Hello all the wonderful people and welcome to our new article where we take a little different turn than usual and discuss why keeping old electronics around the house is not such a good idea. We all have some drawer or in some bag around the house and in the end of the day if that electronic has battery inside it is probably not the smart thing to keep it.
So naturally, the question comes why it is a bad idea to have old electronics with batteries in them? Well unlike a battery failure with, say, some AA batteries jammed in the back of an old toy, the risk with a lithium-ion battery failing isn’t just some leaking and corrosion in the battery compartment, it’s a potential fire as the battery swells up and the gases (combined with the stored energy) turn the battery into a potential fire hazard.
Good thing is that the battery will not explode just like that, it will swallow over time and get bigger and bigger until the breaking point is reached and all the fire breaks lose. So if by any chance you have some old gadgets lying around you can check up on them and see if has swelling process started, if yes, dispose properly of that piece of the old device immediately.
How to keep old electronics
If you’re not ready to get rid of the gadget then it’s best to charge it properly for storage. Proper charging keeps the battery cells and circuits in optimum health.
While recommendations vary by manufacturer and application, the general consensus is that lithium-ion batteries should be charged to approximately 40%. (Some manufacturers recommend charging 50% or 60% instead.)
Really, the important part here isn’t the exact percentage. What’s important is ensuring that the battery is charged to roughly half capacity and not stored with a completely discharged or completely full battery.
Discharge rates on lithium-ion batteries in completely powered-off devices are very slow, but you should still plan to top off the charge every 12-18 months or so to keep it around 50%.
If you wanted to go above and beyond, a metal storage container with a snug lid on a basement shelf with a desiccant pack inside to control the moisture would offer optimum conditions.
This error 80070490 code may occur when you try to update your PC either through the Microsoft Update website or with a Windows update. The error message is displayed in the following format:
Error 80070490 (Element not found)
Solution
Error Causes
Error Code 80070490 is triggered because of a couple of reasons. It indicates the file CBS Manifest that is needed to install Windows update is corrupt or damaged.
CBS (Component Based Servicing) Manifest is the file that is used to help your computer recognize various components inside your PC.
Another reason for error occurrence is registry corruption.
If the registry that stores all the information and activities performed is not cleaned frequently, the obsolete files saved in the registry like the junk files, bad entries and cookies eventually accumulate and corrupt it thereby generating such error codes.
Further Information and Manual Repair
Here are some effective and proven methods that you can try by yourself to resolve error code 80070490 on your PC.
Method 1 - Use the System Update Readiness Tool
Download the System Update Readiness Tool from the Windows website and run it on your PC.
This tool is designed to detect and scan for abnormalities and inconsistencies that could be preventing and causing problems during the system update.
Once you have downloaded and scanned your PC, try to install the updates again. If the error still persists, try other methods illustrated below.
Method 2 - Repair Windows
Here are the steps that you need to follow to repair Windows:
First, close all programs and then reboot your PC. Insert the Windows DVD into the computer’s disk drive and wait for the setup to begin.
If for any reason, the setup doesn’t start automatically, then don’t worry simply click start, then type Drive: setup.exe in the search box. Please note, in the drive insert the letter of your computer’s DVD drive for example D:setup.exe.
Now in the programs list, click setup.exe And then click install now.
After that click ‘go online to obtain the latest updates for installation’, if you are asked for the Windows Product Key, then simply type it to proceed.
In the ‘Which kind of Installation do you want?’ option, click Upgrade.
When the Windows installation is complete, restart your PC and then run Windows update.
Method 3 - Clean the Registry
If the cause of error code 80070490 on your PC is related to registry corruption, then it is advisable to download Restoro. This is an advanced and easy-to-use PC Repair Tool embedded with a registry cleaner.
The registry cleaner scans your entire PC, removes all obsolete and unnecessary files corrupting the registry, and cleans it right away.
Click here to download Restoro to repair error code 80070490
Anxiety from all these digital threats lurking everywhere? An antivirus program can help put your mind at ease.
What can a virus do to your device?
A virus is malicious software that can affect pretty much any device and does so in a variety of ways. Be it your computer, your phone or your smart lightbulb - as long as there’s access to the internet, malware can get to it.
