Computer gets stuck on Preparing to configure

Free Download Manager is a software program developed by FreeDownloadManager.ORG. According to the publisher:

This software downloads files and converts videos. Its features include integration with all browsers, support of downloads from RapidShare, BitTorrent support, adjusting traffic usage, resuming broken downloads, and adds BitTorrent support, flash video download, upload manager, portable mode, and remote control.

During setup, the program creates a startup registration point in Windows in order to automatically start when any user boots the PC. It adds a browser extension to help it cache files you are downloading over your browser. The software is designed to connect to the internet and adds a Windows Firewall exception in order to do so without being interfered with. It also hooks up to start automatically and cache every download even if it's turned off.

This software comes bundled with video converters that some anti-virus programs marked as malware and therefore it is considered a potentially unwanted program.

About Potentially Unwanted Applications

If you’ve ever downloaded freeware or shareware, odds are high that your computer can get installed with a bunch of unwanted programs. These unwanted applications, officially known as Potentially Unwanted Programs (PUPs), often come bundled with other software and install themselves on user’s computers without their knowledge. They might not look like computer viruses to some individuals, but they can create huge annoyances and lead to serious difficulties for users. It’s clear by its name – unwanted programs – but did not really constitute “malware” in the traditional sense. What makes a PUP different from malware is the fact that when you download one, you’re doing it with your approval – even though in most cases unconsciously and unwillingly. Nevertheless, there is no doubt that PUPs continue to be bad news for PC users as they can be incredibly detrimental to your computer in several ways.

How does unwanted software affect you?

Unwanted programs come in various forms. Usually, they could be found in adware bundlers that are known to use aggressive and deceptive advertising. The majority of bundlers install multiple adware applications from a number of companies, each of which has its own EULA policy. Safebytes Anti-Malware entirely eliminates this threat and safeguards your PC against PUP or adware infection. They will also come in the form of web browser extension add-ons and toolbars. Not just they needlessly fill up space on your computer screen, toolbars could also manipulate search results, keep an eye on your web browsing activities, decrease your internet browser’s efficiency, and slow down your net connection to a crawl. Potentially unwanted programs utilize aggressive distribution methods to get in your computer. They will often include things like information gathering code that will collect and send your private information to other companies. Due to this unwanted program, your application may freeze, your security protections may get turned off that can leave your computer susceptible, your system could get damaged, and this list goes on and on.

Tips to prevent PUPs

• Always read the license agreement and privacy statement. Don’t agree unless you understand exactly what you are acknowledging. • Always choose “Custom” or “Advanced” installation and don’t blindly click the Next button, which will allow you to uncheck any foistware software programs you do not want. • Install an ad blocker/pop-up blocker; Add anti-malware products such as Safebytes Anti-Malware. These applications could establish a wall between the computer and cybercriminals. • Be alert if you install freeware, open-source programs, or shareware. Nowadays ‘freeware’ is not really freeware – but ‘crapware’ bundling nonsense. • Always download software from trusted sources like official websites instead of untrustworthy sharing space. Avoid file-hosting sites wherever possible.

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

Malware could cause plenty of damage to your PC. Some malware types modify browser settings by including a proxy server or change the PC’s DNS configurations. In these cases, you’ll be unable to visit certain or all of the internet sites, and thus not able to download or install the required security software to remove the infection. If you are reading this article, you may have got infected by malware that stops you from installing a computer security program such as Safebytes Anti-Malware. There are some fixes you can attempt to get around with this obstacle.

Get rid of viruses in Safe Mode

In the event the malware is set to load at Windows startup, then booting in safe mode should avoid it. Only minimal required programs and services are loaded whenever you boot your PC in Safe Mode. To launch your Windows XP, Vista, or 7 computers in Safe Mode with Networking, do as instructed below. 1) Tap the F8 key continuously as soon as your PC boots, however, before the large Windows logo appears. This would conjure up the Advanced Boot Options menu. 2) Choose Safe Mode with Networking using arrow keys and hit Enter. 3) Once you get into this mode, you should have an internet connection once again. Now, use your browser normally and navigate to https://safebytes.com/products/anti-malware/ to download and install Safebytes Anti-Malware. 4) Following installation, run a complete scan and let the software program remove the threats it discovers.

Obtain the anti-malware program using an alternate browser

Web-based viruses could be environment-specific, targeting a particular web browser or attacking particular versions of the web browser. In case you suspect that your Internet Explorer has been hijacked by a computer virus or otherwise compromised by online hackers, the most effective thing to do would be to switch to a different browser like Chrome, Firefox, or Safari to download your chosen computer security program – Safebytes Anti-Malware.

