Intel i9 Alder Lake better than AMD Ryzen 9

Fix Windows is not starting

Hello everyone and welcome to how to fix Windows when it is not starting tutorial. Here we will tackle some common problems and solutions in order to help you to get back both your computer and Windows in working order. Windows not booting and loading is an annoying issue that can even result in complete loss of your data and can also consume a lot of time if no other solution than clean install remains. Also if you are not tech-savvy, this issue can cost you as well since you will have to hire a professional to solve this problem for you. Here at Error Tools, we aim to help so you can overcome your PC issues yourself by providing you daily with tutorials, tips, and tricks and helping you with all of your Windows issues. All of that being said, let's see what are issues that can prevent your computer or Windows from booting up and get around them so everything is back in working order.

Use repair tool
Windows 10 comes with a startup repair tool that has the goal to repair and fix errors preventing Windows from booting up. To use this tool however you will need Windows 10 bootable USB stick. You can create a bootable USB directly on the Microsoft site. Once you have it ready, plug it in and reboot your computer, choose to boot from USB. When you are on the Windows setup screen, click on next and then on Repair your computer. Go to troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup repair. When Startup repair is clicked, Windows will boot, scan files for issues, and if they are found he will automatically fix them.
“Windows Failed to Start” 0xc00000f error
If you get this error on your boot of Windows, then you have corrupted boot configuration data. In order to fix this error, you will also need a bootable USB with Windows 10 on it. Make one on the Microsoft site if you don't have it and reboot your computer, boot from USB, on the setup screen click on next and then on Repair your computer. Click on Troubleshoot and then on the command prompt. In the command prompt type the following: bootrec /FixMbr bootrec /FixBoot bootrec /ScanOs bootrec /RebuildBcd exit Reboot your PC without a USB
Boot into safe mode
Safe mode for Windows loads only its core without drivers and with minimal services. If you can boot into safe mode then the issue is with some application or driver causing the problem. Try the selective boot option to eliminate what is causing the error.
Make sure your hardware is connected
Some RAM or hard drive out of socket can cause Windows not to be able to boot, check all connections just in case.

If everything else fails, perform a clean Windows installation. The reason for Windows not booting up can be caused by various viruses and malware also if that case it would be best to format and perform a clean install.

Windows laptop turns off when unplugged

If your Windows 10 laptop suddenly turns off when you unplug its power cord, then you’ve come to the right place as this post will guide you on how you can fix this issue. One of the most common causes for this kind of issue is that there is some problem with your laptop’s battery. It is possible that it might have gone bad or has been damaged. However, this couldn’t be the case especially if the laptop is new. The problem could have something to do with the system settings, connections, laptop hardware, and so on. To fix it, there are various suggestions you can check out such as follows:

Option 1 – Perform a hard reset on your laptop

This option works in most cases when the laptop with a removable battery is charging slowly as it is plugged in constantly. Refer to the steps below to do a hard reset on your laptop.

Switch off the power of your laptop.
Disconnect your laptop’s charger and then remove the battery.
Tap and hold the power button for at least 30 seconds – doing so will discharge the capacitors of the motherboard and reset the memory chips that were active constantly.
Plug the battery back and then charge the laptop again.

Check if the problem is fixed, if not, proceed to the next option below.

Option 2 – Try to change the Power Options

Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run utility.
Then type “powercfg.cpl” and tap Enter to open the Power Options window.
Next, go to your selected power plan and click the “Change plan settings” option to open a new page.
From there, click on the “Change advanced power settings” option. This will open a new window where you can see various power consumption options.
Now on the next window that appears, click on “Change advanced power settings”. This will open another window where you have to expand the Processor power management > Maximum processor state.
Then change the value for On battery mode to 25% and enable Adaptive brightness.
Now shut down your computer and try to boot it with the power cord unplugged.

Option 3 – Try to run the Power troubleshooter

The next thing you can do is to run the Power troubleshooter. To do so, follow these steps:

Go to Settings and navigate to Update & Security > Troubleshoot.
After that, look for the “Power” option from the given list of built-in troubleshooters and click on it.
Next, click on the “Run the troubleshooter” button to run the Power troubleshooter.
Once the troubleshooter is done identifying the problems, follow the next on-screen instructions to resolve the problem.

Option 4 – Try to run the Power Efficiency Diagnostics Report

You could also try to run the Power Efficiency Diagnostics Report to fix the problem. This tool is helpful and will help you analyze the status of the battery but note that this can be quite overwhelming especially if you’re not well-versed in this matter.

