Best gifts for Gamers and PC enthusiasts

Mail and Calendar not working with Cortana? As you know, Cortana was first launched way back in 2014 with an emphasis on its tight integration with both the Windows Mail and Calendar apps. This integration has been one of the highlighting features of this Personal Digital Assistant. However, there are some users who reported that the Calendar and Mail integration with Cortana is not working on their Windows 10 computers. This kind of problem could be due to several factors like the loose integration between the services, incompatible versions of the components, and many more. According to the users who experienced the issue, the features affected are the syncing of calendar appointments, sending emails via Cortana, and so on. To fix this problem, there are several options you can try. You can try to restart Cortana’s processor run the Windows Store Apps troubleshooter. You could also try to relink your Microsoft account or reinstall the Mail and Calendar apps, as well as reinstall Cortana.  For more details, follow the suggestions given below.

Option 1 – Restart Cortana’s process in the Task Manager

Restarting Cortana’s process in the Task Manager could also help you resolve the problem. Refer to the steps given below to do so.

• Tap the Ctrl + Alt + Del keys to open the Security options window.
• From there, look for the Task Manager in the given list and open it.
• Next, look for the process of Cortana and right-click on it, and then select the End Task option to end its process.
• After that, the Cortana process will restart by itself and re-initialize.

Option 2 – Run the Windows Store App troubleshooter

The Windows 10 Store Apps Troubleshooter will help you in fixing the Web Preview problem in Cortana. This is a great built-in tool from Microsoft that helps users fix any app issues. To use the Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter, follow the steps below.

• Tap Win + I keys again to open the Windows Settings panel.
• Go to Update & Security and then go to Troubleshoot.
• Under the Troubleshoot section, on your left-hand side, scroll down to find Window Store Apps.
• Then click on the Run the troubleshooter option and follow the on-screen instructions and then see if it fixes the problem.

Option 3 – Try to relink your Microsoft Account

You might also want to relink your account in Microsoft using the Windows 10 Settings app.

• Open the Windows 10 Settings app.
• Next, navigate to Accounts > Email & Accounts and from there, go to the section of Accounts used by Email, Calendar, and Contacts.
• After that, select your email account and select Manage.
• Once done, a new panel will come up where you have to click on the “Delete account from this device” link.
• Once you get a confirmation, select Delete and then relink the same account. This should resolve the problem.

Option 4 – Try to reinstall or update the Mail and Calendar apps

• Open Windows PowerShell as admin.
• Next, execute this command: Get-AppxPackage *windowscommunicationsapps* | Remove-AppxPackage
• Once done, restart your computer and go to the Microsoft Store page to get the latest updates for both Windows Mail and Calendar apps.

Option 5 – Try to reset Cortana via Settings

• Launch the Windows 10 Settings app and go to Apps > Apps & Features.
• Next, look for the entry of Cortana on the right-side panel and select it.
• After that, select the Advanced options and then select the Terminate button under the Terminate section.
• Once done, click on the Reset button under the Reset section.
• Restart your PC.
• After your computer boots, launch Cortana again and check.

Option 6 – Try to reinstall Cortana

If none of the options given above works, you must consider reinstalling Cortana.

• First, right-click on the Taskbar and select the Task Manager.
• Next, select File menu > Run new task and type “Powershell” in the field and then select the “Create this task with administrative privileges” option.
• Click on OK to open the PowerShell console.
• After that, type the following command and hit Enter to execute it:

Get-AppXPackage -Name Microsoft.Windows.Cortana | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)AppXManifest.xml"}

• Restart your computer and check if the problem is now fixed.

If you are trying to start a service using the Windows Services Manager but you got an error message stating, “The executable program that this service is configured to run in does not implement the service”, then you’ve come to the right place as this post will provide you instructions on how you can fix this error. Since almost all program requires service to run on your computer, if the service is not listed in the corresponding registry key, then you will most likely encounter this error on your Windows 10 computer. Here’s the entire content of the error message:

“Windows could not start the service on Local Computer. Error 1083: The executable program that this service is configured to run in does not implement the service.”

