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 MMO EVE 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 mmo FF14 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

wow Let’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

gw2 Guild 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

This 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-chapter I 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-as This 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-001 Neverwinter 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-guide Another 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-Launch Albion 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

bdo Black 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-1200x675 If 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

When 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

aion Last 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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Fix UTCSVC high CPU and Disk usage in Windows

There is a lot of high resource utilization by any process that slows down a Windows operating system and one of the services that could cause such a thing is the utcsvc.exe process. This particular process at times can cause high CPU and disk usage. So if you are currently facing this problem, read on as this post will guide you on how you can resolve the problem. UTC which stands for Universal Telemetry Client is a software that runs a service named Diagnostic Tracking Service or DiagTrak. This service is used by Microsoft to collect customer feedback, analyze customer’s problems, and push resolution via updates in order to make the Windows 10 operating system better. This service is an executable file that could be translated to Service Host and even though the process does not usually cause problems, there are actually times when it does especially if it results in high resource utilization. In such cases, you might want to consider disabling it to fix its high CPU and disk usage.

According to Microsoft:

“We collect information about you, your devices, applications and networks, and your use of those devices, applications, and networks. Examples of data we collect include your name, email address, preferences, and interests; browsing, search and file history; phone call and SMS data; device configuration and sensor data; and application usage.”

There are several ways you can disable the utcsvc.exe process. You can disable it using the Service Manager, Registry Editor, and Group Policy Editor. For more details, refer to the instructions laid out below.

Option 1 – Disable the Connected User Experience & Telemetry Service via Service Manager

Note that this option is for standalone systems, so if you’re not using one, refer to the next given options below.

Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
Then type “services.msc” in the field and tap Enter or click OK to open the Services Manager.
From the given list of services, look for the Connected User Experience service. Once you found it, click on it and you’ll see its description which states:

“The Connected User Experiences and Telemetry service enables features that support in-application and connected user experiences. Additionally, this service manages the event-driven collection and transmission of diagnostic and usage information (used to improve the experience and quality of the Windows Platform) when the diagnostics and usage privacy option settings are enabled under Feedback and Diagnostics.”

Next, right-click on it and select Properties.
Now, change its Startup Type to Disabled and click on the Apply and OK buttons to save the changes made.

Option 2 – Disable the Connected User Experience & Telemetry Service via Registry Editor

Tap the Win + R keys to launch the Run utility and type “Regedit” in the field and click OK to open the Registry Editor.
Next, navigate to this registry path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindowsDataCollection
After that, right-click on the folder named “DataCollection” and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
Now name the new value “AllowTelemetry” and make sure that its Value data is “0” and then click on OK to save the changes made.
Restart your computer.

Option 3 – Disable the Connected User Experience & Telemetry Service via Group Policy Editor

If you have to disable the service related to the Universal Telemetry Client for company-managed systems, then you can do that using the Group Policy Editor.

Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run utility and type “gpedit.msc” in the field and hit Enter to open the Group Policy Editor.
Next, navigate to this path: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components> Data Collection and Preview Build
After that, double-click on Data Collection and Preview Build to open its settings.
From there, look for the “Allow Telemetry” item and double click on it to open its Properties.
Next, set the radio button to Disabled and then click on the Apply button to save the changes made.
Restart your computer.

Option 4 – Run the Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter or the Performance Troubleshooter

Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter:

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

Performance Troubleshooter:

Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
Type “exe /id PerformanceDiagnostic” in the field and hit Enter to open the Performance troubleshooter.
Then click on Next to get started. Wait until the process is completed.

Valorant will enforce Windows 11 TPM 2.0

Bad or good news, depending on your view comes from RIOT for their game Valorant. It seems that Riot has decided to enforce Windows 11 TPM 2.0 feature into Valorant running on Windows 11 and there is a rumor that it will be de facto standard and that it will move to Valorant in general no matter on which system it runs. Furthermore, there is a rumor circling around that other developers are also talking about implementing TPM 2.0 requirements so they can harvest advanced security features of Windows 11 in order to prevent hacks and other cheats in their games. This is an interesting point to stand on, on one side, sure, advanced features that will prevent cheating and hacking is a great thing. On other hand denying access to many computers that do not support TPM 2.0 and removing them from the game can be a permanent loss of customers and therefore loss of money. It is a risk to be sure and I am not really sure that alienating gamers is a good choice for long-term income, especially when you will be able to install Windows 11 on an unsupported PC as stated by Microsoft. We will all see how this Riot decision will reflect on their business, as not a big Valorant player myself I am not impacted too much with this decision, but it will be interesting to see if others will indeed go with this trend or they will decide to wait a while until much more PC’s are upgraded.

