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Completely Remove SweetIM From Computer

SweetIM Toolbar for Internet Explorer is a browser add-on which adds various shortcuts to your browsers for easy access. This toolbar also changes your homepage to home.sweetim.com. The toolbar is typically bundled with the free Sweet Instant Messenger program and does not necessarily get uninstalled when Instant Messenger is removed from the user’s PC. Additionally, if the home page and search settings were modified by this toolbar, they need to be manually reverted back by the user.

This extension injects various ads into your browser search results and changes your default search engine. While you are browsing the internet, this software records your website surfing data, clicks, and possibly private information. Several Anti-virus programs have classified SweetIM Toolbar as a potentially unwanted application and are not recommended to keep.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijacking means that a malicious program code has power over and modified the settings of your web browser, without your approval. They are made to disrupt browser functions for many different reasons. Generally, the idea would be to force users to visit particular sites that are looking to increase their visitor traffic and produce higher ad revenue. Most people assume that such websites are legitimate and harmless but that is incorrect. Nearly every browser hijacker poses an actual threat to your online safety and it is vital to categorize them under privacy dangers. On top of that, hijackers can make the whole infected system vulnerable – other harmful malware and viruses would grab these opportunities to intrude into your system effortlessly.

Major signs that an internet browser has been highjacked

The common signs that indicate having this malicious software on your PC are: the home page of your respective browser is changed unexpectedly; bookmark and the new tab are also modified; the default search engine and the default web browser settings are altered; discover new toolbars that you didn’t add; you find lots of pop-up ads on your computer screen; web pages load very slowly and sometimes incomplete; Inability to navigate to particular sites, particularly antivirus and also other computer security software websites.

Exactly how they get into your computer or laptop

There are several ways your computer can get infected with a browser hijacker. They usually arrive by way of spam e-mail, via file sharing websites, or by a drive-by download. Many browser hijackings originate from add-on software, i.e., toolbars, browser helper objects (BHO), or extensions added to browsers to give them additional features. A browser hijacker may also come bundled up with some freeware that you unwittingly download to your computer system, compromising your internet security. A good example of some notorious browser hijackers includes Anyprotect, Conduit, Babylon, SweetPage, DefaultTab, RocketTab, and Delta Search, but the names are continually changing.

Browser hijackers can record user keystrokes to gather potentially invaluable information that leads to privacy concerns, cause instability on systems, severely disrupt the user experience, and eventually slow down the PC to a stage where it becomes unusable.

Removal

Some browser hijacking could be quite easily corrected by identifying and removing the corresponding malware application through your control panel. But, many browser hijackers are hard to eliminate manually. Regardless of how much you attempt to remove it, it may keep returning over and over. You should consider doing manual repairs only if you are a tech-savvy person, as there are risks associated with tinkering around with the computer registry and HOSTS file.

Browser hijackers could be effectively removed by installing the anti-malware application on the affected computer. One of the finest tools for repairing browser hijacker malware is Safebytes Anti-Malware. It will help you get rid of any pre-existing malware on your computer and gives you real-time monitoring and protection from new internet threats. Along with the antivirus tool, a PC optimizer will help you in getting rid of all related files and modifications in the registry automatically.

Can't Install Safebytes Anti-malware because of Malware? Do This!

Viruses could potentially cause a great deal of damage to your personal computer. Certain malware variants alter browser settings by including a proxy server or change the computer’s DNS settings. In such cases, you will be unable to visit certain or all internet sites, and thus unable to download or install the necessary security software to remove the infection. If you’re reading this, chances are you’re stuck with a virus infection that is preventing you to download or install Safebytes Anti-Malware software on your system. Although this kind of issue will be difficult to get around, there are some actions you can take.

Eliminate malware in Safe Mode

The Windows-based PC has got a special mode referred to as “Safe Mode” in which only the minimum required programs and services are loaded. If the malware is blocking access to the internet and affecting your computer, launching it in Safe Mode enables you to download anti-virus and run a diagnostic scan while limiting potential damage. To boot into Safe Mode, hit the “F8” key on the keyboard just before the Windows logo screen shows up; Or after normal Windows boot up, run MSCONFIG, check the Safe Boot under the Boot tab, and then click Apply. As soon as you restart the PC into Safe Mode with Networking, you can download, install, and update the anti-malware program from there. At this point, you can actually run the anti-virus scan to remove computer viruses and malware without any hindrance from another malicious application.

