Great gadgets for emergency blackout

As you can notice in Blue Screen errors, most of them point out a file that’s related to the errors. One of these files is the Storport.sys file which is a system file related to the storage of data in the storage unit of a computer. This file is created by the Microsoft Storage Port Driver. So if this file ends up getting dragged on Blue Screen errors, there can be a number of reasons for why it’s happened. Blue Screen errors related to the Storport.sys file may include conflicts with the hardware, incompatible firmware issues, corrupted drivers, missing or corrupted system files, to name a few. Here are some of the common Blue Screen errors related to the Storport.sys file:

• KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED
• KERNEL DATA INPAGE
• PAGE FAULT IN A NONPAGED AREA
• SYSTEM THREAD EXCEPTION NOT HANDLED
• IRQL NOT LESS OR EQUAL
• SYSTEM SERVICE EXCEPTION

Microsoft Windows is the one that provides the Storport.sys file a storage port driver that is suited especially for the use of high-performance buses like fiber channel buses and RAID adapters. There are a number of advantages in using Storport instead of the SCSI Port, according to Microsoft:

• “Improved performance, both in terms of throughput and the system resources that are utilized.
• Improved Miniport driver interface that addresses the needs of high-end storage vendors, particularly host-based RAID and fiber channel vendors.”

If you encounter any of the above-mentioned Blue Screen of Death errors, then here are some troubleshooting options that might help but before you get to them, you can try to perform a System Restore first especially if you have the habit of creating System Restore points. This might fix the problem. To perform a system restore, refer to these steps:

• First, tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• After that, type in “sysdm.cpl” in the field and tap Enter.
• Next, go to the System Protection tab then click the System Restore button. This will open a new window where you have to select your preferred System Restore point.
• After that, follow the on-screen instructions to finish the process and then restart your computer and check if the problem is fixed or not.

If System Restore didn’t help in fixing the Blue Screen error, now’s the time for you to resort to the troubleshooting tips provided below but before you get started, make sure that you create a System Restore point first. In addition, you also have to boot into Safe Mode with Networking before you carry out the troubleshooting steps below.

Option 1 – Try to update or rollback your device drivers

The first thing you can try to fix the Storport.sys Blue Screen error 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 main drivers that might be the cause behind the Storport.sys Blue Screen error will be listed under the “ID ATA/ATAPI controllers” section as well as the “Storage controllers” section.
• After that, switch to the Driver tab and click on the Uninstall Device button.
• Follow the screen option to completely uninstall it.
• Finally, restart your computer. It will just reinstall the device drivers automatically.

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 recreate the Storport.sys file If the first option didn’t work, the next thing you can do is to recreate the Storport.sys file. Every time your Windows 10 PC boots up, it looks for all the system drivers in place and if it is unable to find them, it tries to create them. This is why if you remove your corrupt driver file, chances are, you might get a fixed file recreated just for you. How? Refer to the steps below.

• Boot your Windows 10 PC in Safe Mode.
• Then open File Explorer and navigate to this location: C:/Windows/System32/drivers
• From there, look for the file named sys and rename it to Storport.old.

Note: As you can see, the file’s extension has changed from .sys to .old.

• Now restart your computer and check if the Storport.sys Blue Screen error is now fixed.

Option 3 – Run System File Checker or SFC scan

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. 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:

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

 Reboot your PC.

Option 4 – Try to run the DISM commands

You might want to repair potentially corrupted files in your system as having them could also trigger the Storport.sys Blue Screen error. To repair these corrupted system files, you can run the DISM commands:

• Tap the Win + X keys and click on the “Command Prompt (Admin)” option.
• After that, input each one of the commands listed below sequentially to execute them:
  • Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
  • Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
  • Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

• Once you’ve executed the commands given above, restart your computer and check if the dxgkrnl.sys Blue Screen error is now fixed.

Option 5 – Run the Blue Screen Troubleshooter

Troubleshooting Blue Screen of Death errors wouldn’t be complete without the Blue Screen troubleshooter. As you know, it is a built-in tool in Windows 10 that helps users in fixing BSOD errors like Storport.sys. It can be found on the Settings Troubleshooters page. To use it, refer to these steps:

• Tap the Win + I keys to open the Settings panel.
• Then go to Update & Security > Troubleshoot.
• From there, look for the option called “Blue Screen” on your right-hand side and then click the “Run the troubleshooter” button to run the Blue Screen Troubleshooter and then follow the next on-screen options. Note that you might have to boot your PC into Safe Mode.

If you encounter the “We couldn’t install some updates because the PC was turned off” while trying to run Windows Update on your Windows 10 computer, then read on as this post will give you a couple of suggestions you can use as a reference to fix this error. Make sure to follow the options given below carefully.