Run antivirus from your pen drive

Here’s yet another solution which is creating a portable USB antivirus software package that can scan your computer for malicious software without the need for installation. Try these simple steps to clear up your infected computer by using a portable antivirus. 1) On a virus-free PC, download and install Safebytes Anti-Malware. 2) Put the pen drive into the clean PC. 3) Double click on the downloaded file to open the installation wizard. 4) Choose the drive letter of the flash drive as the location when the wizard asks you where you want to install the antivirus. Follow the directions to finish the installation process. 5) Unplug the pen drive. Now you can utilize this portable anti-virus on the affected computer system. 6) Run the Safebytes Anti-malware directly from the USB drive by double-clicking the icon. 7) Click on “Scan Now” to run a scan on the infected computer for malware.

Features and Benefits of SafeBytes Anti-Malware

If you are looking to purchase anti-malware for your computer system, there are numerous brands and applications for you to consider. A few of them do a good job in getting rid of malware threats while some will ruin your PC by themselves. You must choose a product that has gained a good reputation and detects not only viruses but other kinds of malware too. Among few good programs, SafeBytes Anti-Malware is the strongly recommended software for the security-conscious user. SafeBytes anti-malware is a very effective and easy-to-use protection tool that is created for users of all levels of IT literacy. Once you’ve got installed this software program, SafeBytes superior protection system will make sure that no viruses or malware can seep through your computer. SafeBytes anti-malware provides an array of advanced features that sets it aside from all others. The following are some of the good ones: World-class AntiMalware Protection: Safebytes is made on the very best virus engine in the industry. These engines can detect and remove threats even during the early stages of a malware outbreak. Real-time Active Protection: SafeBytes provides complete and real-time security for your personal machine. It will monitor your personal computer for suspicious activity at all times and shields your PC from unauthorized access. Fast Multi-threaded Scanning: Safebytes Anti-Malware, using its advanced scanning engine, provides super-fast scanning that can immediately target any active online threat. Safe Web Browsing: Through its unique safety rating, SafeBytes notifies you whether a website is safe or not to access it. This will ensure that you’re always certain of your safety when browsing the online world. Lowest Memory/CPU Usage: This software is lightweight and will work silently in the background, and that does not have an effect on your PC efficiency. 24/7 Live Expert Support: You can obtain high levels of support round the clock if you’re using their paid software.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you wish to manually remove FreeDownloadManager without the use of an automated tool, it may be possible to do so by removing the program from the Windows Add/Remove Programs menu, or in cases of browser extensions, going to the browsers AddOn/Extension manager and removing it. You will likely also want to reset your browser. To ensure the complete removal, manually check your hard drive and registry for all of the following and remove or reset the values accordingly. Please note that this is for advanced users only and may be difficult, with incorrect file removal causing additional PC errors. In addition, some malware is capable of replicating or preventing deletion. Doing this in Safe Mode is advised.

The following files, folders, and registry entries are created or modified by FreeDownloadManager

Website breaches and stealing user data is nothing new in the world of the internet. Although a very unpleasant experience it still happens even on some high-quality websites. In this article, we will not focus on how can you not be the target of this kind of attack, because you really cannot. Weel you can kind of if you decide not to have your data on websites at all, but let's just say that is not something you are willing to do.

So, in this case, you have some social, forum, or gaming accounts but you heard that service has been breached and that your email or password might be stolen. Well in this case all you need to do is of course to login into the service and change your password. But, what happens if you are not aware at all that service has been compromised?

Mozilla foundation has asked themselves this same question it seems and they have decided to help us out. They have placed a free online service where you can just by typing in your email address find out if your email or data has been compromised in any way.

Go to https://monitor.firefox.com/ and check it out, if you find out that there is some website that you did not know was breached, change your password right away, and if you have used the same password for anything else (I hope not), change them as well.

If you are using a couple of graphics-intensive applications like video rendering software or some games, then something in the background of the system could get messed up and you might encounter the “LoadLibrary failed with error 1114, A dynamic link library (DLL) initialization routine failed” error message. This kind of error can usually get fixed by twerking some graphic settings, fixing and updating the drivers, and allowing your PC to work by leveraging the maximum use of the resources it’s got. Thus, in this post, you will be guided on some measures you can apply to resolve this kind of error message as soon as possible. Before you go over the options given below, if you have made any changes to any software component in your computer or installed new software recently, then you might want to undo them and then check if it fixes the “LoadLibrary failed with error 1114 “ error. Once you have that covered but you’re still getting the error, use the options given below as a reference to fix the error.

