Quick Tips and Tricks for Supreme Windows 11 Performance
Finally upgraded to Microsoft’s newest OS, but the performance is a bit sluggish? Here are a few useful tips you may not have thought about that could significantly transform your experience!
How to speed up Windows 11?
1. Disable startup programs
There are many programs that launch right on startup that really aren’t essential. This, in turn, causes your PC to launch and run more slowly.
To check which programs are enabled on startup, go into the Task Manager and select the Startup tab. Find every program that doesn’t need to launch immediately, right-click on it and press ‘Disable’.
This will not shut down the program in that instant. It’ll just prevent it from running automatically as you turn on your PC. You can always launch it manually when you need it.
2. Expand your memory and storage
If you want your PC to run super smoothly, you need to have enough memory to support that. This is especially significant for those of you who love to multitask. Upgrading your RAM gives your PC more space to store the temporary data it needs to complete processing tasks. In other words, processing takes a lot less time.
Your long-term storage is equally important. Hopefully at this point you’re already using SSD over HDD, since this type of storage offers a faster boot time.
Credit Marc Pezin on Unsplash
In any case, we recommend expanding your storage capacity. The more files and data you store, the more there is to load, significantly influencing your PC’s speed. Larger storage capacity means new data and essential updates can be stored comfortably, preventing any strain on your PC’s performance.
3. Clean up disk space
If you aren’t willing to upgrade your storage just yet, the least you can do is clean up your storage right now.
Aside from manually deleting stuff you no longer need, you can also get rid of temporary files that clutter up your storage and eat up performance for no reason. To get to them, click Windows + X and select ‘Run’ (or just type it in the search bar).
A small window will pop up, where you need to type %temp%. This will take you to a whole folder full of all the temporary files you can remove without thinking twice.
For those who upgraded from Windows 10, there’s a neat trick to get rid of potential leftover files you don’t need on your brand new iteration. Only do this if you’re 100% sticking with Windows 11, though. Go to System > Storage > Temporary files. Make sure to only leave ‘Previous Windows Installation’ and ‘Windows Update Clean-up’ checked and click on ‘Remove files’.
Lastly, make use of Windows 11’s fantastic Storage Sense feature. Turning it on will enable your PC to constantly watch out for junk or unused files to optimize your PC’s performance to the maximum.
4. Install pending updates
This one should go without saying, but pending updates can be detrimental to your Windows 11 performance. The longer you leave them untouched, the more bugs the outdated programs and patches can cause. So, make sure to regularly check for updates and install them as soon as they’re available.
5. Disable visual effects
As cool as visual effects, animations, shadows and transparency are, they can also put quite a toll on your computer’s speed. On a newer setup this generally shouldn’t be a problem, but if you do notice a drop in performance, definitely consider turning off some of these settings.
To do this you can go to the Control Panel, System Properties and click the ‘Advanced’ tab. In the Performance section, choose Settings. If you’d like a quicker way to get to the dialog (Performance Options) with Visual Effects, you can also type sysdm.cpl in the search bar.
Once there, you can either have your PC choose what’s best, choose the best appearance or the best performance. The other option is to manually toggle the effects off and on. The biggest obstacles to speed are taskbar animations, window shadows, control/element animations and animations upon minimizing/maximizing.
Credit Windows on Unsplash
In the same vein, you should go to Settings > Personalization > Colors and disable Transparency, to prevent your computer from doing overtime just to hit the aesthetic appeal.
6. Get rid of bloatware
Bloatware is one of the biggest culprits of slow computer speed.
Pre-installed software that’s pretty much useless but takes up valuable system resources has been around since day one. No matter which device or platform you’re talking about. Luckily, a lot of it is removable, making it easy to lighten the load on your device.
To boost your Windows 11 computer, go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps.You’ll probably see a bunch of apps you don’t want or need. Click on the three dots next to each one you want to remove and press ‘Uninstall’.
Aside from helping optimize performance, removing bloatware has another great benefit. Unfortunately, often this pre-installed software is quite vulnerable, exposing you to great risk of cyberattacks. So, removing it definitely improves your device’s security and gives you at least some peace of mind.
Summary
These are a few of our fastest tips for boosting performance. There are other, more complex and time-consuming ways, of course. If you’ve tried these quick ones and still need advice on how to improve your PC’s speed, feel free to reach out!
One of the most common and bothersome issues with a printer is when it refuses to get configured or set up on your computer. Thus when your printer has some configuration issues, you will most likely encounter the error 0x00000709.
This occurs if there is already a default printer set and configured or Windows does not want to configure the new printer at all.
The operation could not be completed (error 0x00000709), Double check the printer name and make sure that the printer is connected to the network.
Today, we will try two fixes that may help you get rid of this error.
Option 1 – Run the Printer Troubleshooter
One of the first basic troubleshooting you can perform to resolve the printer issue is running the Printer Troubleshooter. This built-in troubleshooter can detect and automatically fix the problem for you. To use it, follow these steps:
Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
Next, type “exe /id PrinterDiagnostic” in the field and click OK or hit Enter to open the Printer Troubleshooter.
