How to Remove iWinGames - PUP Removal Tutorial

iWin is a self-published games platform that offers users to download and play free games. It is classified as potentially unwanted, primarily because it often comes bundled with the iWin Toolbar, which is an adware supported browser extension by Conduit. The iWin Toolbar is heavily flagged as malware or unwanted by numerous Antiviruses. iWin Games is not malicious in itself, though due to its bundling and common inclusion of the toolbar, many users wish to remove it.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijack is a very common type of online fraud where your web browser configurations are altered to allow it to do things you never intend. Basically, most browser hijackers are made for marketing or advertising purposes. It redirects you to the sponsored sites and injects advertisements on the browser that helps its creator generate income. Most people assume that these kinds of websites are legitimate and harmless but that is incorrect. Nearly every browser hijacker poses an actual threat to your online safety and it is necessary to categorize them under privacy risks. When the program attacks your computer or laptop, it starts to mess things up a whole lot that slows your computer down to a crawl. In the worst-case scenario, you may be pushed to deal with serious malware threats as well.

How one can know whether the web browser is hijacked?

There are plenty of signs that indicate your internet browser has been highjacked: the browser’s homepage is changed; you find new unwanted bookmarks or favorites added, usually directed to ad-filled or pornography sites; The default search page of web browser is altered; you’ll see many toolbars on the web browser; your internet browser displays constant pop-up ads; your web browser starts running slowly or presents frequent glitches; You can’t access certain sites, particularly anti-virus websites.

How they invade computers

Browser hijackers infect PCs in numerous ways, including via a drive-by download, a file-share, or an infected e-mail. Many browser hijackings originate from add-on programs, i.e., browser helper objects (BHO), toolbars, or plug-ins added to web browsers to provide them extra capabilities. Also, some shareware and freeware can put the hijacker in your computer through the “bundling” technique. A good example of some popular browser hijackers includes Anyprotect, Conduit, Babylon, SweetPage, DefaultTab, Delta Search, and RocketTab, but the names are constantly changing.

Browser hijackers could record user keystrokes to collect potentially important information that leads to privacy concerns, cause instability on systems, severely disrupt the user experience, and ultimately slow down the computer to a point where it becomes unusable.

How to repair a browser hijack

Some hijackers can be easily removed by uninstalling the free software they were included with or by deleting any extension you have recently added to your computer system. However, most browser hijackers are hard to get rid of manually. Irrespective of how much you try to eliminate it, it may return over and over. And there’s no denying the very fact that manual repairs and removal can be quite a difficult job for a beginner computer user. Furthermore, there are many risks associated with tinkering around with the pc registry files.

What To Do If You Cannot Install Any Antivirus?

Malware could cause many different types of damage to computer systems, networks, and data. Some malware variants modify internet browser settings by including a proxy server or modify the computer’s DNS settings. In these cases, you’ll be unable to visit some or all of the sites, and thus not able to download or install the required security software to remove the computer virus. If you’re reading this article right now, you may have perhaps recognized that virus infection is the cause of your blocked net connectivity. So what to do when you want to install an anti-virus application like Safebytes? Refer to the instructions below to remove malware through alternative ways.

Make use of Safe Mode to fix the issue

In the event the malware is set to load at Windows startup, then booting in safe mode should avoid it. Only minimal required applications and services are loaded whenever you boot your laptop or computer in Safe Mode. Here are the steps you should follow to boot into the Safe Mode of your Windows XP, Vista, or 7 computers (visit Microsoft website for instructions on Windows 8 and 10 computers).

1) Press the F8 key continuously as soon as your system boots, but before the large windows logo comes up. This will bring up the Advanced Boot Options menu.
2) Use the arrow keys to choose Safe Mode with Networking and press ENTER.
3) Once you get into this mode, you will have an internet connection once again. Now, use your browser to download and install an anti-malware application.
4) Right after the software program is installed, let the scan run to remove viruses and other threats automatically.

Obtain the antivirus software using an alternate internet browser

Certain malware might target vulnerabilities of a specific web browser that obstruct the downloading process. The ideal way to overcome this issue is to go with an internet browser that is well known for its security measures. Firefox has built-in Malware and Phishing Protection to help keep you safe online.

Create a bootable USB antivirus drive

Another way is to download and transfer an antivirus application from a clean PC to run a scan on the infected computer. To run anti-malware from a USB pen drive, follow these simple measures:
1) Use another virus-free computer system to download Safebytes Anti-Malware.
2) Insert the pen drive onto the same computer.
3) Double-click the Setup icon of the anti-malware software package to run the Installation Wizard.
4) When asked, select the location of the pen drive as the place where you would like to store the software files. Follow the activation instructions.
5) Now, transfer the pen drive to the infected PC.
6) Run the Safebytes Anti-malware directly from the pen drive by double-clicking the icon.
7) Click on “Scan Now” to run a scan on the infected computer for malware.

