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How to Repair Error Code 31

What is Error Code 31?

Device Manager Error Code 31 pops up when Windows prevents the driver for a particular hardware device from loading. The error code 31 is almost always presented in the following format:

“This device is not working properly because Windows cannot load the drivers required for this device.” Code 31

This error can occur with any hardware device; however, in most cases, it occurs with Ethernet cards. The good news is that it belongs in the easy-to-resolve category. So repairing it should not be difficult.

Solution

driverfix boxError Causes

Error code 31 is related to driver problems, and the most common causes include:

  • Outdated drivers
  • Missing drivers
  • Mis-configured drivers
  • Corrupt drivers

Further Information and Manual Repair

To resolve error code 31 on your system, try the methods given below. We have listed down some of the most effective and easy-to-perform DIY methods for fixing Device Manager code 31 on your PC.

Method 1 - Rollback the Driver to its Previous State

This simply means to return the driver back to its previous state - to the version last installed. Try this method to resolve error code 31. This is probably the easiest way to return your PC to its previous working state.

However, by doing so, you will not be able to update your drivers and run new driver versions on your system. In other words, this is a temporary method to fix this issue.

You may still want to try other methods given below to ensure you have the latest drivers installed on your system.

You can roll back the driver to its previous version by accessing the Driver Rollback feature located in the driver settings within the Device Manager. Or another way to perform a rollback is to use the Windows System Restore Utility.

It is a recovery tool built-in the new Windows versions. To access it, simply go to the start menu and type System Restore Utility in the search menu.

Access it and pick a point in the past, also referred to as the restore point, to return your PC to its previous state before the error code 31 occurred.

However, to resolve the problem permanently, try method 2.

Method 2 - Update the Driver

Error code 31, as discussed above, may occur due to outdated, misconfigured, or corrupted drivers. Whatever the reason may be, to ensure the proper functioning of your hardware device, it is important to update the drivers on your system frequently.

To start driver updates, first, it is important to find out and identify problematic drivers. You need to identify the drivers that are corrupt, misconfigured, and outdated. For this, go to the Device Manager and then look for devices with yellow exclamation marks.

The yellow exclamation marks next to the devices show that these device drivers are problematic. Once you’ve identified the problematic drivers, simply update them by finding the latest and compatible versions on the manufacturer’s website.

This process is time-consuming and can be frustrating at times, especially when doing it for the first time.

Also, once you’ve updated the drivers, you need to update them from time to time to ensure they don’t get outdated, or else you will have to encounter Device Manager error codes again.

Method 3 - Download DriverFIX to Update Drivers Automatically

To avoid the hassle and stress involved in updating drivers manually, it is advisable to download and install DriverFIX.

DriverFIX is a smart, innovative, and feature-filled software embedded with an intelligent algorithm that quickly detects problematic drivers, matches them with the latest and compatible versions, and updates them immediately and automatically in just a few seconds and a couple of clicks.

It’s as simple as it can be. Furthermore, with this software installed on your PC, you don’t have to stress and worry about when your drivers need to be updated again.

DriverFIX ensures all drivers are continuously and regularly updated before they become outdated.

Click here to download DriverFIX to repair Device Manager error code 31 and update drivers automatically and regularly.

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How to Fix Error 0x80073712 in Windows
There are times when system files get corrupted and if the Windows Update process finds the system’s integrity questionable, chances are, the update, upgrade or the installation may fail and you will only be getting an error code 0x80073712 instead of completing the process. The error code 0x80073712 indicates that a file needed by the Windows setup or the Windows Update is most likely missing or damaged. To resolve the problem, here are some suggestions you can try.

Option 1 – Try running the DISM Tool

Running the DISM Tool helps in repairing the Windows System Image as well as the Windows Component Store in Windows 10. Using this built-in tool, you have various options such as the “/ScanHealth”, “/CheckHealth”, and “/RestoreHealth”.
  • Open the Command Prompt as admin.
  • Then type in this command: exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
  • Do not close the window if the process takes a while as it will probably take a few minutes to finish.
After you run this tool, a log file is created at C:WindowsLogsCBSCBS.log. On the other hand, if the Windows Update client is already broken, you will be prompted to use a running Windows installation as the repair source or use a Windows side-by-side folder from a network share, as the source of the files. Although the chances of this happening are less, if it turns out to be the case, you need to run an advanced command in the DISM tool to repair a broken Windows Update. Just repeat the process above but use the following command instead:
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:C:RepairSourceWindows /LimitAccess

Option 2 – Try running the System File Checker

System File Checker or SFC is a built-in command utility that helps in restoring corrupted files as well as missing files. It replaces bad and corrupted system files with good system files that might be causing the error 0x80073712. To run the SFC command, follow the steps given below.
  • Tap Win + R to launch Run.
  • Type in cmd in the field and tap Enter.
  • After opening Command Prompt, type in sfc /scannow
The command will start a system scan which will take a few whiles before it finishes. Once it’s done, you could get the following results:
  1. Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.
  2. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them.
  3. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them.

Option 3 – Try running the Chkdsk utility

You can also try running the Chkdsk utility to resolve the Windows Update error 0x80073712. 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 commands listed below, and don’t forget to hit Enter right after you type in each one of them and if you have installed Windows to some different directory, you must replace “C” with the name of the drive you’ve installed Windows with.
  • chkdsk C: /r /x
  • chkdsk C: /f
Note: The Chkdsk function might take a while before it finishes its operations so you need to be patient and wait until the entire process is completed.

Option 4 – Try running the Windows Update Troubleshooter

Running the built-in Windows Update troubleshooter could also help you resolve the Windows Update error 0x80073712. To run it, go to Settings and then select Troubleshoot from the options. From there, click on Windows Update and then click the “Run the troubleshooter” button.

