Have you been feeling anxious in the digital space? Feeling like you have a million eyes on you each time you visit a website? It can definitely make you uneasy. Luckily there’s an easy fix, and it’s called a VPN.
In this article we’ll take you through the basics of what a VPN does and some of the biggest benefits you can reap from buying one.
VPN: definition and how it works
VPN stands for Virtual Private Network, so its name already says a lot about what it does.
A VPN is specialized software that keeps your browsing private and secure. Essentially it hides your identity, preventing possible cyberattacks and data theft. This is especially important in cases of public network use, where you’re highly exposed to potential threats.
To be more specific, this software encrypts your Internet Protocol (IP) address by filtering it through a server hosted by the VPN provider first. That way, it prevents your Internet service provider, third parties and lurking online thieves from tracking the actual you.
Credit: FLY:D on Unsplash
Some providers, such as Surfshark VPN with its IP Rotator feature, even make it a habit to frequently change your IP address to further protect your identity. With most VPN providers, you can also appear to be in a completely different country, adding to your disguise.
There are tons of advantages you can look forward to if you decide to use a VPN. Take a look at some of the crucial ones.
Benefits of using a VPN
When choosing a VPN, you can find both free and paid options. We recommend you go with the paid ones, since they have stronger security, encryption and data protection, as well as more advanced features. Free VPNs come with limitations and risk of malicious attacks on the software itself.
You can choose to buy a singular VPN service or opt for antivirus software that has a VPN built in, for example Bitdefender’s Ultimate Security plan. That depends on what you use your computer for and how much.
When you pick one, here’s what it can do for you.
1. Access region-specific content
When we said you could change your location, we meant it. Say you’re using a streaming service and a show you desperately want to watch isn’t available in your country. You can use your VPN to make it look like you’re browsing from a country where it’s unlocked.
This option is also convenient for gamers who want to access maps, skins and other in-game items unavailable in their location.
In addition, you can use this powerful feature when you’re traveling to a region where some of your favorite content may not be accessible.
Do keep in mind that you need to read the Terms and Conditions (yeah, we know - who does that?) of your games and services before doing this, since you could end up getting a penalty. It’s also important to remember that there are entire countries that have strict regulations or even bans on VPNs, for example Belarus, Russia and China. So make sure to be very cautious with your VPN use, friends.
2. Browse like no one’s watching
VPNs shield your browsing habits from prying eyes on the web. Those can be malicious hackers or just third-party cookies tracking your every move to later bombard you with targeted ads. For example, Surfshark VPN features a Cookie blocker that blocks all cookie-related pop-ups and lets you browse in peace (and secret). It works even when the VPN is turned off, which is also pretty neat.
In addition, their CleanWeb 2.0 technology makes sure ads and especially malware don’t stand a chance at all, since they’re blocked before they can even load.
The inability of sites to track your browsing means they can’t collect and analyze any of your data. So, your personal information - or your company’s information in case that’s what you’re using your computer for - is entirely hidden and secure.
3. Save money
It’s well-known that the prices of certain items and services vary based on your location, browsing time, age and many other factors. This most commonly goes for airline tickets and hotel stays.
You can use your VPN to avoid high prices and surcharges. Clear all cookies, turn on your VPN and visit an online shopping site to check out their prices. Then compare your findings with the offers you see when your VPN is off, when you spend a long time on the site or have an active account with the company.
Sometimes this can really help you find the best deals and avoid breaking the bank. But again, check the Terms and Conditions before you purchase something using a VPN.
4. Secure your smart home
The more smart devices you have connected to your network, the more exposed you are to potential cyberattacks. Phones and computers are generally designed to be decently secure even without a VPN or antivirus, but smart home devices leave a lot to be desired in that regard.
Protecting your home network with a VPN software means all devices connected to it are secure, be it an air purifier or Alexa.