Switch over to an alternate browser

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

Make a bootable USB anti-virus drive

Another solution is to create a portable antivirus program onto your USB thumb drive. Follow these steps to run the anti-virus on the affected PC.
1) On a clean computer, install Safebytes Anti-Malware.
2) Mount the USB drive onto the same computer.
3) Double-click the Setup icon of the anti-malware software to run the Installation Wizard.
4) Pick a USB flash drive as the place when the wizard asks you exactly where you want to install the application. Follow activation instructions.
5) Disconnect the USB drive. You may now utilize this portable antivirus on the infected computer.
6) Double-click the EXE file to open the Safebytes program from the thumb drive.
7) Click “Scan Now” to run a complete scan on the infected computer for viruses.

Overview of SafeBytes Anti-Malware

Nowadays, an anti-malware program can protect your laptop or computer from different forms of online threats. But wait, how do choose the best one amongst plenty of malware protection applications that’s available on the market? You may be aware, there are numerous anti-malware companies and tools for you to consider. A few of them are good, some are ok types, and some will affect your computer themselves! You should go with a product that has gained a strong reputation and detects not just viruses but other kinds of malware as well. On the list of highly recommended applications by industry, analysts are SafeBytes Anti-Malware, a well-known security application for Windows computers.

SafeBytes anti-malware is a trusted software that not only protects your system completely but is also very user-friendly for people of all ability levels. Once you’ve got installed this application, SafeBytes advanced protection system will ensure that absolutely no viruses or malicious software can seep through your PC.

There are many great features you’ll get with this security product. Listed below are some of the great ones:

Active Protection: SafeBytes offers complete and real-time security for your laptop or computer. This tool will constantly monitor your PC for suspicious activity and updates itself regularly to keep current with the latest threats.

Antimalware Protection: With its advanced and sophisticated algorithm, this malware elimination tool can identify and remove the malware threats hiding within your computer system effectively.

Web protection: Through its unique safety score, SafeBytes informs you whether a site is safe or not to visit it. This will make sure that you’re always certain of your safety when browsing the net.

Lightweight Tool: This program is not “heavy” on the computer’s resources, so you’ll not see any overall performance difficulties when SafeBytes is operating in the background.

24/7 Live Expert Support: Support service is available 24 x 7 x 365 days via chat and email to answer your concerns.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you wish to manually remove SweetIM 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 SweetIM

