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Should you build a custom PC

Building your own custom PC system can be one of the greatest things you can do to your budget. Instead of going for a rebuild, we will go into detail about why building your own PC is a much better option. Also, note that if you do not possess enough technical knowledge about a topic there are plenty of stores that will offer you advice on components and after all, you can always get help from a friend.

Custom PC

So without further diversion from the topic, let us explore all the benefits of building a custom computer.

Building a custom PC is cheaper

At the first look, this statement does not feel right since when you look at the prebuilt systems you get a feeling that it is much cheaper than do it yourself variant and although CPU and GPU seem like a great deal I beg you to look under the hood on other components. Usually to lower price compromise would be made on other crucial components like SD or power supply, a PC case, or motherboard so even if you have a good CPU and GPU that will not matter much since other components would not be able to catch up with them. After all, prebuild computers will need to pay people who are building them and there is no way that will be cheaper if you just plain went and bought the same components yourself and install them.

When you are in control in choosing each component there is not only being cheaper online, it is flexibility with building itself. You choose which components you want to be stronger and which to be normal. Also, you can choose the exact model of the given component leaving you more in control and open to future upgrades.

More flexibility

Also, it may sound irrelevant but when building your own custom PC you can also choose which company you would like to purchase for each model, yes considering the CPU it is AMD or Intel but when you are buying a case, SSD, GPU, and other components choosing the right company for your needs is also the thing that should not be overlooked.

You can customize it the way you want

Not really a quality argument but with a custom PC build, you can choose would you like that RGB component or not, you choose do you like white or black fans, and many more things. You really can place a personal stamp on the computer making it indeed a personal computer.

You choose OS and applications

When you buy an already prebuilt PC, usually it comes with some sort of OS on it, sometimes it is freedos, Linux and sometimes it is Windows Home. When you get your hands dirty you can place whichever system you want on it and install applications that you use and know and some preinstalled typical apps.

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Enable or Disable Windows 10 Boot Log
Booting the Windows computer system includes loading it from the various boot devices such as drivers, network as well as USB drives when the computer is turned on. The instant the startup sequence is done loading the operating system the system hardware will be ready to perform some complex operations – in this process, the Boot Log in Windows 10 is a record that maintains the list of success or failure of many pieces of Windows 10 system during the booting process. In other words, the Boot Log is the one that keeps a record of all that has happened while loading from the computer storage system to the memory during the boot process. It is available for several devices like network, hardware devices, and the operating system which assist in detecting issues during the boot process and other issues with regards to troubleshooting. Through Boot Log, you’ll know which drivers were unloaded and loaded from the start of the system during the boot process. You have the option to either disable or enable this feature on your Windows 10 PC. Named as “ntbtlog.txt”, the log file lists all the successfully loaded processes and the unsuccessful ones during the boot process. It is saved to the drive C:Windowsntbtlog.txt. As mentioned, you can enable or disable this feature in two ways – the first one is by using the System Configuration or MSConfig while the second one is using the Command Prompt. In this post, we’ll show you how you can enable or disable Boot Log in Windows 10 either way.

Option 1 – Enable or Disable Boot Log using System Configuration

Enable Boot Log:
  • Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
  • Then type in “msconfig” and click OK to open System Configuration.
  • After that, go to the boot tab and check the checkbox labeled “Boot Log” under the Boot options so that you can enable the Boot Log feature.
  • Then click on OK to save the changes made.
  • Next, click on the Restart button in the prompt window to get started with the Boot Log process.
  • After restarting your PC, go to C:Windowsntbtlog.txt to open the boot log.
Note: As pointed out earlier, the log file contains a list of all the successfully loaded drivers and also the list of drivers that failed to load during the boot process and every time you restart the system, the boot log file will keep on updating and will eventually increase the list of entries. For you to locate the drivers and make your troubleshooting a lot easier, I advised disabling the boot log after troubleshooting. To disable the boot log using System Configuration, refer to the steps below. Disable Boot Log:
  • Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
  • Then type in “msconfig” and click OK to open System Configuration.
  • After that, go to the boot tab and unmark or uncheck the checkbox labeled “Boot Log” under the Boot options so that you can disable the Boot Log feature.
  • Then click on OK to save the changes made.

