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Best MMO games to play during this winter

How summer is slowly slipping away and winter is coming people will spend more time indoors, and on top of that delta variant of Covid-19 is rampaging through the world. Being the gamer is now maybe the best time to be, sitting in the comfort of your home, safely isolated from viruses and people, just pushing buttons and emerging yourself in a vast world and new adventures.

But games cost money, and sometimes being a gamer can be expensive, also the COVID situation makes it even more difficult to spend some time with friends. Do not worry, we are here to help.

I am presenting you the list of MMO games that you should try or play during this COVID Winter, and since they are MMO games, you can play them with your friends and hang out in the virtual world. Some of them are also free to play so they will not cost you any money to enjoy them.

The following list is not set in any particular order and remember that this is not a ranked list. There is no best MMO and I will not try to place any of these titles as one dominant, I will just point their style and who they might be for, it is up to you to decide which one you will pick and enjoy.

Best MMO’s in no particular order

EVE Online

eve online MMOEVE Online is one of the earliest MMO games out there but since its release, it is still actively developed and is receiving updates. This science-fiction Sandbox will offer space lovers everything they need and more. Large scale PvP, mining, pirating, etc. It can be daunting and complex for beginners but take your time to get familiar with its systems and you will be rewarded greatly with an immersive and complex game worth the time. Open PvP in some zones might not be everyone’s cup of tea and seeing only your ship might be a turn-off for some players, but if you do not mind these things give it a go. It is free to play with an item shop.

Final Fantasy XIV

ff14 mmoFF14 had a tough start, so tough that it was scrapped and destroyed and has been remade again and that idea was great. The game now is better than ever and at this time it is experiencing large players from other games surging into it. This on the rails fantasy MMO will offer you a great story and great leveling experience. It has a free trial where you can play the whole original game for free but if you wish to continue playing you will have to buy the expansion and pay a monthly subscription but the content is well worth the money.

World of Warcraft

wowLet’s be honest, not a single list of MMO games cannot be without a once greatest and most successful MMO ever made, World of Warcraft. But instead of me praising the game why it was the greatest and why you should play it and how great it is I am going to take a little different approach. I am going to recommend you World of Warcraft classic, yup, you read it correctly, classic. Now World of Warcraft is a retail game with a subscription service but with that one subscription you will be able to access three games in the World of Warcraft universe: World of Warcraft retail (standard game), World of Warcraft Classic (vanilla WOW without expansions offering you experience as it once was when it was released) and World of Warcraft the Burning Crusade classic (same as WOW classic but with the first expansion the Burning Crusade). Among all solutions, I would really urge you to play either WOW classic or WOW TBC classic simply for reason that they are far superior games in comparison to typical retail ones, but if you like easier game go for retail, it is included in the sub anyway.

Guild Wars 2

gw2Guild Wars 1 was one of my favorite games and I sank a lot of times in it and once Guild Wars 2 came I must admit I was pleasantly surprised with it and I would recommend it highly. The base game is completely free to play with only expansion to be purchased and it is buy to play model without monthly fees. It has specific mechanics different from other games and interesting classes to try. The living world is a great feature of the game and it is still very strong with its player base.

Star Wars: old republic

Star-Wars-The-Old-RepublicThis game is made for people who enjoy, love, and like Star Wars. Mechanically besides being able to have henchmen with you and space battles (which I do not really like how they are done) game itself does not offer anything special. Where it shines is in the story and overall Star Wars experience. If you look at this game as a single-player game with multiplayer dungeons you will have a great time, since the story is really good but sadly end game lacks in comparison.

Elder Scrolls Online

Blackwood-release-date-on-TESO-when-will-the-new-chapterI am going to admit something here, I was not fond of the idea to make the beloved Elder Scrolls series into MMO, but in time I gave it a go and I am really glad I did. This game is great and it is getting better and better as time progresses. It is buy to play without monthly fees and basic game free, same as FF14 but without fees. It has a decent community and offers a really good Elder Scrolls experience and now it is packing Morrowind expansions and other great areas. Highly recommended for any Elder Scrolls fan.

Lord of the Rings Online

Lord-of-the-Rings-Online-to-Receive-VisualTech-Updates-asThis one is troublesome to recommend, on one side you have free to play games deeply inside Tolkien Lord of the Rings lore, on the other side, you have outdated graphics and some stupid item shop decisions like buys specific classes. But if you look past stupid item shop decisions and can live with playing free class in the game you will be pleasantly surprised. The game itself is surprisingly good, the story is great as expected from the game infused with lore taken from one of the best books series ever written, and the feeling when visiting iconic landscape is epic. But if I need to be real as I should, I would recommend this one to people appreciate good story and lore and ones that are fans of Lord of the Rings itself.

Neverwinter

Neverwinter-Sharandar-Artwork-001Neverwinter is a premium and licensed D&D MMO game and it is well strange. The free-to-play model of the game will let you enjoy it until you hit the end game, then you will have to shell real money if you want to be competitive but the journey until then is great. I would recommend it to D&D lovers and people that love to try other people's maps, yup you read it correctly. Neverwinter has a map editor making it one of a kind MMO game where you can create your own dungeons and post them for other players to play, this user-generated content makes it a very specific beast in this list, and for that feature alone it has my recommendation.

