How to Fix the Error Code 28

As you know, one of the useful and efficient utilities in Windows 10 is the DISM tool. It can be used with the Command Prompt command line which allows users to carry out various tasks. However, there are instances when the DISM tool could encounter some errors when you try to execute a command. One of these errors is the one that states, “The component store has been corrupted”. This kind of DISM error is due to an error in the image file. When you encounter the DISM Error 14098 when running the DISM tool, you will see the following content in the command line:

“C:>Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:c:testmountwindows /LimitAccess Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool Version: 10.0.10586.0 Image Version: 10.0.10586.0 [==========================100.0% Error: 14098 The component store has been corrupted. The DISM log file can be found at C:WINDOWSLogsDISMdism.log C:>”

There are several fixes you can check out to fix the DISM Error 14098, “The component store has been corrupted”. You can try to run the Restore Health command or reset the Windows Update components, or whitelist the dism.exe in your antivirus program, as well as try to uninstall any recently installed updates. Follow the options provided below for more details.

Option 1 – Run the Restore Health command in a Clean Boot State

• First, you need to put your computer in a Clean Boot State.
• Type in MSConfig in the Start Search to open the System Configuration utility.
• From there, go to the General tab and click “Selective startup”.
• Clear the “Load Startup items” check box and make sure that the “Load System Services” and “Use Original boot configuration” options are checked.
• Next, click the Services tab and select the “Hide All Microsoft Services” check box.
• Click Disable all.
• Click on Apply/OK and restart your PC. (This will put your PC into a Clean Boot State. And configure Windows to use the usual startup, just simply undo the changes.)
• Now open Command Prompt with admin privileges.
• Then type and enter this command to execute it: Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
• Wait until the process is completed and restart your computer.

Note: If the Restore Health command fails, you can use the “/StartComponentCleanup parameter” by executing this command: Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup

Option 2 – Try to reset the Windows Update components

If by any chance that the second option didn’t work, resetting the Windows Update components could also help you resolve the problem. How? Refer to the following steps:

• Open Command Prompt with admin privileges.
• After that, type each one of the following commands and hit Enter after you key in one after the other.
  • net stop wuauserv
  • net stop cryptsvc
  • net stop bits
  • net stop msiserver

Note: The commands you entered will stop the Windows Update components such as Windows Update service, Cryptographic services, BITS, and MSI Installer.

• After disabling WU components, you need to rename both the SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2 folders. To do that, type each one of the following commands below, and don’t forget to hit Enter after you type one command after the other.
  • ren C:/Windows/SoftwareDistribution/SoftwareDistribution.old
  • ren C:/Windows/System32/catroot2/Catroot2.old
• Next, restart the services you’ve stopped by entering another series of commands. Don’t forget to hit Enter after you key in one command after the other.
  • net start wuauserv
  • net start cryptsvc
  • net start bits
  • net start msiserver
• Close Command Prompt and reboot your PC.

Option 3 – Whitelist the “dism.exe” in your antivirus program

The DISM error 14098 might also be caused by your antivirus program which could be interfering it from running. To fix this, you have to whitelist dism.exe. How? Refer to these steps:

• Open the Windows Defender Security Center from the system tray area.
• Next, click the “Virus & threat protection” option and then open the “Virus and threat protection settings”.
• After that, scroll down until you find the “Exclusions” and click on the “Add or remove exclusions” option.
• Then click the plus button and select the type of exclusion you want to add and from the drop-down list, select Folder.
• Next, navigate to this path and select the WinSxS folder: C:/Windows/WinSxS
• When a User Account Control or UAC prompt, just click on Yes to proceed.

Option 4 – Try to uninstall recently installed updates

There are times when some Windows Updates affect some mechanism internally when you update your Windows 10 computer. As a result, it causes issues with other components of the operating system which could be the reason why you’re getting the DISM error 14098.