Option 2 – Enable or Disable Boot Log using Command Prompt

Enable Boot Log:
  • Go to the Start Menu and then type in “command prompt” in the search bar.
  • After that, right-click on the Command Prompt option and select the “Run as administrator” option.
  • After opening Command Prompt, type in “bcdedit” and tap Enter.
Note: You have to find the Identifier of the current operating system first to enable the Boot log. You can find it under the Windows Boot Loader section in the “Description” field and in this case, it’s Windows 10. You can also find the operating system identifier under the Windows Boot Loader section next to the field name identifier.
  • To check if the boot log entry is disabled or enabled, go check the “Bootlog” field under the Windows Boot Loader. And if it turns out that the “bootlog” entry is enabled, the entry will be “Yes”. Otherwise, the entry will be “No”.
  • Next, type in the following command with the operating system identifier to enable the boot log.
bcdedit /set {identifier} bootlog Yes
Note: In the command given above, make sure that you replace the given system identifier with your computer’s system identifier. For instance: In this example, the identifier was replaced with the actual operating system identifier as current.
bcdedit /set {current} bootlog Yes
  • Afterward, restart the system to start the Boot log process.
  • After the restart, go to C:Windowsntbtlog.txt to open the boot log.
Note: Every time you restart your computer, the boot log file will keep on updating which will increase the size of the log eventually. So if you want seamless and easier troubleshooting, it is advised to disable the Boot log after you troubleshoot. To disable it using the Command Prompt, here’s what you have to do. Disable Boot Log:
  • Go to the Start Menu and then type in “command prompt” in the search bar.
  • After that, right-click on the Command Prompt option and select the “Run as administrator” option.
  • Once the Command Prompt is opened, type in the following command and then tap Enter to disable the boot log feature.
bcdedit/ set {identifier} bootlog No
Note: In the command given above, you need to replace the given system identifier with your computer’s system identifier. For instance: In this example, the {identifier} was replaced with the actual operating system identifier as {current}.
bcdedit /set {current} bootlog No
  • Now close the Command Prompt.
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Enable Windows Sandbox on Windows
One of the most common ways cybercriminals use to inject suspicious code into devices is by tricking users into installing a malicious program on a targeted device. Oblivious users are vulnerable to such tricks, which is why Microsoft has been working hard in the background to address this issue. Recently, Microsoft announced the availability of a sandboxed version of Windows 10 that runs inside Windows 10 in order to isolate suspected software to run inside it and protect the system from potential threats. This Windows Sandbox feature is a new feature that keeps your computer secure. It is a virtual disposable environment that you can enable. So if suspect any software of being malicious, you can run this software in an environment and ensure that it won’t interfere with any normal processes and would not jeopardize files on your computer. To simply put it, “Windows Sandbox is a new lightweight desktop environment tailored for safely running applications in isolation”. So if the Sandbox is closed, all the residual files, software, and other data are deleted permanently. To enable Windows Sandbox, refer to the instructions provided below. Step 1: You have to make sure that you are running either Windows 10 Enterprise Editions or Windows 10 Pro and that your computer is running build 18305 or newer. Step 2: After that, you have to enable Virtualization to let another instance of Windows 10 running in Sandbox mode. Step 3: Next, search for Windows Features on and off in the search box and then select the appropriate entry. Step 4: From the list, go to the mini window and check the Windows Sandbox and then click on OK. Step 5: Afterwards, in the Cortana Search box, search for “Windows Sandbox” and select the related entry to run it in an elevated window. Step 6: Then from your main computer (host), copy the executable file and paste it inside the Windows Sandbox environment. Step 7: Now run the executable file in the Sandbox environment and use it as you normally do. Step 8: Once you’re done, close the Windows Sandbox application and as mentioned, every data regarding the executable file and the temporary environment will be deleted. Step 9: And for the sake of safety, ensure that there are no modifications made to the host because of the executions in the Sandbox environment. You have the option to contact Microsoft for feedback related to Windows Sandbox. You can use the traditional Feedback Hub if you have any suggestions or any issues. Just fill in the appropriate details and select Windows Sandbox for the feature category under the Security and Privacy section. And if you have any issues related to the execution of and within Windows Sandbox, simply choose “Recreate my problem” then select Start capture to reproduce the issue, and once you’re done, select Stop capture.
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Fix the MEMORY 0x000000FC Stop Error
The Blue Screen of Death error or BSOD is definitely not an issue to face on your computer. Many users, if not all, have already experienced this headache at least once. One of these BSOD errors is the ATTEMPTED EXECUTE OF NOEXECUTE MEMORY error. The bug check error code for this is 0x000000FC and is usually caused by outdated or faulty drivers. In some cases, it could also be caused by an error in the Random Access Memory or RAM. This kind of error in the RAM might be physical, based on drivers, or even some kind of unwanted malware. So basically there are lots of possibilities why this particular BSOD error pops up. If you are currently facing this BSOD error, read on and carefully follow the suggestions given below but before you do that, make sure to create a System Restore point just in case something goes wrong. This way, you can always undo those changes using the System Restore point. Once you have that covered, proceed to the options given below to fix the ATTEMPTED EXECUTE OF NOEXECUTE MEMORY error.

Option 1 – Try updating Windows 10 with all the security patches and updates

You might be able to fix the ATTEMPTED EXECUTE OF NOEXECUTE MEMORY error by simply updating your Windows 10 computer with all the security patches and updates. To do so, go to Settings then proceed to the Windows Update section > Update & Security > Windows Update, and then click on the Check for Updates option. After you do that, it will automatically find and install all the latest security patches and feature updates from Microsoft.

Option 2 – Try updating all your drivers

From time to time, drivers get corrupted or outdated so it’s no surprise that they conflict with the operating system and cause errors like the ATTEMPTED EXECUTE OF NOEXECUTE MEMORY BSOD error. To fix the problem, you need to update all your drivers. Follow the steps below to update your drivers.
  • 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. If you see a red or yellow sign that shows up against the driver, right-click on the driver’s name and select “Update Driver Software” or “Uninstall”. And if you find any “Unknown device”, you need to update it as well.
  • Select the “Search automatically for updated driver software” option and then follow the instructions to complete the process.
  • Restart your PC.
Note: You also have the option to go directly to the website of your graphics card manufacturer and check if there’s a new update – if there is, download it.

Option 3 – Try running a Memory Check using Windows Memory Diagnostic

As mentioned, this error might be caused by some issues in the memory. To resolve it, you need to run the Memory Check on your Windows 10 PC. Refer to these steps to do so.
  • Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
  • Then type “mdsched.exe” in the field and hit Enter to open the Windows Memory Diagnostic.
  • After that, the Windows Memory Diagnostic will give out two options such as:
  1. Restart now and check for problems (recommended)
  2. Check for problems the next time I start my computer
  • Select any of the given options. After that, your computer will restart and check for memory-based issues upon the restart. If there are any issues, it will automatically them.

Option 4 – Try using the System File Checker via Command Prompt

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 with good system files that might be causing the ATTEMPTED EXECUTE OF NOEXECUTE MEMORY BSOD error. To run the SFC command, follow the steps given below.
  • Tap Win + R to launch Run.
  • Type in cmd in the field and tap Enter.
  • After opening Command Prompt, type in sfc /scannow
The command will start a system scan which will take a few whiles before it finishes. Once it’s done, you could get the following results:
  1. Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.
  2. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them.
  3. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them.
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How to remove Boost My PC From Your System

Boost My PC is a program developed by 1.0.2.6. During setup, a scheduled task is added to Windows Task Scheduler in order to launch the program at various scheduled times (the schedule varies depending on the version). When installed, it will add a context menu handler to the Windows shell in order to provide quick access to the program.