Credit Bence Boros on Unsplash
5. Prevent connection slowdown
Your ISP can intentionally slow down your internet speed based on how much data you’ve consumed (data throttling) or your activities online (bandwidth throttling).
But with a VPN, what kind of data you send and receive and how much is entirely hidden. Therefore, if your ISP can’t see you, they can’t control you and they can’t throttle down your speed.
The bottom line
You can never be too safe online. So definitely think about getting yourself a solid VPN to pump up your privacy and security as much as you can. And if you have any questions or need help choosing the perfect software for you, feel free to reach out to us.
As you know, Windows programs depend on several operations to get executed and at the same time, there are also numerous parameters that have to be fulfilled for a program to get executed. However, based on some reports, there was an error when some users tried to run a program. This error says, “The application was unable to start correctly (0xc00007b)”.
There could be various reasons why this error occurs but the main one is most likely due to an x86 application that is not compatible with the x64-based operating system. To fix this problem, you can run the Check Disk utility or reinstall the application or the Microsoft .NET Framework. You can also try reinstalling DirectX or replace the corrupted DLL file(s). For more details, refer to the given options below.
Option 1 – Try running the Check Disk utility
In the Windows Search box, type “command prompt” and from the search results, right-click on Command Prompt and select “Run as administrator”.
After opening Command Prompt, type this command and tap Enter: chkdsk <Partition Letter>: /f
The command you entered will start to check for errors and fix them automatically. Else, it will throw an error message saying, “Chkdsk cannot run because the volume is in use by another process. Would you like the schedule this volume to be checked the next time the system restarts? (Y/N)”.
Tap the Y key to schedule Disk Check the next time your computer restarts.
Option 2 – Re-enable the Microsoft .NET Framework
You could also try to disable the Microsoft .NET Framework then enable the latest version of the .NET Framework on your PC and check if the error is fixed
Option 3 – Try to reinstall the program
There are times when some supporting module for your application under the hood could have messed up the application where you get the error. To fix this, you have to uninstall the program and then download its latest version from its official site and then install it again. Once you’re done, run the application and see if the error is fixed.
Option 4 – Run System File Checker scan
If reinstalling the program didn’t work, you can also try running the System File Checker or SFC scan to fix the error. System File Checker is a command utility built into your computer that helps restore corrupted files and missing files. Refer to the following steps to run it:
Hit the Win + R keys to launch Run.
Type in cmd in the field and tap Enter.
After opening Command Prompt, type in sfc /scannow
The command will start a system scan which will take a few whiles before it finishes. Once it’s done, you could get the following results:
Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.
Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them.
Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them.
Reboot your computer.
Option 5 – Try running the DirectX Diagnostic Tool
Since the error has something to do with the DirectX Graphics APIs, you can run the DirectX Diagnostic tool to resolve the problem.
Option 6 – Try updating or re-installing DirectX
If the DirectX Diagnostic tool didn’t work, you can try to update or reinstall DirectX instead. This can help in fixing the problem because when you reinstall or update DirectX, it will replace the incompatible or corrupted components of DirectX from your computer.
Windows 11 is coming soon, from its typical view and color scheme, Windows 11 will natively support dark mode.
The dark mode is very popular in many applications today, some large companies like Adobe, Autodesk, and many more have already adopted a dark color scheme for their software so it is logical for others to follow and Microsoft is aboard for it.
The dark mode itself has its benefits, for people who work on computer for longer period of time dark mode inside applications will throw less white and blue light on their eyes making workhours easier and pleasant on them.
As a person who does indeed spend a lot of time in front of the screen, I would advise you to switch to dark mode regardless of the time that you spend with a computer, your eyes will be grateful.
Switching to Dark mode in Windows 11
Open Windows 11 Settings by pressing ⊞ WINDOWS + I
Click on Personalization on the left sidebar
On the right side click on Color
In color options click on the drop-down menu right next to Choose your color
Select Dark
Your choice will be applied right away and you can safely close settings.