• Go to Settings and select Update and Security > Windows Update.
• From there, click on the “View update history” option and then click on the “Uninstall Updates” option.
• This will open a new window that contains the list of installed Windows Updates.
• Now right click on the Windows Update you wish to uninstall and click Uninstall.

There are times when you try to open a file, an executable file for instance, but were unable to do so since you encounter an error in an Open File – Security Warning dialog box that says, “This publisher has been blocked from running software on your machine, You must unblock this publisher to run this software”. This kind of error is most likely thrown by your operating system because it considers the file to be unsafe and could potentially harm your computer. However, if you’re certain that the file is harmless, read on as this post will walk you through fixing the error so you can open the file without getting an error. There are various options you can check out to fix the error. You may run the program using Command Prompt or unblock it using File Properties. You could also try turning off SmartScreen or use the unblock file command in Windows PowerShell.

Option 1 – Try running the program via Command Prompt

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box and type “cmd” in the field and hit Enter to open Command Prompt.
• Next, tap the Shift key and right-click on the program or the executable file, and then select the “Copy as path” option.
• After that, paste this path in the Command Prompt window and tap Enter to open the program.

Option 2 – Try to unblock the file using File Properties

• Right-click on the file you were trying to open and select Properties.
• Next, click the Unblock button and then click on the Apply and OK buttons.
• You should now be able to open or access the file without getting the error.

Option 3 – Turn off SmartScreen

The next thing you can do is to turn off SmartScreen temporarily. All you have to do is open the Windows Defender Security Center and from there, go to the App & browser control section. After that, click on the radio button for Off under Check apps and files. Once you’re done, try opening the file again. Don’t forget to enable the SmartScreen back on.

Option 4 – Try to use the Unblock-File command in PowerShell

You might also want to utilize the Unblock-File command in Windows PowerShell as it will unblock the file so you can open it. To execute this command, follow these steps:

• Tap the Win + X keys and then click on Windows PowerShell.
• After opening PowerShell, type or copy and paste this command and tap Enter to execute it: Get-ChildItem -Path 'C:Users<username>Downloads' | Unblock-File
• The command you entered will unblock all the files in the Downloads folder, assuming that’s where the file you were trying to open is stored. If it’s not, then replace the path with the path where the file is located. Take note to also replace “<username>” with your Username.
• Now check if the file has been unblocked by accessing or opening it.

On September 18th, 2017, Cisco’s Talos announced that CCleaner, a popular utility with billions of worldwide users, had been compromised by hackers, and was used to unwittingly distribute hidden malware in its installer. Later in the day, Piriform, the publisher of CCleaner, confirmed the problem.

Undetected by all but 1 major antivirus including CCleaner’s own parent company, this occurred for over a month and impacted over 2.7 million users. Users of CCleaner v5.33.6162 and CCleaner Cloud v1.07.3191 for 32-bit Windows are affected. These downloads were live on CCleaner’s official site from August 15th to September 12th, 2017. Anyone who downloaded the program during this time could be affected. The company claims that while the hackers set up the backdoor and many users were impacted, that the perpetrators have been arrested and that the malware never successfully performed its full task and compromised user’s PCs or sent out their data; in the wake of recent security breaches such as Equifax, users are understandably worried. Given the severity of the threat of hacking and data theft, users should take action immediately if they have CCleaner.

Technical Details of CCleaner Malware Injection

First reported by Talos, the malware, which was hidden in the CCleaner installer without the publisher noticing (despite them being owned by Avast, a massive Anti-virus company), modified a core program DLL file to evade detection, and creates several registry keys. Not only were these files not flagged by any major Anti-Virus, but they were also even digitally signed by Piriform via their Symantec certificate, meaning your PC and security program would likely whitelist and trust the malicious installer. The malware gathers personal information on a user’s PC, including IP address and running programs, and sends it to a remote server. In our testing, the program sent data to IP 216.126.225.148.