Option 1 – Try to modify the Dynamic Graphics Settings

You might want to modify the Dynamic Graphics Settings in order to fix the error. To do so, follow the steps below.

• Open Control Panel and then Power Options.
• From there, click on the Change plan settings option for your chosen power plan.
• After that, click on Change advanced power settings.
• Then look for the Switchable Dynamic Graphics option and then click on it to expand it.
• Afterward, expand the Global Settings option and then select Maximize Performance for both the “On battery” and “Plugged in” options.
• Now click on the Apply button and then OK to save the changes made.

Note: If the Switchable Dynamic Graphics option is not available on your computer, you can try the next given option below.

Option 2 – Try switching the Graphics card to High-Performance mode

Note that this second option varies from computer to computer since most computers use the Graphics card made by NVIDIA, while some by AMD and others use Intel HD Graphics. Thus, depending on which graphics card your computer uses, pick one of the three fixes below.

NVIDIA Graphics Drivers:

If your computer uses a graphics card made by NVIDIA and has the drivers are properly installed and updated, then follow the steps below.

• Right-click on any empty space on your desktop and then click on the NVIDIA Control Panel.
• After that, expand the 3D Settings on the left-hand side tree-structured list and then click on Manage 3D Settings.
• Next, select your preferred GPU on the right-side panel and then set it to the High-Performance NVIDIA Card from the drop-down menu.
• As an alternative, you can also go to the Program Settings tab,
• From there, select the program that you are trying to run from the drop-down menu and click on Add.
• Now set the graphics processor to a High-performing processor and then restart your computer to apply the changes made.

AMD Graphics card:

If your computer uses a graphics card made by AMD and has the drivers are properly installed and updated, then follow the steps below.

• Right-click on any empty space on your desktop.
• Click on AMD Control or Configure Switchable Graphics.
• Next, click on Browse and select the program where you encounter the error.
• Finally, click on High Performance for the selected program and then restart your computer to successfully apply the changes made.

Intel HD graphics:

If your computer uses the Intel HD graphics and then its drivers are properly installed and updated, then follow these steps:

• Right-click on any empty space on your desktop and then click on the Intel Graphics Settings.
• Next, click on the Power menu.
• After that, select a Graphics Power Plan for both the “On battery” and “Plugged in” options to High-Performance Power Plan.
• Then click on the Apply button and restart your computer.

Nectar Toolbar is a Browser addon for Internet Explorer developed by AIMIA Coalition Loyalty. This addon changed your default search provider to Yahoo UK. While installed, you might see additional unwanted ads and sponsored links injected in the search results.

From the Author: We all search the web every day for information from handy how-to’s, must know news about shopping. So wouldn’t it be great if you could collect extra Nectar points just for doing something you do already? Like to shop online? Nectar Search will also tell you when you’re on a shopping website (like Argos, Debenhams, Next, Play.com, and Apple) where you can collect points too.

Several anti-virus scanners have marked this addon as a Browser Hijacker and are therefore not recommended to keep on your computer.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijacking means a malicious program code has power over and modified the settings of your browser, without your permission. Browser hijackers could do more than just changing home pages. In general, hijackers are developed for the benefit of online hackers often through income generation that comes from forced ad mouse clicks and website visits. Nonetheless, it isn’t that harmless. Your web safety is compromised and it is also really annoying. In a much worst case, your browser could be hijacked to download malicious software that will do a great deal of damage to your computer.

Key symptoms that your browser has been hijacked

When your browser is hi-jacked, the following can happen: you notice unauthorized changes to your internet browser’s homepage; you observe new unwanted favorites or bookmarks added, usually directed to advertisement-filled or porn websites; the default browser configurations have been changed and/or your default web engine is altered; unwanted new toolbars are added to your internet browser; you might notice numerous pop-up adverts on your computer screen; your browser has instability issues or exhibits frequent errors; You can’t access particular websites, especially anti-malware websites.

Exactly how they invade computers

A browser hijacker can be installed on your computer or laptop when you go to an infected site, click on an e-mail attachment, or download something from a file-sharing site. Many internet browser hijackings originate from add-on programs, i.e., browser helper objects (BHO), toolbars, or plug-ins added to browsers to provide them additional features. Other times you might have accidentally accepted a browser hijacker as part of a software bundle (generally freeware or shareware). Popular examples of browser hijackers include CoolWebSearch, Conduit, OneWebSearch, Coupon Server, RocketTab, Delta Search, Searchult.com, and Snap.do. Browser hijacking can bring about serious privacy problems and even identity theft, affect your web browsing experience by taking control over outgoing traffic, drastically slows down your computer or laptop by depleting lots of resources, and lead to system instability also.