Protect Your Computer & Privacy With SafeBytes Anti-Malware

To help protect your PC from many different internet-based threats, it is important to install an anti-malware program on your laptop. But with countless numbers of anti-malware companies in the market, nowadays it is hard to decide which one you should buy for your computer. A few of them are good, some are decent, while some will harm your PC themselves! You need to purchase a product that has gained a strong reputation and detects not just viruses but other kinds of malware as well. When considering commercial anti-malware tool options, most people opt for well-known brands, such as SafeBytes, and they are quite happy with it.

SafeBytes anti-malware is a trustworthy tool that not only secures your PC permanently but is also extremely user-friendly for people of all ability levels. Through its cutting-edge technology, this software protects your personal computer against infections caused by various kinds of malware and similar threats, including adware, spyware, trojans, worms, computer viruses, keyloggers, potentially unwanted programs (PUPs), and ransomware.

SafeBytes has a plethora of great features that can help you protect your PC from malware attacks and damage. Listed below are some of the best ones:

Robust, Anti-malware Protection: Built upon a highly acclaimed antivirus engine, this malware removal application is able to identify and get rid of various stubborn malware threats like browser hijackers, potentially unwanted programs, and ransomware that other typical antivirus programs will miss.

Live Protection: Malware programs attempting to get into 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 regularly to keep abreast of the constantly changing threat scenarios.

Web Protection: Safebytes assigns all websites a unique safety rating that helps you to get an idea of whether the webpage you’re just about to visit is safe to browse or known to be a phishing site.

High-Speed Malware Scanning Engine: SafeBytes’s virus scan engine is among the fastest and most efficient in the industry. Its targeted scanning considerably increases the catch rate for viruses which is embedded in various computer files.

Lowest CPU and RAM Usage: SafeBytes is a lightweight and user-friendly anti-virus and antimalware solution. Since it uses very low computer resources, this program leaves the computer’s power exactly where it belongs to: with you actually.

24/7 Live Expert Support: For any technical concerns or product support, you may get 24/7 expert assistance through chat and email.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you wish to manually get rid of iWin Games without the use of an automated tool, it might 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 uninstalling it. You may even want to reset your home page and search providers, and also delete browsing history, temporary files, and cookies.

Lastly, examine your hard drive for all of the following and clean your computer registry manually to get rid of leftover application entries after uninstalls. Please be aware that this is for advanced users only and could be difficult, with wrong file removal causing additional PC errors. Moreover, certain malware is capable of replicating or preventing removal. You’re suggested to do this process in Safe Mode.

Files:
C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1Tempnsu1.tmp
C:e8bfb44ebc51cebadf4410cb35e993837a67e31b69a243ebac9de76160c97ac6
C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1Tempnsu2.tmp
C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1Tempnsu2.tmpSystem.dll
C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1Tempnsu2.tmpftdownload.dat
C:e8bfb44ebc51cebadf4410cb35e993837a67e31b69a243ebac9de76160c97ac6
C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1Tempnsu2.tmpSystem.dll
C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1Tempnsu2.tmpftdownload.dat
C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1Tempnsu2.tmp
C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1Tempnsu1.tmp
C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1Tempnsu2.tmp
C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1Tempnsu2.tmpftdownload.dat
C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1Tempnsu2.tmpSystem.dll
Directory %COMMONAPPDATAiWin Games.
Directory %LOCALSETTINGSTempiWinGames.
Directory %PROGRAMFILESiWin Games.
Directory %PROGRAMSiWin Games.

Registry:
Key HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT named iWinGamesInstaller.CoInServ.1
Key HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT named iWinGamesInstaller.CoInServ
Key 495874FE-4A82-4AD1-9476-0B957E0B95EB at HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTTypeLib.
Key 4B55700F-DB51-4891-8B28-6136A48A0105 at HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppID.
Key 4B55700F-DB51-4891-8B28-6136A48A0105 at HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID.
Key CA5E2E62-8612-4942-84A0-A94090D166AA at HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTInterface.
Key E3ED53C5-7AD5-4DF5-9734-AFB6E7E5D9DB at HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTInterface.
Key 4301AEBD288588A40833184CFEC0AF92 at HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTInstallerFeatures.
Key 4301AEBD288588A40833184CFEC0AF92 at HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTInstallerProducts.
Key 80F08842F9EA1BE4BA4922DA74CDB698 at HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTInstallerUpgradeCodes.
Key ForseRemove at HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppID.
Key iWinArcade at HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftware.
Key iWinArcade at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWARE.
Key iWinGamesInstaller.EXE at HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppID.
Key iWinGamesInstaller at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMControlSet001Services.
Key iWinGamesInstaller at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMControlSet002Services.
Key iWinGamesInstaller at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMControlSet003Services.
Value %PROGRAMFILESiWin GamesiWinGames.exe at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMControlSet001ServicesSharedAccessParametersFirewallPolicyStandardProfileAuthorizedApplicationsList.
Value %PROGRAMFILESiWin GamesWebUpdater.exe at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMControlSet001ServicesSharedAccessParametersFirewallPolicyStandardProfileAuthorizedApplicationsList.