Option 1 – Perform basic computer troubleshooting

If you get the “We couldn’t install some updates because the PC was turned off” error on your laptop, then it’s recommended that you connect your laptop to a power source and then try clicking the Update button again. In addition, you also have to make sure that your computer stays awake until the Windows Update process is completed. This will ensure that your computer does not go into an idle state and interfere with the process.

Option 2 – Try deleting the files from the SoftwareDistribution folder and resetting the Catroot2 folder

The downloaded Windows Updates are placed in a folder called “SoftwareDistribution”. The files downloaded in this folder are automatically deleted once the installation is completed. However, if the files are not clean up or if the installation is still pending, you can delete all the files in this folder after you pause the Windows Update service. For complete instructions, refer to the steps below.

• Open the WinX Menu.
• From there, open Command Prompt as admin.
• Then type in the following command – don’t forget to hit Enter right after typing each one of them.

net stop wuauserv net start cryptSvc net start bits net start msiserver

• After entering these commands, it will stop the Windows Update Service, Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS), Cryptographic and the MSI Installer
• Next, go to the C:/Windows/SoftwareDistribution folder and get rid of all the folders and files thereby tapping the Ctrl + A keys to select them all and then click on Delete. Note that if the files are in use, you won’t be able to delete them.

After resetting the SoftwareDistribution folder, you need to reset the Catroot2 folder to restart the services you just stopped. To do that, follow these steps:

• Type each one of the following commands.

net start wuauserv net start cryptSvc net start bits net start msiserver

• After that, exit Command Prompt and restart your computer and then try to run Windows Update once more.

Option 3 – Try restarting the Windows Update Services

• Open the Services Manager.
• From there, make sure that you set the following services and Startup types:
  • Background Intelligent Transfer Service: Manual
  • Cryptographic Service: Automatic
  • Windows Update Service: Manual (Triggered)

Option 4 – Try to run the Windows Update Troubleshooter

Running the built-in Windows Update troubleshooter could also help you resolve the “We couldn’t install some updates because the PC was turned off” error. 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 to install the Windows Updates manually

As mentioned, the error might be because Windows missed installing a particular update which is why you are not able to proceed with the current update. So to resolve the issue, you need to install the update that wasn’t installed by downloading it from the Microsoft Update Catalog website. You also have to make sure that you didn’t turn off the Windows update or have it delayed.

Option 6 – Run Microsoft’s online troubleshooter

Running Microsoft’s online troubleshooter might also help you fix the Windows update error. This online troubleshooter is known to help in fixing Windows Update errors, it scans your computer for issues that might be causing the problem and then fixes them automatically.

If you are browsing the internet using the Google Chrome browser in your Windows 10 computer but you suddenly encounter an error message that states, “ERR_ICAN_NAME_COLLISION”, read on as this post will walk you through in fixing the problem. Here’s the full content of the error message:

“The site can’t be reached, This site on the company, organization, or school intranet has the same URL as an external website. Try contacting your system administrator. ERR ICAN NAME COLLISION.”

This kind of error is caused by an error in a private namespace or a random redirection to an incorrect proxy server. There are several ways to fix this error. You can try to check the integrity of the Hosts file or check the proxy. You could also try to use the Registry Editor and apply some tweaks or remove any conflicting browser extensions or flush the DNS cache, as well as run a malware scan.

Option 1 – Try to check the integrity of the Hosts file

To check the integrity of the Hosts file, refer to the following steps:

• You have to navigate to this path inside File Explorer: C:/Windows/System32/driversetc
• After that, look for a file named “Hosts” and right-click on it, and open it with the Notepad app.
• Next, make sure that you write the block URLs in your computer in the list and then save the file.

Note: There are times when you are logged in with administrator credentials and you may receive an error message. In such case, type “notepad” in the Start Search and right-click on Notepad from the search results, and then select the “Run as administrator” option. After that, open the Hosts file and make the necessary changes and save it.

Option 2 – Try to check the Proxy server

There are some users who reported that they’ve fixed the problem after they’ve disabled the use of a proxy server using the built-in way. Follow the steps below to disable the proxy server.

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Then type “inetcpl.cpl” in the field and hit Enter to pull up the Internet Properties.
• After that, go to the Connections tab and select the LAN settings.
• From there. Uncheck the “Use a Proxy Server” option for your LAN and then make sure that the “Automatically detect settings” option is checked.
• Now click the OK and the Apply buttons.
• Restart your PC.

Note: If you are using a third-party proxy service, you have to disable it.

