A slow PC startup can be pretty annoying. This usually results from various computer issues. If your computer is acting sluggishly, here are four ways to speed up your PC startup.
If you got an error code of 0x80072EE2 while trying to download a Windows 10 update then it could be that something is blocking the Windows Update service on your Windows 10 PC and is preventing it from connecting to the Microsoft server. In addition, the error code 0x80072EE2 also indicates “ERROR_INTERNET_TIMEOUT” and together with this message, you might also see a message as Windows Update encountered an unknown error or you might also find it hard to search for new updates. So in this post, you will be guided on how you can fix the Windows Update error code 0x80072EE2. Make sure to follow the steps below carefully.
Option 1 – Restart your computer and try installing the Updates again
You can restart your computer and then try installing the updates once again. There are instances when a simple restart resolves Windows Update errors. Aside from that, it would also be better if you make sure that your internet connection is working and that it’s stable. And so after you restart your computer, check for updates once again and see if you’re still getting the error or not.
Option 2 – Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter
Running the built-in Windows Update troubleshooter is one of the things you can first check out as it is known to automatically resolve any Windows Update errors like error code 0x80072EE2. 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 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 restart the Background Intelligent Transfer Service
The Background Intelligent Transfer Service or BITS is a part of the Windows Update service and is the one that manages the background download of Windows Update, as well as scans for new updates and so on. And if Windows Update is experiencing some problems, you can try restarting BITS but make sure that you have admin privileges to do so.
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 Background Intelligent Transfer Service and double-click on it to open Properties.
After that, you need to set the Startup type to “Automatic (Delayed Start) and click on Apply.
Now click the Stop button to stop BITS and then click the Start button to restart the service.
Click OK to save the changes made and then restart your PC.
Option 5 – Try installing the updates in a Clean Boot State
It could be that some third-party application is the one that’s causing the problem so it’s best if you put your computer in a Clean Boot state. 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” check box 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 app again.
Note: If you are able to install the app without any trouble at all then it means that the error is caused by some third-party application on your computer. You need to look for the culprit and uninstall it once you found it.
Option 6 – Run Microsoft’s online troubleshooter
Running Microsoft’s online troubleshooter might also help you fix the Windows update error code 0x80072EE2. 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.
Microsoft office has set itself as one of the most used and best suites for business use and MS Word as the most widely used word processor. But how even best are not immune to some small bugs and unexpected behaviors so is not Word. Word has stopped working is probably know to a wide audience of its users, I think I could safely say that each Word user has experienced this error at least once, luckily the error is not anything to worry about since it is an easily fixable issue.
Try automated solutions
There are some fully automated solutions that could fix any PC issues, some are available in free versions. If you prefer to do things manually however keep on reading and follow the instructions below.
Manual FIXES:
Update MS Word
Make sure that you are running the latest build of Word in order to eliminate all bugs and to have a smooth running experience. Go to File > Account > Product Information > Update Options and click Enable Update and then select Update Now.
Check the file
Corrupted files can cause this crash and this error, try opening another text file inside the Word to eliminate file corruption.
Run Word in safe mode and disable add-ins
Did you know that MS Word has a safe mode like Windows? In this safe mode, Word will boot up just the application without any add-ins installed and in this environment, you can start one add-in by one to see which one is causing the issue.
Press ⊞ WINDOWS + R to open the run dialog
Inside run dialog type in winword /safe followed by ENTER to run Word in safe mode
If MS Word works fine in Safe mode, disable all COM Add-ins (while being in safe mode) and restart Word. Re-enable the add-ins one at a time to identify the problematic one.