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Windows 11 23H2 Update Details Revealed

Loving Windows 11 so far? We sure are. Microsoft has clearly decided to take its OS to the next level and keeps showing it through every update. It makes you wonder what’s next - and today, you’ll find out!

Tons of new features have been leaked, and we can probably expect them with the 23H2 update. Here’s everything you need to know so far.

What’s Windows 11 23H2 bringing?

Windows 11
Credit: Windows on Unsplash

There are plenty of new features already confirmed for Windows 11. The only issue is we don’t know for sure if they’re coming with the 23H2 update or separately, at a different time. Whatever the case, a lot of them are pretty exciting.

Here’s an overview of what we might be getting this fall.

  • Windows Copilot. Microsoft wants to add this AI-powered feature based on chatbots like Bing Chat and ChatGPT to assist users with all kinds of actions and tasks on the platform. As part of this development, the integration of first- and third-party plugins and the Bing Chat AI will be enhanced. This is a pretty amazing addition to look forward to, if you ask us.
  • Dynamic Lighting. RGB lovers will rejoice upon this one! Dynamic Lighting will allow you to control your RGB-powered components directly through the Windows Settings, allowing smooth integration of your favorite peripherals with your OS. No need for third-party software anymore!
  • Taskbar enhancements. Microsoft has announced some neat improvements to the Windows 11 taskbar. For one, we’ll be able to hide the Time and Date now, which is extremely useful for focus, but also for clean screenshots. Another change is the ability to shut down programs directly from the Taskbar, without having to run the Task Manager.
  • Expanding native support for archive formats 7-zip, rar, gz and others on the libarchive open-source projects.
  • Microsoft Store AI features. The theme of AI power is clearly being taken up a notch, because the Microsoft Store seems to be getting several awesome features in this regard. One of them is AI hub, which “curate the best AI experiences built by the developer community and Microsoft” (Windows Developer Blog). We’re not sure what that means exactly, but we sure can’t wait to see.

Another is AI-generated keywords, designed to improve the discoverability of apps you’re searching for. Moreover, the AI-generated review summary is designed to give us a simpler experience looking at reviews. Huge numbers of reviews will be compiled into a summary that’s easy to scan and lets us discover new content faster.

  • Other Microsoft Store improvements. Business owners will be happy to hear that Microsoft Store ads will now reach 150+ regions worldwide, significantly increasing the audiences they can target. Furthermore, there will be enhancements to the Backup and Restore functionality to give users a more seamless experience in case they switch devices. 
  • File Explorer changes. Rumor has it that Microsoft is working on a Gallery to be embedded within the File Explorer. The addition of a Recommended section might be on the horizon as well. 
  • Widget Panel update. The introduction of the Widget Panel in itself was exciting for many. As a next step in the development of this feature, Microsoft is planning to make it possible to pin widgets to the desktop. 
  • Presence sensor. You might actually already have this one, as it was rolled out as part of Moment 3 for compatible devices. With the Presence sensing app, found in the Privacy settings, you can decide which (if any) apps use APIs to detect the state of your activity on Windows. This can significantly enhance privacy and security, as you can have apps containing sensitive data lock automatically when unattended. If you’re a laptop user, it can also be beneficial to your battery life.
  • Bluetooth LE. Microsoft is adding support for Bluetooth Low Energy, a functionality that allows reduced battery consumption when devices are connected.
  • Adding more languages to the Live Captions feature. This specification is only as powerful as the languages it supports. Microsoft is reportedly working on expanding the list with 10 more languages.

Summary

We’ve got some interesting stuff to look forward to with the next major Windows 11 update. And these are just the things the Internet’s actually heard of, so who knows what else Microsoft might be planning? It remains to be seen, hopefully just a few months from now. 23H2 has been released on October 31st.

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Easy Methods of Fixing Error 1706

What is Error 1706?

Error 1706 is a Windows PC error. It occurs when you insert a Microsoft CD-ROM either to repair an Office or to install a feature set to Installed on First Use. The error message is displayed in the following format: Error 1706. Setup cannot find the required files. Check your connection to the network, or CD-ROM drive. For other potential solutions to this problem, see C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office101033\Setup.hlp.

Solution

Restoro box imageError Causes

Error 1706 may occur due to several reasons. These include:
  • You originally installed MS Office from a network administrative installation
  • You are trying to use Office CD-ROM when the error is prompted by the Windows Installer for an Office source location
  • Viral Infection

Further Information and Manual Repair

The good news is that this error code is not fatal. However, to avoid inconvenience, it is recommended to resolve the error right away. To fix the problem you don’t have to be a computer programmer or hire one. In fact, this error code can be resolved quite easily. Here are some of the best and easiest do it yourself methods to resolve error 1706 on your PC:

Method 1

To resolve this issue find a different administrative installation for the Office source file location. To do this, go to the start menu and then click run. In the open box, simply type this command line new network pathSetup.exe /fvm package name.msi and press OK to continue and update changes. Once the update is complete and finished press OK to save and proceed. Please note after you follow these steps, the Windows Installer uses this new server location whenever it needs to reinstall, repair, or add a feature to your Office Installation.

