Scammers have decided to target Windows’s 10 App installer process in order to infect your computer and steal your data.
As in most usual online scams, everything starts with a strange email containing threats and other poorly written and composed speech. At the end of the given email, there would be a link claiming that you, of course, need to read it and follow instructions about the threat, if you click the link it will open a web page where you will have an innocent-looking PDF file with more information about the threat itself.
If you click on a seemingly innocent PDF file it will summon Windows 10's AppInstaller.exe tool, kickstarting a download-and-run process that'll put you in a bad place very quickly. From there, you'll have to deal with the dangers of malware BazarBackdoor, including data and credential theft.
This kind of scam is nothing new but the interesting thing here is that it uses App installer and by clicking on a link you are opening and giving permission for a malicious crook to use it. So, stay safe and do not click on any links from unknown emails no matter what.
The Windows 10 operating system supports the logging in of multiple users at the same time. Aside from that, it also allows administrators to create a Guest Account that has limited rights. However, there are some instances when you could encounter an error when you use the Guest Account.
The error may state:
“Shell Infrastructure Host has stopped working. A problem caused the program to stop working correctly. Please close the program”.
This error indicates that the Shell Infrastructure Host or SiHost.exe process that is used for handling graphical elements, has crashed. And to fix this error, there are several options you can check out. You can try to reinstall the Microsoft Redistributable Packages or run a System File Checker scan. In addition, you can also use a new Guest Account or troubleshoot the problem in a Clean Boot State.
Option 1 – Try to install or repair Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable 2013
A corrupted Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable package or the absence of it can trigger the “Shell Infrastructure Host has stopped working” error – so if you do not have this package yet, you have to install it but if you already have it, follow the steps below to repair it.
Open Control Panel and proceed to Program and Features.
Under Programs and Features, look for Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable package among the list.
Then right-click on it and click the Change button.
Next, you should see the Repair option – click on it to repair the installation of the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable package.
The process may take a couple of minutes before it finishes so once it does, you have to restart your PC.
After doing all these steps and you still encounter the problem, you might have to uninstall this package and download it directly from Microsoft’s website. However, if you are using Windows 10, you might not be able to do so since it only supports Windows versions up to Windows 8.1 so just proceed to the next option below.
Option 2 – Try to run a System File Checker scan
In the Windows Start Search, type “command prompt” and right-click on Command Prompt from the search results, and then select the “Run as administrator” option.
After opening Command Prompt with admin privileges, type the “sfc /scannow” and tap Enter to execute it.
Once the scan is finished, restart your computer and see if the Windows Script Host error.
Option 3 – Try using a new Guest Account
You might want to use a new Guest Account as it could help get rid of the error. All you have to do is have your admin delete the old Guest Account and create a new one and see if it helps in fixing the error.
Option 4 – Try troubleshooting the problem in a Clean Boot State
Setting your computer in a Clean Boot State can help you diagnose and later troubleshoot the problems in your computer. During this state, the system will start with a minimal number of drivers and startup programs that help in isolating the problem with the interfering software. To put your computer in a Clean Boot State, follow the given steps below.
Log onto your computer as an administrator.
Type in MSConfig in the Start Search to open the System Configuration utility.
From there, go to the General tab and click “Selective startup”.
Clear the “Load Startup items” check box and make sure that the “Load System Services” and “Use Original boot configuration” options are checked.
Next, click the Services tab and select the “Hide All Microsoft Services” check box.
Click Disable all.
Click on Apply/OK and restart your PC. (This will put your PC into a Clean Boot State. And configure Windows to use the usual startup, just simply undo the changes.)
From there, start to isolate the problem by checking which one of the programs you installed recently is the root cause of the problem.
There is various Blue Screen of Death errors that you can encounter as you use your Windows 10 computer and some of these Stop errors have something to do with the win32kbase.sys file. This post will guide you in fixing the BSOD errors related to the win32kbase.sys file.
A problem has been detected and Windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer. The problem seems to be caused by the following file: Win32kbase.sys.
Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart. If you would like to know more, you can search online later for this error: win32kbase.sys.
The win32kbase.sys file is a Windows operating system Base Win32 Kernel Driver file located in the System32 folder so if it ends up getting corrupted or if it went missing, your computer will throw up Blue Screen error. To fix BSOD errors that have something to do with the win32kbase.sys file, here are some possible fixes that could help. Worry not for these possible fixes are not complicated.
Option 1 – Run the Check Disk or CHDSK utility
One of the first things you can try to resolve the win32kbase.sys Blue Screen error is running the CHKDSK utility. If your hard drive has issues with integrity, the update will really fail as the system will think that it’s not healthy and that’s where the CHKDSK utility comes in. The CHKDSK utility repairs hard drive errors that might be causing the problem.