To fix this error, you have to add the service name in the respective host in the Registry Editor, and to do that, here are some steps you need to take on. Step 1: The first thing you have to do is to take note of the service name that’s given in the error message. For instance, you get the “Windows Management Service. Step 2: Next, you need to open the Services Manager by tapping the Win + R keys and typing “services.msc” in the Run dialog box, and then tapping Enter. Step 3: After opening the Services Manager, look for the Windows Management Service and once you see it, double click on it. This will open a new mini window. Step 4: From the newly opened window, copy the Service name and the Path to executable under the General tab. If the path to the executable is displayed as “C:/Windows/system32/svchost.exe -k netsvcs –p”, you need the “netsvcs” part only. Note that it can be different for different services and you need the part that comes after “-k”. Step 5: Now tap the Win + R keys again to open Run utility and type “Regedit” in the field and click OK to open the Registry Editor. Step 6: After that, navigate to the following registry path:

ComputerHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionSvchost

Step 7: From the given registry path, look for a key named “REG_MULTI_SZ” located on your right-hand side. This key is named after the “Path to executable” part. For instance, you should see “netsvcs”. Step 8: Double click on the REG_MULTI_SZ key and enter the Service name that you’ve copied earlier and then write it down at the end of the preset list. Step 9: Now save the changes you’ve made and try to open the program or run the service again.

MovieMode is a Potentially Unwanted Program developed by GenTechnologies Apps that allegedly ads a “Lights Off” function to video streaming websites like Youtube. This feature allows a user to dim the entire background around the video, allowing for better video focus. Although this sounds interesting and useful, upon further inspection it was discovered that this program does not work with modern browsers.

While installed, MovieMode may modify your browser settings, changing your home page, displaying additional ads, and other suspicious behavior. From the Terms Of Use: “Applications may be automatically enabled on your web browsers following installation. Applications or advertisements may require changing your web browser’s default home page, default page, or set of pages on startup, default search provider, and other browser settings. So that Applications can function most efficiently and with the least annoyance, Applications may modify or disable certain web browser or operating system features including, but limited to load time alerts, accelerator features, and Content Security Policy functionality. Applications may also include features to notify you when you are launching an application or visiting a web domain that may interfere with your installed Applications. “

About Potentially Unwanted Applications

What is a Potentially Unwanted Program (PUP)?

Have you ever detected an unwanted program running on your computer and wondered how the heck it got there? These unwanted programs, which are referred to as Potentially Unwanted Programs, or PUPs in short, usually tag along as a software bundle when downloading the program and could cause significant problems for users. From the technical perspective, a PUP is not true “malware”. A basic difference between PUP and malware is distribution. Malware is normally dropped via vulnerability exploitation while PUP gets installed with the consent of the end-user, who knowingly or unintentionally approves the PUP installation on their computer system. On the other hand, it is obvious that PUPs are still bad news for computer users as they could be quite dangerous to the computer in lots of ways.

How do unwanted programs impact you?

Unwanted programs can be found in many forms. Typically, they will be found in adware bundlers that are known to use aggressive and deceptive advertising. Most bundlers install numerous adware applications from various vendors, each of which has its own EULA policy. Safebytes Anti-malware completely eradicates this threat and safeguards your PC against unwanted programs or malware infection. Additionally, most free software programs these days include a few unwanted add-ons; in many instances an internet browser toolbar or browser modification like a homepage hijacker. Not only they needlessly use up space on your screen, but toolbars may also manipulate search results, track your browsing activities, decrease your web browser’s overall performance, and slow down your web connection to a crawl. They could seem innocent but PUPs are sometimes spyware. The worst part of setting up a PUP is the spyware, adware, and keystroke loggers that may hide inside. Most PUPs don’t have any significant value or advantages. As soon as they are installed, they could waste your valuable system resources and also drastically slow down computer performance. Many of these programs are harmful to computer systems and put your private information and perhaps your identity at stake.

