Fix Printer driver issue in Windows

TCI/IP or as known as Internet protocol is one that controls packets that are sent over the internet and makes sure that each one has reached its destination so you can pleasantly browse your favorite websites. The setting for the given protocol is stored locally on your machine and most of the time, everything works fine and good, but sometimes, these settings can get corrupted.

Malware or other software can temper with setting making TCP/IP making it wrong and throwing nondescript connection errors in your face. If you are faced with this issue worry not because fixing this issue is really easy.

Before we actually go and fix the issue please do scan your system with your protection suite just to be sure that if there is any kind of malware on the system it is properly removed from it.

Resetting TCP/IP

First thing is to open search and find PowerShell, press the Windows key on the keyboard, and type in PowerShell so search results are shown. Click on Run as administrator to open PowerShell in elevated mode.

Once PowerShell is opened type indie it:

netsh IP reset and press ENTER. The task will start executing and at this point you will see a lot of Resetting, OK! messages. Once everything is finished restart your PC and you are good to go.

CinematicFanatic (by MyWay) is a browser extension for Google Chrome that may come bundled with other free software that you download off of the Internet. When installed CinematicFanatic will set the homepage and search engine for your web browser to http://search.myway.com

While browsing the internet with this extension installed, you will see additional ads, sponsored content, and even pop-up ads throughout your browsing sessions. While CinematicFanatic is active, it will log user information, visited websites, product categories. This information is later used/sold to better display targeted ads through your web pages as sponsored content and banner ads.

CinematicFanatic has been marked as a Browser Extension by several popular anti-malware scanners, and due to its information-gathering behavior, it is recommended to remove it from your computer.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijack is a very common type of internet fraud where your web browser configurations are modified to allow it to do things you never intend. Browser hijacker malware is developed for many different reasons. These are typically used to force visitors to predetermined sites, manipulating web traffic to generate ad revenue. Even though it may seem naive, all browser hijackers are dangerous and thus always regarded as security risks. They not only screw up your web browsers, but browser hijackers can even modify the computer registry to make your PC susceptible to other forms of hacking.

How to know if your internet browser is hijacked

There are several symptoms of browser hijacking. Here are a few of them: 1. home-page is modified 2. bookmark and the new tab are likewise changed 3. The default search page of your browser is altered 4. you’ll see multiple toolbars in your internet browser 5. you will find random pop-ups start showing regularly 6. websites load slowly and often incomplete 7. You simply can’t access particular sites, particularly anti-malware websites.

How they get into your computer or laptop

Browser hijackers could use drive-by downloads or file-sharing websites or perhaps an e-mail attachment in order to reach a targeted computer. Many web browser hijackings originate from add-on programs, i.e., browser helper objects (BHO), toolbars, or plug-ins added to browsers to provide them additional functionality. A browser hijacker could also come bundled up with some freeware which you unintentionally download to your PC, compromising your internet security. Some of the well-known hijackers are CinematicFanatic, Babylon Toolbar, Conduit Search, Sweet Page, OneWebSearch, and CoolWebSearch. Browser hijackers could disrupt the user’s web surfing experience greatly, keep track of the websites visited by users and steal financial information, cause difficulty in connecting to the net, and ultimately create stability issues, making applications and systems crash.

Browser hijacker removal

Certain browser hijacking could be easily reversed by discovering and removing the corresponding malware software through your control panel. Having said that, many hijackers are really tenacious and need specialized tools to eliminate them. Additionally, manual removals demand deep system understanding and thus can be a very difficult job for inexperienced computer users. You might opt for automatic browser hijacker removal by simply installing and running an efficient anti-malware program. One of the top tools for fixing browser hijacker infections is SafeBytes Anti-Malware. It assists you to get rid of any pre-existing malware on your system and gives you real-time monitoring and protection from new threats. Together with the antivirus tool, a system optimizer, such as SafeBytes’s Total System Care, will help you in removing all related files and modifications in the computer registry automatically.

What To Do When You Cannot Download Safebytes Anti-Malware?

Viruses could cause a lot of damage to your PC. Some malware is designed to interfere with or block things that you’d like to do on your personal computer. It may not allow you to download anything from the net or it will stop you from accessing a few or all of the sites, especially the antivirus sites. If you’re reading this, chances are you’re stuck with a malware infection that is preventing you to download and/or install the Safebytes Anti-Malware program on your PC. Refer to the instructions below to remove malware in alternate ways.

