An Easy Guide to Fixing Error Code 12

Valve has announced the first gaming PC handheld console: Steam Deck. At its core, Stead Deck is just a portable, small PC in little casing. It uses AMD Zen 2 CPU and RDNA 2 GPU architecture, has 16GB of RAM, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. It is a portable device with both a touchpad and joystick packing a seven-inch screen with a resolution of 1280x800 (16:10 aspect ratio). The screen has an ambient light sensor for automatic light adjustments same as your modern mobile device. Stating to Valve battery will hold up from two to eight hours depending on the activity of the user and what exactly he is doing. The handheld comes also with a carrying case.

Steam Deck operating system and software

Out of the box, Steam Dock comes with the latest Valve’s version of SteamOS 3. Just for comparing, the steam box was coming SteamOS 2, so this new Linux-based OS is aimed to provide better performance and better compatibility. Naturally, all Linux games in your Steam library will work right out of the box but Valve has something called PROTON inside OS, it is emulation software based on Wine that will supposedly let you play all of your Library games on a given OS. One big thing to mention here is that this is PC after all meaning that if you do not like having SteamOS on it you can install Windows instead and so far as we know it will support Windows 11. Now with Windows 11, you will be able to play all of your Steam games and run any kind of Windows software on it including EPIC store, battle.net, and others.

Cost and release date

The initial release date is set for December 2021 and today on July 16^th Valve is opening you can reserve your copy if you want to pre-purchase. Follow this link if you want to reserve your copy. Reserve your Steam Deck device The price of the device will depend on the memory capacity which you would like to have. Please note that each of the 3 offered devices will have the same hardware, the only difference will be in memory available, and the most expensive version will also have anti-glare screen, everything else is identical. 64GB model will be $399, 256GB model will have the price of $529 and largest one with whooping 512GB will be $649

Conclusion

Valve ventures into the digital hardware domain again but it is unsure will they make it this time. Both Steam machine and their controller were in long run failed and later unsupported products so perhaps some customer caution is advised. Although having a handheld PC is tempting I would advise seeing how the overall market will accept this contraption before throwing money into it.

What is Backup Error 0x80070002?

Error 0x80070002 shows once you’re done backing up files through the Windows Backup program on a system running Windows 7, you see a notification that pops up with a message that reads something like: “Check your backup results. The backup completed but some files were skipped.” You try finding out the reason and you hover over to the Options button beside the message, then you get to read the following lines: “Check your backup results. The backup completed but some files were skipped. View skipped files.” Upon clicking the “View Skipped Files” option, the backup error 0x80070002 pops up on your screen and you’re left scratching your head, wondering what you’re going to do now.

Solution

Error Causes

There are multiple error logs that you will encounter in backup error 0x80070002 as per different conditions. The two most common cases in which this error shows up are stated below:

Case 1

You will see the following message when you press “View skipped files”: “Backup encountered a problem while backing up file C: Windows/System32/config/systemprofile. Error: (The system cannot find the file specified. (0x80070002))” You will face this case if you have backed up a library that included custom folders that were located in your user profile.

Case 2

Upon pressing “View Skipped files” you will encounter the below-mentioned messages: “Backup encountered a problem while backing up file C:/Users<User>AppDataLocalLow. Error: (The system cannot find the file specified. (0x80070002))” “Backup encountered a problem while backing up file C:/Users<User>Contacts. Error: (The system cannot find the file specified. (0x80070002))” “Backup encountered a problem while backing up file C:/Users<User>Searches. Error:(The system cannot find the file specified. (0x80070002))” You are likely to encounter any of these messages in case:

• The Windows Backup program is trying to back up your files in either one or all of these folders (LocalLow, Searches, Contacts).
• All three of these folders don’t exist in your system.

Keep in mind that all three of these folders exist due to the installation of certain programs and applications on your system.

Notes

The backup error 0x80070002 is also found to occur while using USB devices instead of storage devices. Other occurrences include the times when input/output (I/O) operations are performed on the USB device, which results in failure.