Then click the Next button and follow the next on-screen instructions to fix the issue with the printer.
Option 2 – Try to use some Registry tweaks to add the Printer
You might want to use some tweaks to add the Printer but before you proceed, make sure to create a System Restore Point so that if anything goes out of hand, you can always undo the changes you’ve made.
Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
Next, type “Regedit” in the field and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor.
When a UAC or User Account Control prompt appears, click Yes.
Once you’ve opened the Registry Editor, go to the following key location:
From there, double click on the file named “Device on the right side pane under the Windows folder.
Now add the name of your printer in the Value Data field as you can see below and then click the OK button.
Note: As you can see on the image above, you must not change the “.winspool.Ne02:” part and only the first one which is the name of your printer.
After that, you will get a message that says, “Cannot edit Device: Error writing the value’s new contents, simply click on OK again. You have to take note of the existing permissions before you proceed to the next step. Once you’ve added the Printer, make sure to reverse the changes you’ve made to the Permissions.
Now right click on the Windows folder located on the left pane and click on Permission.
Select Restricted under the Group or user names section.
Then check the checkboxes for “Full Control”, “Read” and “Special Permissions” under the Permissions for RESTRICTED section.
After that click the Apply button and then OK to save the changes made.
Next, right-click on the file named “UserSelectdDefault” and select Rename to rename it to your printer’s name.
Now restart your computer to successfully apply the changes made.
After the printer is added, don’t forget to reverse the Permission changes you’ve made early on.
Option 3 – Try updating the Printer drivers
You might also want to try updating your printer drivers. All you have to do is locate the USB Composite Device. For complete details, follow the steps below.
First, click the Start button and type “device manager”.
Then click on the “Device Manager” from the search results to open it.
From there, look for the USB Composite Device option and right-click on it, and select the Update Driver from the options.
Restart your PC and then click the “Search automatically for updated driver software” option.
Note: You also have the option to download the latest version of your Printer from the manufacturer’s website.
After so many years World of Warcraft is still among the most played MMORPG games in the world. It is still constantly updated with new content and tweak graphically in order to be relevant and fresh. But even the best or most popular ones can still have some minor issues and bugs from time to time. CAS System Was Unable to Initialize is the error that was reported lately by WOW players all around the globe and it happens in multiple Windows systems.
In this guide, we will take with this issue and provide you with solutions on how to fix it so you can get back to enjoying the game itself.
Repair WOW
In battle.NET launcher select WOW and click on Options
Click on Scan and Repair
Let the process finish and then launch the game again
Clean Windows registry
Windows cleaning registry operation is a complex task and we will not cover each possible scenario here, instead of trying manually to find issues and clean registry download and install third party registry cleaner software.
Run WOW with command line argument
One of the solutions for this particular error is to run WOW with a specific command line switch:
Run battle.NET client as administrator by right-clicking on it and choosing run as administrator
If you are not signed in, sign in now
Click on World of Warcraft to select it
Click on options
Click on Game settings
Check the box associated with Additional command-line arguments
When the box is selected you should've able to add inline argument or switch, add -uid wow_engb and confirm
Run World of Warcraft
Enable Secondary logon service inside Windows
It was reported that enabling this service can fix the issue.
Press ⊞ WINDOWS + R to open the run dialog
Inside run dialog type in services.msc to open services windows
Locate the Secondary Logon service
Right-click on Properties from the context menu
Inside the properties, screen click on the general tab
Change the Startup type to Automatic and hit Apply to save the changes
Run World of Warcraft
Delete the cache folder
Both indices and cache folder needs to be deleted in order to reset corrupted data. Make sure that both World of Warcraft and battle.NET are fully closed
For this step to work, you will need to go into the folder where you have installed the World of Warcraft game. By default this is in C:/Program Files/World of Warcraft/ but if you have used another folder go there via file explorer.
Once you are inside the folder locate the indices folder and delete it
After that locate and delete the cache folder as well
Restart your computer and start battle.NET
Remove read-only attribute from WoW folder
Another reason for CAS System Was Unable to Initialize error is because the World of Warcraft folder has been set to read-only and since the client does not have write privileges it will throw this error. To remove the read-only attribute from the folder go to your World of Warcraft installation folder but do not enter it
Right-click on it instead and choose properties
Under properties uncheck the read-only box and confirm.
Run World of Warcraft
One of the selling points of Windows 11 was the ability to run Android apps natively in it without the need for any third-party software. It is not a big surprise that even after its release Microsoft is evolving and expanding Windows 11 and its features.
Microsoft is now rolling out an update for the Windows Subsystem for Android on the Dev Channel of the Windows Insiders program. The new version upgrades the core operating system from Android 11 to Android 12.1 (also known as Android 12L), which means the new system and app features in Android 12 and 12.1 are now available on Windows for the first time. However, not the new features in those updates apply to the modified version that runs on top of Windows. For example, one of the main improvements in 12.1 was a dual-pane notification panel for larger screens, but Android app notifications on Windows just show up in the Windows notification panel.