Restore Your PC (If Possible)

As of the publication of this article, there have been no assurances given that updating or even uninstalling CCleaner will remove the malware is installed. The only action thus far has been shutting down the remote server where user data was being sent has been shut down by authorities. For this reason, it is best to remove the underlying malware separately, as its presence represents a serious security threat. Unfortunately, as this could have been installed as far back as August 15th, 2017, your System Restore points may not go back that far, or even if they do, restoring to such an outdated point may cause unintended problems with other programs you use and potentially lost files and data. Manually backing up files and doing a full format or clean Windows installation would likely be successful in fully removing the malware, but is extremely time-consuming and can be difficult for many PC users. Unfortunately, this makes a PC Restore or format an unattainable option for many.

Update CCleaner to the Latest Version

While CCleaner has told users to update to the latest version of the program. Prior to doing so, we recommend fully uninstall CCleaner, ensuring you check its program files folders and registry keys, manually deleting any remnants, and then re-downloading the latest version from the official site and reinstalling clean.

Error Code 0x80070004 on Windows 10 – What Is It?

Some users trying to upgrade from Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 reported experiencing installation rollback with error code 0x80070004. This error normally appears when the Computer Name is set to names that can’t be used for the computer. It’s also possible this error occurs if users or program files folder were redirected to a different partition.

Solution

Error Causes

The Error code 0x80070004 on Windows 10 is normally caused if any of the following were used as the Computer Name and the user tried to upgrade to Windows 10:

• System (or SYSTEM)
• SELF
• LOCAL
• Network

Failure to fix this error message might result in others, including error code  0xc0000001. 

Further Information and Manual Repair

If you don’t solve this error, you won’t be able to upgrade from Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 to Windows 10. Note that this error will continuously bring you back to the original OS unless fixed.

Please note that if you’re not confident in doing these steps, you might want to consider seeking the help of an expert or using an automated tool that will help fix this.

Here are a few methods to try.

Method 1: Check and Change the Computer Name

The most common cause of this error is if your computer uses any of the following reserved names:

• LOCAL
• System (or SYSTEM)
• Network
• SELF

These reserved names are not meant to be used as computer names. If this is what your computer uses and you try to upgrade to Windows 10, you will surely get this error. Check your computer name and if you see any of the reserved names, change it right away.

Changing Computer Name in Windows 8.1

If you’re trying to upgrade from Windows 8.1, you can change the name of the computer by following these steps:

• Step 1: Open the Start menu then simply type “rename computer”. After that, choose “Rename this computer”
• Step 2: A dialog box will open. Just click the “Change” button
• Step 3: A new dialog box will open. Type the new name. Click Apply then Ok.

Changing Computer Name in Windows 7

If you’re trying to upgrade from Windows, you can follow the steps below to change the name of your computer.

• Step 1: Go to the Start menu then on the Computer section, right-click the mouse and choose “Properties”.
• Step 2: A new dialog box will appear. Go to “Computer name, domain, and workgroup settings” then click “Change settings”. In case you’re asked for administrative access, make sure to grant it.
• Step 3: Find the “Computer Name” tab then click “Change”
• Step 4: Change the computer name and click Ok.

Method 2: Fix the “Users” directory issue

If the first method doesn't work, it probably means the computer name isn’t the cause of this error. Another reason why users experience Error code 0x80070004 when upgrading to Windows 10 is if the “Users” directory was relocated. So, when you try upgrading to Windows 10, the installer wasn’t able to find the user profiles on the “%systemdrive%”, where the current operating system is installed.

If you changed or moved any of the Users, Program Data, or Program Files folders, this will cause the error. Before you upgrade to Windows 10, you might be required to reset or reinstall your current operating system (Windows 7 or Windows 8.1).

If you haven’t made any changes or haven’t moved any of the mentioned folders, there’s a great chance that your users' profiles are corrupted. You can also reinstall your current operating system. However, you might want to check for the corrupter user profile first. To do this, follow the steps below:

• Step 1: Go to the Start menu and type System
• Step 2: Click System  then go to the Advanced tab
• Step 3: Go to Settings, which you’ll find under User Profiles

On the Users Profiles, make a copy of all the accounts somewhere. Sign out from the current user account then try logging in back using the accounts you’ve copied. For each account, you get an error, delete it. However, make sure that you don’t delete the UpdateUser and Administrator account ever.