Option 3 – Try to use the Registry Editor

Before you apply some registry tweaks, make sure that you create a System Restore point. Once you have that covered, follow these steps:

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run utility and type “Regedit” in the field and tap Enter to open the Registry Editor.
• After that, navigate to this registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetServicesTcpipParametersDataBasePath
• Look for the default key and double click on it and make sure that its Value data is set as “C:/Windows/System32/driversetc”.
• Now exit the Registry Editor and restart your computer to apply the changes made

Option 4 – Flush the DNS cache

You could also try to flush the DNS cache to fix the “ERR_ICAN_NAME_COLLISION” error. All you have to do is open Command Prompt as an administrator and then execute each one of the following commands sequentially to flush the DNS cache:

• ipconfig/release
• ipconfig/renew
• ipconfig/flushdns

Option 5 – Get rid of any conflicting browser extensions

• Open Chrome and press Alt + F keys.
• Go to More tools and click Extensions to look for any suspicious browser extensions or toolbars.
• Click the Recycle bin and select Remove.
• Restart Chrome and press Alt + F keys again.
• Proceed to On Startup and mark Open a specific page or set of pages.
• To check if the browser hijacker is still active, click Set pages, if it is active, overwrite the URL.

Note: If removing the browser extensions or toolbars didn’t work, you can also try to reset your Google Chrome browser.

• Open Google Chrome, then tap the Alt + F keys.
• After that, click on Settings.
• Next, scroll down until you see the Advanced option, once you see it, click on it.
• After clicking the Advanced option, go to the “Restore and clean up option and click on the “Restore settings to their original defaults” option to reset Google Chrome.
• Now restart Google Chrome.

Option 6 – Run a malware scan using Windows Defender

It is possible that your computer is infected with malware which could be why you’re getting the “ERR_ICAN_NAME_COLLISION” error. Thus, you need to scan your computer using Windows Defender.

• Tap the Win + I keys to open Update & Security.
• Then click on the Windows Security option and open Windows Defender Security Center.
• Next, click on Virus & threat protection > Run a new advanced scan.
• Now make sure that Full Scan is selected from the menu and then click the Scan Now button to get started.

MyWebFace is a browser extension developed by Mindspark. This extension claims to allow users to easily access websites that allow them to make a cartoon portrait of themselves. While this may seem interesting in the beginning, all this extension does is to add links to already popular websites that are easy to find.

When installed MyWebFace changes your default search engine and your home page to MyWay.com.

While the extension is running it gathers user browsing information, allowing it to mine data and better server unwanted ads throughout your browsing sessions. MyWebFace has been marked as a Browser Hijacker by many anti-virus programs, and while not considered malware, it is not recommended to keep it on your computer.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijackers (sometimes referred to as hijackware) are a type of malicious software that alters web-browser configurations without the user’s knowledge or consent. These hijacks happen to be rising at a worrying rate worldwide, and it could be really nefarious and sometimes harmful too. Browser hijackers are capable of doing a variety of things on your PC. In general, hijackers are made for the benefit of online hackers often through revenue generation that comes from forced ad clicks and website visits. Although it may seem naive, all browser hijackers are harmful and thus always classified as security risks. Browser hijackers could also let other destructive programs without your knowledge further damage the computer.

Indications of browser hijack

There are numerous signs that indicate the browser is highjacked: 1. the browser’s home page is changed 2. if you enter a URL, you find yourself constantly directed to a different web page than the one you intended 3. the default web engine has been changed and your web browser security settings have been lowered without your knowledge 4. unsolicited new toolbars are added to your web browser 5. you observe numerous ads pop up on the web browsers or computer screen 6. your browser gets sluggish, buggy crashes often 7. you can’t go to certain websites like home pages of anti-malware software.

How does a browser hijacker infect a PC

Browser hijackers can get into a PC in some way or other, for instance via downloads, file sharing, and e-mail also. They also come from add-on applications, also known as browser helper objects (BHO), web browser extensions, or toolbars. Also, some shareware and freeware can put the hijacker within your computer through “bundling”. Typical examples of browser hijackers include Conduit, CoolWebSearch, OneWebSearch, Coupon Server, RocketTab, Snap.do, Delta Search, and Searchult.com. Browser hijacking can cause severe privacy problems and even identity theft, disrupt your browsing experience by taking control over outgoing traffic, substantially slows down your PC by deleting lots of system resources, and lead to system instability at the same time.

Browser Hijacker Malware – Removal

Certain hijackers can be removed simply by uninstalling the corresponding freeware or add-ons from the Add or Remove Programs in the Windows control panel. In some cases, it can be a difficult task to discover and get rid of the malicious piece because the associated file will be running as part of the operating system process. Moreover, manual removal requires you to execute several time-consuming and complex procedures that are tough to conduct for inexperienced computer users. Browser hijackers could be effectively removed by installing the anti-malware application on the affected system. To get rid of any type of browser hijacker from your computer, you could download this particular top-notch malware removal program – SafeBytes Anti-Malware. And use a system optimizer, such as Total System Care, to eliminate all related files from the registry and repair browser issues.

