Logo

Apple gaming is coming!!!

New Apple's upscaling technology called MetalFX will place iOS and macOS devices back into the gaming world. Apple had great games back in the old days and some all-time hits like the prince of Persia have been made first for apple but along the way, it just lost it.

Same as NVIDIA's DLSS and Intel's XeSS systems, Apple MetalFX also uses AI algorithms to upscale the resolution of output game frames. So, for example, the GPU inside your MAC might render the game at 1080p, but through MetalFX and AI upscaling it will look like a 4K image but have a good frame rate since it is rendered in base resolution.

apple metalfx

The ability to make AI strike a good balance between performance and image quality is a key to technology in today's modern gaming and having this technology will help developers a ton to be able to achieve great results on Apple hardware.

The First MetalFX Games

So far three official games that will use this technology and be released natively for Appl hardware are Resident Evil 8 Village, GRID legends, and No Man's Sky. All three games have been confirmed and Resident Evil 8 Village is already sent for review people are impressed since the game can run smoothly on all Apple devices, even ones with an M1 CPU.

Apple is back into gaming

When you say Apple gaming is probably the last thing that comes to your mind but truth be told Apple makes more money from games than Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony combined. Also, Apple itself was a big player once regarding computer games as well, Myst and Prince of Persia are games that were made and have been released for Apple first. Bungie was also founded by Apple developers and Halo was originally announced as a Mac game.

Apple has been trying and pushing gaming on its platform since it kind of died down. Today all Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft controllers work without any issues with all Apple products. Apple also has its own gaming subscription service, Apple Arcade, and its Apple TV is packed with GPU that can rival Xbox ones.

MetalFX API ties and brings it all together, it is designed to get the most performance from the hardware by minimizing overhead.

Now, computers and laptops do not hold any large numbers if we look at the user base, and that could deter developers but if we look at iPad and iPhone things are different there, much different. How same CPU power these devices and how MetalFX is available across all products it is clear that there is a market for games there. No Man's Sky is coming to iPad using these technologies and bringing full computer experience to tablets.

Do You Need Help with Your Device?

Our Team of Experts May Help
Troubleshoot.Tech Experts are There for You!
Replace damaged files
Restore performance
Free disk space
Remove Malware
Protects WEB browser
Remove Viruses
Stop PC freezing
GET HELP
Troubleshoot.Tech experts work with all versions of Microsoft Windows including Windows 11, with Android, Mac, and more.

Share this article:

You might also like

How to Fix Runtime Error 339

What is Runtime Error 339?

Runtime Error 339 is a common error code format that appears when a computer overloads with too much data. However, in some cases, it may occur due to the missing registry keys, DLL files, or during installation. It may lead some programs to shut down all of a sudden and may also corrupt files on the system.

Solution

Download Available to Completely Repair Runtime Error 339

Restoro box imageError Causes

This error code is alarming as it is a critical sign of an unstable system followed by improper maintenance of the computer. The potential risks associated with the Runtime Error 339 include:
  • System startup issues
  • Slow PC performance
  • System crash and failure
  • System file corruption
Therefore, to avoid these risks and system failure, it is advisable to fix the runtime error 339 immediately.

Further Information and Manual Repair

If you have a Runtime Error 339 issue on your computer, here is a great way how you can fix it right away:

Scan For Viruses

Improper maintenance of the computer indicates that your system might be exposed to viruses and malware. Viruses can modify the Windows registry and lead to Runtime Error 339. Therefore, first, it is important to scan for viruses on your PC.

Identify Software that Causes Errors

Scanning will help you identify software that produces this error on your PC. Once you identify them, either uninstall them or update the program. To uninstall the program, go to the Control Panel and then click on the Add/Remove program if you have Windows XP, if not then click on the Programs and Features item. Now delete the program from your system.

Obtain the Latest Version of the Installer and Re-install the Deleted Program

Once you get your hands on the latest version of the installer, run it on your system by following the on-screen instructions. Install the program. There is also another way to fix Runtime Error 339 and that is by downloading the Runtime Error tool.

Use a Professional Runtime Error Fixer Tool

To fix the error you can also use a professional Runtime Error fixer tool to scan for viruses on your PC. It is available for free download here. Download the tool and install it on your computer. Simply scan your PC after installation. Click the repair button once the scan is complete. This tool fixes problems in just a few minutes.
Read More
Recover or set a BIOS or UEFI Password
If you have been using Windows for quite some time now then you’re probably aware of the BIOS or UEFI password. This password lock is the one that ensures you enter the set password even before your Windows PC boots up. However, there’s just one downside with the BIOS or UEFI password – there is no recovery option, unlike your Microsoft account. Worry not though for this post will guide you on how you can set or recover a BIOS or UEFI password on your Windows computer. The BIOS or UEFI passwords are stored at the hardware level which means that unless the OEM wants or has configured a way to recover the password, it is pretty much impossible to reset it. There are times when they are so strict that the only way to get through it by contacting customer care. Note that any Windows computer with this lock can’t be unlocked by trying to reinstall Windows. In this post, you’re going to have to remove the CMOS battery temporarily, clear unknown BIOS/UEFI passwords using the bios-PW website as well as call customer care. For more details, refer to the options provided below.

