Fixing errors, manually vs automatic

Microsoft's anniversary update has come with many new features and improvements. One of these features is that Microsoft's Cortana can now be installed on your Android phone and as long as you are logged in to your Microsoft account on different devices, she can pass information between devices. You can not see battery life on your desktop PC, notifications, etc. There are some prerequisites in order to get this going, first is to have a Windows version 1607 or newer. The second is to have the last Android version

Installing Cortana on Android

1. Download and install the Cortana app from the Google Play store.
2. Open the app and accept the license terms.
3. Enter the credentials for the Microsoft account you use to sign in to your PC.
4. After a few seconds, Cortana will open.
5. Click the settings button and select Sync Notifications.
6. By default, missed calls, incoming messages, and low battery notifications will be turned on. You can turn this on\off from here. The only option off by default is for App notifications. Any non-system apps such as Facebook and Instagram can also send alerts to your Windows box. You can choose to enable the App notification sync option or leave it off.
7. If you enable “App notification sync,” you will need to give Cortana permissions to read and control notifications on your phone.
8. You can then select exactly which applications will be synched to your PC.
9. Once done you can exit out of Cortana.

Configuring Cortana on PC

1. Click the Windows button and type Cortana. Click the icon for Cortana and Search Settings.
2. Scroll through the settings list and look for Send notifications between devices
3. Click the switch to turn it on.
4. Sign in to the same Microsoft account you used in the previous section
5. Navigate back to the Cortana & Search settings tool.
6. Click Edit Sync Settings. Make sure that your phone shows up on the list. You can also determine if you want PC notifications are sent to your phone.

With those settings in place, you should now start getting alerts for the items you enabled in your Action Center. As notices come in, you will see them pop up in a small bubble on the lower right of your screen. You can dismiss the notification or use the link to find a compatible app in the Windows store.

Error Code 0x80073afc - What is it?

Error code 0x80073afc deals with an antivirus program first built into Windows 8/8.1 This error occurs when Windows Defender, the built-in anti-virus software in Windows 8/8.1 and higher, does not start automatically and users attempt to manually start the program. During the initialization period of the program start-up, something goes wrong and users get a 0x80073afc Error message. The error message states there was a problem with the initialization of the program. Windows Defender provides protection of your computer and it is advised by the Microsoft Corporation that you ensure it starts up automatically on every start-up.

Solution

Further Information and Manual Repair

Users have found several manual repairs that have fixed the problem without needing to contact technicians for extra help. While the methods below should solve your problem easily, if this is the first time you have encountered the issue you may want to do a simple restart. This has fixed the problem for some users and is the easiest first troubleshooting move. If it doesn’t work move on to the methods listed below, which are easily completed without extra help.

Before trying any of these methods, please make sure that you are logged into a profile that is listed as the administrator of the computer of his administrative powers enabled. If this is not the case you will not be able to complete the following methods. Please log out and log back in on the administrator profile.

Method 1:

First, check to see if you have a third-party anti-virus program installed on your computer. Some users believe that the built-in Windows Defender program is not powerful enough to handle the safety of their computer so they usually download a third-party program. However, that program may have caused a conflict with Windows Defender and may not allow it to open. If you do have a third-party program installed, try uninstalling it then manually starting Windows Defender.

Method 2:

If method one does not work, you may be infected by malware or a virus that has tampered with the settings on your computer and will not allow Windows Defender to start automatically or manually.

First, open Run by holding the “Win” key and pressing the “R” key. Then type “Regedit”. The program will ask for permission to follow through with this action. Click on “Yes” and the Open Registry Editor will open.

Find the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionImage File Execution Option and check to see if there are any files similar to MSASCui.exe or MpCmdRun.exe. If there are any file entries that resemble that, you will want to right-click on them before selecting the “Delete” option. If you do not see any entries that match, this is not the issue with your Windows Defender and you will want to try another method.

The Registry on your computer is very important. It helps tell your computer what programs are safe to run, what programs should be run, and what programs should not be run. If it is tampered with by a virus or Malware, multiple system operations can be affected.

However, if you did find similar file names, and you deleted them, try to start Windows Defender manually. If it does not work again, move on to the next method. 