Option 5 – Try to uninstall or reinstall the Battery driver

You might also want to uninstall or reinstall the battery driver as it can also resolve the problem. But before you start, you have to shut down your computer and remove the power chord as well as the battery. Once you’re done, follow these steps:

Plug the power cord and restart your computer.
Once your computer has restarted, tap the Win + R keys to open the Run utility and type “devmgmt.msc” in the field and tap Enter to open the Device Manager.
After that, look for the “Batteries” driver from the list of drivers and expand it.
Then right-click on the “Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System” driver and click on the “Uninstall device” option.
Once it’s done, restart shut down your computer and remove the power cord and then attach the battery.
Now attach the power chord again and restart your computer to automatically install the driver.

Option 6 – Try to update the BIOS

Updating the BIOS can help you fix the problem but as you know, BIOS is a sensitive part of a computer. Even though it is a software component, the functioning of the hardware depends on it largely. Thus, you must be careful when modifying something in the BIOS. So if you don’t know much about it, it’s best if you skip on this option and try the other ones instead. However, if you are well-versed in navigating the BIOS, then follow the steps below.

Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
Next, type “msinfo32” in the field and press Enter to open System Information.
From there, you should find a search field on the bottom where you have to search for the BIOS version and then press Enter.
After that, you should see the developer and version of the BIOS installed on your PC.
Go to your manufacturer’s website and then download the latest version of BIOS on your computer.
If you are using a laptop, make sure that you keep it plugged in until you have updated the BIOS.
Now double click on the downloaded file and install the new BIOS version on your computer.
Now restart your computer to apply the changes made.

Note: If updating the BIOS didn’t help, you might want to consider resetting it instead.

What to do if the Windows 10 Control Panel is not opening

The Control Panel is one of the most important tools in Windows which allows users to control and change various settings. However, there are cases when it experiences some problems like when users aren’t able to open it. Recently, a lot of users complained about not being able to open the Control Panel. To be more specific, users were able to open it but only lasted for a second, and then it’s gone. This is not just some issue you can ignore as this will prevent you from accessing some major settings in your computer and you won’t be able to perform some important task without it. According to security experts, this issue is most likely caused by a bug in the Windows Update. If you have installed an update recently, then it’s most likely the culprit. Aside from the Windows Update, there are also other things that can cause this issue. Some of them are the IDT audio panel and a control panel file that causes conflicting issues with the control panel that leads to this problem. Aside from these aforementioned cases, the Windows Error reporting services could also be one of the causes of this issue. As you can see, since there are a lot of possible causes for this problem, this post prepared a lot of options as well which you have to check out. Follow each one of them and see which one worked best for you.

Option 1 – Try updating your Windows 10 PC

If you haven’t updated your PC to the latest version of Windows 10, then you should. A lot of users found that the issue with the Control Panel was fixed right after they updated their Windows 10 PCs. This is probably because Microsoft has probably released a fix on one of the latest updates.

Option 2 – Try uninstalling the IDT Audio Panel

For some users, uninstalling the IDT Audio Panel from their PCs did the trick. You can also try doing the same thing to fix the vanishing Control Panel. According to these users. The IDT audio panel was the one that’s causing the issue. To uninstall the IDT audio panel, here’s what you have to do:

Tap the Win + R keys at the same time to open the Run dialog box.
Then type in “appwiz.cpl” in the field and tap Enter to open the “Uninstall or change a program” screen of the Control Panel.
From there, look for the IDT audio panel, select it and then select the Uninstall option and follow the next on-screen instructions that appear.

Note: If you are unable to locate the IDT audio panel or you simply can’t access the Uninstall or change program screen or you can’t keep Control Panel open for a long time, here’s what you can do:

Tap the Win + R keys at the same time once again to open the Run dialog box.
And in the field, type in “devmgmt.msc” and hit Enter to open the Device Manager.
After opening the Device Manager, look for the “Sound, video and game controllers” option and double-click on it.
From there, locate the IDT audio panel or “IDT High Definition CODEC” and select Uninstall and follow the next instructions that appear.

Option 3 – Try deleting or renaming IDTNC64.cpl

IDTNC64.cpl is a control file in the control panel. However, it might be the one that’s causing the problem as it could be conflicting with the control panel. As a result, the control panel crashes after a second or more. Many users have fixed the problem by either renaming or deleting this file – the safer option would be is renaming it.

Tap the Win + E keys to open File Explorer.
In the address bar located at the top, type in “C:\Windows\System32” and tap Enter to open this folder.
From there, look for the IDTNC64.cpl file, right-click on it and select the Rename option.
You can name the file anything you want but it’s better if you rename it to “oldcpl”.
After you rename the file, try opening the Control Panel again. It should work fine now.

Option 4 – Try to disable the Windows Error Reporting Service

As mentioned earlier, the Windows Error Reporting Service is also known to cause the issue so some users disable it and got the issue fixed.

Tap the Win + R keys.
In the field, type in “MSConfig” and hit Enter to open System Configuration.
After opening System Configuration, go to the Services tab and look for the Windows Error Reporting Service and uncheck its checkbox.
Click the Apply button and click OK. You should now see a date in the Disable Date column. Then check if the Control Panel is now working properly if not, restart your computer and check once more. That should fix the problem.