Recently, some users reported that they were unable to access a website and only got the Error 1005 Access Denied instead. Specifically, users experience this issue when trying to open the Crunchyroll website – one of the largest anime and manga websites. This particular error is encountered not just on Crunchyroll but on a variety of websites like blogs, video streaming, forums, and so on.
Here’s the full context of the error message:
“Error 1005 Access Denied – The owner of this website has banned the autonomous system number (ASN) your IP address from accessing this website.”
Usually, this error occurs when the website administrator decides to block an IP address or IP range. To fix this error, here are some suggestions you can try:
Option 1 – Uninstall the VPN service you are using or use a different provider
If you are using a VPN service, you might want to uninstall it. As mentioned, website administrator blocks IP ranges if they notice any malicious activities and because of this, your IP address might fall into the banned range even if you didn’t do anything at all. To uninstall the VPN service, follow the steps below.
Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box
Then type “appwiz.cpl” in the field and hit Enter to open the Programs and Features in Control Panel.
From there, look for the VPN service you are using, select it and then click on Uninstall to remove it.
After that, restart your computer and try to install the latest version of the program again. It should work now. If not, proceed to the next available option below.
Option 2 – Try disabling the Proxy server
There are some users who reported that they’ve fixed the problem after they’ve disabled the use of a proxy server using the built-in way. Follow the steps below to disable proxy server.
Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
Then type “inetcpl.cpl” in the field and hit Enter to pull up the Internet Properties.
After that, go to the Connections tab and select the LAN settings.
From there. Uncheck the “Use a Proxy Server” option for your LAN and then make sure that the “Automatically detect settings” option is checked.
Now click the OK and the Apply buttons.
Restart your PC.
Note: If you are using a third-party proxy service, you have to disable it.
Option 3 – Use the Google Public DNS
You might want to change your DNS to Google Public DNS as it could also help you in fixing the ERR_CERT_COMMON_NAME_INVALID error in Chrome. To do so, follow the steps below.
The first thing you have to do is right-click on the network icon in the Taskbar and select Network and Sharing Center.
Next, click on the “Change Adapter Settings” option.
After that, search for the network connection that you are using to connect to the internet. Note that the option might be “Wireless Connection” or “Local Area Connection”.
Right-click on your network connection and click on Properties.
Then select the new window to choose the “Internet Protocol 4 (TCP/IPv4)” option.
After that, click on the Properties button and click the checkbox in the new window for the option “Use the following DNS server addresses”.
Type in “8.8.8.8” and “8.8.4.4” and click OK and exit.
Option 4 – Try contacting the website administrator
If the first three given options didn’t work, you might want to consider contacting the website administrator especially if you’ve already determined that the issue does not occur due to a VPN or proxy server that you’re using. This option can be quite tricky since you won’t be able to submit a contact form since you’re banned from accessing the website but you can contact the admin via the form section if available.
Msvcr100.dll is a dynamic link library file. This file is loaded into the memory at runtime for successful program execution.
This process is also referred to as runtime dynamic linking. The Msvcr100.dll belongs to the Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime Library.
It is a core Windows component used by numerous Windows-based applications to load and run smoothly on Windows PC.
Msvcr100.dll error occurs when the process of runtime dynamic linking fails. Due to this error, you are unable to access the desired application. The error code is displayed in either of the following formats:
“Msvcr100.dll Not Found"
"This application failed to start because msvcr100.dll was not found. Re-installing the application may fix this problem."
"Cannot find [PATH]msvcr100.dll"
"msvcr100.dll is missing from your computer"
"XXX.exe - System Error - MSVCR100.dll is missing from your computer."
Solution
Error Causes
Narrowing down the cause of the Msvcr100.dll error is not possible as this error can occur on your PC due to multiple reasons. However, here are some of the most common causes of Msvcr100.dll error code on Windows PC:
Msvcr100.dll file corrupt and damaged
Missing Msvcr100.dll file
Corrupt runtime code library
Registry issues
Malware attack and viral infection
Further Information and Manual Repair
Here are some of the best ways to resolve this error on your system:
Reinstall the application causing the error
As dll are shared files used by multiple programs to load and run, there is the possibility of it getting deleted when uninstalling a certain program.