Option 1 – Remove the CMOS battery temporarily

In case you didn’t know, every motherboard comes with a CMOS battery which helps the computer system to keep the clock ticking and in making sure that the BIOS settings are not lost when the computer is powered down. Every time a computer is turned on, the CMOS battery ensures that the information is available for the computer to boot up. So when you remove the CMOS battery temporarily, say about 30 seconds or a minute, the settings will be lost. There are some motherboards that are built-in ways that when you remove the battery for long, it will reset everything including the password for the BIOS or UEFI.

Option 2 – Clear the unknown BIOS or UEFI passwords using a bios-PW website

If the first option didn’t work, you can try using this BIOS Password website at http://bios-pw.org/ to clear the password.
  • When prompted by the BIOS, enter the wrong password a couple of times as doing so will lock you out of the system.
  • After that, you will see a new number or code on the screen which will include a message about System Disabled [XXXXX] Service TAG [YYYYY].
  • Next, open the BIOS Password website and enter the XXXXX code in it and make sure to tap the Shift + Enter keys or just enter.
  • Now it will open multiple unlock keys which you can use to clear out the BIOS or UEFI lock on your Windows PC.

Option 3 – Call the customer care

If the second option still didn’t work, you have to call customer care and follow their suggestions for they will walk you through fixing the problem using the service tag or might suggest that you visit a service center to make things easier for you. Note: You also have the option to set a BIOS or UEFI password. Although it isn’t recommended, you still can do it if you really want to. Remember that the BIOS or UEFI interface varies from OEM to OEM so you must find something related to either PASSWORD or SECURITY. You will have the following similar options:
  • Supervisor password – it’s the same as the master password that can change important system settings.
  • User password – with this password, any user can change minor settings.
  • Master password – you can use this password for a hard drive or as a general password.
There are several OEMs that offer micro-control where you have to enter the BIOS password. For instance, you’ll have the option to skip for a normal restart, or when you select a boot device while you might have to enter the password for unattended reboots or when your PC is powered on, etc. And if you are here to remove the password, you need to find a remove password option in the same section. You will be prompted to enter the set password once and if it’s correct, it will remove the BIOS password. After that, you have to save and exit the BIOS then restart your computer and check if the settings are properly applied.
Read More
Network License NotAvailable15.570.0 Autodesk
If when trying to start Autodesk applications you receive a Network license not available error then please keep on reading, this guide is for you:

Causes of the error:

  • The license on the License Server is invalid.
  • The port for Autodesk Network License Manager is blocked.
  • The client computer is configured with incorrect license server information.
  • The license request is timing out on the client's computer before the license is obtained.

Solutions for the error:


Verify that the Autodesk License Server is setup with the correct license file.

To set up a license server for Windows, perform the following:

  1. Download and install the Network License Manager for Windows:
  2. Open LMTools and access the System Settings tab. Make a note of the "hostname" and "ethernet address" of the license server.
  3. Generate a Network License File in Autodesk Account.
  4. On the Service/License tab, select Configuration Using Services and LMTOOLS ignores license file path environment variables.
  5. On the Config Services tab, enter a name for the new service in the Service Name field.
  6. Fill the following fields, using the Browse buttons:
    • Path to the lmgrd.exe - Navigate to this file: C:\Autodesk\Network License Manager.
    • Path to the License file - Navigate to the new Autodesk.lic file, typically placed in: C:\Autodesk\Network License Manager\Licenses.
    • Path to the Debug Log file: C:\Autodesk\Network License Manager.
    • If no file is present, create a TXT file in Notepad and rename it “Debug.log.”
  7. Make sure the "Start Server at Power Up" and the "Use Services" boxes are checked. Then click Save Services.
  8. On the Start/Stop/Reread tab, click Start Server.
  9. On the Server Status tab, click Perform Status Enquiry.
  10. Licenses should display as active.

How to set up the Autodesk Network License Manager on a Mac.