Boost My PC presents itself as a legit PC speed-up utility, it scans your computer for problems and displays errors that need to be fixed. Upon accepting to fix these alleged errors, you are asked for a Payment in order to activate this product for a few months.

Many anti-virus scanners have marked this application as a Potentially Unwanted Program, and while Boost My PC is not so harmful on its own, it comes bundled with other Potentially Unwanted Programs that might harm your computer.

About Potentially Unwanted Applications

If you’ve ever downloaded and installed a software package via the internet (shareware, freeware, etc,), odds are high you’ve unwittingly installed unwanted programs on your computer. Potentially Unwanted Programs (PUP), also referred to as Potentially Unwanted Applications (PUA), are programs that you never wanted in the first place and sometimes come bundled with freeware software. Once installed, most of these applications can be hard to remove and become more of a pain rather than a benefit. It’s clear by the name – unwanted applications – but did not really constitute “malware” in the traditional sense. Much like malware, PUPs create problems when downloaded and installed on your machine, but what makes a PUP different is that you grant consent to download it – though the truth is vastly different – the software installation bundle actually tricks you into agreeing to the installation. Regardless of whether it is considered malware or otherwise, PUPs are almost always detrimental to the user as they could bring on adware, spyware, keystroke logging, along other dangerous “crapware” features on your computer.

Exactly how do unwanted programs look like?

Potentially Unwanted Programs appear in different forms and varieties, however, most times, these are typically adware programs that show annoying pop-up adverts and advertisements on web pages you drop by. PUPs that come as browser add-ons and toolbars are widely identifiable. These toolbars change your homepage and your search engine in the installed web browser, track your web activities, influence your search results with redirects and sponsored links, and eventually slow down your web browser and diminish your browsing experience. PUPs lie inside the gray part of the software spectrum. They may carry keyloggers, dialers, along with other software built right into them that might monitor you or send out your sensitive information to 3rd parties. Even if the PUPs aren’t inherently malicious, these programs still do practically nothing good on your personal computer – they will take valuable resources, slow your PC, weaken your device’s security, making your PC more susceptible to malware.

Tips on protecting yourself from PUPs

• Read the EULA carefully. Look for clauses that say that you ought to accept advertising and pop-ups or bundled programs from the company. • Choose the “custom” install whenever downloading a program. In particular, look closely at those tiny boxes that have been checked as default, where you might ‘agree’ to receive ads or install software bundlers. • Use an ad blocker/pop-up blocker; Deploy anti-malware products such as Safebytes Anti-malware. These types of applications will establish a wall between the computer and cybercriminals. • Avoid installing freeware software you will not make use of. Avoid installing browser extensions and applications you aren’t knowledgeable about. • Only download software from the original providers’ sites. Stay away from download portals because they use their own download manager to pack additional programs together with the initial download.

What you can do if Malware Prevents You From Downloading Anything?

Malware could cause all sorts of damage after they invade your system, from stealing your private details to deleting files on your computer system. Certain malware types alter web browser settings by including a proxy server or change the computer’s DNS configuration settings. In these cases, you’ll be unable to visit certain or all websites, and therefore unable to download or install the required security software to remove the infection. So what you should do if malicious software prevents you from downloading or installing Anti-Malware? Even though this kind of problem can be difficult to get around, there are a few steps you can take.

Download the application in Safe Mode with Networking

If any virus is set to run immediately when Windows starts, stepping into safe mode could block this attempt. Just the minimum required applications and services are loaded whenever you start your PC in Safe Mode. To start your Windows XP, Vista, or 7 computers in Safe Mode with Networking, follow the instructions below. 1) Press the F8 key continuously as soon as your system boots, but before the large Windows logo shows up. This should bring up the Advanced Boot Options menu. 2) Select Safe Mode with Networking with arrow keys and hit ENTER. 3) Once you get into this mode, you should have online access once again. Now, use your internet browser normally and navigate to https://safebytes.com/products/anti-malware/ to download and install Safebytes Anti-Malware. 4) Immediately after installation, run a full scan and let the software remove the threats it discovers.

Switch over to a different web browser

Some malware only targets specific web browsers. If this sounds like your situation, employ another web browser as it may circumvent the computer virus. If you’re not able to download the security software using Internet Explorer, this means the virus may be targeting IE’s vulnerabilities. Here, you must switch to another internet browser like Chrome or Firefox to download the Safebytes program.

Install and run anti-virus from a USB drive

Another option is to store and operate an anti-malware program completely from a Flash drive. Try these simple steps to clear up your infected computer by using portable anti-malware. 1) Download the anti-malware on a virus-free computer. 2) Plug the Flash drive into the clean computer. 3) Run the setup program by double-clicking the executable file of the downloaded software, with a .exe file extension. 4) Select the drive letter of the flash drive as the place when the wizard asks you where you want to install the anti-malware. Do as instructed on the computer screen to finish off the installation process. 5) Transfer the pen drive from the uninfected computer to the infected computer. 6) Double-click the EXE file to open the Safebytes tool right from the thumb drive. 7) Click on “Scan Now” to run a scan on the affected computer for viruses.