Tera

tera-classes-guideAnother one of the older titles, Tera will offer you nor depth nor anything new in terms of leveling, quests, or end game except… the COMBAT. This is maybe the greatest MMO Combat game ever created and it is quite fascinating that even after so many years no other game has managed to create a better combat system than one of Tera. If you enjoy action combat and like some specific aesthetics Tera is a game for you.

Albion

Albion-Online-LaunchAlbion is a sandbox game with open-world PvP and building mechanics where you can build your own forest, house, etc. You know, sandbox stuff, including a lot of crafting and well, other sandbox stuff. If you want great quests and some occasional play then skip Albion, this game is made for a more hardcore player base not being afraid to die and spend some time crafting and going through the economy. The best comparison might be with EVE but in fantasy settings.

Black Desert

bdoBlack Desert is also a sandbox game but different from Albion, here you can organize and hire a workforce and send them to different nodes on a map to harvest resources and build an economy while you are on some epic adventure. Housing is also included but you can buy already made houses instead of making your own in the world. Combat is a game that comes very close to Tera combat and it is very enjoyable. The end game is money sink and PvP based so be careful when choosing this one.

Secret World Legends

the-secret-world-relaunching-as-1200x675If you like occult and supernatural with new world order themes and conspiracy theories, Secret World Legends is the game for you. Somewhat little clunky its setting and story really set it apart in many many ways. It has semi-action combat and it is free to play with item shop but all the content can be experienced for free. Recommended for fans of deeper gameplay and horror lore.

Runescape

runescapeWhen I said no MMO list can be without World of Warcraft, it also cannot be without Runescape, one of the oldest games it was revamped with newer mechanics and graphics, free to play all the way and you can also pick old school Runescape if you really want to go all the way on a nostalgia trip. I would recommend a newer one for newer players, the game offers a great story and unusual quests infused with puzzles and interesting storylines. If you like really good quest design without fetch and grind quests along with interesting story this is a game for you.

AION

aionLast on my list would be AION, a very interesting game made also a long way back, but the fact that is completely free with the cosmetic shop will make it as one to recommend since you can experience the whole game for free. It has some limited flying mechanics in it and later game zone are open PvP zones, story is interesting and leveling process is enjoyable. Also game itself is not really easy and if not careful you can get yourself in danger quite quickly. Recommended for old-school feeling.

Conclusion

That's it, there are many more MMO games out there but some are on verge of closing down and some are plainly bad. I hope that I have made your choice easier and that you will find one or a few from this list to spend your time in it. Remember, stay safe and take care of yourself.

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Malware Guide: How to remove OpenCandy

What is OpenCandy?

OpenCandy is an application that downloads and installs software, including other Internet Browsers to a computer system. Used as a bundle, this application installs additional programs that you may knowingly or unknowingly agree to install. Since most users don’t accept the challenge of reading the EULA in its entirety, they tend to download bundled applications unknowingly.

Assessment of OpenCandy PUP

During the initial assessment of OpenCandy, I was a little skeptical about what to look out for or expect. In fact, I had to install the OpenCandy.exe file twice to discern its behavior. I’m not sure how this application got its name but I do believe it has something to do with the fact that it supposedly helps Internet users open a new world of Internet browsing. That conclusion was arrived at after realizing that OpenCandy.exe installed mostly Internet browsers along with a tune-up tool on the test computer. However, as a result of the system requirements, there was a pop-up message indicating that Internet Explorer 8 was not compatible with the computer system in question. In comparison to the malware I’ve encountered since I started researching malware, OpenCandy is everything but malicious. In fact, this application is only categorized as malware because of its’ subtle covert nature of installing bundled programs unsolicited by the user. Additionally, OpenCandy coerces users into changing their Internet Browsers by installing those unrequested by the user. In fact, it’s no shock that OpenCandy chose to install the Internet Browser ‘Opera’ as a part of this bundle since it’s one of the least used browsers according to the Federal Government. Clearly, this was a smoothly disguised advertisement or promotion to force users into using the Opera Browser, along with Internet Explorer 8.0. While these aforementioned browsers in themselves aren’t malicious and are in no way considered malware, they were installed as a promotional tool and without the request of the user. Despite being mentioned within the EULA, advertisers are capitalizing on this since most users do not bother to read the agreements when installing a program. Furthermore, OpenCandy, like most other bundled applications I’ve dealt with, threw in a tune-up tool as a part of the promotion. I found this tune-up application annoying since I had to hassle my way into getting it to close from the computer screen. I can only imagine the hassle users would go through trying to remove this software. Image 7: Depiction of a scan performed by Tuneup Utilities. The scan detected that several areas on the test PC could be optimized/tuned up. Image 8: After a scan was completed using the Tuneup utility program, I was given an option to buy the full version. Nothing is wrong with this marketing strategy. In fact, most utility tools if not all will scan your computer to detect threats or loopholes, but they won't exactly allow you to fix those problems unless you buy the full version. It's not unfair, it's just business. Programs installed during the installation of OpenCandy include:
  • Web Companion: Developed by Lavasoft, Web Companion is said to be an application that serves as a security defense for your Internet browsers by preventing unauthorized changes (see image below)
  • Tuneup Utilities: Tuneup Utilities does exactly as it says. It cleans up a computer system, whereby preventing unused programs from slowing it down.
  • Opera Stable 30.01.1835.88: Opera is a fast, simple, and effective Internet browser that allows users to get around on the web.
All in all, the intent of installing an application such as OpenCandy is to unleash a world of promotion or advertisements on your computer. They are pretty annoying and in some cases difficult to remove. Furthermore, as a user, you want to control what gets installed on your computer without being dictated to or coerced in some EULA that you probably overlook. To completely remove OpenCandy PUP from your computer, click here to download and install Spyhunter.
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How to Fix 0xc000001d Error