Option 5 – Try opening Control Panel via Run

This option is more of a workaround than a solution as it does not really fix the issue with the Control Panel but rather helps you in accessing the controls at the very least.

Tap the Win + R keys to open Run.
Type in “appwiz.cpl” in the field and tap Enter to open the Uninstall or change program screen of the Control Panel.
Next, copy and paste “Control panel all control panel items” on the address bar located at the top-mid part of your screen. You must not type the given address and simply copy and paste it. After that, you will see a list of control panel controls you can use.

A Guide to Fixing STOP 0x00000000 Error Code

STOP 0x00000000 Error Code - What is it?

Stop 0x00000000 error code is a type of a Stop error popularly known as a blue screen of death error code. This is a critical error. It can pop up while loading or using the Windows program on your PC. When this error occurs, the computer screen turns blue and you, the user, get locked out of the program. Furthermore, it can also result in sudden system shut down or system freeze. If not fixed timely, the error may start to pop up more and more frequently which then may lead to complete system corruption and system crash.

Solution

Error Causes

The two most common causes for the STOP 0x00000000 error code are:

Malware infection
Registry corruption

This is a fatal system error and must be resolved immediately. Delay may lead to system crashes and data loss. And recovering lost data is not easy.

Further Information and Manual Repair

Though this is a fatal error the good news is that it is easy to resolve. To repair the STOP 0x00000000 error on your system, here are some methods that you can try:

Method 1 - Use System Restore to Bring Your Computer Back to its Previous State

To resolve this error on your system, try using the System Restore tool. Use this tool to bring your computer back to its previous state. The Windows System Restore utility is one of the most valuable recovery tools. To use it, simply type System Restore in the search box. Once you find it, click on it and select a restore point to bring your PC back to its normal state. To activate changes, reboot the PC.

Method 2 - Scan for Viruses

If the underlying cause of the Stop 0x00000000 error code is related to malware infection, then you must download a powerful antivirus to resolve it. Run it to scan your entire PC. Make sure you remove all types of malware including adware, spyware, viruses, and Trojan. Once your PC is malware-free, the error will be fixed in no time.

Method 3 - Clean and Repair the Registry

The registry is an important part of the PC. It stores practically all the activities you perform on your system. It saves all the files including both important and unnecessary files such as junk files, cookies, internet history, bad and invalid entries. If these obsolete and unnecessary files are not deleted frequently and keep on accumulating it takes up all the registry space and corrupts it. This results in registry errors like runtime and BSoD errors and sometimes may also lead to disk fragmentation. To resolve it is advisable to repair the registry. This can be done manually but that will take too much time and also require technical expertise. However, another way to resolve it is to download Restoro. This is a user-friendly PC Fixer with a powerful registry cleaner. It removes all obsolete and unnecessary files, cleans the registry and repairs the damaged files, thereby removing the error right away. Click here to download Restoro and resolve Stop 0x00000000 today!

Protect Your PC With These 6 Reliable Security Products

What software are you using to keep your information and all your files and memories safe?

None? Yikes. Let’s hope no damage has been done to your data yet then. Because with how the digital world has evolved, your data might be getting leaked and you have no idea.

Why do you need to invest in security software?

There’s really no good excuse not to purchase a quality platform for PC protection. Especially since top security solutions are available at such affordable prices nowadays, your wallet would barely even notice it.

At this point, only people who barely use their PCs and have zero sensitive information on them can get away with simply using the built-in Windows 10/11 security software. But we guarantee that those people are extremely hard to find and that you’re not one of them, and here’s why.

Even if you don’t use your computer for things that are very obviously sensitive, such as internet banking, you still have some personal data at risk of being stolen. How so? Well, think about the data you enter into your social media profiles, for example. How devastating would it be if somebody got a hold of any of it? Yep, that’s what we thought.

A chain with a padlock on a laptop — Credit: FLY:D on Unsplash

In the hands of a skilled cybercriminal, your phone number alone could put you at risk of scams, ransomware, identity theft and more. Also think about the stuff you share in texts and social media chats. Think about the websites you visit and how many times you may have accidentally clicked on an ad, which could very well contain malicious software. Those all seem harmless until someone’s actually used them against you.

Now imagine the dangers involved when you actually store truly confidential data on your PC and browsers. Sends shivers down your spine, doesn’t it?

In the case of a successful cyberattack of whatever type (virus, phishing, worms, etc.), there’s so much that is at stake. Businesses/legal persons will suffer from financial loss and damaged reputation, at the very least. Natural persons may be threatened or exploited, get their banking or medical information and even their identity stolen, etc. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

These are our biggest reasons for investing in Windows PC protection software:

Cyberthreats are constantly evolving to the point where built-in or free software won’t cut it anymore.