Option 5 – Try running Microsoft’s online troubleshooter

You also have the option to run Microsoft’s online troubleshooter which could help you fix Windows Update errors.
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A Quick Guide to Resolving IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL Error

IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL - What is it?

IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL error is a type of blue screen of death (BSoD) error. It is a typical Windows PC error that occurs even in the latest Windows versions. The IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL error occurs on the computer screen when a memory address triggers unauthorized access. This leads to the suspension of your login session. The computer screen turns blue.

Solution

Restoro box imageError Causes

IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL error occurs due to several reasons. However, the most common causes for this error code include:
  • Incompatible device drivers
  • The poor device driver installation
  • Faulty hardware
  • Disk fragmentation
  • Registry issues
  • Viruses and malware attack
Blue screen of death error codes like IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL is critical. If not resolved timely, this error code can pose serious threats to your PC. It can lead to system crash and failure, due to which you can also lose your valuable data stored in your system. How to Fix IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL Error Code?

Further Information and Manual Repair

Here are some of the best and easy DIY methods to resolve this error code on your PC:

1. Roll Back Drivers

If the underlying cause of IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL error is poor driver installation, then try this method to resolve the issue. This can be done by simply clicking the start menu. Once you click on it, go to the control panel, then double click the system icon and locate the System Properties window. After that, click the hardware tab and then the device manager button. Now locate the device you recently installed. Double click on the recently installed device driver, click the driver tab, and then the rollback driver button. This will take a while, so wait for the process to finish.  After that, reboot the system.

2. Run Hardware Diagnostic

The IRQL error may also be triggered by faulty hardware. To identify which hardware is causing the error to pop up, you will have to run a hardware diagnostic.
  • For this, go to the start menu, type Memory Diagnostic in the search bar.
  • Now access this tool and click on Diagnose your memory problems. As you click it, it will ask you to perform the check by either restarting the PC immediately or on the next restart.
  • Select the immediate one to get going. The system will carry a scan on the memory and show you the list of problematic errors detected during the scan. To resolve this error then all you have to do is replace the piece of faulty hardware.
Nonetheless, if no faulty hardware is detected, this means the error is related to memory. If so, try method 3 to resolve.

3. Disable Memory Caching

To fix the IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL error, try disabling the memory caching option. This is called BIOS memory caching. This can be done by restarting your PC and pressing the BIOS setup keys to enter the settings screen. Mostly it is an F2 key, however, it may be different in some computers as the motherboards of different makes have their own respective keys. Once you enter the BIOS settings look for options stating memory settings. Access these options and disable the memory caching feature.

4. Scan your PC for Malware

As mentioned above this error message can also result due to the intrusion of malicious software like malware, viruses, and spyware. To detect and remove them from your PC, download an antivirus and perform a system scan. Remove the detected viruses and malware to resolve. Please note, antivirus installation may lower the speed of your PC.

5.  Repair Registry and Fragmented Disk

Due to poor PC maintenance, you may experience registry issues. The registry stores all the activities performed on the PC including the unnecessary pieces of information like junk files, internet history, temporary files, cookies, and other flies. Such files take up a lot of disk space. When there is not much space on the storage device, the new data is saved in fragments. This is called disk fragmentation. When this file becomes fragmented it takes time to rearrange the data and reunite it to run the fragmented file on your PC. If not resolved, this leads to registry issues and thereby generating various PC error codes including IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL errors. The best way to clean the registry and repair the fragmented disk is to download Restoro. This is an advanced and multi-functional PC Fixer. It is embedded with multiple system repair utilities including a powerful registry cleaner that detects all registry issues in seconds, removes and wipes out unnecessary files cluttering the registry, cleans and repairs the registry and the damaged files. Other utilities include an antivirus that detects privacy errors and all types of malicious software infecting your system. It also functions as a system optimizer which means by running this software on your PC you won’t be compromising on your system’s performance. The system optimizer utility boosts the speed of your PC. This tool is safe and efficient. It has a user-friendly interface and is compatible with all Windows versions. Click here to download Restoro and resolve the IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL error code right away.
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An Easy Guide to Resolving Code 18

Code 18 - What is it?

Code 18 is a typical Device Manager error code that occurs when the device driver is damaged. Device Manager is an important tool that allows Windows PC users to have an overall look at the connected hardware.

Furthermore, it also allows diagnostic testing. It is vital too and errors associated with the Device Manager such as error code 18 should and must be resolved quickly.

Error code 18 is usually presented in the following formats:

“The drivers for this device are not installed. (Code 18)” Or “Reinstall the drivers for this device.”

Solution

driverfix boxError Causes

Error code 18 may be triggered due to several reasons such as:

  • Outdated drivers
  • Corrupted drivers
  • Improperly configured drivers

Error code 18 may cause a great deal of inconvenience. It may hamper your ability to use certain devices on your PC.

For example, if code 18 pops up due to a corrupted or improperly configured keyboard driver, then it may hamper your ability to use your keyboard and work on your PC.

Further Information and Manual Repair

The good news is that Device Manager error codes like error code 18 are easy to resolve. Below are some of the easiest and effective methods to repair error code 18 on your PC. Try one of these methods to repair error code 18 in no time:

Method 1 - Uninstall and Reinstall Device Drivers

One of the easiest ways to repair error code 18 and to ensure that this error doesn’t pop up on your PC again is to uninstall the problematic driver. For this, simply:

  • Go to the start menu
  • Type Device Manager and press enter
  • Now click on the device whose driver you want to uninstall.
  • Press right-click and then click on uninstall. Windows will prompt you to confirm the removal of the driver.
  • Click OK to confirm and then reboot your PC to activate changes.
  • Now scan for new hardware and follow the same process to reinstall the uninstalled device driver.