Browser hijacker removal methods

Some browser hijacking can be easily stopped by identifying and eliminating the corresponding malware software from your control panel. However, most hijackers are quite tenacious and require specialized applications to get rid of them. Moreover, browser hijackers could modify the Windows registry so it can be extremely tough to fix manually, particularly when you are not a tech-savvy person. Browser hijackers can be effectively removed by installing and running an anti-malware application on the affected computer. To get rid of any browser hijacker out of your computer, you could download this particular top-notch malware removal application – SafeBytes Anti-Malware. Together with anti-malware, a PC optimizer software, similar to Total System Care, could help you correct Windows registry errors, remove unwanted toolbars, secure your internet privacy, and stabilize programs installed on your computer.

Find Out How To Install Safebytes Anti-Malware On An Infected Computer system

All malware is bad and the consequences of the damage will vary based on the specific type of malicious software. Certain malware goes to great lengths to stop you from downloading or installing anything on your computer system, particularly anti-virus programs. If you are reading this, you probably have infected by a virus that stops you from installing a security program like Safebytes Anti-Malware. Follow the instructions below to remove malware through alternative methods.

Install in Safe Mode with Networking

Safe Mode is a unique, simplified version of Windows where just essential services are loaded to counteract malware and other problematic programs from loading. In case the malicious software is set to load immediately when the PC boots, switching to this mode could prevent it from doing so. To boot into Safe Mode, hit “F8” key on the keyboard right before 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 are in Safe Mode, you can try to install your anti-malware application without the hindrance of the malware. After installation, run the malware scanner to eliminate standard infections.

Download the anti-malware program in a different internet browser

Some malware only targets particular internet browsers. If this is your case, employ another browser as it might circumvent the computer virus. In case you suspect that your Internet Explorer happens to be hijacked by a computer virus or otherwise compromised by online hackers, the most effective course of action is to switch over to a different web browser such as Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, or Apple Safari to download your favorite security application – Safebytes Anti-Malware.

Make a bootable USB anti-virus drive

Another solution is to save and run an anti-malware software program entirely from a Thumb drive. To run antivirus from a thumb drive, follow these simple steps: 1) On a clean computer, install Safebytes Anti-Malware. 2) Plug the USB drive into the clean computer. 3) Double-click the Setup icon of the anti-malware software to run the Installation Wizard. 4) Select the drive letter of the pen drive as the location when the wizard asks you where you would like to install the anti-virus. Follow the onscreen instructions to finish the installation. 5) Now, insert the USB drive into the corrupted PC. 6) Run the Safebytes Anti-malware directly from the pen drive by double-clicking the icon. 7) Simply click “Scan Now” to run a complete scan on the affected computer for malware.

SafeBytes Anti-Malware Features

To protect your laptop or computer from various internet-based threats, it’s important to install anti-malware software on your personal computer. However, with countless numbers antimalware companies out there, these days it is hard to decide which one you should buy for your laptop. Some of them do a great job in eliminating malware threats while some will damage your PC by themselves. You must be careful not to pick the wrong product, especially if you buy a paid application. On the list of strongly recommended software by industry leaders is SafeBytes Anti-Malware, the most dependable program for Microsoft Windows. SafeBytes anti-malware is a trustworthy tool that not only secures your PC permanently but is also quite user-friendly for people of all skill levels. Once you’ve got installed this application, SafeByte's sophisticated protection system will ensure that no viruses or malware can seep through your PC.

SafeBytes anti-malware provides an array of enhanced features that sets it aside from all others. Some of them are listed as below:

Real-Time Protection: SafeBytes gives you round-the-clock protection for your PC limiting malware intrusions in real-time. This utility will constantly monitor your computer for suspicious activity and updates itself continuously to keep abreast of the constantly changing threat landscape. Most effective AntiMalware Protection: Built on a greatly acclaimed anti-virus engine, this malware removal application can find and get rid of numerous stubborn malware threats such as browser hijackers, potentially unwanted programs, and ransomware that other common anti-virus applications will miss. Website Filtering: Safebytes allots all websites a unique safety score that helps you to have an idea of whether the webpage you’re just about to visit is safe to browse or known to be a phishing site. Fast Multi-threaded Scanning: Safebytes Anti-Malware, with its advanced scanning engine, offers extremely fast scanning which can promptly target any active online threat. Low CPU/Memory Usage: SafeBytes is well known for its low influence on processing power and great detection rate of various threats. It operates silently and efficiently in the background so you’re free to utilize your PC at full power all of the time. 24/7 Customer Service: For any technical concerns or product assistance, you could get 24/7 professional assistance through chat and email. Put simply, SafeBytes has created a meaningful anti-malware solution that is aimed to protect you against all manner of malware. You now may understand that this particular software does more than just scan and eliminate threats from your PC. So if you’re searching for the absolute best malware removal application out there, and when you don’t mind shelling out a few bucks for it, opt for SafeBytes Anti-Malware.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