How exactly does this kind of attack manifest itself? Well, there’s a wide variety of effects ranging from mild to severe. Among other things, they depend on which type of malware attacks your device - a virus, spyware, ransomware, adware or something else.
These are some of the things you can expect to happen:
Slow performance
System crashes
Theft of data and sensitive information
Connectivity issues
Constant browser redirects
Strange messages sent to your contacts
Interference with files
It really can be the stuff of nightmares. So, if you want to sleep peacefully knowing that your devices are completely safe, you should definitely consider getting an antivirus.
P.S. don’t let its name fool you - an antivirus does indeed protect your devices against more than just viruses.
What is antivirus software exactly?
Antivirus software is designed to help you battle and ward off malware. Basically, it scans your device to detect any suspicious activity and offers tools to get rid of the culprit.
At first, antiviruses were developed to fight against viruses only, but nowadays they cover a lot more ground. Here are some of the biggest benefits of getting yourself a powerful defender.
Advantages of antivirus software
1. It fights those pesky ads
Look, constant ads that pop up everywhere aren’t the absolute worst thing that can happen on your computer. If anything, they are annoying, like when you’re trying to sleep but that one fly in your room just won’t stop buzzing.
Now, there’s a free, well-established solution for that - installing an ad blocker. And we’re about a hundred and ten percent sure you’ve already done that on each and every browser you use.
However, “if I can’t see it, it doesn’t exist” isn’t the most ideal approach for your online safety. Ad blockers can’t block everything and they won’t protect you from potential adware. An antivirus on the other hand offers that layer of protection against malware snuck into pop-ups and spammy websites.
2. It protects you from hackers
Hackers don’t target government institutions only. They’ll target regular people too if they have something to gain.
Credit: Clint Patteron (Unsplash)
There are different types of hacking, such as phishing e-mails, transmission of malicious programs, credential reuse, denial of service and more. In any case, they take control of your device and hijack your data.
The good thing is that, as threats evolve, antiviruses evolve too and there are tons of quality programs on the market that can keep you secure for an affordable price.
3. It keeps your files and data safe
When malware enters your device, it can target pretty much any file and get access to any and all data.
Installing an antivirus program will make sure that every single file, new or old, is monitored at all times, warning you against threats immediately. That way, you can make sure to react before your other files become infected and data is lost or stolen.
Another great thing for data protection is that the best antivirus software normally comes with a password manager, so no one can use malware to steal your passwords.
4. It blocks all kinds of malware
As we already stated, malicious attacks can be performed in many ways and malware comes in in different shapes an sizes, such as:
Trojan horse
Spyware
Ransomware
Adware
Rootkit
RAT (remote access Trojan)
Keyloggers
Worms
Botnets
Credit: Growtika (Unsplash)
Nowadays, antivirus software is designed to fight against all of these types. That’s why more often than not we hear the term 'antivirus' used interchangeably with 'anti-malware,' like in this article.
5. It keeps your children protected
You can’t keep your eyes on your kid every second of the day and you can’t protect them from everything. But at least you can limit their exposure to the threats they can encounter at every corner of the digital world.
An antivirus program will block harmful or suspicious websites and ads, which is great both for you and your children. To take it a step further, though, many such programs come with special parental controls and offer monitoring as well. It’s a great solution for keeping your kids safe online without sounding like the irritating, overbearing, controlling parent who “just doesn’t get it!”
How to pick one
There are definitely lots of different antivirus programs out there, both free and paid. We recommend you look for a paid option, since free ones are unfortunately a lot more susceptible to being compromised through malicious attacks.
Now, there are a few factors to consider when choosing the right software. If you use your PC for basic things then a basic antivirus will suffice. However, the more complex your use and the more sensitive the data you deal with, the stronger it needs to be.
It’s also crucial that you take into account the features it includes. As we already mentioned, some programs have additional security options. For example, depending on the package you select, Bitdefender provides:
Some are included in plans and some are separate products, so make sure to check out all the offers.
And don’t worry if you have multiple PCs or you’re looking for protection for your smartphone or tablet as well; Bitdefender has suitable solutions for your needs. Of course, you can also just pick their classic antivirus software if you’re not in need of advanced protection.
Another important point is how regularly the software is updated and enhanced. The more frequent the updates the better, as bugs can make the program more vulnerable. Other things we advise you consider are user-friendliness, impact on performance, reputation (user reviews especially) and, of course, price.