Further Information and Manual Repair

To make sure this issue is resolved, you will have to follow either one of the following solutions as appropriate to your situation:

Solution for Case 1

1. Ignore the error. The store files of the custom library in your user profile will not be created as backups.
2. Transfer the library folder from where it currently exists to a place outside its current folder (user profile). For instance, you can move the library folder to an entirely new destination such as “C: My Folders”
3. Remove the library folder from the list of files that you are backing up using the Windows Backup program. Then, add the original place of the library’s content in the list.
4. Go back and check step two. If carried out successfully then add a link to the folder you moved from the library. Check to see if the backup includes the library folder. To make sure, you have to do as follows:

• Go to Start and select your username.
• Hover across to the folder you wish to move, right-click on it and select “Cut”.
• Head to the navigation pane and search for the area you will store the folder in, right-click and select “Paste” so that the folder is moved to that location.
• Right-click on the folder that you just moved and select “Copy”.
• Go back to Start, select your username, right-click any vacant space in your folder and select “Paste Shortcut”.

Note: If you want to store the folder in a different place other than the folder in which it currently exists (user profile), you will need to create a new folder. In order to do so, go to the Windows Explorer menu and look up the root of the drive. Hit “New Folder” and then choose edit to change its name. You can set it as any name for instance, “My Folders”.

Solution for Case 2

You can ignore this error safely. However, if you wish not to see this error in the future during your backup operations then you will need to carry out the following steps:

1. Create all the folders listed in the error message including LocalLow, Contacts, and Searches.
2. Remove all of these folders from the Backup settings to make sure they aren’t being backed up then add the folders which are in their original place. To carry out this procedure, you will have to follow the below-mentioned steps:

• Head over to the Control Panel and open “Backup & Restore”.
• Go to the Backup section and select “Change Settings”.
• Click Next in the Setup backup dialog box.
• Select “Let me choose” in the dialog box termed “What do you want to back up” then proceed by clicking Next.
• Expand Data Files, expand <user> Libraries, expand Additional Locations then proceed by clearing out the AppData Folder, searches, and Contacts checkboxes.
• Expand Computer as well as the item for your system drive (expand Local Disk (D:)), expand users, expand <user>, then go to AppData, Searches and Contacts and mark them if they are present.
• Proceed by clicking next and select “Save Settings” then exit.
• Back to Backup & Restore, select Back up now and your new backup will begin proceeding. The entire process will be complete without any errors now.

Sticky Notes is one of the useful programs and in the early days, the option is available for users to change the font size of the text a lot easier. However, for some unknown reason, Microsoft decided to get rid of this feature in the latest Windows Update. One would expect that the feature will be replaced by an even more useful feature but it’s not which makes the Sticky Notes app worse than before. Worry not though for it doesn’t have to stay that way as there is another thing you can try to change the font size in your Sticky Notes app and that’s what we’re going to cover in this post. As mentioned, Microsoft removing this font feature is quite strange and in the past, users asked for this feature and since it’s no longer available, you can try following the steps given below to bring it back. And for that, you need to go to the Ease of Access section in the Settings app. Refer to the steps given below for more instructions. Step 1: First, tap the Win + I keys to open Settings and then go to the Ease of Access section. Step 2: After going to the Ease of Access menu and select Display from the list of options. Step 3: From there, you should see an option that says “Make text bigger”. And then use your mouse to navigate to the slider to change the size of the font. Note: Take note that after doing all the steps above, it will change not just the Sticky Notes app but also everything in Windows 10. This method is actually the best since it only changes the size of the apps rather than a wholesale change in your Windows 10 computer. Step 4: Next, scroll under Display until you see the “Change the size of apps and text on the main display” option where you’ll see that the option is 100% but you’ll want to change that to 125%. Step 5: After that, click on the drop-down menu and select 125% and then restart your Windows 10 computer. Step 6: Now open the Sticky Notes app and check if you can now change the font size in the Sticky Notes app.