If so, then the best way to fix it is to reinstall the application that is causing the error to pop up on your screen. This way you’ll be able to set up the program again and install the Msvcr100.dll file back on your system.
Download Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable Package
Another way to resolve this error is to download Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable Package. To do this, first, see if you are running a 32 bit or 64-bit copy of Windows. XP users go to the start menu and click run then type winver and press enter.
In Vista and Windows 7, go to the start menu and type computer and click properties. The information you require is under Windows Edition.
Once you find out whether you are using a 32 bit or a 64-bit version, accordingly, download the correct version of Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable Package directly from Microsoft’s official website. Simply download and install the software.
Then follow the prompts to add the toolbox to your PC. After that, restart your computer; most likely the error message will be gone. If it still persists, then this means the error is either related to the registry or malware.
Download and Run Restoro
Restoro can be used to resolve both malware infection and registry issues on your PC that could be triggering Msvcr100.dll errors.
Restoro is a next-generation and multi-functional PC repair tool embedded with powerful utilities like an antivirus, a registry cleaner, and a system optimizer. The registry cleaning feature detects all registry issues and Msvcr100.dll errors.
It removes unnecessary and obsolete files on the disk, like junk files, cookies, internet history, and temporary files cluttering the disk and damaging dll files. It repairs the damaged and corrupt dll files and restores the registry.
Simultaneously the antivirus feature scans and removes all malicious software on your system. These include spyware, viruses, Trojans, adware, and malware that can damage dll files.
This software is efficient and resolves the Msvcr100.dll error in seconds. It is easy to use and has a simple navigation. It is compatible with all Windows versions.
Click here to download Restoro on your PC and resolve the Msvcr100.dll error today!
If the Sleep option is missing from the Power Menu then this could be caused by the power settings, local group policy configuration, etc. in your computer. Based on the reports of users who experience the same problem, the issue occurred after they’ve updated or upgraded their Windows 10 computers.
As you know, the sleep mode is quite useful in certain cases and is utilized by most users. If you put your computer in sleep mode, it actually minimizes the power usage of your computer while at the same time keeps your current session running. So if sleep mode is suddenly missing, then that could be a problem but worry not for this post will give you possible fixes to resolve the issue. Make sure to follow each one of them carefully to achieve good results.
Option 1 – Check the Power settings
As mentioned, one of the reasons why the Sleep option is missing could be the power settings in your computer. To check this possibility, make sure that you’ve enabled the sleep mode in the Power options setting window. How? Refer to these steps:
First, go to the Start menu, and from there open Control Panel.
Next, set the View by Large icons and select the Power Options.
After that, click on the “Choose what the power buttons do” option on the left-hand side.
Then click on the “Change settings that are currently unavailable” option and make sure that Sleep is checked under the Shutdown settings.
Afterward, click on Save changes.
Option 2 – Modify the Local Group Policy
If the Power setting isn’t the cause of the problem, then you might want to check the Local Group Policy and modify it. There is a dedicated policy for showing the sleep option in the power menu and if this policy is disabled, then it’s no wonder why you don’t see the sleep option in the power menu. To change this policy, refer to the steps below.
Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
Then type “gpedit.msc” in the field and hit Enter to open the Group Policy Editor.
Next, navigate to this path: Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> File Explorer
Look for the “Show sleep in the power options menu” option from the right-hand side pane and double click on it.
Now change it to Enabled and click on the Apply and OK buttons to save the changes made and restart your computer.
Option 3 – Try to turn on Standby
Standby, also known as InstantGo, is a feature in Windows 8 and 10 that allows users to maintain network connectivity after a computer has been put into sleep mode. Thus, if this feature is disabled, it can cause the Sleep option to disappear from the power menu. To turn it on, follow these steps:
Tap the Win + R keys to open Run.