Click on File and then on Options
Click on Add-Ins from the options list
Select COM Add-ins from the drop-down menu and click on Go
Uncheck all the add-ins and click OK to confirm
Close the Dialog Box and MS Word. Now try running MS Word normally and see if it works
Repeat steps to enable the add-ins, one at a time, and check which add-in is causing this error
Repair Word installation
Press ⊞ WINDOWS + R to open the run dialog
In run dialog type in control panel and press ENTER
Inside Control Panel click on Programs and Features
Locate and click on Microsoft Office to select it
Once selected click on change located on top of the application list
Once Office Windows loads click on Repair
Wait for the process to finish
Reinstall MS office
If all the previous solutions failed next step would be to completely uninstall MS Office and install it again once the old one has been completely removed from the system.
Go to the control panel as explained in the previous step and select Office
Instead of Change this time click on uninstall and follow on-screen instructions
Once uninstall is finished, install a new copy of MS Office.
Windows uses 2 types of keys for its activation, KMS or MAK. These keys should work without any issues since they are elevated with higher permissions but in some cases, they are by accident run without their proper permission, and then we have access denied error or error 0x80070005
To resolve this issue please first check if not by any chance your antivirus or firewall is preventing slmgr.bs file to access the right permissions, that being said if the previous solution is not working note that you have to be an administrator of the system or have administrator privileges. As an administrator, you will have to use Software Licencing Management Tool or short SLMGR.VBS, a VBS file in Windows used for its activation purposes.
As an administrator, open Command prompt with admin permissions and then run slmgr.vbs
This will make sure that activation goes through, make sure to use proper options like:
Error 0xA00F4244 or 0x200F4244 is when Windows can not detect the WEB camera in your system and it is usually accompanied by the message: We can’t find or start your camera.
There could be several reasons for this error and in this guide, we will cover all of them in order to help you to get back on track and start using your WEB camera which is perhaps now more required than ever in this world we live in.
Check privacy settings
With the latest Microsoft Windows updates come the latest issues and it is not strange that privacy settings can become reset or changed when an update is applied. This is a quick fix to this issue and can be the sole reason why you get this error, go to Windows settings, then to privacy and check to see if the WEB camera is turned OFF, if this is the case turn it back ON and make sure that option Allow apps to access your camera is also set to ON.
Check if the camera is enabled
Sometimes it is by mistake, sometimes by an update but the web camera could be disabled in the device manager of Windows. Right-click on the Windows Start button and click on device manager to open it up, find and expand the cameras category. Right-click on your camera, if it is disabled, you will have the option to enable the camera, if it is enabled and Windows is detecting that it is working fine you will have the option to disable it.
Check antivirus settings
Antivirus and firewall applications are in today's world and life-essential piece of software but they can sometimes create more harm than good, from stopping windows updates to killing important services of applications and preventing internet access being just some examples of their paranoid behavior. Try disabling or turning your protection software OFF and see if your WEB camera will miraculously come back to life. If this is the case, somewhere in the settings of software there is an option that controls this aspect, try to locate it and set it in that way so you are able to use your camera.
Reinstall camera driver
If the previous three solutions failed to produce a satisfactory solution then reinstalling the camera driver might fix the problem. Go to your manufacturer's camera website and download the latest driver for your camera. Go to the device manager and uninstall the driver for the camera, then apply the latest driver and reboot the system.
Check connections and cable
Sometimes an issue is not due to software nature, sometimes it is hardware. Try checking connections and plug the camera in another USB port, twist and turn the cable a little to see is issue cable-related.
Check to see if the application supports your camera
If Windows has detected the camera and is not reporting any issues with it check your application to see if it can detect your camera and that it supports it fully. Sometimes newer applications tend to support only newer camera models. Try to use the camera in other software as well to see if the problem is with the application you are using.
Try camera on another computer
If everything else fails, try the camera on another computer to see if it will work there. If the camera is not working there as well it is probably malfunctioned and broken for good. If it does work there, try to find out what is different in that computer in comparison to yours, maybe it is some service running in the background, certain application configuration, Windows version itself, USB port version, or something else.