After this is done, try upgrading your operating system to windows 10 again.

Method 3: Try a trusted and secured Automated Tool

If the above methods still not useful, you might want to rely on an automated tool. Find a secured and trusted tool. It will help fix this issue.

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.

ExpressFiles is a program developed by Express Solutions. A number of Anti-Virus programs have flagged this program as a Potentially Unwanted Application. In many instances, it is bundled with additional programs on installation.

The program claims it offers users easy to search for various currently popular search terms. During our testing, the software never displays any search results, no matter the search words. Upon installation and setup, it defines an auto-start registry entry which makes this program run on each Windows boot for all user logins. A scheduled task is added to Windows Task Scheduler in order to launch the program at various scheduled times. The program defines an exception rule in Windows Firewall, allowing it to connect to the internet without limitations and auto-update itself.

About Browser Hijackers

Precisely what is a PUP?

If you’ve ever downloaded a free application or shareware, chances are high that the computer can get installed with a bunch of unwanted applications. A PUA / PUP (potentially unwanted application / potentially unwanted program) is a software program that comes bundled with free software and you consent to install it on your PC. These are programs you almost certainly don’t want on your computer simply because it doesn’t give any valuable service. Despite being regarded as very detrimental, PUPs aren’t always viruses or malware One simple difference between PUP and malware is distribution. Malware is normally dropped by silent installation vectors like drive-by downloads while PUP gets installed with the consent of the computer user, who purposefully or unknowingly approves the PUP installation on its PC. Having said that, there is no doubt that PUPs remain bad news for PC users as they can be incredibly damaging to the computer in numerous ways.

Exactly how do unwanted programs look like?

Potentially Unwanted Programs appear in different forms and varieties, however, in the majority of instances, they are adware programs that exhibit irritating pop-up ads and advertisements on websites you explore. In addition, the majority of free programs these days come with some unwanted add-ons; in most cases an internet browser toolbar or browser modification like a homepage hijacker. They’ll keep track of your online routines, redirect your search results to risky websites where viruses can be downloaded and installed, hijack your home page, and slow your browser down to a crawl. Potentially Unwanted Programs occasionally act quite much like computer viruses or spyware. They might carry keyloggers, dialers, browser hijackers, and tracking components that gather system details, or tracks customer habits and relays this information to third-party firms. Even if the PUPs really aren’t basically malicious, these software programs still do absolutely nothing good on your personal computer – they will take valuable system resources, slow down your PC, weaken your computer security, and make your system more susceptible to trojans.

How do you avoid PUPs?

• Read cautiously before accepting the license agreement as it may have a clause about PUPs. • Always opt for the custom if you’re presented an option between “Custom” and “Recommended” Installations – never click Next, Next, Next blindly. • Have a top-notch antivirus program like Safebytes Anti-Malware which can protect your computer from PUPs. As soon as you install this software, protection from malware and PUPs is already switched on. • Think carefully before you download any kind of shareware or freeware. Disable or get rid of toolbars and browser extensions you don’t really need. • Only use official product websites for downloading programs. Stay away from download portals altogether as most websites compel users to download the software using their own download manager, which is often bundled up with some sort of PUPs.

What To Do If You Cannot Install Any Anti-Malware?

All malware is bad, but certain types of malicious software do a lot more damage to your computer than others. Some malware types modify browser settings by adding a proxy server or modify the PC’s DNS settings. In these instances, you will be unable to visit some or all of the websites, and therefore not able to download or install the required security software to remove the infection. If you are reading this right now, you have perhaps recognized that a malware infection is a reason for your blocked web connectivity. So how to proceed when you want to install an anti-malware application like Safebytes? Follow the instructions below to eliminate malware by alternative methods.