What Is 0xc000001d Error?

The 0xc000001d error is a common yet critical error that can occur when Windows is damaged or fails to work as a result of either missing system files or corrupt system components. This error can be extremely dangerous to Windows as it can inflict major damage to data and component files.

Error Causes

A 0xc000001d error code can occur because of a number of reasons, of which corrupt registry files are the most common, and about 94% of the time, this results in the error. However, virus infection or an adware or spyware invasion can also result in this error. Outdated drivers and missing DLL files can also be critical and will lead to this error causing major damage to computer files. Contrary to popular belief, incomplete installation and unfinished uninstalls can also because of this error. Other causes include improper shutting down of computers and improper hardware or software deletion.

Solution

Restoro box imageFurther Information and Manual Repair

Because of this 0xc000001d error code, Windows can fail in starting some processes and the system’s performance can significantly slow down. In some cases, Windows has problems starting up and the system can freeze. Lastly, this error code can even result in the Blue screen of death error message, just like other critical Windows errors. If any of the above problems and symptoms occur in your PC, then you should immediately seek to resolve this problem. In order to resolve this 0xc000001d error code or repair the corrupted and damaged Windows files, you will need a 0xc000001d repair tool. There is more than one method of treating this kind of error code, and here is how you can manually do it:
  • Start the computer and log in as administrator
  • Go to the start button and select All Programs. Go to Accessories, System Tools, and then System Restore
  • Click on System Restore and in a new window, select the ‘Restore my computer to an earlier time’ option and click Next
  • On the new confirmation window that appears, click Next
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Another way to manually repair this 0xc000001d error code is to:
  • Manually edit the Windows registry
  • Update all the drivers for the device
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How to get rid of Gardening Enthusiast Toolbar

The Gardening Enthusiast toolbar is another product that is advertised as a helpful addition to your browsing experience when it is really nothing more than the software you should remove as soon as possible. It is touted as a toolbar that will provide you with a lot of useful gardening tips. That is the hook to get you to install it. But, in truth, the only thing that it does is provide you with links to popular gardening websites that you can easily find on any search engine.

When installed the extension will change your default search engine and home page to MyWay.com

While browsing the internet with this extension you will see additional sponsored ads and links throughout your browsing session.

Anti-virus applications have marked this extension as a Browser Hijacker and are therefore marked for removal. While not considered malware, the fact that many users find it to hinder browser performance has led to its detection and flag for optional removal.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijacking means a malicious program code has control over and modified the settings of your browser, without your permission. Practically all browser hijackers are made for marketing or advertising purposes. Usually, hijackers will force hits to internet sites of their preference either to increase web traffic producing higher ad earnings, or to obtain a commission for every user visiting there. Nevertheless, it isn’t that harmless. Your internet safety is jeopardized and it is extremely annoying. Once the malware attacks your laptop or computer, it starts to mess things up a whole that slows your PC down to a crawl. In the worse case, you will be forced to tackle serious malware threats too.

Browser hijacking symptoms

The typical symptoms that suggest having this malware on your PC are: your home page has been reset to some unfamiliar website; you see new unwanted favorites or bookmarks added, usually directed to ad-filled or pornography sites; the default online search engine has been changed and the web browser security settings have been lowered without your knowledge; find new toolbars that you didn’t add; you notice lots of pop-up ads on your screen; your web browser gets sluggish, buggy, crashes quite often; Inability to navigate to certain sites, especially anti-malware and also other security software webpages.

Exactly how browser hijacker finds its way to your PC

A browser hijacker can be installed on your computer when you go to an infected site, click an e-mail attachment, or download something from a file-sharing website. They could be included with toolbars, BHO, add-ons, plug-ins, or browser extensions. Other times you might have accidentally accepted a browser hijacker as part of a software program package (generally freeware or shareware). Examples of popular browser hijackers are Fireball, Ask Toolbar, GoSave, CoolWebSearch, Babylon Toolbar, and RocketTab. Browser hijackers can record user keystrokes to gather potentially invaluable information that leads to privacy issues, cause instability on computers, significantly disrupt user’s browsing experience, and ultimately slow down the PC to a point where it will become unusable.