Tips on How to Eliminate a Virus that is Blocking Websites or Preventing Downloads

Malware may cause several different types of damage to PCs, networks, and data. Some malware is meant to restrict or block things that you wish to do on your personal computer. It may well not permit you to download anything from the internet or stop you from accessing some or all sites, in particular the anti-virus sites. If you’re reading this, chances are you’re stuck with a malware infection that is preventing you to download or install the Safebytes Anti-Malware program on your system. Even though this type of problem can be tougher to get around, there are a few actions you can take.

Start Windows in Safe Mode

The Windows OS includes a special mode known as “Safe Mode” where just the bare minimum required programs and services are loaded. In case the virus is set to load immediately when the PC starts, switching to this mode may prevent it from doing so. To start the computer into Safe Mode, press the “F8” key on the keyboard right before the Windows boot screen appears; Or after normal Windows boot up, run MSCONFIG, look over “Safe Boot” under the Boot tab, and click Apply. Once you’re in safe mode, you can attempt to install your antivirus software application without the hindrance of the malicious software. Following installation, run the malware scanner to eliminate standard infections.

Switch over to an alternate internet browser

Some malware only targets certain internet browsers. If this is your case, utilize another web browser as it might circumvent the computer virus. If you suspect that your Internet Explorer has been hijacked by malware or otherwise compromised by hackers, the best course of action is to switch to an alternate browser like Chrome, Firefox, or Safari to download your favorite computer security software – Safebytes Anti-Malware.

Install and run anti-virus from a USB drive

To effectively get rid of the malware, you should approach the problem of running an anti-malware software program on the affected computer from a different angle. To run anti-virus using a USB flash drive, follow these simple steps: 1) Use another virus-free computer system to download Safebytes Anti-Malware. 2) Insert the USB drive into the uninfected PC. 3) Double-click the Setup icon of the anti-malware software package to run the Installation Wizard. 4) When asked, select the location of the USB drive as the place in which you would like to store the software files. Do as instructed on the screen to complete the installation process. 5) Transfer the thumb drive from the clean computer to the infected computer. 6) Double-click the anti-malware software EXE file on the USB flash drive. 7) Click the “Scan Now” button to start the virus scan.

Highlights of SafeBytes Anti-Malware

If you are looking to install an anti-malware program for your PC, there are numerous tools on the market to consider nonetheless, you just cannot trust blindly anyone, irrespective of whether it is a free or paid program. A few of them do a good job in removing threats while some will harm your computer by themselves. You should choose one that is efficient, practical, and has a strong reputation for its malware source protection. On the list of strongly recommended software is SafeBytes Anti-Malware. SafeBytes has a superb history of top-quality service, and customers appear to be very happy with it. SafeBytes anti-malware is a reliable tool that not only secures your PC permanently but is also quite easy to use for people of all ability levels. With its outstanding protection system, this utility will quickly detect and remove the majority of the security threats, including browser hijackers, viruses, adware, ransomware, trojans, worms, and PUPs.

There are many amazing features you will get with this particular security product. Listed below are a few of the great ones:

Antimalware Protection: Using its enhanced and sophisticated algorithm, this malware elimination tool can identify and remove the malware threats hiding in your PC effectively. Real-time Threat Response: Malware programs looking to enter the computer are discovered and stopped as and when detected by the SafeBytes real-time protection shields. This tool will continuously monitor your PC for any suspicious activity and updates itself continuously to keep abreast of the constantly changing threat scenarios. Faster Scanning: This software has one of the fastest and most powerful virus scanning engines in the industry. The scans are extremely accurate and take a little time to complete. Safe Web Browsing: Through its unique safety ranking, SafeBytes notifies you whether a site is safe or not to visit it. This will assure that you’re always certain of your online safety when browsing the net. Minimal CPU Usage: SafeBytes is a lightweight and user-friendly anti-virus and anti-malware solution. As it uses very low computer resources, this program leaves the computer’s power exactly where it belongs: with you actually. 24/7 Guidance: You can obtain absolutely free 24/7 technical assistance from their computer experts on any product queries or PC security issues. To conclude, SafeBytes Anti-Malware is really great for securing your computer against all kinds of malware threats. You now may understand that this particular software does more than just scan and eliminate threats in your PC. You will get the best all-around protection for the money you spend on SafeBytes Anti-Malware subscription, there isn’t any doubt about it.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you wish to manually remove MyWebFace without the use of an automated tool, it might be actually possible to do so by removing the program from the Windows Add/Remove Programs menu, or in cases of browser plug-ins, going to the browsers AddOn/Extension manager and removing it. You will likely also want to reset your browser. Lastly, check your hard disk for all of the following and clean your computer registry manually to remove leftover application entries after uninstallation. However, editing the registry can be a difficult job that only advanced users and professionals should try to fix it. Moreover, certain malicious programs are capable to defend against its deletion. You’re advised to do this process in Safe Mode.