Windows 10 is stuck on Checking for updates

Over the years, the Windows 10 updates have smoothened but that does not mean that it no longer encounter some issues. One of these issues is when it gets stuck. As you know, Windows automatically checking for updates regularly or when you click the “Check for updates” button. However, if the Windows 10 update is taking forever and seems to be stuck, then you’ve come to the right place as this post will guide you on what you can do to resolve the problem. This kind of scenario in Windows Updates can be quite confusing especially since there is no response or any indication of what is really happening since you don’t know if the update is still downloading or if it’s already getting installed. To resolve this problem, there are several options you can check out. You can try to exit settings and restart your computer. You could also try to restart the services related to Windows Update or clear both the Software Distribution and Catroot2 folders, as well as run a System File Checker scan. For more details follow each one of the given steps below.

Option 1 – Restart your computer

The most basic thing you can do to fix the problem is to restart your computer. It usually works in fixing common issues like the Windows Update getting stuck at the “Checking for updates” screen. However, if it didn’t work, proceed to the next given options below.

Option 2 – Reset Windows Update components

If the first two options did not work then you might want to reset the Windows Update components manually. Follow the steps below to reset them.

Open Command Prompt with admin privileges.
After that, type each one of the following commands and hit Enter after you key in one after the other.
- net stop wuauserv
- net stop cryptsvc
- net stop bits
- net stop msiserver

Note: The commands you entered will stop the Windows Update components such as Windows Update service, Cryptographic services, BITS, and MSI Installer.

After disabling WU components, you need to rename both the SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2 folders. To do that, type each one of the following commands below, and don’t forget to hit Enter after you type one command after the other.
- ren C:WindowsSoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
- ren C:WindowsSystem32catroot2 Catroot2.old
Next, restart the services you’ve stopped by entering another series of commands. Don’t forget to hit Enter after you key in one command after the other.
- net start wuauserv
- net start cryptsvc
- net start bits
- net start msiserver
Close Command Prompt and reboot your PC.

Option 3 – Try checking Services Dependencies

Dependencies of a Windows Service in Windows 10 are when windows services depend on other services. Such is the case with the Windows Update service – it also depends on three different services such as the Remote Procedure Call or RPC service, DCOM Server Process Launcher, and the RPC Endpoint Mapper. Meaning to say, if two of these services are not working as expected, then the dependent service will also be affected. This could be the reason why the Windows Update service could not start.

Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
Next, type “services.msc” in the field and hit Enter to open Windows Services.
From the list of Services, look for the following services:
- Remote Procedure Call (RPC) Service
- DCOM Server Process Launcher
- RPC Endpoint Mapper
After you find these services, double click on each one of them and check whether the Startup type for all is set to Automatic and the Service status is set to Running or not.
If the service status is not running, then click the Start button. Afterward, check if you can now run the Windows Update service.

Option 4 – Check the Background Intelligent Service and the Cryptographic Service

Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
Next, type “services.msc” in the field and hit Enter or click OK to open Services.
From the list of Services, look for the following services and make sure that their Startup type is as follows:
- Background Intelligent Transfer Service – Manual
- Cryptographic Service – Automatic
After that, check if the Service status of the listed services above is set to Running. If they’re not, click on the Start button to start these services and then check if you can now enable the Windows Update service or not.

Option 5 – Try running the System File Checker

System File Checker or SFC is a built-in command utility that helps in restoring corrupted files as well as missing files. It replaces bad and corrupted system files to good system files that might be the cause why your screen is stuck at “Checking for updates”. To run the SFC command, follow the steps given below.

Tap Win + R to launch Run.
Type in cmd in the field and tap Enter.
After opening Command Prompt, type in sfc /scannow

The command will start a system scan which will take a few whiles before it finishes. Once it’s done, you could get the following results:

Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.
Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them.
Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them.

Restart your computer.

Clipboard history in Windows 10

Copy & Paste is an essential part of Operating and working on a computer. We copy and paste a lot of different stuff through our workday, moving stuff from application to application. In an earlier article today we have explored troubleshooting and how to repair copy-paste stopped responses, this time we are going to focus on a little feature of Windows 10 called Clipboard history. Clipboard history is a built-in feature in Windows 10 which lets you store multiple copies of different types and then selectively pasting them into another application. Let's say you have multiple copies of different text from different websites and you then paste everything or just some into a Word processor. If this feature sounds interesting to you then let's turn it on. Press the start button and then on settings.