Method 2 - Update Drivers Automatically

Finding problematic drivers and then updating them individually can be frustrating and a time-consuming process. It can take a lot of time to perform updates and resolve the error code on your PC.

If you have projects to work on with pressing deadlines, then updating drivers on your PC separately can cause you a great deal of inconvenience and waste your precious time.

However, to avoid this situation, we advise you to set your drivers to update automatically. Automatic update installation requires only a few seconds.

And to update drivers automatically, it is recommended you download DriverFIX.

As the name suggests, this software is designed to assist programmers to upgrade device drivers automatically. In just a few clicks, you can update all your outdated drivers and repair error code 18.

DriverFIX is easy to use and an advanced program that is smoothly integrated with an intelligent programming system. This system identifies and detects all the problematic drivers on your PC and then updates each driver automatically to their latest versions.

It continues to update drivers regularly ensuring that you never come across device driver problems on your system.

Click here to download DriverFIX and repair error code 18 today!

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Device attached to system is not functioning
If you are trying to connect your mobile or external device to your Windows 10 computer but suddenly encountered an error saying, “A device attached to the system is not functioning”, read on as this post will guide you on how you can resolve this error using a couple of potential fixes. In this case, it is possible that the connected device is not working for some reason and this error pops up when you connect your device or when you try to move or copy files from your computer to your external device and vice versa. As you can see, the error message is pretty straightforward, and it mostly occurs when you connect plug and play devices such as USB drives, printers, external storage devices, and many more. And when you open the Device Manager to check the device, you will most likely see a yellow exclamation mark on the device which indicates that the device is currently having problems. To fix this problem, there are several options you can check out. You need to check the status of the device or check the compatibility between the external device and the drive types. You also have to make sure that the device is connected properly or check if the device has been formatted properly. For more details, follow the given suggestions below.

Option 1 – Try to check the status of the device

The first thing you can do to get rid of the error is to check the status of the external device, especially if it’s a plug-and-play device. So when your computer boots, check if it is able to detect the device or not.

Option 2 – Try to check the compatibility between the external devices and drivers

As you know, when you connect an external device to your computer, Windows installs drivers to communicate with the device, the same way as any hardware you connect to the motherboard and if the driver ends up getting corrupted or is incompatible, then you need to update the device driver. To do that, 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 driver the external device related to and then right-click on each one of the Device drivers and select the Update Driver from the menu.
  • Restart your PC and then click the “Search automatically for updated driver software” option.
Note: If updating the device drivers didn’t work, you can try to reinstall them instead.

Option 3 – Try checking the hardware connections

The first thing you have to do before you further troubleshoot the problem is to check the hardware connections of your computer and see if there are damaged ones, just like with USB ports, it would also affect the overall connectivity of the device with the computer. So if you notice some irregularities in the connecting cable physically, you might have to buy another one and replace it and then see if it fixes the problem or not.

Option 4 – Check if the device is formatted properly

You might also want to check if the external device is properly formatted especially if you’ve recently formatted it. If a device wasn’t formatted properly, then it’s no wonder why you’re getting the “A device attached to the system is not functioning” error. To fix this, you need to use Disk Management. From there, you can find the devices connected but are not visible. If you are using an admin account, then to fix this error, you have the option to format the drive or create new partitions using the interface. Once you do this, it should resolve the problem.

Option 5 – Try to run System File Checker or SFC scan

  • 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.
  • Once done, restart your computer.

Option 6 – Restart your computer in a Clean Boot State

If a third party program like antivirus is the one that’s causing the problem, you can try to put your computer in a Clean Boot State to isolate the issue by following these steps:
  • Log onto your PC as an administrator.
  • Type in MSConfig in the Start Search to open the System Configuration utility.
  • From there, go to the General tab and click “Selective startup”.
  • Clear the “Load Startup items” check box and make sure that the “Load System Services” and “Use Original boot configuration” options are checked.
  • Next, click the Services tab and select the “Hide All Microsoft Services” check box.
  • Click Disable all.
  • Click on Apply/OK and restart your PC. (This will put your PC into a Clean Boot State. And configure Windows to use the usual startup, just simply undo the changes.)
  • Now try to connect your device or copy the files to your external device again and check if the error is now gone.
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Fix Out of Memory error while copying files
What is Out of Memory error while copying files? As you know, both the hard drive and RAM play a major role in performing any operation on a computer since every process or task that takes place in the system requires some RAM storage as well as hard drive storage to be executed. However, there are times when you may receive the following error messages when you try to copy files from one location to another:
“Out of memory or system resources, Close some windows or programs and try again.” “There is not enough memory to complete this operation – copying files.”
These errors are caused by the Desktop Heap limitation when there is no longer enough memory to complete the operation while copying the files. If you encounter any of these errors, you will be guided in this post with the help of some potential fixes that can increase its limit and will hopefully fix this error on your Windows 10 computer. You may try to close all the open windows and programs and then try copying the file again and see if that helps. If not, then proceed to the instructions given below. But before you do that, make sure that you create a System Restore point first. This way, you can undo the changes you’ve made any time in case there are some unwanted changes you want to reverse. After you create a System Restore point, refer to the steps provided below. Step 1: Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run utility and type “Regedit” in the field and tap Enter to open the Registry Editor. Step 2: Next, navigate to this registry key: ComputerHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlSession ManagerSubSystems Step 3: Now double click on the DWORD named Windows to modify it. Step 4: Change the values for SharedSection in the Value Data field. It should be in the format of “SharedSection=aaaa,bbbb,cccc”. Note that you have to change the value of “bbbb” and “cccc”. So in case you are using an x86 operating system, set the value of bbbb to 12288 and then set the value for cccc to 1024. On the other hand, if you are using an x64 operating system, set the bbbb value to 20480 and the cccc value to 1024. Step 5: Exit the Registry Editor and restart your computer to successfully apply the changes made. Note: The bbbb value in the SharedSection registry is the size of the desktop heap for each interactive window station while the cccc section of the SharedSection value is the size of the desktop heap for each non-interactive window station. In addition, you must keep in mind that setting the value of bbbb to more than 20480 KB is not really recommended. On the other hand, there is another tool that could help in resolving the Out of Memory error. This tool is called the Memory Diagnostic tool in windows can help resolve the Out of Memory error by checking and automatically fixing any memory-based issues. To run it, refer to these steps:
  • Tap the Win + R keys to open Run and type mdsched.exe and hit Enter to open the Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool.
  • After that, it will give two options such as:
    • Restart now and check for problems (Recommended)
    • Check for problems the next time I start my computer
  • Once your computer has restarted, perform a basic scan or you could also go for the “Advanced” options such as “Test mix” or “Pass count”. Simply tap the F10 key to start the test.
Note: After you select your preferred option, your computer will restart and check for memory-based issues. If it finds any issues, it will automatically fix them.
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Why You Need Antivirus Software & How to Select the Right One