Method 3:

If the first two methods do not work for your issue, and you are still receiving error code 0x80073afc when attempting to start Windows Defender, this step should solve the problem if you have Restore Point installed on your computer, which you most likely do.

For this method, we will be restoring your computer to a previous Restore Point. First, just like in method two, hold the “Win” key and press the “R” key. This will open run. Next type “Rstrui.exe” and click “ok”. After some time, you will see System Restore Windows. Click “Next” and select the restore point that you would like to go back to. After your computer has restored to the point you selected, check to ensure that Windows Defender has started correctly.

If the above methods aren't able to rectify the issue, you might have to download and install a powerful automated tool to get the job done.

FullTab is a Browser Extension for Google Chrome, Firefox, and Internet Explorer. When installed this extension hijacks your home page, and changes your default search engine to http://search.fulltabsearch.com. This extension usually comes bundled with other freeware software, and while installed it monitors your internet browsing activity, visited links, clicked pages, and other private information that it later uses to distribute targeted unwanted ads in your search results.

While this extension is installed, you will see modified search results, injected ads, sponsored links, web page redirects, and sometimes even pop-up ads. Several anti-virus scanners have detected this extension as a Browser Hijacker, and due to the information it is gathering from your computer it is not recommended to keep.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijackers (sometimes called hijackware) are a kind of malicious software that modifies web browser configuration settings without the user’s knowledge or consent. These hijacks appear to be increasing at an alarming rate globally, and they can be truly nefarious and sometimes harmful too. Browser hijackers are capable of doing more than just changing home pages. Usually, browser hijacking is utilized for earning advertising revenue that comes from forced ad clicks and website visits. Most people believe that such websites are legitimate and harmless but that is not the case. Almost every browser hijacker poses an actual threat to your online safety and it is necessary to categorize them under privacy risks. Browser hijackers can also let other vicious programs without your knowledge further damage your personal computer.

Browser hijacking signs and symptoms

There are numerous signs that indicate the web browser is hijacked: 1. your browser’s home page is suddenly different 2. you find redirected to internet sites you never meant to visit 3. the default web browser settings are modified and/or your default web engine is altered 4. you find unsolicited new toolbars added 5. unstoppable flurries of pop-up advertisements appear on your personal computer screen 6. webpages load slowly and sometimes incomplete 7. you can’t navigate to specific web pages, like computer security software-related sites.

Precisely how browser hijacker infects computers

There are many ways your PC can get infected with a browser hijacker. They usually arrive through spam e-mail, via file-sharing networks, or by a drive-by download. They are usually included with toolbars, BHO, add-ons, plug-ins, or browser extensions. Browser hijackers sneak to your pc in addition to free software application downloads also that you unintentionally install along with the original. Examples of popular browser hijackers include Fireball, GoSave, Ask Toolbar, CoolWebSearch, RocketTab, and Babylon Toolbar. The presence of any browser hijacker on your system can considerably diminish the web browsing experience, record your internet activities that lead to troublesome privacy concerns, diminish overall computer performance and cause application instability as well.

Removal

Some browser hijacking can be quite easily corrected by identifying and removing the corresponding malware software through your control panel. However, most hijackers are very tenacious and require specialized tools to remove them. And there’s no denying the very fact that the manual fixes and removal methods can certainly be a difficult job for a rookie PC user. Additionally, there are many risks associated with tinkering around with the pc registry files.

Virus Blocking Access To Safebytes Website And Anti-Malware Downloads - What You Should Do?

All malware is inherently dangerous, but certain types of malicious software do much more damage to your computer than others. Some malware is meant to interfere with or block things that you’d like to do on your computer. It may not allow you to download anything from the net or prevent you from accessing a few or all sites, especially antivirus websites. If you are reading this article now, you have probably recognized that a malware infection is a reason behind your blocked internet traffic. So how to proceed if you want to install an antivirus program such as Safebytes? There are some actions you can take to get around this problem.