Install in Safe Mode

In Safe Mode, you can change Windows settings, uninstall or install some applications, and get rid of hard-to-delete viruses and malware. In case the malicious software is set to load automatically when the PC starts, shifting into this particular mode may prevent it from doing so. In order to get into Safe Mode or Safe Mode with Networking, press the F8 key while the computer is starting up or run MSCONFIG and look for the “Safe Boot” options under the “Boot” tab. Once you’re in safe mode, you can try to install your anti-malware software program without the hindrance of the virus. Now, you can run the anti-malware scan to remove viruses and malware without hindrance from another application.

Switch to an alternate browser

Web-based malware could be environment-specific, targeting a particular browser or attacking specific versions of the browser. If you appear to have a virus attached to Internet Explorer, then switch to a different browser with built-in safety features, such as Firefox or Chrome, to download your preferred antivirus program – Safebytes.

Install and run anti-virus from the USB drive

Another solution is to store and operate an antivirus software program entirely from a Thumb drive. Adopt these measures to use a USB drive to clean your corrupted PC. 1) Download the anti-malware on a virus-free PC. 2) Plug the Flash drive into the uninfected computer. 3) Double-click the Setup icon of the anti-malware software to run the Installation Wizard. 4) When asked, select the location of the pen drive as the place where you would like to put the software files. Follow the instructions on the computer screen to finish off the installation process. 5) Transfer the USB drive from the uninfected computer to the infected computer. 6) Double-click the EXE file to run the Safebytes program right from the pen drive. 7) Hit the “Scan Now” button to start the malware scan.

SafeBytes Anti-Malware - More Protection For You

If you’re looking to purchase anti-malware for your computer, there are various brands and utilities for you to consider. A few of them are excellent, some are ok types, and some will damage your computer themselves! While looking for antivirus software, choose one that provides reliable, efficient, and complete protection against all known viruses and malware. Amongst few good applications, SafeBytes Anti-Malware is the highly recommended software for the security-conscious user. SafeBytes can be described as a highly effective, real-time antivirus application that is created to assist the regular computer end user in protecting their computer from malicious threats. This tool can easily identify, remove, and protect your PC from the most advanced malware intrusions including spyware, adware, trojan horses, ransomware, worms, PUPs, parasites along other potentially harmful software applications.

SafeBytes carries a variety of features that can help you protect your PC from malware attacks and damage. A few of them are given as below:

Best AntiMalware Protection: By using a critically acclaimed malware engine, SafeBytes offers multilayered protection that is designed to catch and remove viruses and malware that are concealed deep inside your computer system. Real-Time Protection: SafeBytes gives round-the-clock protection for your computer limiting malware attacks instantly. This utility will always monitor your PC for suspicious activity and updates itself regularly to keep abreast of the latest threats. Safe Browsing: Safebytes allots all websites a unique safety score that helps you to get an idea of whether the website you’re about to visit is safe to view or known to be a phishing site. Fast Multi-threaded Scanning: SafeBytes’s virus scan engine is one of the fastest and most efficient within the industry. It's targeted scanning tremendously increases the catch rate for viruses that are embedded in various computer files. Light-weight Tool: SafeBytes is a lightweight and easy-of-use antivirus and anti-malware solution. As it uses minimal computer resources, this application leaves the computer’s power exactly where it belongs to: with you. Premium Support: You will get 24/7 technical support to quickly resolve any issue with your security tool. SafeBytes will keep your computer safe from most advanced malware threats automatically with hardly any input needed from you again. Now you may understand that this software does more than just scan and remove threats on your PC. If you’re trying to find a comprehensive anti-malware program that’s still simple enough to use, SafeBytes Anti-Malware is exactly what you will need!

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you don’t want to use a malware removal software and prefer to get rid of CinematicFanatic manually, you may do so by going to the Windows Add/Remove Programs menu in the Control Panel and delete the offending program; in cases of web browser plug-ins, you could remove it by going to the browser’s Add-on/Extension manager. It is also recommended to factory reset your web browser settings to their default state. Lastly, check your hard drive for all of the following and clean your registry manually to get rid of leftover application entries after uninstallation. Please note that only professional users should try to manually edit the registry because removing any single critical system file leads to a serious problem or even a system crash. In addition, some malware is capable of replicating itself or preventing its deletion. It is advised that you do the removal process in Windows Safe Mode.

