network to better target ads. While browsing the internet with this extension enabled, you will see additional injected ads, sponsored content (such as links to web pages, banner ads, affiliate shop links, etc), and even pop-up ads from time to time if the regular ads are blocked. AudioToAudio has been marked as a Browser Hijacker by several anti-virus applications and is marked for removal by most of them.
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