Note: The Autodesk License Server Manager (version 11.16.2.0) is supported only on the following Mac operating systems:
  • Apple macOS High Sierra 10.13
  • Apple macOS Sierra 10.12
  • Apple Mac OS X El Capitan 10.11
  1. Download Autodesk Network License Manager version 11.16.2.0 for Mac
    • ​​Download the nlm11.16.2.0_ipv4_ipv6_mac_universal.tar.gz file to the Desktop.
  2. To install the Autodesk Network License Manager:
    • Double click on nlm11.16.2.0_ipv4_ipv6_mac_universal.tar.gz to unpack the installer package.
    • After unpacking nlm11.16.2.0_ipv4_ipv6_mac_universal.pkg, will be /Downloads/adlm/FLEXnet folder.
    • Double click on nlm11.16.2.0_ipv4_ipv6_mac_universal.pkg to start installation and follow the installation wizard.
    • The license server will be installed in /usr/local/flexnetserver/ directory.
  3. Change permissions for /usr/local/flexnetserver/ directory to 777
  • Open Terminal (located in /Applications/Utilities/Terminal) and enter the following command:
sudo chmod -R 777 /usr/local/flexnetserver
  • Note: Administrator password may be asked. While typing no characters are shown, just type out the password and hit return key.
  • Note: To start the license server only with elevated permissions (using sudo command), change permissions to 755 instead of 777.
  1. Create /usr/local/flexnetserver/licenses directory for network license file location
sudo mkdir /usr/local/flexnetserver/licenses
  1. Find the license server Host Name and Host ID.
  2. Generate the Network License File in the Autodesk Account
    • Once the license file is generated, make sure it has a .lic extension (e.g. adsk_license.lic) and is in a plain text format and place it in /usr/local/flexnetserver/licenses directory
Note: In this article we will refer to  adsk_license.lic as network license file name. Feel free to change the actual name of the license file, but make sure to reflect the new name when using the commands below.
  1. Create a debug.log file in the /usr/local/flexnetserver/ directory using the following command:
touch debug.log
  1. To start the Network License Server use the following command:
/usr/local/flexnetserver/lmgrd -c /usr/local/flexnetserver/licenses/adsk_license.lic -l /usr/local/flexnetserver/debug.log
Note: If folder permissions for  /usr/local/flexnetserver/ are set to  775, then use sudo command to start the server. For example:
sudo /usr/local/flexnetserver/lmgrd -c /usr/local/flexnetserver/licenses/adsk_license.lic -l /usr/local/flexnetserver/debug.log
  1. To obtain license server status enquiry:
/usr/local/flexnetserver/lmutil lmstat -a -c /usr/local/flexnetserver/licenses/adsk_license.lic
  1. To stop the license server:
/usr/local/flexnetserver/lmutil lmdown -q -force
  • A​​lternatively, run ps command to obtain process ids for lmgrd and adskflex and then kill those processes:
ps -ax | grep lmgrd
ps -ax | grep adskflex
kill -9
  • (provide process ids obtained by previous commands individually)

How to set up the Autodesk Network License Manager on Linux.

Note: The Autodesk License Manager (11.16.2.0) is supported only on the following Linux distros:
  • Red Hat® Enterprise Linux® 7
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
  • SUSE Linux Enterprise 12
  • SUSE Linux Enterprise 11
To configure the license manager use the following steps:
  1. Download Autodesk Network License Manager v. 11.16.2 for Linux from this link
    • ​​Download the nlm11.16.2.0_ipv4_ipv6_linux64.tar.gz file to your desktop.
  2. To install the Autodesk Network License Manager run following command as root.
    • tar –zxvf nlm11.16.2.0_ipv4_ipv6_linux64.tar.gz
    • rpm -vhi nlm11.16.2.0_ipv4_ipv6_linux64.rpm
    • The license server will be installed in /opt/flexnetserver/ directory.
  3. Find the license server Host Name and Host ID
  • To obtain the license server system hostid run the following command
/opt/flexnetserver/lmutil lmhostid From the command output note the hostid in quotes, if the system has two active NIC cards, select the first MAC address. lmutil - Copyright (c) 1989-2018 Flexera. All Rights Reserved. The FlexNet host ID of this machine is "000c297949e0"
  • To obtain the license server system hostname run the following command
/opt/flexnetserver/lmutil lmhostid hostname From the command output note the hostname of the license server. mutil - Copyright (c) 1989-2018 Flexera. All Rights Reserved. The FlexNet host ID of this machine is "HOSTNAME=Centos7.localdomain"
  1. Generate your Network License File in Autodesk Account
    • Once the license file is generated, make sure it has .lic extension (e.g. adsk_license.lic) and place it in /opt/flexnetserver/licenses directory.  If the directory doesn't exits, create it with this command: sudo mkdir /opt/flexnetserver/licenses
Note: in this article we will refer by adsk_license.lic your network license file name.
  1. To start the Network License Server
    • /opt/flexnetserver/lmgrd -c /opt/flexnetserver/licenses/adsk_license.lic -l /opt/flexnetserver/server_log.log
  2. To obtain license server status enquiry
    • /opt/flexnetserver/lmutil lmstat -a -c /opt/flexnetserver/licenses/adsk_license.lic
  3. To stop your license server service
    • /opt/flexnetserver/lmutil lmdown -q -force
    • alternatively you can also run ps command to obtain process ids for lmgrd and adskflex and then kill those processes
      • ps -aw | grep lmgrd
      • ps -aw | grep adskflex
      • kill -9 (provide process ids obtained by previous commands individually)
  4. To start the license server automatically after the system reboot
    • Open /etc/rc.d/rc.local script as root and enter license server start up command in it.
touch /var/lock/subsys/local /opt/flexnetserver/lmgrd -c /opt/flexnetserver/licenses/adsk_license.lic -l /opt/flexnetserver/server_log.logNote: To ensure that the script will be executed during boot, run following command as root. chmod +x /etc/rc.d/rc.local
  1. Make sure that all necessary ports are open:
  • lmgrd.exe needs ports 27000 to 27009.
  • adskflex.exe needs port 2080.
Note: Errors may occur if the network license file is corrupt or in the case of a combined network license it has incorrectly combined licenses. To learn more about combining licenses, see Combining License Files for Multiple Autodesk Products. Use the License File Parser to verify that the license contains the appropriate products and FLEXnet feature codes and does not display an error

Verify that TCP ports (2080, 27000-27009) used by Autodesk Network License Manager are not blocked by Firewall.

The FLEXlm® based version uses the following incoming ports:
  • TCP ports 2080 (for the adskflex vendor daemon)
  • TCP ports 27000 to 27009 (for the lmgrd master daemon, which uses the first open port in the range)
Note: If these port addresses are restricted by a router or firewall software, users on the remote side of the router will not have access to licenses controlled by the Network License Manager.