In case you don’t know, the Windows Script Host provides capabilities such as batch files but it also includes many other features like it can be used by a user manual as well as created by the operating system to automate the flow of operations in the system. However, there are a lot of errors that could take place in such a process. One of them is the following error:

“Script: <PATH of the VBS Script> Line: x Char: x Error: The description of the error. Code: xxxxxxxx Source: (Source of the error)”

At the time of writing, it isn’t clear yet what the root cause of the error really is but there are several potential fixes you can check out to fix it. You can try to run the System File Checker or set the default value for the .vbs key, or troubleshoot the problem in a Clean Boot State. You could also try to repair Install Windows 10 or scan your computer for malware. For more detailed instructions refer to the following options.

Option 1 – Try to run a System File Checker scan

• In the Windows Start Search, type “command prompt” and right-click on Command Prompt from the search results, and then select the “Run as administrator” option.
• After opening Command Prompt with admin privileges, type the “sfc /scannow” and tap Enter to execute it.
• Once the scan is finished, restart your computer and see if the Windows Script Host error.

Option 2 – Try setting the default value for the .vbs key

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box and type “Regedit” in the field and tap Enter to open the Registry Editor.
• Next, navigate to this registry path: ComputerHKEY_CLASSES_ROOT.vbs
• From there, double click on the default string and change its Value data to “VBSFile”.
• Exit the Registry Editor and restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

Option 3 – Try troubleshooting the problem in a Clean Boot State

Setting your computer in a Clean Boot State can help you diagnose and later troubleshoot the problems in your computer. During this state, the system will start with a minimal number of drivers and startup programs that help in isolating the problem with the interfering software. To put your computer in a Clean Boot State, follow the given steps below.

• Log onto your computer 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 4 – Try to repair install Windows 10

• First, you have to click this link and then click the Download Tool Now button.
• Next, click the “Use the tool to create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file)…” option and follow the next given instructions on the screen.
• Now select the ISO file option in step 5.
• After that, you should now have an ISO file.
• Next, go to the location where you’ve downloaded the ISO file.
• Then right-click on the Windows 10 ISO file and select the Open with option and then select File Explorer.
• Now click on “setup.exe” and follow the next instructions that appear on the screen. When asked, you have to select either Nothing (clean install) or Keep personal files only option. Take note that you must not select the “Keep personal files, apps, and Windows settings”.

Option 5 – Try scanning your computer using Windows Defender

It is possible that your computer is infected with malware which could be why you’re getting the Windows Host Script error. Thus, you need to scan your computer using 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.

If you have encountered the “YOU ARE NOT AUTHORIZED TO ACCESS THIS WEB PAGE AS PER THE DOT COMPLIANCE” error while trying to visit a website using either Firefox or Chrome browser, then read on as this post will guide you on how you can fix this error. Apart from this error message, you might also see an alternative message that says, “Web Page Blocked! The page you have requested has been blocked because the URL is banned as per the Government Rules”. When you get any of the aforementioned error messages when visiting a website, this means that it has been marked. It is mostly recommended to not access the site as it might be blocked for some illegal reason. However, if you are certain that the website is legitimate and safe and you believe that it has been blocked by accident, then you can check out the given methods in this post to unblock and access the blocked or restricted website. There isn’t actually a straightforward way to remove the restriction on the website or the DOT compliance. And it won’t matter what browser you use as you will still get the same error. Thus, the best way to go about this issue is for you to bypass the ISP restriction. But before you proceed, keep in mind that the ISPs (Internet Service Providers) can block any website when a request goes through their servers.

Option 1 – Try changing the DNS

If the request to access the website does not go through the ISP’s DNS server, you might have a chance in accessing it by changing your DNS settings. You can try using the Google Public 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.

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

Option 2 – Try to install a Proxy Extension

You could also try installing a Proxy extension or Proxy software as it could also help you access the website you are trying to open as it allows you to access the blocked websites by routing the request through their server. Aside from that, it can also hide it from ISPs to make them look like the content is coming from the proxy servers.

Option 3 – Try using a VPN connection

There are instances when the network that your computer is logged on might have blocked your access to the website you are trying to open and so to fix it, you can try to use a VPN connection. There is a lot of free VPN software out there but just make sure that you install a trusted one. Once you’ve connected using VPN, try to open the website again and see if you can now access it.