The upgrade also improves how Android apps integrate into Windows. The Windows taskbar will now show which Android apps are currently using the microphone, location, and other system services — similar to many native Windows applications. Toasts messages (the small popups that some apps use for temporary messages) are now displayed as Windows notifications, and the titlebar on Android apps will use the current activity name for the title.
Full changelog
Windows Subsystem for Android updated to Android 12.1
Advanced networking on by default for newer x64 Windows builds
Updated Windows Subsystem for Android Settings app: redesigned UX and diagnostics data viewer added
Simpleperf CPU profiler recording now works with Windows Subsystem for Android
Windows taskbar now shows which Android apps are using microphone and location
Improvements to Android app notifications appearing as Windows notifications
Reduced flicker when apps are restored from minimized state
Apps are not restarted when devices come out of connected standby on recent Windows builds
New video hardware decoding (VP8 and VP9)
Fixes for on-screen keyboard in apps
Fixes for full-screen Android apps and auto-hidden Windows taskbar
Windows Subsystem for Android updated with Chromium WebView 100
Added support for Android NetworkLocationProvider in addition to GpsLocationProvider
Improved general stability, performance, and reliability
The new update is limited to Windows Insiders for now, but once Microsoft fixes all the bugs, it should start rolling out to everyone on Windows 11 that has the Android Subsystem enabled.
If you suddenly get a message telling you that “Your Windows license will expire soon, You need to activate Windows in Settings” on your Windows 10 computer but you know that your Windows 10 is already activated. Worry not for this post will help you get rid of that error message right away. Before you get started, make sure that you have the Windows product key with you. If you don’t, you can get it by running the following command in an elevated Command Prompt:
wmic path SoftwareLicensingService get OA3xOriginalProductKey
Take note of the product key and then proceed to the options given below.
Option 1 – Try activating Windows 10 again or use another product key
If you’re sure that you have the correct product key, click the Go to the Settings button.
After that, click the Activate button once again.
If you have another license key, you can also use that as well, just simply click on the Change product key.
Then enter the new product key and click on Activate. That should fix the problem, if it doesn’t, refer to the next option below.
Option 2 – Try to reset the licensing status
Click the Start button and then type “cmd” in the Search box and then tap Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open an elevated Command Prompt.
Next, type the “slmgr –rearm” and hit Enter to reset the licensing status.
Restart your computer and check if the error is now gone or not.
Option 3 – Try uninstalling the product key and re-enter it once more.
The first thing you have to do to uninstall the product key is to know the Activation ID of your Windows installation. To do so, open an elevated Command Prompt and type this command, and hit Enter – vbs /dlv
After you enter the command, you should see the licensing status and Activation ID. And to get all the Activation IDs of all the installed Windows versions, key in this command and hit Enter – vbs /dlv all
Note: The “/dlv” parameter will give you the license information for the installed operating system.
After you enter the second command, you should see a Windows Script Host window with all the Windows licensing and activation status. Take note of the Activation ID.
Next, in the same elevated Command Prompt, type this command – slmgr /upk <Activation ID>
Note: In the third given command, “/upk” stands for “uninstall product key”. This parameter uninstalls the product key of the current Windows edition.
Restart your PC. After that, your computer will be in an unlicensed state so you need to re-enter the product key again.
Option 4 – Try rebuilding the Tokens.dat file.
The issue might be caused by a corrupted Tokens.dat file. The Tokens.dat file is a digitally signed file that stores most of the Windows Activation files so if it is corrupted then no wonder you’re having activation issues. To rebuild the Tokens.dat file, refer to these steps:
From the WinX Menu, open an elevated Command Prompt.
After opening Command Prompt, you need to type each one of the following commands and after you type each command, hit Enter.
net stop sppsvc
cd %windir%ServiceProfilesLocalServiceAppDataLocalMicrosoftWSLicense
ren tokens.dat tokens.bar
net start sppsvc
exe %windir%system32slmgr.vbs /rilc
Now restart your computer.
Option 5 – Try running the Windows 10 Activation Troubleshooter
Go to Settings and then select Activation.
After that, click on the Windows Activation and then troubleshoot. This will help you address most of the commonly found activation issues in Windows devices.
Option 6 – Try activating Windows 10 via mobile phone
Activating Windows 10 can also be done using your phone. Just note that you have to call Microsoft to do so.
In the Start Search box, type in “Slui 4” and tap Enter.
Next, select your country and click on Next.
Keep the window open and call the toll-free number of the country you’re from.
Afterward, a confirmation ID should be given by the automated system which you must take a note of.
Finally, in the box on the window, type in the confirmation ID and click on the Activate button. That should do it.
California's Department of Fair Employment & Housing has widened its anti-discrimination lawsuit against Activision Blizzard and claims the publisher has been shredding vital documents relevant to the ongoing investigation.