As you know, the Videos folder can be found under “This PC” by default on your Windows 10 computer. However, as per the reports of some users, there are a few occasions where it somehow gets replaced by the Documents folder. In other words, the Videos folders are replaced by a duplicated copy of the Documents folder. Out of the two Documents folder, one Document folder will contain all the usual files and subfolders while the second one is empty. Although when you click the Documents icon on your Desktop (if you have a shortcut), it will still take you to the right Documents folder. To fix this particular issue and get the Videos folder back in the File Explorer, here are some potential fixes that should help.

Option 1 – Run System Restore

The first thing you can try to do to resolve the problem is to run System Restore. This can help you go back to the previous state of your computer before the issue with the Videos and Documents folder.

• 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.

Option 2 – Try to restore Defaults

The next thing you can do is to restore Defaults. How? Refer to these steps:

• Open File Explorer and then right-click on any of the two Documents folders.
• After that, select the Properties option from the context menu and switch to the Location tab and click on Find target.
• Next, copy the address and paste it in the field above the “Find target” option, and then click the “Restore Default” button.

Option 3 – Try to change the Registry Path

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Then type “Regedit” in the field and tap Enter to open the Registry Editor.
• Next, navigate to this registry path: HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerUser Shell Folders
• After that, edit the path for {35286A68-3C57-41A1-BBB1-0EAE73d76C95} under the “User Shell Folders” key to match the path shown for My Videos: %USERPROFILE%Videos.
• Once you’re done, open the folder under “This PC” that has the Documents icon and tap Shift + right-click in the folder background, and then select the “Open PowerShell window here” option to fix the naming of the Documents folder. The path should read: “C:users<UserName>Documents.
• Next, execute this command: ri desktop.ini –force
• The command you entered will delete the files and folders and so when added for Documents, it will get rid of the empty Documents folder.
• Now all you that’s left to do is to find where the target location is going to be for both folders and check if anyone foes to the user name location.
• Then delete the one which goes to the incorrect location.

One of the most useful tools you can use to repair bad or corrupted sectors in the hard disk of your computer is the CHKDSK utility. However, there are also instances when this Disk Checking tool could encounter some issues and one of them is the error that states, “The type of the file system are RAW, CHKDSK is not available for RAW drives”. This kind of issue is due to the RAW file format which is not recognized by the Windows operating system that you’ve installed which explains why you’re getting this error when running the CHKDSK utility. You can also encounter this error in case there is something wrong with the drive encryption. To fix this error, you have to change the File System of the drive. How? Refer to the steps given below. Step 1: The first thing you need to do is create a bootable Windows 10 media. Step 2: After that, click on Repair your computer on the first Windows 10 installation setup window. Step 3: Next, you have to select the operating system partition from the given options and then click on Next. Step 4: Now select Command Prompt from the System Recovery Options box and then type the following command and tap Enter to initiate the Diskpart utility inside Command Prompt.

diskpart

Step 5: Afterwards, type in either of the following commands to help you in either listing all the Disk connects or all the partitions on those disks formed.

diskpart or list volume

Step 6: Next, you need to select any of the two given commands below depending on the list you entered on the previous step.

select disk # or select volume #

Step 7: After you enter the command, it will select the Disk or the Partition you want to select. Now you have to type and enter the following command to clean your drive.

clean

Step 8: Now enter any of the two following commands.

list disk or list volume

Step 9: Then type the next command below to create a specified partition.

create partition primary

Step 10: Once done, type in the following command to select the newly created partition.

select partition 1

Step 11: Next, type the following command to mark the selected partition as active.

active

Step 12: Finally, restart your computer to successfully apply the changes made and then see if it has fixed the problem or not.

There is no doubt that the VLC media player is one of the best kinds of media players available today. However, it is not without any issues and one of the common issues encountered by users is VLC’s inability to be updated. And when you try to update VLC, you only get an error message saying, “An error occurred while checking for updates”. This inability to update VLC can be quite a headache for many users especially the ones who are facing other issues in VLC and has to update it in order to resolve them. So how will you update VLC and fix its issues when you can’t even update it in the first place? Worry not as this post will help you out. Refer to the suggestions laid out below to resolve the issue in updating VLC.

Option 1 – Check if VLC is not being blocked by the Firewall

There are instances when the Firewall like the Windows Defender Firewall blocks VLC for some unknown reason without your knowledge. Thus, you need to allow VLC to get past the Firewall in order for you to fix the issue else you won’t be able to send out a network communication. To do that, follow the steps below.