Start Windows in Safe Mode

Safe Mode is actually a special, basic version of Microsoft Windows where just minimal services are loaded to counteract viruses and other troublesome programs from loading. If the malware is blocking the internet connection and affecting your PC, running it in Safe Mode will let you download anti-malware and run a scan while limiting possible damage. In order to enter into Safe Mode or Safe Mode with Networking, press F8 while the computer is booting up or run MSCONFIG and look for the “Safe Boot” options under the “Boot” tab. After you restart into Safe Mode with Networking, you can download, install, as well as update the anti-malware program from there. Right after installation, run the malware scanner to eliminate most standard infections.

Utilize an alternate internet browser to download an antivirus program

Malicious program code could exploit vulnerabilities on a specific web browser and block access to all anti-virus software websites. If you appear to have a virus attached to Internet Explorer, then switch over to a different browser with built-in safety features, such as Firefox or Chrome, to download your preferred antivirus program – Safebytes.

Make a bootable USB anti-virus drive

Another solution is to store and run an antivirus program completely from a Thumb drive. Do these simple measures to clean up your affected computer using portable anti-malware. 1) On a virus-free computer, download and install Safebytes Anti-Malware. 2) Put the pen drive into the uninfected PC. 3) Double-click on the downloaded file to run the installation wizard. 4) When asked, select the location of the pen drive as the place where you would like to store the software files. Do as instructed on the screen to finish up the installation process. 5) Now, insert the USB drive into the corrupted PC. 6) Run the Safebytes Anti-malware directly from the pen drive by double-clicking the icon. 7) Hit the “Scan Now” button to start the virus scan.

Ensure the Safety of Your PC by Using SafeBytes Anti-Malware Software

Do you want to install the best anti-malware application for your laptop? There are many applications available in the market that comes in free and paid versions for Windows systems. Some of them are great, some are decent, and some will affect your PC themselves! You need to go with a tool that has obtained a good reputation and detects not only computer viruses but other types of malware too. While thinking about trustworthy applications, Safebytes Anti-Malware is certainly the highly recommended one. SafeBytes anti-malware is a powerful, very effective protection application designed to assist users of all levels of IT literacy in finding and removing malicious threats from their personal computers. After you have installed this program, SafeBytes sophisticated protection system will make sure that absolutely no viruses or malicious software can seep through your computer. SafeBytes has outstanding features when compared to various other anti-malware programs. A few of them are given as below: Real-time Threat Response: SafeBytes provides round-the-clock protection for your personal computer restricting malware intrusions instantly. They’re extremely effective in screening and eliminating different threats because they’re regularly improved with new updates and safety measures. World-class AntiMalware Protection: With its advanced and sophisticated algorithm, this malware removal tool can detect and get rid of the malware threats hiding within your PC effectively. Quick Multithreaded Scanning: SafeBytes’s high-speed malware scanning engine cuts down scanning times and extends battery life. Simultaneously, it will effectively detect and eliminate infected computer files or any internet threat. Web Security: Through its unique safety rating, SafeBytes alerts you whether a site is safe or not to access it. This will make sure that you’re always certain of your safety when browsing the world wide web. Lightweight: This tool is not “heavy” on the computer’s resources, so you’ll not see any overall performance difficulties when SafeBytes is operating in the background. 24/7 Live Professional 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)

To eliminate FullTab manually, navigate to the Add/Remove programs list in the Windows Control Panel and select the program you want to get rid of. For internet browser extensions, go to your web browser’s Addon/Extension manager and select the add-on you want to disable or remove. You’ll probably also want to reset your browser. To ensure the complete removal, find the following Windows registry entries on your system and remove them or reset the values accordingly. However, this is a challenging task and only computer professionals could carry it out safely. Moreover, certain malware keeps replicating which makes it difficult to eliminate. You are advised to do this process in Safe Mode.

Error 0x800CCC90 - What is it?

Error 0x800CCC90 is a typical Outlook error. This error indicates that Outlook has failed to connect to the mail server that handles and manages the incoming and outgoing emails. The error message is displayed in the following format:

“There was a problem logging onto your mail server. Your User Name was rejected.”

This error limits your ability to send and receive emails on Outlook. If you largely communicate at the workplace using your Outlook account, this error may slow down your work productivity and performance dramatically. Therefore it is advisable to fix it immediately.