A recent report from Kotaku described the department as offering poorly paid, highly insecure positions, with a culture of hostility towards LGBTQ+ testers. The DFEH's rewording of "employees" to "workers" now hopes to take these contractors' experiences into account.
"As a contract employee, I feel there's a lot of pressure to excel, impress, and move through the ranks as fast as you can before your contract ends and you're forced to go 3 months without income or find another job," Axios reports one worker saying. "I take pride in what I do, but it feels like it's never enough."
Activision's contentious hiring of union-busting third-party law firm WilmerHale "directly interferes" with its own investigation, it says. By going to WilmerHale, Activision appears to be claiming that all work related to the investigation is privileged and can't be shared with DFEH.
The suit also claims that Activision HR shredded documents related to "investigations and complaints", against its legal obligation to retain them during the investigation. The relevant parts of the updated lawsuit were shared by Axios reporters Stephen Totilo and Megan Farokhmanesh, the former also noting that the DFEH "fixed their misspelling of Bill Cosby's name".
"DFEH is also informed and aware that documents and records have not been maintained as required by law or by the DFEH's Document Retention Notice," the complaint reads, "including but not limited to documents related to investigations and complaints were shredded by human resource personnel and emails are deleted thirty days after an employees separation."
Speculation and answer from Activision Blizzard
Blizzard employee Jessica Gonzalez suspects that the costs of fines associated with destroying these documents may have been an easier blow for Blizzard to take than any penalties drawn from their existence in helping the lawsuit go through.
In an email to Kotaku, Activision denied the shredding allegations and issued a statement outlining steps it had taken to improve company culture—including the ousting of high-level executives like Blizzard president J. Allen Brack. The full statement reads:
"Throughout our engagement with the DFEH, we have complied with every proper request in support of its review even as we had been implementing reforms to ensure our workplaces are welcoming and safe for every employee. Those changes continue today, and include:
Several high-level personnel changes
Revamped hiring and recruiting practices requiring diverse interview panels
Greater transparency on pay equity
Expanded and improved training and investigative capabilities for human resource and compliance staff
Created investigation teams outside of business units to support greater independence
Restructured divisions to support greater accountability
Enhanced review processes to include evaluation of managers by employees
Clear boundaries on workplace behavior with a zero-tolerance approach to harassment and other actions that diminish or marginalize.
"We strive to be a company that recognizes and celebrates the diverse talents and perspectives that lead to the creation of great, globally appealing entertainment. We have provided the DFEH with clear evidence that we do not have gender pay or promotion disparities. Our senior leadership is increasingly diverse, with a growing number of women in key leadership roles across the company.
"We share DFEH’s goal of a safe, inclusive workplace that rewards employees equitably and is committed to setting an example that others can follow."
California and RIOT
Beyond Activision Blizzard, California's DFEH has also probed into League of Legends creator Riot Games, accusing the studio of dragging its heels over sexual harassment allegations dating back to 2019. Riot denied the allegations, telling us that it "will never retaliate against anyone for talking to any government agency".
Uncdms.dll is a Dynamic Link Library file and a crucial part of the Windows Desktop Search Software. It is used to search emails, documents, photos, videos, and folders instantly.
However, the Uncdms.dll error pops on the screen, when the Windows Desktop Search Software fails to start.
The error message is displayed in one of the following formats:
“Uncdms.dll cannot be found.”
“Windowssearch.exe – cannot find the component. This application has failed to start because uncdms.dll was not found. Reinstalling the application may fix the problem.”
“The file uncdms.dll is missing.”
Solution
Error Causes
Uncdms.dll error code may pop on your screen due to multiple reasons. These usually include but are not limited to:
Viral infection
Issues with Windows Desktop Search
Registry corruption
Uncdms.dll accidentally deleted during program un-installation
Further Information and Manual Repair
If you experience an Uncdms.dll error code on your system, fix it right away. This error is easy to resolve. You don’t have to be technically sound to resolve the uncdms.dll error code. Try the methods listed below to resolve without any hassle:
Method 1 - Check Your Recycle Bin and Restore the Deleted Uncdms.dll File
Since DLL files are shared files, there is a possibility that you accidentally deleted them while uninstalling some other program. To fix the issue, simply go to the recycle bin and look for the file. If you locate it, reinstall it. If you can’t, then it is advisable to download the Uncdms.dll file from a trusted DLL file website.
Method 2 - Uninstall and Then Re-install Windows Desktop Search
If the error code is related to issues with the Window Desktop Search application, then simply uninstall this software and re-install to resolve. To do this, click the start button, go to the control panel and then add/ remove programs.
Now choose Windows Desktop Search from the list of programs and click Remove. After that, reboot your PC to activate changes. Now download the software and follow the same process and reinstall the Windows Desktop Search program on your PC.
To activate changes, reboot. This will hopefully resolve the issue.
Method 3 - Update Windows
As this file is included in the service pack, try updating the Windows Utility to resolve the Uncdms.dll error code. To get started, click start and then go to the control panel, now choose Windows update. Follow the instructions to install Active X and then click install to update Windows Utility. Restart your system to bring the changes into effect.