Method 2

Another alternative method to resolve this method is to use CD-ROM for the Office Source Location. To do this you will have to remove Office and then re-install Office from the CD-ROM. Here are the steps to remove the Office program. First, quit all Office programs.
  1. Go to the Control Panel then click on the Program and Features option.
  2. Now double click the Add/Remove programs and remove the entry for the Microsoft Office 2003 or Microsoft Office XP product installed on your PC.
  3. After that, click on the Maintenance Mode Options dialog box, select Uninstall Office, and then click Next to proceed.
  4. Click Yes to confirm changes.
  5. Now insert Office 2003 or Office XP CD-ROM and follow the setup dialog boxes to reinstall the program on your system from CD-ROM.

Download Restoro to Correct Registry Errors

However, to ensure the installation is successful this time around, it is advisable to clean the registry and ensure the uninstalled program is not located in the registry. To do this, download Restoro and run it on your computer. This is a powerful PC Fixer integrated with a registry cleaner. The registry cleaner wipes out all the unnecessary files and uninstalled program files saved in the registry. Once the registry is cleaned, try reinstalling MS Office again. This will resolve the error 1706. Click here to download Restoro and repair error 1706.
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What to do if you cannot switch between Programs on Taskbar in Windows 10
It is common to run multiple programs and applications at the same time and it’s important to be able to switch between them using their Taskbar icons or using the usual Alt + Tab shortcut. However, there are times when you might suddenly find that neither of the aforementioned methods worked and you will no longer be able to switch between programs in the Windows Taskbar. To fix this issue, refer to the options given in this post. For instance, when you have multiple instances of Microsoft Edge running and every time you press the Alt + Tab combo nothing happens so you are left with no choice but to minimize everything and then hover your mouse on the icon and switch between the instances of Edge. You will also notice that the right-click on the taskbar won’t respond back and will only keep on showing the loading circle icon. Here are a few tips you can follow to fix the issue with the Windows 10 Taskbar.

Option 1 – Try to restart the Windows Explorer

This is one of the basic things you can try as restarting Windows Explorer helps in refreshing the user interface and makes most of the things work in relation to the user interface.
  • To get started, tap the Alt + Ctrl + Del keys to pull up the Windows Task Manager.
  • After opening Task Manager, look for “explorer.exe” under the list of programs.
  • Once you find the explorer.exe, right-click on it and click Restart.

Option 2 – Try changing the Foreground Lock Time

Aside from restarting Windows Explorer, you could also try changing the Foreground Lock Time to fix the issue with the Taskbar.
  • Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
  • Then type in regedit in the field and tap Enter to open the Registry Editor.
  • Next, go to this registry key – HKEY_CURRENT_USERControl PanelDesktop
  • Next, change the ForegroundLockTimeout value from200000 to 0. After that, it will make sure that no other application will take away the focus from your current program or application. It could be that some other application has taken away the focus and even when you try to actually switch, the focus gets back to the old one. Anyhow, since you already changed the value of ForegroundLockTimeout, it will ensure that the focus is not switched.
Note: If you are running some Full-Screen applications there are some devices especially the gaming ones, disable the Windows key to make sure that you won’t be able to switch. If this is the case, you need to make some modifications to the Full-Screen games.
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Fix Windows Update Error 0x80242006
If you are trying to update your Windows 10 computer using Windows Update but encounter an error code 0x80242006, then you’ve come to the right place as this post will guide you in fixing this particular Windows Update error. This kind of error might be due to mishandling by the operating system. It could also be caused by the antivirus program or security software installed in your computer. When you encounter this error, you will see the following error message on your screen as you try to run Windows Update:
“0x80242006, WU_E_UH_INVALIDMETADATA. A handler operation could not be completed because the update contains invalid metadata.”
Here are some troubleshooting tips you can try to fix Windows Update Error 0x80242006.

Option 1 – Try to reset the Windows Update components

If by any chance that the second option didn’t work, resetting the Windows Update components could also help you resolve the problem. How? Refer to the following steps:
  • Open Command Prompt with admin privileges.
  • After that, type each one of the following command and hit Enter after you key in one after the other.
    • net stop wuauserv
    • net stop cryptsvc
    • net stop bits
    • net stop msiserver
Note: The commands you entered will stop the Windows Update components such as Windows Update service, Cryptographic services, BITS and MSI Installer.
  • After disabling WU components, you need to rename both the SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2 folders. To do that, type each one of the following commands below and don’t forget to hit Enter after you type one command after the other.
    • ren C:WindowsSoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
    • ren C:WindowsSystem32catroot2 Catroot2.old
  • Next, restart the services you’ve stopped by entering another series of commands. Don’t forget to hit Enter after you key in one command after the other.
    • net start wuauserv
    • net start cryptsvc
    • net start bits
    • net start msiserver
  • Close Command Prompt and reboot your PC.

