Customize Lock Screen in Windows 11

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.

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 HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerShell Folders HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerMountPoints2CPCVolume HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerMountPoints2CPCVolume475c7950-e3d2-11e0-8d7a-806d6172696f HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerMountPoints2CPCVolume475c7952-e3d2-11e0-8d7a-806d6172696f HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerMountPoints2475c7952-e3d2-11e0-8d7a-806d6172696f HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerMountPoints2475c7950-e3d2-11e0-8d7a-806d6172696f HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTDirectory HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTDirectoryCurVer HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTDirectory HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorer HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorer HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPoliciesSystem HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerAdvanced HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTDirectoryShellExIconHandler HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTDirectoryClsid HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTFolder HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTFolderClsid HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftwindowsCurrentVersionExplorerAutoComplete HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftwindowsCurrentVersionExplorerAutoComplete HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerAutoComplete HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerAutoComplete HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftCOM3 HKEY_USERSS-1-5-21-1547161642-507921405-839522115-1004_Classes HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesREGISTRYUSER HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID0BB2765-6A77-11D0-A535-00C04FD7D062 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID0BB2765-6A77-11D0-A535-00C04FD7D062TreatAs HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID0BB2765-6A77-11D0-A535-00C04FD7D062 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 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionUninstallFree Download Manager_is1 HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareFreeDownloadManager.ORGFree Download ManagerSettingsCommunity HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareFreeDownloadManager.ORGFree Download ManagerSettingsNetworkBittorrent HKEY_CURRENT_USERKeyboard LayoutToggle HKEY_CURRENT_USERSOFTWAREMicrosoftCTFLangBarAddIn HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftCTFLangBarAddIn

Fix Some apps need to be uninstalled

When you update or upgrade your computer to Windows 10, the setup will look for the compatibility of both the hardware and software. And in this process, if suddenly got an error message saying, “Some apps need to be uninstalled” or “You need to uninstall a program in order to continue”, you have to look for the program(s) that might be causing the compatibility issues. But worry not as this post will help you resolve the issue. Simply follow the given suggestions below.

Option 1 – Look for the incompatible programs

There are times when Windows 10 will point out the programs that are incompatible with Windows 10. In this situation, just click on the Uninstall and continue button and then wait for the process to be completed. For more information, you can check out the official site Ready for Windows by Microsoft. This site can help you determine which software versions are compatible with Windows 10 and which ones are not. All you have to do is select the Windows 10 version and type your App name, after that, you will see the results about its compatibility. Thus, it’s now easier for you to figure out which software is causing an issue and if there is a new updated version available that you can install instead.

Option 2 – Try to install the Windows Update in a Clean Boot State

Putting your PC in a Clean Boot state can also help you install Windows Updates or Upgrades without any trouble because, during this state, you can start the system with a minimum number of drivers and startup programs that will surely help you in isolating the root cause of the issue.

Log onto your PC as an administrator.
Type in MSConfig in the Start Search to open the System Configuration utility.
From there, go to the General tab and click “Selective startup”.
Clear the “Load Startup items” checkbox and make sure that the “Load System Services” and “Use Original boot configuration” options are checked.
Next, click the Services tab and select the “Hide All Microsoft Services” check box.
Click Disable all.
Click on Apply/OK and restart your PC. (This will put your PC into a Clean Boot State. And configure Windows to use the usual startup, just simply undo the changes.)
After that, try to install the Windows Updates or upgrade again.

Option 3 – Try creating a new user account

Creating a new user account can resolve the “Some apps need to be uninstalled” error when upgrading or updating your Windows 10 PC. All you have to do is create a new admin account and initiate the setup. And this is a new user account, there will be no third-party applications installed on your computer. Thus, the installation should go through without any trouble. And in case you’ve already installed programs for that user, you just have to uninstall them all and then re-run the setup.

Option 4 – Perform a clean install

If none of the options worked, you can try to clean install Windows 10. Just make sure that you have the ISO from the official Microsoft Website and then a bootable USB drive to install Windows 10 again. Take note that this will delete all the data from your drive where Windows 10 was installed previously.