Method 4 - Scan for Viruses and Repair the Registry
Whether the underlying cause of the Uncdms.dll error code is viral infection or registry corruption, it is advisable to download Restoro. It is an advanced and multi-functional PC Repair Tool integrated with 6 powerful utilities including antivirus and a registry cleaner.
It scans and removes all types of viruses. The registry cleaning utility works simultaneously and removes all the unnecessary files corrupting the registry including cookies, temporary files, internet history, and junk files, and repairs it in seconds, thereby resolving the Uncdms.dll error immediately.
Click here to download Restoro - PC Fixer
As you know, Microsoft’s Windows Media Creation Tool is a useful tool that helps you download and install the latest version of the Windows 10 operating system. However, there are times when it could encounter some problems during the update process. One of these programs is the following error message:
“0x8007001F-0x20006, The installation failed in the SAFE_OS phase with an error during REPLICATE_OC operation.”
The error pointed out the “Safe OS phase”. It is the phase that’s initiated to install all the required Windows Updates. Thus, the possible cause for this error could have something to do with an interrupted download, internet connection, and many more. Although this error could be caused by a lot of factors, fixing it shouldn’t be that hard. You can try to reset the Windows Update Components or delete the Windows Update cache. You could also disable both the Firewall and your antivirus program temporarily or run the Windows Update in a Clean Boot state, as well as run the Windows Update troubleshooter. To get started troubleshooting the error, follow each one of the suggestions provided below.
Option 1 – Try to reset the Windows Update components
Resetting the Windows Update components could help you resolve the Windows Update error 0x8007001f – 0x20006. How? Refer to the following steps:
Open Command Prompt with admin privileges.
After that, type each one of the following commands and hit Enter after you key in one after the other.
net stop wuauserv
net stop cryptsvc
net stop bits
net stop msiserver
Note: The commands you entered will stop the Windows Update components such as Windows Update service, Cryptographic services, BITS, and MSI Installer.
After disabling WU components, you need to rename both the SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2 folders. To do that, type each one of the following commands below, and don’t forget to hit Enter after you type one command after the other.
Now, restart the services you’ve stopped by entering another series of commands. Don’t forget to hit Enter after you key in one command after the other.
net start wuauserv
net start cryptsvc
net start bits
net start msiserver
Exit Command Prompt and then restart your computer.
Option 2 – Try to delete the Windows Update Cache
You might also want to delete the Windows Update cache since there are times when existing corrupt or incomplete Windows Update files can cause some problems in downloading and installing Windows Updates. To achieve this, simply delete the “$Windows.~BT” & “$Windows.~WS” folders in your computer. Once you’re done, try to run Windows Update again and see if the error is now fixed.
Option 3 – Try to temporarily disable anti-virus and Windows Defender Firewall
As mentioned, the error could be due to the antivirus program or the Windows Defender Firewall installed on your computer. Thus, disabling them or any security software installed in your computer is always a good idea you can try when you’re not able to access the shared drive on your computer. There are times when you encounter problems like error 0x8007001f – 0x20006 due to interference of antivirus or security programs. Thus, you have to disable both your antivirus program and Windows Defender Firewall for the meantime and check if it fixes the error or not
Option 4 – Run the Windows Update in a Clean Boot State
It is possible that some third-party application is the one that’s causing the problem so it’s best if you put your computer in a Clean Boot state. During this state, you can start the system with a minimum number of drivers and startup programs that will surely help you in isolating the root cause of the issue.
Log onto your PC as an administrator.
Type in MSConfig in the Start Search to open the System Configuration utility.
From there, go to the General tab and click “Selective startup”.
Clear the “Load Startup items” check box and make sure that the “Load System Services” and “Use Original boot configuration” options are checked.
Next, click the Services tab and select the “Hide All Microsoft Services” check box.
Click Disable all.
Click on Apply/OK and restart your PC. (This will put your PC into a Clean Boot State. And configure Windows to use the usual startup, just simply undo the changes.)
After that, try to run Windows Update again.
Note: If you are able to install the app without any trouble at all then it means that the error is caused by some third-party application on your computer. You need to look for the culprit and uninstall it once you found it.
Option 5 – Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter
You might also want to run the Windows Update Troubleshooter as it could also help in fixing error 0x8007001f – 0x20006. 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.
Windows 10 has a UWP app for its Camera that you can use to take pictures and videos. However, if you suddenly encounter an error code 0xa00f4243 while using the Camera UWP app, then you’ve come to the right place as this post will provide some potential fixes that you can use to fix the problem.
This kind of error could be due to an outdated or corrupted driver or a third-party program. When this error appears on the Camera UWP app, you will see the following error message:
“Close other apps. It looks as though another app is already using the camera. If you need it, here’s the error code: 0xA00F4243 (0xC00D3704)”
To fix the error code: 0xA00F4243 (0xC00D3704) in the Camera UWP app, you can try to run the Windows Store Apps troubleshooter or reset the Camera app or update or reinstall the driver or apply some tweaks in the Registry Editor. In addition, you can also try checking the Windows Services or run the System File Checker.