Removing browser hijackers

Certain browser hijacking could be easily reversed by identifying and eliminating the corresponding malware application from your control panel. Unfortunately, many of the software products used to hijack an internet browser are deliberately designed to be hard to detect or get rid of. You should think of undertaking manual fixes only if you are a tech-savvy person, as risks are associated with tinkering with the computer registry and HOSTS file. Browser hijackers can be effectively removed by installing anti-malware software on the affected PC. If you need to remove persistent hijackers effectively, install the award-winning anti-malware tool Safebytes Anti-Malware. And employ a system optimizer, like Total System Care, to eliminate all related files in the registry and fix browser issues.

How To Get Eliminate Malware That Is Preventing Anti-Malware Installation?

All malware is inherently harmful, but certain kinds of malicious software do more damage to your computer or laptop than others. Certain malware types alter internet browser settings by including a proxy server or change the computer’s DNS configuration settings. When this happens, you’ll be unable to visit certain or all of the sites, and thus unable to download or install the necessary security software to get rid of the computer virus. If you are reading this, chances are you’re stuck with a virus infection that is preventing you to download and/or install Safebytes Anti-Malware software on your computer. Even though this sort of problem can be harder to get around, there are some steps you can take.

Remove viruses in Safe Mode

Safe Mode is a special, basic version of Microsoft Windows where only the bare minimum services are loaded to prevent viruses as well as other problematic applications from loading. In the event, the malware is set to load immediately when PC boots, shifting to this particular mode can prevent it from doing so. To enter into Safe Mode or Safe Mode with Networking, press F8 while the PC is starting up or run MSCONFIG and locate the “Safe Boot” options under the “Boot” tab. Once you reboot into Safe Mode with Networking, you could download, install, as well as update anti-malware software from there. At this point, you can run the antivirus scan to eliminate viruses and malware without any interference from another application.

Switch over to an alternate internet browser

Malicious code might exploit vulnerabilities on a specific browser and block access to all antivirus software websites. In the event you suspect that your Internet Explorer happens to be hijacked by a virus or otherwise compromised by cybercriminals, the most effective thing to do would be to switch over to a different browser like Firefox, Chrome, or Safari to download your chosen computer security software – Safebytes Anti-Malware.

Install security software on a flash drive

To successfully get rid of the malware, you need to approach the problem of installing the anti-malware program on the affected computer system from a different perspective. To run antivirus from a USB drive, follow these simple measures: 1) Make use of another virus-free computer to download Safebytes Anti-Malware. 2) Plug the USB drive into the clean computer. 3) Double click on the downloaded file to open the installation wizard. 4) When asked, select the location of the pen drive as the place in which you want to store the software files. Follow the activation instructions. 5) Unplug the pen drive. You may now use this portable antivirus on the infected computer. 6) Double-click the anti-malware program EXE file on the pen drive. 7) Click on “Scan Now” to run a complete scan on the affected computer for viruses.

Benefits and Features of SafeBytes Security Suite

If you’re planning to purchase anti-malware for your desktop, there are numerous brands and utilities for you to consider. Some are well worth your money, but most aren’t. You must select a company that creates industry-best anti-malware and has earned a reputation as trustworthy. Among few good applications, SafeBytes Anti-Malware is the highly recommended software program for security-conscious people. SafeBytes anti-malware is a very effective and easy-to-use protection tool that is designed for end-users of all levels of IT literacy. Using its cutting-edge technology, this application will help you get rid of several types of malware like viruses, worms, PUPs, trojans, adware, ransomware, and browser hijackers.

SafeBytes anti-malware takes PC protection to a totally new level with its enhanced features. Here are some of the features you will like in SafeBytes.

Anti-Malware Protection: Built upon a highly acclaimed anti-virus engine, this malware removal tool can detect and remove several stubborn malware threats such as browser hijackers, potentially unwanted programs, and ransomware that other typical antivirus programs will miss. Real-time Threat Response: SafeBytes offers real-time active supervision and protection from all known viruses and malware. It will constantly monitor your computer for hacker activity and also gives end-users sophisticated firewall protection. Safe Browsing: Safebytes allots all sites a unique safety ranking that helps you to have an idea of whether the website you’re about to visit is safe to browse or known to be a phishing site. Lightweight: SafeBytes is renowned for its low impact on processing power and great detection rate of countless threats. It works silently and efficiently in the background so you are free to make use of your personal computer at full power all the time. 24/7 Premium Support: You will get 24/7 technical support to quickly resolve any issue with your security software. SafeBytes will keep your personal computer safe from the latest malware threats automatically with hardly any input needed from you again. Malware problems will become a thing of the past once you put this software to use. You’ll get the best all-around protection for the money you spend on SafeBytes Anti-Malware subscription, there is no doubt about it.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you do not wish to use malware removal software and like to remove Gardening Enthusiast manually, you could do so by going to the Add/Remove Programs menu in the Control Panel and deleting the offending program; in cases of browser add-ons, you may uninstall it by visiting the browsers Add-on/Extension manager. You might also want to reset your home page and search engine providers, and also delete browsing history, temporary files, and internet cookies. To make sure of complete removal, find the following Windows registry entries on your computer and remove them or reset the values appropriately. However, editing the Windows registry is really a difficult job that only experienced computer users and professionals should attempt to fix the problem. In addition, certain malware keeps replicating which makes it difficult to eliminate. Completing this task in Safe Mode is advised.
Folders: C:\Program Files\GardeningEnthusiast_7j Files: Search and Delete: 7jbar.dll 7jhighin.exe 7jmedint.exe 7jregfft.dll 7jregiet.dll 7jhkstub.dll 7jreghk.dll 7jSrcAs.dll 7jSrchMn.exe NP7jStub.dll 7jPlugin.dll 7jauxstb.dll 7jbprtct.dll 7jdlghk.dll 7jradio.dll 7jieovr.dll INSTALL.RDF
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Personalize Windows 11 Start menu
Windows 11 is released and its adoption goes slower than Microsoft would like but nevertheless, it is slowly getting adopted, especially among new computers. Windows 11 has brought us a new modern look of OS but if you would like to personalize it a little more you can. Follow the guide on various things that you can change inside Windows 11.