And type “Regedit” in the field and tap Enter to open the Registry Editor.
Next, navigate to this path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlPower
From this path, look for the “CsEnabled” key on the right-hand side of the pane and double-click on it.
Set its value to “1” and click OK to save the changes made.
Now reboot your PC.
Note: If you were not able to find the CsEnabled key, then this indicates that your computer does not support the Standby feature. And if that’s the case, proceed to the next given option below.
Option 4 – Try to install a Video Card driver
On the other hand, some users reported that the problem was caused by the video card driver. And if your computer lacks the video adapter driver, it can also cause the same problem. Windows 10 typically install the video card driver on its own, however, there are rare cases when it doesn’t which is why you have to do it yourself manually. All you have to do is go to your manufacturer’s website and look for the video card driver, download it and then install it. Once you’ve installed the video card driver, reboot your computer and check if it has fixed the problem.
Error Code 0x80072F8F manifests in one main way. It is known to appear as early as Windows 7, and mainly deals with an error that occurs in the update process, or when the computer is trying to connect to the online activation service. It can appear when the activation fails to verify the product key. The error code will present itself when the system realizes that the PC's date and time are incorrect. Error Code 0x80072F8F will also appear if the computer has determined that the time zone settings on the computer are not accurate.
When Windows is going through the installation process and is verifying all of the information associated with the computer, Error Code 0x80072F8F will arise, indicating that the information in the computer's settings is not valid. Correct times and dates are necessary when using serial validation keys to install Windows. When these settings are outside of the tolerated window, the problem will arise.
Error Causes
There is only one main symptom to look out for, and it will manifest during a Windows installation. In the midst of the installation, the computer will not be able to proceed with the installation if Error Code 0x80072F8F has popped up. Because the information cannot be verified, Windows will not be able to continue the installation process when the time settings are not accurate. This interrupts the process, causing the need to edit the settings, restart the computer, and try again. It is imperative to be sure that the date and time on the computer are inside of the tolerated window for the serial key.
This error code will not give any information on how to correct it.
Windows Error 0x80072F8F is displayed on the screen.
The error code appears when typing the Windows serial key and proceeding.
Further Information and Manual Repair
When experiencing Error Code 0x80072F8F, the date and time need to be corrected in the computer settings menu, and then verify the correct time zone settings. There are a few different ways to edit the time and date settings, and one may need to even edit the time zone settings. After this, restarting the computer may be needed. When booting into Windows, the validation code should be activated within 30 days of obtaining the serial number.
Method One
Check the time and date settings.
Open the Start menu.
Select Settings, then Time and Language, then Date and Time.
Check and make sure that the PC is operating at the correct time and date.
Method Two
Ensure that the computer is connected to the internet.
Enter “network troubleshooter” into the search box located on the taskbar.
Select “Identify and Repair Network Problems”.
Follow the instructions that are given on-screen. This will fix any problems that the network is experiencing.
Method Three
Review the timezone.
Open the Start menu.
Select Settings, then Time and Language, then Date and Time.
Check to make sure that the correct timezone is selected from the drop-down menu.
Method Four
Reboot the PC and check if that fixes the problem. This may help in the event that the network troubleshooter does not detect a problem.
After completing these steps to edit the time, date, and time zone settings, it may be necessary to restart the computer. This is to ensure that the computer will save and recognize the new settings. After restarting, continue the process as intended and enter the product key. The computer will now be able to verify the product key since the time and date will be recognizable. The Windows installation should proceed as normal and complete successfully when the time, date, and time zone are inside of the parameters for the Windows product key.
In short, if it is not, the computer will not be able to recognize the product key, thus will not be able to install the Windows product. Generally, the fix is quite simple and does not take much time at all, but it is very important.