The bottom line
Fact is: anyone can be a malware victim. Don’t let it be you.
You can’t put a price on peace and security, so don’t be reluctant to pay for yours - especially since a lot of options out there are extremely affordable. Is $159.00 a year really too much to pay for cross-platform protection for up to 10 devices? We don’t think so.
Explore your options and protect your files and data before it’s too late.
What is Active History? A new feature has been introduced in Windows 10 that allows users to stay connected to their tasks across their devices. This new feature is called “Windows Timeline” and using this feature, users could continue their tasks all over their Windows 10 computers as well as on devices that run Android and iOS as well.
This new feature was included in Microsoft Launcher and Microsoft Edge on Android devices as well as in Microsoft Edge for iOS devices. In order for the feature to work, you have to send either Basic or Full data and diagnostics of your computer to Microsoft which would sync it all over your devices with the help of the cloud. And now since all your data is stored on your Windows 10 computer and with Microsoft under your account, it is easier for you to access the back and start where you left off. This kind of option is called Active History. In this post, you will be guided on how you can permanently disable Active History using either the Windows Registry or Group Policy.
Before you go on further, it is recommended that you create a System Restore Point first in case anything goes wrong. This is a precautionary measure you must take so that you can easily undo the changes you’ve made. After creating a System Restore Point, proceed to the given instructions below.
Option 1 – Disable Active History via Registry Editor
Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box and type in “Regedit” in the field and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor.
Next, navigate to this registry key: ComputerHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindowsSystem
From there, check if you can find a DWORD named “PublishUserActivities”. If you can’t find this DWORD, just create one with the same name and make sure that the base is selected to Hexadecimal.
After that, double-click on the DWORD and change its value from 1 to 0 to disable Active History.
Restart your computer to apply the changes you’ve made successfully.
Option 2 – Disable Active History via Group Policy Editor
Note that this second option won’t work if you are using the Home edition of Windows 10. This is because the Group Policy Editor does not come with Windows 10 Home. So if you are not using Windows 10 Home, follow the given steps below.
Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run box.
Then type in “gpedit.msc” in the field and hit Enter to open the Group Policy Editor.
Next, navigate to this path: Computer ConfigurationAdministrative TemplatesSystemOS Policies
After that, double click on the configuration listing named “Allow publishing of User Activities” to open the configuration page which has the following description:
“This policy setting determines whether User Activities can be published. If you enable this policy setting, activities of type User Activity are allowed to be published. If you disable this policy setting, activities of type User Activity are not allowed to be published. Policy change takes effect immediately.”
Now you have to select Disabled or Not Configured if you want to disable Publishing of User Activities or Enabled to Enable Publishing of User Activities depending on your preferences.
Next, click OK and exit the Group Policy Editor and then restart your computer to successfully apply the changes made.
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 wuauservnet start cryptSvcnet start bitsnet 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 wuauservnet start cryptSvcnet start bitsnet 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 the Error Code 0xC004C770 popped up on your computer during your activation of the Windows 10 software, don’t worry. This is a fairly common error, especially for people who own more than one computer upon which Windows 10 is installed and activated. The gist of this error code is that the product key that you have entered has already been claimed or used on a different computer. Because there are limitations on the number of computers that can use any given license activation code or product key, this error code can arise when you have exceeded that limit. If you have a single-use license and have already entered the particular product key onto another machine, you may see this error come up during activation.
Both Error Code 0xC004C770 and Error Code 0x803FA071 arise from the same problem and the same steps can be used to resolve both error codes.
Solution
Error Causes
Error Code 0xC004C770 is likely to appear on your screen during activation of Windows 10 if you or anyone else in your organization have already entered in the product key used on another computer. If you have a multiple-use license, the product key that you are entering may already have been used for the maximum number of computers allowed under that license.
Further Information and Manual Repair
There are two basic methods for addressing the issues associated with Error Code 0xC004C770. These methods can easily be implemented by anyone who is comfortable interacting with the Windows Store from their computer, which makes the resolution of this particular error code fairly simple and straightforward.
If you are unable to complete the steps below or Error Code 0xC004C770 has not been resolved after following the guides below, contact a Windows technician who is familiar with the Windows 10 activation process to assist you in the process. You can also get in touch with the Windows technical support team to assist you in the process if needed.