windows 11 desktop iconsPersonalize list of recently added apps, opened items, folders

The recommended section that shows recently added apps and recently open items can be turned off and hidden now to be shown. In order to do this follow these steps:
  1. Open Windows Settings by pressing WINDOWS + I
  2. Click on personalization in the sidebar
  3. Click on START and go through the options
  4. Turn OFF switch beside recently accessed files
  5. Additionally, you can also change which folders appear on the Start menu.

Remove apps or change app order on the Start Menu

To remove application not to be shown in the Start menu at all follow this simple guide:
  1. Right-click on app
  2. Choose unpin
  3. To place the application on Start click on All Apps, right-click on the app and choose Pin to Start
  4. To drag and rearrange apps, simply click on them and drag them to the new place.

Change the Start Menu location

When Windows 11 was first released Start Menu could only be located in the middle of the screen but thanks to plenty of backlash from users now it is possible to move it on a more traditional left side.
  1. Press WINDOWS + I to open the settings app
  2. Click on Personalization
  3. Look for taskbar behaviors
  4. Inside taskbar behaviors look for Taskbar alignment
  5. Change alignment to left

Change the Start Menu color

In order to change the color of the Start Menu follow the next steps:
  1. Open Settings app
  2. Go to personalization settings
  3. Go to Colors
  4. Switch to custom
  5. Under accent color pick a color you like or make your custom one.
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Boot Selection Failed Because A Required Device Is Inaccessible Error in Windows 10
If you have or are currently getting a troublesome error saying, “The boot selection failed because a required device is inaccessible” when you boot your computer, then continue reading as this post will give you some suggestions that may help you resolve the error. This pesky error pops up during the booting process of your computer and prevents you from booting to your Windows 10 PC and displays the error message on a black screen instead. To fix this problem, here are some suggestions you need to check out.

Option 1 – Try checking the boot order in BIOS

  • Turn on your PC and repeatedly tap the Setup key right away about once every second until you see the Computer Setup Utility or the BIOS settings.
  • Then use the right arrow key to select the Security menu and then use the down arrow key to select the Secure Boot Configuration option and then tap Enter.
  • Just a heads up, before you can use Secure Boot Configuration, a warning will pop up. Simply tap F10 to continue to the menu. After opening it, use the down arrow key to select Secure Boot and then the right arrow key to set the setting to Disable.
  • Next, select the Legacy Support option using the down arrow key and then the right key to set the setting to Enable.
  • Now tap F10 to confirm the changes and then use the arrow key to select File menu and then the down arrow key to select Save Changes and then Exit and tap Enter to select Yes. From there, your computer should restart and once it does, use the power button to switch it off.
If you are now able to boot from your hard drive, you need to know which option to choose once the boot menu pulls up. Refer to the steps below to easily boot from your hard drive.
  • Tap the power button to boot your PC. Once your PC starts, a message will appear indicating that the boot mode has now changed.
  • Next, you’ll see a security screen displaying a four-digit code. Type in this four-digit code and tap Enter.
  • After that, tap the power button to turn the computer off and wait for a couple of seconds and then turn your PC on and tap the ESC key right away repeatedly until you see the Startup menu.
  • Now tap F9 to open the Boot Menu and use the down arrow key to select the hard disk and make sure to select it by tapping Enter on your keyboard.
  • Restart your PC and check.

Option 2 – Try running the DSKCHK Check from the Recovery Media.

The DSKCHK utility scans your hard drive for any errors, bad files, or corrupt sectors so this should help in fixing the problem.
  • The first thing you need to do is to download the Media Creation Tool from Microsoft and then open it after the download. The file should be “MediaCreationTool.exe”.
  • Then tap Accept to agree to the terms and conditions and then from the initial screen, select the “Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC” option. Keep in mind that the language, architecture, and edition of the bootable drive will be selected based on your PC’s settings but you have to uncheck the Use the recommended options for this PC in order to choose the correct settings for your own computer that’s getting the error.
  • Now click Next and then click the USB drive or DVD option once prompted to select between USB or DVD depending on what device you are using to store this image on. Then click Next and select the required drivers from the list of storage devices currently connected to the computer.
  • Click Next. After that, the Media Creation Tool will proceed to download the files needed to install and create the installation device.
  • The next thing you have to do is to insert the installation drive.
  • After that, you will see the “Choose your keyboard layout” window so select the one you prefer and then the Choose an option screen will pop up.
  • Go to Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Command Prompt. After opening Command Prompt, input the following command and hit Enter.
CHKDSK /R /X C:
  • Now boot your PC without the recovery drive and check if the problem’s fixed or not.