The best ways to stop PUPs

• Always study the license agreement and privacy statement. Don’t agree unless you understand exactly what you’re agreeing to. • Always pick the custom if you’re provided a choice between Recommended and Custom Installations – never ever click Next, Next, Next blindly. • Use an ad blocker/pop-up blocker; Install anti-malware products such as Safebytes Anti-malware. These kinds of programs can establish a wall between your computer and online criminals. • Avoid adding freeware software you simply won’t utilize. Avoid downloading and installing browser extensions and applications you aren’t familiar with. • Always download applications from the original site. The majority of PUPs find their way to your computer is through download portals, so stay away from it entirely.

What To Do If You Cannot Install Safebytes Anti-Malware?

Malware could cause all sorts of damage after they invade your computer, from stealing your private details to deleting files on your PC. Some malware goes to great lengths to prevent you from downloading or installing anything on your computer system, especially antivirus software programs. If you’re reading this, you probably have infected by malware that prevents you from installing a computer security program like Safebytes Anti-Malware. There are a few fixes you can attempt to get around with this particular problem.

Download the software in Safe Mode with Networking

In the event the malware is set to load at Windows startup, then booting in Safe Mode should prevent it. Just bare minimum required applications and services are loaded whenever you boot your computer or laptop into Safe Mode. You will need to do the following to get rid of malware in Safe mode. 1) At power on/start-up, press the F8 key in 1-second intervals. This will invoke the Advanced Boot Options menu. 2) Use the arrow keys to choose Safe Mode with Networking and press ENTER. 3) Once you get into this mode, you should have internet access again. Now, utilize your web browser normally and go to https://safebytes.com/products/anti-malware/ to download and install Safebytes Anti-Malware. 4) Immediately after installation, do a complete scan and let the program get rid of the threats it detects.

Obtain the anti-malware program using an alternate browser

Some malware only targets certain internet browsers. If this is your situation, utilize another web browser as it might circumvent the malware. If you are not able to download the security software using Internet Explorer, this means the virus could be targeting IE’s vulnerabilities. Here, you must switch to an alternate internet browser such as Firefox or Chrome to download Safebytes Anti-malware software.

Create a portable USB antivirus for eliminating viruses

Another option is to create a portable anti-malware program on your USB stick. Follow these steps to use a thumb drive to clean your infected computer. 1) On a clean computer, install Safebytes Anti-Malware. 2) Insert the pen drive on the same system. 3) Run the setup program by double-clicking the executable file of the downloaded software, which has a .exe file extension. 4) Pick a USB flash drive as the location when the wizard asks you exactly where you want to install the software. Follow activation instructions. 5) Disconnect the USB drive. Now you can use this portable anti-malware on the infected computer system. 6) Double-click the antivirus software EXE file on the pen drive. 7) Click on “Scan Now” to run a complete scan on the affected computer for malware.