This post will help you fix the ERR_CONNECTION_RESET error in Google Chrome. This error indicates that the Chrome browser wasn’t able to establish a stable connection or that there really is no connection at all with the website you are trying to open. This error does not occur on all websites though. When you encounter this kind of error message you will see the following message on your Google Chrome browser:
“This website is not available, The connection to example.com was interrupted, Error 101 (net:: ERR_CONNECTION_RESET): The Connection was reset.”
Note: You need to follow the options given below to fix the ERR_CONNECTION_RESET error and make sure to reload the webpage each time you complete following each one of the fixes.
Option 1 – Check the Network Cables and restart the router then reconnect
Of course, the first thing you can try is to check if the network cables connected to your computer or router are properly connected. And if your computer is connected via Wi-Fi, you need to make sure to restart your router once. In addition, you can also forget the Wi-Fi your computer is currently connected to and then try reconnecting again to see if it would work.
Option 2 – Try removing the Proxy
Removing the Proxy might also help you in fixing the ERR_CONNECTION_RESET error in Chrome. Here’s how you can do it:
Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
Then type “inetcpl.cpl” in the field and hit Enter to pull up the Internet Properties.
After that, go to the Connections tab and select the LAN settings.
From there. Uncheck the “Use a Proxy Server” option for your LAN and then make sure that the “Automatically detect settings” option is checked.
Now click the OK and the Apply buttons.
Restart your PC.
Note: If you are using a third-party proxy service, you have to disable it.
Option 3 – Try to increase the Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU)
You can also try increasing the Maximum Transmission Unit to fix the error. To do so, follow these steps:
Open Settings and go to Network & Internet > Ethernet.
From there, take off the Active Wireless / Wired Network Connection.
Next, open Command Prompt as admin.
Then type the “netsh interface IPv4 set subinterface “Ethernet 4” mtu=1472 store=persistent” command and hit Enter to execute it.
Option 4 – Flush the DNS and reset TCP/IP
Flushing the DNS and reset TCP/IP could also help in fixing the ERR_CONNECTION_RESET error in Chrome. To do so, refer to these steps:
Click the Start button and type in “command prompt” in the field.
From the search results that appear, right-click on Command Prompt and select the “Run as administrator” option.
After opening Command Prompt, you have to type each one of the commands listed below. Just make sure that after you type each command, you hit Enter
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /all
ipconfig /flushdns
ipconfig /renew
netsh int ip set dns
netsh winsock reset
After you key in the commands listed above, the DNS cache will be flushed and the Winsock, as well as the TCP/IP, will reset.
Option 5 – Disable the AppEx Networks Accelerator feature
The AppEx Networks Accelerator is known to slow down network connections. Some users reported that it slows down the network speed by 70% up to 80% which is why you need to disable it. Here’s how you can do it:
Go to Settings and select Network & Internet and from there select Ethernet > Change adapter options.
Next, right-click on the network connection and select Properties.
Then look for AppEx Networks Accelerator and uncheck its checkbox.
Now click the OK button to save the changes and then check if the error is now fixed.
Option 6 – Delete the WLAN Profiles
Deleting the WLAN Profiles might be a good idea if you are not able to connect to the internet on your computer and if you’re using Wi-Fi. It could be that the networks that were connected previously have gone rogue which is why it is not connecting properly. And so deleting the WLAN profiles might help you in fixing the ERR_CONNECTION_RESET error.
Option 7 – Reinstall the Network Adapter Drivers
Tap the Win + R keys to launch the Run window and then type in the “devmgmt.msc” command and hit Enter to open the Device Manager window.
Under the Device Manager, you will see a list of drivers. From there, look for the Network Adapters and expand it.
Then right-click on each one of the Network drivers and select “Uninstall device”.
Restart your PC.
Option 8 – Try to disable the Wi-Fi Miniport
In the Cortana Search box, type “command prompt” then right-click on the search result and select “Run as administrator”.