Option 3 – Try resetting the BIOS

  • Open the computer case and then look for the battery in the motherboard. If you can’t find it, you can seek out the motherboard or computer documentation of your PC as well as browse the web or contact the manufacturer for further assistance.
  • Removing the battery should be easy especially if your computer uses a coin cell battery. Just use your fingers to grab on the edge of the battery then pull it up and out of the socket that’s holding it in place.
  • Keep the battery removed for about 10 minutes and then insert it back and try booting into the BIOS.

Option 4 – Try using the Startup Repair

  • Inject the installation drive you created earlier and boot your PC.
  • Select the keyboard layout from the Choose your keyboard layout window.
  • From there, the Choose an option screen pops up. Navigate to Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Repair.
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KVM switch and its usage

You probably heard about switches for LAN but not a lot of people heard about KVM switches. So what exactly is KVM switch?

KVM switch

If we look at the name, it is a shortcut for Keyboard, Video & Mouse and the original idea was to have multiple computers but one keyboard, mouse, and monitor. These peripherals would be connected to the KVM switch and other computers could all use one set of these on the fly when needed.

The technology behind the switch is a little interesting since it will actively fake signals to other computers that are not using peripherals. Once they are switched to them the transition is smooth and not noticeable. In old days these switches were more important than today since on every mouse or keyboard disconnection you had to reboot the computer, and although today that is not the case CPU will still detect disconnection and on the next connection it will run through the ID of the device and try to use the existing driver and if peripheral was connected in other USB port, it will install the same driver but connect it to the new USB port.

This type of reconnection can slow down work and place unnecessary load on the CPU so that is why KVM will fake connection in order to make switching externals on the computer smooth and in nick of a time.

Modern KVM switch

These days modern KVM switches will offer you more options than just being able to switch between keyboard, mouse, and monitor. Modern switches now offer Lan, audio, and many more various options.

There are also different kinds of switches offering you only one option, like for example just a Video switch that will let you use one monitor on three computers and many more other specialized options.

Software switches

So far we talked about Hardware switches, a real device being able to take peripherals into it and switch computers on the fly. On the other line, we have software switch solutions that will have specific software installed on all computers and have it run at all times, and switching between them will be through specific software.

There are two very good and main advantages of using software solutions instead of a hardware one. First, of course, is the price, since the most popular Synergy is an open-source solution, completely free of charge. The second big advantage is that software switch is not limited to how many computers can you use. Hardware switches tend to go to a large number like 16 but if you have a large cluster of computers over a LAN, let's say 30 then the box solution might be difficult.

On the other hand software solution will switch only keyboard and mouse since each other computer will have to have some screen on it in order to work. Both solutions have their strong advantages and disadvantages and it is up to you to choose one that best suits you.

Conclusion

If you are multitasking with a lot of computers or just need your peripherals from time to time to connect to another machine then the KVM switch is something that you might find the use of. Just be aware that if you go for some cheap switch you might experience some lag on your peripherals, but if that is not a concern you can get hardware one for as low as $50 USD.

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Activision Blizzard Sued by California
blizzard hqFollowing a two-year investigation by the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, the state has filed a lawsuit against Activision Blizzard for fostering a "frat boy" culture in which female employees are allegedly subjected to unequal pay and sexual harassment. As reported by Bloomberg, Activision Blizzard is being accused by the state of California of discriminating against female employees at nearly all levels of employment, including in regards to compensation, promotion, assignments, and termination. The state alleges Activision Blizzard’s leadership has failed to address any of these outstanding issues or prevent them from occurring within the workplace. You can read the full details of the lawsuit here. The suit, filed Tuesday in the Los Angeles Superior Court, says Activision Blizzard, which is made up of about 20 percent women, assigns women, and women of color, to "lower paid and lower opportunity levels" with lower starting pay for similar work as their male counterparts. The documents also accuse Activision Blizzard of fostering a "pervasive 'frat boy' workplace culture in the office. Male employees are said to drink "copious amounts of alcohol" as they make their way through cubicles and "often engage in inappropriate behavior toward female employees." Male employees are said to come to work hungover, play video games during work "while delegating their responsibilities to female employees, engage in banter about their sexual encounters, talk openly about female bodies, and joke about rape." The lawsuit also cites one particular incident where a female employee, who was already subjected to intense sexual harassment at the company, committed suicide during a work trip with a male supervisor who allegedly brought inappropriate, sexual items with him on the trip. The lawsuit is asking for an injunction that will force Activision Blizzard to comply with workplace protections, as well as deliver unpaid wages, pay adjustments, back pay, and lost wages and benefits for female employees.

