Software review series: Adobe Photoshop

Missing Dciman32.dll Error – What is it?

Dciman32.dll is a type of dynamic link library. Just like any other dll file, it includes instructions and is called to load and run different programs. The Missing Dciman32 dll error code occurs when the program dependent on this dll file type is unable to load the file. This error can occur while using or installing certain programs on your system.

• "Dciman32.dll Not Found"
• "Cannot find [PATH]dciman32.dll"
• "This application failed to start because dciman32.dll was not found. Re-installing the application may fix this problem."
• "The file dciman32.dll is missing."
• "Cannot start [APPLICATION]. A required component is missing: dciman32.dll. Please install [APPLICATION] again."

Solution

Error Causes

The Dciman32.dll error causes include:

• Dciman32.dll file corruption or removal
• Poor program installation that uses Dciman32.dll file
• Registry issues
• Hardware failure
• Malware infection

Further Information and Manual Repair

Here are some of the easiest and effective ways to fix the Dciman32 dll error on your PC:

Method 1 - Restore Dciman32 dll file Back on your PC

Remember DLL files are shared files. You might have deleted this file while uninstalling some other program on your PC. Therefore to restore Dciman32.dll file, first check your recycle bin. If you locate it, then that’s great however if you don’t, then another way to restore the Dciman32.dll file is to download it from the internet.

Method 2 - Update Drivers for Hardware Devices

To update the driver first download the latest drivers from the hardware manufacturer’s website. Now go to the start menu, then the control panel and then click the device manager. Once you open the device manager, locate the hardware device you want to update the driver for. For example, if you experience a Dciman32 dll error when you play a 3D video game, then this indicates that you need to update the drivers for your video card. Navigate through different categories of hardware devices by clicking the icon to find the hardware you want to update. After finding the hardware you’re updating the driver for, right-click on the hardware’s name and then choose properties and then the driver tab. Click update driver button. This method will take approximately 10 to 12 minutes. To activate the changes you will have to restart your PC.

Method 3 - Reinstall the Program that Uses Dciman32.dll File

Another way to resolve the Dciman32.dll error code on your system is to reinstall the program showing the error message. Poor program installation can also be the reason for the error occurrence. To reinstall the program, first, you will have to uninstall the program showing the error message, and then restart your PC to activate changes. Once your computer restarts, reinstall the deleted program. Make sure that the disc or the CD you are reinstalling the program from is bug-free and not scratched.

Method 4 - Scan your PC for Registry Issues and Viruses

If the dll error still persists, then this means either the error is triggered by viruses or registry issues. To resolve these issues you will have to install and run programs on your PC antivirus and a registry cleaner. However, you should note that installing too many programs can slow down your system’s performance.

Restoro

The best way to scan for viruses and registry issues without compromising your PC performance is to download Restoro. This is a multi-functional PC Fixer embedded with 4 powerful and unique PC repair utilities including an antivirus that scans all kinds of viruses, Trojans, and malware. It also features a registry cleaner that removes all unwanted files saved in the registry, cleans the registry, repairs the damaged dll and system files including the Dciman32.dll file, and restores them back to normal. Furthermore, to ensure your system performance at its optimum level, it is also embedded with a system optimizer. And forth utility it features is Active X controls and class scanner. This is a safe and a user-friendly program compatible with all Windows versions. Click here to download Restoro now.

As you know, Microsoft Office Word is a program that’s widely used all over the web and it’s because it’s the best program there is when it comes to editing and processing words. However, even when it is the best there is, it is not without its faults and so on as it can still encounter some errors every now and then. One of these errors is the Template_fields errors. When you encounter such an error, you will see a pop-up window. This strange error randomly appears on documents but you need not worry as this post will provide you with possible solutions to resolve the problem. But before you proceed with these solutions, you have to create a backup for all your Word documents to Microsoft OneDrive preferably. To fix the problem, you can try to disable the add-ins or try to start Word in Safe Mode or repair Office. For more details, refer to the options given below.