Files:
File %COMMONAPPDATASweetIMMessengerconfusersmain_user_config.xml.
File %COMMONAPPDATASweetIMMessengerdatacontentdbcache_indx.dat.
File %PROGRAMFILESSweetIMMessengerdefault.xml.
File %PROGRAMFILESSweetIMMessengermgYahooMessengerAdapter.dll.
File %PROGRAMFILESSweetIMMessengermsvcp71.dll.
File %PROGRAMFILESSweetIMMessengermsvcr71.dll.
File %PROGRAMFILESSweetIMMessengerresourcesimagesAudibleButton.png.
File %PROGRAMFILESSweetIMMessengerresourcesimagesDisplayPicturesButton.png.
File %PROGRAMFILESSweetIMMessengerresourcesimagesEmoticonButton.png.
File %PROGRAMFILESSweetIMMessengerresourcesimagesGamesButton.png.
File %PROGRAMFILESSweetIMMessengerresourcesimagesKeyboardButton.png.
File %PROGRAMFILESSweetIMMessengerresourcesimagesNudgeButton.png.
File %PROGRAMFILESSweetIMMessengerresourcesimagesSoundFxButton.png.
File %PROGRAMFILESSweetIMMessengerresourcesimagesWinksButton.png.
File %PROGRAMFILESSweetIMMessengerSweetIM.exe.
File %PROGRAMFILESSweetIMToolbarsInternet Explorerdefault.xml.
File %PROGRAMFILESSweetIMToolbarsInternet Explorerresourcesabout.html.
File %PROGRAMFILESSweetIMToolbarsInternet Explorerresourcesaffid.dat.
File %PROGRAMFILESSweetIMToolbarsInternet Explorerresourcesbasis.xml.
File %PROGRAMFILESSweetIMToolbarsInternet Explorerresourcesbing.png.
File %PROGRAMFILESSweetIMToolbarsInternet Explorerresourcesclear-history.png.
File %PROGRAMFILESSweetIMToolbarsInternet Explorerresourcescontent-notifier.js.
File %PROGRAMFILESSweetIMToolbarsInternet Explorerresourcescontent-notifier-anim.gif.
File %PROGRAMFILESSweetIMToolbarsInternet Explorerresourcescontent-notifier-anim-over.gif.
File %PROGRAMFILESSweetIMToolbarsInternet Explorerresourcesdating.png.
File %PROGRAMFILESSweetIMToolbarsInternet Explorerresourcesdictionary.png.
File %PROGRAMFILESSweetIMToolbarsInternet Explorerresourcese_cards.png.
File %PROGRAMFILESSweetIMToolbarsInternet Explorerresourceseye_icon.png.
File %PROGRAMFILESSweetIMToolbarsInternet Explorerresourceseye_icon_over.png.
File %PROGRAMFILESSweetIMToolbarsInternet Explorerresourcesfind.png.
File %PROGRAMFILESSweetIMToolbarsInternet Explorerresourcesfree_stuff.png.
File %PROGRAMFILESSweetIMToolbarsInternet Explorerresourcesgames.png.
File %PROGRAMFILESSweetIMToolbarsInternet Explorerresourcesglitter.png.
File %PROGRAMFILESSweetIMToolbarsInternet Explorerresourcesgoogle.png.
File %PROGRAMFILESSweetIMToolbarsInternet Explorerresourceshelp.png.
File %PROGRAMFILESSweetIMToolbarsInternet Explorerresourceshighlight.png.
File %PROGRAMFILESSweetIMToolbarsInternet Explorerresourceslocales.xml.
File %PROGRAMFILESSweetIMToolbarsInternet Explorerresourceslogo_16x16.png.
File %PROGRAMFILESSweetIMToolbarsInternet Explorerresourceslogo_21x18.png.
File %PROGRAMFILESSweetIMToolbarsInternet Explorerresourceslogo_32x32.png.
File %PROGRAMFILESSweetIMToolbarsInternet Explorerresourceslogo_about.png.
File %PROGRAMFILESSweetIMToolbarsInternet Explorerresourcesmore-search-providers.png.
File %PROGRAMFILESSweetIMToolbarsInternet Explorerresourcesmusic.png.
File %PROGRAMFILESSweetIMToolbarsInternet Explorerresourcesnews.png.
File %PROGRAMFILESSweetIMToolbarsInternet Explorerresourcesoptions.html.
File %PROGRAMFILESSweetIMToolbarsInternet Explorerresourcesphotos.png.
File %PROGRAMFILESSweetIMToolbarsInternet Explorerresourcessearch-current-site.png.
File %PROGRAMFILESSweetIMToolbarsInternet Explorerresourcesshopping.png.
File %PROGRAMFILESSweetIMToolbarsInternet ExplorerresourcesSmileySmile.png.
File %PROGRAMFILESSweetIMToolbarsInternet ExplorerresourcesSmileyWink.png.
File %PROGRAMFILESSweetIMToolbarsInternet Explorerresourcessweetim_text.png.
File %PROGRAMFILESSweetIMToolbarsInternet Explorerresourcestoolbar.xml.
File %PROGRAMFILESSweetIMToolbarsInternet Explorerresourcesversion.txt.
File %PROGRAMFILESSweetIMToolbarsInternet Explorerresourcesvideo.png.
File %PROGRAMFILESSweetIMToolbarsInternet Explorerresourcesweb-search.png.
File %PROGRAMFILESSweetIMToolbarsInternet Explorerresourcesweb-toolbar.js.
File %PROGRAMFILESSweetIMToolbarsInternet Explorerresourcesyahoo.png.