Wondering if upgrading to Windows 11 will boost your gaming experience? We can’t give you a straightforward answer, sadly. But we can take you through the tweaks you can expect if you have all the right requirements and help you make a final decision.
Is Windows 11 good for gaming?
Essentially, the answer to this question is yes. Microsoft has definitely added a bunch of enhancements and features to its latest OS to give gamers the best possible experience. However, you have to keep in mind that this may not work out smoothly for every single user.
Whether you’ll be able to fully take advantage of the Windows 11 gaming features really depends on your setup. As expected, Windows 11 has more demanding system requirements than its predecessor.
Credit: Florian Olivo on Unsplash
So, unless your hardware can run the new OS comfortably, you might not be able to make the most of all these gaming perks. In that case, we recommend you first upgrade your hardware and then make the switch. Be prepared to be a little surprised by a few other interesting changes in comparison to Windows 10, though!
For some of the new gaming features to work, it’ll also be necessary for you to have an NVMe SSD and an HDR-compatible monitor. So let’s take a look at 4 big improvements you can expect if your setup is compatible.
Gaming enhancements on Windows 11
1. Enjoy faster loading speed with DirectStorage
For this powerful feature to work, you need a compatible graphics card and, as stated before, an NVMe SSD. It’s also important for your GPU to support the DirectX 12 graphics API at least. And since we’re on that subject, you’ll be happy to know that Windows 11 has also introduced a new version of the API called DirectX 12 Ultimate.
Now, what does DirectStorage do? It’s a new feature designed to make full use of the speedy storage of NVMe SSDs. It also transfers game data directly onto the graphics card, lightening the load on your CPU. Normally the CPU would have to decompress the data first, but DirectStorage helps bypass this. That’s how loading times are reduced and games run more smoothly.
2. Fully immerse yourself through Game Mode
Windows 11’s Game Mode is certainly a welcomed addition. When you turn on Game Mode, usage of background apps that aren’t essential to your game is reduced. This results in the game you’re running becoming a priority process. This way, it uses your hardware and system resources to the max. Ultimately, the Game Mode means less lag and higher frame rates so you can play undisturbed and fully enjoy your gaming session.
3. Vibrant visual experience thanks to AutoHDR
For this one you’ll absolutely need an HDR-compatible monitor. Basically, HDR (High Dynamic Range) means a wider range of contrasts and colors that can be displayed on a monitor.
Windows 10 has an HDR feature, but you have to turn it on and off manually (“Use HDR”). Plus, users have reported that, if left on, it results in an unappealing appearance of content other than movies and games.
Windows 11 fixes that problem with its AutoHDR feature. Toggling it results in the system automatically adjusting the color contrast, balance and brightness based on what you’re currently looking at. For gamers, this means vivid imagery in every single game, resulting in a supreme visual experience. You can check out Microsoft’s own video showcasing the power of AutoHDR.
Aside from AutoHDR, another way Windows 11 improves the visual aspect is through its support for refresh rates of up to 360Hz.
4. Xbox Game Pass & Game Bar
It’s no secret that Microsoft wants to integrate Windows and Xbox. We’ve seen some attempts with Windows 10, but they’re pretty wonky compared to the new OS.
Windows 11’s built-in Xbox Game Bar enables quite a few options all gamers desire. You can take screenshots and videos of your game and send them, for starters. Furthermore, you can use it to see audio settings and monitor your PC’s performance without having to leave the game or open the Task Manager.
Widgets are also a really cool part of the Game Bar. You can choose from a wide variety of widgets, such as Xbox Achievements, Spotify, Gallery, Xbox Social and more.
Moreover, the Xbox Game Pass has been streamlined on Windows 11. Game Pass is a subscription service that unlocks hundreds of awesome games and supports cloud streaming. Do keep in mind that the games are only unlocked for a certain period of time, as the selection rotates once in a while.
What can you do for a better gaming experience?