Option 1 – Disable the Add-ins

Although add-ins enhance Microsoft Word, there are times when they can also cause problems that end up breaking Microsoft Word instead of improving it which is why you have to disable them. Refer to the following steps to do so:

• Open Microsoft Word and then click on File.
• After that, select Options from the menu and then click on Add-ins.
• From there, you’ll see Manage: Com Add-ins as well as a button that says Go.
• Now click on the Go button and wait for a couple of seconds for a new window to appear.
• In the newly opened window, uncheck all the Add-ins and click on OK.
• Restart Microsoft Word and check if the “Template_fields” error is now fixed or not.

Option 2 – Try starting Word in Safe Mode

You might also want to try rebooting Microsoft Office in Safe Mode as it is one of your best shots in finding out whether the problem is internal or external. However, if the problem does not appear after you reboot Microsoft Word in Safe Mode, then there is a possibility that the problem is with Microsoft Office itself. On the other hand, if the problem persists, then it could be a deeper issue.

• First, start Microsoft Word in Safe Mode.
• Next, tap and hold the Ctrl key on your keyboard and open the Word document.
• After that, you should see a dialog box. Click on Yes and see if Microsoft Word opens in Safe Mode.
• Alternatively, you can open the search box and then type “winword.exe /safe” and hit Enter.

Option 3 – Try repairing Microsoft Office

If the first two options didn’t work, then you might want to try repairing Microsoft Office without getting rid of it. In most cases, this usually works in fixing any problems and returns the program back to its default state. To repair Microsoft Office, follow the steps below.

• Right-click on the Start Menu button and select Apps and Features.
• Next, scroll until you see the Microsoft Office program you want to repair and then select the Modify option.
• After that, follow the options to repair Microsoft Office and then restart your PC and see if the “Template_fields” error is no longer present.

One of the most useful utilities on a Windows 10 computer is the Windows File Explorer. It is undeniably one of the File Managers out there full of features on all the platforms. However, it is not without its issues and one of the most common ones most users encounter is when you are trying to open a folder or a location on File Explorer and it displays a message saying, “Working on it…” as it tries to load the content of that location or folder. This kind of issue mainly occurs to computers that run on an HDD although that doesn’t mean that it can’t happen to other computers that run an SDD. And so if the File Explorer on your Windows 10 computer keeps getting stuck on the “Working on it…” message along with a green animation bar moving very slowly while loading the contents of the folder, then it’s best if you follow the options given below to resolve this problem.

Option 1 – Try deleting the contents of the Automatic Destinations folder

• Tap the Win + R keys on your keyboard to open the Run utility.
• And then type “%AppData%MicrosoftWindowsRecentAutomaticDestinations” and hit Enter to open this location.
• From there, select all the files and tap the Shift + Delete key combination.
• After that, you will get a prompt that will ask you if you want to delete all the files permanently, just click on Yes. This will delete all the Quick Access cache.
• Now check if you can now open a folder or a location without the “Working on it…” message.

Option 2 – Try to rebuild the Search Index

• First, open the Indexing Options using the Search bar.
• Next, click on the appropriate listing, e.g. Users folder.
• After that, click on the Advanced button. This will open a mini-sized window and from there, go to the Index Settings tab.
• Then click on the “Rebuild” option under the Troubleshooting section.
• Now click on OK after the rebuilding is completed. This should rebuild the search index for all the files and thus, fix the File Explorer stuck on the “Working on it…” message.

Option 3 – Try to optimize the folder for General Items

You might also want to try optimizing the folder for General Items as it can help the File Explorer to load the contents faster.

• Just right click on the folder that takes time to load the contents in it and is showing the “Working on it…” message.
• After that, click on Properties to open the Properties mini window.
• From there, go to the Customize tab and click on the drop-down menu to “Optimize this folder for” under the “What kind of folder do you want?” section and then select General Items.
• Then check the checkbox with a label that says, “Also apply this template to all subfolders” and click on the OK button to save the changes.
• Restart File Explorer and check if the problem is now fixed or not.

Option 4 – Try performing a System Restore

Running System Restore can also help you resolve whatever issue that’s causing the “Working on it…” message. You can do this option either by booting into Safe Mode or in System Restore. If you are already in the Advanced Startup Options, just directly select System Restore and proceed with the next steps. And if you have just booted your PC into Safe Mode, refer to the steps below.