Anxiety from all these digital threats lurking everywhere? An antivirus program can help put your mind at ease.

What can a virus do to your device?

A virus is malicious software that can affect pretty much any device and does so in a variety of ways. Be it your computer, your phone or your smart lightbulb - as long as there’s access to the internet, malware can get to it.

How exactly does this kind of attack manifest itself? Well, there’s a wide variety of effects ranging from mild to severe. Among other things, they depend on which type of malware attacks your device - a virus, spyware, ransomware, adware or something else.

These are some of the things you can expect to happen:

  • Slow performance
  • System crashes
  • Theft of data and sensitive information
  • Connectivity issues
  • Constant browser redirects
  • Strange messages sent to your contacts 
  • Interference with files

It really can be the stuff of nightmares. So, if you want to sleep peacefully knowing that your devices are completely safe, you should definitely consider getting an antivirus.

P.S. don’t let its name fool you - an antivirus does indeed protect your devices against more than just viruses.

What is antivirus software exactly?

Antivirus software is designed to help you battle and ward off malware. Basically, it scans your device to detect any suspicious activity and offers tools to get rid of the culprit. 

At first, antiviruses were developed to fight against viruses only, but nowadays they cover a lot more ground. Here are some of the biggest benefits of getting yourself a powerful defender.

Advantages of antivirus software

1. It fights those pesky ads

Look, constant ads that pop up everywhere aren’t the absolute worst thing that can happen on your computer. If anything, they are annoying, like when you’re trying to sleep but that one fly in your room just won’t stop buzzing.

Now, there’s a free, well-established solution for that - installing an ad blocker. And we’re about a hundred and ten percent sure you’ve already done that on each and every browser you use.

However, “if I can’t see it, it doesn’t exist” isn’t the most ideal approach for your online safety. Ad blockers can’t block everything and they won’t protect you from potential adware. An antivirus on the other hand offers that layer of protection against malware snuck into pop-ups and spammy websites.

2. It protects you from hackers

Hackers don’t target government institutions only. They’ll target regular people too if they have something to gain.

Antivirus can protect you from hackers
Credit: Clint Patteron (Unsplash)

There are different types of hacking, such as phishing e-mails, transmission of malicious programs, credential reuse, denial of service and more. In any case, they take control of your device and hijack your data.

The good thing is that, as threats evolve, antiviruses evolve too and there are tons of quality programs on the market that can keep you secure for an affordable price.

3. It keeps your files and data safe

When malware enters your device, it can target pretty much any file and get access to any and all data.

Installing an antivirus program will make sure that every single file, new or old, is monitored at all times, warning you against threats immediately. That way, you can make sure to react before your other files become infected and data is lost or stolen.

Another great thing for data protection is that the best antivirus software normally comes with a password manager, so no one can use malware to steal your passwords.

4. It blocks all kinds of malware

As we already stated, malicious attacks can be performed in many ways and malware comes in in different shapes an sizes, such as:

  • Trojan horse
  • Spyware
  • Ransomware
  • Adware
  • Rootkit
  • RAT (remote access Trojan)
  • Keyloggers
  • Worms
  • Botnets
Illustration of a computer worm
Credit: Growtika (Unsplash)

Nowadays, antivirus software is designed to fight against all of these types. That’s why more often than not we hear the term 'antivirus' used interchangeably with 'anti-malware,' like in this article.

5. It keeps your children protected

You can’t keep your eyes on your kid every second of the day and you can’t protect them from everything. But at least you can limit their exposure to the threats they can encounter at every corner of the digital world.

An antivirus program will block harmful or suspicious websites and ads, which is great both for you and your children. To take it a step further, though, many such programs come with special parental controls and offer monitoring as well. It’s a great solution for keeping your kids safe online without sounding like the irritating, overbearing, controlling parent who “just doesn’t get it!”

How to pick one

There are definitely lots of different antivirus programs out there, both free and paid. We recommend you look for a paid option, since free ones are unfortunately a lot more susceptible to being compromised through malicious attacks.

Now, there are a few factors to consider when choosing the right software. If you use your PC for basic things then a basic antivirus will suffice. However, the more complex your use and the more sensitive the data you deal with, the stronger it needs to be.