After opening Command Prompt with admin privileges, type the commands listed below and hit Enter right after you key in each one of them.
netsh wlan stop hostednetwork
netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=disallow
Now exit Command Prompt and tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
Type “cpl” in the field and hit Enter to open Network Connections.
From there, look for Microsoft Virtual Wi-Fi Miniport and right-click on it, and then select Disable.
Option 9 – Start Chrome in Safe Mode
The same with Windows Safe Mode, starting Chrome in Sage mode will open the browser but without all the user settings and extensions. And then try opening the website you were trying to open earlier.
Option 10 – Reset Google Chrome
Open Google Chrome, then tap the Alt + F keys.
After that, click on Settings.
Next, scroll down until you see the Advanced option, once you see it, click on it.
After clicking the Advanced option, go to the “Restore and clean up the option and click on the “Restore settings to their original defaults” option to reset Google Chrome.
As you know, the Win + X menu, which is the shortcut context menu, is a useful way to launch several utilizes in Windows such as Power Options, Windows PowerShell, Event Viewer, Device Manager, and so on. However, there are times when you might experience difficulty in identifying the required utility. This is actually a part of the Windows 10 shell that goes out of scope in the customization of Windows 10. However, there is an easy trick you can use to do that. So in this post, you will be guided on how you can rename the options in the Win + X menu in Windows 10.
In case you don’t know, the context menu is divided into three groups. Microsoft has categorized the bottom-most part as Group 1, while the middle part is categorized as Group 2 and the first part as Group 3. To rename these options, you need to use File Explorer and follow the instructions laid out below.
Step 1: First, tap the Win + E keys to open File Explorer.
Step 2: Next, navigate to this path: %LocalAppdata%MicrosoftWindowsWinX
Step 3: From there, you should see three folders as Group 1, Group 2, and Group 3. Open the appropriate folder of your choice.
Step 4: After that, right-click on the shortcut option you want to rename and then select Properties.
Step 5: Next, navigate to the Shortcut tab under the Properties window.
Step 6: Now in the text field of Comment, enter the new name of the option you selected.
Step 7: Click on the Apply and OK buttons to save the changes made.
Note: You can now either Sign back in or sign out of your Windows 10 User Account to see the result of the changes you’ve made. You could also restart the process of File Explorer via Task Manager. This will close the File Explorer as well as the shell components and then only launch the shell components again. In addition, you can check the Win + X menu to see the customized name that you’ve just set for a particular option. As you can see, even though it does not add anything extra, it is still a lot better in knowing how you can customize it.
One of the worst Blue Screen of Death errors you can encounter is the UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME BSOD on Windows 10. In this BSOD error, your computer won’t be able to properly boot. Meaning to say, even if you want to reinstall Windows, you won’t be able to back up your important files. Thus, it wouldn’t be really feasible to fix the system files, and besides, reinstalling Windows 10 would take a lot of time, not to mention resources.
The UNMOUNTABLE BOOT VOLUME error is the kind of BSOD error that occurs if Windows is not able to access the volume that contains the boot files. Resolving this BSOD error won’t be easy but you will surely manage by following the suggestions laid out below but before you go on, make sure to create a System Restore Point.
Option 1 – Try checking the hardware
If you got the UNMOUNTABLE BOOT VOLUME BSOD error while trying to update your computer to a higher version of Windows, then you need to check if you have the compatible drivers for the disk controller as well as re-check the drive cabling and make sure that it is properly configured. And if you’re reusing either ATA-100 or ATA-66 drivers, ensure that you have an 80-connector cable and not the standard 40-connector IDE cable.
Option 2 – Try using Automatic Repair
You might also want to use Automatic Repair in fixing the BSOD error. To do so, follow the steps below.
You can start by creating and booting from a bootable Windows 10 USB Stick.
After that, click on Repair your computer located in the bottom left corner when you are on the initial Windows Startup screen.
Next, click on Troubleshoot, and then on the other screen, click the Startup Repair option.