Verify that the client computer is configured with the correct license server name or IP.

Windows:

Clear license server information from the system registry.

  1. Type regedit in the Windows Search box and hit Enter key.
  2. Select the following registry key
  • [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\FLEXlm License Manager]
  1. As the key is selected, in right panel ADSKFLEX_LICENSE_FILE will be visible.
  2. Right click on the key and delete it.

Specify the license server in ADSKFLEX_LICENSE_FILE system variable 

  1. Go to Start > Control Panel > System and Security > System.
  2. Select Advanced system settings.
  3. On the System Properties dialog, click Environment Variables.
  4. Under System Variables, click New.
  5. Enter ADSKFLEX_LICENSE_FILE for the variable name and 2080@SERVER_NAME _OR _IP for the variable value.
Note: the license server information most often is recorded in LICPATH.lic file and can be verified there too.  ADSKFLEX_LICENSE_FILE system variable supersedes LICPATH.lic.  Thus, setting the system variable is preferable when this error is seen.

If the license server is on a VPN or a remote network set the FLEXLM_TIMEOUT environment variable:

  1. Go to Start > Control Panel > System and Security > System.
  2. Select Advanced system settings.
  3. On the System Properties dialog, click Environment Variables.
  4. Under System Variables, click New.
  5. Enter FLEXLM_TIMEOUT for the variable name and 5000000 for the variable value.
  6. Click OK to save the setting.
Note: if needed the variable value can be increased to 10000000.

Mac/Linux:

Specify the Autodesk Network License server information in $HOME/.flexlmrc file.

Use a text editor to create a flexlmrc.txt file and save it in Plain text format (In TextEdit on Mac: Format - Make Plain Text) on desktop. The file content should look like this, except with the name or IP address of the license server.
  • ADSKFLEX_LICENSE_FILE=@SERVER_NAME _OR _IP
If the license server is on the same machine as the Autodesk software, use localhost as the license server name.  Thus, the content of flexlmrc file could look like this:
  • ADSKFLEX_LICENSE_FILE=@localhost
Note: On firewall restricted network or when accessing the license server via VPN, need to include TCP port/s (usually 27000 or 2080) into Autodesk License Server service as follows: ADSKFLEX_LICENSE_FILE=2080@SERVER_NAME _OR _IP

Once flexlmrc file is created move it to user's $HOME folder as follows:

  1. Open a Terminal window
  2. Type open ~ (Mac) or nautilus ~ (Linux) to open $HOME folder
  3. Drag and drop flexlmrc.txt file from Desktop to the home folder.
  4. To make the file a configuration file, rename it to .flexlmrc (please note . [DOT] in front of the file name) by running the following command:
  • mv flexlmrc.txt .flexlmrc (Mac)
  • mv flexlmrc .flexlmrc (Linux)

Verify that the license server information registered with the product is correct (versions 2020 and later only)

In versions 2020 and later, the license server information is registered with the AdskLicensing service running locally on the workstation. When changing to a new license server, the old server information may still be registered with AdskLicensing and result in the error above, if this is not appropriately updated. See the below steps to solve this:
  1. Click the Start menu and type cmd.
  2. Right-click on the Command prompt and choose "Run As Administrator."
  3. In the Command prompt, run the following command, followed by ENTER:

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Autodesk Shared\AdskLicensing\Current\helper\AdskLicensingInstHelper.exe" change -pk PRODKEY -pv VER.0.0.F -lm "" -ls "" -lt""

Note:

  • Replace PRODKEY with the product key correspondent to your product(s). See Look Up Product Keys for the full list.
  • Replace VER with the version you are using. E.g. 2020 for AutoCAD 2020.
  • Repeat this step for each software you need to reset.
  1. Open Registry Editor (Start > type regedit > ENTER).
  2. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\FLEXlm License Manager.
  3. On the right-side, verify of the ADSKFLEX_LICENSE_FILE key exists. If yes, remove it (right-click > Delete).
  4. Run the software again.
  5. Select Multi-user in the Let's Get Started screen.
  6. Follow the steps to connect to your license server.
Read More
Best games of 2022

Steam Autumn sale is still raging and other storefronts like EPIC and GOG have also had their go, and as the year slowly closes we reflect on the best games released this year.

The games presented are not in any particular order and as sales are still raging pick one for you for a good time.

F1 Manager 22

f1 manager 22

If you are into formula racing this new manager is something we will wholeheartedly recommend. How it has been a very long time since a good F1 manager has been released this one is breath of fresh air. Masterfully done and fun to play, also licensed with real teams and cars get it here: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1708520/F1_Manager_2022/

Stray

stray

I like cats, but this game is on another level from its competitors. Unique approach, great storyline, and of course orange cat as the main character! Set in a cyberpunk environment following the story of some unfortunate androids you can do most cat things like playing in boxes, etc but essentially the game is a puzzle platformer which in my opinion is a great thing. Meow your things and get the game while it is discounted: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1332010/Stray/

Neon White

neon white

Mirror's Edge was the very unique game when it was released introducing parkour into the gaming world, and Neon white brings it one level up. With competitive parkour FPS gameplay this game is great for killing some time and competing with your friends but most of all it is fun to play experience. Get it here: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1533420/Neon_White/