Option 4 – Check the Windows Host file

You can also try to cross check the Windows Hosts file to find out if the website you are trying to open has been blocked because if it is, then it’s no wonder why you’re getting the ERR CONNECTION TIMED OUT error in Chrome. There are instances when some third party application modifies the file and add some websites to the block lists. So if the website is indeed blocked, you need to remove it from the list.

Option 5 – Try to contact your ISP

If none of the options given above worked, then you can try to contact your ISP as there are times when DOT clears a website, the ISPs are still blocking it. Thus, it’s probably better if you reach out to them and ask them to unblock the website from their end.

In previous versions of Windows changing the system, the font was a pretty straightforward process, but it seems Microsoft did not want this feature to keep for whatever reason and there is no option as of the time of the writing of this article to do it in standard options in Windows 10. But do not worry, you are still able to customize your Windows and choose which font would you like to see inside it in all of its dialogs. You can choose whichever font you desire, the only prerequisite is it to be installed on your system. This guide will require you to change values in the registry of Windows itself so please follow step-by-step instructions and always make a backup of the registry before changing it in order to prevent some permanent Windows issues. All of that being said, let's start.

Setting new font

First thing is to open notepad, in the notepad paste the next block of code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Fonts] "Segoe UI (TrueType)"="" "Segoe UI Bold (TrueType)"="" "Segoe UI Bold Italic (TrueType)"="" "Segoe UI Italic (TrueType)"="" "Segoe UI Light (TrueType)"="" "Segoe UI Semibold (TrueType)"="" "Segoe UI Symbol (TrueType)"="" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\FontSubstitutes] "Segoe UI"="NEW_FONT"

Where in "Segoe UI"="NEW_FONT" instead of NEW_FONT you need to write the exact name of the font that you wish to use as a system font. Once you have replaced the default system font with your desired one, go to File and save as, from file type drop-down menu, choose all files and save this file as .REG type giving it whatever name you wish. When the file is saved, close notepad, right-click on the saved file and choose the merge option. Confirm with YES and click on OK. Reboot your system and your Windows will now use the font of your choice as its default system font.

Restoring default font

If you wish to return the old default system font as it was, follow the same steps but in your notepad paste this code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Fonts] "Segoe UI (TrueType)"="segoeui.ttf" "Segoe UI Black (TrueType)"="seguibl.ttf" "Segoe UI Black Italic (TrueType)"="seguibli.ttf" "Segoe UI Bold (TrueType)"="segoeuib.ttf" "Segoe UI Bold Italic (TrueType)"="segoeuiz.ttf" "Segoe UI Emoji (TrueType)"="seguiemj.ttf" "Segoe UI Historic (TrueType)"="seguihis.ttf" "Segoe UI Italic (TrueType)"="segoeuii.ttf" "Segoe UI Light (TrueType)"="segoeuil.ttf" "Segoe UI Light Italic (TrueType)"="seguili.ttf" "Segoe UI Semibold (TrueType)"="seguisb.ttf" "Segoe UI Semibold Italic (TrueType)"="seguisbi.ttf" "Segoe UI Semilight (TrueType)"="segoeuisl.ttf" "Segoe UI Semilight Italic (TrueType)"="seguisli.ttf" "Segoe UI Symbol (TrueType)"="seguisym.ttf" "Segoe MDL2 Assets (TrueType)"="segmdl2.ttf" "Segoe Print (TrueType)"="segoepr.ttf" "Segoe Print Bold (TrueType)"="segoeprb.ttf" "Segoe Script (TrueType)"="segoesc.ttf" "Segoe Script Bold (TrueType)"="segoescb.ttf" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\FontSubstitutes] "Segoe UI"=-

Reboot your system and your Windows will now revert the font of your choice as its default system font.