Option 1 – Try to run the Windows Store Apps troubleshooter
The Windows 10 Store Apps Troubleshooter will help you in fixing the Camera UWP app error code: 0xA00F4243 (0xC00D3704). This is a great built-in tool from Microsoft that helps users fix any app installation issues. So this is worth a try to solve the problem. This built-in tool also helps you fix the Windows 10 Store if it isn’t working.
To use the Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter, follow the steps below.
Tap Win + I keys again to open the Windows Settings panel.
Go to Update & Security and then go to Troubleshoot.
Under the Troubleshoot section, on your left-hand side, scroll down to find Window Store Apps.
Then click on the Run the troubleshooter option and follow the on-screen instructions and then see if it fixes the problem.
Option 2 – Try to reset the Camera app to fix
As pointed out earlier, you can also reset the Camera app to fix the error. To do so, follow the steps below.
The first thing you have to do is go to the My Pictures folder under the C: drive of the File Explorer and then delete the Camera Roll folder.
Once you’re done, right-click on an empty area on your screen and create a new folder and name it “Camera Roll”.
Then from the Start menu open the Settings app and select System.
From there, navigate to the Apps and features section.
Now go to Camera and click on the Advanced Options and click the Reset button.
Option 3 – Try to reinstall the drivers for the Camera app
You might want to reinstall the Camera drivers as it could resolve the problem. To do so, refer to these steps:
First, boot your computer into Safe Mode.
After that, tap the Win + R keys to launch Run.
Type in devmgmt.msc into the box and tap Enter or click OK to open the Device Manager.
After that, a list of device drivers will be displayed. From there, look for the driver listed under the Camera section and then, right-click on each entry of the device drivers and select the “Uninstall Device” option from the menu.
Now restart your computer.
After restarting your computer, go to the Settings app and Check for Updates in the Windows Update section.
Option 4 – Try to use the Registry Editor
Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run utility and type “Regedit” in the field and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor.
After that, navigate to this registry key: ComputerHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREWOW6432NodeMicrosoftWindows Media FoundationPlatform
Here, look for a DWORD named “EnableFrameServerMode” and if you can’t see it, just create a new DWORD by right-clicking on any empty space.
Then select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value and name it as “EnableFrameServerMode”.
Double click on the newly created DWORD and set its Value data to “0” and click on OK.
Restart your computer and see if it fixes the Camera UWP app error code: 0xA00F4243 (0xC00D3704).
Option 5 – Try checking the Windows Services
Note that this option only applies to computers with Intel Hardware for the Camera.
Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box and type “services.msc” and hit Enter to open the Services Manager.
Next, look for the “Intel(R) RealSense(TM) Depth” service from the list of services and double click on it to open its Properties.
After that, change its Startup Type to “Automatic” and make sure it’s running and then click on the Apply and OK buttons to save the changes made.
Restart your computer and check if the problem has been resolved.
Option 6 – Try running System File Checker or SFC scan
System File Checker or SFC is a built-in command utility that helps in restoring corrupted files as well as missing files. It replaces bad and corrupted system files to good system files. To run the SFC command, follow the steps given below.
Tap Win + R to launch Run.
Type in cmd in the field and tap Enter.
After opening Command Prompt, type in sfc /scannow
The command will start a system scan which will take a few whiles before it finishes. Once it’s done, you could get the following results:
Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.
Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them.
Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them.
As you know, Windows 10 supports a variety of peripherals which includes a long list of printers. However, a number of users reported that they encountered a glitch on their Windows 10 computers where they receive Can’t print a file and a prompt to save the Word, PDF file, and so on each time they try to print the file. This kind of issue is not common and could be due to various reasons like the malfunctioning of device drivers, misconfiguration of the printer’s settings, and so on.
There are several options you can check out to resolve the problem. You can try to run the built-in troubleshooter or check the configuration of the printer, as well as update or reinstall the driver for printers or reset the printer. For more details, refer to each one of the options provided below and make sure to follow them carefully.
Option 1 – Run the Printer Troubleshooter
One of the first basic troubleshooting you can perform to resolve the printer issue is running the Printer Troubleshooter. This built-in troubleshooter can detect and automatically fix the problem for you. To use it, follow these steps:
Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
Next, type “exe /id PrinterDiagnostic” in the field and click OK or hit Enter to open the Printer Troubleshooter.
Then click the Next button and follow the next on-screen instructions to fix the issue with the printer.
Option 2 – Try checking the printer’s configuration
The next thing you can do to fix the problem is to check the configuration of the printer since there are instances when there could be some misconfiguration with the settings of the printer that may result in several issues like this one.
First, you need to open Control Panel and from there, look for the option Devices and printers and open it.
After that, right-click on the entry of your printer that you want to use in printing documents and select the Set as a default printer option.
You could also try to open PDF and then go to the Print dialog box and uncheck the Print to file option.