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• After that, type in “sysdm.cpl” in the field and tap Enter.
• Next, go to the System Protection tab then click the System Restore button. This will open a new window where you have to select your preferred System Restore point.
• After that, follow the on-screen instructions to finish the process and then restart your computer and check if the problem is fixed or not.

22H2 update for Windows 11 will arrive later this year and although Microsoft is not releasing anything big there will be some interesting improvements and fixes. We take a look at some that caught our attention.

Phishing protection

One of the most interesting upcoming features is enhanced phishing protection. Microsoft Defender SmartScreen will be upgraded to alert users when they try to store passwords in plain text files and also if they accidentally type in a Microsoft account password on phishing sites.

"These enhancements will make Windows the world's first operating system with phishing safeguards built directly into the platform and shipped out of the box to help users stay productive and secure without having to learn to be their own IT department,"

Microsoft

File Explorer gets tabs, a modern sidebar, and contextual suggestions

Finally, Windows File explorer is getting tabs that will allow much easier management of folders and files inside it.

It is confirmed that Microsoft is also working on a new 'HOME' sidebar that should be modern in design and in features including OneDrive so you can find everything in one place.

Pinning of favorite files was also mentioned so you can easily pin favorites for quick access.

Full-screen widgets

Windows 11 has brought back widgets in a new way and from all the feedback users are loving them. Currently, you have a widget sidebar on the left part of the screen where you have your chosen store widgets but from the Microsoft teaser, we will have soon the option to have them in full screen.

If you are using a widget for reading news, blogs, etc. this feature will be very good since you will be able to use your whole screen for information and not just a part of it.

Suggested actions

Another new feature is 'suggested actions' which is going to be particularly useful in apps like Microsoft Teams. With this new feature, you can highlight a date in a Teams message and Windows will suggest actions.

For example, if you highlight a date, you'll see a recommendation to create an event in Microsoft Calendar for that day.

Virtual Reality is slowly becoming standard in gaming. More and more affordable headsets are coming out lowering entry prices and making them affordable for all. But in a sea of new VR headsets, it is important to at least purchase a decent one that will perform nicely and hopefully last longer. Therefore in today’s article, we will address some of the best options currently available on the market,

Oculus Quest 2

With its Rift model, Oculus set itself as a big player in VR. Now the company is slowly bowing out of the dedicated, tethered VR headset with its latest Quest 2 designed to primarily be a standalone headset. In case you do not know, tethered headset means that the headset itself is connected to your PC and is using its power to drive your VR experience. Now technical specifications of Quest 2 are pretty OK and it can drive stuff pretty decently and if you want you can purchase the dedicated cable to connect it to your PC for the full experience of games requiring more capable hardware. Oculus Quest 2 is the cheapest headset on this list and with its stable performance, is highly recommended.

Valve Index VR

Although the headset itself is nothing revolutionary or special its controllers are. They can track individual finger movements, making games (that take advantage of them) much more immersive than the standard trigger grips on other controllers. The Index's higher refresh rate makes for smoother action, as well, which is another nice bonus. If you already have an HTC Vive or Vive Cosmos Elite, and their base stations (not the regular Cosmos), you can buy only the controllers.

Sony PlayStation VR

The PlayStation VR is compelling thanks to Sony backing its development, plus the PlayStation 4's affordability and availability compared with gaming PCs. All you need is the headset, a PlayStation 4, and a PlayStation Camera (now included with most PlayStation VR bundles). Not really the best of the bunch but still one of the top ones for console gaming. Sony is working on a new PlayStation VR system for the PlayStation 5, with redesigned controllers. The new headset hasn't been revealed yet, but the company has released a preview of the new controllers.

HP Reverb G2 VR

HP headset is one which you get if you want the best image quality in VR headset, sadly controllers did not follow the same quality of headset itself. But this is still a pretty decent headset overall and worth the purchase.