You will notice the blurred background on the login screen right away when you start your Windows 10 computer that’s running the v1903 and up. This kind of blurred background is known as “Acrylic Blur Effect on Sign-in Screen”. This new feature delivers a beautiful experience to users by adding more focus to the login screen. However, no matter how nice this feature is and even if it only stays for less than a minute, not all users like it and if you’re one of these users, read on as this post will guide you in disabling the blurred background login screen in your Windows 10 computer. Disabling the blurred background in the login screen can be done in two methods. The first one is via the Registry Editor and the second one is via the Group Policy Editor. Before you proceed, make sure that you are using an admin account and you must create a System Restore point first. Once you have that covered, follow the options provided below.

Option 1 – Disable the Blurred background in the login screen via Registry Editor

• First, tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box and type “Regedit” in the field, and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor.
• After that, navigate to this registry path: KEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindowsSystem
• Next, right-click on any empty space in the right pane and create a new DWORD (32 bit) and name it as “DisableAcrylicBackgroundOnLogon”.
• Once you’ve created the DWORD, double click on it and set its value to 1 to disable it and 0 to enable it.
• After you make the necessary changes, restart your computer. You won’t now see the blurred background on the login screen.

Note: No matter what option you select to change the background, it will stay blurred when you click on the login button. At the time of writing, there is no way to disable this feature in the Personalization section so the Registry Editor will have to suffice for now.

Option 2 – Disable the Blurred background in the login screen via Group Policy Editor

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run utility and type “gpedit.msc” in the field and tap Enter to open the Group Policy Editor.
• After that, navigate to this policy setting: Computer ConfigurationAdministrative TemplatesSystemLogon
• From there, double click on the “Show clear logon background settings” and since its default value is “Not configured”, set it to “Disabled”. You will see the following description under this setting:
  • “This policy setting disables the acrylic blur effect on the logon background image.”
  • “If you enable this policy, the logon background image shows without blur.”

• Now click on OK and then check the login screen.

Note: If you don’t configure or if you disable this policy, the logon background image adopts the acrylic blur effect. However, if it didn’t work, you have to restart your computer and then check.

NDIS or Network Driver Interface Specification is a programming interface for the network interface cards that aids in the proper functioning of a system driver in a computer network. The NDIS helps the computer system in order to communicate with other connected devices and hardware components on a computer network. In relation, the ndis.sys file is a critical system file developed by Microsoft for the Windows operating system. As you know, sys files or system files are important parts of the Windows operating system as well as a repository of system driver settings used by Windows to communicate with the connected hardware and devices. The ndis.sys files are stored mostly in a driver folder at C:/Windows/System32/drivers and as mentioned, these files are essential for the system to function properly. Although the presence of ndis.sys system file is not yet known to affect the normal functioning of the Windows OS, some of the Windows 10 users reported that they encountered ndis.sys blue screen errors on their PCs. Blue Screen of Death errors or Stop errors usually occurs when you open a program or a function. Moreover, it could also occur when the driver gets loaded during the system startup or during system shutdown. It isn’t yet clear what really causes the ndis.sys blue screen error. However, like other Stop errors, it may occur due to corrupted files, misconfigured device drivers, bad drivers, corrupted Windows Registry, missing or damaged system files, and malicious programs. Aside from the aforementioned reasons, the ndis.sys blue screen error might also occur if your hard disk is damaged and if the RAM is corrupted. In such cases, a lot of users usually disable the ndis.sys file. However, it won’t really resolve the issue since the file is required for the normal functioning of the operating system and even when you disable the file, it’s pretty useless as the file will start all over again. In addition, you might want to disable security programs or firewalls and antivirus programs in the meantime to check if these programs are the ones that are causing the error. And if you’ve determined that none of the security programs or firewalls and antivirus programs are to blame, refer to the options below that might help you resolve the DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL or ndis.sys Blue Screen of Death error.

Option 1 – Try to update or reinstall the PC device driver

The Ndis.sys Blue screen error can occur when the device driver in your computer is outdated or corrupted. Thus, you either have to update or reinstall it to fix the issue.