Those working remotely can have peace of mind knowing both personal and business data is completely secure.

Businesses using top security solutions ensure their customers trust them.

Data breaches are a pain in the you-know-what to handle. Fighting a cyberattack and going back to normal is a demanding process, and not to mention the stress it’ll cause. We’d rather prevent all that by using trustworthy security products!

It helps parents worry a little less about their children’s safety in the online world.

Added bonus: with most products, you get an ad-free browsing experience!

Obviously, there are a lot more reasons to get your PC secured. But we think you get it. So let’s cut to the chase and take a look at our 6 favorite protection solutions and the wonders they can do for you.

*Note that in this article we’re looking at products primarily suited for households and home offices, some for small businesses. No enterprise solutions will make the list today, but stay tuned for a future article on those.

The bottom line

If you’ve made it all the way here, congratulations, you’ve made the right choice: to invest in securing your valuable data! Now the question is: which one of these 6 awesome antivirus/antimalware products to select?

The paradox of choice is a very real thing - we feel you. As mentioned, it comes down to what your specific needs are. So before you go ahead and purchase your security software, make sure to explore all options.

And if you really can’t handle the decision-making anxiety, feel free to reach out. We’ll happily assist you in finding the right product to keep your digital life secure!

Repairing a corrupt Group Policy in Windows

If you recently made some changes in your Windows 10 computer using the Group Policy Editor but they were not reflected and you got errors instead, it could be that your Windows computer wasn’t able to read the Group Policy file (registry.pol). To resolve this kind of issue, you have to repair the potentially corrupted Group Policy using the options given in this post. .As you know, Group Policy is a feature in the Microsoft Windows Active Directory which allows an admin to make changes in the features on Windows PCs that are on the network. So if the modifications you just made weren’t successfully applied, then there could be something wrong with the registry.pol file on the client or it could also be that the Group Policy folder is missing. To fix this issue in the Group Policy, you need to refer to the given suggestions below and make sure that you have admin privileges as you execute them.

Option 1 – Try to delete or recreate the missing registry.pol file

The entire settings of the Group Policy are stored in the registry.pol file so if it went missing, all the changes you make will not be reflected. The good thing is that you can recreate it but if the file exists and is corrupted, you need to delete it first before you recreate it.

First, go to the C:/Windows/System32/GroupPolicy/Machine location.
And from there, check if the registry.pol file exists or not. If it’s there, just delete it permanently by tapping the Shift + Delete keys.
Now it’s time to recreate the file. Just open Windows PowerShell with admin privileges by tapping Win + X + A keys.
After opening PowerShell, type this command: gpupdate /force
The command you entered will recreate the registry.pol file and will refresh the Group Policy. Restart your computer.

Option 2 – Try recreating the secedit.sdb file

The security settings of Group Policy are stored in the secedit.sdb file so if you made some changes to security and they weren’t reflected, you can try to delete and recreate the secedit.sdb file instead of deleting the Group Policy file. All you have to do is navigate to the C:/WINDOWS/security/Database folder and look for the secedit.sdb file and rename it or move it to another folder. After that, restart your computer. Once your computer has restarted, the secedit.sdb file will be created again.

Option 3 – Try to reset the Group Policy to default

You can also try to reset the Group Policy back to its default state. There are several ways you can do that. You can either use the gpupdate or the secedit command in the Windows PowerShell to do that. Resetting the Group Policy will resolve any issues that could be caused by its current settings.

Option 4 – Try to perform System Restore

System Restore can also help resolve the Group Policy issue. It could be that prior to the issue, you’ve made some changes in the system that might have affected the Group Policy. To undo these changes, perform System Restore.

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.

Option 5 – Use the DISM tool

You can also try running the Deployment Imaging and Servicing Management or DISM tool. This tool will repair the Windows System Image as well as the Windows Component Store in your Windows 10 computer. So if there are any missing or corrupted folders and files, the DISM tool can restore and repair them. As a result, any system consistencies and corruptions will be fixed. To run this tool, follow these steps:

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.

Best graphic design software for 2022

2021 is nearing toward the end and with just a couple of days remaining in this year, we are happy to look forward to the next year. So in large anticipation of what will next year bring us, we are taking a good design look at this one and making a list for you of what graphic design software you should learn and use in the upcoming 2022.

graphic design software Before we dive into it in more detail and predictions please be aware that this article is based upon my personal opinion drawn from the research of current trends and standards. That being said let's dive right into details.

Adobe Photoshop

Whether you like it or not, Adobe has cemented itself with its flagship application Photoshop and how things are looking this situation will not change any time soon. Photoshop is an extraordinary pixel manipulation software that has the ability to work with both animations and vector graphics as well making it a great single application for all-around design needs. It has been industry-standard design software for the web, print, and all other kinds of design all over the globe and this will not change in near future. With its constant updates and expansion of its abilities, this is a must-have tool in your design tool belt. If you are looking to find work as a designer you will have to know how to work with photoshop.