Problem prevented document from being scanned

If an error suddenly pops up that states, “A problem prevented the document from being scanned” when you’re scanning a document in your computer, then you’ve come to the right place as this post will guide you on how exactly you can fix the problem. A lot of users have reported that they receive a two-layer error message when they try to scan their documents – the first screen throws an error message that says, “Error applying Settings to Driver” while the next error message states, “A problem prevented the document from being scanned”. As a result, the scanning won’t be completed which defeats the whole process of buying a printer with a scanner. As you can see the two error messages point to two different situations, while the other one is pointing at the driver, the second one points to the scanning problem. To resolve these issues, there are several suggestions you need to check such as follows:

Option 1 – Run the Printer Troubleshooter

One of the first basic troubleshooting you can perform to resolve the printer issue is running the Printer Troubleshooter. This built-in troubleshooter can detect and automatically fix the problem for you. To use it, follow these steps:

Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
Next, type “msdt.exe /id PrinterDiagnostic” in the field and click OK or hit Enter to open the Printer Troubleshooter.
Then click the Next button and follow the next on-screen instructions to fix the issue with the printer.

Option 2 – Try updating the Printer drivers

You might also want to try updating your printer drivers. All you have to do is locate the USB Composite Device. For complete details, follow the steps below.

First, click the Start button and type “device manager”.
Then click on the “Device Manager” from the search results to open it.
From there, look for the USB Composite Device option and right-click on it, and select the Update Driver from the options.
Restart your PC and then click the “Search automatically for updated driver software” option.

Note: You also have the option to download the latest version of your Printer from the manufacturer’s website.

Option 3 – Try to reset the settings of the Printer or reinstall it

If none of the two options given above worked, you can try to either reset the printer settings or reinstall the printer so that it can go back to its default state. However, if it doesn’t work, you can try to uninstall the printer as well as its related drivers. To do so, follow these steps:

First, go to Settings > Devices > Printer and Scanners.
After that, select the printer and select the Remove Device option.
Once done, restart your computer and check again and see if the error is now fixed.

Option 4 – Try to modify the Registry settings for the Still Image devices

In case you don’t know, Windows has Registry settings for the Still Image devices like Scanners and Printers. And these devices have vendor-specific settings that if ended up getting corrupted or misconfigured then you will most likely encounter errors like “A problem prevented the document from being scanned”. Thus, to fix this error, you can try modifying the Still Image devices registry settings, and to do that, you need to follow the instructions below but before that, make sure that you create a System Restore Point first.

Once you’ve created a System Restore point, tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box and type “Regedit” in the field, and then hit Enter to open the Registry Editor.
Next, navigate to this registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlStillImage
From there, right-click on the “StillImage” registry key and delete it.
After that, exit the Registry Editor and restart your computer.
Once your computer has restarted, Windows will recreate the settings of the Still Image devices back to their default settings.

Fix Realtek HD audio driver issue

Realtek sound device not playing sound is a common Windows issue. It happens occasionally and luckily it can be solved with a little effort and in a short time period. Today in this article we will explore the most common reasons and solutions for driver malfunction for Realtek inside Windows 10. If you have this particular problem, go from step 1 to the last step since all steps are meant to go from simplest to the most complex. All of that being said let us fix your Realtek driver issue.

Check Speakers or/and Headphones first
The first thing would in any troubleshooting be to check are your speakers turned on or are your headphones connected and the volume or switch on them is set properly. Nothing more embarrassing than spending an hour or so troubleshooting only to find out that issue was in a malfunction of speakers or them not being turned on.
Check the Volume control in Windows
Same as the previous step where you have checked hardware, now it is time to check to see if the volume control is set properly and not by any chance muted or volume is brought all the way down.
Check if the Device Manager is reporting an error and update the driver
If both hardware is functioning properly and volume control in Windows is set correctly then the issue might be in Windows not detecting device or driver malfunction. In any case, the Device Manager will be the one who will report this problem. In order to check to see if the driver is properly working press ⊞ WINDOWS + X to open the hidden start menu. Once it opens, click on Device Manager to open it, If you have a driver device error inside Windows, you should see it immediately when entering the Device Manager, it will have a yellow exclamation mark beside it. Right-click on it and choose update driver.
Reinstall driver
If driver update failed or you already have the latest drivers, reinstalling them could fix the issue since drivers might have corrupted during installation of some update or application. Follow steps from point 3 to get to the driver in Device Manager, then right-click on it but instead of update choose to uninstall. Reboot Windows once the driver is uninstalled and Windows will install a new one.
Check Windows update
Check to see if the latest Windows update is installed, update your Windows if needed
Fix driver issue with DRIVERFIX
If everything else fails, get DRIVERFIX, a premium solution for your PC issues, and fix driver errors.