Windows 11 does offer tweaks that require zero input from you. However, there are a few things you can do manually to get even more out of your new OS while gaming.
Turn off enhanced pointer precision. Most games enhance precision by default, so having this feature on might interfere with that.
Make sure to select your high performance graphics card for each game. Go to Settings > Gaming > Game Mode and tap ‘Graphics’ from the ‘Related settings’ menu. Find the game you want to adjust, click on ‘Options’ and choose your high performance graphics card to be the default setting. While there, you can also turn on ‘Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling’ at the top.
Disable unnecessary apps and programs. As long as they aren’t essential to running your game, they might take up valuable system resources, so disable them to make space for your gaming requirements.
Check for pending updates and install them. It’s well-known that out-of-date software causes bugs, latency and crashes. The same goes for your GPU drivers.
Use the High-performance power plan (Control Panel > Power Options > Additional plans) to maximize the use of resources for the best possible performance.
Summary
Windows 11 has done quite a bit for avid gamers. We hope your setup is compatible with all these new features and you can experience these enhancements ASAP!
Thorconnwndclass error is an Outlook error that has recently reared its head.
Known to create several problems in the proper functioning of the Outlook application, this error is essentially a constituent of the Norton Antivirus Crash Guard Symantec component. That’s why those using the Norton Antivirus program are most likely to encounter this error.
Solution
Error Causes
When the Thorconnwndclass error occurs, the Outlook closes unexpectedly, users encounter problems while sending or receiving emails and, performance of Outlook is degraded and this happens because issues arise while accessing the PST file. Because of this damaged PST file, stored data is unavailable for access.
Other factors that trigger the Thorconnwndclass error are listed below.
Corrupt or damaged Outlook Add-ins
Corrupt or damaged Outlook bar
Unfinished Outlook installation
Faulty settings
Thorconnwndclass Norton is being used with Outlook
Regardless of the underlying factors that lead up to the occurrence of this error, it's of paramount importance that workarounds are implemented to ensure desired performance of Outlook in the long run.
Further Information and Manual Repair
While there are several ways to rectify this error, some of the most common ones are listed below as follows.
The most effective solution is the PST file repair tools available online. These tools use a complex algorithm and thoroughly scan the PST file and repair it as needed. This resolves the Thorconnwndclass error that one encounters in Outlook. Usually such software have an easy to use interface and can easily be used, without the need for the user to have a strong technical background. Another advantage of using these software available online is that they not only repair the file, but they often play a pivotal role in retrieving inaccessible or lost data.
Some other tips for manually resolving this problem are listed below as follows.
First and foremost, disable your Norton Antivirus program if it’s installed on your system. Now, open the Outlook application in Safe Mode. Since this problem may also be triggered by damaged or corrupt Outlook add-ins, it is strongly advised that you disable or uninstall them. Now, you will come across some .dat files. Rename them by changing the existing .dat files to new .dat.
Another useful approach is to employ the Inbox Repair tool offered by Outlook.
Finally, one can also use the scanpst.exe file to fix any problem or error that resides within the Outlook application.
DirectX function GetDeviceRemovedReason error is a DirectX error that comes up during playing games on Windows 11 operating system. Usually, the error occurs in gaming systems powered by AMD and very rarely if any times at all on Nvidia or intel platforms.
If you are one of the gamers affected by this error, fear not because we have a solution for you. Follow provided fix guide in order to correct this error and get back to gaming asap.
1. Update drivers
The first thing of course is to update your graphic card driver, you can do this with your graphic cards panel software or directly in Windows itself but the best practice and one that I would recommend is to go to your graphic card manufacturer’s website and download the latest driver there, and then install it inside Windows 11.