Method One: Purchase A New Product Key from Windows
If you have already used the product key on another computer or have used it on the maximum number of allowed devices, you may need to purchase an additional product key for the computer with Error Code 0xC004C770. Product keys can be purchased physically from a retailer that sells Windows 10 software licenses or purchased directly from the Windows store.
To purchase a new product key directly from the Windows Store, follow the steps below:
Step One: Select the Windows start button at the bottom of your toolbar. Click on “Settings,” then select the option for “Update and Security.”
Step Two: Click on the “Activation” option.
Step Three: In the menu that appears, choose the option to “Go to Store” and follow any on-screen instructions to finalize a purchase of the Windows 10 software and product key.
Step Four: Use the new product key to complete the installation and activation of the Windows 10 software on your computer.
If you are unable to see the “Go to Store” option when you reach the “Activation” page, you may not be set as an administrator of your machine. In this case, get in touch with the support personnel from your company to complete the purchase, installation, and activation process on your computer.
Method Two: Attempt to Finish Activation via Phone
For users who have changed out parts of their computer’s hardware, like putting in a new motherboard or activating a new hard drive, you may have more success if you attempt activation through a phone.
In order to activate your copy of Windows 10 from your phone, follow the steps below:
Step One: On your mobile device, open up the search box from the taskbar.
Step Two: In the search box, enter the phrase “SLUI 04.”
Step Three: Select the “SLUI 04” option that appears.
Step Four: Follow the directions given on the screen to complete the activation process for your copy of Windows 10.
As with any error code resolution, if the methods above are not successful or if you are not comfortable with your ability to successfully complete the steps above, get in contact with a qualified professional who is trained in the Windows 10 activation process to assist you or download a powerful automated tool to get the job done.
One of the most critical processes in the Windows 10 operating system is the Explorer.exe. And there are times when you might encounter an error that says, “System call failed”. You can encounter this error when you try to launch File Explorer, and in such case when the File Explorer does not work, it could cause issues in accessing folders and files on your computer.
This kind of error pops up when the explorer.exe system file has become corrupted or if there is some process that interferes with its smooth functioning. To fix this error, you can try to restart the explorer.exe process, run both the System File Checker scan and DISM tool. You could also put your computer in a Clean Boot State or uninstall any programs you’ve installed recently. For more details, follow each one of the given suggestions below.
Option 1 – Try to restart the Explorer.exe process
The first thing you can do is try to restart the Explorer.exe process. To do so, refer to these steps:
First, right-click on the Taskbar and select the Task Manager.
Next, expand the Task Manager window to see all the active processes.
From there, look for the Windows Explorer process, right-click on it and select Restart.
After that, check if the error is now fixed.
Option 2 – Run System File Checker scan
If restarting the explorer.exe process didn’t work, you can also try running the System File Checker or SFC scan to fix the error. System File Checker is a command utility built into your computer that helps restore corrupted files and missing files. Refer to the following steps to run it:
Hit the Win + R keys to launch Run.
Type in cmd in the field and tap Enter.
After opening Command Prompt, type in this command: sfc /SCANFILE=c:windowsexplorer.exe
Note: If you are using a 64-bit Windows operating system, enter the “sfc /SCANFILE=C:WindowsSysWow64explorer.exe” command instead.
Wait until the process is completed and then restart your computer.
Option 3 – Run the DISM tool
You might also want to run the DISM tool. This tool is known to repair potentially corrupted files in your system as having them could also system issues like the “System call failed” 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 problem is now fixed.
Option 4 – Try running the Check Disk utility
In the Windows Search box, type “command prompt” and from the search results, right-click on Command Prompt and select “Run as administrator”.
After opening Command Prompt, type this command and tap Enter: chkdsk c: /f /r
The command you entered will start to check for errors and fix them automatically. Else, it will throw an error message saying, “Chkdsk cannot run because the volume is in use by another process. Would you like the schedule this volume to be checked the next time the system restarts? (Y/N)”.
Tap the Y key to schedule Disk Check the next time your computer restarts.
Option 5 – Put your computer in a Clean Boot State
As pointed out, there are some instances that some conflicting programs installed in your computer might be the one that triggers the “System call failed” error to appear when you try to open File Explorer. To identify which program is causing the problem, you need to put your computer in a Clean Boot State. To do so, follow the steps below.