Option 2 – Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter

If resetting the Windows Update components didn’t work, you could also try running the Windows Update Troubleshooter as it could also help in fixing any issues related to Windows Update including this one. 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. After that, follow the next on-screen instructions and you should be good to go.

Option 3 – Try to disable your antivirus program

Disabling the antivirus program or any security software installed in your computer is always a good idea you can try when the Windows Update process does not go smoothly. So before you try updating your computer again, make sure to disable the antivirus or security program and once the Windows Update is done, don’t forget to enable the antivirus program back again.

Option 4 – Check the Background Intelligent Service and the Cryptographic Service

  • Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
  • Next, type “services.msc” in the field and hit Enter or click OK to open Services.
  • From the list of Services, look for the following services and make sure that their Startup type is as follows:
    • Background Intelligent Transfer Service – Manual
    • Cryptographic Service ­– Automatic
  • After that, check if the Service status of the listed services above are set to Running. If they’re not, click on the Start button to start these services and then check if you can now enable the Windows Update service or not.

Option 5 – Run the System File Checker Scan

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 to good system files. To run the SFC command, follow the steps given below.
  • Tap Win + R to launch Run.
  • Type in cmd in the field and tap Enter.
  • After opening Command Prompt, type in sfc /scannow
The command will start a system scan which will take a few while 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.
  • Restart your computer.

Option 6 – Try running the DISM tool

You can try running the Deployment Imaging and Servicing Management or DISM tool to fix the Windows Update error 0x80242006. Using this built-in tool, you have various options such as the “/ScanHealth”, “/CheckHealth”, and “/RestoreHealth”.
  • Open the Command Prompt with admin privileges.
  • Then type in the following commands and make sure to hit Enter right after you type each one of them:
    • Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
    • Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
    • exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
  • After that, wait until the process is finished and do not close the window as the process will probably take a couple of minutes.
  • Once it’s done, restart your computer.
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Best fitness trackers for your health needs
fitness trackerIf this unfortunate COVID-19 worldwide pandemic has managed to teach us, I would argue it is that our health is the most important thing. So in that spirit, we will continue in this article reviewing some of the best fitness trackers that can be found in the time of writing this article in 2021. Now the market for fitness trackers is not small by any means and offerings are also not small, from no-name manufacturers costing only a few bucks to more serious one’s going slightly over 100 USD there is a fitness tracker for everyone. In this particular article, we will not focus on cheap few dollars no-name ones, instead, we will be offering top ones in the field among some in the middle range simply because we can stand behind them considering quality and precision.

Fitbit Charge 4 fitness and activity tracker

Fitbit is not a pioneer company in the world of fitness trackers and it shows. Charge 4 model offers maybe the best quality, performance, and features for its price. It stands out with implemented GPS meaning that you will need your phone for tracking workouts. It also offers step tracking, sleep tracking, automatic workout-tracking, active zone minutes, etc. It weighs 30g and has 1 inch grayscale OLED. Battery life is said to hold up to 4 days if you use built-in GPS regularly, if you decide to use GPS constantly device will last only 5 hours. Without GPS it can last up to 7 days and it is water-resistant and waterproof up to 50 meters.

Amazfit Band 5

Amazon’s offering of fitness tracker is aimed at beginners and as such, it is lacking some advanced features including an automated working tracker or GPS, also the model does not have replaceable bands so customization is not an option. It does however offer activity and sleep tracking, heart rate monitoring and it is the only model that integrates with Alexa. The manufacturer states that the battery can last up to 15 days depending on usage which places Amazfit Band 5 as a device that has a longer life of use. The device itself is packed with a 1.1-inch color OLED and it weights 12g. It is splash-resistant, not water-resistant.

Xiaomi Mi Band 6

Xiaomi tracker is the best budget version on this list including in it 30 sport modes like running, cycling, yoga, swimming, and more. Battery life is not bad also packing up to 14 days of life but only if the device is not used constantly. It has activity and sleep tracking, a heart rate monitor, sleep tracking, customizable replicable bands and it is water-resistant up to 50m. It comes in a 1.56 inch AMOLED color display and it weighs 63g. The device also has menstrual health tracking making it a great device for women.

Samsung Galaxy Fit 2 fitness tracker

Now we are getting into serious and little more expensive ones. Galaxy Fit 2 is among the top-notch trackers currently on the market. It of course can work along with Samsung’s smartwatches and mobile phones. Packed in the military-grade 1.1-inch casing with color AMOLED and weighing 91g with battery life up to 21 days and water resistance up to 50m this bracelet is an absolute beast. It comes packed with features from standard sleep tracking to automated workout-tracking but it also has a connection to Samsung’s Health mobile app to choose from over 90 workouts, it monitors heart rate and stress levels making it really one of the complete solutions for serious fitness enthusiasts.