Ensure the Safety of Your PC by Installing SafeBytes Anti-Malware

If you’re looking to buy anti-malware for your computer, there are numerous brands and packages for you to consider. A few are very good ones, some are ok types, and some are merely fake anti-malware programs that could damage your personal computer themselves! You have to be very careful not to pick the wrong product, especially if you purchase a paid application. On the list of strongly recommended software programs is SafeBytes Anti-Malware. SafeBytes carries a very good history of top-quality service, and clients appear to be happy with it. SafeBytes anti-malware is a trustworthy tool that not only secures your system completely but is also very easy to use for people of all ability levels. Through its cutting-edge technology, this software protects your personal computer against infections caused by various kinds of malware and other threats, including spyware, adware, computer viruses, worms, trojan horses, keyloggers, potentially unwanted programs (PUPs), and ransomware.

There are plenty of wonderful features you’ll get with this particular security product. These are some of the highlighted features included in the software.

World-class AntiMalware Protection: Built on a highly acclaimed anti-virus engine, this malware removal application has the capacity to detect and get rid of several stubborn malware threats like browser hijackers, PUPs, and ransomware that other common antivirus programs will miss. Live Protection: SafeBytes gives you round-the-clock protection for your PC restricting malware attacks in real-time. It will regularly monitor your pc for hacker activity and also provides users with advanced firewall protection. Safe Web Browsing: SafeBytes provides an instant safety rating about the web pages you’re going to visit, automatically blocking risky sites and making sure that you are certain of your online safety while browsing the world wide web. Low CPU Usage: This program is lightweight and can run silently in the background, and that does not impact your computer efficiency. 24/7 Customer Support: SafeBytes provides 24/7 technical support, automatic maintenance, and updates for the best user experience. To sum it up, SafeBytes has created a meaningful anti-malware solution that is aimed to protect your computer against various malware. Malware problems can become a thing of the past once you put this software program to use. For top protection and the best value for your money, you can’t get better than SafeBytes Anti-Malware.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you don’t wish to use an automated tool and like to eliminate Boost My PC manually, you could possibly do so by going to the Add/Remove Programs menu in the Control Panel and deleting the offending program; in cases of web browser add-ons, you could remove it by going to the browsers Add-on/Extension manager. You will definitely also want to reset your internet browser. If you opt to manually delete the system files and Windows registry entries, make use of the following list to ensure that you know precisely what files to remove before executing any actions. Please remember that this is for skilled users only and may be challenging, with wrong file removal leading to additional PC errors. In addition, certain malware is capable of replicating itself or preventing deletion. It is highly recommended that you carry out the removal procedure in Safe Mode.
Files: %PROGRAMFILES(x86)%\Boost My PC %PROGRAMFILES%\Boost My PC Registry: [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] delete the display Name: BoostMyPC
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Device attached to system is not functioning
If you are trying to connect your mobile or external device to your Windows 10 computer but suddenly encountered an error saying, “A device attached to the system is not functioning”, read on as this post will guide you on how you can resolve this error using a couple of potential fixes. In this case, it is possible that the connected device is not working for some reason and this error pops up when you connect your device or when you try to move or copy files from your computer to your external device and vice versa. As you can see, the error message is pretty straightforward, and it mostly occurs when you connect plug and play devices such as USB drives, printers, external storage devices, and many more. And when you open the Device Manager to check the device, you will most likely see a yellow exclamation mark on the device which indicates that the device is currently having problems. To fix this problem, there are several options you can check out. You need to check the status of the device or check the compatibility between the external device and the drive types. You also have to make sure that the device is connected properly or check if the device has been formatted properly. For more details, follow the given suggestions below.

Option 1 – Try to check the status of the device

The first thing you can do to get rid of the error is to check the status of the external device, especially if it’s a plug-and-play device. So when your computer boots, check if it is able to detect the device or not.

Option 2 – Try to check the compatibility between the external devices and drivers

As you know, when you connect an external device to your computer, Windows installs drivers to communicate with the device, the same way as any hardware you connect to the motherboard and if the driver ends up getting corrupted or is incompatible, then you need to update the device driver. To do that, 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 driver the external device related to and then right-click on each one of the Device drivers and select the Update Driver from the menu.
  • Restart your PC and then click the “Search automatically for updated driver software” option.
Note: If updating the device drivers didn’t work, you can try to reinstall them instead.

Option 3 – Try checking the hardware connections

The first thing you have to do before you further troubleshoot the problem is to check the hardware connections of your computer and see if there are damaged ones, just like with USB ports, it would also affect the overall connectivity of the device with the computer. So if you notice some irregularities in the connecting cable physically, you might have to buy another one and replace it and then see if it fixes the problem or not.

Option 4 – Check if the device is formatted properly

You might also want to check if the external device is properly formatted especially if you’ve recently formatted it. If a device wasn’t formatted properly, then it’s no wonder why you’re getting the “A device attached to the system is not functioning” error. To fix this, you need to use Disk Management. From there, you can find the devices connected but are not visible. If you are using an admin account, then to fix this error, you have the option to format the drive or create new partitions using the interface. Once you do this, it should resolve the problem.

Option 5 – Try to run System File Checker or SFC scan

  • Tap Win + R to launch Run.
  • Type in cmd in the field and tap Enter.
  • After opening Command Prompt, type in sfc /scannow and hit Enter.
  • Once done, restart your computer.