Solution

Error Causes

The error 0x800CCC90 is triggered several reasons including but not limited to:

• Authentication issues
• Failure of POP 3 Server
• PST File Corruption
• Registry issues- Invalid Entries
• Viral infection

Further Information and Manual Repair

To resolve error 0x800CCC90, try the methods given below:

Method 1 - Adjust the Authentication Settings

To resolve the error 0x800CCC90, adjust the authentication settings. Here’s what you need to do:

• First, go to the ‘Tools’ tab and select the ‘Accounts’ option.
• Once you select the account option, an internet accounts box will appear on the computer screen.
• Simply double click on the account property box after that go to the server tab and click on it.
• Check the box that says ‘My Server Requires Authentication’.
• Click on apply to accept changes tab to save changes and close the window.
• To activate changes made, restart Outlook and then try sending emails again.

Method 2 - Download a PST Repair Tool

If the error is triggered by PST file corruption, then the best way to resolve it is to download the PST repair tool. Download the PST repair tool from a trusted website. Run it on your system to fix PST file issues and resolve error 0x800CCC90.

Method 3 - Scan for Viruses

Another way to resolve this error is to scan for viruses. Viruses usually enter computer systems through phishing emails or while downloading attachments. You may not know this but viruses may be affecting your PC. Due to viruses, errors like error 0x800CCC90 can also be triggered. Therefore install an antivirus to scan and remove errors on your PC.

Method 4 - Clean the Registry and Remove Invalid Entries

Due to poor PC maintenance, misconfigured and invalid registry entries may be stored in the registry. Such entries may lead to Outlook errors too. Thus to resolve you must clean the registry and remove these entries right away. Download a registry cleaner to fix the error. Whether the error is triggered by viral infection or registry issues, it is recommended you download only Restoro. This is the one-stop solution to resolve all PC related errors. This software is deployed with 6 scanners including a registry cleaner, an antivirus, and a system optimizer. It is user-friendly and has simple navigation. It is compatible with all Windows versions. In just a few clicks this software resolves practically all types of PC-related errors including error 0x800CCC90. Click here to download Restoro today!

In this post, you will be guided on how you can set up the USB tethering feature on your Windows 10 computer and share your mobile device’s mobile data so other devices can also access the internet. Tethering is usually known as Wi-Fi tethering which allows users to share mobile data to any device with Wi-Fi, laptops included. This is really useful especially when you have no other way to access the internet. For instance, if you are using a desktop computer and there is no way for you to connect to the Ethernet, and you have no Wi-Fi adapter that you can use to connect to a router as well, you can use USB tethering instead to access the internet. It is almost similar to Wi-Fi tethering except that it works over a USB connection instead of a Wi-Fi adapter. USB tethering is almost quite the same as an Ethernet connection except that it’s faster compared to Wi-Fi tethering as well as Bluetooth tethering. Just like Wi-Fi tethering, USB tethering is free unless your network carrier has blocked it. Thus, it’s better if you make that clear with your operator. Once you have that covered,

Follow the instructions provided below to set up USB tethering on your Windows 10 computer.

Step 1: First, connect your mobile device to your Windows 10 computer using a USB cable. Step 2: If it asks you to enable the file transfer feature, just cancel it. A prompt that says, “Tethering or Hotspot active—Tap to setup” should be available as soon as you get connected – tap on it. Note: If there is no prompt, just go to Settings > Network and Internet > Hotspot and Tethering and from there, toggle on the USB tethering option. Step 3: Afterwards, the setup will create a new network adapter in Windows 10 automatically and your computer should now be connected to the internet using USB tethering. Note: You have to make sure that the Wi-Fi connection in your mobile device is turned off and if it is connected to an existing network, the USB tethering will be disabled but if you see its status as enabled, then the USB tethering setup is successfully done. In addition, keep in mind that the location of tethering can be different for every phone, especially on a customized operating system such as RealMe, Redmi, Samsung, and any other mobile device although they are clubbed in the section of Mobile and Data Network. In case you encounter some problems when using USB tethering in your Windows 10 computer, there are troubleshooting tips you should follow. The NDIS-based Internet Sharing Device network adapter is what Windows 10 uses to make USB tethering possible so if it stops working, follow the options provided below.