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.)
Once your computer has restarted in a Clean Boot State, perform your scan again and see if it now works, and then start to isolate the problem by checking which one of the programs you installed recently is the root cause of the problem.
Option 6 – Try to uninstall the programs you’ve installed recently
In case you don’t know, freeware software packages aren’t always free as some of them could contain malicious software that can cause serious damage to your computer. Thus, if you have installed a program recently prior to getting the “System call failed” error, then you have to uninstall that program.
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 process is done, restart your computer and see if the error is fixed.
Error Code 40 is a device driver error that users encounter on any Windows 2000 and later operating systems. It occurs when the peripheral device that you connect to your PC cannot be accessed due to a change in the system registry.
This is due to the presence of invalid sub-keys of the device driver in the system registry.
It is a common error that users come across and appears on your PC with either of the following messages:
“Information in the registry entry for this driver is invalid”
OR
"Windows cannot access this hardware because its service key information in the registry is missing or recorded incorrectly. (Code 40)"
Solution
Error Causes
As mentioned above, the error code is triggered when the device driver’s invalid sub-keys appear in the registry, effectively changing it. This happens when the windows system files get damaged due to the following factors:
An incomplete program uninstallation
An incomplete program installation
Hardware is not removed properly
System recovery from viruses
An improper system shut down
Factors such as incomplete installations or uninstallations or an improper system shut down can cause files to become damaged that threaten the health of your computer.
Removing viruses from the computer is also another factor as it removes the entries in the Windows system files which contain the viruses including spyware or malware
Further Information and Manual Repair
Fixing Error Code 40 is similar to fixing other device manager error codes. Here are a few methods you can try.
Method 1 – Use System Restore
You can use system restore to eliminate the problem. Here is how you can use it:
Log in using an Administrator account
Click ‘Start’ button and select All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore
Click ‘Restore my computer to an earlier time’ and click ‘Next’
Select the last Windows restore point from the ‘On this list, click a restore point’ list, and click ‘Next’
Click ‘Next’ on the confirmation window to proceed
Restart your PC after restoration is complete
By restoring the system via a last saved system checkpoint, you can obtain undamaged Windows system registry files that can help avert the error code.
Method 2 – Manually uninstall then reinstall the device driver
If using system restore also does not work in removing the error code, you may have to resort to manually uninstalling and then reinstalling the device driver causing the problem.
This would be necessary since the remaining incomplete files due to a partial removal or installation of programs is what contributes to the error code. By uninstall and reinstalling the device driver program, it would lead to the completion of the files.
You can do this by firstly logging in as Administrator and open Device Manager. Select the device that is causing the problem and double click it and make sure that the peripheral is connected properly to the PC. Upon opening, click on the ‘Driver’ tab and then select ‘Update Driver’.
Make sure to refer to the system documentation that you received with your PC or computer to check for the motherboard details and driver specifics.
Method 3 – Use software to automatically download the driver
Manually uninstalling and reinstalling the driver will do the trick, however, it may be time-consuming especially when you would have to resort to your hardware user manual.
Therefore, using a program such as DriverFIX can save you a lot of time and frustration in having your device work properly on your computer.
DriverFIX, with its user-friendly approach to help you fix your PC issues, comes with an integrated database that detects which drivers you need to reconfigure within just a few seconds and downloads it automatically.
It further ensures that your drivers are installed in their entirety leaving no room for any incomplete files to remain that create Error Code 40.
It also has the added advantage of being able to backup and restores your files should there be the slightest possibility of system file damage.
Thus, registry damage can be averted by letting the software roll back the system files to an earlier healthy checkpoint. Driver Assist is the answer to fixing your PC error codes accurately and quickly.
Click here to download DriverFIX to fix Error Code 40 quickly and effectively!
One of the problems encountered by Windows users when upgrading to Windows 10 from Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 is the Error Code 0x80070020. This error code normally occurs when users try to download updates from the Windows Update Website or simply by upgrading to Windows 10. Error Code 0x80070020 also occurs when the device already has a Windows 10 installed.