Garmin Vivosmart 4 fitness tracker

Last on our list is Garmin vivosmart 4. The device itself is not very impressive, 7 days battery life with 0.7 inch OLED display and 17g weight packed with 50m water resistance is nothing spectacular, Samsung’s model is packing better hardware and way more battery life but all of the mentioned devices fall flat if we compare software to Garvin. Garvin’s Vivosmart 4 software is best on the list, it keeps track of your steps, sleep, calories burned, floors climbed, various exercises, and heart rate as standard features but you'll have advanced sleep tracking with REM sleep. It can also gauge blood oxygen saturation levels during the night with its wrist-based Pulse Ox sensor. In addition, a relaxation breathing timer complements the all-day stress tracking feature. Lastly, the "Body Battery" monitor helps optimize your daily activities based on your energy levels making it truly the only complete tracking solution on this list. That's it for our review of fitness trackers of today, be sure to come back each day to find more interesting articles and tips for your everyday digital life.
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Task Manager is blank & not showing processes
If the Task Manager is either blank or is not showing processes on your Windows 10 computer, then here are a few things you can do to resolve this issue. This kind of problem can occur due to some system file corruption or some malware infection in the system. Here are some suggestions you can try to resolve the problem with the Task Manager on your Windows 10 PC.

Option 1 – Try restarting your computer

The most common and most of the time effective way to resolve this kind of issue is to simply restart your computer. Thus, you have to restart your computer and see if it helps in fixing the Task Manager issue or not. If not, you can try the next given options below.

Option 2 – Run the DISM tool

If the first option didn’t work, then running the Deployment Imaging and Servicing Management tool can help you resolve the issue with the Task Manager as it will repair the Windows System Image as well as the Windows Component Store in Windows 10.
  • After you access the Advanced Startup options, select Command Prompt by using the arrow keys on your keyboard.
  • Next, type in this command: DISM /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.

Option 3 – Make sure that the display columns are selected in the Task Manager

You have to make sure that you have checked or selected the display columns you want to be displayed. So if none of them are selected, you might not see any details at all. Thus, you need to right-click on the space near Name and select the columns.

Option 4 – Run the System File Checker Scan

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 the reason why the Task Manager is blank or is not showing processes. 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.
  • Restart your computer.

Option 5 – Troubleshot the problem in a Clean Boot State

There are some instances that some conflicting programs installed in your computer might be the one that’s causing the Task Manager issue. To identify which program is causing the problem, you need to put your computer in a Clean Boot State. To do so, follow the steps below.
  • 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.)
  • From there, start to isolate the problem by checking which one of the programs you installed recently is the root cause of the problem.

Option 6 – Try scanning your computer using Windows Defender

As mentioned, the Task Manager issue might be caused by some malware in the system and so to eliminate the malware, you have to scan your computer using security programs like Windows Defender.
  • Tap the Win + I keys to open Update & Security.
  • Then click on the Windows Security option and open Windows Defender Security Center.
  • Next, click on Virus & threat protection > Run a new advanced scan.
  • Now make sure that Full Scan is selected from the menu and then click the Scan Now button to get started.
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Moving Start Menu to the Second Monitor
One of the most important User Interface elements in a Windows 10 operating system is the Start Menu. Not too long ago, Microsoft has added some new features and redesigned the Start Menu a couple of times as well. Thus, it is not uncommon for Windows 10 users to use several monitors. That’s why in this post, you will be guided on how you can move the Start Menu to your second monitor in Windows 10. There are a lot of advantages in using more than one monitor like a better and widescreen as well as help in improving and increasing productivity. Usually, the Start Menu and the taskbar is present in the original monitor only. In most cases, it helps users in moving the Start Menu to the second monitor and helps users in segregating tasks, and uses separate monitors for each kind of task. There are two simple steps to move the Start Menu to the second monitor. You have the option to unlock and drag the taskbar, as well as make adjustments in the settings. To get started, refer to each one of the following options to move the Start Menu to the second monitor.

Option 1 – Move the second monitor by unlocking and dragging the taskbar

The first option you can try to move the Start Menu to the second display is to simply unlock and then drag the taskbar. To do so, follow these steps:
  • First, click on the Taskbar and unlock it.
  • Next, uncheck the Lock the taskbar feature in the menu of the Taskbar Settings. This will free the taskbar so you can move or drag it around.
  • After that, push the Start Menu to the furthermost corner of the screen and then transfer it to the second monitor.

Option 2 – Move the second monitor using the keyboard

  • The first thing you have to do is to tap the Windows key to open the Start Menu.
  • Next, close the Start Menu by tapping the Esc key.
  • After that, the controls will shift back to the taskbar.
  • Now open the context menu of the taskbar by tapping the Alt + space bar together. This will move the Start Menu to the second monitor.