Adobe illustrator

Many will tell you that is photoshop for raster graphics, the illustrator is for vectors. First started as illustrator 88 on Mac right away it took first place for vector graphics from FreeHand and it continued on its path of vector dominance. After some time and more integration with photoshop Adobe managed to overthrow Corel Draw as well winning the title for best vector editing software with illustrator. Same as with photoshop, if you are planning to work in a serious industry you will need to know the illustrator.

Adobe InDesign

We are still in Adobe train and it is moving hard, InDesign is graphic design software aimed for paper publications. If you need to create and prepare any kind of professional publication for printing InDesign is the application to go to. With its specific print aimed features it is a must-have for any graphic designer.

Corel Draw Graphic Suite

Once the king of vector and print design but dethroned by Adobe Corel Draw still has some punches to stay relevant in the field. With some cool features like symmetry and long shadows, it stands out from its competitors for its ease of use. Corel was always focused on easy to learn, and difficult to master and it is still following that kind of thinking. Granted not many employers will require you to be a master of Corel Draw but some of them will request that you are familiar with the application. One of perhaps the greatest advantages of Corel over Adobe is not locking you into a subscription making Draw suit a great choice for freelancers and designers that want to own software, not rent it.

Affinity Designer

The first software from Affinity was Photo, made as a cheap version one-time purchase competitor for photoshop. Later it has released Designer, also a one-time purchase competitor for illustrators. If we are going to take a good look into a feature for feature comparison, both Adobe and Corel will win over Affinity but if we take a look at a price that is a one-time purchase Affinity will win over easily. Priced only at $54.99 it is a steal, and taking into account that many designers will not require any very advanced features found in Corel or Adobe applications Affinity is the way to go.

Inkscape & GIMP

Speaking of price, nothing beats free, and both Inkscape and GIMP are completely free. offering very decent and competitive features applications will require you to get used to their own specific UI and workflow, but once you get a grasp of them, you will be able to do most design work in them. One of the downsides of using these free open source apps is their limited export options but if all that is required from you is to deliver a typical SVG, JPG, EPS, PNG, or PDF file you are good to go.

Colorcinch

Free with basic functionality with the option to purchase more advanced features Colorcinch is a great application if you are on quickly developing and creating graphics for social media posts. Add quickly text or filters, quickly do the color adjustment and save for social apps. The application also within its basic boundaries can work directly on the website without you requiring to even install it making it one of a kind. Go try it at the official site and enjoy yourself.

Conclusion

If you have followed the graphic design scene you will notice that nothing has changed and it will not change in near future. This just speaks about how much industry is defined and how little change is there over time. I advise if you can to get and learn adobe suite since it is industry standard and is required from almost every employer today. Rest applications on the list are great alternatives and can bring you income and offer you a way to finish your project.

Fix Windows Update error 0xC1900209

What is Windows Update Error 0xC1900209? Before you can install any updates on your Windows 10 computer, there are a lot of conditions that have to be fulfilled and one of these conditions is software compatibility. It is one of the important factors in installing Windows Updates. So if one of the software in your computer is not compatible with the new Windows Update for your OS, then the Windows 10 setup will not proceed and will block the installation of the new update. This both applies to the cumulative updates and feature updates. In such cases, you will get the following error message when you run Windows Update:

“0xC1900209, Incompatible software is blocking the upgrade process. Uninstall the application and try the upgrade again.”

This error message comes under the umbrella of the Windows 10 pre-upgrade validation using Setup.exe. And for you to identify the incompatible app, you need to grab a Windows 10 install image using the Windows Media Creation tool to download the suitable Windows 10 version and mount it. After that, execute the setup.exe file that’s located in the root folder of the Windows 10 install image. Once you execute the setup file, the upgrade wizard will give you a list of incompatible apps. Once you have determined which software is not compatible with the Windows Update, there are two options you can try to resolve the Windows Update error 0xC1900209 – you can either try to update the conflicting software or uninstall it. For more details, follow the given options below.

Option 1 – Try to update the conflicting software

If you are using an older version of the software that’s in conflict with the Windows Update, you might want to update it to its latest version and then try to apply the updates again to your Windows 10 computer. You can update the concerned software by visiting the official website of the software or any of its distribution sources. On the other hand, you can also use the Check for updates feature of that particular software if it’s available.

Option 2 – Try to uninstall the conflicting software

If updating the problematic program didn’t work, the next option you can try is to uninstall it. All you have to do is follow these steps to uninstall it successfully:

Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
Then type “appwiz.cpl” in the field and tap Enter to open the Programs and Features in Control Panel.
Next, arrange the list of installed programs in the order of the installation date.
After that, look for the problematic program and right-click on it, and then select Uninstall.
Once the uninstallation process is done, restart your computer and see if the Windows Update error 0xC1900209 is fixed or not.