Teenage mutant ninja turtles: Shredder's revenge

Teenage mutant ninja turtles: Shredder's revenge

Shredder's revenge is a love letter to classic beat-them-up games found in old dusty arcades back in old times. Fast frenzy action, pixel art graphics, and tons of fun!!! Get it now and start partying like it was 1980: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1361510/Teenage_Mutant_Ninja_Turtles_Shredders_Revenge/

Tiny Tina's Wonderlands

Tiny Tina's Wonderlands

This game needs to be experienced in order to fully grasp its magnitude and quirkiness. From the creators of borderlands comes a new IP fusion of fantasy, guns, and crazy ideas all wrapped into an action RPG looter shooter with a recognizable borderlands style of graphics. https://store.steampowered.com/app/1286680/Tiny_Tinas_Wonderlands/

Norco

Norco

Winner of multiple awards, Norco is a classic point-and-click adventure game with a great sci-fi story with a lot of environmental focus. Story and atmosphere are the main selling points for the game and if you enjoy good stories with interesting characters give this one a go: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1221250/NORCO/

Final Fantasy 14: Endwalker

Final Fantay 14: Endwalker

Expansion for Massive multiplayer online roleplaying game brings so much to the table that we just could not oversee it and place it aside. Technically not full standing game since it is the expansion it still delivers on many fronts and since it is supposedly the last expansion now is the best time to pick it up and give a final fantasy 14 a go: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1592500/FINAL_FANTASY_XIV_Endwalker/

Elden Ring

Elden ring

Of course, the list would not be complete if we did not include Elden ring, a great example of how a difficult but well-executed game can go over and beyond. With a story on par with great epics and compact as in dark souls, this title will provide you with many hours of gameplay and content. https://store.steampowered.com/app/1245620/ELDEN_RING/

Read More
Changing the Left & Right mouse buttons
As you know, all computer mouse devices are designed ergonomically for users who are right-handed. Although that’s mostly the case, there are also other mouse devices that are designed specifically for left-handed users or the ones that can be used by either the right or left hand. But before you look for these kinds of mouse devices, there is actually an option you can try so that your mouse device can work with either the left or right hand. All you have to do is configure your mouse device. Aside from setting the device to work on either hand, you can also switch mouse buttons, from left to right, using only a couple of simple steps. As mentioned earlier, most mouse devices are created for right-handed users. Meaning to say, these mouse devices are configured to be right-handed with their primary button on the left and the second one on the right. The primary button is used for certain functions such as selecting and dragging. Now you can configure your mouse to be left-handed by swapping its predefined functionality. How? Refer to each one of the given instructions below.

Option 1 – via Control Panel

  • First, go to the Start Menu and search for “control panel” in the Start search.
  • Once you see it from the search results, click on it to open it and then go to the Hardware and Sound section.
  • From there, click on Mouse under the Device and Printers section. This will open the window for Mouse Properties.
  • Now you have to check the Switch primary and secondary buttons box.
  • Then click on OK to save the changes made. After that, your primary select button on your mouse device is your right button while the secondary button, also known as right-click, is now the left button.

Option 2 – via Windows 10 Settings

This is the second option you can check out to change the configuration of your mouse from being right-handed to being left-handed.
  • First, right-click on the Windows icon and select Search.
  • Next, type “mouse” and from the search results that appear, click on Mouse Settings.
  • After that, select “Right” from the “Select your primary button” drop-down menu. This should set the mouse device from being right-handed to being left-handed.
Read More
Windows is unable to run Automatic Maintenance
As you know, Windows has a built-in Automatic Maintenance feature that takes care of important tasks such as security scanning and updating, Windows software updates, Disk Defragmentation, System Diagnostics, Disk Volume Errors, and many more. So if you receive an error message saying, “Windows is unable to run automatic maintenance, The maintenance schedule is unavailable”, then this post will guide you in what you can do to resolve this issue. Here are some suggestions you can try if the Automatic Maintenance in your Windows 10 PC is not able to run.

Option 1 – Enable Automatic Maintenance

It is possible that Automatic Maintenance has been disabled so you can try enabling Automatic Maintenance on your Windows 10 PC. To do so, follow these steps:
  • Go to Control Panel.
  • From there, select System and Security > Security and Maintenance > Automatic Maintenance.
  • After that, set the time you want to run the Automatic Maintenance and then check the checkbox saying, “Allow scheduled maintenance to wake up my computer at the scheduled time”.
  • Click OK to save the changes.
On the other hand, you can also enable Automatic Maintenance via the Registry Editor. But before you proceed, you need to create a System Restore Point first.
  • Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
  • After that, type “Regedit” in the field and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor.
  • Navigate to the following path:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionScheduleMaintenance
  • Next, look for the “MaintenanceDisabled” key and then double click on it to open it and then set its value to “0”.
  • Click OK and exit the Registry Editor.
  • Restart your computer.

Option 2 – Check the Task Scheduler Services status

Majority of the tasks in Windows 10 run via services. So it is most likely that either the Service has been stopped or is set to the manual which is why Windows is unable to run Automatic Maintenance. Thus, you need to change it to automatic mode.
  • Tap the Win + R keys to open Run.
  • Type “services.msc” in the field and hit Enter to open Services.
  • Next, look for the Task Scheduler service and tap the T key on your keyboard which should take you to the services that start with T.
  • Double click on the Task Scheduler service and select the Automatic option under the Startup Type.
  • If it is not started yet, click on the Start button.
  • Then click Apply and OK to save the changes.