To eliminate Nectar Toolbar manually, go to the Add or Remove programs list in the Windows Control Panel and choose the program you want to remove. For browser extensions, go to your web browser’s Addon/Extension manager and select the add-on you want to remove or disable. You’ll probably also want to reset your internet browser to its default settings. Finally, check your hard disk for all of the following and clean your computer registry manually to get rid of leftover application entries after uninstallation. But bear in mind, this can be a tough task and only computer professionals can perform safely. In addition, certain malicious programs have the capability to defend against its removal. Completing this task in Safe Mode is suggested.

Error Code 0x800F0922 – What is it?

Error Code 0x800F0922 refers to an issue with downloading the newest version of Microsoft Windows, Windows 10. It could mean that your PC doesn't have enough free space in the System Reserved partition, or that it couldn't connect to the Windows Update servers. This issue is not very common, most users will never see this error code. Some, however, will need to follow the below fixes in order to download and upgrade their systems properly. Common symptoms include:

• Dialog box appears with the Error Code 0x800F0922
• Microsoft Windows 10 upgrade is unsuccessful and/or incomplete
• Users are unable to open applications after attempting the Microsoft Windows 10 upgrade

Solution

Error Causes

There are two standard reasons why this error occurs during the Microsoft Windows 10 upgrade.

• There may not be enough free space in the “System Reserved” partition of your hard drive.
• Error Code 0x800F0922 could also mean that your PC was not able to successfully connect to the Microsoft Windows update servers due to a VPN (virtual private network) connection in your home or office network.
• The .Net framework installation portion of the Windows 10 upgrade fails.

Further Information and Manual Repair

Error Code 0x800F0922 as stated is somewhat rare, but it does occur occasionally. Users who have experienced this error while attempting to upgrade their system to Microsoft Windows 10 have the following options for do-it-yourself fixes.

Method 1:

Use this method if you are operating on a network that uses a VPN connection.

1. Disconnect from your office or home network.
2. Turn off your VPN software.
3. Run the Microsoft Windows 10 upgrade.
4. Restart your PC.
5. Reconnect to your home or office network.
6. Turn your VPN software back on.

Method 2:

This will run the Windows 10 Update troubleshooter that is built into your PC.

1. Click on the Windows icon on the lower-left corner of your desktop.
2. Press the “w” key to open the SEARCH function.
3. Type “troubleshooting” in the search field and press ENTER
4. When the troubleshooting window opens, select the “view all” option from the left window pane.
5. Select “Windows update”.
6. Select “advanced” and then choose the “run as administrator” option.
7. Click the NEXT button and follow the on-screen prompts.
8. This troubleshooter will walk you through the steps needed for your specific situation.

Method 3:

This method will run the DISM (deployment image servicing and management) tool built into your PC.

1. Press the “windows key” on your keyboard followed by the “x” key.
2. Select the “command prompt admin” option.
3. Type the command “exe /online /cleanup-image /scanhealth” into the command prompt field and press ENTER.
4. Wait for the scan to run completely.
5. When the scan is complete, a message will appear telling you that “the operation completed successfully”.
6. Type the command “dism.exe /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth” into the command prompt field and press ENTER.
7. This will take a while to run completely, but it will restore any missing or corrupted files necessary for the Microsoft Windows 10 update.
8. Restart your computer.
9. Attempt the Windows 10 upgrade again.

Method 4: Use this option if you believe the issue is a result of the .NET framework being disabled.

1. Press the “windows” key followed by the “x” key.
2. Select the “control panel” option.
3. When the control panel window opens, click your cursor in the search field on the upper right hand corner.
4. Search for the phrase “windows features”, then select the link “turn Windows features on or off”.
5. Select the check box (add a check) to the box next to “.Net framework”.
6. Click the OK button.
7. Proceed with your Microsoft Windows 10 upgrade.

To resolve this, all you need is third-party software to increase the size of the System Reserved partition. One of the four methods listed above should fix your Error Code 0x800F0922 issue and allow for a successful Windows 10 upgrade. On an occasion where there isn't enough space, use third-party software to increase the size of the System Reserved partition.  If you do not possess the technical expertise required to accomplish this yourself or do not feel comfortable doing so, download and install a powerful automated tool to get the job done.

Error Code 0xC004C770 – What is it?