Remove EliteUnzip from your computer

EliteUnzip is a program developed by Mindspark Interactive. This program lets you compress and extract all the popular archive types.

From the Author:

Elite Unzip is a program for creating and extracting archive files; it has support for over 20 file formats. This application downloads onto your computer in two parts: one for your desktop, and one for your browser. They both work together to make packing and unpacking archive files easy.

While EliteUnzip itself is not a threat, it comes bundled with other software that might cause a problem to your computer.

Due to its bundled nature, several anti-virus scanners have marked EliteUznip as a Potentially Unwanted Program and is therefore not recommended to keep on y our computer, especially because there are other free programs that do the same functions without the additional bundled software.

About Potentially Unwanted Applications

Precisely what is a Potentially Unwanted Program (PUP)?

Have you ever found out an unwanted program running on your computer and wondered how the heck it got there? These unwanted programs, which are known as Potentially Unwanted Programs, or PUPs in short, often tag along as a software bundle when downloading the program and can result in major problems for computer users. It’s clear by the name – unwanted programs – but did not really constitute “malware” in the traditional sense. The reason for this is that the majority of PUPs enter into users’ computers not because they exploit security weaknesses, for instance, but mainly because the users give consent to download it – unknowingly in many instances. No matter whether it is regarded as malware or otherwise, PUPs are almost always bad for a computer owner as they might bring on adware, spyware, keystroke logging, and other nasty “crapware” features on your PC.

What do PUPs do on your computer, precisely?

Most Potentially Unwanted Programs comes in the form of adware, which generally aims to exhibit lots of annoying pop-up ads, banners, coupons, and deals on websites you explore. PUPs that come in the form of browser add-ons and toolbars are widely identifiable. They may track your online activities, redirect your search results to risky sites where adware and spyware can be downloaded, hijack your home page, and slow your browser down to a crawl. PUPs carry a dangerous bite if left behind unchecked. The worst part of setting up a PUP is the spyware, adware, and keystroke loggers that could hide inside. These are programs that don’t do anything good for you; in addition to taking over space on the hard disk, they will also slow down your PC, often change settings without your permission, and the list of bothersome features goes on and on.

Protect yourself from unwanted programs

• When installing anything on your desktop, always read the fine print, like the license agreement. Don’t accept terms of use that are for bundled applications. • Normally, when installing a software program you get two options, ‘Standard Installation’ and ‘Custom Installation’. Don’t opt for ‘Standard’ as unwanted programs might automatically be installed that way! • Use good anti-malware software. Try Safebytes Anti-malware which can spot PUPs and treat them as malware by flagging them for deletion. • Be alert when you download and install freeware, open-source programs, or shareware. Nowadays ‘freeware’ isn’t actually freeware – but crapware bundling nonsense. • Only use official product sites for downloading applications. Steer clear of download websites altogether since most websites compel users to download the program with their own download manager, which is often bundled up with some kind of PUPs.

Virus Blocking Access To Safebytes Site And Preventing Anti-Malware Downloads – What You Should Do?

All malware is inherently unsafe, but certain kinds of malicious software do a lot more damage to your computer or laptop than others. Some malware variants alter browser settings by adding a proxy server or change the computer’s DNS configuration settings. When this happens, you will be unable to visit some or all of the sites, and therefore unable to download or install the necessary security software to eliminate the malware. If you are reading this, chances are you’re stuck with a virus infection that is preventing you to download and install Safebytes Anti-Malware software on your computer. There are some actions you can take to circumvent this issue.

Install in Safe Mode

In the event the malware is set to run at Windows start-up, then booting in safe mode should avoid it. Since only the minimal applications and services start-up in safe mode, there are hardly any reasons for conflicts to happen. The following are the steps you should follow to start your computer into the Safe Mode of your Windows XP, Vista, or 7 computers (go to Microsoft site for directions on Windows 8 and 10 computers). 1) Tap the F8 key continuously as soon as your computer boots, however, before the large windows logo comes up. This should bring up the Advanced Boot Options menu. 2) Make use of the arrow keys to select Safe Mode with Networking and press ENTER. 3) Once you get into this mode, you should have internet access once again. Now, obtain the malware removal software you need by using the web browser. To install the program, follow the guidelines in the setup wizard. 4) Following installation, run a full scan and let the program eliminate the threats it finds.

Download the antivirus software in a different internet browser

Some malware mainly targets particular browsers. If this sounds like your case, make use of another internet browser as it may circumvent the virus. If you appear to have malware 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.