CD/DVD icon is not showing in File Explorer

In the past, CDs, DVDs, and floppy drivers used to be the primary sources of external storage for many users – that is until the USB storage devices took over. These days, a lot of devices no longer have a built-in CD or DVD writer or reader as it contributes to the thickness of the device. On the other hand, there are still various devices that still come with a built-in CD or DVD writer or reader. However, recently, users who still use CD or DVD on their devices reported a problem where the CD or DVD icon is not visible in the File Explorer as well as in “This PC” or the My Computer page. The cause of this issue is still unknown at the time of writing, but there are still some potential fixes you can try to fix it. You can try to update or roll back the device drivers or apply some tweaks in the Registry Editor. For more details, refer to the given options below.

Option 1 – Try to update or rollback device drivers

The first thing you can try to fix the missing CD or DVD icon is to either update or roll back the device drivers. It is most likely that after you updated your Windows computer that your driver also needs a refresh. On the other hand, if you have just updated your device drivers then you need to roll back the drivers to their previous versions. Whichever applies to you, refer to the steps below.

Open the Devices Manager from the Win X Menu.
Then locate the device drivers and right-click on them to open the Properties. Note that the concerned drivers will be listed under the DVD/CD-ROM drives section as well as the IDE/ATAPI Controllers section.
From there, look for the following drivers:
- ATA Channel 0.
- ATA Channel 1.
- Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller.
Now, right-click on each one of the listed drivers and update them all. You could also try to roll them back to their previous versions.

Note: You can also directly download the relevant drivers of your computer from the manufacturers’ website. So if you have an SSD, the issue might be due to an old storage driver.

Option 2 – Try to use the Registry Editor

Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box and type “Regedit” in the field and then tap Enter to open the Registry Editor.
Next, navigate to this registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlClass{4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}
After that, look for the DWORD values named “UpperFilters” and “LowerFilters”.
Right-click on each one of these DWORD values and select Delete.
Now restart your computer and see if it fixes the problem.

Option 3 – Try creating a new Registry entry

There is another option you can try in the Windows Registry to fix the missing icon of the CD/DVD. You can try adding a new entry. How? Refer to these steps:

Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box and type “Regedit” in the field and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor.
After that, navigate to this registry path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetServicesatapi
From there, right-click on “ATAPI” and select New > Key.
After that, name it is “Controller0” and right-click on the sub-key and then select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
Now name it as “EnumDevice1” and double click on it and then set its value data to “1”.
Click OK and restart your computer to apply the changes made successfully.

How to Repair Bad_Pool_Header Error

Bad_Pool_Header Error - What is it?

Bad_Pool_Header is one of the types of BSOD (Blue Screen of Death) error codes. This error triggers a problem with Windows memory allocation. When this error message occurs, the screen turns blue and locks the user out of the application running on the system. The computer shuts down or restarts.

Solution

Error Causes

There is no one particular cause for the occurrence of the Bad_Pool_Header error code. It may appear on your system due to multiple reasons such as:

Device driver issues
Cluttered disk
Disk writing issues
Faulty memory hardware

Driver issues and disk writing issues occur when your try to update new driver versions. During this process, users often forget to remove the files of the uninstalled version from the registry. And due to the presence of the uninstalled driver files in the registry updating and disk writing becomes an uphill task which leads to the Bad_Pool_Header display on the computer screen. The main database of your system is the registry so you need to keep it clean to avoid disk cluttering. The hard disk clutters because the registry saves all the activities that you perform in your system. It saves junk files, internet history, invalid entries, and other unnecessary files. This occupies a lot of your disk space thus resulting in disk cluttering and faulty memory hardware issues triggering the Bad_Pool_Header. Ignoring the Bad_Pool_Header error is not wise. It is advisable to repair the Bad_Pool_Header right away as it can lead to serious threats like system failure and data loss.

Further Information and Manual Repair

The easiest, time and money-saving way to resolve the Bad_Pool_Header error on your system is to install Restoro. This is a high and multi-functional repair tool that features a powerful inbuilt registry cleaner, anti-virus, and a system optimizer. This tool is the one-stop solution for all your PC-related errors including the Bad_Pool_Header blue screen of death error. Whether it’s a driver issue, faulty memory, or cluttered disk, all the causes triggering the Bad_Pool_Header error code fall under the registry which is why it is recommended to install Restoro. Its innovative and powerful registry cleaner scans detect and repair all the errors related to the registry in one go including the Bad_Pool_Header errors. With this helper, you can easily remove all the unnecessary files cluttering your hard disk and damaging your registry. It wipes out the clutter in seconds and frees up disk space.

Why Should You Clean The Registry?

Sometimes the registry also gets cluttered by malicious software like viruses, spyware, and malware. These may also take up your disk space and prevent you to perform disk writing successfully and also corrupt the registry. The privacy error finding utility embedded in Restoro helps you scan for such malicious software on your system and removes them immediately. It lends the software anti-virus properties. When it comes to using repair tools, many users who are not technically sound often worried. They think it may be difficult to operate. If you think the same way, let us tell you that Restoro is very easy to use. It is integrated with a high-functional yet user-friendly interface complemented by simple navigation.