Option 6 – Restart your computer in a Clean Boot State

If a third party program like antivirus is the one that’s causing the problem, you can try to put your computer in a Clean Boot State to isolate the issue by following these steps:
  • 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.)
  • Now try to connect your device or copy the files to your external device again and check if the error is now gone.
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Marine Aquarium Lite Removal Guide and Instructions
Marine Aquarium Lite is a Browser Extension for Google Chrome. This extension changed your default search ending and home page to MyWebSearch.com. It is published by Mindspark Interactive and is considered a browser hijacking extension. While installed, users will see additional ads and sponsored links in their search results. This extension also collects user website data, which allows it to better target ads. Several anti-virus scanners have marked Marine Aquarium Lite as a Browser Hijacker and are marked for removal. From the Author: MyWebSearch is an incredibly popular toolbar (over 20 million active users each month!), that gives you access to the web’s leading search engine Google; includes some of the most popular products on the web for making communication easier, more expressive, and more entertaining. The MyWebSearch toolbar platform allows you to take advantage of more than a dozen interactive features and websites.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijacking is a very common type of online fraud where your web browser configuration settings are altered to make it carry out things you never intend. They’re created to interfere with web browser functions for a variety of reasons. Typically, hijackers will force hits to websites of their choice either to increase traffic generating higher ad earnings, or to obtain a commission for each and every user visiting there. Even though it may seem naive, all browser hijackers are damaging and thus always classified as security risks. Once the malware attacks your PC, it begins to mess things up a whole that slows your system down to a crawl. In the worse case, you will be pushed to deal with serious malware threats too.

Major signs that your browser has been hijacked

There are many signs of browser hijacking: home-page is changed; you observe new unwanted bookmarks or favorites added, typically directed to ad-filled or porn websites; The default search page of web browser is altered; you find multiple toolbars in your browser; you’ll notice random pop-ups start showing on a regular basis; your web browser starts running slowly or displays frequent glitches; you have prohibited entry to specific web pages, for example, the site of an anti-malware software developer like SafeBytes.

How they get into your computer or laptop

Browser hijackers infect PCs by numerous means, including through a file-share, a drive-by download, or an infected e-mail. They also come from add-on software, also referred to as browser helper objects (BHO), web browser plug-ins, or toolbars. Also, some shareware and freeware can put the hijacker inside your PC through “bundling”. An example of some notorious browser hijacker includes Conduit, Anyprotect, Babylon, DefaultTab, SweetPage, RocketTab, and Delta Search, but the names are constantly changing. Browser hijacking could lead to serious privacy issues and also identity theft, affect your web browsing experience by taking control over outbound traffic, drastically slows down your PC by deleting lots of resources, and result in system instability as well.

How you can fix a browser hijack

Some hijackers can be simply removed by uninstalling the free software they were included with or by eliminating any extension you have recently added to your computer system. But, the majority of hijacking codes are certainly not easy to get rid of manually, as they go deeper into the operating system. And there is no denying the very fact that manual fixes and removal could be a difficult job for an amateur computer user. Besides, there are several risks connected with fiddling around with the system registry files. You can choose automatic browser hijacker removal by simply installing and running efficient anti-malware software. SafeBytes Anti-Malware discovers all types of hijackers – including Marine Aquarium Lite – and eliminates every trace quickly and efficiently. Utilize a system optimizer (such as Total System Care) together with your anti-malware software to fix various computer registry issues, eliminate computer vulnerabilities, and enhance your computer performance.

Can't Install Safebytes Anti-malware because of Malware? Try This!

Malware may cause several different types of damage to computer systems, networks, and data. Some malware sits in between your PC and the net connection and blocks a few or all websites that you want to visit. It will also prevent you from installing anything on your PC, particularly antivirus applications. If you are reading this right now, you have probably realized that virus infection is the reason behind your blocked net traffic. So what to do when you want to install an anti-malware program such as Safebytes? Even though this sort of issue will be tougher to circumvent, there are some actions you can take.

Boot your system in Safe Mode

In Safe Mode, you could adjust Windows settings, uninstall or install some programs, and eradicate hard-to-delete viruses and malware. In the event the malware is blocking access to the internet and affecting your PC, running it in Safe Mode allows you to download anti-virus and run a diagnostic scan whilst limiting potential damage. To enter into Safe Mode or Safe Mode with Networking, press the F8 key while the system is booting up or run MSConfig and find the “Safe Boot” options in the “Boot” tab. As soon as you restart the PC into Safe Mode with Networking, you may download, install, as well as update the anti-malware program from there. At this point, you could run the anti-virus scan to get rid of viruses and malware without interference from another application.

Switch over to some other internet browser

Some malware mainly targets certain web browsers. If this is your situation, use another browser as it may circumvent the computer virus. When you suspect that your Internet Explorer happens to be hijacked by a virus or otherwise compromised by cybercriminals, the best thing to do would be to switch to a different web browser such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Apple Safari to download your chosen security software – Safebytes Anti-Malware.

Make a bootable USB anti-virus drive

To successfully get rid of the malware, you will need to approach the issue of running an antivirus software program on the infected computer system from a different angle. Do these simple measures to clean up your affected computer by using a portable antivirus. 1) Use another virus-free computer system to download Safebytes Anti-Malware. 2) Plug the pen drive into the clean PC. 3) Double-click on the downloaded file to run the installation wizard. 4) Select the drive letter of the pen drive as the place when the wizard asks you where you want to install the anti-virus. Follow the instructions on the computer screen to finish up the installation process. 5) Now, plug the thumb drive into the infected computer. 6) Run the Safebytes Anti-malware directly from the pen drive by double-clicking the icon. 7) Click on the “Scan” button to run a full computer scan and remove viruses automatically. SafeBytes Security Suite Benefits"]If you are looking to install an anti-malware program for your computer, there are various tools out there to consider but you just cannot trust blindly anyone, no matter whether it is a free or paid program. Some are good ones, some are decent, and some are simply just fake anti-malware programs that will harm your personal computer themselves! You must be careful not to choose the wrong product, particularly if you purchase premium software. One of the highly recommended software by industry analysts is SafeBytes Anti-Malware, a well-known security application for Microsoft Windows. SafeBytes anti-malware is a powerful, highly effective protection software intended to assist users of all levels of IT literacy in detecting and removing harmful threats from their PC. Through its cutting-edge technology, this software protects your personal computer against infections brought on by different kinds of malware and similar internet threats, including adware, spyware, trojans horses, worms, computer viruses, keyloggers, potentially unwanted program (PUPs), and ransomware.