In settings window click on System Windows settings with System section selected

in system dialog click on the clipboard and on the right screen turn ON CLipboard history. Windows settings for Clipboard

FreeDownloadManager Removal Tutorial

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

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

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

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

About Potentially Unwanted Applications

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

How does unwanted software affect you?

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

Tips to prevent PUPs

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

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

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

Get rid of viruses in Safe Mode

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

Obtain the anti-malware program using an alternate browser

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

Run antivirus from your pen drive

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

Features and Benefits of SafeBytes Anti-Malware

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

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

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

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

Files: C:WINDOWSsystem32netmsg.dll C:DocumentsUserLocalTempfdminst.exe C:DocumentsUserLocalTempis-FJKMF.tmpfdminst.tmp C:WINDOWSsystem32msctfime.ime C:DocumentsUserLocalTempis-FN3E3.tmp_isetup_shfoldr.dll C:WINDOWSsystem32shfolder.dll C:DocumentsUserLocalTempis-FN3E3.tmpfdminno.dll C:DocumentsUserLocalTempis-FN3E3.tmpnsProcessW_modified.dll C:WINDOWSsystem32shell32.dll C:Documents and SettingsUserStart Menudesktop.ini C:Documents and SettingsUserStart MenuProgramsdesktop.ini C:WINDOWSRegistrationR000000000007.clb C:WINDOWSwin.ini Registry: HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareCodeGearLocales HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareCodeGearLocales HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareBorlandLocales HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareBorlandDelphiLocales HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionIMM HKEY_USERSS-1-5-21-1547161642-507921405-839522115-1004SoftwareMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionAppCompatFlagsLayers HKEY_CURRENT_USERSOFTWAREMicrosoftCTF HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftCTFSystemShared HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionFontSubstitutes HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersion HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersion HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareFreeDownloadManager.ORGFree Download Manager 5 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPoliciesExplorer HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPoliciesExplorer HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionShellCompatibilityObjects20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309DInProcServer32 HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTDriveshellexFolderExtensions HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTDriveshellexFolderExtensionsfbeb8a05-beee-4442-804e-409d6c4515e9 HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerUser Shell Folders HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerUser Shell Folders HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESystemCurrentControlSetControlSession Manager 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HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID0BB2765-6A77-11D0-A535-00C04FD7D062InprocServer32 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID0BB2765-6A77-11D0-A535-00C04FD7D062InprocServerX86 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID0BB2765-6A77-11D0-A535-00C04FD7D062LocalServer32 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID0BB2765-6A77-11D0-A535-00C04FD7D062InprocHandler32 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID0BB2765-6A77-11D0-A535-00C04FD7D062InprocHandlerX86 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID0BB2765-6A77-11D0-A535-00C04FD7D062LocalServer HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID0BB2765-6A77-11D0-A535-00C04FD7D062 HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID0BB2765-6A77-11D0-A535-00C04FD7D062TreatAs HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID3C036F1-A186-11D0-824A-00AA005B4383 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID3C036F1-A186-11D0-824A-00AA005B4383TreatAs HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID3C036F1-A186-11D0-824A-00AA005B4383 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID3C036F1-A186-11D0-824A-00AA005B4383InprocServer32 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID3C036F1-A186-11D0-824A-00AA005B4383InprocServerX86 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID3C036F1-A186-11D0-824A-00AA005B4383LocalServer32 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID3C036F1-A186-11D0-824A-00AA005B4383InprocHandler32 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID3C036F1-A186-11D0-824A-00AA005B4383InprocHandlerX86 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID3C036F1-A186-11D0-824A-00AA005B4383LocalServer HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID3C036F1-A186-11D0-824A-00AA005B4383 HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID3C036F1-A186-11D0-824A-00AA005B4383TreatAs HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID0BB2763-6A77-11D0-A535-00C04FD7D062 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID0BB2763-6A77-11D0-A535-00C04FD7D062TreatAs HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID0BB2763-6A77-11D0-A535-00C04FD7D062 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID0BB2763-6A77-11D0-A535-00C04FD7D062InprocServer32 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID0BB2763-6A77-11D0-A535-00C04FD7D062InprocServerX86 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID0BB2763-6A77-11D0-A535-00C04FD7D062LocalServer32 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID0BB2763-6A77-11D0-A535-00C04FD7D062InprocHandler32 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID0BB2763-6A77-11D0-A535-00C04FD7D062InprocHandlerX86 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID0BB2763-6A77-11D0-A535-00C04FD7D062LocalServer HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID0BB2763-6A77-11D0-A535-00C04FD7D062 HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID0BB2763-6A77-11D0-A535-00C04FD7D062TreatAs HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID3C036F1-A186-11D0-824A-00AA005B4383InProcServer32 HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID0BB2763-6A77-11D0-A535-00C04FD7D062InProcServer32 HKEY_CURRENT_USERsoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerAdvanced HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINEsoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerAdvanced HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionFontSubstitutes HKEY_USERSS-1-5-21-1547161642-507921405-839522115-1004 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionLanguagePackSurrogateFallback HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionUninstallFree Download Manager_is1 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How to Fix Windows Upgrade error 0xa0000400