HTC Vive Cosmos

HTC's Vive Cosmos is the upgraded version of the Vive. It features a higher resolution and replaces the external base stations with outward-facing cameras for motion tracking. It's a comprehensive package for whole-room VR. HTC recently released the Vive Pro 2, a high-end VR headset targeting both enterprise users and consumers. This new headset features a 2,448-by-2,448 resolution display for each eye, making it the highest-resolution headset currently available. It's also more expensive than the Cosmos Elite. Sadly one thing that is bringing this headset down is the price.

When you encounter an error message that says, Chassis Intruded…Fatal Error…System Halted on your monitor then it indicates that the Chassis or the cabinet that holds the CPU, GPU, motherboard, and many more is open. It is a security feature offered by OEMs wherein a connector that is found in the motherboard can detect if the chassis component has been replaced or removed. There are a few OEMs that offer onboard speaker or PC chassis speaker which goes off in this kind of situation. Obviously, the problem has something to do with the hardware and in most cases, you have to put the jumper back on the motherboard with the pin-labeled chassis signal and ground. There are times when some OEMs offer a simple switch that is armed automatically when you properly close the chassis. Thus, you need to check if this switch has something to do with the error. If there is no switch or if it doesn’t resolve the issue, although you may be able to get into Windows with a warm boot, the normal Windows boot won’t really work unless you fix the problem. It is rather false positive and has something to do with the RTC RAM state or the BIOS. You might need to completely disable the Chassis intrusion feature to fix the error. Refer to the suggestions given below to try and fix the “Chassis Intruded, Fatal Error … System Halted” error.

Option 1 – Try to clear CMOS

You can easily clear CMOS by shorting two pins which can be found side by side on the motherboard. Keep in mind that it may vary from OEM to OEM although the basics are still the same to clear CMOS. In addition, you might also have to download the manual from the OEM’s website so that you’ll know its exact location.

Option 2 – Try booting into the BIOS

You can also try booting into the BIOS. All you have to do is tap either the DEL or F2 keys to get there. Note that everything will be set back to their default setting after you reset the CMOS.

Option 3 – Try disabling Chassis intrusion

In this option, you have to look for the Chassis intrusion feature in your BIOS. It might be located under security. From there, disable it and check if the problem’s fixed.

Option 4 – Try to reconfigure the BIOS

Once you have disabled the Chassis feature, you need to reconfigure the BIOS the way you expect it to be or to what it was before the reset.

If the Task Manager is either blank or is not showing processes on your Windows 10 computer, then here are a few things you can do to resolve this issue. This kind of problem can occur due to some system file corruption or some malware infection in the system. Here are some suggestions you can try to resolve the problem with the Task Manager on your Windows 10 PC.

Option 1 – Try restarting your computer

The most common and most of the time effective way to resolve this kind of issue is to simply restart your computer. Thus, you have to restart your computer and see if it helps in fixing the Task Manager issue or not. If not, you can try the next given options below.

Option 2 – Run the DISM tool

If the first option didn’t work, then running the Deployment Imaging and Servicing Management tool can help you resolve the issue with the Task Manager as it will repair the Windows System Image as well as the Windows Component Store in Windows 10.

• After you access the Advanced Startup options, select Command Prompt by using the arrow keys on your keyboard.
• Next, type in this command: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
• Do not close the window if the process takes a while as it will probably take a few minutes to finish.

Option 3 – Make sure that the display columns are selected in the Task Manager

You have to make sure that you have checked or selected the display columns you want to be displayed. So if none of them are selected, you might not see any details at all. Thus, you need to right-click on the space near Name and select the columns.

Option 4 – Run the System File Checker 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 with good system files that might be the reason why the Task Manager is blank or is not showing processes. 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.

• Restart your computer.

Option 5 – Troubleshot the problem in a Clean Boot State

There are some instances that some conflicting programs installed in your computer might be the one that’s causing the Task Manager issue. To identify which program is causing the problem, you need to put your computer in a Clean Boot State. To do so, follow the steps below.