It’s also crucial that you take into account the features it includes. As we already mentioned, some programs have additional security options. For example, depending on the package you select, Bitdefender provides:

  • Webcam and mic monitoring
  • Parental control
  • Firewall
  • VPN
  • Password management
  • Identity theft protection

Some are included in plans and some are separate products, so make sure to check out all the offers.

And don’t worry if you have multiple PCs or you’re looking for protection for your smartphone or tablet as well; Bitdefender has suitable solutions for your needs. Of course, you can also just pick their classic antivirus software if you’re not in need of advanced protection.

Another important point is how regularly the software is updated and enhanced. The more frequent the updates the better, as bugs can make the program more vulnerable. Other things we advise you consider are user-friendliness, impact on performance, reputation (user reviews especially) and, of course, price.

The bottom line

Fact is: anyone can be a malware victim. Don’t let it be you.

You can’t put a price on peace and security, so don’t be reluctant to pay for yours - especially since a lot of options out there are extremely affordable. Is $159.00 a year really too much to pay for cross-platform protection for up to 10 devices? We don’t think so.

Explore your options and protect your files and data before it’s too late.

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How to remove GoodShop Landing

GoodShopLanding is a browser extension for Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Safari. This extension offers the latest coupons from a range of variety stores. While this may seem useful, this extension only offers coupons from sponsored stores, not all coupons available, so the only coupons that you will get are from the Extensions Ad network. You may see additional new tabs opening randomly while browsing the internet, these tabs are opened by GoodShopLanding and usually contain last-minute store deals.

As it is often distributed via potentially unwanted advertising, and impacts browser performance in a way that many users do not want, it is classified as a Browser Hijacker and thus flagged for optional removal. From the Author:
Shop online? Here’s your free automatic coupon finder, Gumdrop. Never miss a coupon again Gumdrop automatically applies the best coupons for you at checkout. Get the best deals anywhere With over 500,000 coupons, Gumdrop finds deals for thousands of stores, including Amazon, Expedia, and Papa John’s.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijackers (sometimes called hijackware) are a kind of malicious software that alters internet browser configurations without the computer owner’s knowledge or consent. These hijacks appear to be increasing at an astonishing rate around the globe, and it could be truly nefarious and sometimes harmful too. There are numerous reasons why you may have a browser hijack; but commercial, marketing, and advertising are definitely the primary purposes for their creation. Often, hijackers will force hits to sites of their choice either to increase traffic generating higher advertisement revenue, or to gain a commission for every user visiting there. However, it isn’t that harmless. Your web safety is jeopardized and it is extremely irritating. They not only mess up your web browsers, but browser hijackers can also modify the system registry, leaving your computer vulnerable to various other attacks.

Indications of browser hijack

There are many symptoms that indicate the browser is highjacked: your homepage is reset to some mysterious site; bookmark and the new tab are likewise changed; The default search page of web browser is changed; unwanted new toolbars are added to your web browser; you may see never-ending pop-up ads on your computer screen; web pages load very slowly and sometimes incomplete; you’re disallowed access to certain webpages, such as the site of an antimalware software developer like SafeBytes.

How they get into the computer

A browser hijacker can be installed on your computer if you go to an infected website, click an e-mail attachment, or download something from a file-sharing website. They can also be deployed via the installation of an internet browser toolbar, add-on, or extension. Browser hijackers sneak into your pc along with free software application downloads that you unknowingly install along with the original. A good example of some well-known browser hijackers includes Babylon, Anyprotect, Conduit, DefaultTab, SweetPage, RocketTab, and Delta Search, but the names are often changing. Browser hijackers may record user keystrokes to collect potentially invaluable information that leads to privacy issues, cause instability on computers, significantly disrupt user’s browsing experience, and finally slow down the computer to a stage where it will become unusable.

How you can get rid of browser hijackers

Certain browser hijacking can be simply corrected by identifying and removing the corresponding malware program from your control panel. Unfortunately, most of the software programs utilized to hijack a web browser are intentionally designed to be hard to remove or detect. Moreover, manual removal requires you to carry out many time-consuming and intricate steps which are tough to conduct for new computer users. Installing and running anti-malware software on the affected computer can automatically delete browser hijackers as well as other malicious applications. If you want to remove persistent browser hijackers quickly and effectively, install the top-rated Anti-Malware program Safebytes Anti-Malware. Along with anti-virus software, a system optimizer program can help you fix registry errors, get rid of unwanted toolbars, secure internet privacy, and enhance overall computer performance.

What you can do if Malware Stops You From Downloading Anti-virus?

Malware could cause all kinds of damage when they invade your system, from stealing your private information to deleting data files on your computer. Some malware sits in between the computer and the internet connection and blocks some or all sites that you really want to visit. It could also block you from adding anything to your machine, especially antivirus applications. If you are reading this, you may have got infected by malware that stops you from installing a computer security application like Safebytes Anti-Malware. Do as instructed below to get rid of the malware in alternate ways.

Download the application in Safe Mode with Networking

If the malware is set to load immediately when Microsoft Windows starts, entering Safe Mode could very well block the attempt. Since only the bare minimum applications and services start-up in safe mode, there are seldom any reasons for issues to take place. Here are the steps you should follow to boot into the Safe Mode of your Windows XP, Vista, or 7 computers (go to Microsoft site for instructions on Windows 8 and 10 computers). 1) At power-on/startup, press the F8 key in 1-second intervals. This will conjure up the “Advanced Boot Options” menu. 2) Use the arrow keys to select Safe Mode with Networking and hit ENTER. 3) When this mode loads, you should have internet access. Now, use your internet browser normally and navigate to https://safebytes.com/products/anti-malware/ to download Safebytes Anti-Malware. 4) Immediately after installation, do a full scan and allow the program to delete the threats it discovers.