Restoro Special Features

This makes it simple for all levels of users to operate it regardless of whether they are technically adept or not. Restoro is compatible with all Windows versions. You can download it with ease and run it for scans on any Windows version you have installed on your system. To get started, all you have to do is:

Click here to install Restoro.
Once the installation is complete now run it to scan for errors like the Bad_Pool_Header
After that simply click on the ‘repair’ button to resolve

How to Disable Restart in Firefox

Mozilla Firefox has introduced a new feature known as Restart with Windows which allows the browser to automatically start when your Windows 10 computer boots. This means that if you leave the Firefox browser opened while shutting down your computer, Firefox will re-open automatically along with the tabs that were opened right before you shut down your computer. Although some users may find this feature convenient, there are others who do not approve at all as it could be a nuisance. So if you’re one of the latter, then read on as this post will show you how you can disable the Restart with Windows feature in the Firefox browser on your Windows 10 computer. Refer to the instructions laid out below to get started.

Step 1: Open Mozilla Firefox and if it’s opened already, just open a new tab and then type the following text in the address bar:

about:config

Step 2: After typing the text given above, hit Enter and if a prompt with a warning message pops up, simply click on the “I accept the risk!” button to proceed.
Step 3: Next, type “Restart” in the search filter which should display the following preference in the window:

“toolkit.winRegisterApplicationRestart”

Step 4: After that, check for the preference value and then see if it’s set to true or not. If it is set to true, then it means that the Restart with Windows feature is enabled so obviously, to disable it, you need to set its value to false.
Step 5: Now restart your computer without closing Firefox. After restarting your computer, you should no longer see Firefox starting automatically.

The Restart with Windows feature by default is disabled for most users. On the other hand, Mozilla will have this feature enabled as the default configuration in the coming weeks so it’s best that you now know what to do when that time comes since the newer versions of Mozilla Firefox are already being shipped with the Restart with Windows feature. However, if this post did not help you, then you might want to check if the feature has been added to the Startup folder, and from there, you can disable this startup program using the Task Manager > Startup tab.

Windows 365, what it is, and how you can get it

Microsoft has announced Windows 365, a new cloud-based operating system aimed mainly at businesses of all sizes. Just after Windows 11 announcement and presentation, we are seeing another Windows announcement from Microsoft. Dive into the following text in order to find out what exactly is new Windows 365, its role in today's IT world, and do you need it?

What is Windows 365 and when it is coming out?

Windows 365 is planned to be released this year (2021) on August 2^nd. It is the first Microsoft cloud-based operating system meaning that OS itself will be installed on the cloud server and it will be accessed by the user via a web browser. Essentially you are accessing a remote PC with Windows on it, you can install whatever Windows application you want and use it as it was on your computer. When you disconnect from the cloud computing and reconnect again from the same or another device you will continue exactly where you left off. Cloud PC will remember the state it was left off and will greet you in that same state once it is awakened again. This of course offers some great benefits like moving from laptop to desktop and continuing exactly where you left off.

How can I access Windows 365?

Any device which has a web browser will be able to access Windows 365 making it a really great solution for business on the move or for anyone who switches devices during the day. That being said it is clear to see that Windows 365 can be accessed via Linux, macOS, iOS, Android, or any other operating system on any computer, tablet or phone.

Who is this OS made for?

Microsoft’s general idea is that Windows 365 is primarily made for business which in their minds can benefit most out of it. So far it is not made for a single user although there is a possibility that even a one-man business can subscribe and create accounts for it.

Price and technical characteristic

Microsoft will bill Windows 365 on a per-user, per-month basis. In other words, businesses will pay a fixed amount per employee every month. There will be two tiers: Windows 365 Business and Windows 365 Enterprise. Microsoft also said it will offer different performance tiers. Businesses can choose to pay for more CPU, RAM, and storage resources for certain cloud PCs depending on their needs. Microsoft told me the smallest configuration would be one CPU, 2GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage. The largest will be eight CPUs, 32GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage. After a business has chosen its plan tier and performance options, that business will pay a fixed amount every month. This is unlike Azure Virtual Desktop, which Windows 365 is built on. With Azure Virtual Desktop, companies pay on a usage model, depending on how much the remote system is used every month.

Conclusion

Windows 365 is around the corner and if you are a business no matter small or large with the need for software on the go, Windows 365 might be a worthwhile investment and a great asset to your business.

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.

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