Once this error is encountered, it will cause malfunction of update installs and display the following message:
An error (-5006 : 0x80070020) has occurred while running the setup. Or The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process”
Solution
Error Causes
In an attempt to fix Error Code 0x80070020, it is important to pinpoint what the cause is. The most probable cause of this error is due to interference. This error code most likely occurs when there is another automatic update running, for instance, an Antivirus scanning in real-time. If you’re scheduled to have an automatic update during real-time scanning, the Windows 10 update might malfunction.
Further Information and Manual Repair
In trying to fix Error Code 0x80070020, you can perform manual repair methods to resolve the issue effectively and efficiently. Most Windows users can easily employ these manual repair methods, even those who do not have technical abilities. However, there are certain instances where a Windows professional’s help is needed. If you don’t want to face any risk in resolving the issue, it would be best to consult a professional Windows technician or you can also make use of a powerful automated tool.
Since Error Code 0x80070020 is most likely encountered due to interference during your update, the easiest method you can do is to close all opened programs and restart your device. After restarting, try to start the update process again.
Method Two: Disable Antivirus Temporarily
Another quick and safe way to fix Error Code 0x80070020 is to disable your antivirus. You must take note though that in doing so, your computer will be susceptible to virus attacks. If you want to proceed with this method, follow these steps:
Locate all programs in process in the notifications area, found in the lower right-hand section of your screen. If in case the antivirus icon is not visible on the taskbar, you may have to click an arrow pointing up to show what programs are currently running.
Right-click on the antivirus icon then select the disable option.
Method Three: Run the Update Troubleshooter for Windows
The Windows Update Troubleshooter may resolve many of the errors encountered by Windows users when installing updates from Windows Update. To execute the troubleshooter, follow the steps below:
Access a menu by holding the Windows key and X. Wait for the menu to appear on the bottom left corner of the screen.
Open the Control Panel.
Change the appearance of files by selecting large or small icons in the View by option located on the upper right section of your screen.
Once you change the appearance of the files, choose the troubleshooting
Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter.
Restart your device then check if this resolves the problem.
Method Four: Execute A Clean Boot
Executing a clean boot means starting Windows using only a few resources, including startup programs and drivers. This safeguards minimizing conflicts and prevent software clash when an update is received. In performing a clean boot, you will be able to pinpoint what caused the manifestation of error code 0x80070020. Check Microsoft’s Support website to know how to execute a clean boot.
Method Five: Reset Windows Update Components
Performing this method is a bit risky and should be your last option if all methods were unsuccessful. This process will alter your device’s registry so you must ensure to perform accurately the steps. A single mistake can lead to modifying your registry erroneously, which might result in the occurrence of other error messages. Carefully follow the steps found on Microsoft’s Support website to successfully reset Windows Update components.
Resetting Windows Update components can also be done by implementing the following steps:
Open the Command Prompt by pressing Windows Key + X. Select Command Prompt (Admin) from the menu.
Stop the BITS, MSI Installer, Cryptographic, and the Windows Update Services.
Rename both the SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2 folders to <name of folder> old.
Start now the BITS, MSI Installer, Cryptographic, and the Windows Update Services.
Exit the Command Prompt then restart your device. After restarting, try installing the updates again.
Method Six: Disable Third-Party Antivirus
A third-party antivirus such as BitDefender may recognize the Windows Update as a threat since the new update of Windows 10 is probably not yet registered with this third-party antivirus vendor. To solve this, you must disable temporarily the antivirus before performing the update. Once the third-party antivirus is disabled, you can now proceed with the updating process. Update as well your third-party antivirus.
Method Seven: Use the DISM Tool for Windows 10
The Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) is a command-line utility that is installed by default in Windows 10 system. This program is used to fix images in Windows. In the case of Error Code 0x80070020, the DISM can repair the recovery image in Windows 10 and can perform as a virtual hard disk as well.
Scan and check files for errors.
Open the Command Prompt by pressing Windows Key + X. Select Command Prompt (Admin) from the menu.
Type sfc /scannow
You can also use the following commands to check for corrupted files:
/CheckHealth – to check for corrupted files or components
/ScanHealth – to check for corrupted Windows image. This may take up to 10 minutes to finish
/RestoreHealth – to check for corrupted Windows image and do an automatic repair. This may take up to 20 to 30 minutes to finish
NOTE: In an instance where you cannot locate the good files in your computer, the system image files may be corrupted. If this happens, you need to have a copy of install.wim from a computer with good Windows 10 OS or the Windows 10 ISO file. Make sure that the source of the good files has the same language, version, and edition of your OS.