Switch over to an alternate browser

Malicious program code could exploit vulnerabilities in a particular internet browser and block access to all anti-virus software sites. If you seem to have a virus attached to Internet Explorer, then switch over to an alternate web browser with built-in safety features, such as Firefox or Chrome, to download your favorite antivirus program – Safebytes.

Create a portable antivirus for removing malware

Another solution is to make a portable antivirus program on your USB stick. Adopt these measures to use a USB flash drive to fix your corrupted computer system. 1) Download Safebytes Anti-Malware or MS Windows Defender Offline onto a virus-free computer system. 2) Plug the USB drive into the clean PC. 3) Double-click the Setup icon of the antivirus software package to run the Installation Wizard. 4) Pick a USB flash drive as the location when the wizard asks you where you intend to install the software. Follow the directions to complete the installation process. 5) Remove the USB drive. You may now utilize this portable antivirus on the infected computer system. 6) Double click the Safebytes Anti-malware icon on the thumb drive to run the program. 7) Click the “Scan Now” button to begin the virus scan.

Let's Talk About SafeBytes Anti-Malware!

If you’re looking to download anti-malware software for your PC, there are numerous tools in the market to consider nonetheless, you cannot trust blindly anyone, regardless of whether it is paid or free program. Some of them are good but there are several scamware applications that pretend as legit anti-malware programs waiting to wreak havoc on your personal computer. When looking for antimalware software, pick one that provides solid, efficient, and total protection against all known computer viruses and malware. When thinking about reliable software programs, Safebytes AntiMalware is undoubtedly the highly recommended one. SafeBytes anti-malware is a powerful, highly effective protection tool made to help users of all levels of IT literacy in identifying and eliminating harmful threats from their personal computers. Once you’ve got installed this tool, SafeBytes superior protection system will ensure that no viruses or malicious software can seep through your PC. SafeBytes carries a variety of amazing features which can help you protect your PC from malware attack and damage. Listed below are some of the good ones: Real-time Threat Response: SafeBytes delivers complete and real-time security for your PC. It’ll monitor your personal computer for suspicious activity at all times and safeguards your PC from unauthorized access. Robust, Anti-malware Protection: With a critically acclaimed malware engine, SafeBytes gives multilayered protection which is made to catch and eliminate viruses and malware that are hidden deep inside your computer’s operating system. Fast Scan: Safebytes Anti-Malware, using its enhanced scanning engine, offers extremely fast scanning which can promptly target any active online threat. Safe Browsing: SafeBytes inspects the links present on a webpage for possible threats and alerts you if the site is safe to visit or not, through its unique safety rating system. Light-weight Tool: This software program is not “heavy” on the computer’s resources, so you’ll not see any performance troubles when SafeBytes is working in the background. 24/7 Online Technical Support: For any technical issues or product guidance, you could get 24/7 professional assistance through chat and email. To sum it up, SafeBytes Anti-Malware provides excellent protection combined with very low system resource usage with both great malware detection and prevention. You can be sure that your computer system will be protected in real-time once you put this software program to use. So if you’re searching for the absolute best malware removal application out there, and when you don’t mind shelling out some money for it, go for SafeBytes Anti-Malware.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you wish to do the removal of GoodShop Landing manually instead of employing an automated tool, you can follow these measures: Navigate to the Windows Control Panel, click the “Add or Remove Programs” and there, select the offending program to remove. In cases of suspicious versions of browser extensions, you can actually get rid of it through your browser’s extension manager. You will likely also want to reset your browser. To be certain of complete removal, find the following registry entries on your computer and remove them or reset the values appropriately. Please note that this is for professional users only and might be difficult, with wrong file removal leading to additional system errors. Additionally, certain malicious programs are capable to defend against its deletion. Doing this malware-removal process in Safe Mode is suggested.
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How to remove FindWide

FindWide is a browser add-on for Internet Explorer. This addon Hijacks your home page and internet search provider changing it to search.findwide.com. Alternate versions change the homepage to search.us.com.

This addon monitors your user activity while you are surfing the web. It collects user and browsing data, that it uses to better display targeted ads. While browsing with this addon enabled you will see additional ads, sponsored links, and even sometimes pop-up ads displaying throughout your browsing sessions.

Several anti-virus programs have marked this addon as a Browser Hijacker and is therefore not recommended to keep on your computer.

From the Author: Each search engine has its own method of searching and each will return different results. Findwide.com looks at all of them, decides which are most relevant to your search, eliminates duplicates, and reveals them to you. In the end, you get a list of results more complete than using any one search engine alone.

Help! Malware Blocking Antivirus Installation And Access To The Internet

Viruses could cause plenty of damage to your computer. Some malware is meant to restrict or block things that you wish to do on your personal computer. It may well not permit you to download anything from the net or it will stop you from accessing some or all websites, especially the anti-malware websites. If you’re reading this, you probably have got infected by a virus that prevents you from installing a computer security program like Safebytes Antimalware on your PC. Even though this kind of problem can be tougher to get around, there are some steps you can take.

Download the application in Safe Mode with Networking

If any virus is set to run automatically when Microsoft Windows starts, entering Safe Mode could block the attempt. Since only the bare minimum applications and services launch in safe mode, there are seldom any reasons for conflicts to take place. To launch your Windows XP, Vista, or 7 PCs in Safe Mode with Networking, follow the instructions below. 1) Press the F8 key continuously as soon as your computer boots, but before the big Windows logo comes up. This will bring up the Advanced Boot Options menu. 2) Choose Safe Mode with Networking using arrow keys and press ENTER. 3) When you are into this mode, you will have online access again. Now, utilize your browser to download and install Safebytes. 4) Following installation, do a full scan and let the software get rid of the threats it discovers.