• Tap the Win + R keys to launch Run.
• Type in devmgmt.msc into the box and tap Enter or click OK to open the Device Manager.
• After that, a list of device drivers will be displayed. If you see a red or yellow sign that shows up against the driver, right-click on the driver’s name and select “Update Driver Software” or “Uninstall”. And if you find any “Unknown device”, you need to update it as well.
• Select the “Search automatically for updated driver software” option and then follow the instructions to complete the process.
• Restart your PC.

Option 2 – Rollback your Network drivers

If you have updated the driver software as of late and you suddenly got this BSOD error, you might have to roll back the device driver – in other words, switch back to the previous working version. To do that, follow these steps:

• 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.
• Next, select the driver entries that are labeled appropriately other than anything in the context of the WAN Miniport.
• Then select each one of them and double-click to open a new mini window.
• After that, make sure that you’re on the Driver tab and if you are not, just navigate to it then click the Roll Back Driver button to switch back to the previous version of your Network adapters.
• Now restart your computer to successfully apply the changes made.

Option 3 – Try running the System File Checker

The SFC or System File Checker scan could detect and automatically repair damaged system files that could be causing the ndis.sys Blue Screen of Death error. 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. 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 and hit Enter.

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.

Option 4 – Try running the CHKDSK utility

Running the CHKDSK utility might also help you resolve the Netwtw04.sys failed BSOD 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.

• Open Command Prompt with admin privileges.
• After opening Command Prompt, execute the following command and hit Enter:

chkdsk /f /r

• Wait for the process to be completed and then restart your computer.

Option 5 – Run the DISM Tool

The DISM tool is another command-line tool in the Windows operating system that could help users fix various corrupted system files. To use it, follow these steps:

• Open the Command Prompt as admin.
• Then type in this command: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
• The DISM command you entered will repair the corrupted system image. Do not close the window if the process takes a while as it will probably take a few minutes to finish.
• Restart your PC.

Option 6 – Perform a System Restore

Performing a System Restore on your computer can also help you fix the ndis.sys Blue Screen of Death error. 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.

Gaming Wonderland is a Browser Extension for Google Chrome developed by Mindspark. This extension allows you to look up some popular browser games, as well as to find multiplayer games. When installed it changes your default search provider and your default home page to MyWebSearch. While browsing the internet, this extension will gather your browsing information, website visits, clicks, and other information that is later sent to Mindspark ad servers and used to better target ads.

While using this extension you will see additional unwanted ads appearing throughout your browser sessions.

Due to the nature of this application and the fact that it has been marked as a Browser Hijacker by several anti-virus scanners, it is not recommended to keep it on your computer.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijacking means that a malicious code has power over and modified the settings of your internet browser, without your consent. They are made to disrupt browser functions for a variety of reasons. These are generally used to force visitors to a specific site, manipulating web traffic to generate ad revenue. It may appear harmless, but the majority of such sites are not legitimate and will present a serious risk to your online safety. As soon as the program attacks your computer or laptop, it begins to mess things up a whole that slows your system down to a crawl. In the worse case, you could be pushed to tackle serious malware threats as well.

Browser hijacking symptoms

When your web browser is hijacked, the following could happen: you find unauthorized modifications to your web browser’s home-page; new bookmarks pointing to pornographic websites have been added to your bookmarks; default web engine is changed; you are finding browser toolbars you haven’t noticed before; unstoppable flurries of popup advertisements show up on your PC screen; your browser gets slow, buggy, crashes quite often; you’re prohibited access to specific websites, including the site of an anti-malware software firm like SafeBytes.

How does a browser hijacker infect a PC

Browser hijackers might use drive-by downloads or file-sharing websites or even an e-mail attachment in order to reach a targeted computer. They could also be deployed through the installation of a web browser toolbar, add-on, or extension. A browser hijacker can also be installed as a part of freeware, shareware, demoware, and pirated programs. A good example of a notorious browser hijacker is the latest Chinese malicious software called “Fireball”, which has attacked 250 million PCs worldwide. It works as a hijacker but can be turned into a fully functioning malware downloader later on. Browser hijackers will affect the user’s browsing experience severely, keep track of the websites visited by users and steal private information, cause problems in connecting to the net, and eventually create stability issues, making applications and computers freeze.