Cleaning corrupted files using DISM utility:
Enter the following commands one by one to perform the /RestoreHealth switch using the source path location of good files you copied:
When downloading a Windows update, it is important to remember that these updates are what keeps your computer safe. Some users have reported seeing error code 0x80070490 when allowing updates for their Windows PC. This error code may appear when the user is trying to connect to the update site for Windows and maybe a result of a corrupted CBS manifest. Having this error code will not only stop the update of the system, but it will also certainly halt any work being done with the computer. Quite a few Windows users have written in complaints about this error while updating from any prior Windows update to Windows 10.
Common symptoms include:
While a user is performing the updates, the Windows computer will stop running the updates, and it will show the error code 0x80070490.
Windows updates will not install any new features and will not install security patches.
The computer will not continue with the Windows update, and it may revert back to the previous state that the computer was in, prior to attempting the updates.
Error Causes
There is not a lot known about what exactly causes the error code 0x80070490, but it is something critical that makes Windows abruptly stop its updates. It could be caused by a simple glitch in the computer system, or it could be caused by a larger problem. One thought is that the CBS (Component-Based Servicing) manifest can be corrupt. Another thought is that the computer's anti-virus software may be interfering with the computer's ability to perform the necessary updates.
Further Information and Manual Repair
There is very little information known about error code 0x80070490 and why it exists, but there are a few methods in which to correct it. Users should be careful when trying to fix this error themselves. If the user feels that the methods are too complicated or they are uncomfortable taking it on themselves, they should contact a Windows repair technician to fix the problem. Not all methods listed will suit the user's needs, but it is dependent upon the problem at hand as to which method will be the best fit to fix the error code. If these steps are taken and the error is not corrected, it is vital to contact the Windows repair technician.
Method One: Creating a new local account
Create a new local account on the computer, and allow administrator privileges on it. Next, move all of your documents and personal files to the new account. Delete the old account (you will no longer be using this) and switch over to the new one. After switching to the new local account, add the Microsoft account to it.
Method Two: Delete user ID, Store cache from the registry
You will need to open the Registry Editor. Do this by pressing the Windows Key and R, then typing in “Regedit”. After this is typed in, press Enter or click the OK button to start the registry editor.
When this starts, you will need to navigate all the way to the following key on the left pane:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionAppxAppxAllUserStoreAfter this, find the key that is similar to this: S-1-5-21-1505978256-3813739684-4272618129-1016
NOTE: this is just an example. The keys will be in a similar format but will not look exactly like this.
Select all the keys that look like this, and then delete them. After these keys are deleted, close the Registry Editor and restart the computer.
Method Three: Check to see if BITS, MSI Installer, Cryptographic, and Windows Update Services are running
Press the Windows key and R. Then, type in services.msc. After the Services window starts up, find the following services: BITS, MSI Installer, Cryptographic, and Windows Update Services. When these services are found, make sure that they are up and running. If one or more of these services is not running, make sure that they are started. To do this, select the service and then click on Start the Service.
Method Four: Windows Update Troubleshooting
Press the Windows key plus W and then type in “troubleshooting”. Select Troubleshooting. On the top left corner, select View All. Click on Windows Update troubleshooter. After this, follow the on-screen instructions in order to run the troubleshooter. After the troubleshooter has run, the issue should be fixed.
Two monitor systems are not such a rarity like they were just a couple of years ago. More and more people are finding out the benefits of having 2 screens instead of one no matter if you play games or do serious work. So how technology has moved forward and new norms so have Windows and we can now set different wallpapers to different screens very easy, a task which was very difficult in the past.
Go to the Personalization option in the Control Panel.
Right-click on your home screen and select the Personalize option from the menu.
In the new window, you can browse for images you wish to set as wallpaper on both of your monitors. This way, the images would be preloaded in the “Choose your picture” option.
Right-click on the image. Doing this will open a new menu that will allow you to set wallpapers for each screen. There is also another option called “Choose a fit” which gives you the option to select the fit of the wallpaper.
Choose one wallpaper for “monitor 1” and a different wallpaper for “monitor 2.” You will now see your dual-screen setup customized with two different wallpapers.
Error Causes