2. Change power mode
Changing power mode inside Windows 11 can solve this issue since sometimes Windows power manager if it is set to anything except best performance can interfere with the proper functioning of the graphic adapter, and because of this error. To change the power setting do the following:
Press ⊞ WINDOWS + I to open settings
Click on the System tab
Select power & battery on the right part
Click on the menu beside power mode
Select the best performance
3. Run SFC scan
Corrupted system files can also cause this error and if previous steps have not resolved it we will use Windows built-in tool SFC scan to find and repair all bad files in windows.
Press ⊞ WINDOWS + S to open the search menu
Type in Windows terminal and run it as administrator
If prompted click on YES on UAC
Press CTRL + SHIFT + 2 to run command prompt
Type in sfc /scannow and press ENTER
Wait for the whole process to finish and then reboot your system
4. Reinstall the problematic game
Sometimes game files can get corrupt and maybe even overwritten, try with game reinstallation if the problem still persists.
Recently, some users reported not being able to boot up their Windows 10 computers. And during the startup phase, at some time, the bootup sequence is halted with a Recovery error along with an error message saying, “Your PC/Device needs to be repaired” with an error code of 0x0000605.
This kind of error message indicates that Windows was not able to verify the digital signature for the file as the signing certificate or it could be that it has expired. To resolve this error, you can follow the potential fixes given below and see if you stumble upon a fix that might work out for you.
Option 1 – Change the Date & Time settings in the BIOS
Some users reported that they were able to fix the error by changing the Date & Time settings in the BIOS. Upon checking, they saw that in their BIOS settings, the date was off several years. As a result, the incorrect date and time settings end up ticking the system into believing that the Windows build has expired long before the actual expiration date.
You can check if the error pops up due to the same reasons by accessing the BIOS settings. To do so, you have to tap the Boot key that’s associated with your motherboard manufacturer during the initial startup phase. After that, you can search for a particular boot key online or you can also tap keys like F2, F4, F8, F10, F12, and the Delete key.
Once you’re able to access the BIOS settings, locate the Date & time or anything similar, and then check if the date is correct or not. If not, you need to change the date to the actual date and then save the changes made and restart your computer and then check if the issue is now fixed or not.
Just remember that if the actual date is past the expiration date of the build you have, you need to change it to an older date. If your Windows 10 PC is able to boot back up, you have to update it to a stable Windows build and then go back to the BIOS settings and change the date to the current one else you will definitely encounter Windows update errors in the future as well as security alerts.
Option 2 – Perform a clean install of a stable Windows 10 build
If every system boot fails accompanied by a BSOD error with error code 0x0000605 “A component of the operating system has expired” and you’ve already followed every instruction on option 1, then it’s most likely that your current Windows build has already expired. Remember that almost all the Windows 10 Insider Preview builds (98xx) are created along with an expiration date and when your computer reaches the expiration date, you won’t be able to boot your computer up.
Note that the exact expiration date varies based on the build number. And prior to the expiration date, the operating system will start to display some error warnings telling you that the build will expire and urge you to update the most recent build available. And so once the computer reaches its expiration date, it will begin to reboot every three hours until it no longer boots up which is about 2 weeks approximately after the license has expired.
Once the expiration date is up and your computer no longer boots up, you need to perform a clean install and then install the latest Windows 10 build to resolve the issue once and for all.
There is a central location in Windows 10 that allows users to view all the notifications from its Action Center. Aside from viewing notifications, users can also manage them and take necessary actions in just one single place. Notifications in Windows 10 look similar to a message icon but can be at variance in function. However, recently, a number of users reported that even though they receive notifications about new actions but when opening them, they see nothing. In other words, the notification is false, and to fix this, read on as this post will provide you a couple of workarounds.
The Windows 10 Notifications and Action Center notification messages might show a mismatch. For instance, Windows 10 may say that you have some notifications but when you open Action Center, you find it empty and there are actually no notifications there. Take the case of the following screenshot, the Windows 10 Notification says that there are 6 new notifications available for viewing but the Action Center says otherwise.