If the Error Code 0xC004C770 popped up on your computer during your activation of the Windows 10 software, don’t worry. This is a fairly common error, especially for people who own more than one computer upon which Windows 10 is installed and activated. The gist of this error code is that the product key that you have entered has already been claimed or used on a different computer. Because there are limitations on the number of computers that can use any given license activation code or product key, this error code can arise when you have exceeded that limit. If you have a single-use license and have already entered the particular product key onto another machine, you may see this error come up during activation.

Both Error Code 0xC004C770 and Error Code 0x803FA071 arise from the same problem and the same steps can be used to resolve both error codes.

Solution

Error Causes

Error Code 0xC004C770 is likely to appear on your screen during activation of Windows 10 if you or anyone else in your organization have already entered in the product key used on another computer. If you have a multiple-use license, the product key that you are entering may already have been used for the maximum number of computers allowed under that license.

Further Information and Manual Repair

There are two basic methods for addressing the issues associated with Error Code 0xC004C770. These methods can easily be implemented by anyone who is comfortable interacting with the Windows Store from their computer, which makes the resolution of this particular error code fairly simple and straightforward.

If you are unable to complete the steps below or Error Code 0xC004C770 has not been resolved after following the guides below, contact a Windows technician who is familiar with the Windows 10 activation process to assist you in the process. You can also get in touch with the Windows technical support team to assist you in the process if needed.

Method One: Purchase A New Product Key from Windows

If you have already used the product key on another computer or have used it on the maximum number of allowed devices, you may need to purchase an additional product key for the computer with Error Code 0xC004C770. Product keys can be purchased physically from a retailer that sells Windows 10 software licenses or purchased directly from the Windows store.

To purchase a new product key directly from the Windows Store, follow the steps below:

• Step One: Select the Windows start button at the bottom of your toolbar. Click on “Settings,” then select the option for “Update and Security.”
• Step Two: Click on the “Activation” option.
• Step Three: In the menu that appears, choose the option to “Go to Store” and follow any on-screen instructions to finalize a purchase of the Windows 10 software and product key.
• Step Four: Use the new product key to complete the installation and activation of the Windows 10 software on your computer.

If you are unable to see the “Go to Store” option when you reach the “Activation” page, you may not be set as an administrator of your machine. In this case, get in touch with the support personnel from your company to complete the purchase, installation, and activation process on your computer.

Method Two: Attempt to Finish Activation via Phone

For users who have changed out parts of their computer’s hardware, like putting in a new motherboard or activating a new hard drive, you may have more success if you attempt activation through a phone.

In order to activate your copy of Windows 10 from your phone, follow the steps below:

• Step One: On your mobile device, open up the search box from the taskbar.
• Step Two: In the search box, enter the phrase “SLUI 04.”
• Step Three: Select the “SLUI 04” option that appears.
• Step Four: Follow the directions given on the screen to complete the activation process for your copy of Windows 10.

As with any error code resolution, if the methods above are not successful or if you are not comfortable with your ability to successfully complete the steps above, get in contact with a qualified professional who is trained in the Windows 10 activation process to assist you or download a powerful automated tool to get the job done.

This post will guide you in fixing a particular problem where your Windows 10 computer does not even let you turn it on and it appears as soon as it starts to boot the operating system and it displays an error message that says, “The Boot Configuration Data for your PC is missing or contains errors, Error code 0xc0000185”. On the other hand, it may also display a different error message saying, “The operating system couldn’t be loaded because a required file is missing or contains errors”. There are various suggestions you can try to resolve this error. You could check the physical status of your hardware or rebuild the Boot Configuration Data, use the Automatic Startup Repair or System Restore, or better yet, reset your Windows 10 computer. Since your computer will not boot, you will have to either try to get into the Advanced Startup Options screen, boot Windows 10 in Safe Mode, or use a bootable Windows 10 media to boot your computer.

Option 1 – Try to rebuild the BCD files

The first thing you can do to resolve the issue is to Rebuild Boot Configuration Data or BCD files.

• You can start by booting into the installation environment for Windows 10 from an installation media.
• After that, click on Repair your computer and on the blue screen, select Troubleshoot and then select the Advanced options menu.
• From there, select Command Prompt and once you open it, enter each one of the commands given below by sequence.
  • bootrec /FixMbr
  • bootrec /FixBoot
  • bootrec /ScanOS
  • bootrec /RebuildBcd
• Once you’re done executing the commands given above, type “exit” to close the Command Prompt window and then restart your computer and see if it fixed error code 0xc000014c.

Option 2 – Try to run Automatic Startup Repair

In this option, you need to boot your computer into the Advanced Startup Options and from there, run the Automatic Startup Repair and then wait until the process is completed.