Now select the operating system you want to repair. Once you do that, it will start to repair your operating system. Wait until the process is completed and then check if the problem’s now fixed.
Option 3 – Try fixing the Master Boot Record or MBR
The MBR or Master Boot Record is the location and is where the architecture of the operating system is installed. Thus, if either the location or the architecture has tampered with, it can cause lots of BSOD errors like the UNMOUNTABLE BOOT VOLUME error.
Boot your computer into Safe mode with Networking using the Advanced startup options which you can access by tapping the F2 or F8 key. Once you’ve accessed the Advanced startup options.
After you access the Advanced Startup options, select Command Prompt by using the arrow keys on your keyboard.
After opening Command Prompt, execute the following command and hit Enter:
bootrec /fixboot
After entering the command, wait until the process is completed and then restart your computer to apply the changes made successfully.
Option 4 – Run the CHKDSK command to repair hard disk errors
Running the Chkdsk utility could help you fix the UNMOUNTABLE BOOT VOLUME error. If your hard drive has issues with integrity, the update will really fail as the system will think that it’s not healthy and that’s where the Chkdsk utility comes in. The Chkdsk utility repairs hard drive errors that might be causing the problem.
After you access the Advanced Startup options, select Command Prompt by using the arrow keys on your keyboard.
After opening Command Prompt, execute the following command and hit Enter:
chkdsk /f /r
The command you entered will scan the hard disk for any errors and will automatically fix it if it finds some issues. Wait for the process to be completed and then reboot your PC.
One of the most useful and powerful built-in utility in Windows 10 is the DISM tool. This tool can be used with the Command Prompt command line as well as for other purposes. However, it is not without flaws and there are times when you may encounter some issues while using it.
One of the problems you can get while using the DISM tool is the following error:
“The scratch directory size might be insufficient to perform this operation”
This kind of error in DISM occurs when the DISM command is executed from the Windows Recovery Environment due to the limited size permissions of a delivery where the operating is being performed. To fix this DISM error, you need to follow the instructions laid out below.
Step 1: First, tap the Win + R keys to open the Run utility and then type “cmd” in the field and tap Enter to open Command Prompt.
Step 2: Next, you have to specify a scratch directory that contains the Windows folder and to do that, you can either use the DIR command or the BCEDIT command. So in the elevated command prompt type and enter “dir” or “bcedit”.
Step 3: After that, you will see a list of folders inside the C: partition. Now you have to create a folder named “scratch” inside the partition. To do so, execute the following command:
mkdir C:Scratch
Note: The command you just entered will create a directory inside the root of the C: partition named Scratch.
Step 4: Now that you’ve created the Scratch folder, note that each time you run any of the DISM commands, you have to enter the following code snippet in them:
/ScratchDir:C:Scratch
Note: For instance, if you are using the DISM tool to repair the offline Windows image, instead of executing the “Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth” command, you now have to execute the “DISM /Image:C: /ScratchDir:C: Scratch /Cleanup-Image /Restorehealth” command. And if you want to remove a selected installed update package, you can use the “DISM /image:C: /ScratchDir:C:Scratch /Remove-Package /PackageName:Package_for_RollupFix~31bf3856ad364e75~amd64~~16299.196.4.9” command. Keep in mind that the mentioned package is only an example. And lastly, you also have to replace the drive letter in the new code snippet when you execute the commands given above.
Windows 11 is coming soon, from its typical view and color scheme, Windows 11 will natively support dark mode.
The dark mode is very popular in many applications today, some large companies like Adobe, Autodesk, and many more have already adopted a dark color scheme for their software so it is logical for others to follow and Microsoft is aboard for it.
The dark mode itself has its benefits, for people who work on computer for longer period of time dark mode inside applications will throw less white and blue light on their eyes making workhours easier and pleasant on them.
As a person who does indeed spend a lot of time in front of the screen, I would advise you to switch to dark mode regardless of the time that you spend with a computer, your eyes will be grateful.