Option 1 – Perform basic check

The first thing you can do if you encounter problems in USB tethering is to do a basic check like checking if Wi-Fi is enabled automatically as well as check if the USB cable is disconnected or if you’ve turned off USB tethering accidentally.

Option 2 – Try installing or updating the USB RNDIS adapter

RNDIS or Remote Network Driver Interface Specification can also help you resolve any USB tethering problem. If the pre-installed driver does not help you in connecting to the internet, then you can try installing the USB RNDIS driver that is, if it’s not installed yet. If it is already installed, you can try to update it instead.

• Tap the Win + R keys to open Run and type “devmgmt.msc” in the field and hit Enter to open the Device Manager.
• Next, expand the Network adapters section and look for the Remote NDIS based Internet Sharing Device. But if you are using a Samsung smartphone, you might see “Samsung” instead of under Network adapters.
• Right-click on it and then select the “Update driver” option.
• Then select the “Browse my computer for driver software” option.
• After that, select the “Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer” option.
• Now uncheck the checkbox for “Show compatible hardware”.
• From the given list on your left-hand side, look for Microsoft and then select the Remote NDIS based Internet Sharing Device on your right-hand side.
• Click on Next. A new popup will appear where you have to click on Yes. This will install the driver.
• Now click on the Close button and restart your computer.

If you are getting this error even if STEAM.EXE is present on your system then follow the easy guide to solve the issue.

1. Scan your system for malware

   Scan your complete system for viruses and other malware. If all the scans come negative then move to the next step.

2. Disable your anti-virus software

   Some anti-virus and anti-malware software can detect steam as a potential threat and block it. Turn off your protection software and try to run Steam once all your protection is disabled. If this works you will need to either place Steam in the applications exception list or to move to another protection software.

3. Remove administrator privileges from steam client

   Right-click on steam.exe and choose properties, go to the compatibility tab, and uncheck run this program as administrator. Try to run Steam again.

4. Delete Steam registry value

   If everything else failed try deleting the registry value for steam. Open registry editor and locate key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options Double click on Image File Execution, find steam on left, right-click on it, and choose delete. Save and exit the registry editor.

If you suddenly encounter an error message saying, “ File Record Segment is Unreadable ” on a blue screen while booting your PC, it means that your hard drive is in an error state. This particular blue screen of death error might have a lot of bad sectors or might have reached its end. The workarounds you can try to resolve the issue is by locating the bad sectors or checking your hard drive for any discrepancies in the mapping and fix them. Follow the detailed instructions laid out below for these workarounds.

Option 1 – Try to check for any bad sectors and wrong configurations in your hard drive

The first thing you have to check is the boot files on your PC. As you know, your PC boots from these files and if there is anything wrong with any one of them or if one of them ends up getting corrupted, you will most likely see the blue screen of death error or a prompt with an error message saying, “File record segment is unreadable”. According to some users who reported this issue, new hard drives aren’t exempted from this error. That’s why it is recommended that you carry out this solution no matter what kind of scenario you are in. You will have to launch the Command Prompt in recovery mode and see if you can fix the problem by executing the check disk commands.

• Upon booting, restart your PC and tap F11 to go to the recovery environment then select Troubleshoot.
• Next, click Advanced from the given options and select Command Prompt.
• After opening Command Prompt, execute the commands listed below, and don’t forget to hit Enter right after you type in each one of them and if you have installed Windows to some different directory, you must replace “C” with the name of the drive you’ve installed Windows with.
• chkdsk C: /r /x
• chkdsk C: /f

Note: The Chkdsk function might take a while before it finishes its operations so you need to be patient and wait until the entire process is completed. And depending on the situation, it might even take a day at most so patience is really the key here.

Option 2 – Try connecting the hard drive to a different computer

If option 1 didn’t work for you and you’re still seeing the error, you can try connecting the hard drive to a different computer and then copy the data first. Make it a priority to salvage the data just in case the hard drive won’t make it in the future. After replicating your hard drive, you can then try running the chkdsk commands that are listed in option 1 above in the new computer you’re connecting your hard drive to and make sure that you key in the correct drive letter that’s assigned to the hard drive you’re using. After executing the chkdsk commands, plug your hard drive back into the previous computer and then check if you can now boot it without any issues.