Option 3 – Try running System Restore in Advanced Startup Options

Since you probably can’t boot into your Windows 10 computer, you can try to run System Restore again in the Advanced Startup Options.

• Boot your computer into the Advanced Startup Options screen.
• From there, you will see some options to troubleshoot when you can’t log in to Windows in the usual way.
• Now select Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Command Prompt.
• After that, type “rstrui” and hit Enter to execute the command which will start the System Restore process.

Option 4 – Try to perform repair install by creating a Windows 10 installation media

• Click this link and then click the Download Tool Now button.
• Next, click the “Use the tool to create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file)…” option and follow the next given instructions on the screen.
• Now select the ISO file option in step 5.
• After that, you should now have an ISO file.
• Next, go to the location where you’ve downloaded the ISO file.
• Then right-click on the Windows 10 ISO file and select the Open with option and then select File Explorer.
• Now click on “setup.exe” and follow the next instructions that appear on the screen. When asked, you have to select either Nothing (clean install) or Keep personal files only option. Take note that you must not select the “Keep personal files, apps, and Windows settings since it doesn’t really work.

Option 5 – Try to physically check the hardware

You should also check the physical status of the hardware in your computer. You can clean the dust off the hardware components like the Network Card of the computer. You might want to use a small blower or you could also use a soft cloth and run the components gently. Make sure that you don’t damage any parts with moisture or cause harm to any circuits while you carry out this task.

If you suddenly find the middle mouse button not working as you use it on your Windows 10 computer, then you’ve come to the right place as this post will provide some suggestions that can help you fix the issue. This kind of problem can affect your experience in using your computer as the middle mouse button helps you in scrolling through long web pages and screens with a lot of data. So if that stops, you will end up using your keyboard instead which is kind of a hassle compared to using the middle mouse button. It is possible that this problem could have something to do with either the hardware or software. To isolate the possibility of a hardware failure, you can try to connect the mouse to a different computer and see if it works just fine there or if it still has the same problem. If the mouse works properly on a different computer, then the issue is software-related. It is possible that a software update, especially gaming software, could have been misconfigured in a way that the middle button does not respond like it’s supposed to. To resolve the problem, you might want to try reinstalling or updating the mouse drivers or run the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter. You can also install OEM-specific mouse drivers or modify some entries in the Windows Registry.

Option 1 – Reinstall or update the Mouse driver

The problem may be caused by a corrupted or an outdated mouse driver. To fix it, you have to update or reinstall the mouse driver. How? Follow these steps:

• Open the Devices Manager from the Win X Menu.
• Then locate the Mouse and other pointing devices and right-click on the mouse driver to open the Properties.
• After that, switch to the Driver tab and click on the Uninstall Device button.
• Follow the screen option to completely uninstall it.
• Finally, disconnect the mouse and plug it back in to reinstall the mouse driver.

Note: You can install a dedicated driver on your computer in case you have it or you could also look for it directly from the website of the manufacturer.

Option 2 – Try running the Hardware Troubleshooter

The next thing you can do to fix the problem is by running the Hardware Troubleshooter. Although it won’t make much of a difference, there’s still a possibility that it could automatically fix the problem with these function keys. To use it, refer to these steps:

• The first thing you need to do is click on Start and then on the gear-like icon to pull up the window for Settings.
• After opening Settings, look for the Update and Security option and select it.
• From there, go to the Troubleshoot option located on the left-hand side of the list.
• Next, select Hardware and Devices from the list and open the Troubleshooter and run it. Once it is doing its job, wait for it to complete the process and then restart the system.
• After the system restarts, check if the problem’s now fixed. If not, refer to the next option given below.

Option 3 – Try to install OEM specific mouse drivers

Aside from updating or reinstalling the mouse drivers, you might also want to try installing OEM-specific mouse drivers. When you install Windows, it will use a generic driver for all its components. The disadvantage of generic drivers for the mouse is that it limits its functionality. In fact, some also configure the middle mouse button to respond to specific action which does not work without the correct drivers. In such cases, you need to visit the website of your computer’s manufacturers to download and install the latest drivers and then open the software and configure it the way it was before. Keep in mind that some OEMs also offer gestures, so you also have to check on that.

Option 4 – Try to modify some entries in the Registry

If a Windows Update is the one that caused the problem, you could correct it by making some modifications in the Registry but before you proceed, make sure that you create a System Restore point first.

• 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 registry path: HKEY_CURRENT_USERControl PanelDesktop
• After that, double click on the “WheelScrollLines” entry on the right pane to open its Properties.
• Now change its value data to “3” and exit the Registry Editor and then see if the issue with the middle mouse button is fixed or not.