Install in Safe Mode

The Windows-based PC comes with a special mode called “Safe Mode” where just the bare minimum required applications and services are loaded. If the malware is set to load immediately when the computer starts, shifting to this mode may well prevent it from doing so. In order to enter into Safe Mode or Safe Mode with Networking, press the F8 key while the PC is starting up or run MSConfig and locate the “Safe Boot” options under the “Boot” tab. As soon as you restart the PC into Safe Mode with Networking, you could download, install, and update anti-malware software from there. Right after installation, run the malware scanner to get rid of standard infections.

Utilize an alternate internet browser to download antivirus software

Web-based malware could be environment-specific, targeting a specific web browser or attacking particular versions of the web browser. If you’re not able to download the anti-virus application using Internet Explorer, this means the virus is targeting IE’s vulnerabilities. Here, you need to switch to a different web browser such as Chrome or Firefox to download the Safebytes Anti-malware program.

Install and run antivirus from a Thumb drive

Here’s yet another solution which is creating a portable USB anti-virus software that can scan your computer for malware without the need for installation. Try these simple actions to clean up your infected computer using portable anti-malware. 1) Download Safebytes Anti-Malware or Microsoft Windows Defender Offline onto a clean PC. 2) Mount the pen drive on the same PC. 3) Run the setup program by double-clicking the executable file of the downloaded software, which has a .exe file extension. 4) Select the drive letter of the USB drive as the location when the wizard asks you exactly where you would like to install the anti-malware. Follow activation instructions. 5) Now, insert the thumb drive into the corrupted PC. 6) Run the Safebytes Anti-malware directly from the pen drive by double-clicking the icon. 7) Click the “Scan” button to run a full computer scan and remove viruses automatically.

Overview of SafeBytes Anti-Malware

If you are looking to download the anti-malware program for your computer, there are lots of tools in the market to consider nonetheless, you just cannot trust blindly anyone, irrespective of whether it is free or paid software. A few of them do a great job in removing threats while some will ruin your PC by themselves. You need to pick a company that develops industry-best antimalware and has achieved a reputation as trustworthy. When considering commercial tool options, most people opt for well-known brands, such as SafeBytes, and they are quite happy with it. SafeBytes anti-malware is really a powerful, very effective protection software made to help users of all levels of computer literacy in detecting and removing malicious threats out of their computer. Using its outstanding protection system, this utility will quickly detect and get rid of the majority of the security threats, which include adware, viruses, browser hijackers, ransomware, PUPs, and trojans. SafeBytes anti-malware takes computer protection to a totally new level with its advanced features. Here are a few typical features present in this software: Live Protection: SafeBytes offers complete and real-time security for your laptop or computer. It’ll regularly monitor your computer for hacker activity and also gives end-users superior firewall protection. Most Reliable AntiMalware Protection: With its enhanced and sophisticated algorithm, this malware elimination tool can find and eliminate the malware threats hiding in your PC effectively. “Fast Scan” Features: SafeBytes’s high-speed malware scanning engine minimizes scanning times and extends battery life. Simultaneously, it will effectively identify and remove infected computer files or any online threat. Web Protection: SafeBytes checks and gives a unique safety ranking to each and every website you visit and block access to webpages considered to be phishing sites, thus safeguarding you from identity theft, or known to contain malicious software. Low CPU/Memory Usage: SafeBytes is well known for its low effect on computer resources and great detection rate of diverse threats. It runs quietly and efficiently in the background so you’re free to use your PC at full power all of the time. 24/7 Premium Support: SafeBytes gives you 24/7 technical support, automatic maintenance, and upgrades for the best user experience.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you wish to manually remove ExpressFiles without the use of an automated tool, it may be possible to do so by removing the program from the Windows Add/Remove Programs menu, or in cases of browser extensions, going to the browsers AddOn/Extension manager and removing it. You will likely also want to reset your browser. To ensure the complete removal, manually check your hard drive and registry for all of the following and remove or reset the values accordingly. Please note that this is for advanced users only and may be difficult, with incorrect file removal causing additional PC errors. In addition, some malware is capable of replicating or preventing deletion. Doing this in Safe Mode is advised.