Steam is a game store behemoth that offers more titles than any other game store online, take that along with the fact that steam was one of the first online dedicated stores for games and you can guess that many people have a steam account, buy and play games on it. It is a platform where you can meet new people in games and add them as friends on steam so you can spend some time together. But happens if you want to have friends on Steam but you would like to hide your game activity? Or even if you want to go fully private on Steam so no one can find you so you can play whatever you want without paying and judging eyes? Luckily Valve appreciates your privacy and offers ways to do exactly this. Keep on reading on how to set up your privacy settings in Steam.

Hiding Steam game activity

• Launch Steam on your PC.
• Go to the top bar of Steam and click on your name.
• Select Profile from the context menu.
• Click on the Edit Profile button present at the right section of the window.
• Next, click on the My Privacy Settings button.
• Now, the Privacy Settings page will be opened.
• Scroll down and go to the My Profile section.
• Open the drop-down list given next to the Game Details and select the Private option.
• Now, check if this process is working or not. For this, right-click anywhere on the blank space in the Steam screen > choose the Copy Page URL option.
• Then, open a browser and paste the copied page URL in the address bar and check whether your Steam game activity is hidden or not.

Making profile private

• Launch Steam > click on your name > select Profile from the menu list.
• Click on the Edit Profile > My Privacy Settings button.
• Go to the My Profile and open the dropdown menu.
• Click on the Private option.
• Now, the changes will be saved automatically.

If you would like to read more helpful articles and tips about various software and hardware visit errortools.com daily.

One of the smoother things that Microsoft did with the Windows 10 operating system is to separate Cortana from Search. This means that Cortana is strictly now a voice assistant and many users have seen it coming since not everyone uses Cortana. In addition, it also paved the way for other virtual assistants like Alexa to get on board with Windows 10. And now in the newly released Windows 10 v1903, Windows has brought the Voice Activation under Privacy. In this post, you will be guided on how to perform the Voice Activation troubleshooting on your Windows 10 computer. To use Voice Activation in Windows 10, follow, in the Start Search, type “voice activation” and click on “Voice activation privacy settings” listed in the search results. And from there, you can choose to allow apps to use Microphone, like listen in the background as well as select which app can access it. Each time enabled voice assistants continue to listen via microphone for the voice keyword, the app will activate itself for the keyword and will react depending on what you ask it. So if you are using a voice assistant and it didn’t respond when you speak the keyword, just go to Settings > Privacy > Voice Activation and follow these steps:

Option 1: Check the App permission to use the voice activation feature.

You have to make sure that the toggle button for the Voice activation feature is turned on globally. It can be found under the “Allow apps to use voice activation” section. You also have to ensure that the microphone is available for apps that use this feature.

Option 2: Voice activation is not working under the lock screen.

If you tend to use the voice assistant even when your computer is locked, Microsoft has a specific setting that you have to turn on. You need to make sure that the toggle button for the “Allow apps to use voice activation when this device is locked” option is turned on. However, keep in mind that the voice assistants are not locked to only recognize your voice as they also answer to anyone who will use the voice keyword.

Option 3: Check the individual permissions of apps.

If the voice assistant is not working, you have to check each one of the apps’ permissions for voice keyword, and the option to work under locked condition works.

Option 4: Run the Microphone troubleshooter.

If you’ve verified that the settings are in place, then you have to run the Microphone troubleshooter by simply going to Settings > Privacy > Microphone. From there, make sure that the toggle button for the following options is turned on:

• Allow apps to access your microphone
• Enable microphone access for the voice assistant

And if it’s a desktop app, you have to enable the toggle on at the end.

If you encountered an error message saying, “We couldn’t find any drives, To get a storage driver, click Load driver” when you try to install Windows in a VirtualBox machine, then you’ve come to the right place as this post will guide you in fixing this error. This error message is displayed on the screen where you have to choose a partition to install the guest operating system. This error is most likely due to the lack of correct settings as well as a corrupted virtual disk. To fix this error, you have to remove existing storage devices, create a new storage device and select the correct ISO file.

For complete instructions, follow the given steps below.