Option 4 – Replace the faulty hard drive

If none of the options provided above really worked out then maybe it’s time to consider getting a replacement for your hard drive. In about 50% of the cases about this error, some unfortunate users were left with no choice but to replace the hard drive since the problem is with the hard drive itself. Hard drives have a complex running mechanism which includes a head and the disk that rotates accordingly so you can check if the cables connected to the hard drive are connected properly and if it is in a correct position or not. In addition, you also have to make sure that the SATA adapters where the hard drive is connected are working properly. If the drive is showing problems in the I/O operation, there is little chance for you to use it as a normal hard drive. If the hard drive is in warranty, get it checked and replace it. If not, you might consider taking it to the service center for the specialists to take a look into it.

Sqlite3.dll Error - What is it?

Sqlite3.dll error is a typical example of DLL errors. This error message occurs when the system fails to access Sqlite3.dLL (Dynamic Link Library) files shared by certain programs to run on the PC. The error is displayed in the following format:

"Cannot find the file sqlite3.dll (or one of its components)"

Followed by:

"Error starting program.. A required .DLL file sqlite3.dll was not found."

Solution

Error Causes

The sqlite3.dll error message may pop up on your computer screen due to the following reasons:

• Missing sqlite3.dll files
• DLL files affected due to viruses and malware on your system
• Registry overloaded with invalid entries
• Disk fragmentation

Whether the cause for the sqlite3.dll error code on your PC is malware invasion or registry issues, it is recommended to resolve it immediately before the damage sets in. Such errors can expose your PC to serious threats like privacy errors, data breaches, identity thefts, cybercrime, system failure, crashes, and valuable data loss.

Further Information and Manual Repair

When it comes to fixing sqlite3.dll error code, you don’t always need to hire a professional and spend hundreds of dollars on the repair. Here are some simple and do it yourself solutions that you can try and resolve the error on your system for free.

1. Check inside recycle bin and restore the deleted file

If this error popped on your computer screen after installing a certain program, then you need to check your recycle bin. This is because DLL files are shared by multiple programs, it might be possible that the program you just deleted also used the sqlite3.dll file to run on your system. And so when you uninstalled the program, the sqlite3.dll file also got removed. To resolve this, check your recycle bin for the file. If you find it, restore it. Once the files is restored, try running the application that was generating the sqlite3.dll error message. If the error still persists, then this means the cause of the sqlite3.dll error is deeper. It could be due to malware or the registry.

2. Remove Malware

To remove malware, run an antivirus. This will help scan for such malicious software on your system affecting DLL files and remove them. However, the drawback is that it may slow down the speed of your PC significantly. And when running it, you may have to stop all other activities on your system.

3. Repair and Restore the Registry

If the cause of the sqlite3.dll error is the registry corrupted with invalid entries and disk fragmentation, then you need to repair and restore the registry. The best way to do this is to download Restoro. Restoro is a powerful and highly functional registry cleaner. It scans your entire PC and detects all registry issues in seconds. It wipes out all the unnecessary and obsolete files including the junk files, invalid registry entries, bad registry keys, temporary internet files, cookies, and browser history. It clears up hard disk space and frees it of clutter. Furthermore, this registry cleaner also repairs the damaged DLL files and restores the registry. Restoro is not only a registry cleaner but is also a system optimizer. This means you can also run it to scan and remove malware on your PC and system instability issues. It boosts your PC’s speed and performance. It runs smoothly on all Windows versions. It is safe, efficient and user-friendly. The layout is neat and the interface is easy to use and intuitive. In just a few clicks you can resolve the sqlite3.dll error and resume using your desired programs. Click here to download Total System Care on your PC to resolve sqlite3.dll error pop-ups.

In trying to upgrade your Windows 10 computer, you might have come across the error 0x800F0923. This kind of Windows upgrade/update error is caused by an incompatible driver or software that’s installed on your computer. Thus, to fix the problem, you need a working fix which you can choose from below. As mentioned, you can try updating the concerned application or software to its latest version to resolve the compatibility issue and in turn, fix error 0x800F0923. Note that depending on where you had installed the application, your steps will change. So if you have it installed directly from the website, refer to these steps:

• Look for the built-in option to check the updates since the most application has this option.
• You also have the option to go to the website of the application and check if there is a new version available. If there is, download and update the app.