The following files, folders, and registry entries are created or modified by ExpressFiles

This is not the first time that Intel is trying to enter the GPU field but its adventures so far were, well let us agree not so good. All of that is hoping to be changed with the upcoming ARC GPU. The first generation of Arc graphics, code-named Alchemist and previously known as DG2, will support desktop PCs and laptops and is set to arrive in the first quarter of 2022. Alchemist will have hardware-based Ray tracing and AI-driven supersampling. This indicates that GPU is aimed to compete in the Hi-end spectrum and battle side by side with Nvidia and AMD on the market. Alchemist will also pack full DirectX 12 Ultimate support. Intel also released names for the next upcoming future generations of ARC GPUs: Battlemage, Celestial & Druid. More information about ARC products will be released later this year. “Today marks a key moment in the graphics journey we started just a few years ago. The launch of the Intel Arc brand and the reveal of future hardware generations signifies Intel’s deep and continued commitment to gamers and creators everywhere,” Roger Chandler, Intel vice president, and general manager of client graphics products and solutions.

Recently, several users reported an issue on their Windows 10 computers where the taskbar is not visible when they tried to connect to a computer via Remote Desktop Protocol or RDP. The Remote Desktop Connection feature uses the RDP which allows users to access a computer remotely. This is actually different from the taskbar being hidden automatically until the pointer hovers on it since, in this scenario, the taskbar is completely not accessible which makes using the remote computer entirely difficult, if not impossible. There are several suggestions you can check out to resolve this problem, you can try to restart the process of Windows Explorer via Task Manager or you could clear the cache for multiple processes. You could also try to reinstall the Shell Experience components or show the local taskbar in the Remote desktop. Moreover, you could also try to update, uninstall or roll back the display driver/graphics card driver. For more details, refer to each one of the options given below.

Option 1 – Try to restart the Windows Explorer process

The first option you have to try to fix the problem with the taskbar is to simply restart the Windows Explorer process in the Task Manager.

• Tap the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys to open the Task Manager.
• Next, go to the Processes tab and find the process of Windows Explorer.
• Once you find it, right-click on it and select Restart to restart its process.
• After that, restart your computer and see if you can now see the Taskbar.

Option 2 – Try clearing the cache of multiple processes

The next thing you can do to resolve the problem is to clear the cache of many processes in your computer. To do so, follow these steps:

• Open the Notepad app and paste the following content in the text area:

@echo off taskkill /f /im explorer.exe taskkill /f /im shellexperiencehost.exe timeout /t 3 /NOBREAK > nul del %localappdata%PackagesMicrosoft.Windows.ShellExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewyTempState* /q timeout /t 2 /NOBREAK > nul start explorer @echo on

• After that, tap the Ctrl + S keys to save the changes you’ve made in Notepad and select the “All files” as its file type, and then name it “CacheClearTWC.bat”.
• Next, go to the location where you saved the file using File Explorer and then run it. This will run a couple of batch scripts which will clear the cache of multiple processes in the system.
• Tap the Win + X keys and select the “Windows PowerShell (Admin)” option to open PowerShell as admin.
• Next, execute this command in the command line: Get-appxpackage -all *shellexperience* -packagetype bundle |% {add-appxpackage -register -disabledevelopmentmode ($_.installlocation + “appxmetadataappxbundlemanifest.xml”)}
• After the command has been executed, this will reinstall the Shell Experience components and should fix the problem with the taskbar.

Option 4 – Update, uninstall or rollback the Graphics card drivers

• First, boot your computer into Safe Mode.
• After that, tap the Win + R keys to launch Run.
• Type in 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. From there, look for the Display Adapters and click on them.
• After that, right-click on each entry under the Display Adapters and select the “Uninstall Device” option from the menu.
• Now restart your computer.
• After restarting your computer, go to the Settings app and Check for Updates in the Windows Update section.