Browser Hijacker Malware – Removal

Some kinds of browser hijackers can be removed from your computer by deleting malicious software applications or any other recently added shareware. At times, it can be a tough task to discover and get rid of the malicious component since the associated file might be running as part of the operating system process. Novice PC users should not try for the manual form of removal, since it calls for thorough computer knowledge to do fixes on the system registry and HOSTS file. Installing and running antivirus applications on the affected system will automatically erase browser hijackers and also other unwanted applications. Safebytes Anti-Malware incorporates a cutting-edge anti-malware engine that will help you prevent browser hijacker infection in the first place, and clean up any existing problems. Use a system optimizer together with your antivirus software to fix various registry problems, remove system vulnerabilities, and boost your computer's overall performance.

Help! Malware Blocking Antivirus Installation And Access To The Web

Viruses can cause plenty of damage to your PC. Some malware variants alter internet browser settings by adding a proxy server or change the PC’s DNS settings. In such cases, you will be unable to visit certain or all websites, and therefore not able to download or install the required security software to eliminate the malware. So what you should do if malware keeps you from downloading or installing Safebytes Anti-Malware? There are a few actions you can take to circumvent this issue.

Use Safe Mode to resolve the issue

In Safe Mode, you may change Windows settings, uninstall or install some programs, and remove hard-to-delete viruses and malware. In case the virus is set to load immediately when the PC starts, shifting into this mode may well prevent it from doing so. To boot into Safe Mode, press the “F8” key on the keyboard right before the Windows logo screen appears; Or right after normal Windows boot up, run MSCONFIG, look over Safe Boot under Boot tab, and then click Apply. Once you’re in safe mode, you can try to install your antivirus program without the hindrance of malicious software. At this point, you can actually run the antivirus scan to get rid of viruses and malware without any interference from another malicious application.

Switch to an alternate internet browser

Some viruses might target vulnerabilities of a specific browser that obstruct the downloading process. If you seem to have a trojan attached to Internet Explorer, then switch to an alternate browser with built-in security features, such as Firefox or Chrome, to download your favorite antivirus program – Safebytes.

Create a bootable USB antivirus drive

Another solution is to save and run an antivirus software program completely from a USB drive. Adopt these measures to run the anti-malware on the infected computer. 1) On a virus-free computer, install Safebytes Anti-Malware. 2) Connect the USB drive to a USB port on the clean computer. 3) Double-click the Setup icon of the antivirus software to run the Installation Wizard. 4) Select the drive letter of the flash drive as the place when the wizard asks you exactly where you want to install the antivirus. Follow the activation instructions. 5) Unplug the USB drive. Now you can use this portable anti-virus on the affected computer. 6) Run the Safebytes Anti-malware directly from the USB drive by double-clicking the icon. 7) Simply click “Scan Now” to run a complete scan on the infected computer for viruses.

Detect And Remove Viruses With SafeBytes Anti-Malware

If you are looking to download the anti-malware program for your PC, there are various tools on the market to consider however, you cannot trust blindly anyone, regardless of whether it is paid or free program. A few are really worth your money, but most aren’t. You must opt for a company that creates industry-best antimalware and has earned a reputation as reliable. On the list of strongly recommended software is SafeBytes AntiMalware. SafeBytes carries a good track record of quality service, and customers appear to be happy with it. SafeBytes anti-malware is trustworthy software that not only protects your system completely but is also quite user-friendly for people of all skill levels. Using its outstanding protection system, this tool will automatically detect and eliminate most of the security threats, including browser hijackers, viruses, adware, PUPs, trojans, worms, and ransomware.

SafeBytes anti-malware takes computer protection to a totally new level with its advanced features. Below are some of the features you might like in SafeBytes.