Step_1: The first thing you have to do is remove all the existing Storage devices and since this option is already available in VirtualBox by default, there is no need for you to install any third-party software. Step_2: After that, open VirtualBox and select the virtual machine and then click the Settings button. Step_3: Next, switch to the Storage section and on your right-hand side, you will see “Controller: SATA” and two other sub-labels. From there, select Controller: SATA and then click on the red cross button that says, “Remove selected storage controller”. Step_4: Now click on the Add new storage controller icon and select the “Add SATA Controller” option from the given list. Step_5: Afterwards, click the “Add hard disk” button and select the “Create new disk” option, and then you have to create a new virtual disk for your virtual machine. Step_6: Verify if you have selected Dynamically allocated while you create the virtual hard disk. Once the process is completed, you will get a “.vdi” file in the list. Step_7: Next, click on the “Add optical drive” button and select the “Choose disk” option. Here, you have to select the ISO file and if you can find an ISO file in the given list, select it from there, else, you have to click the Add button and navigate to the folder where the ISO file is located. Step_8: Once you’re done, click the OK button and boot your virtual machine. You should see options instead of the “We couldn’t find any drives, To get a storage driver, click Load driver” error message. If you see the options, you can now create a new partition and start the installation process of the Windows operating system in the VirtualBox machine without any problem.

Windows Updates are important and though it is not recommended for any user to turn it off completely, there are just some remote cases where you might have to keep it off. Such are the cases when you want to use your Windows 10 computer just for gaming and you don’t want Windows Update to interrupt it because of some messy driver update. A lot of users have in fact want to disable Windows 10 updates completely. Although you can always use the built-in option to delay Windows Updates or make Windows 10 inform you before downloading the updates, however, there are instances when Windows 10 Update may enable itself even after you turn it off or delay it. To resolve this issue, read on. You may have to disable the Windows Update Medic Service if Windows Update just keeps on starting and turning itself back on even after turning it off in Windows 10 on top of turning off the Automatic Windows Update Service or wuauserv and setting a Guest Log on. To get started, refer to the instructions prepared below.

Option 1 – Change the Log on account of the Windows Update Service

It appears that one of the major upgrades in Windows 10 has made sure that Windows 10 enables back the Windows Update Service all on its own even if the service has been set to disable by the administrator. And that’s the important thing here, Windows 10 uses admin credentials in order to ensure that it can re-enable the Windows Update Service each time it is in a disabled state. So in this fix, you can prevent the Windows Update Service from changing the account credentials used to run it.

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run prompt with admin privileges.
• Then type “services.msc” and click OK or hit Enter to open Services.
• After that, locate the Windows Update Service from the list. Once you see it, double-click on it to open its Properties.
• From there, click the Stop button to stop the service.
• Next, go to the Log On tab and select the “Log on as ‘Guest” option which is the Guest account.
• Just leave the password blank and then click Apply to save the changes made.

Note: After you made the changes, every time the Windows 10 Update Service attempts to run, you might get an error message that states, “Windows could not start the Service” or “The account specified for this service is different from the account specified for other services running in the same process”. This is what makes this fix a lot better compared to other software or batch file to keep turning off the Windows Update Service. You did not exactly disable the service but you just changed the account used to run the Windows Update service and since there is a password, the service never really works. On the other hand, Windows Defender can’t be stopped using this trick as it will keep getting an update.

Option 2 – Try to disable the Windows Update Medic Service using the Windows Update Blocker

Aside from changing the Log on account of the Windows Update Service, there is also another way you can prevent the service from enabling itself after you disable it. This alternative you can use is the Windows Update Blocker. This is a new Windows Service that was introduced in the recent Windows 10 versions. You can use this service to disable the service.

CrazyForCrafts is a Browser Extension from Mindspark Interactive. This Toolbar Extension allegedly offers users tons of DIY crafting guides and tricks, however all that it does is point you in the right direction. It links you back to some of the most popular DIY Crafting websites on the internet that you can find at any time by a simple search.

While this may look useful and faster than looking around the internet for good DIY projects, remember that this extension injects itself into your browser, changing your new tab page to Search.MyWay.com and records your browsing habits, can view your internet history, and know whatever you are looking for or viewing online.

While using this extension you will see additional pop-up ads, sponsored content, and injected ads throughout your browsing sessions.

Due to its behavior this extension has been marked for removal by several anti-virus scanners, and it is recommended to remove it from your computer to prevent data leaks.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijackers (sometimes called hijackware) are a type of malicious software that alters web browser configuration settings without the computer owner’s knowledge or permission. These hijacks appear to be increasing at an worrying rate around the world, and it can be really nefarious and sometimes dangerous too. They’re designed to disrupt browser functions for many different reasons. These are typically used to force visitors to a specific website, manipulating web-traffic to earn ad revenue. Although it might appear naive, all browser hijackers are damaging and therefore always classified as security threats. In a much worst case, your internet browser could be hijacked to download malware that will do a great deal of damage to your computer or laptop.