Note: You also have the option to go directly to the website of your graphics card manufacturers like NVIDIA, Intel, or AMD and go to the section called Drivers then check if there’s a new available update – if there is, download and install it.

A black screen error inside Windows 11 is a typical screen turning to solid black without any error message. This can be very annoying since it can randomly appear out of nowhere and it will appear while you are using the computer. Worry not, this is not a serious error and we have several solutions for it, so please keep reading and try them as presented in order.

Restart graphic driver

This is the first thing to check if the issue is due to software or driver malfunctioning, there is a shortcut for rebooting graphic driver inside Windows 11. Press WINDOWS + CTRL + SHIFT + B to reboot the graphic driver and see if this fixes the issue. A beep sound should be heard during this process and the screen should turn back to normal.

Check connections

Sometimes the screen can go black due to a faulty connection or cable. If you have it at your hand try a different cable or slightly and gently nudge the existing one to see will screen flicker. If you are on a laptop try gently moving the lid from back to front and pay attention to the screen. If screen flickers or picture returns with this method, cable or connector needs to be replaced.

Clean your computer

The black screen can be because the computer is overheating. If this is the case either fan inside is not working properly or there is a lot of dirt and dust that needs to be removed so airflow can be established again for proper cooling. We have an article on errortools.com on how to properly clean your PC but if you are not technical enough maybe the best solution would be to call someone who is or to take the PC to service for cleaning.

Change The Projection Settings

Press WINDOWS + P to open projection settings, check to see if PC is set to PC screen only. If any other option is selected change it to PC screen only since this can cause random black screen issues.

Uninstall latest updates

If this problem has started to manifest itself during the latest update, go to setting and roll back from the latest update to fix this issue.

Scan system for malware

The black screen can also be caused by various viruses and malware. IF you have anti-virus software, run a full system scan to check it for malware. If you do not have one, download a free one and run a system scan, we recommend Bitdefender.

JavaScript Void 0 Error - What is it?

JavaScript is a computer programming language used to make a website work smoothly with the internet. It helps to display visual effects, animations, and other web page functions. You may come across the JavaScript Void (0) error message when there is a problem in loading JavaScript from a web page or the internet browser.

Error Causes

JavaScript Void (0) error is triggered by multiple reasons such as:

• It can be due to a simple random Windows application glitch.
• You are visiting an unsafe website that contains malware
• JavaScript’s web browser implementation  is broken due to poor program installation
• Active X controls, Java applets, and active scripting, the key components of JavaScript are disabled
• Registry issues like invalid or misconfigured registry keys

Further Information and Manual Repair

For JavaScript Void (0) error-free web surfing, it is advisable to repair the issue without any delays. Let’s take a look at different methods to resolve this error on your system.

Cause: Simple Random Glitch

Solution: If the cause for the JavaScript Void 0 error is a simple glitch, then it is advisable to restart your system and then run the program again.

Cause: JavaScript’s web browser implementation is broken

Solution: If you experience the JavaScript Void 0 error message after the installation of the new browser on your system, then poor installation of the program or program conflict is most likely to be the deep-rooted cause of this error code. To resolve it, uninstall the program and undo the recent changes.

Cause: Active X controls, Java applets, and active scripting, the key components of JavaScript are disabled

Solution: You should know that components including Active X controls, Java applets, and active scripting are all essential to JavaScript in order to make your browsers run properly. If these are disabled, you may come across the JavaScript Void (0). To fix it open your browser and select the Tools tab. Then click the options button and select content. Here check the ‘enable JavaScript’ check box and click Ok to enable these components.

Cause:  Registry Issues

Solution: If after performing all the solutions discussed above, you still come across JavaScript Void (0) error code, then you should know that the problem is bigger than what you expected. It triggers registry issues. Either the cause of the error is misconfigured or invalid registry keys. To reconfigure the registry keys setting may be a challenging task and complex if you are not a computer programmer.