Registry:
Directory %COMMONAPPDATASweetIMMessengerconfusers.
Directory %COMMONAPPDATASweetIMMessengerconf.
Directory %COMMONAPPDATASweetIMMessengerdatacontentdb.
Directory %COMMONAPPDATASweetIMMessengerdata.
Directory %COMMONAPPDATASweetIMMessengerlogs.
Directory %COMMONAPPDATASweetIMMessengerupdate.
Directory %COMMONAPPDATASweetIMMessenger.
Directory %COMMONAPPDATASweetIMToolbarsInternet Explorercache.
Directory %COMMONAPPDATASweetIMToolbarsInternet Explorer.
Directory %COMMONAPPDATASweetIMToolbars.
Directory %COMMONAPPDATASweetIM.
Directory %PROGRAMFILESSweetIMMessengerresourcesimages.
Directory %PROGRAMFILESSweetIMMessengerresources.
Directory %PROGRAMFILESSweetIMMessenger.
Directory %PROGRAMFILESSweetIMToolbarsInternet Explorerconf.
Directory %PROGRAMFILESSweetIMToolbarsInternet ExplorerMicrosoft.VC90.CRT.
Directory %PROGRAMFILESSweetIMToolbarsInternet Explorerresources.
Directory %PROGRAMFILESSweetIMToolbarsInternet Explorer.
Directory %PROGRAMFILESSweetIMToolbars.
Directory %PROGRAMFILESSweetIM.

Key HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT named SWEETIE.IEToolbar.1, plus associated values.
Key HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT named SWEETIE.IEToolbar, plus associated values.
Key HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT named SweetIM_URLSearchHook.ToolbarURLSearchHook.1, plus associated values.
Key HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT named SweetIM_URLSearchHook.ToolbarURLSearchHook, plus associated values.
Key HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT named Toolbar3.SWEETIE.1, plus associated values.
Key HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT named Toolbar3.SWEETIE, plus associated values.
Key 4D3B167E-5FD8-4276-8FD7-9DF19C1E4D19 at HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTTypeLib.
Key 82AC53B4-164C-4B07-A016-437A8388B81A at HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID.
Key A4A0CB15-8465-4F58-A7E5-73084EA2A064 at HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID.
Key EEE6C35B-6118-11DC-9C72-001320C79847 at HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID.
Key EEE6C35C-6118-11DC-9C72-001320C79847 at HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID.
Key EEE6C35C-6118-11DC-9C72-001320C79847 at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerBrowser Helper Objects.
Key EEE6C35D-6118-11DC-9C72-001320C79847 at HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID.
Key EEE6C35E-6118-11DC-9C72-001320C79847 at HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTTypeLib.
Key EEE6C35F-6118-11DC-9C72-001320C79847 at HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTTypeLib.
Key EEE6C360-6118-11DC-9C72-001320C79847 at HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerSearchScopes.
Key EEE6C360-6118-11DC-9C72-001320C79847 at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftInternet ExplorerSearchScopes.
Key 878E59AD181B66344A3316549572708A at HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTInstallerProducts.
Key E54D4DC11584D69448F0C2E257E2FC7B at HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTInstallerProducts.
Key Install at HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareSweetIM.
Key Messenger at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWARESweetIM.
Key SweetIM.exe at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionApp Paths.
Key SweetIM at HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftware.
Key SweetIM at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWARE.
Key Toolbars at HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareSweetIM.
Key Toolbars at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWARESweetIM.
Value (Default) at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionApp PathsSweetIM.exe.
Value EEE6C35B-6118-11DC-9C72-001320C79847 at HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerToolbarWebBrowser.
Value EEE6C35B-6118-11DC-9C72-001320C79847 at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftInternet ExplorerToolbar.
Value EEE6C35D-6118-11DC-9C72-001320C79847 at HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerURLSearchHooks.
Value Path at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionApp PathsSweetIM.exe.
Value simapp_id at HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareSweetIM.
Value simapp_id at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWARESweetIM.

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Further Information and Manual Repair

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Method 1: Install Compatible Device Drivers

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Method 2: Scan for Viruses

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Solution

Restoro box imageFurther Information and Manual Repair

Users have found several manual repairs that have fixed the problem without needing to contact technicians for extra help. While the methods below should solve your problem easily, if this is the first time you have encountered the issue you may want to do a simple restart. This has fixed the problem for some users and is the easiest first troubleshooting move. If it doesn’t work move on to the methods listed below, which are easily completed without extra help.

Before trying any of these methods, please make sure that you are logged into a profile that is listed as the administrator of the computer of his administrative powers enabled. If this is not the case you will not be able to complete the following methods. Please log out and log back in on the administrator profile.