Option 3 – Check the Status in Task Scheduler

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

Option 4 – Run the System File Checker

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

Option 5 – Run the DISM tool

The DISM tool is another command-line tool in the Windows operating system that could help users fix various corrupted system files. To use it, follow these steps:
  • Open the Command Prompt as admin.
  • Then type in this command: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
  • The DISM command you entered will repair the corrupted system image. Do not close the window if the process takes a while as it will probably take a few minutes to finish.
  • Restart your PC.
Read More
Fixing SYNTP.SYS Blue Screen error in Windows
What is SYNTP.SYS file? it is a system file created by Synaptics Touchpad drivers that are responsible for all the gestures and tracking users’ touch on the Touchpad. However, what happens when this driver fails? Well, it’s either that your touchpad will partially stop working or it will completely stop working at all. And in such cases, you will encounter the SYNTP.SYS Blue Screen error along with any of the following error codes:
  • IRQL_NOT_LESS_EQUAL
  • KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED
  • INVALID_PROCESS_ATTACH_ATTEMPT
To resolve the problem, use the instructions given below as a reference.

Option 1 – Run the Memory Diagnostic Tool to check for Memory leaks

  • Tap the Win + R keys to open Run and type exe and hit Enter to open the Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool.
  • After that, it will give two options such as:
    • Restart now and check for problems (Recommended)
    • Check for problems the next time I start my computer
  • Once your computer has restarted, perform a basic scan or you could also go for the “Advanced” options such as “Test mix” or “Pass count”. Simply tap the F10 key to start the test.
Note: After you select the option, your PC will restart and check for memory-based issues. If it finds any issues, it will automatically fix them and if there’s no issue found, then it’s most likely not a memory-based issue so you should try the other options given below.

Option 2 – Try reinstalling the Synaptics Driver

You might want to reinstall the Synaptics driver to resolve the SYNTP.SYS Blue Screen error.
  • Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
  • After that, type “appwiz.cpl” in the field and hit Enter to open the Programs and Features section in the Control Panel.
  • Next, you have to look for the “Synatics Point Device driver” and right-click on it, and then click on Uninstall to remove it from your computer.
  • Restart your PC and then check for updates under the Windows Update section.
  • After that, it will find the latest available and stable Synaptics driver and then install it.
  • Then click the “Check or Updates” under the Windows update section and it will automatically look for the latest available Synaptic driver and install it for you.
  • Now restart your PC and for the changes to take effect.

Option 3 – Try to run a System File Checker scan

You can also try to run a System File Checker or SFC scan in order to scan your computer for corrupted files that might be the cause behind the Error 0x80000003. Once it finds any corrupted system files, it will automatically fix them. To run System File Checker, here’s what you have to do:
  • Tap Win + R to launch Run.
  • Type in cmd in the field and tap Enter.
  • After opening Command Prompt, type in sfc /scannow
The command will start a system scan which will take a few whiles before it finishes. Once it’s done, you could get the following results:
  1. Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.
  2. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them.
  3. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them.
  • Restart your computer after the scan is completed.

Option 4 – Perform a System Restore

Performing System Restore might help you in fixing the SYNTP.SYS Blue Screen error. You can do this option either by booting into Safe Mode or in System Restore. If you are already in the Advanced Startup Options, just directly select System Restore and proceed with the next steps. And if you have just booted your PC into Safe Mode, refer to the steps below.
  • Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
  • After that, type in “sysdm.cpl” in the field and tap Enter.
  • Next, go to the System Protection tab then click the System Restore button. This will open a new window where you have to select your preferred System Restore point.
  • After that, follow the on-screen instructions to finish the process and then restart your computer and check if the problem is fixed or not.

Option 5 – Try to run the CHKDSK utility

Running the CHKDSK utility might also help you resolve the SYNTP.SYS errors. If your hard drive has issues with integrity, the update will really fail as the system will think that it’s not healthy and that’s where the CHKDSK utility comes in. The CHKDSK utility repairs hard drive errors that might be causing the problem.
  • Open Command Prompt with admin privileges.
  • After opening Command Prompt, execute the following command and hit Enter:
chkdsk /f /r
  • Wait for the process to be completed and then restart your computer.

Option 6 – Use the Blue Screen Troubleshooter

The Blue Screen troubleshooter is a built-in tool in Windows 10 that helps users in fixing BSOD errors like SYNTP.SYS Blue Screen error. It can be found on the Settings Troubleshooters page. To use it, refer to these steps:
  • Tap the Win + I keys to open the Settings panel.
  • Then go to Update & Security > Troubleshoot.
  • From there, look for the option called “Blue Screen” on your right-hand side and then click the “Run the troubleshooter” button to run the Blue Screen Troubleshooter and then follow the next on-screen options. Note that you might have to boot your PC into Safe Mode.
Read More
Fix UNEXPECTED STORE EXCEPTION in Windows 10
Blue Screen of Death or Stop errors are definitely one of the most difficult issues to face in your Windows computer. One of them is the UNEXPECTED STORE EXCEPTION BSOD error. When you encounter this Stop error on your Windows 10 computer, this means that the store component has caught an unexpected exception. There are many potential causes for this error, but we’ve narrowed it down to a few specific causes – for one, this error could be caused by your antivirus program installed on your computer, two, it could also be caused by outdated hardware drivers on your computer, it could also be an error in the file system as well as some issue with the lock screen app, or even output to an unexpected port. Whichever the cause may be, you can use a couple of fixes laid out below. Make sure to carefully follow them.