Install antivirus on a thumb drive

Here’s yet another solution which is utilizing a portable USB anti-malware software package that can check your system for malware without needing installation. Adopt these measures to use a flash drive to clean your infected system. 1) Download the anti-malware on a virus-free computer. 2) Plug the pen drive into the uninfected computer. 3) Double click on the exe file to open the installation wizard. 4) When asked, select the location of the pen drive as the place where you want to store the software files. Follow the directions to complete the installation process. 5) Transfer the thumb drive from the uninfected computer to the infected PC. 6) Double-click the anti-malware software EXE file on the thumb drive. 7) Click on “Scan Now” to run a scan on the affected computer for viruses.

Benefits and Features of SafeBytes Anti-Malware

If you are looking to purchase anti-malware for your PC, there are various brands and applications for you to consider. A few of them are great and some are scamware applications that pretend as authentic anti-malware software waiting to wreak havoc on your computer. You need to pick a tool that has gained a good reputation and detects not only computer viruses but other types of malware as well. When considering commercial application options, many people opt for popular brands, such as SafeBytes, and are very happy with them. SafeBytes anti-malware is really a powerful, highly effective protection application intended to help users of all levels of IT literacy in finding and removing harmful threats out of their computer. This application could easily identify, remove, and protect your computer from the most advanced malware intrusions such as adware, spyware, trojan horses, ransomware, worms, PUPs, as well as other possibly damaging software applications.

There are lots of great features you’ll get with this security product. Below are a few of the best ones:

Real-Time Protection: SafeBytes provides real-time active monitoring service and protection against all known computer viruses and malware. It will monitor your personal computer for suspicious activity regularly and shields your personal computer from unauthorized access. Best AntiMalware Protection: Safebytes is built on the very best virus engine in the industry. These engines will find and remove threats even during the early phases of a malware outbreak. Fast Multi-threaded Scanning: SafeBytes’s virus scan engine is one of the quickest and most efficient in the industry. It's targeted scanning substantially increases the catch rate for viruses that are embedded in various PC files. Web Protection: SafeBytes inspects the links present on a webpage for possible threats and tells you whether the website is safe to view or not, through its unique safety rating system. Light-weight: SafeBytes is well known for its minimal impact on computer resources and great detection rate of numerous threats. It operates quietly and efficiently in the background so you’re free to make use of your PC at full power all of the time. Premium Support: SafeBytes gives you 24/7 technical support, automatic maintenance, and upgrades for the best user experience. SafeBytes has created a wonderful anti-malware solution to help you conquer the latest malware threats and virus attacks. Once you have downloaded and installed SafeBytes Anti-Malware, you will no longer have to bother about malware or other security concerns. So if you want sophisticated forms of protection features & threat detections, purchasing SafeBytes Anti-Malware will be worth the money!

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

To remove EliteUnzip manually, go to the Add/Remove programs list in the Control Panel and choose the program you want to get rid of. For internet browser plug-ins, go to your browser’s Addon/Extension manager and select the plug-in you want to remove or disable. You will additionally also want to totally reset your internet browser to its default settings. To make sure of complete removal, find the following Windows registry entries on your system and remove it or reset the values appropriately. However, this is often a tricky task and only computer professionals could perform it safely. Also, certain malware is capable of replicating itself or preventing its deletion. Carrying out this malware-removal process in Safe Mode is suggested.

Files: %PROGRAMFILES%\EliteUnzip_aa\bar.bin\aaSrcAs.dll %PROGRAMFILES(x86)%\EliteUnzip_aa\bar.bin\aabar.dll %PROGRAMFILES%\EliteUnzip_aa\bar.bin\aaHighIn.exe %PROGRAMFILES(x86)%\EliteUnzip_aa\bar.bin\CrExtPaa.exe %USERPROFILE%\Application Data\EliteUnzip_aa %USERPROFILE%\AppData\LocalLow\EliteUnzip_aa %UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\gaklecphgkijookgheachpgdkeminped %LOCALAPPDATA%\EliteUnzip_aa %USERPROFILE%\Meus documentos\Downloads\EliteUnzipSetup.EliteUnzip_aa.ffjcmnpnoopgilmnfhloocdcbnimmmea.ch.exe %PROGRAMFILES(x86)%\aaUninstall Elite Unzip.dll %USERPROFILE%\Downloads\EliteUnzipSetup.exe C:\Program Files\EliteUnzip\EliteUnzip.exe Search And Delete: RebootRequired.exe IAC.UnifiedLogging.dll DesktopSdk.dll IAC.Helpers.dll UnifiedLogging.dll SevenZipSharp.dll 7z.dll 7z64.dll LogicNP.FileView.WPF.dll LogicNP.FolderView.WPF.dll LogicNP.ShComboBox.WPF.dll lua5.1.dll Registry: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow\Software\EliteUnzip_aa HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run, value: EliteUnzip EPM Support HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run, value: EliteUnzip Search Scope Monitor HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\EliteUnzip_aa HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar, value: ef55cb9f-2729-4bff-afe5-ee59593b16e8 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run, value: EliteUnzip AppIntegrator 64-bit HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run, value: EliteUnzip EPM Support HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run, value: EliteUnzip Search Scope Monitor HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run, value: EliteUnzip AppIntegrator 32-bit HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run, value: EliteUnzip AppIntegrator 64-bit HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\EliteUnzip_aaService HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\services\EliteUnzip_aaService HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet002\services\EliteUnzip_aaService HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce, value: EliteUnzip_aabar Uninstall HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\EliteUnzip_aa HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Mindspark\EliteUnzip HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Mindspark\EliteUnzip