• Log onto your PC as an administrator.
• Type in MSConfig in the Start Search to open the System Configuration utility.
• From there, go to the General tab and click “Selective startup”.
• Clear the “Load Startup items” check box and make sure that the “Load System Services” and “Use Original boot configuration” options are checked.
• Next, click the Services tab and select the “Hide All Microsoft Services” check box.
• Click Disable all.
• Click on Apply/OK and restart your PC. (This will put your PC into a Clean Boot State. And configure Windows to use the usual startup, just simply undo the changes.)
• From there, start to isolate the problem by checking which one of the programs you installed recently is the root cause of the problem.

Option 6 – Try scanning your computer using Windows Defender

As mentioned, the Task Manager issue might be caused by some malware in the system and so to eliminate the malware, you have to scan your computer using security programs like Windows Defender.

• Tap the Win + I keys to open Update & Security.
• Then click on the Windows Security option and open Windows Defender Security Center.
• Next, click on Virus & threat protection > Run a new advanced scan.
• Now make sure that Full Scan is selected from the menu and then click the Scan Now button to get started.

Recently, a number of users reported seeing plain white icons on their “.docx” files instead of the Word icon. This kind of issue is mostly caused by a conflict with the default program settings in Windows which is why you may not see any Microsoft Word icon on your .docx files. So if you suddenly find that the Microsoft Word icon is either blank or missing and does not show properly on .doc and .docx document files of Office on your Windows 10 computer, then you can check out the potential solutions outlined below. Before you proceed, you can try to restart your computer as there are instances when a simple system restart can resolve some issues like this one. However, if it does not help, create a System Restore point first. This is to ensure that you can always undo the changes you are about to make in case something goes wrong. Once you have that covered, proceed to the following options.

Option 1 – Try to configure .docx files to open with “winword.exe”

You can try configuring the .docx files to open with the winword.exe in order to fix the problem.

• Right-click on a .docx file and select the “Open with…” option.
• After that, if a prompt appears with a message saying, “How do you want to open this file”, select the “More apps” option to proceed.
• Next, scroll down and check the checkbox that says, “Always use this app to open .docx files” option.
• Then click on the “Look for another app on this PC” link and choose the WINWORD.exe application from one of the following paths based on the installed Office version in your computer and click Open:
  • Word 2016 (64-bit): C:/Program Files/Microsoft Office/root/Office16
  • Word 2016 (32-bit): C:/Program Files (x86)/Microsoft Office/root/Office16

• Now check if you can now see the Word icon on the .doc or .docx files.

Option 2 – Try changing the default Word icon via Registry Editor

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run utility.
• Then type “Regedit” in the field and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor.
• Next, navigate to this path located in the left pane: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTWord.Document.12DefaultIcon
• From there, double click on the default value at the right pane and based on the Word version you are using as well as the architecture (32 bit or 64 bit) and then copy-paste the corresponding value in the Value data box:
  • For Word 2016 (64-bit) keep it as C:/Program Files/Microsoft Office/root/Office16/wordicon.exe,13
  • For Word 2016 (32-bit) Keep it as C:/Program Files (x86)/Microsoft Office/root/Office16/wordicon.exe,13

• Once you’re done, tap Enter and then close the Registry Editor.
• Restart your computer and see if the problem’s fixed.

Option 3 – Try to rebuild the Icon cache

You may want to rebuild the Icon cache as it could also help fix the issue.

• Tap Win + E to open File Explorer and then click Folder Options and click Views to show Hidden System Files.
• After that, go to C:Users%username%AppDataLocal folder and look for a file named Iconcache.db and delete it.
• Next, go to C:Users%username%AppDataLocalMicrosoftWindowsExplorer.
• From there, look for the following files and delete them.
  • iconcache_32.db
  • iconcache_48.db
  • iconcache_96.db
  • iconcache_256.db
  • iconcache_1024.db
  • iconcache_1280.db
  • iconcache_1600.db
  • iconcache_1920.db
  • iconcache_2560.db
  • iconcache_exif.db
  • iconcache_idx.db
  • iconcache_sr.db
  • iconcache_wide.dd
  • iconcache_wide_alternate.db
• Restart your computer. This will purge and rebuild the icon cache.