Method 1:

First, check to see if you have a third-party anti-virus program installed on your computer. Some users believe that the built-in Windows Defender program is not powerful enough to handle the safety of their computer so they usually download a third-party program. However, that program may have caused a conflict with Windows Defender and may not allow it to open. If you do have a third-party program installed, try uninstalling it then manually starting Windows Defender.

Method 2:

If method one does not work, you may be infected by malware or a virus that has tampered with the settings on your computer and will not allow Windows Defender to start automatically or manually.

First, open Run by holding the “Win” key and pressing the “R” key. Then type “Regedit”. The program will ask for permission to follow through with this action. Click on “Yes” and the Open Registry Editor will open.

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The Registry on your computer is very important. It helps tell your computer what programs are safe to run, what programs should be run, and what programs should not be run. If it is tampered with by a virus or Malware, multiple system operations can be affected.

However, if you did find similar file names, and you deleted them, try to start Windows Defender manually. If it does not work again, move on to the next method. 

Method 3:

If the first two methods do not work for your issue, and you are still receiving error code 0x80073afc when attempting to start Windows Defender, this step should solve the problem if you have Restore Point installed on your computer, which you most likely do.

For this method, we will be restoring your computer to a previous Restore Point. First, just like in method two, hold the “Win” key and press the “R” key. This will open run. Next type “Rstrui.exe” and click “ok”. After some time, you will see System Restore Windows. Click “Next” and select the restore point that you would like to go back to. After your computer has restored to the point you selected, check to ensure that Windows Defender has started correctly.

If the above methods aren't able to rectify the issue, you might have to download and install a powerful automated tool to get the job done.

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Why ActiveX Control May Damage Your Personal Computer
ActiveX Controls are plugins you may constantly come across when working with Internet Explorer. An illustration of these kinds of control is the MICROSOFT IE Flash Player. They frequently result into significant problems for the Computer, yet they're vital for IE to operate correctly. You shouldn't ever overlook that after you install Active Controls in your Personal Computer, you effectively provide them with access to other areas of your PC. The ActiveX Controls not only tracks your search routines, but in addition puts malicious software, which might possibly be hazardous to your Computer.

Solution

Restoro box imageError Causes

ActiveX Controls make your Internet Explorer work as required and are usually great and beneficial to your own Computer. Yet, they can function as a source of problems because of the following factors.
  • You should stop installing  ActiveX Controls from Un Trustworthy Resources
In the event they are installed by you from un trustworthy resources new threats are likely introduced by ActiveX Controls to your PC. One of the more regular types of ActiveX Controls worth necessary for installation is Flash Player. Yet, never be in a hurry to install these Controls from resources that you don't trust.
  • Limit The Number of ActiveX Controls You Install on your PC
Prevent installing java/oracle ActiveX controls, because of its weak security measures which could make your Personal Computer and any additional information there in, open to attacks. Limit to the variety of ActiveX Controls that you install on your PC as these could increase the vulnerability canvas on your computer.

Further Information and Manual Repair

You can manually fix any malfunction that springs up from ActiveX Controls. Yet, more than mending the harm, produce the setting that ensures you never have troubles from them to start with. Just how do you do that?

a) Stop installing or downloading ActiveX Controls from Un Trustworthy Sources

This has been mentioned above, but it's worth repeating because it's the most common reason behind ActiveX Controls malfunctions. You might anticipate that for this kind of obvious reason for ActiveX Controls malfunctions, PC consumers would be extra cautious, however that is never true.

b) Limit ActiveX Controls Softwares

You can restrict ActiveX controls from running automatically on your PC. To limit them, head to Tools in Internet Explorer, and choose Internet Options. Proceed to the Security tab, and select Customs level Browse completely down before you get to the area designated "ActiveX". Subsequently, mark "Prompt" under every choice that you encounter. But don't mark the choice indicated "Run ActiveX Controls and Plug-Ins", together with, "Script ActiveX Controls Marked Safe for Scripting". By performing the measures emphasized above, you happen to be in substance stating that, you will not permit any installation of ActiveX Controls, without express authorization by you. In this manner, you have better control over different forms of ActiveX Controls you permit to be installed, therefore reducing potential threats to your PC.
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Open Source Software Alternatives
Open Source Software is developed, tested, or improved through public collaboration and distributed with the idea that the must be shared with others, ensuring an open future collaboration. In other words, it is free software developed and maintained by public contribution. Many open-source projects have reached performance and usability like their paid alternatives, some have even surpassed them. Here we will explore open source alternatives to paid applications, you will find alternatives to paid ones that aim to do the same task.
  1. LINUX - alternative to Windows or macOS