On the other hand, if you have downloaded the app from the Microsoft Store, here’s what you have to do:

• Open the Store and click on the three dots located at the top-right of the window.
• Next, click the Download and Updates option.
• From there, check if there is an update available for the store. If there is, update it.

Option 2 – Try to uninstall the application or software

If updating the app or software to its latest version didn’t help and you’re still getting the error 0x800F0923 every time you attempt to install the Windows Updates, you may have to uninstall it. You will need to use the usual Program and Features to uninstall it if you have downloaded it from the website.

• In the search box, type in “control” and then click on Control Panel (desktop app) among the search results.
• After that, select Programs and Features from the list which will give you a list of all the programs installed on your computer.
• From there, look for the concerned program and select it and then uninstall it.

Note: If you have downloaded the app from the Windows Store, you can simply right-click on it from the application list and then uninstall it.

Option 3 – Try to disable your antivirus program

Disabling the antivirus program or any security software installed in your computer is always a good idea you can try when the Windows Update process does not go smoothly. So before you try updating your computer again, make sure to disable the antivirus or security program and once the Windows Update is done, don’t forget to enable the antivirus program back again.

Option 4 – Try to run the Windows Update Troubleshooter

Running the built-in Windows Update troubleshooter could also help you resolve the Windows Update error 0x80073712. 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.

Option 5 – Try to do the 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” checkbox.
• 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 6 – Try running Microsoft’s online troubleshooter

You also have the option to run Microsoft’s online troubleshooter which could help you fix Windows Update errors including the error 0x800F0923.

People are becoming more and more concerned with their privacy and Facebook's flagship messaging application is caught between it all. While still widely popular it has becoming to lose its ground due to many unanswered questions about privacy encryption. Lucky for all of us there are alternatives for more secure messaging.

SIGNAL

Arguably the most secure of all well-regarded messaging apps, Signal is the favorite of the European Commission, as well as newsrooms around the world. While Signal doesn’t disclose how many daily or monthly users the app has, Google’s Play Store says it has been installed more than 50 million times. While using Signal, each voice or video call connected through the app includes full end-to-end encryption. Signal takes an extra step by hiding message metadata so that the location of the original message is missing. While it asks for your mobile number, that number isn’t used with your profile. Instead, it acts as a numeric username. Once registered, you will find 1-1 chat, audio, and video calls, disappearing or “secret” chats, and a privacy lock so nobody can access the app even if they have your phone. Best of all, it’s completely free to use.

TELEGRAM

One of the biggest competitors to Facebook Messenger (and WhatsApp), Telegram is a very strong alternative. With more than 400 million users, it offers an interface that should feel right at home for anyone coming from Messenger. Telegram offers some huge benefits over Messenger, including features like groups that can hold up to 200,000 members for a chat. There is no limit on your media or chat size, and you can share all types of files between users and in groups. From a privacy standpoint, Telegram has robust security, but it is worth noting that only “secret” messages are end-to-end encrypted and can self-destruct. Non-secret messages can be stored on Telegram’s servers so you can pick them up between your devices quickly. That’s a consideration worth knowing prior to making Telegram your default Messenger replacement. Telegram is free across all platforms.

THREEMA

Rising in popularity, Threema is another privacy-focused alternative that has quickly become a competitor to Facebook Messenger. This paid service ($2.99 on both App Store and Play Store) is a pay-once, use forever option. Once you pay the small fee, you gain all of Threema’s touted privacy options, like open-source end-to-end encryption for both messages and calls. Like Signal, Threema won’t require you to link any phone numbers or emails to your account. All chats are handled anonymously, and the service generates a random user ID when you first open and register for the app. No data is collected from any of your chats and no ads are shown. The Swiss-made app does have its own servers hosted in Switzerland, which do not store any chat messages. Another privacy benefit of Threema is the notion that all of your contact lists, groups, and user profiles are hosted on your device, not on the Swiss servers. Because of that, Threema can once again state that none of your personal info is stored anywhere they have access.