Switch over to an alternate web browser

Certain malware might target vulnerabilities of a specific web browser that obstruct the downloading process. In the event you suspect that your Internet Explorer has been hijacked by malware or otherwise compromised by hackers, the best course of action is to switch over to an alternate internet browser such as Chrome, Firefox, or Safari to download your chosen computer security application – Safebytes Anti-Malware.

Install antivirus on a USB drive

Here’s another solution which is using portable USB anti-malware software that can scan your computer for malicious software without needing installation. Follow these steps to run the anti-malware on the affected computer system. 1) Download Safebytes Anti-Malware or MS Windows Defender Offline onto a clean computer. 2) Plug the Flash drive into the uninfected computer. 3) Double-click the exe file to open the installation wizard. 4) When asked, select the location of the pen drive as the place in which you want to put the software files. Follow the directions to complete the installation process. 5) Transfer the USB drive from the clean PC to the infected PC. 6) Double-click the anti-malware software EXE file on the thumb drive. 7) Press the “Scan” button to run a full computer scan and remove malware automatically.

Protect Your PC & Privacy With SafeBytes Anti-Malware

To help protect your computer or laptop from various internet-based threats, it is very important to install anti-malware software on your computer system. However, with countless numbers of antimalware companies in the marketplace, nowadays it is actually challenging to decide which one you should obtain for your laptop. A few are good ones, some are decent, while some are simply just fake anti-malware software that will harm your PC themselves! You must be careful not to choose the wrong product, especially if you buy a premium program. Among few good applications, SafeBytes Anti-Malware is the highly recommended program for security-conscious people. SafeBytes anti-malware is a trustworthy tool that not only protects your PC completely but is also very easy to use for people of all skill levels. With its cutting-edge technology, this application can help you eliminate multiples types of malware like computer viruses, trojans, PUPs, worms, ransomware, adware, and browser hijackers. SafeBytes anti-malware offers an array of advanced features which sets it apart from all others. The following are some typical features present in this computer software: Real-time Threat Response: Malware programs attempting to enter the system are discovered and stopped as and when detected by the SafeBytes active protection shields. This tool will always monitor your PC for any suspicious activity and updates itself continuously to keep current with the latest threats. Robust Anti-malware Protection: By using a critically acclaimed anti-malware engine, SafeBytes offers multilayered protection that is made to catch and eliminate threats that are concealed deep inside your computer. Web Filtering: Through its unique safety score, SafeBytes alerts you whether a website is safe or not to visit it. This will assure that you’re always certain of your safety when browsing the net. Lowest CPU/Memory Usage: SafeBytes is well-known for its low effect on computer resources and great detection rate of countless threats. It runs quietly and efficiently in the background so you are free to use your computer at full power all the time. Fantastic Technical Support: Support service is accessible 24 x 7 x 365 days via chat and email to answer your queries. To conclude, SafeBytes Anti-Malware is really great for securing your computer against all sorts of malware threats. Once you’ve installed SafeBytes Anti-Malware, you will no longer have to bother about malware or other security concerns. If you’re searching for a comprehensive antivirus program that’s still easy to use, SafeBytes Anti-Malware is just what you need!

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you do not wish to use an automated tool and like to eliminate FindWide manually, you could possibly do so by going to the Windows Add/Remove Programs menu in the Control Panel and deleting the offending program; in cases of browser plug-ins, you can uninstall it by visiting the browser’s Add-on/Extension manager. You might also want to reset your home page and search engine providers and also clear your browser cache and cookies. Finally, examine your hard disk for all of the following and clean your Windows registry manually to remove leftover application entries following uninstalls. But bear in mind, this is often a complicated task and only computer professionals could perform it safely. In addition, some malware is capable of replicating or preventing removal. Carrying out this malware-removal process in Safe Mode is suggested.
Files: C:\Documents and Settings\%USERNAME%\Local Settings\Application Data\TNT2.0.0.1599\Autorun.inf C:\Documents and Settings\%USERNAME%\Local Settings\Application Data\TNT2.0.0.1599\crx.tar C:\Documents and Settings\%USERNAME%\Local Settings\Application Data\TNT2.0.0.1599\ffassist.1.dll C:\Documents and Settings\%USERNAME%\Local Settings\Application Data\TNT2.0.0.1599\GLOBALUNINSTALL.TNT C:\Documents and Settings\%USERNAME%\Local Settings\Application Data\TNT2.0.0.1599\hmac.1.dll C:\Documents and Settings\%USERNAME%\Local Settings\Application Data\TNT2.0.0.1599\iehpr.1.dll C:\Documents and Settings\%USERNAME%\Local Settings\Application Data\TNT2.0.0.1599\iestage2.1.dll C:\Documents and Settings\%USERNAME%\Local Settings\Application Data\TNT2.0.0.1599\IEToolbar.dll C:\Documents and Settings\%USERNAME%\Local Settings\Application Data\TNT2.0.0.1599\IEToolbar64.dll C:\Documents and Settings\%USERNAME%\Local Settings\Application Data\TNT2.0.0.1599\INSTALL.TNT
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Automatically Turn Off Hotspot when idle
One of the useful features that came with Windows 10 is the Mobile Hotspot although there’s a downside to it – it drains your battery faster especially if your Windows 10 device is running on battery. Another one of its flaws in the implementation of this feature is that it stays activated even when the connection is idle. In other words, it is still activated even if no devices are connected to it. As a result, it consumes battery life and affects it. There are also instances when it affects the performance of the network connection. At the time of writing, Microsoft hasn’t done anything about this dilemma yet so in the meantime, you can continue reading this post to resolve this issue on your Windows 10 device. You can remedy this Mobile Hotspot issue by running a command in Windows PowerShell. To get started, follow the given instructions below.