Option 3 – Move the Start Menu to the second monitor via Settings

If you find that the Taskbar is moving to the wrong monitor automatically or if the program does not start on the same monitor as the taskbar, then you can try this option.
  • Click on Start first and click Run.
  • Then type “desk.cpl” in the field and click OK.
  • Alternatively, you could also right-click on the desktop and select the Screen Resolution option from the drop-down menu.
  • After that, click on the monitor that you want to use as the primary monitor and select the checkbox labeled “Make this my main display”.
  • Once done, you have to choose the “Show desktop” on only 1 from the drop-down menu of Multiple displays.
  • Now click the Keep Changes option and select the Extend these displays from the Multiple displays drop-down menu and then click on the Apply button to save the changes made.
  • Afterward, click the Keep changes option once the dialog box pops up.
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What to do if the Windows 10 Control Panel is not opening
The Control Panel is one of the most important tools in Windows which allows users to control and change various settings. However, there are cases when it experiences some problems like when users aren’t able to open it. Recently, a lot of users complained about not being able to open the Control Panel. To be more specific, users were able to open it but only lasted for a second, and then it’s gone. This is not just some issue you can ignore as this will prevent you from accessing some major settings in your computer and you won’t be able to perform some important task without it. According to security experts, this issue is most likely caused by a bug in the Windows Update. If you have installed an update recently, then it’s most likely the culprit. Aside from the Windows Update, there are also other things that can cause this issue. Some of them are the IDT audio panel and a control panel file that causes conflicting issues with the control panel that leads to this problem. Aside from these aforementioned cases, the Windows Error reporting services could also be one of the causes of this issue. As you can see, since there are a lot of possible causes for this problem, this post prepared a lot of options as well which you have to check out. Follow each one of them and see which one worked best for you.

Option 1 – Try updating your Windows 10 PC

If you haven’t updated your PC to the latest version of Windows 10, then you should. A lot of users found that the issue with the Control Panel was fixed right after they updated their Windows 10 PCs. This is probably because Microsoft has probably released a fix on one of the latest updates.

Option 2 – Try uninstalling the IDT Audio Panel

For some users, uninstalling the IDT Audio Panel from their PCs did the trick. You can also try doing the same thing to fix the vanishing Control Panel. According to these users. The IDT audio panel was the one that’s causing the issue. To uninstall the IDT audio panel, here’s what you have to do:
  • Tap the Win + R keys at the same time to open the Run dialog box.
  • Then type in “appwiz.cpl” in the field and tap Enter to open the “Uninstall or change a program” screen of the Control Panel.
  • From there, look for the IDT audio panel, select it and then select the Uninstall option and follow the next on-screen instructions that appear.
Note: If you are unable to locate the IDT audio panel or you simply can’t access the Uninstall or change program screen or you can’t keep Control Panel open for a long time, here’s what you can do:
  • Tap the Win + R keys at the same time once again to open the Run dialog box.
  • And in the field, type in “devmgmt.msc” and hit Enter to open the Device Manager.
  • After opening the Device Manager, look for the “Sound, video and game controllers” option and double-click on it.
  • From there, locate the IDT audio panel or “IDT High Definition CODEC” and select Uninstall and follow the next instructions that appear.

Option 3 – Try deleting or renaming IDTNC64.cpl

IDTNC64.cpl is a control file in the control panel. However, it might be the one that’s causing the problem as it could be conflicting with the control panel. As a result, the control panel crashes after a second or more. Many users have fixed the problem by either renaming or deleting this file – the safer option would be is renaming it.
  • Tap the Win + E keys to open File Explorer.
  • In the address bar located at the top, type in “C:\Windows\System32” and tap Enter to open this folder.
  • From there, look for the IDTNC64.cpl file, right-click on it and select the Rename option.
  • You can name the file anything you want but it’s better if you rename it to “oldcpl”.
  • After you rename the file, try opening the Control Panel again. It should work fine now.

Option 4 – Try to disable the Windows Error Reporting Service

As mentioned earlier, the Windows Error Reporting Service is also known to cause the issue so some users disable it and got the issue fixed.
  • Tap the Win + R keys.
  • In the field, type in “MSConfig” and hit Enter to open System Configuration.
  • After opening System Configuration, go to the Services tab and look for the Windows Error Reporting Service and uncheck its checkbox.
  • Click the Apply button and click OK. You should now see a date in the Disable Date column. Then check if the Control Panel is now working properly if not, restart your computer and check once more. That should fix the problem.

Option 5 – Try opening Control Panel via Run

This option is more of a workaround than a solution as it does not really fix the issue with the Control Panel but rather helps you in accessing the controls at the very least.
  • Tap the Win + R keys to open Run.
  • Type in “appwiz.cpl” in the field and tap Enter to open the Uninstall or change program screen of the Control Panel.
  • Next, copy and paste “Control panel all control panel items” on the address bar located at the top-mid part of your screen. You must not type the given address and simply copy and paste it. After that, you will see a list of control panel controls you can use.
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How to Fix Windows 10 Error 0x8007007b

Error code 0x8007007b - What is it?

Error code 0x8007007b will present itself when Windows users are trying to activate Windows. You may try to activate it through the update and security option, but it is likely that you will receive the same error code. Error code 0x8007007b may be presented when Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users try to upgrade and activate Windows 10 on their computer.

Common symptoms include:

  • An error message will display that says Windows cannot be activated. The KMS host cannot be located in the DNS, please have the system administrator verify that the KMS is published correctly in DNS.
  • Error 0x8007007b will be displayed, stating that the file or directory name or the volume label syntax is not correct.