Option 1 – Try to update your Display driver

  • 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: You also have the option to 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.

Option 2 – Run both the System File Checker scan and DISM tool

If the problem is caused by corrupted system files, then you can use both the System File Checker and the DISM tool. To use them, follow the instructions below.
  • Tap the Win + X keys or right-click on the Start button and click the “Command Prompt (Admin)” option. Alternatively, you can also search for “cmd” in the Cortana search box and right-click on Command Prompt from the search results, and select the “Run as administrator” option.
  • After that, if a User Account Control prompt pops up, click on Yes to proceed.
  • Once the Command Prompt window is pulled up, type the following command and hit Enter:
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
  • Wait for the process to be completed. Once it’s done, type the following command and hit Enter:
sfc /scannow
  • The command will start a system scan which will take a few whiles before it finishes. Once it’s done, you could get the following results:
  1. Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.
  2. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them.
  3. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them.
  • Restart your PC.
Note: You should see the “Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them. Details are included in the CBS.Log %WinDir%LogsCBSCBS.log” message on your screen. On the other hand, if you see the “Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them. Details are included in the CBS.Log %WinDir%LogsCBSCBS.log” message instead, then you should run the following command in Command Prompt:
findstr /c:"[SR]" %windir%LogsCBSCBS.log >"%userprofile%Desktopsfclogs.txt"
The command you entered will open up the logs on your Desktop where you can look for files that are causing the error on your computer manually.

Option 3 – Disable Fast Start-up

If you want your computer to boot faster, then you might have enabled Fast Start-up. This feature is ideal for computers that are using a hard disk drive. However, turning on this feature also means that when the computer boots, it might lag some drivers that are loaded when it initially boots up. Thus, it might be the potential cause of the UNEXPECTED STORE EXCEPTION BSOD error. Thus, you need to disable Fast Start-up. To do that, follow these steps:
  • Boot your PC into Safe Mode.
  • Then tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
  • Next, type in “control” to open Control Panel.
  • After that, select Hardware and Sound and click on Power Options.
  • Select “Choose what the power buttons do” from the left side menu pane and click on Change settings that are currently unavailable.
  • Afterward, uncheck the “Turn on fast startup (Recommended)” entry and click on Save Changes.
  • Now restart your PC for the changes to take effect and then check if the problem’s fixed afterward.

Option 4 – Try to run the Chkdsk utility

You can also run the Chkdsk utility to resolve the UNEXPECTED STORE EXCEPTION BSOD error. If your hard drive has issues with integrity, the update will really fail as the system will think that it’s not healthy and that’s where the Chkdsk utility comes in. The Chkdsk utility repairs hard drive errors that might be causing the problem.
  • Open Command Prompt with admin privileges.
  • After opening Command Prompt, execute the following command and hit Enter:
chkdsk /f /r
  • Wait for the process to be completed and then restart your computer.
Read More
How to Fix Windows 10 Upgrade Compare Exchange128 Error Message

Compare Exchange128 error – What is it

Some Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users reported experiencing a Compare Exchange128 error when trying to upgrade to Windows 10. The error reads, “You can’t install Windows 10 because your processor doesn’t support CompareExchange128”. In order to upgrade to Windows 10 (64-bit), the CMPXCHG16B instruction must be present. If you receive this error, this mostly means that your CPU doesn’t have the CMPXCHG16B instruction.

Solution

Restoro box imageError Causes

The CompareExchange128 error normally occurs due to two possible reasons:

  • CPU lacks CMPXCHG16b Instruction
  • Old & Outdated BIOS – Even if your CPU has the CMPXCHG16b instruction, the CompareExchange128 issue can still occur if you have an older BIOS.

Further Information and Manual Repair

One main requirement to upgrade to Windows 10 is for your CPU to have the CMPXCHG16b instruction. You also need the right BIOS version to guarantee a smooth installation. See below on how to manually fix this issue.

NOTE: If you don’t feel confident using the manual methods listed below, it’s highly advisable to get help from an expert technician. If you don’t know someone, you can also use an automated tool to fix this.

Before performing any fixes, try to determine first if the cause of the error is due to your CPU lacking the CMPXCHG16b instruction. You can use a CPU Info tool that provides complete details about your processor, memory, and motherboard. If you’re looking for more in-depth information, you might also try command-line utilities. But, the safest and easiest way to check this is by simply searching online. Try using the search query: <CPU Model> CMPXCHG16b

Method 1 – Update your BIOS

This method will download the latest BIOS from your motherboard’s manufacturer. This makes sure your CPU has the CMPXCHG16b instruction needed to complete the Windows 10 64-bit installation. To update your computer’s BIOS, complete the following steps:

  1. Determine first the current BIOS you have on your computer. Open System Information Windows app and type msinfo32 in the search bar. The BIOS version will appear under the processor speed. Record it somewhere.
  1. Go to the support page of your motherboard’s manufacturer. Find if there’s any update on the BIOS that you’re currently using. If you find one, download the BIOS update file available. Make sure that you’re looking into the right model and you download all the necessary documentation. Otherwise, the BIOS update might not work.
  1. Update your BIOS. Most BIOS update steps are straightforward. Just make sure to follow the steps provided.