SafeBytes Anti-Malware Features

Are you looking to download the best anti-malware software for your system? There are plenty of applications in the market that comes in paid and free versions for Microsoft Windows systems. Some of them are good, some are ok types, and some will ruin your computer themselves! While looking for antimalware software, pick one which gives dependable, efficient, and total protection against all known viruses and malware. On the list of recommended software is SafeBytes AntiMalware. SafeBytes carries a really good reputation for excellent service, and customers are happy with it. SafeBytes anti-malware is a highly effective and user-friendly protection tool that is designed for users of all levels of IT literacy. With its most advanced virus detection and repair technology, this software protects your personal computer against infections caused by various kinds of malware and similar threats, including adware, spyware, trojans horses, worms, computer viruses, keyloggers, ransomware, and potentially unwanted program (PUPs). SafeBytes has outstanding features when compared to other anti-malware programs. Here are some of the features you might like in SafeBytes Anti-Malware. Real-time Protection: SafeBytes gives complete and real-time security for your personal machine. It’ll monitor your computer for suspicious activity regularly and safeguards your computer from illegal access. Most Reliable AntiMalware Protection: Built on a greatly acclaimed antivirus engine, this malware removal tool has the capacity to find and remove several obstinate malware threats like browser hijackers, potentially unwanted programs, and ransomware that other typical antivirus software will miss. Safe Browsing: Safebytes assigns all sites a unique safety rating that helps you to have an idea of whether the webpage you are going to visit is safe to view or known to be a phishing site. Lightweight: SafeBytes provides total protection from online threats at a fraction of the CPU load due to its advanced detection engine and algorithms. Premium Support: You can get 24/7 technical assistance to quickly resolve any concern with your security application. Overall, SafeBytes Anti-Malware is a solid program since it has loads of features and can identify and remove any potential threats. Malware problems can become a thing of the past once you put this application to use. If you need advanced forms of protection features and threat detections, purchasing SafeBytes Anti-Malware could be well worth the dollars!

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you don’t wish to use malware removal software and like to get rid of Movie Mode manually, you could possibly accomplish this by going to the Add/Remove Programs menu in the control panel and removing the offending program; in cases of browser add-ons, you can remove it by visiting the browser’s Add-on/Extension manager. You may even want to reset your browser settings, and also clear your web browser cache and cookies. To ensure the complete removal, manually check your hard drive and computer registry for all of the following and remove or reset the values as needed. Having said that, editing the Windows registry is often a hard task that only advanced computer users and professionals should attempt to fix it. Moreover, some malware keeps replicating which makes it difficult to get rid of. It is advisable that you carry out the removal process in Safe Mode.

Windows 10 has displayed one of the most efficient and user-friendly interfaces. However there have been many issues on the backend of this commonly praised operating system: For example, Windows Update is still a wonky and error-laded system application. One example of this error is Windows Update Error 0x80073712 which stands in the way of users just wanting to keep their PCs updated hassle-free. The error code 0x80073712 signifies that a file needed by Windows Update to function is either damaged, missing, or corrupted. However, this does not mean that your Windows version will forever stay as-is with no mode to update it. Windows Update Error 0x80073712 is perfectly fixable with the set of provided steps below and some of Windows’ built-in troubleshooting steps:

Solution 1: Open Windows Update Troubleshooter

1. Open the Windows Update Troubleshooter by pressing the Window Key and  “S” keys simultaneously.
2. Enter the word “Troubleshoot” in the search box and select the Troubleshoot result
3. On the new window, select “Windows Update” to troubleshoot.
4. Run the troubleshooter, then open Windows Update and try to install the update again.

Solution 2: Run the DISM tool

1. Open the command prompt by pressing Windows Key and “S” key simultaneously
2. Enter “cmd” in the search box. Right Click command prompt among the results and select “Run as administrator”
3. In the Command Prompt window type the following and press the Enter key after every command

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Scanhealth DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

4. To close the Administrator: Command prompt window, type Exit, and then press Enter.
5. Run Windows Update again.

Solution 3: Rename the Software Distribution folder

1. Open the command prompt as previously mentioned
2. Input the following command pressing Enter after every line net stop wuauserv net stop cryptSvc net stop bits net stop msiserver rename c:windowsSoftwareDistribution softwaredistribution.old net start wuauserv net start cryptSvc net start bits net start msiserver exit
3. Restart the PC and run the updater if it works again.

Solution 4: Restart Windows Update Services

1. Press the Windows logo key and R together to open Run -> Input services.msc -> and press Enter
2. Search for the Windows Update service -> Check its status
3. If it is not indicated, right-click on the service and select Start to force start your Windows Update
4. If you see an error, locate the Startup Type option and set it to Automatic
5. Now you should reboot your computer and see if your Windows Update is OK

Solution 5: Fix Registry Issues

If after all the aforementioned solutions, you still experience problems with Windows Update, the problem may lie in the registry that is either damaged or corrupted. You may choose to do manual editing of your Windows registry by opening your Windows registry editor. But doing so is risky as one wrong letter may do incalculable damage to your system. To do so safely for more inexperienced users., we recommend using a third-party registry cleaner/tools, many of which can be found online.