SafeBytes anti-malware provides an array of advanced features that sets it aside from all others. Here are a few popular features present in this computer software:

Robust Anti-malware Protection: This deep-cleaning antimalware software program goes much deeper than most antivirus tools to clean your personal computer. Its critically acclaimed virus engine locates and disables hard to remove malware that conceals deep within your PC. Real-time Active Protection: SafeBytes offers an entirely hands-free active protection and is set to check, block, and get rid of all threats at its first encounter. This tool will constantly monitor your computer for any suspicious activity and updates itself regularly to keep abreast of the latest threats. Web protection: SafeBytes gives an instant safety rating on the web pages you’re going to visit, automatically blocking risky sites and making sure that you are certain of your safety while browsing the web. Lightweight Application: The program is lightweight and will work silently in the background, and will not have an effect on your computer efficiency. Fantastic Tech Support: For any technical questions or product guidance, you can get 24/7 professional assistance through chat and e-mail. SafeBytes has developed a fantastic anti-malware solution to help you conquer the latest malware threats and virus attacks. You can rest assured that your computer will be protected in real-time as soon as you put this software program to use. If you want sophisticated forms of protection features and threat detections, purchasing SafeBytes Anti-Malware could be worth the money!

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you’d like to manually remove Marine Aquarium Lite without the use of an automated tool, it might be possible to do so by removing the application from the Microsoft Windows Add/Remove Programs menu, or in cases of browser plug-ins, going to the browsers AddOn/Extension manager and removing it. You’ll likely also want to reset your browser to its default configuration settings. To be certain of complete removal, find the following Windows registry entries on your system and delete them or reset the values accordingly. Please be aware that this is for skilled users only and could be challenging, with wrong file removal resulting in additional PC errors. In addition, some malicious programs have the capability to defend against its deletion. Doing this in Safe Mode is suggested.
Files: C:\%Documents%\%User%\Local\Temp\nst2.tmp\nsDialogs.dll C:\%Documents%\%User%\Local\Temp\nst2.tmp\System.dll
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Free Wifi Hotspot Removal Guide for Windows

The Free Wifi Hotspot is offered to users that own a laptop and a desktop PC that has a wired connection to the Internet and no WiFi modem. The Free Wifi Hotspot is said to help users share their Internet connection with mobile devices that support the 2G/3G/4G/USB tethering connectivity. However, users will need a 2G/3G/4G modem attached to the computer/laptop with access to the Internet if they intend to benefit from the Free Wifi Hotspot software. Additionally, the Free Wifi Hotspot may collect data like your Internet history, downloads log, and software configuration for product placement optimization. PC users that run the Free Wifi Hotspot software may be shown pop-up windows with marketing materials from time to time and maybe redirected to promotional offers.

Several anti-virus applications have flagged Free Wifi Hotspot as a Potentially Unwanted Applications and may come bundled with other PUP-s that may harm your computer or steal some information, due to these risks it is marked for optional removal.

About Potentially Unwanted Applications

Everybody has experienced it – you download a piece of free application, then you see some unwanted applications on your computer or find a strange toolbar has been included with your browser. You didn’t install them, so how did they appear? These unwanted applications, which are referred to as Potentially Unwanted Programs, or PUPs in short, typically tag along as a software package when downloading the application and can ruin your PC or cause major annoyances. PUP does not involve malware in the traditional sense. The reason is, the majority of PUPs end up in a computer not because they slip through the security holes, for example, but because the users have got installed them themselves – totally unintentionally needless to say. A PUP might not be regarded as malicious or harmful but nonetheless, it is a standard reason for clunky OSs; some PUPs are a lot more aggressive by deliberately slowing down your computer or laptop.

How does unwanted software impact you?

Unwanted programs come in many forms. Usually, they can be seen in adware bundlers that are known to utilize aggressive and misleading advertising. The majority of bundlers install many adware programs from several vendors, each of which has its own EULA policy. Safebytes Anti-malware totally eliminates this threat and safeguards your machine against PUP or adware infection. The PUPs likewise get installed into your computer in the form of browser add-ons and toolbars. They will modify web browser settings, change the default search engine, substitute the default home page with their very own websites, slow down browsing speed, and also will ruin your system also. Potentially unwanted programs apply aggressive distribution methods to get onto your personal computer. The worst part of installing a PUP is the spyware, adware, and keystroke loggers that may hide inside. These are software programs that don’t do anything good for you; in addition to occupying space on the hard disk, they will also slow down your PC, often change settings without your approval, the list of troublesome features goes on and on.

Tips on avoiding PUPs

• When installing anything on your desktop, always read the fine print, like the license agreement. Do not accept terms of use that are for bundled programs. • Don’t accept standard, express, default, or any other installation settings which are recommended. Always opt for “custom” installation. • Make use of an antivirus program to boost your protection. Anti-malware programs like Safebytes Anti-malware has got real-time features that will block PUPs before they harm your computer. • Avoid adding freeware software you won’t make use of. Nowadays ‘freeware’ isn’t actually freeware – but ‘crapware’ bundling nonsense. • Always download programs from the original website. Most PUPs find their way onto your PC is through download portals, so avoid it entirely. Comply with these tips and you will almost never get potentially unwanted programs on your computer.

How To Get Rid Of Malware That Is Blocking Antivirus Downloads?

Every malware is bad and the level of the damage can vary greatly depending on the type of malware. Some malware sits in between the computer and the internet connection and blocks some or all websites that you really want to check out. It will also block you from adding anything to your PC, especially the anti-virus program. If you’re reading this, you may have affected by a virus that prevents you from downloading a security application such as Safebytes Anti-Malware. There are some options you could try to get around with this particular issue.