Method 2 – Install Windows 10 32-bit version

If updating the BIOS doesn’t work, what you can do is install a 32-bit version of Windows 10 instead of the 64-bit version. Here’s how to do this:

  1. Download and install the 32-bit version of Windows you currently have. If you have a Windows 7 64-bit version, get the 32-bit version of Windows 7. The same goes for Windows 8.1. When you do this, you might want to back up your files first. Remember that installing the 32-bit version works like other installations, and could delete some of your files.
  1. After installing the 32-bit version, go to Updates and install all the necessary updates. This includes upgrading to Windows 10 if you’re asked to.
  1. When you installed the Windows 10 upgrade, you’ll now have the Windows 10, 32-bit version installed. This will be the version activated on Microsoft servers. Despite this, the activated version stored is only applicable to your computer’s hardware, not the version of Windows 10.
  1. Download Windows 10, 64-bit version.
  1. Prepare an empty DVD or USB flash drive. Use Creation Media software then click the Create Installation Media for Another PC option.
  1. Install the 64-bit Windows 10 version you downloaded from Step 4. Make sure not to put anything when you’re asked to input the serial number.
  1. Once the installation is complete, you’ll have the 64-bit version of Windows 10.

Method 3 – Buy a new processor/motherboard

If the above two methods don’t work, there’s a great chance that this error occurs because of an outdated processor/motherboard. Your next possible solution is to buy an updated model that’s fully compatible with 64-bit Windows 10.

Method 4 – Download an automated tool

If all else fails, you might want to consider using this powerful automated tool to quickly fix the problem and any other computer-related issues.

Read More
How to Fix Windows 10 Error 0x800488AB

Code 0x800488AB – What is it?

The Error Code 0x800488AB will appear when a user is in the Windows 10 Mail app and has provided an Outlook.com e-mail address. The mail app will give a message that the “account information is out of date” and it does provide an option to fix the issue. After clicking the Fix button, this error code will show up to the user. Common symptoms include:
  • A dialog box will appear with the Error Code 0x800488AB
  • Microsoft Windows 10 Mail App will not retrieve (or subsequently send) mail
  • User cannot delete and re-add the Outlook email account in the Windows 10 Mail app
  • User can still access and log in to various Microsoft websites, including logging into the Outlook Mail website

Solution

Restoro box imageError Causes

This error can be caused by a few different actions of the user when they have changed a password or a PIN number to access their Outlook mail. This error does have a relatively easy fix after the cause is determined and where the break-in information has occurred. A few of the causes may be:
  • If the user changes their password on the Microsoft website and uses the alternative PIN login method to access the Mail App.
  • The log-in information on the Microsoft website does not match the login information on the Windows 10 App.
  • The login information was changed on the Microsoft website and was not updated to reflect on the Windows 10 Mail app.
The Microsoft website and Microsoft Mail app do not share the knowledge of the change in login credentials, therefore the log-in credentials appear to be incorrect when trying to access the Microsoft Mail app. It should be noted that a user may bypass the password option if they log in to the Microsoft Mail app while using the alternative PIN log-in method, thus still leaving the password undetected.

Further Information and Manual Repair

As is the case with all new technology and having a few wrinkles, the release of Microsoft Windows 10 is not left out. There have been a few discussions of errors and bugs, including Error Code 0x800488AB. As of right now, there are three different methods that can be utilized by any at-home user. These methods are rather simple and make sense when the problem has been identified.

Method 1:

Run the built-in Windows Store Apps troubleshooter:
  1. Press the Windows Key and then type ‘troubleshoot’ and hit Enter
  2. Select “View all” on the left panel and run the “Windows Store Apps” troubleshooter from the list displayed and see if it works.

Method 2:

Use the System File Checker tool to repair corrupted or missing system files:
  1. Click Start.
  2. Type cmd, and then press CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER to open the elevated command prompt (I.e. Command prompt with administrative rights).
  3. The User Account Control window should appear, be sure that the action it exhibits is correct, and then press the Continue button.
  4. Type or copy-paste the below command line into it without quotes:
“Sfc /scannow”

Method 3:

  1. Press the Windows Key
  2. Search for "Credentials Manager"
  3. Click on Windows Credentials
  4. Look for any reference to your windows account (generally your @outlook.com is listed)
  5. Delete them.
  6. Then select your account at the top of the start menu and select Log Out.
  7. If using a Pin Code, switch to type input and put your password into the box.
When you go to Mail, and select "Fix Issues" it will detect your password and your account should sync with new emails. In some cases, depending on why this particular error code was caused, you may have to use a powerful automated tool to have it resolved.
Read More
1 2 3 171
Logo
Copyright © 2023, ErrorTools. All Rights Reserved
Trademark: Microsoft Windows logos are registered trademarks of Microsoft. Disclaimer: ErrorTools.com is not affiliated with Microsoft, nor claims direct affiliation.
The information on this page is provided for information purposes only.
DMCA.com Protection Status