Booting the Windows computer system includes loading it from the various boot devices such as drivers, network as well as USB drives when the computer is turned on. The instant the startup sequence is done loading the operating system the system hardware will be ready to perform some complex operations – in this process, the Boot Log in Windows 10 is a record that maintains the list of success or failure of many pieces of Windows 10 system during the booting process. In other words, the Boot Log is the one that keeps a record of all that has happened while loading from the computer storage system to the memory during the boot process. It is available for several devices like network, hardware devices, and the operating system which assist in detecting issues during the boot process and other issues with regards to troubleshooting. Through Boot Log, you’ll know which drivers were unloaded and loaded from the start of the system during the boot process. You have the option to either disable or enable this feature on your Windows 10 PC. Named as “ntbtlog.txt”, the log file lists all the successfully loaded processes and the unsuccessful ones during the boot process. It is saved to the drive C:Windowsntbtlog.txt. As mentioned, you can enable or disable this feature in two ways – the first one is by using the System Configuration or MSConfig while the second one is using the Command Prompt. In this post, we’ll show you how you can enable or disable Boot Log in Windows 10 either way.

Option 1 – Enable or Disable Boot Log using System Configuration

Enable Boot Log:

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Then type in “msconfig” and click OK to open System Configuration.
• After that, go to the boot tab and check the checkbox labeled “Boot Log” under the Boot options so that you can enable the Boot Log feature.
• Then click on OK to save the changes made.
• Next, click on the Restart button in the prompt window to get started with the Boot Log process.
• After restarting your PC, go to C:Windowsntbtlog.txt to open the boot log.

Note: As pointed out earlier, the log file contains a list of all the successfully loaded drivers and also the list of drivers that failed to load during the boot process and every time you restart the system, the boot log file will keep on updating and will eventually increase the list of entries. For you to locate the drivers and make your troubleshooting a lot easier, I advised disabling the boot log after troubleshooting. To disable the boot log using System Configuration, refer to the steps below. Disable Boot Log:

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Then type in “msconfig” and click OK to open System Configuration.
• After that, go to the boot tab and unmark or uncheck the checkbox labeled “Boot Log” under the Boot options so that you can disable the Boot Log feature.
• Then click on OK to save the changes made.

Option 2 – Enable or Disable Boot Log using Command Prompt

Enable Boot Log:

• Go to the Start Menu and then type in “command prompt” in the search bar.
• After that, right-click on the Command Prompt option and select the “Run as administrator” option.
• After opening Command Prompt, type in “bcdedit” and tap Enter.

Note: You have to find the Identifier of the current operating system first to enable the Boot log. You can find it under the Windows Boot Loader section in the “Description” field and in this case, it’s Windows 10. You can also find the operating system identifier under the Windows Boot Loader section next to the field name identifier.

• To check if the boot log entry is disabled or enabled, go check the “Bootlog” field under the Windows Boot Loader. And if it turns out that the “bootlog” entry is enabled, the entry will be “Yes”. Otherwise, the entry will be “No”.
• Next, type in the following command with the operating system identifier to enable the boot log.

bcdedit /set {identifier} bootlog Yes

Note: In the command given above, make sure that you replace the given system identifier with your computer’s system identifier. For instance: In this example, the identifier was replaced with the actual operating system identifier as current.

bcdedit /set {current} bootlog Yes

• Afterward, restart the system to start the Boot log process.
• After the restart, go to C:Windowsntbtlog.txt to open the boot log.