• Tap the Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
• Then click on the Update & Security option.
• After that, click on Windows Security and click the Open Windows Defender Security Center option. This will open the Windows Defender antivirus and antimalware program.
• From there, click on Firewall & network protection.
• Next, click on Allow an app through Firewall. You should see a list of programs. Scroll down until you see VLC and make sure that all the boxes are ticked including the Public and Private ones.
• Once you’re done, restart your PC and then try updating VLC again.
• Just open VLC and select the Help menu and click on Check for Updates.

Option 2 – Try running the VLC media player as an administrator

There are programs designed for Windows 10 that won’t work fully unless some parameters are met. In most cases, starting the program as an admin should resolve the problem, thus, that’s what you have to do to try and fix the “An error occurred while checking for updates” in VLC.

• First, right-click on the VLC Media Player desktop icon and then select the “Run as administrator” option or you could also right-click on the icon and click on Properties.
• After that, click the Compatibility tab and then tick the box labeled “Run this program as an administrator”.
• Next, click the OK button and then open VLC again and try updating it. That should fix the problem.

Recently, a number of Windows 10 users reported an issue wherein they try to print from their PCs but were unable to and got an error message instead that states, “Port in use, please wait”. However, no matter how long they waited, nothing changed and they were still unable to print from their computers. On the other hand, when some of the users attempted to print wirelessly from their mobile devices, the printing continues which indicates that there is some issue between the computer and the printer. So if you are one of the users who are currently facing this problem, then this post should help. To fix this issue with your Printer, here are some possible fixes you can try that might work.

Option 1 – Run the Printer Troubleshooter

The first thing you can do to fix the “Port in use, please wait” error is to run the Printer Troubleshooter. This built-in troubleshooter in Windows 10 can help you fix most print issues. It checks if you have the latest printer drivers and then tries to fix and update them automatically. Aside from that, it also checks if you have connectivity issues or if the Print Spooler and the required Services are running fine. To run it, follow the steps below.

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Next, type “msdt.exe /id PrinterDiagnostic” in the field and click OK or hit Enter to open the Printer Troubleshooter.
• Then click the Next button and follow the next on-screen instructions to fix the issue with the printer.

Option 2 – Try updating the Printer drivers

You might also want to try updating your printer drivers. All you have to do is locate the USB Composite Device. For complete details, follow the steps below.

• First, click the Start button and type “device manager”.
• Then click on the “Device Manager” from the search results to open it.
• From there, look for the USB Composite Device option and right-click on it, and select the Update Driver from the options.
• Restart your PC and then click the “Search automatically for updated driver software” option.

Note: You also have the option to download the latest version of your Printer from the manufacturer’s website.

Option 3 – Try selecting the correct port for your Printer

If the first two options given above didn’t work, then maybe it’s time to select a correct port for your printer since the wrong port has been selected which is why you’re getting the “Port in use, please wait” error.

• Open “Devices and Printers” from the Start search.
• Next, look for your printer from the list of devices and right-click on it, and then select Printer Properties.
• Now go to the Ports tab under the newly opened Properties window and make sure that the port type matches the connection on the list of ports currently in use.

Note: If your printer is using a USB connection then the port should have a USB or DOT 4 in its description but if your printer is using a network connection then it should have the following description:

• WSD
• Network
• IP

And if you notice that there are several listings for the same type of port, you have to change the selection to a different one and then click the OK button to save the changes made.

One of the most useful tools in the Windows 10 operating system is the Windows Media Creation tool. This tool is used to download and install the latest version of Windows 10. However, there are times when you might encounter some issues while using this tool. One of these issues is the Error code 0x80072F76 – 0x20016. If you encounter this error, you will see the following error message during setup:

“We’re not sure what happened, but we’re unable to run this tool on your PC. If you continue experiencing problems, reference the error code when contacting customer support – Error code: 0x80072F76 – 0x20016.”

This kind of error in the Media Creation tool could be due to an interrupted download or unstable internet connection, and many more. To fix it, you can run the Windows Update troubleshooter or try using another browser to download the tool to another location. You can also try changing the DNS or the ISP connection or use the Windows 10 Update Assistant as well as delete the $Windows.~BT & $Windows.~WS folders. Check out the given suggestions below to fix the Media Creation Tool Error code 0x80072F76 – 0x20016 in your Windows 10 computer.