    When it comes to the operating system, Windows and macOS mostly dominate the home market, but if you go a little deeper into the OS world you will hear this talk about LINUX and its distributions. LINUX is an open-source operating system, it has many various distributions aimed at different types of users and they are also open source as well. Its security and account privileges, as well as complete control over it, make it one of the best-operating systems in the world, many servers that run websites today use LINUX as their choice of operating system mostly due to its superior security features. If LINUX is good enough for big web companies, I am sure it will be at least satisfactory to you as well. Get your LINUX distribution here. open source os linux
  2. Thunderbird - alternative to outlook

    A great alternative to any mail client actually, connect all of your emails into thunderbird and use it as the centralized email client for all of your email needs. Thunderbird does not lack any features that its paid counterparts have and overall it is a great application worth installing. Grab it from here. open source email client thunderbird
  3. VLC media player - media player able to play almost anything

    Are you looking for a great media player alternative to Windows media player or iTunes? Look no further, VLC is a lightweight media player that can play almost any file type, it is customizable and packed with features even its paid counterparts would envy. Its playback features are unmatched by other applications and once you try it, I am sure you will hardly go back from it. Give it a go and grab it from here. open source media player vlc
  4. KeePass - password manager

    Keepass is a simple, user-friendly lightweight password generator and manager, it uses industry-standard AES encryption and two-factor authentication to keep the details of your accounts safe and secure. you can store him and the database on a USB stick for safekeeping making it a great one to use on a go, wherever you need it. Get it from this link. open source password manager keypass
  5. FileZilla - FTP client

    A lightweight and future-rich FTP solution. It supports remote file editing and resuming of lost transfers, overall great application which anyone who needs this type of software should not overlook. Download it from its official website. open source FTP client FileZilla
  6. Audacity - alternative to Audition, Fl, apple logic pro,...

    Digital audio editor and recording computer software with some great features like recording audio from multiple sources, post-processing of all types of audio, including podcasts by adding effects such as normalization, trimming, and fading in and out. Audacity has a great following and it is well documented, easy to learn and use. Grab it from here. open source sound editor audacity
  7. Shortcut - alternative to adobe premiere, avid media composer, DaVinci resolve

    The shortcut is a video editor application that demonstrates how long an open-source project can go if enough dedication and work are put into it, started as not so great and not so feature-packed in beginning, today it can easily contend with its paid counterparts with its non-destructive editing, color gradation, keyframing, etc. It is running and using FFmpeg, an open-source video framework that lets it open and works with virtually any video or audio format. Download it from here. open source video editor shotcut
  8. Gimp - alternative to adobe photoshop

    This one has been around since 1996 and it is one of the best maintained open source applications. With its features like built-in support for layers, filters, and automatic photo enhancement. It also makes it easy to create new graphic design elements and you can really take things to the next level by downloading plug-ins created by the broader GIMP open source community. Gimp is the best pixel manipulation-free tool on the market and with the right skills, it can go side by side with adobe's flagship product. Check it out here. open source photo editor gimp
  9. Inkscape - alternative to adobe illustrator, Corel draw

    What is Gimp for photoshop that is Inkscape for illustrator. This free open-source vector graphic tool does not fall behind with its tools in comparison to its paid counterparts and I would highly recommend it for anyone. Features like alpha blending, cloning on-point path manipulations can assure that you can create anything you want inside it. get your copy from here. open source vector tool inkscape
  10. Libre office - alternative to MS office

    Libre office is one of the most quality office suite there, it has spreadsheets, word processor, presentation app, calculation applications, database application, and diagrams. All these applications create and make one great suite that can open Microsoft Office files and even work with them naturally. Completely free and active in development there is no reason, not t use it in your daily routine. Go to its official website and download it for a test run. open source office suite libre office
  11. Amarok - alternative to iTunes

    Amarok is an audio player with a broad range of features like integration with multiple Web audio services, dynamic playlists, bookmarks, scripting, context view, and more. get it from here. open source music player amarok
  12. PDF Creator - alternative to adobe acrobat

    As its paid counterpart PDF Creator lets you make PDF files from any application that could print. It works the same way as adobe acrobat and supports encryption and digital signature, it lacks in PDF forms a little but if that is not something that you need, it is a great alternative to acrobat and completely free. Download it from here. open source PDF maker PDFCreator
  13. Blender - Alternative to Autodesk Maya, Autodesk 3dmax, foundry Modo, cinema4d,...