Use Safe Mode to resolve the problem

In the event the malware is set to run at Windows startup, then booting in safe mode should avoid it. Since just the bare minimum programs and services launch in “Safe Mode”, there are rarely any reasons for conflicts to happen. Listed here are the steps you need to follow to boot into the Safe Mode of your Windows XP, Vista, or 7 computers (check out Microsoft site for directions on Windows 8 and 10 PCs). 1) At power on, press the F8 key before the Windows splash screen starts to load. This will conjure up the “Advanced Boot Options” menu. 2) Make use of the arrow keys to select Safe Mode with Networking and hit ENTER. 3) When you are into this mode, you should have access to the internet 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 allow the program to delete the threats it detects.

Switch over to some other internet browser

Certain malware might target vulnerabilities of a particular web browser that obstruct the downloading process. If you suspect that your Internet Explorer happens to be hijacked by a trojan or otherwise compromised by cybercriminals, the most effective thing to do is to switch to an alternate browser such as Chrome, Firefox, or Safari to download your chosen security application – Safebytes Anti-Malware.

Install security software on a USB drive

Another solution is to download and transfer antivirus software from a clean PC to run a scan on the affected computer. Abide by these steps to run the antivirus on the infected computer. 1) On a virus-free PC, install Safebytes Anti-Malware. 2) Plug in the pen drive to a USB slot on the uninfected computer. 3) Double-click the Setup icon of the antivirus software to run the Installation Wizard. 4) Select the flash drive as the destination for saving the software file. Follow activation instructions. 5) Now, insert the thumb drive into the infected system. 6) Double click the Safebytes Anti-malware icon on the pen drive to run the application. 7) Click “Scan Now” to run a complete scan on the infected computer for viruses.

SafeBytes Anti-Malware Benefits

If you are looking to download anti-malware software for your PC, there are lots of tools on the market to consider however, you should not trust blindly anyone, regardless of whether it is free or paid software. Some are very good ones, some are decent, and some are just bogus anti-malware software that will harm your computer themselves! You should opt for a tool that has gained a good reputation and detects not only viruses but other kinds of malware too. On the list of recommended software by industry leaders is SafeBytes Anti-Malware, a popular security application for Microsoft Windows. Safebytes is one of the well-established PC solutions companies, which provide this complete anti-malware software program. When you have installed this software, SafeByte's state-of-the-art protection system will ensure that no viruses or malware can seep through your computer.

SafeBytes anti-malware provides a plethora of enhanced features which set it apart from all others. Below are some of the best ones:

Live Protection: SafeBytes offers an entirely hands-free active protection and is set to monitor, block, and get rid of all computer threats at its first encounter. They’re very efficient in screening and getting rid of different threats because they are continuously revised with new updates and safety measures. World-class AntiMalware Protection: This deep-cleaning anti-malware program goes much deeper than most anti-virus tools to clean out your computer. Its critically acclaimed virus engine finds and disables hard-to-remove malware that conceals deep inside your personal computer. Safe Web Browsing: SafeBytes checks and provides a unique safety rating to every single website you visit and block access to webpages considered to be phishing sites, thus safeguarding you from identity theft, or known to contain malware. Lightweight Tool: SafeBytes is a lightweight and easy-of-use antivirus and antimalware solution. As it uses minimum computer resources, this program leaves the computer power exactly where it belongs to: with you actually. Fantastic Technical Support: Expert technicians are at your disposal 24/7! They will promptly resolve any technical issues you may be encountering with your security software. SafeBytes can keep your PC protected from most advanced malware threats automatically with almost no input needed from you again. Once you’ve downloaded and installed SafeBytes Anti-Malware, you will no longer need to bother about malware or other security worries. If you want sophisticated forms of protection features & threat detections, buying SafeBytes Anti-Malware could be worth the dollars!

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you’d like to perform the removal of Free Wifi Hotspot manually instead of using an automated software tool, you may follow these steps: Go to the Windows Control Panel, click the “Add or Remove Programs” and there, select the offending application to uninstall. In case of suspicious versions of browser extensions, you can actually remove them via your web browser’s extension manager. You’ll probably also want to totally reset your internet browser to its default configuration settings. To ensure the complete removal, manually examine your hard drive and Windows registry for all of the following and eliminate or reset the values accordingly. Please remember that only professional users should attempt to manually edit the registry because incorrect file removal leads to a major problem or even a computer crash. Furthermore, certain malware is capable of replicating itself or preventing deletion. It is advisable that you carry out the removal procedure in Windows Safe Mode.
Files: %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Free WiFi Hotspot %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Free WiFi Hotspot %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Application Data\Start Menu\Programs\Free WiFi Hotspot %Appdata%\Free WiFi Hotspot New Version Available Registry: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\[APPLICATION]\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall..Uninstaller Free WiFi Hotspot_is1
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Fix The drive is not a valid backup location
USB storage devices are used to store small and even big files, depending on their sizes. Usually, the sizes of the USB vary from 2GB up to 16GB. And as time passes, they have advanced quite a bit and now it’s common to find USB sticks with a capacity of 32GB, 64GB, or even 128GB. And since they now have large capacities, USB storage devices are often used for storing backups of system data as well as creating an image. However, there are times when you might encounter an error message while trying to create a backup or image on your USB device. The error message states:
“The drive is not a valid backup location.”
One of the causes of this problem is that Windows was not able to recognize the USB drives as a valid backup location since USB storage devices weren’t previously large enough to store system images. To fix this error, here are some possible solutions that might help.