Note: Every time you restart your computer, the boot log file will keep on updating which will increase the size of the log eventually. So if you want seamless and easier troubleshooting, it is advised to disable the Boot log after you troubleshoot. To disable it using the Command Prompt, here’s what you have to do. Disable Boot Log:

• Go to the Start Menu and then type in “command prompt” in the search bar.
• After that, right-click on the Command Prompt option and select the “Run as administrator” option.
• Once the Command Prompt is opened, type in the following command and then tap Enter to disable the boot log feature.

bcdedit/ set {identifier} bootlog No

Note: In the command given above, you need to replace the given system identifier with your computer’s system identifier. For instance: In this example, the {identifier} was replaced with the actual operating system identifier as {current}.

bcdedit /set {current} bootlog No

• Now close the Command Prompt.

Error Code 8024402C – What is it?

When upgrading to Microsoft Windows 10, some users may encounter Error Code 8024402C. This error, while attempting to update, is a result of five possible issues. The error code itself is not a critical concern, yet while the error is occurring, users will not be able to upgrade their Windows software. As with any Microsoft error code, even if it is not critical, it is recommended that the error be addressed sooner rather than later. An insignificant error now could lead to a larger, more catastrophic error later on. Common symptoms include:

• A dialog box appears with the Error Code 8024402C when attempting to upgrade to Microsoft Windows 10.
• Your current version of Windows is unable to recognize the need for an update to Microsoft Windows 10.

Solution

Error Causes

As previously stated, there are five major reasons why error code 8024402C occurs.

• An erroneous character in the proxy override settings
• A wrongly configured firewall is preventing the update from taking place.
• Attempting to access the Windows 10 update through a VPN (Virtual Private Network) connection.
• Workstations that operate behind a corporate ISA server.
• A corporate network system that does not have auto proxy enabled.

The sooner these known causes are addressed, the sooner you will be able to successfully upgrade to Microsoft Windows 10.

Further Information and Manual Repair

Microsoft Support posits four different resolutions to these known error code 8024402C issues. Some of these methods will be more comfortable for at-home users than others. If you are experiencing this issue in a corporate or business setting, it may be better to have your IT tech or department attempt the methods.

Method 1:  When your firewall is causing the issue.

1. Access your firewall software.
2. Specifically, look into the settings associated with your firewall.
3. Make sure that the following three websites are listed as exceptions to your firewall or proxy.

• https://*.windowsupdate.microsoft.com
• http://download.windowsupdate.com
• http://*.windowsupdate.microsoft.com

4. If any of these websites are missing from your firewall list, add them to the list.
5. Restart your Microsoft Windows 10 update.

Method 2: For an erroneous character in the proxy override settings.

1. Open internet explorer, if you use another program to access the internet, you will still need to use internet explorer for this solution.
2. Open your internet explorer tools window.
3. Click on internet options.
4. Choose the connections tab.
5. Select LAN settings.
6. Choose the Advanced option.
7. Delete anything that appears in the exceptions section.
8. Closeout of internet explorer.
9. Click on your start button.
10. Select RUN and type CMD into the field, press ENTER.
11. This will access the command prompt screen. Type “proxycfg -d” and press ENTER.
12. Type the command “net stop wuauserv” and press ENTER.
13. Finally, type “net start wuauserv” and press ENTER.
14. Now you have cleared your proxy cache. Access the Microsoft Windows 10 update again to download.

Method 3: If a VPN connection is causing error code 8024402C.

1. Disconnect from your VPN connection, thus connecting directly to the internet without a proxy or network.
2. Retry the Microsoft Windows 10 update.
3. After the update is successful, reconnect to the VPN network.

Method 4: Use this is an ISA server is in place at your networked business site.

1. Access the ISA firewall client option. From here your goal is to initiate the ISA server automatic detection feature.
2. From the control panel, select the firewall client option.
3. Choose the configure option.
4. Check the box next to “automatically detect firewall server”.
5. Select the “update now” button.
6. Click the OK button.
7. Restart your Microsoft Windows 10 update.