How one can know whether the browser is hijacked?

Symptoms that a web browser is hi-jacked include: the browser’s homepage is changed; new bookmarks pointing to pornographic sites have been added to your favorite pages; the essential web browser settings are modified and unwanted or insecure sites are added to the trusted websites listing; you are finding new toolbars you have never found before; you might see numerous pop-up ads on your computer screen; your browser has become unstable or starts running sluggishly; Inability to navigate to certain sites, especially antivirus as well as other computer security software websites.

How browser hijacker infects computers

Browser hijackers may use drive-by downloads or file-sharing websites or perhaps an e-mail attachment to reach a targeted PC. They also come from add-on software, also called browser helper objects (BHO), browser extensions, or toolbars. Also, certain freeware and shareware can put the hijacker in your PC through “bundling”. Examples of well-known browser hijackers are Fireball, CoolWebSearch. GoSave, Ask Toolbar, RocketTab, and Babylon Toolbar. The presence of any browser hijacker on your system might substantially diminish the web browsing experience, track your online activities that result in serious privacy concerns, develop system stability problems and eventually cause your computer to slow down or to an almost unusable condition.

How to remove a browser hijacker

Some hijackers can be easily removed by uninstalling the free software they were included with or by removing any extension you’ve recently added to your browser. But, most hijacking codes are certainly not very easy to get rid of manually, as they go much deeper into your operating system. You should consider performing manual repairs only if you’re a tech-savvy person, as potential risks are associated to tinkering with the system registry and HOSTS file. Browser hijackers could be effectively removed by installing anti-malware software on the affected system. SafeBytes Anti-Malware can counter relentless browser hijackers and provide you with proactive PC protection against all kinds of malware. In addition to anti-virus software, a system optimizer software, like Total System Care, will help you correct Windows registry errors, remove unwanted toolbars, secure online privacy, and stabilize software programs installed on your PC.

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

Malware can cause all kinds of damage once they invade your PC, ranging from stealing your private details to deleting files on your PC. Some malware is meant to interfere with or prevent things that you wish to do on your PC. It may well not allow you to download anything from the net or it will stop you from accessing a few or all internet sites, especially the anti-malware sites. If you’re reading this, odds are you’re stuck with a malware infection which is preventing you to download or install Safebytes Anti-Malware program on your system. Although this type of issue will be difficult to get around, there are a few steps you can take.

Get rid of malware in Safe Mode

The Windows-based PC has a special mode referred to as “Safe Mode” in which only the minimum required applications and services are loaded. In the event the malware is blocking access to the internet and affecting your computer, starting it in Safe Mode enables you to download antivirus and run a scan while limiting potential damage. To enter into Safe Mode or Safe Mode with Networking, press the F8 key while the computer is booting up or run MSCONFIG and locate the “Safe Boot” options under the “Boot” tab. As soon as you restart the PC into Safe Mode with Networking, you may download, install, as well as update anti-malware software from there. Following installation, run the malware scanner to eliminate standard infections.

Obtain the antivirus software using an alternate web browser

Malicious code could exploit vulnerabilities on a particular 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 favorite anti-malware program – Safebytes.

Make a bootable USB anti-virus drive

Here’s yet another solution which is using a portable USB anti-malware software package that can check your computer for malicious software without needing installation. To run anti-malware using a USB drive, follow these simple steps: 1) Download the anti-malware on a virus-free PC. 2) Plug the Flash drive into the uninfected computer. 3) Double click on the exe file to run the installation wizard. 4) Choose the drive letter of the pen drive as the place when the wizard asks you where you would like to install the antivirus. Follow activation instructions. 5) Remove the pen drive. You can now utilize this portable anti-malware on the affected computer system. 6) Run the Safebytes Anti-malware directly from the pen drive by double-clicking the icon. 7) Click “Scan Now” to run a complete scan on the infected computer for malware.

Features of SafeBytes Anti-Malware

If you are planning to buy anti-malware for your computer system, there are lots of brands and packages for you to consider. A few of them are great, some are ok types, and some will destroy your computer themselves! You have to be careful not to select the wrong application, especially if you buy a paid software. Amongst few good applications, SafeBytes Anti-Malware is the highly recommended tool for security-conscious people. SafeBytes antimalware is a very effective and easy to use protection tool which is designed for end-users of all levels of computer literacy. With its cutting edge technology, this software will help you get rid of multiples types of malware which includes viruses, worms, PUPs, trojans, adware, ransomware and browser hijackers.