If you encounter an error code of 0xa0000400 while trying to upgrade your Windows 10 computer using the Windows 10 Upgrade Assistant or the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool, then you might find this post useful as it will guide you in resolving this problem. When you get this error, you will see the following error message:

“Something went wrong You can contact Microsoft support for help with this error. Here is the error code 0xa0000400.”

As you know, keeping your computer up to date with all the Windows Updates is important and is imperative especially if you are experiencing a couple of issues like the Windows Upgrade error 0xa0000400. At the time of writing, there is no specific cause that has been found for this error. However, there are some potential fixes that might help you. You can try to recreate the Windows 10 installation USB and get the ISO files or you could also get a newer version of the Windows Media Creation Tool, or turn off your internet connection at a specific time or run the Windows Update troubleshooter. For more details, refer to the options given below.

Option 1 – Try to recreate 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 2 – Try turning off the Internet connection at a specific time

You might want to turn off your internet connection at a specific time. This option can be quite tricky so what you need to do is to disconnect the internet connection when the update is downloaded using the Windows Upgrade tool. It’s actually okay since all the files you need would be downloaded safely and the Windows Upgrade tool will be the one to install the newer updates using those files.

Option 3 – Try to get a newer version of the Windows Media Creation tool

You can also fix the Windows Upgrade error 0xa0000400 by using the latest version of the Windows Media Creation tool. And so if what you have is an older version, you need to update it in order to resolve the error and upgrade your Windows 10 computer.

Option 4 – Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter

Running the built-in Windows Update troubleshooter is one of the things you can first check out as it is known to automatically resolve any Windows Update or upgrade errors like error code 0x800701E3. To run it, go to Settings and then select Troubleshoot from the options. From there, click on Windows Update and then click the “Run the troubleshooter” button. After that, follow the next on-screen instructions and you should be good to go.

Option 5 – Try running Disk Cleanup

You might want to run the Disk Cleanup utility as it is a useful tool that could delete temporary and useless files in your computer.

Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box and then type “cleanmgr” in the field and hit Enter to open the Disk Cleanup window.
After that, select the drive you want to clean.
Now click OK to clean the disk and restart your computer.

How to Permanently Disable Active History

What is Active History? A new feature has been introduced in Windows 10 that allows users to stay connected to their tasks across their devices. This new feature is called “Windows Timeline” and using this feature, users could continue their tasks all over their Windows 10 computers as well as on devices that run Android and iOS as well. This new feature was included in Microsoft Launcher and Microsoft Edge on Android devices as well as in Microsoft Edge for iOS devices. In order for the feature to work, you have to send either Basic or Full data and diagnostics of your computer to Microsoft which would sync it all over your devices with the help of the cloud. And now since all your data is stored on your Windows 10 computer and with Microsoft under your account, it is easier for you to access the back and start where you left off. This kind of option is called Active History. In this post, you will be guided on how you can permanently disable Active History using either the Windows Registry or Group Policy. Before you go on further, it is recommended that you create a System Restore Point first in case anything goes wrong. This is a precautionary measure you must take so that you can easily undo the changes you’ve made. After creating a System Restore Point, proceed to the given instructions below.

Option 1 – Disable Active History via Registry Editor

Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box and type in “Regedit” in the field and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor.
Next, navigate to this registry key: ComputerHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindowsSystem
From there, check if you can find a DWORD named “PublishUserActivities”. If you can’t find this DWORD, just create one with the same name and make sure that the base is selected to Hexadecimal.
After that, double-click on the DWORD and change its value from 1 to 0 to disable Active History.
Restart your computer to apply the changes you’ve made successfully.