Anti-Malware Protection: This deep-cleaning anti-malware software program goes much deeper than most anti-virus tools to clean out your personal computer. Its critically acclaimed virus engine locates and disables hard-to-remove malware that hides deep within your personal computer. Real-time Protection: SafeBytes delivers complete and real-time security for your PC. It’ll constantly monitor your pc for hacker activity and also provides end-users with sophisticated firewall protection. Website Filtering: SafeBytes gives an instant safety rating to the pages you are going to visit, automatically blocking unsafe sites and making sure that you are certain of your safety while browsing the net. High-Speed Malware Scanning Engine: SafeBytes’s high-speed malware scanning engine lessens scan times and extends battery life. Simultaneously, it will effectively find and get rid of infected computer files or any internet threat. Low CPU/Memory Usage: SafeBytes is well-known for its low impact on processing power and great detection rate of various threats. It runs silently and efficiently in the background so you are free to utilize your personal computer at full power all the time. 24/7 Premium Support: You can get 24/7 technical assistance to quickly resolve any issue with your security software. To sum it up, SafeBytes Anti-Malware provides outstanding protection combined with very low system resource usage with great malware prevention and detection. You now may know that this tool does more than just scan and remove threats from your PC. If you’re searching for the absolute best malware removal application out there, and if you don’t mind spending a few bucks for it, go for SafeBytes Anti-Malware.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you would like to do the removal of Gaming Wonderland manually instead of using an automated software tool, you may follow these measures: Go to the Windows Control Panel, click the “Add or Remove Programs” and there, select the offending application to uninstall. In case of suspicious versions of browser plug-ins, you can easily get rid of it through your web browser’s extension manager. You may even want to reset your home page and search engine providers, and also delete temporary files, browsing history, and cookies. In order to ensure the complete removal, manually examine your hard drive and registry for all of the following and remove or reset the values accordingly. Having said that, editing the Windows registry is really a difficult job that only advanced users and professionals should try to fix it. Furthermore, some malicious programs have the capability to defend against its deletion. It is advisable that you do the removal procedure in Windows Safe Mode.

As you know, System Restore is a useful tool in Windows operating system that helps users in fixing system issues by undoing any recent changes to the computer that may have caused the problem. However, there are times when you might encounter some issues when running this tool and one of these issues is when System Restore suddenly gets stuck or hangs up on initializing the restoration of the Registry in Windows 10. If you encounter a similar problem, read on as this post will guide you on what you can do in such cases. There are several things you can do when you face this kind of problem in System Restore. First, you can try to wait it out, give it more time to load, which should not take longer than 5 minutes. And if it’s still stuck after that time, give it another hour. However, if nothing changed after an hour, then you need to troubleshoot the problem further. Keep in mind that you must not interrupt System Restore by shutting it down abruptly, it could result in an unbootable system. To get started in troubleshooting the problem, you need to follow each one of the suggestions offered below.

Option 1 – Try to use the Windows Recovery Environment

The first troubleshooting option you need to try is to simply tap the power button for about 10 seconds. This is what you have to do when you have to interrupt System Restore or reset your Windows 10 computer. Tapping the power button for 10 seconds will perform a hard shutdown and once your computer shuts down, restart your computer again and follow the steps below but before you do that, make sure that you have a Windows bootable USB or DVD.

• First, insert the bootable USB or DVD and boot into it, and select the “Repair your computer” option.
• Next, once you see the manufacturer logo on your computer, tap the key to enter into Windows Recovery Environment.
• After that, change the Boot sequence to DVD drive under the UEFI Firmware settings and restart your computer.
• Once your computer has restarted, select the boot order and make changes accordingly as displayed in the BIOS.

Option 2 – Try to run the Automatic Repair Utility

You might also want to use Automatic Repair in fixing the 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 on 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 to run System Restore in Safe Mode

If you can’t boot into your Windows 10 computer, you can try to run System Restore again in the Advanced Startup Options.

• Boot your computer into Safe Mode.
• After that, select an option > Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings > Restart.
• Once your computer has restarted, tap the F6 key to enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt and to run System Restore from there.
• Now in Command Prompt, type the “rstrui.exe” command to run System Restore in Safe Mode. This will help in fixing the problem since it would be safer to perform System Restore of the computer.