An Activision Blizzard spokesperson sent the following statement in response to the allegations:

We value diversity and strive to foster a workplace that offers inclusivity for everyone. There is no place in our company or industry, or any industry, for sexual misconduct or harassment of any kind. We take every allegation seriously and investigate all claims. In cases related to misconduct, the action was taken to address the issue. The DFEH includes distorted, and in many cases false, descriptions of Blizzard’s past. We have been extremely cooperative with the DFEH throughout their investigation, including providing them with extensive data and ample documentation, but they refused to inform us what issues they perceived. They were required by law to adequately investigate and to have good faith discussions with us to better understand and to resolve any claims or concerns before going to litigation, but they failed to do so. Instead, they rushed to file an inaccurate complaint, as we will demonstrate in court. We are sickened by the reprehensible conduct of the DFEH to drag into the complaint the tragic suicide of an employee whose passing has no bearing whatsoever on this case and with no regard for her grieving family. While we find this behavior to be disgraceful and unprofessional, it is, unfortunately, an example of how they have conducted themselves throughout the course of their investigation. It is this type of irresponsible behavior from unaccountable State bureaucrats that are driving many of the State’s best businesses out of California. The picture the DFEH paints is not the Blizzard workplace of today. Over the past several years and continuing since the initial investigation started, we’ve made significant changes to address company culture and reflect more diversity within our leadership teams. We’ve updated our Code of Conduct to emphasize a strict non-retaliation focus, amplified internal programs and channels for employees to report violations, including the “ASK List” with a confidential integrity hotline, and introduced an Employee Relations team dedicated to investigating employee concerns. We have strengthened our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and combined our Employee Networks at a global level, to provide additional support. Employees must also undergo regular anti-harassment training and have done so for many years. We put tremendous effort into creating fair and rewarding compensation packages and policies that reflect our culture and business, and we strive to pay all employees fairly for equal or substantially similar work. We take a variety of proactive steps to ensure that pay is driven by non-discriminatory factors. For example, we reward and compensate employees based on their performance, and we conduct extensive anti-discrimination training including for those who are part of the compensation process. We are confident in our ability to demonstrate our practices as an equal opportunity employer that fosters a supportive, diverse, and inclusive workplace for our people, and we are committed to continuing this effort in the years to come. It is a shame that the DFEH did not want to engage with us on what they thought they were seeing in their investigation.

Conclusion

We will see how things work out, but I am not too optimistic for Activision Blizzard, truth to be told these reports are really bringing up some disturbing news on the sunlight. I just hope that all responsible will be brought to justice.
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Not enough storage is available to process...
Each time you execute a command on your computer, it takes into account a number of files and space for the code in the background for the command to be executed. Thus, executing the command is not that easy which is why you could encounter some errors along the way due to various limitations or poor allocation of memory, and so on. One of the errors you might encounter when executing a command on Windows 10 and Windows Server is the “Not enough storage is available to process this command”. There are several potential fixes you can check out to fix this error. To fix this error, you can try to delete the temporary files in your computer, run the DISM tool or apply some registry tweaks. For more details, refer to each one of the given options below.

Option 1 – Try to delete the temporary files

The error could be caused by some temporary or junk files in your computer and so you need to clear them up to fix the problem. You can achieve that using the Storage Sense feature.
  • Open Setting > System > Storage from the WinX Menu.
  • From there, you will see a list of all the local and connected storage devices along with the details on the free space. Make sure that Storage Sense is on.
  • Next, find a link that says “Free Up Space” and click it to open.
  • After that, a screen which is the built-in program in Windows 10 will appear and will scan your computer for the following junk files so you can free up disk space:
    • Windows Upgrade Log Files
    • System created Windows Error Reporting Files
    • Thumbnails
    • Temporary Internet Files
    • Previous Windows Installation Files
    • Delivery Optimisation Files
    • DirectX Shader Cache
  • Choose the files you want to get rid of and then click on the remove files option. Note that you’ll have an idea of the total size as you select any of the junk files listed above.
  • Now go to the “Free Up Space Now” section and click the Clean now button. This will get rid of all the temporary or junk files in your computer and should hopefully fix Error 1310.

Option 2 – Run the DISM tool

You can also run the DISM Tool as it could also help in fixing the “Not enough storage is available to process this command” error in Windows 10. Using this built-in tool, you have various options such as the “/ScanHealth”, “/CheckHealth”, and “/RestoreHealth” that could help in fixing error 0x80246019.
  • You can run the DISM tool via Advanced Startup Options or you could boot your computer into a Clean Boot State and then select Command Prompt.
  • Open the Command Prompt with admin privileges.
  • Then type in the following commands and make sure to hit Enter right after you type each one of them:
    • Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
    • Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
    • exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
  • Do not close the window if the process takes a while as it will probably take a few minutes to finish. Once it’s done, restart your computer and try again. If it didn’t work, you can try to use the “/StartComponentCleanup” parameter: Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup

Option 3 – Try to use the Registry Editor

The memory range allocated for the tasks and commands to be executed is associated with the IRPStackSize DWORD. Thus, to fix the error, you need to extend the range by applying some registry tweak. Before you proceed, make sure that you create a System Restore point first. Once you’re done, follow these steps:
  • Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box and type “Regedit” in the field and tap Enter to open the Registry Editor.
  • Next, navigate to this registry key: ComputerHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetServicesLanmanServerParameters
  • From there, look for the DWORD named “IRPStackSize” and right-click on it. If you can’t find this DWORD, just right-click on any empty space and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
  • Input “IRPStackSize” as the DWORD name and double click on it and set its Value data to be greater than its default value. Note that the maximum value allowed is “0xc” and the range starts from “0x1”.
  • Now click on OK and exit the Registry Editor and then restart your computer and see if the error is fixed.
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Computer is stuck on the Hi there screen
As you know, installing Windows 10 is quite a complicated process in the background even though it may look like an easy task in the foreground. There are times when the setup is stuck on the “Hi there” screen where you won’t be able to input any information in the fields given and you wouldn’t be able to do anything else since the screen does not move ahead. There are a lot of possible reasons why this issue occurs. It could be due to a damaged setup image, invalid boot configuration, and many more. To resolve this problem, there are several options you can check out. You can try to get a new setup image or run the Automatic Repair or you could also try to recreate the Boot Configuration files or BCD. To get started in checking out these solutions, make sure to follow the instructions provided below.

Option 1 – Try to run the Automatic Repair Utility

You might also want to use Automatic Repair in fixing the error. To do so, follow the steps below.
  • You can start by creating and booting from a bootable Windows 10 USB Stick.
  • After that, click on Repair your computer located on the bottom left corner when you are on the initial Windows Startup screen.
  • Next, click on Troubleshoot, and then on the other screen, click the Startup Repair option.
  • Now select the operating system you want to repair. Once you do that, it will start to repair your operating system. Wait until the process is completed and then check if the problem’s now fixed.

Option 2 – Try to rebuild the BCD files

You can also try rebuilding the BCD files to resolve stuck screen issue in your Windows 10 computer.
  • 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 3 – Try recreating the Windows 10 installation USB

Recreating the Windows 10 installation USB might help in fixing the problem. You can use a USB drive to do so but make sure that it has a great read-write speed. Follow the steps below to recreate Windows 10 installation USB”
  • 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 4 – Try getting a new Windows image file

If none of the four given options above worked, you might want to get a newer installation image using the Windows Media Creation tool. After that, create the bootable USB drive and once completed and then try to run the Windows 10 setup again.
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Delete a Volume or Drive Partition in Windows 10
Operating systems now give users a feature that allows them to create separate partitions out of HDD or SSD-based storage in order to store data in an organized manner. This small yet powerful feature has always been supported by Microsoft. However, there are times when users might fill up on some particular very soon. This may result in the lack of space for that partition which makes the entire process of using PCs slower since there is a large chunk of files that has to be indexed in a smaller partition. If you are one of the users experiencing this dilemma, you need to either delete the other partitions to allocate their storage to the partition that is short on storage or simply recreate the partition so that all the useless data will be deleted and you can start afresh with the overflowing partition. In this post, you will be guided on how you can delete any storage partition from your Windows 10 PC via Disk Management, Command Prompt as well as Windows PowerShell.

Option 1 – Delete storage partition via Disk Management

This is one of the simplest ways you can use to delete a storage partition. Go to the WinX Menu and from there, open Disk Management and then select the Drive you want to get rid of, right-click on it and then select Delete Volume.

Option 2 – Delete storage partition via Command Prompt

  • Tap the Win + X keys or right-click on the Start button and select Command Prompt (Admin) or you could also type in “cmd” in the Cortana search box and right-click on the Command Prompt icon and then select the “Run as Administrator” option from the context menu.
  • Once you have Command Prompt pulled up as admin, type in and enter this command – diskpart
  • After entering this command, the Diskpart Utility will start. Diskpart Utility is a command line-based utility just like Command Prompt but it will get a UAC Prompt after you invoke it so you have to click Yes for the UAC Prompt.
  • After that, type in list volume and tap Enter to see the list of all the partitions created on your PC. This includes both types of partitions that are visible to a normal user in the File Explorer as well as the ones that are created by Windows 10 by default which helps it in storing the boot files and other essential system files.
  • You should see a list of all the partitions made on your computer. Select the partition you want to delete by its Unique Identification number as Volume X where X denotes the Unique Identification Number.
  • Next, type in the select volume number command and hit Enter to select the desired volume.
  • Then delete the volume you’ve selected and type in the delete volume command and hit Enter to delete the volume you just selected and convert it into unallocated space.

Option 3 – Delete storage partition via Windows PowerShell

  • Start by tapping the Win + X keys or simply right click on the Start button and select Windows PowerShell (Admin) or you could also type in “windows powershell” in the Cortana search box and right-click on the Windows PowerShell icon and select the “Run as administrator” option.
  • Once you’ve opened the Windows PowerShell, type in the Get-Volume command and hit Enter to get a list of all the partitions on your PC.
  • Next, select the drive letter you want to delete and then type in the Remove-Partition –DriveLetter command and hit Enter to delete the selected partition. Note that you need to replace the drive letter with the letter of the partition you want to get rid of.
  • After that, it will ask you for confirmation. Just hit the Y key for Yes or hit the A key to say Yes to All. This will delete all the partition you’ve selected and will move them in as unallocated space.
And that’s how you delete a Drive Partition or Volume in Windows 10. Note that you should only follow the last two options given in case the Disk Management is not able to fulfill the user requirements.
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