    3D modeling and animation software is very expensive. From the point of home user long it has been lost dream to have industry quality 3D modeling, animation, and rendering application for an affordable price. Blender has made that dream a possibility, completely free and open-source this package offers everything that its paid counterparts offer, some could even argue that since its open-source nature and availability of full code it offers even more. Why you are still here? Go get it here. open source 3d application blender
  14. Bluefish - alternative to Adobe Dreamweaver

    When it comes to web editing and code editing applications, notepad ++ seems like a person go-to application, but if you prefer a more professional suited IDE for web development check out Bluefish, auto-filling, code syntax, and constant development make sure that this application will not go away soon and it is worth investing your time in it. Get it from here. open source wed editor bluefish
  15. ClamWin - alternative to Kaspersky, BItdefender, Norton

    This antivirus has over 600000 users and active database updates also feature a full email scanner, scanning scheduler, and File Explorer integration. It is far better than other freeware alternatives and if you are looking for a free antivirus option look no further, ClamWin is here to stay. Grab it from here. open source anti virus ClamWin
  16. Natron - alternative to adobe aftereffects, foundry nuke

    Full-featured node-based composition and effects suite. Natron is a powerful Digital Compositor that can handle all of your 2D/2.5D needs. Its robust OIIO file formats and OpenFX architecture is what makes Natron the most flexible open-source compositor for the visual effects community. Its interface and functionally are the same across all platforms such as macOS, Linux, and Windows. Natron has a powerful keying, roto/roto paint, 2D tracking tools that are staple for all current film production project that requires visual effects. Get natron from here. open source composition and effect application natron
  17. Clonezilla - alternative to Norton Ghost

    When it comes to cloning hard drives usually there is only one application, Norton ghost. Clonezilla tends to change that by offering the same usability as the ghost. Grab your copy from here. open source HD clone clonezilla
  18. FreeCAD - alternative to Autodesk AutoCAD

    Autodesk AutoCAD has years of development and dedication of its team behind it to keep it as the best CAD application on the market and it shows. However, if you are not really a hardcore professional who needs all of AutoCAD features and can live without some automation inside it FreeCAD is one of the best free open source options, it will certainly get the job done and with its dynamic simulation and analysis, it is guaranteed that you can achieve same results as in AutoCAD with little more time investment. Get if here. open source CAD freecad
  19. Octave - alternative to MATLAB

    Octave is the best open-source educational tool used for numerical computation with an interactive environment. The tool features powerful mathematics-oriented syntax with built-in plotting and visualization tools and also Octave syntax is largely compatible with Matlab. Get your copy from here. open source math tool octave
  20. Godot - alternative to Unity3D, Unreal

    Godot is a lightweight feature-packed node-based game development engine, completely open-source and free to use for commercial projects. The engine has reached 3.2 version and it is more and more adopted by various independent game makers across the globe, recently there are to of video tutorials and documentation to get you up and running and its open-source nature lets you modify the engine itself in any way that suits and benefits you. Also, any project made with Godot is completely yours, there are no hidden fees or anything similar. Download it from here. open source game engine godot

Conclusion

That's it, my pick for 20 open source alternatives which I believe you should at least try and if you end up with at least one, you have saved some hard-earned money. And always remember:
  1. Open-source programs give you complete freedom without any shady terms and conditions.
  2. Open-source software code is readily available for anyone who wants it, so anyone can use it, share it, modify it for their own needs, and study it.
  3. No spying eyes, no tracking, and no telemetry
  4. In some cases, open-source tools offer features or performance benefits that surpass their commercial counterparts.
  5. No hidden charges, completely free.
If you would like to read more helpful articles and tips about various software and hardware visit errortools.com daily.
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Intel Arc A770 GPU

intel's first gaming card that will hit the market soon has been shown in its innovation event, the Intel Arc A770. In its core ticks ACM-G10, coming with 32 Xe-cores and all the way up to 16GB of GDDR6 memory (the basic entry-level version will have 8GB of GDDR6). The card will support ray tracing and supersampling with Intel's XeSS.

intel arc a770

This is Intel's first gaming desktop GPU and after testing with some YouTube channels it turned out that the card itself sits somewhere between nVIDIA RTX 3060 Ti and an RTX 3070 so it will still be low in performance compared with the new RTX 4090 or AMD's new RDNA3 upcoming lineup. But as stated this is Intel's first gaming graphics card and having this kind of performance is no small feat for the first-time product.