Option 1 – Try to run the Windows Update troubleshooter

Windows 10 have various troubleshooters that can help you resolve many system issues. So if you’re dealing with Windows Update errors like Error Code 0x80072f76 – 0x20016, you can run the Windows Update troubleshooter to resolve it. To run the Windows Update troubleshooter, go to Settings and then select Troubleshoot from the options. From there, click on Windows Update and then click the “Run the troubleshooter” button. After that, follow the next on-screen instructions and you should be good to go.

Option 2 – Try using a different browser to download the tool to another location

You could also use another browser in downloading the tool and place it in a different location on your computer but if you do not have another browser, you can just install one and then download the same tool to another location like the Desktop.

Option 3 – Try to change the DNS

• 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 and then check if the Media Creation tool error is fixed.

Note: If you are using a third-party proxy service, you have to disable it.

Option 4 – Try to change the ISP connection

There are times when the connection to the Microsoft servers is interrupted due to some glitch or it could also be blocked by your Internet Service Provider or ISP. To rule out this possibility, you can try to change your computer’s internet connection and then see if it fixes the problem.

Option 5 – Try to use the Windows 10 Update Assistant

There’s another tool you can use as an alternative to the Media Creation tool. It is called the Windows 10 Update Assistant. This tool can also help you download and install Windows updates seamlessly.

Option 6 – Try to delete the $Windows.~BT and $Windows.~WS folders

From time to time, the Windows Update files also get corrupted which can cause some problems and conflicts when downloading and installing a Windows Update. To fix this, you need to delete the $Windows.~BT & $Windows.~WS folders in your computer.

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.
• Now restart Google Chrome.

As you know, the USB security keys are a secure medium to validate a lot of components in a computer. They can be used to log in to Windows 10. Now with the advancement of APIs, you can authenticate across the website as well using the same key. However, there are times when it may not work and it could be caused by several factors. It could be due to corrupted or incompatible drivers or it could also be due to compromised integrity of the key, and many more. So if you happen to encounter an issue with the USB security key on your Windows 10 computer, then there are several potential fixes you can try. You can try toggling the Internet Options settings or reinstall the respective USB drivers. You could also try changing the PIN of the security key or disable the antivirus program on your computer or troubleshoot the web browser. Refer to the potential fixes provided below to fix the problem.

Option 1 – Try to toggle the settings of the Internet Options

• In the Windows Search box, search for Internet Options to open it.
• Next, go to the Security tab and drag the security slider to the lowest possible security for all the given zones.
• After that, click on OK to save the changes made and close the Internet Options.

Note that this option is only a temporary measure as it can make your computer vulnerable. Make sure to press the Reset all zones to default level button.

Option 2 – Try to update or reinstall the respective drivers

If updating the drivers of the device did not fix the problem with the USB security key, you can try to update or reinstall the Universal Serial Bus Controller drivers instead of using the Device Manager. Refer to the following steps:

• 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.

Note: If it is a regular USB drive, then it will be listed as a USB Mass Storage Device but if you have a USB 3.0 device, then look for a USB 3.0 Extensible Host Controller.

• Restart your PC and then click the “Search automatically for updated driver software” option.

Note: If updating the USB Controller drivers didn’t work, you can try to reinstall them instead.

Option 3 – Try to change the PIN of the security key

If the first two options didn’t work, you can try changing the PIN of the security key. There are instances when the PIN for the security key might have been corrupted. Thus, resetting it can help you resolve the problem.

Option 4 – Temporarily disable Firewall and third-party antivirus

Firewall and antivirus programs are known to block the proper functioning of the USB security key. Thus, your antivirus or firewall programs might be the reason why you can’t download anything on your Windows 10 computer. To isolate the issue, you need to temporarily disable both the Firewall and antivirus programs and then check if you can now download anything from the internet. Do not forget to enable them again as disabling them can leave your computer vulnerable to cyber threats.

Option 5 – Try to troubleshoot the web browser

Troubleshooting your web browser can also help you fix the USB security key problem. You can do that by checking if your web browser supports the security key and you can do that by checking on the official website of your browser. You can also try to update your web browser to its latest version but if it didn’t help, you can try to reinstall it or switch to another web browser.