Option 4 – Try fixing Office apps

Fixing the Office apps can help you resolve the Word icon issue. All you have to do is open Settings > Apps. From the app list, look for the Microsoft Office Desktop apps and select it and then click on the Advanced options and click Fix. After that, wait until the process is completed and restart your PC. However, if the problem still persists, repeat the steps again but this time, click on Reset instead of Fix.

Option 5 – Try to repair Office Installation

If the options given above didn’t work, you can try to repair the Office installation and see if it can fix the problem.

• Open Control Panel and click on Programs and Features.
• Next, right-click on the Office program that you want to repair which in this case is, Word.
• Select Change and click Repair > Continue. After that, Office will start to repair Microsoft Word.
• Wait until the process is done and then reboot your computer.

DirectX function GetDeviceRemovedReason error is a DirectX error that comes up during playing games on Windows 11 operating system. Usually, the error occurs in gaming systems powered by AMD and very rarely if any times at all on Nvidia or intel platforms. If you are one of the gamers affected by this error, fear not because we have a solution for you. Follow provided fix guide in order to correct this error and get back to gaming asap.

1. Update drivers

The first thing of course is to update your graphic card driver, you can do this with your graphic cards panel software or directly in Windows itself but the best practice and one that I would recommend is to go to your graphic card manufacturer’s website and download the latest driver there, and then install it inside Windows 11.

2. Change power mode

Changing power mode inside Windows 11 can solve this issue since sometimes Windows power manager if it is set to anything except best performance can interfere with the proper functioning of the graphic adapter, and because of this error. To change the power setting do the following:

1. Press ⊞ WINDOWS + I to open settings
2. Click on the System tab
3. Select power & battery on the right part
4. Click on the menu beside power mode
5. Select the best performance

3. Run SFC scan

Corrupted system files can also cause this error and if previous steps have not resolved it we will use Windows built-in tool SFC scan to find and repair all bad files in windows.

1. Press ⊞ WINDOWS + S to open the search menu
2. Type in Windows terminal and run it as administrator
3. If prompted click on YES on UAC
4. Press CTRL + SHIFT + 2 to run command prompt
5. Type in sfc /scannow and press ENTER
6. Wait for the whole process to finish and then reboot your system

4. Reinstall the problematic game

Sometimes game files can get corrupt and maybe even overwritten, try with game reinstallation if the problem still persists.

Next-generation of RAM, DDR5 supposed to hit shelves around late summer or fall in 2021if everything goes as planned. Its goal is to increase speed and efficiency, wants to pack more memory in a single stick, and have better power management.

Hardware requirements for DDR5

Using the latest memory technology will require other hardware to follow certain standards and the first ones that will need to follow are CPUs and Motherboards. Intel is already prepared with its Alder Lake CPUs that suppose to come out also later this year. AMD on other hand has not stated anything at the time of this writing but it is a bet that their next generation that will come in 2022 will have full support. It is speculated that bot companies and their respective CPUs will have both support for DDR4 and DDR5. A story about motherboards is a little different. Motherboards will support DDR4 or DDR5 memory banks, not both, so make sure that your motherboard will support the memory you plan on getting.

Capacity of memory

The goal and aim for the DDR5 memory stick are to reach a whopping 126GB per stack. This will be done by using a dual in-line module or DIMM enabling larger capacity. That being said, the first modules that we will see are more likely to be 16GB as standard and 8GB as low entry ones.

Power consumption of DDR5 memory

The standard voltage that DDR4 operates under is 1.2V. DDR5 wants to lower this to 1.1V without sacrificing speed. Voltage regulation on modules themselves will be now integrated on memory banks instead of leaving that to motherboards which will help to detect memory errors directly on the memory bank.

Speed of memory

The most common speed of DD4 memory banks is 2,666MHz, more expansive ones go from 3,600 to 4,000MHz. DD5 aims to raise this bar to 4,800MHz and offers greater speed.

Should you get it right away?

Hardware is ever-evolving, we have PCIe 3.0 to PCIe 4.0, and taking into account that sometimes the newest tech can cause some unexpected behavior it is always the best strategy to wait for a little. Price for the newest tech has also been in its heist just when it is released and seeing how DDR5 will benefit mostly servers mostly since even today memory, processors, and other available equipment can tackle all daily tasks.