One thing that is really great tho and that is going for Arc A770 GPU is its price! The Limited Edition card will cost $329 which is at this moment most cheapest GPU currently on the market in that performance range. nVIDIA is between $500 and $700 for comparison and if Intel can hold on to its performance with almost half the price card could be a great hit among gamers. GPU itself will launch on October 12th.

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Methods To Repair "Error in Loading DLL" on Windows PC's

Error in Loading DLL - What is it?

This is a Dynamic Link Library (DLL) error. It results when a program calls upon a DLL file to perform a certain task and the file fails to load as it is damaged. In a nutshell, DLL is a collection of small programs. DLL is called upon by the executable program (EXE) that is running. The DLL file allows the executable program to run on the system. For example this error may occur when you try to run wizards in Microsoft Office Access such as the Import Wizard, the Report Wizard or the Control Wizard. This error is usually displayed as:
“Error in loading dll” “Object library not registered”

Solution

Restoro box imageError Causes

The error in loading DLL occurs due to numerous reasons. Some of the most common causes include:
  • The DLL or the referenced DLL is not in a directory specified in the path.
  • DLL File is damaged due to hard disk errors and registry corruption
  • Registry key may not exist
  • Malware errors add malicious codes to the application
  • Spyware and adware infections
When you come across error in loading DLL, it is advisable to fix it right away as this error can pose serious threats and lead to your PC malfunctioning. It can corrupt programs and put you at risk of data security and privacy threats.

Further Information and Manual Repair

To resolve this error in loading DLL files, you don’t always have to hire a technician even if you don’t have technical knowledge. This error is quite easy to repair. Here are two ways to resolve error in loading DLL without any professional assistance:

Solution 1: Reinstall the Program

Reinstalling the program can help you resolve this issue. However, when doing this you will first have to uninstall the program and also remove the DLL files from the registry to ensure the update is carried successfully. In addition to this, you will also have to uninstall some programs that share DLL files with the program that you are removing from your system to reinstall it again. Windows will prompt the DLL shared message if it is being shared by other software on your system. Though this is a method used to resolve errors in loading DLL this can be slightly tricky and confusing for many.

Solution 2: Repair the Registry and Remove Malware

This is the best, easiest and most efficient way to repair error in loading DLL files. Did you know 94% of the PC-related errors are triggered by registry corruption and malware infection? To repair the registry and remove malware from your system, you don’t have to download a separate registry cleaner and an anti-virus. Simply download Restoro. Restoro is a cutting-edge and multi-functional repair tool integrated with powerful utilities like a registry cleaner, system optimizer, and an anti-virus. By running Restoro on your computer you can resolve all the underlying causes for error in loading DLL files in seconds. Whether the error results from registry corruption or viral infection, Restoro is the only tool you need to run to repair. It is a safe, efficient and a super functional tool. It has a neat layout, easy navigation, and a user-friendly interface embedded with advanced technology and automated algorithms that scan your entire PC and repair all kinds of PC issues right away.  It can be easily operated by even novice users.

Restoro features

The registry cleaner feature repairs DLL errors and corrupt registry. It removes all the unnecessary and obsolete files that have overloaded and damaged the hard disk. It scans and wipes out such files clearing up the disk space. It fixes mis-configured registry keys and settings thus resolving errors in loading DLL files. If your system is infected by malware it may create Dll.exe malicious files on your system. If these are viruses, they can damage your system. Malicious software like Trojan and spyware are detected and removed with the help of the privacy error detector module integrated into Restoro. Other features that are worth mentioning are its backup feature and outstanding Windows compatibility. With Restoro users can create backup files for data recovery in the event of data loss during repair. Also, it is compatible with all Windows versions. To resolve error in loading DLL files on your system you just have to perform 3 simple steps:
  1. Click here to download Restoro.
  2. Run it on your system to scan for errors in loading DLL files
  3. Click repair to fix the issues.
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