Again, not all of these methods are meant for computer users who do not usually explore and change software settings of this nature. If you do not feel comfortable with any of these methods, you can opt to download and install a powerful automated tool to repair Windows error code 8024402C.

As in previous Windows 10, inside Windows 11 also when you press the ALT + TAB key combination you will get a preview of all running applications along with all Browser tabs so you can go through them and pick the one you want to switch to. Alto, I personally am a big fan of alt-tabbing, I must admit that I am not a big fan of having multiple browsers tabs on screen when I do press key combo. Luckily there is a very easy way to turn this feature off. Turning browsers tabs thumbnails off

1. Press ⊞ WINDOWS + I to open settings
2. Click on System in the sidebar
3. Scroll down and select Multitasking
4. Find Alt + Tab section and click on the drop-down menu
5. Pick Open Windows Only
6. Close settings

Now when you press the ALT + TAB key combination you will still see your browser but only an active tab in it instead of all tabs as different preview thumbnails.

One of the useful things you can use on your laptop is touchpads. They help users in achieving tasks through the gestures and multi-finger tap or touch support it brings in the scope for various shortcuts. However, not all times touchpad brings productivity as it can also encounter some issue every now and then. One of these issues has been reported on a couple of Lenovo laptops that use touchpad drivers from the Alps Pointing Device. According to the reports, an error saying, “Set user settings to driver failed” when they use the touchpad. This type of error on the touchpad usually occurs when a computer boots up and it could be caused by a faulty update on the Alps pointing device driver which is being installed in the background. To fix this error on the touchpad, you could try to disable the Alps pointing device entry from the MSConfig or you could try to get the latest version of the driver or uninstall the driver altogether. Before you proceed with the troubleshooting tips given below, make sure that you create a System Restore point first. Once you have that covered, proceed to the following options.

Option 1 – Try disabling the entry of the Alps pointing device from MSConfig

This first given option was able to fix the problem for many users so to get started, follow these steps:

• In the Start Search box, type “MSConfig” and select System Configuration from the search results.
• Next, go to the Services tab and look for the Alps pointing device entry from the list that appears, and uncheck it.
• Then click the Apply and OK buttons to save the changes made.
• Now restart your computer and see if the error in the touchpad is now fixed.

Option 2 – Try to download and install the latest version of the driver

The next option you can check out to fix the error is to download and install the latest version of the driver from the official website of Lenovo support. Note that an updated version of the touchpad driver will most likely get rid of the error. However, you have to make sure that the version you’re going to get is compatible with your existing Windows version.

Option 3 – Try to uninstall the Alps Pointing device driver

If the first two given options didn’t work, you can try uninstalling the Alps Pointing-device driver instead. You can do this under the Mice and other pointing devices section. After you uninstall the driver, restart your computer and delete the driver’s leftover folder inside this location in File Explorer (C:/Program Files). Once you’re done, restart your computer and check if the error is now gone. Keep in mind that after you’ve uninstalled the driver, any extra configuration features that Lenovo drivers offered before the uninstallation will no longer be available.

One of the most important User Interface elements in a Windows 10 operating system is the Start Menu. Not too long ago, Microsoft has added some new features and redesigned the Start Menu a couple of times as well. Thus, it is not uncommon for Windows 10 users to use several monitors. That’s why in this post, you will be guided on how you can move the Start Menu to your second monitor in Windows 10. There are a lot of advantages in using more than one monitor like a better and widescreen as well as help in improving and increasing productivity. Usually, the Start Menu and the taskbar is present in the original monitor only. In most cases, it helps users in moving the Start Menu to the second monitor and helps users in segregating tasks, and uses separate monitors for each kind of task. There are two simple steps to move the Start Menu to the second monitor. You have the option to unlock and drag the taskbar, as well as make adjustments in the settings. To get started, refer to each one of the following options to move the Start Menu to the second monitor.