Solution

Restoro box imageError Causes

There are multiple causes for the user to see this error code, including if a user is using volume-licensed media while installing a number of various Windows operating systems. This error may also be caused because the activation wizard cannot connect to a KMS host computer. It is likely that if the user has a volume-licensed form of media, they were likely given a MAK (multiple activation keys).

Further Information and Manual Repair

There are several ways to go about repairing error code 0x8007007b. It is important to try all of the methods, but if it is too difficult or you do not know what you are doing, please do contact a Windows repair technician. They will likely be able to fix the problem with ease.

Method One: Instead of KMS activation, use a Multiple Key Activation

When KMS activation is not used, and when there is not a KMS server, the product key type should then be changed to a MAK. For MSDN (Microsoft Developer Network) or TechNet, the SKUs that are listed on the media are generally volume-licensed media, and that means that the product key that is supplied is a Multiple Activation Key.

To change the KMS to a MAK, click Start, All Programs, Accessories, and then right-click on Command Prompt. Click Run as Administrator. If prompted for a password or confirmation, enter it now.

When the command prompt opens, type in the following command, and press enter after:

slmgr -ipk xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx (these x's are representative of the MAK product key).

Method Two

While on the desktop, press the Windows key and R. The Run window should appear, and then you should enter the following command: Slui 3. Press Enter and then wait for the window to appear. This window will ask for the operating system activation product key. Enter the product key and then press the Activate button. Reboot the computer. Now the Error Code 0x8007007b should be gone.

Method Three

Open the Command Prompt with access as administrator as mentioned previously. Enter the following command: sfc /scannow. The command will then complete its task. This will take a good bit of time, so leave the computer to do its work. The sfc must finish the scan. When the scan has finished, reboot the computer. Now you can check for activation. The error code should be gone.

Method Four: When the client can't locate a KMS host on the network to complete activation

This method for correction should be used when the network does have a KMS host computer setup, and the client is not able to locate the KMS host on the network to complete activation.

To verify that the computer does in fact have the KMS host installed. Click Start, All Programs, Accessories, and then right-click on Command Prompt. Run as administrator. If you are now prompted to enter a password or confirmation, do so. When the command prompt box comes up, type in the following command, and then press Enter: nxlookup -type=all_vlmcs._tcp>kms.txt

The command will generate a file, open this KMS file. The file will contain one or more entries. As a default, the KMS host server will dynamically register a DNS SRV server evidence once every 24 hours. In order to check the registry to ensure that this is happening, follow these steps:

  • Click Start, type in regedit, and then press Enter.
  • Locate the key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionSL and then click on it.
  • The DisableDnsPublishing subkey should be present and have a value of 1. If it is missing, create a DWORD value by right clicking DisableDnsPublishing, click Modify, in the Value Data box type in 0, and then click Okay.

Method Five: 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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How to Fix the Low Disk Space Notification on Windows 10
As you know, Microsoft constantly releases new updates with the main goal of fixing bugs as well as deliver users with new and exciting features. However, there are times when the latest update comes with an unwanted bug. One of these bugs is an error message saying, “Low Disk Space. You are running out of disk space on Local Disk (G:). Click here to see if you can free space on this drive.” So if you have recently installed a Windows 10 update, then you’ll most likely see a completely new drive on your computer which will appear right after the installation of the update and you’ll also start seeing the aforementioned error message. It gets irritating as this error message keeps on popping up even if you still have a lot of free space on your other drivers. Obviously, the main reason why this error message pops up all the time is the bug brought along by the Windows Update. This bug unhides the recovery partition drive and allocates it a drive letter which is why you are seeing a new drive in your computer. Thus, you can get rid of the pesky error message by simply removing the letter of the new drive. Just remember that you must not delete anything from the recovery partition drive nor format the drive. Formatting or deleting the recovery partition drive can heavily affect the recovery of Windows since the data on the drive is used by the Windows Recovery Environment or your system’s manufacturer. A lot of users have reported that removing the drive letter has resolved the issue. And if you worry that removing the drive letter will delete the drive, you are mistaken. This solution is basically harmless and is proven effective to make the notifications go away. Carefully follow the instructions below to get rid of the Low Disk Space notification by removing the drive letter.
  • Step 1: Tap the Windows key once.
  • Step 2: Next. In the Windows Start Search, type in “command prompt” and right-click on Command Prompt from the search results and select the “Run as administrator” option or you could simply tap Win + R keys and then input “cmd” and hit Enter to open Command Prompt.
  • Step 3: After opening Command Prompt, type in “diskpart” and tap Enter.
  • Step 4: Next, type in “list volume” and tap Enter. After that, you will see a list of drives.
  • Step 5: Take note of the letter associated with the newly created drive.
  • Step 6: Afterwards, type in “select volume <drive letter>” and tap Enter. Take note that you must replace the <drive letter> with the drive letter you’ve found in Step 5.
  • Step 7: Now type in “remove letter=<drive letter>” and then tap Enter. Once again, replace the <drive letter> with the letter you took note of in Step 5.
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