Option 3 – Try to update or reinstall the printer driver
The problem with your printer might also be caused by corrupted or outdated drivers. Thus, you can try to either update or reinstall it. How? Follow the steps below.
First, click the Start button and type “device manager”.
Then click on the “Device Manager” from the search results to open it.
From there, look for the USB Composite Device option and right-click on it, and select the Update Driver from the options.
Restart your PC and then click the “Search automatically for updated driver software” option.
Now uninstall and remove the printer driver software and reinstall it then refresh.
Option 4 – Try to reset the settings of the Printer or reinstall it
If none of the three options given above worked, you can try to either reset the printer settings or reinstall the printer so that it can go back to its default state. However, if it doesn’t work, you can try to uninstall the printer as well as its related drivers. To do so, follow these steps:
First, go to Settings > Devices > Printer and Scanners.
After that, select the printer and select the Remove Device option.
Once done, restart your computer and check again and see if the error is now fixed.
Free Download Manager is a software program developed by FreeDownloadManager.ORG. According to the publisher:
This software downloads files and converts videos. Its features include integration with all browsers, support of downloads from RapidShare, BitTorrent support, adjusting traffic usage, resuming broken downloads, and adds BitTorrent support, flash video download, upload manager, portable mode, and remote control.
During setup, the program creates a startup registration point in Windows in order to automatically start when any user boots the PC. It adds a browser extension to help it cache files you are downloading over your browser. The software is designed to connect to the internet and adds a Windows Firewall exception in order to do so without being interfered with. It also hooks up to start automatically and cache every download even if it's turned off.
This software comes bundled with video converters that some anti-virus programs marked as malware and therefore it is considered a potentially unwanted program.
About Potentially Unwanted Applications
If you’ve ever downloaded freeware or shareware, odds are high that your computer can get installed with a bunch of unwanted programs. These unwanted applications, officially known as Potentially Unwanted Programs (PUPs), often come bundled with other software and install themselves on user’s computers without their knowledge. They might not look like computer viruses to some individuals, but they can create huge annoyances and lead to serious difficulties for users.
It’s clear by its name – unwanted programs – but did not really constitute “malware” in the traditional sense. What makes a PUP different from malware is the fact that when you download one, you’re doing it with your approval – even though in most cases unconsciously and unwillingly. Nevertheless, there is no doubt that PUPs continue to be bad news for PC users as they can be incredibly detrimental to your computer in several ways.
How does unwanted software affect you?
Unwanted programs come in various forms. Usually, they could be found in adware bundlers that are known to use aggressive and deceptive advertising. The majority of bundlers install multiple adware applications from a number of companies, each of which has its own EULA policy. Safebytes Anti-Malware entirely eliminates this threat and safeguards your PC against PUP or adware infection. They will also come in the form of web browser extension add-ons and toolbars. Not just they needlessly fill up space on your computer screen, toolbars could also manipulate search results, keep an eye on your web browsing activities, decrease your internet browser’s efficiency, and slow down your net connection to a crawl.
Potentially unwanted programs utilize aggressive distribution methods to get in your computer. They will often include things like information gathering code that will collect and send your private information to other companies. Due to this unwanted program, your application may freeze, your security protections may get turned off that can leave your computer susceptible, your system could get damaged, and this list goes on and on.
Tips to prevent PUPs
• Always read the license agreement and privacy statement. Don’t agree unless you understand exactly what you are acknowledging.• Always choose “Custom” or “Advanced” installation and don’t blindly click the Next button, which will allow you to uncheck any foistware software programs you do not want.• Install an ad blocker/pop-up blocker; Add anti-malware products such as Safebytes Anti-Malware. These applications could establish a wall between the computer and cybercriminals.• Be alert if you install freeware, open-source programs, or shareware. Nowadays ‘freeware’ is not really freeware – but ‘crapware’ bundling nonsense.• Always download software from trusted sources like official websites instead of untrustworthy sharing space. Avoid file-hosting sites wherever possible.
Can't Install Safebytes Anti-malware due to the presence of Malware? Do This!
Malware could cause plenty of damage to your PC. Some malware types modify browser settings by including a proxy server or change the PC’s DNS configurations. In these cases, you’ll be unable to visit certain or all of the internet sites, and thus not able to download or install the required security software to remove the infection. If you are reading this article, you may have got infected by malware that stops you from installing a computer security program such as Safebytes Anti-Malware. There are some fixes you can attempt to get around with this obstacle.
Get rid of viruses in Safe Mode
In the event the malware is set to load at Windows startup, then booting in safe mode should avoid it. Only minimal required programs and services are loaded whenever you boot your PC in Safe Mode. To launch your Windows XP, Vista, or 7 computers in Safe Mode with Networking, do as instructed below.
1) Tap the F8 key continuously as soon as your PC boots, however, before the large Windows logo appears. This would conjure up the Advanced Boot Options menu.2) Choose Safe Mode with Networking using arrow keys and hit Enter.3) Once you get into this mode, you should have an internet connection once again. Now, use your browser normally and navigate to https://safebytes.com/products/anti-malware/ to download and install Safebytes Anti-Malware.4) Following installation, run a complete scan and let the software program remove the threats it discovers.