Before you troubleshoot the problem, you might want to run System Restore especially if you’ve made some changes in your computer prior to this issue which might have messed with the Windows 10 Notifications and Action Center. To perform System Restore, refer to these steps:
First, press 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 the problem wasn’t fixed and you’re still getting false notifications, you might want to troubleshoot the problem further using the options given below.
Option 1 – via Windows PowerShell
In the Start search, type “PowerShell” in the field and hit Enter to pull up the Windows PowerShell window.
Next, copy and paste this command and hit Enter to execute it: Get-AppxPackage | % { Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)AppxManifest.xml” -verbose }
After that, reboot your computer and check if the false notifications are now gone.
Option 2 – Try renaming the Usrclass.dat file
DAT errors like the ones that are associated with the Usrclass.dat file, most likely occur during computer startup, program startup, or while you try to use a specific function in your program. Even so, it can easily be fixed. How? Refer to the given steps below.
Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
Then type %localappdata%MicrosoftWindows and hit Enter to get to the location of the UsrClass.dat file.
After that, look for a file named UsrClass.dat and once you’ve found it, right-click on it and select the Rename option.
Now rename the file to UsrClass.old.dat and then restart your computer and see if the problem is now fixed or not.
This is a common Device Manager Error Code that users encounter. It is commonly found on all Windows 2000 and later versions of Windows operating systems. Error Code 36 is usually prompted by the following message:
"This device is requesting a PCI interrupt but is configured for an ISA interrupt (or vice versa). Please use the computer's system setup program to reconfigure the interrupt for this device. (Code 36)"
Solution
Error Causes
Error Code 36 occurs when there is a failure in IRQ translation due to your Windows operating system getting corrupted. This is caused due to a number of triggers, such as:
An excess of startup entries
Errors in registries
RAM or hardware failure
Excessive unnecessary installed programs
Malware or spyware
When programs are removed excessively, some programs are not removed completely and create problems in your computer’s registry.
Also, due to the presence of malware and spyware and other causes mentioned above, your computer registry builds up errors with the time that leads to slowing your PC, time lags, and even result in crashes and freezes.
Error Code 36 can cause internal and external components to malfunction or experience time lags such as DVD drive or printer and hence can severely affect your entire PC.
Further Information and Manual Repair
Error Code 36 is a severe PC error and any attempt at fixing the error must be approached with extreme caution for your PC to start functioning properly again. Here are two methods to fixing your PC.
Method 1 – Change IRQ reservation settings
Changing the IRQ reservation settings is the best way you can rely on to fix the error code. You can do this by changing the BIOS settings of your PC.
The BIOS stands for ‘Basic Input/Output System’ and is the program of your PC’s microprocessor that allows your PC to boot after you switch it on.
Caution needs to be exercised before changing the BIOS settings of your PC. This is because every PC’s BIOS version differs from another and any wrong attempt to change the settings may make matters worse.
It is therefore recommended to refer to hardware documentation that you received with your PC or motherboard and check for the model number and details of your PC’s motherboard.
Only after you have checked and confirmed all the details, should you use the specific BIOS settings required to configure your IRQ reservations?
Method 2 – Install DriverFIX
Error Code 36 isn’t an easy error to remove.
While changing the BIOS settings can work to restore your PC, it may create a whole lot of inconvenience for finding the time and effort to check the hardware documentation details and attempting to change the specific settings and especially, if your PC does not support the options to change IRQ reservations.
Given the high risks of fixing such an error, you can also install software that enables you to fix your slow PC at the click of a few buttons.
Programs such as DriverFIX can enable you to download and replace your outdated drivers with new updated ones without you having to look for them. It will detect which drivers to download based on your PC’s motherboard version from the program’s database and can get rid of error code 36.
Click here to download DriverFIX and remove error code 36 and any other type of Device Manager error from your PC.
Error Causes
If you are one of the gamers affected by this error, fear not because we have a solution for you. Follow provided fix guide in order to correct this error and get back to gaming asap.