Option 1 – Move the second monitor by unlocking and dragging the taskbar

The first option you can try to move the Start Menu to the second display is to simply unlock and then drag the taskbar. To do so, follow these steps:

• First, click on the Taskbar and unlock it.
• Next, uncheck the Lock the taskbar feature in the menu of the Taskbar Settings. This will free the taskbar so you can move or drag it around.
• After that, push the Start Menu to the furthermost corner of the screen and then transfer it to the second monitor.

Option 2 – Move the second monitor using the keyboard

• The first thing you have to do is to tap the Windows key to open the Start Menu.
• Next, close the Start Menu by tapping the Esc key.
• After that, the controls will shift back to the taskbar.
• Now open the context menu of the taskbar by tapping the Alt + space bar together. This will move the Start Menu to the second monitor.

Option 3 – Move the Start Menu to the second monitor via Settings

If you find that the Taskbar is moving to the wrong monitor automatically or if the program does not start on the same monitor as the taskbar, then you can try this option.

• Click on Start first and click Run.
• Then type “desk.cpl” in the field and click OK.
• Alternatively, you could also right-click on the desktop and select the Screen Resolution option from the drop-down menu.
• After that, click on the monitor that you want to use as the primary monitor and select the checkbox labeled “Make this my main display”.
• Once done, you have to choose the “Show desktop” on only 1 from the drop-down menu of Multiple displays.
• Now click the Keep Changes option and select the Extend these displays from the Multiple displays drop-down menu and then click on the Apply button to save the changes made.
• Afterward, click the Keep changes option once the dialog box pops up.

Hello and welcome to How To Speed Up PC Startup where we will explore how to make your PC boot-up system faster. When your computer gets older, you'll see a decrease in your PC's load time. This can be very annoying and frustrating, especially if you're not accustomed to exercising patience. Your computer's boot time does not need to be sluggish, even if it's old. While there are reasons why your computer is acting up and giving you the 'slow' sign, there are ways that you can optimize how fast your PC starts up at the beginning. Once you start speeding things up, you’ll never look back!

Start With your BIOS

You may need to tweak your PC’s start-up menu. Since the majority of issues encountered on your PC might not be related to the software running in the back end, you can focus on your computer's hardware. The ideal way to speed up your PC startup is to access your computer's BIOS when booting up. This can be accessed by holding the DEL key or whichever button is used to tap into your BIOS. You can change where your computer boots from. You can opt to put your hard disk right at the top which would elude searching for CDs and other storage media devices when your PC starts up.

Tweak Startup Programs

There are many programs that execute when your computer starts up. These programs normally run in the back end. Most times back-end programs are unnecessary and do not contribute to the productivity or performance of your computer when in use. Instead of allowing these programs to execute when your PC boots up, why not disable them?  By deactivating these programs, you'll be reducing the amount of CPU usage which will accelerate your PC performance. Additionally, there are some installed programs that you never use. Instead of leaving these programs to occupy needed space on your computer system, you can uninstall these to create more room on your computer. This actually increases your PC startup speed.

Put Malware on a Leash

Malware and spyware can cause problems for your start-up. A slow computer is an indication that your computer is plagued by malware. This affects your computer's boot time and whether or not it'll startup as quickly as you intend it to. If your computer gives you the 'virus alert', you need to download an antivirus program that will be able to eradicate all virus threats. Be mindful of where you download antivirus programs since many of them are viruses or have viruses attached to them. Some viruses are tough on your computer. This means that if an antivirus works for your best friend, it may not work for you. Since malware differs in functions and the havoc they cause, it's best to know what you're up against by doing research.

Clean Your Registry

You should also clean out your registry. The fewer unused registry keys you have lying around on your computer, the faster your computer will go. Getting a good registry cleaner from a clean source can help tremendously, but be careful; registry cleaners have the potential to be very dangerous so make sure you backup everything on your computer and only download registry cleaners from a reliable source. By implementing the above tips, you'll see quick improvements when using your computer.