Obtain the anti-malware program using an alternate browser
Web-based viruses could be environment-specific, targeting a particular web browser or attacking particular versions of the web browser. In case you suspect that your Internet Explorer has been hijacked by a computer virus or otherwise compromised by online hackers, the most effective thing to do would be to switch to a different browser like Chrome, Firefox, or Safari to download your chosen computer security program – Safebytes Anti-Malware.
Run antivirus from your pen drive
Here’s yet another solution which is creating a portable USB antivirus software package that can scan your computer for malicious software without the need for installation. Try these simple steps to clear up your infected computer by using a portable antivirus.
1) On a virus-free PC, download and install Safebytes Anti-Malware.2) Put the pen drive into the clean PC.3) Double click on the downloaded file to open the installation wizard.4) Choose the drive letter of the flash drive as the location when the wizard asks you where you want to install the antivirus. Follow the directions to finish the installation process.5) Unplug the pen drive. Now you can utilize this portable anti-virus on the affected computer system.6) Run the Safebytes Anti-malware directly from the USB drive by double-clicking the icon.7) Click on “Scan Now” to run a scan on the infected computer for malware.
Features and Benefits of SafeBytes Anti-Malware
If you are looking to purchase anti-malware for your computer system, there are numerous brands and applications for you to consider. A few of them do a good job in getting rid of malware threats while some will ruin your PC by themselves. You must choose a product that has gained a good reputation and detects not only viruses but other kinds of malware too. Among few good programs, SafeBytes Anti-Malware is the strongly recommended software for the security-conscious user.
SafeBytes anti-malware is a very effective and easy-to-use protection tool that is created for users of all levels of IT literacy. Once you’ve got installed this software program, SafeBytes superior protection system will make sure that no viruses or malware can seep through your computer.
SafeBytes anti-malware provides an array of advanced features that sets it aside from all others. The following are some of the good ones:
World-class AntiMalware Protection: Safebytes is made on the very best virus engine in the industry. These engines can detect and remove threats even during the early stages of a malware outbreak.
Real-time Active Protection: SafeBytes provides complete and real-time security for your personal machine. It will monitor your personal computer for suspicious activity at all times and shields your PC from unauthorized access.
Fast Multi-threaded Scanning: Safebytes Anti-Malware, using its advanced scanning engine, provides super-fast scanning that can immediately target any active online threat.
Safe Web Browsing: Through its unique safety rating, SafeBytes notifies you whether a website is safe or not to access it. This will ensure that you’re always certain of your safety when browsing the online world.
Lowest Memory/CPU Usage: This software is lightweight and will work silently in the background, and that does not have an effect on your PC efficiency.
24/7 Live Expert Support: You can obtain high levels of support round the clock if you’re using their paid software.
Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)
If you wish to manually remove FreeDownloadManager without the use of an automated tool, it may be possible to do so by removing the program from the Windows Add/Remove Programs menu, or in cases of browser extensions, going to the browsers AddOn/Extension manager and removing it. You will likely also want to reset your browser.
To ensure the complete removal, manually check your hard drive and registry for all of the following and remove or reset the values accordingly. Please note that this is for advanced users only and may be difficult, with incorrect file removal causing additional PC errors. In addition, some malware is capable of replicating or preventing deletion. Doing this in Safe Mode is advised.
The following files, folders, and registry entries are created or modified by FreeDownloadManager
California's Department of Fair Employment & Housing has widened its anti-discrimination lawsuit against Activision Blizzard and claims the publisher has been shredding vital documents relevant to the ongoing investigation.
A recent report from Kotaku described the department as offering poorly paid, highly insecure positions, with a culture of hostility towards LGBTQ+ testers. The DFEH's rewording of "employees" to "workers" now hopes to take these contractors' experiences into account.
"As a contract employee, I feel there's a lot of pressure to excel, impress, and move through the ranks as fast as you can before your contract ends and you're forced to go 3 months without income or find another job," Axios reports one worker saying. "I take pride in what I do, but it feels like it's never enough."
Activision's contentious hiring of union-busting third-party law firm WilmerHale "directly interferes" with its own investigation, it says. By going to WilmerHale, Activision appears to be claiming that all work related to the investigation is privileged and can't be shared with DFEH.
The suit also claims that Activision HR shredded documents related to "investigations and complaints", against its legal obligation to retain them during the investigation. The relevant parts of the updated lawsuit were shared by Axios reporters Stephen Totilo and Megan Farokhmanesh, the former also noting that the DFEH "fixed their misspelling of Bill Cosby's name".
"DFEH is also informed and aware that documents and records have not been maintained as required by law or by the DFEH's Document Retention Notice," the complaint reads, "including but not limited to documents related to investigations and complaints were shredded by human resource personnel and emails are deleted thirty days after an employees separation."