Fix 0xc0000454, The Boot Configuration ...

If you are in the process of booting up your computer but suddenly encountered an error saying, “The Boot Configuration Data for your PC is missing or contains errors” with an error code of 0xc0000454, read on as this post will help you resolve the problem. The error code 0xc0000454 occurs when you boot your computer and when the Windows Boot Manager encounters an issue with the Boot Configuration Data or BCD. The error code 0xc0000454 (STATUS_INSUFFICIENT_NVRAM_RESOURCES) signifies that there are no sufficient NVRAM or Non-Volatile Random Access Memory resources to complete the API. NVRAM is a component of the system based on the software that stores the Boot Configuration Data in an operating system. Usually, a simple restart can resolve the problem. However, if you’ve already done that and it’s of no use, then there are other potential fixes you can check out to troubleshoot the problem. To resolve the error code 0xc0000454, here are some potential fixes that should help:

Option 1 – Try to repair corrupted BCD

As mentioned, the error could also be due to corruption in BCD, and to fix it, you can use Bootrec.exe – a built-in command-line tool used to troubleshot issues related to boot up and Windows Startup. Before you run this tool, make sure that you have inserted a bootable USB or DVD into your computer. Once you have that covered, follow these steps:

You need to go to the Advanced Startup Options.
Then click on Troubleshoot.
Next, select the Advanced Options and then Command Prompt.
Once Command Prompt has been pulled up, enter each one of the following commands and in the sequence that they are given to rebuild BCD files and repair MBR files:
- Bootrec /Fixmbr
- Bootrec /FixBoot

After you execute the commands given above, you should see a confirmation message that says, “The operation completed successfully”.
Now type the “Bootrec /RebuildBCD” command to rebuild BCD.
Finally, close Command Prompt and then restart your computer to successfully apply the changes made.

Option 2 – Try to run the Automatic Repair Utility

You might also want to use Automatic Repair in fixing the error. To do so, follow the steps below.

You can start by creating and booting from a bootable Windows 10 USB Stick.
After that, click on Repair your computer located on the bottom left corner when you are on the initial Windows Startup screen.
Next, click on Troubleshoot, and then on the other screen, click the Startup Repair option.
Now select the operating system you want to repair. Once you do that, it will start to repair your operating system. Wait until the process is completed and then check if the problem’s now fixed.

Option 3 – Disable the Secure Boot in the BIOS

Disabling the Secure Boot in the BIOS settings is definitely recommended to resolve the error. To disable Secure Boot, here’s what you have to do:

First, boot your computer into Windows 10.
Next, go to Settings > Windows Update. From there, check if there is anything that you have to download and install if you see any available updates. Usually, OEMs send and update the list of trusted hardware, drivers, and operating systems for your computer.
After that, go to the BIOS of your computer.
Then go to Settings > Update & Security > Advanced Startup options. If you click on Restart Now, it will restart your computer and give you all the advanced options.
Next, select Troubleshoot > Advanced Options. As you can see, this screen offers you further options including System restore, Startup repair, Go back to the previous version, Command Prompt, System Image Recovery, and UEFI Firmware Settings.
Select the UEFI Firmware Settings which will take you to the BIOS.
From there, go to the Security > Boot > Authentication tab where you should see Secure Boot. Note that every OEM has its own way of implementing the options so it varies.
Next, set Secure Boot to Disabled and set Legacy Support to On or Enabled.
Save the changes made and exit. Afterward, your computer will reboot.

Option 4 – Try to reset the BIOS

If updating the BIOS didn’t help in fixing the error, you can try to reset the BIOS instead.

Start your computer and tap the F10 key during the booting process to enter the BIOS. If it does not work, you can try tapping the F1 or F2 key as well as the Del key.
Once you’re already in the BIOS, tap the F9 key to get the prompt to RestoreLoad default configuration now for the BIOS.
Next, click on Yes and then follow the next on-screen instructions that appear to set the BIOS back to its default settings.
Once you’re done restoring the default settings of the BIOS, restart your computer and then check if it now boots properly.

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