Turn off Mobile Hotspot Automatically:

Step 1: The first thing you have to do is to copy the following command:
powershell -windowstyle hidden -command "Start-Process cmd -ArgumentList '/s,/c,net stop "icssvc" & REG ADD "HKLMSYSTEMCurrentControlSetServicesicssvcSettings" /V PeerlessTimeoutEnabled /T REG_DWORD /D 1 /F & net start "icssvc"' -Verb runAs"
Step 2: After copying the command given above, open the Notepad app and paste the command you copied there and save it. And when saving it, select the “Save as” option and its File type as “All files”. Step 3: After that, put “TurnOnTimer.bat” as the file’s name and save it on your Desktop. Step 4: Once done, run the file you just created, and when a User Account Control or UAC prompt appears, just click on Yes. Step 5: After you run the file, it will run a series of scripts in a command line which will turn off the Mobile Hotspot automatically when idle. And that’s how you automatically turn off the Mobile Hotspot when your Windows 10 device is idle. On the other hand, if you want to undo the changes made, you can always do so using the steps provided below.

Turn on Mobile Hotspot:

Step 1: Copy and paste the following command in the Notepad app:
powershell -windowstyle hidden -command "Start-Process cmd -ArgumentList '/s,/c,net stop "icssvc" & REG ADD "HKLMSYSTEMCurrentControlSetServicesicssvcSettings" /V PeerlessTimeoutEnabled /T REG_DWORD /D 0 /F & net start "icssvc"' -Verb runAs"
Step 2: After copying and pasting the command, save it as “TurnOffTimer.bat” on the Desktop. Step 3: Once done, run the file like what you did earlier and select Yes when a UAC prompt pops up. This will run a series of scripts on a command line which will revert the changes back to their default state.
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How to Fix Windows 10 Error 0x80070426

Error Code0x80070426 - What is it?

When Windows evolved into Windows 10, the program known as Windows Security Essentials is no longer. It is now the program known as Windows Defender. When a computer is upgraded from a previous version of Windows up to Windows 10, the Windows Defender takes over and will replace the Security Essentials. In a small percentage of Windows 10 upgrades, something will go wrong and the new program will fail to replace Security Essentials. The result will be that the operating system has both of the programs installed. In this case, Windows Defender will not offer any protection and Security Essentials will not be able to defend either. This error code will also present itself when the Windows Mail App in Windows 10 fail to retrieve and sync email from the user's account.

Common symptoms include:

  • There will be an error message that says: “An error has occurred in the program initialization. If this problem does continue, contact your System Admin. Error code 0x80070426.”
  • The computer will be left completely vulnerable to spyware and viruses.
  • The Windows Mail App will not be able to retrieve mail and will not sync with the PC user's mail.
  • The user can be doing anything on their computer and the error code will show up unprompted.
  • The computer will lock up, become slow, crash, or even freeze when dealing with error code 0x80070426.
  • The programs from an older version of Windows do not replace the newer version from Windows 10.

Solution

Restoro box imageError Causes

Error code 0x80070426 will present itself when a PC user has upgraded their OS from a previous version of Windows to the new Windows 10 version. When this happens, a small portion of users will experience the disconnect between older versions of specific programs, namely the virus protection. When the previous version of the program under a different name is not completely removed and the new virus protection program is installed, the programs will cancel each other out and collectively offer no protection.

This error code may also be found when Windows 10 tries to sync the user's email with the Windows Mail App.

Further Information and Manual Repair

There are a few methods to repair this problem. It should be noted that should anyone feel that the instructions are too complicated, they should contact a Windows repair technician to ensure that the error is fixed properly.

Method One: Uninstall Microsoft Essentials

Hold down the Windows Key and press R. Type in taskmgr into the run dialogue. You should locate the Windows Defender Service (this may show up as Windefend). Right-click on it and then choose Stop.

This will stop the program, but the program will start back up automatically when the computer restarts. While this program is stopped, uninstall Essentials.

To do this: go to Control Panel, Programs, and Features, Uninstall a Program. Alternately, you may hold down the Windows Key and press R, type in appwiz.cpl, click OK, and then locate Microsoft Essentials. Uninstall it, and then restart your computer.

After this is done, go to Settings, Update, and Security. Choose Windows Defender and ensure that Real-time protection is on. Refer back to the Task Manager, Services. Make sure that Defender service is on and running.

Method Two: If the problem occurs in the Windows Mail App

When error code 0x80070426 presents itself in the form of an error with the Mail app, it may be necessary to run an SFC scan.

Right-click on the Start menu or Windows icon, and select Command prompt. The command prompt may be navigated by using shortcut keys Win and X and then select it.

Run the command prompt and then type in sfc /scannow and then press enter. The SFC scan will be run, and be careful not to abort the process before it has finished. This will scan for any files that are lost or corrupt on the PC.

If the scan has found any corrupt files, type in this code and then hit Enter: findstr /c:”[SR]” %windir%LogsCBSCBS.log >”%userprofile%Desktopsfcdetails.txt.

To skip the repair of corrupt or missing files, type in: Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth. The details of the scan can be found on the sfcdetails.txt file that will be on the desktop.

Method Three: Use An Automated Tool

If you wish to always have at your disposal a utility tool to fix these Windows 10 and other related issues when they do arise, download and install a powerful automated tool.
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