SafeBytes anti-malware takes PC protection to a whole new level with its enhanced features. A few of them are given as below:

Real-time Threat Response: SafeBytes offers complete and real-time security for your personal machine. This utility will constantly keep track of your PC for any suspicious activity and updates itself regularly to keep abreast of the latest threats. World-class AntiMalware Protection: Using its advanced and sophisticated algorithm, this malware elimination tool can identify and get rid of the malware threats hiding in your computer effectively. Web protection: SafeBytes checks the hyperlinks present on a web page for possible threats and alerts you if the website is safe to view or not, through its unique safety rating system. Lightweight: SafeBytes is lightweight software. It use up a very small amount of processing power as it works in the background so you’re free to use your Windows-based PC the way you would like. 24/7 Support: You can get totally free 24/7 technical assistance from their computer experts on any product queries or computer security issues. Overall, SafeBytes Anti-Malware is a solid program since it has plenty of features and could detect and remove any potential threats. Now you may realize that this tool does more than just scan and delete threats from your PC. For the best protection and the best value for money, you can’t get better than SafeBytes Anti-Malware.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

To get rid of CrazyForCrafts manually, navigate to the Add/Remove programs list in the Control Panel and choose the offending program you want to get rid of. For web browser plug-ins, go to your web browser’s Addon/Extension manager and select the plug-in you want to remove or disable. It is also suggested to reset your browser to its default condition to fix corrupt settings. If you choose to manually delete the system files and registry entries, use the following checklist to make sure you know exactly what files to remove before undertaking any actions. Please keep in mind that this is for skilled users only and might be challenging, with incorrect file removal leading to additional system errors. Additionally, certain malicious programs have the capability to defend against its deletion. Completing this task in Safe Mode is advised.

A computer with no internet connection is like a mobile phone that can’t call nor text though you can still use it for other things. So if you are having problems with your computer’s internet connection, worry not as there are some basic things you can try before you go over the actual troubleshooting. Just make sure that you really have working internet. To verify it, try connecting your other devices. Aside from that, you must also make sure that your computer is connected properly over cable or connected to the router over the Wi-Fi. Once you have all these things covered, now’s the time to start troubleshooting the problem with the help of the instructions prepared below. To be more specific, this guide will walk you through what you can do when you encounter a particular internet connection problem where you get the Media State Media disconnected error message on your Windows 10 computer.

Before you troubleshoot the problem, you need to first check the internet connection status on your computer. To do that, follow these steps:

• Type in “cmd” in the Cortana search box.
• From the search results, right-click on Command Prompt and select “Run as administrator” from the context menu.
• After opening Command Prompt with administrator privileges, type in the ipconfig /all command and hit Enter.
• After you enter the command, you will see a list of all the connected media like the Ethernet, Wi-Fi along with its status, and more. From there, you need to check everything closely. I notice a message that says, “Media State . . . . . Media disconnected”, then your internet connection is indeed having issues.

Refer to the options below to fix the Media State Media disconnected error message on your Windows 10 PC.

Option 1 – Try resetting WINSOCK and IP Stack

• Type in “cmd” in the Cortana search box.
• From the search results, right-click on Command Prompt and select “Run as administrator” from the context menu.
• After opening Command Prompt, type in each one of the commands listed below
  • netsh winsock reset catalog – This command will reset the WINSOCK entries.
  • netsh int ipv4 reset reset.log – This command will reset the IPv4 TCP/IP stack.
  • netsh int ipv6 reset reset.log – This command will reset the IPv6 TCP/IP stack
• Once you’ve executed the commands listed above, restart your PC to successfully apply the changes made.

Option 2 – Check if your Network Adapter is disabled

If you’ve disabled the network adapters on your computer, then it’s most likely the reason why you’re getting the Media State Media disconnected error message. Thus, you need to enable it back.

• Open Settings and go to Network and Internet > Select Ethernet > Change adapter options.
• From there, right-click on the adapter and enable it.

Option 3 – Check the Wi-Fi Properties

Though this case is not common, Wi-Fi sharing has actually caused issues for some users. That’s why you need to check the Wi-Fi properties. Go to Network Connections and right-click on Wi-Fi and select Properties. From Properties, go to the Sharing tab and select the first option and click OK.

Option 4 – Try updating the Network driver

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box and then type in devmgmt.msc and tap Enter or click OK to open the Device Manager.
• Expand the section for the outdated device drivers.
• And then select the Network driver or any other outdated driver(s) and right-click on it/them.
• From the drop-down menu, select the Update Driver option and follow the on-screen instructions to install the latest version of the driver.
• Then also click on the option, “Search automatically for updated driver software.
• Restart your PC after the installation.

Note: If updating the Network driver didn’t work, you can go to the website of your PC manufacturer and look for the support section where you can download the drivers for your computer. You just need to take note of your PC’s correct model and model number so you can find the appropriate driver.