Option 2 – Disable Active History via Group Policy Editor

Note that this second option won’t work if you are using the Home edition of Windows 10. This is because the Group Policy Editor does not come with Windows 10 Home. So if you are not using Windows 10 Home, follow the given steps below.

Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run box.
Then type in “gpedit.msc” in the field and hit Enter to open the Group Policy Editor.
Next, navigate to this path: Computer ConfigurationAdministrative TemplatesSystemOS Policies
After that, double click on the configuration listing named “Allow publishing of User Activities” to open the configuration page which has the following description:

“This policy setting determines whether User Activities can be published. If you enable this policy setting, activities of type User Activity are allowed to be published. If you disable this policy setting, activities of type User Activity are not allowed to be published. Policy change takes effect immediately.”

Now you have to select Disabled or Not Configured if you want to disable Publishing of User Activities or Enabled to Enable Publishing of User Activities depending on your preferences.
Next, click OK and exit the Group Policy Editor and then restart your computer to successfully apply the changes made.

How to remove "program" from startup

Instaling and removing applications from your Windows can sometimes leave some traces that are unpleasant and can cause annoyances. One of these annoyances is the program in the startup section of the task manager.

If you ever opened task manager and went into the startup section trying to disable some of the startup items on your Windows boot there might be a chance that you have experienced and seen a program without any icon or information about it just sitting there.

This is due to some applications being removed from the system but for some reason, it still shows itself in startup and it is quite annoying. So here we will show you how to get rid of this annoyance so your startup is clean again without junk in it.

Removing a program from startup

Locating the source of the issue

The first thing of course is to open the task manager itself and navigate to the startup tab. Inside the startup tab right-click on the column header and tick or enable Startup type and command line. Now you will see the location of the supposed file (that is missing or you could just go there by right-clicking on the item, but here it is greyed).

99% of the time startup type will be registry since the file is missing, if it was a file fix would be just to simply delete the file in the folder but since it was installed and not properly removed registry key is still present but the file cannot be found. After confirmation that the file is indeed missing and that the startup type is registry open the registry editor by typing Regedit in search and pressing enter.

Removing the key from registry

Inside Registry editor navigate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run. Inside on right part, you will see all auto-start entries added by installed applications.

Locate one that is causing issues by comparing its path with the path inside the task manager command line and delete the key. Once the key is deleted right-click on RUN on the left part and choose HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE to quickly jump on that key location and repeat the process of key deletion if needed. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE will delete startup entry for all users and sometimes entry will not be present here since the application is not installed for all users or there are no other users on the machine.

After the procedure is finished, reboot your systems in order to apply changes.

Find files fast using command prompt

Finding files via File Explorer can be a really slow and tedious process and if you are searching often it can accumulate a lot of time loss. I am a person which often has assets for projects in several different folders and altho I am trying my best to be tidy and organized sometimes I can not remember where I have placed certain assets that I need, in this case in order for me to find a required asset I usually search it via command prompt because it is lightning fast and gives results in second not minutes compared to File Explorer. If you are in a similar position and you need fast results please read on as we dive deeper into the command prompt and its usage. To quickly open the command prompt press ⊞ WINDOWS + X to bring Windows secret menu and choose the command prompt, you can also choose the admin version but for sake of this specific task, there is no difference. keyboard with windows and x marked

in the command prompt you need to type the next command:

dir \search term* /s

where search term* is well, what are you searching for. Now if you are looking for a specific file this command is straightforward, you just change search term* with file_name.extension and there you go, but know that this command can be used to be more powerful, for example, you can find all JPG files in your drive by typing dir \*.jpg /s or all files named work by typing dir \work.* /s " * " is a so-called joker sign, it replaces several characters with any in a given string, meaning that dr*s will give you all results with the first 2 letters dr and last one s. Use this to specify better search results and you will get your files in no time.

Change mouse pointer size & style in Windows11

Windows 11 provides several different ways to make your cursor stand out and be easier to spot inside it. You can make the mouse pointer larger, invert it, or change its color.

Press ⊞ WINDOWS + I to open settings
Click on Accessibility in the sidebar
Select Mouse Pointer and Touch
Adjust mouse cursor size with size slider by clicking on circle and dragging it left or right
Under Mouse Pointer Style pick desired style from White, Black, Inverted, and Custom
1. White: The cursor is white with a black outline (standard setting)
2. Black: Cursor is black with a white outline
3. Inverted: Cursor automatically changes color to an inverted version of the color it is currently hovering over
4. Custom: You can pick the color for the cursor that you want.

And that is all about it, once you are done with pointer customization just close settings, all changes are saved automatically.

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