When you have to connect to a drive that’s on a different computer or on external storage, that’s where the mapped network drives come in. Mapped network drives make accessing files a lot easier. However, there are times when it won’t work for some reason. Windows will notify you about the unavailability of mapped network drives in several ways. For one, Windows might display a red X on the network drives or it could be that its status will be unavailable when you try to use it from the Command Prompt or via a notification. It is recommended that you run a few scripts when you log in to your PC as it may so happen that the network drive takes more than usual to connect. Before you start troubleshooting the problem using the given options below, keep in mind that some workouts might only work under certain scenarios. You might need some network access at logon or you might need access to the Group Policy settings. So you need to choose what you prefer more. You can try the given workarounds below if the mapped network drives are not showing or connecting or working on your Windows 10 computer. These workarounds use scripts to make sure that you are connected to them as soon as you start to use your PC. As mentioned, before you can troubleshoot, you need to create scripts first. There are two scripts here namely MapDrives.ps1 which is executed by the second script named MapDrives.cmd and is done at a regular and non-elevated Command Prompt. Follow the steps below to get started.

• You have to create a script file named “MapDrives.cmd” first and then save it on a place where the files are safe. To do that, open a text editor like Notepad and then copy and paste the following script:

PowerShell -Command "Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope CurrentUser Unrestricted" >> "%TEMP%StartupLog.txt" 2>&1 PowerShell -File "%SystemDrive%ScriptsMapDrives.ps1" >> "%TEMP%StartupLog.txt" 2>&1

• After that, save the file and name it “MapDrives.cmd”.
• Next, create a script file named “MapDrives.ps1” and then copy and paste the following content. Just make sure to save both scripts in the same folder.

$i=3 while($True){     $error.clear()     $MappedDrives = Get-SmbMapping |where -property Status -Value Unavailable -EQ | select LocalPath,RemotePath     foreach( $MappedDrive in $MappedDrives)     {         try {             New-SmbMapping -LocalPath $MappedDrive.LocalPath -RemotePath $MappedDrive.RemotePath -Persistent $True         } catch {             Write-Host "There was an error mapping $MappedDrive.RemotePath to $MappedDrive.LocalPath"         }     }     $i = $i - 1     if($error.Count -eq 0 -Or $i -eq 0) {break}     Start-Sleep -Seconds 30 } Note: Now that you’ve created the script files, it’s time for you to proceed to the options given below.

Option 1 – Try creating a startup item

Note that this option only works on devices that have network access at login. So if it’s not there, the script will fail to reconnect the network drivers automatically. To create a startup item, here’s what you have to do:

• Open the Startup folder located at %ProgramData%MicrosoftWindowsStart MenuProgramsStartUp.
• From there, copy and paste the MapDrives.cmd.
• After that, open the Scripts folder located at %SystemDrive%Scripts copy-paste MapDrives.ps1 and then copy and paste MapDrives.ps1 in there.

Note: After you complete the steps above, a log file named “StartupLog.txt” will be created in the %TEMP% folder. Now all that’s left for you to do is to log out of your computer and then log back in. This will ensure that the mapped drives are open.

Option 2 – Create a scheduled task

It is possible to create a scheduled task that runs as soon as you log in to your computer. To create a scheduled task, follow the steps below.

• You have to copy the MapDrives.ps1 script file to the scripts folder of Windows located at %SystemDrive%Scripts.
• After that, open the Task Scheduler and select Action > Create Task.
• Next, type a name and description of the task in the General tab.
• Then click on the Change User or Group button and select a local user group and click OK.
• Now check the box labeled “Run with highest privileges” and switch to the Triggers tab.
• From there, create a new trigger with the “At Logon” option in the Begin the task drop-down menu and then click OK.
• After that, switch to the Actions tab and create a new action then choose to Start a program.
• Next, type “Powershell.exe” in the Program/Script field, and in the Add arguments (optional) field, type the following:

-windowsstyle hidden -command .MapDrives.ps1 >> %TEMP%StartupLog.txt 2>&1

• And in the Start in the (optional) field, type “%SystemDrive%Scripts” as the location of the script file.
• Now under the Conditions tab, select the “Start only if the following network connection is available” option and then select Any connection and click OK.
• Restart your computer or log off from your account and then log back in so that the task will be executed.

Option 3 – Use the Group Policy settings

You need this option if the mapped network drives are defined via Group Policy settings. You have to update the action of the drive maps to Replace. As a result, it will delete the existing mapped drive and create the mapping on each logon again. However, any settings on the mapped drive that are changed from the Group Policy settings will be gone on each logon. So if the changes don’t work, you need to run the gpupdate command together with the /force parameter in order to refresh the Group Policy setting quickly.