Option 1 – Try creating a sub-folder in the USB drive and backup all the images there

The first thing you can try to do is to create a sub-folder on your USB device. This is one good way you can bypass the USB drive limitation. How? Refer to the steps below.
  • First, right-click on the USB storage device and select Format.
  • Next, select NTFS as the File System and check the box next to Quick Format.
  • After that, click on Start to initiate the formatting process.
  • Once the formatting process is completed, open the USB drive and right-click anywhere inside its main drive window, and then select New > Folder.
  • Then name the folder to be created as “Image (or anything you please)”.
  • Afterward, right-click on the folder and select Properties.
  • From there, go to the Sharing tab and click on Share.
  • Now check if the Permission level on the System owner which should be your username is labeled as “Owner”.
  • Then try to back up your files again using your USB drive while keeping the sub-folder as the backup location.

Option 2 – Update the USB Controller Drivers

  • 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 “Universal Serial Bus controllers” option and then right-click on each one of the USB drivers and select the Update Driver from the menu.
  • Restart your PC and then click the “Search automatically for updated driver software” option.
You also have the option to update the motherboard and the USB driver from the manufacturer’s official website.

Option 3 – Run CHKDSK utility to check the drive for errors

When it comes to some issues concerning the hard drive or removable devices, there is a utility in Windows that might help which is called “chkdsk”. To use it, follow the steps below.
  • Tap the Win + S keys to open the Search box.
  • Then type “command prompt” in the field and from the search results that appear, right-click on Command Prompt and select “Run as administrator”.
  • After opening an elevated command prompt, copy and paste the following command and hit Enter:
CHKDSK [volume [[path] filename]] [/F] [/V] [/R] [/X] [/C] [: size]]
Note: In the command given above, “[/F]” will try to fix the system errors while “[/R]” will be the one to fix the bad sectors.
  • Now if you are prompted to run CHKDSK after your reboot your PC, just tap Y and reboot your PC.
  • If CHKDSK is not able to find any errors, tap the Win + E keys and navigate the access window. From there, right-click on the concerned drive and click on Properties.
  • After opening Properties, click on the tab Tools and then click on the “Check” button under the Error-checking section.
  • Wait until the process is completed and then restart your computer.
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How to Enable Last Active Click feature
Microsoft has started to use group along with every open window in the Taskbar ever since the release of Windows 10. Early on, they used to show an individual entry for each one of the windows after grouping them which makes the taskbar look cleaner and organized. However, the main issue lies in the fact that you have to hover on your desired window to get on to them. At the time of writing, you need to tap the Ctrl key and click on the taskbar icon to open the last active window but you have to only click on the program’s taskbar icon after you apply the tweak given in this post for the last active window to open. Take note that the “Last Active” windows feature will only work if the taskbar buttons are combined. Before you get started doing the instructions given below, you need to create a System Restore Point first since you will be dealing with registry files and modifying some of the critical settings in Windows 10. Once you’ve done this, proceed to the given steps below. Step 1: Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box and then type “Regedit” in the field and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor. Step 2: If a User Account Control or UAC prompt appears, just click on Yes to proceed to open the Registry Editor. Step 3: Next, navigate to the following registry path:
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerAdvanced
Step 4: From there, right-click on the right side of the panel and select New > DWORD (32-bit) and then name it “LastActiveClick”. Step 5: After that, double click on the newly created DWORd to modify its value. Put “1” as its value data. Step 6: Then click OK and close the Registry Editor. Step 7: Now restart your computer to successfully apply the changes made. Note: In case you want to revert back to the default configuration, all you have to do is set the value data of LastActiveClick to “0” or simply delete that DWORD and restart your computer to successfully apply the changes made.
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Calibrating Windows 10 display for HDR video
High Dynamic Range or HDR is a technique that’s used to create lifelike videos which have improved and better dynamic range, especially when it comes to details. And as you know, Windows 10 supports the steaming of HDR videos as long as the display supports it and it comes with the option to enable the HDR Playback for Windows 10 Video Streaming apps. However, before you can get the best viewing experience, you need to calibrate the display further for HDR video on your Windows 10 PC. Take note that even when you have the HDR Playback feature enabled on your computer, you still need a display that supports it. To make sure that your display supports this feature, you can use the DirectX Diagnostic Tool to have the display correctly wired and have the latest WDDM 2.4 drivers installed as well as set the other settings properly. Once you’ve made sure that your computer’s display really supports HDR and you’ve already enabled the HDR Playback feature, now it’s time for you to calibrate. Remember that when you calibrate the display, you should make an external monitor your primary display if you are using it for HDR and then adjust the settings to your liking. And if you are calibrating for primary display, you need to disconnect all other displays.

Follow the given steps below to calibrate the display of your PC.

  • Step 1: You need to open the Video Playback first. To do so, navigate to Settings > Apps > Video Playback.
  • Step 2: Under the Video Playback settings, uncheck the “Don’t increase display brightness when watching HDR video on battery” checkbox or plug in your PC.
  • Step 3: Next, click the “Change calibration settings for HDR video on my built-in display” link located on the right side.
  • Step 4: After that, click on the Play button located on the left side to play the video. Then move the sliders to the left or right so you can start to calibrate. Once you see that the quality of the image is to your preference, stop.
Note: Just a tip when calibrating – you just have to find the right balance between the details in the darker parts of a scene. For instance, you have Mountains in the background and buildings in the front – you need to drag the slider to the right to add more details to the snow on the mountain or drag the slider to the left to add more details to the buildings. After that, you can pause the video and exit the full-screen mode. Keep in mind that the quality of HDR depends on you as it is a personal choice. Some users might like a brighter shade while other ones want the darker shade so it really depends on your taste. If you are not satisfied with how your HDR turned out, you can just try calibrating the display again. Simply go back to the default HDR video calibration and click or tap the Reset calibration button. Another thing to remember. First, you can only see HDR content on the full screen and if you’re using a laptop, you need to make sure to watch videos when plugged in and check that the battery settings won't’ lower the brightness.
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