If you were trying to copy, move modify or delete a folder or a file in your computer but you’re not able to do so and encountered an error instead that says, “Could not find this item, This is no longer located in <path>, Verify the item’s location and try again”, then you’ve come to the right place as this post will guide you on how you can fix this error. You can encounter this error when you delete, rename, open or copy a certain file which is often created by third-party software and lacks important information like file format, and so on. Although you can see these files in File Explorer, you might not be able to perform some operations in them. To fix this problem, you need to check out the given suggestions below.

Option 1 – Try to rename the file via Command Prompt

If you were trying to rename the file but unable to do so, you can achieve that by executing a command in Command Prompt. Make sure to follow the steps carefully.

• Type in “Command Prompt” In the Start menu to search for it or you could also click the search button right next to the Start menu and then right-click on the related result and select the option “Run as administrator” to open Command Prompt with admin privileges.
• Next, type in “cd” followed by the path where the file is located with this format – “C:/Folder1/Folder2/Folder3”. However, you have to omit the problematic file this time. To put it simply, the last folder in the command must be the folder where the file is located.
• After inputting the command, press Enter on your keyboard and then use the set of commands given below. Note that each command is a new line so you need to tap Enter after copying each line.
  • DIR /A /X /P
  • RENAME (the current name of the problematic file) (a non-problematic name)
  • EXIT

Note: Make sure that you only input the current name and the new name separated by a space. You must not write the brackets in the command. If everything goes well, you will now be able to operate the file like you used to before.

Option 2 – Try to delete the file using Command Prompt

On the other hand, if you were trying to delete the file instead of renaming it, you can execute another command in Command Prompt.

• Open Command Prompt with admin privileges like what you did earlier.
• Once you’ve opened Command Prompt, copy and paste the command given below and tap Entre after you do so. You also have to make sure that you key in the correct path where the file is located as well as its name.

rd /s \?X:badfolderpath

Note: In the command above, “X” is the placeholder letter so you must input the letter that corresponds to the drive’s letter where the file is located.

• After that, you will see the “Operation completed successfully” message on your screen. If you don’t, check if you’ve really inputted the correct location of the file or its name.

Option 3 – Delete the file without any extension

If the file you were trying to delete does not have an extension, this means that Windows does not know what to do with this file which is why it’s throwing an error message. The best thing to do in such cases is to delete the file especially if it takes up a lot of memory. To delete these kinds of files, here’s what you have to do:

• Follow the first two steps from the previous option above so you can navigate to the location of the file accurately just be careful in inputting the folders.
• Don’t forget to tap Enter right after each command and then use the next command below so you can delete the affected file which has no extension:

del *.*

• After you’re done, open the File Explorer and then check if the file is now deleted or not.

If you encounter an error message that says, “<Drive>: is not accessible, The File or directory is corrupted and unreadable” when you try to connect your USB or external device, then the File System could have been corrupted or the external device might be infected with malware. On the other hand, it is also possible that the device might have some physical damage. To fix the “The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable” error, you can try to run Check Disk or scan your computer for malware or you could also format the destination drive. For more details, refer to each one of the given options below.

Option 1 – Run the Check Disk utility

You can also run the Check Disk utility to fix the error when you connect your USB or external device.

• In the Windows Search box, type “command prompt” and from the search results, right click on Command Prompt and select “Run as administrator”.
• After opening Command Prompt, type this command and tap Enter: chkdsk <Partition Letter>: /f /r /x /b
• The command you entered will start to check for errors and fix them automatically. Else, it will throw an error message saying, “Chkdsk cannot run because the volume is in use by another process. Would you like the schedule this volume to be checked the next time the system restarts? (Y/N)”.
• Tap the Y key to schedule Disk Check the next time your computer restarts.

Option 2 – Try to format the destination drive

Formatting the drive can also help you resolve the error. To format it, follow these steps:

• To get started formatting your drive, tap the Win + E keys and then go the access page of the drive.
• Next, right click on the drive and select Format.
• After that, uncheck the “Quick Format” option and then format your drive properly.
• Now once the formatting process is finished, unplug the drive and plug it back in afterwards.
• Check if the error is already fixed. If the drive is not initialized, tap the Win + R keys and hit Enter.
• After opening the Run dialog box, type “diskmgmt.msc” and hit Enter to open Disk Management.
• From there, right click on the drive volume and select initialize Disk.
• Next, select the correct partition type and proceed.

Option 3 – Try scanning your computer for malware using Windows Defender Your computer could be infected with malware which might have triggered the “The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable” 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.