Open Command Prompt with admin privileges.
After opening Command Prompt, execute the following command and hit Enter:
chkdsk /f C:
Wait for the process to be completed and then restart your computer.
Option 2 – Run SFC or 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 whiles before it finishes. Once it’s done, you could get the following results:
Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.
Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them.
Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them.
Restart your PC.
Option 3 – Try to run the DISM commands
You might want to repair potentially corrupted files in your system as having them could also trigger the win32kbase.sys Blue Screen error. To repair these corrupted system files, you can run the DISM commands:
Tap the Win + X keys and click on the “Command Prompt (Admin)” option.
After that, input each one of the commands listed below sequentially to execute them:
Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
Once you’ve executed the commands given above, restart your computer and check if the dxgkrnl.sys Blue Screen error is now fixed.
Option 4 – Try to run the Blue Screen Troubleshooter
As you know, the Blue Screen troubleshooter is a built-in tool in Windows 10 that helps users in fixing Blue Screen errors related to the win32kbase.sys file. It can be found in the Settings Troubleshooters page. To use it, refer to these steps:
Tap the Win + I keys to open the Settings panel.
Then go to Update & Security > Troubleshoot.
From there, look for the option called “Blue Screen” on your right-hand side and then click the “Run the troubleshooter” button to run the Blue Screen Troubleshooter and then follow the next on-screen options. Note that you might have to boot your PC into Safe Mode.
Random freezing in a Windows in the middle of work can be a very frustrating experience and can even cost us the loss of work. From time delays to sometimes complete crashes this behavior is something that every PC user wants to avoid or at least have very little of.
In this article, we will cover solutions on what to do and how to fix the random freezing of computers.
Run a virus scan on your computer.
Viruses and other malware can cause freezes and other issues in your computer, run a complete system scan for any kind of viruses and malware and if needed remove them.
Uninstall applications that you are not using
Besides taking your hard drive space some applications can have and require to have some services always running on your computer which can cause some issues, if an application is not needed and it is not used, removing it might solve freezing issues.
Increase RAM memory
Sometimes the problem with freezing is not a software issue, having less RAM memory than the application requires can cause the application not to work properly and it can cause freezing of the entire system since precious RAM can not be allocated to the required application.
Run system checker
Corrupted Windows system files can cause freezing of the entire system, to fix this, start the command prompt in administrator mode and type sfc /scannow
Keep running applications to a minimum
Having too many applications running in the background can drain system resources and can cause system freezes because of lack of memory. Close applications that are running in the background and keep them minimal.
Delete files and folders which you are not using
Having many files and/or folders on the hard drive can cause a lot of system resources to be wasted, from indexing size to less free space for caching. If you have files that you no longer need, removing them will free up space and can increase performance and introduce the stability.
Run memory check
Memory issues could lead to system freezing. When an application needs to write or read to a corrupted memory cluster, freezing will occur since it can not. To check memory bring up run dialog and type in ti mdsched.exe, click on restart now and let the memory test finish.
Update all drivers
Hardware issues can cause freezing of applications and having the latest drivers can make a world of difference. Make sure that you have all device drivers to the latest versions.
Optimize Disk drives and check for errors
Windows 10 has built-in tools to check hard drives for errors and to optimize them, use them in order to see if this issue is causing freezes.
Clean your registry
A Clean registry is a happy registry and Windows is appreciating it. Make sure that you do not have any keys which you do not need in the registry and that long-forgotten application trails are deleted for good.
Upgrade SSD firmware
Like updating drivers, updating firmware is also important, and having the latest firmware for your SSD can help a lot, newer firmware can eliminate freezing if the issue was in Windows not using SSD properly.
Update BIOS
Like updating SSD firmware can help so it can update Firmware on your BIOS. Make sure that you have the latest firmware version and freezing can go away if that was the issue.
If you find it hard to update Google Chrome to its latest version and each time you try to do so it keeps on failing, worry not for this post will guide you in fixing a list of Google Chrome Update errors. Even though there are a lot of error codes around Chrome, these are only caused by issues with the update.
Here are some of the errors you can encounter when updating Google Chrome:
Update failed: You can encounter this error when the Updates are disabled by the administrator.
Update failed with
Error 3 or 11: When Chrome’s inbuilt updater fails to find the Update server to download the latest version.
Error 4 or 10: This happens while checking for updates with the message “Update check failed to start”
Error 7 or 12: This occurs when the download fails while checking for updates.
Windows OS version is not supported.
Google Chrome may not be able to keep itself updated.
Any other errors that mention that “Update failed”
Since these aforementioned error codes are related to “Update Failure”, then they have common solutions and here they are:
Option 1 – Restart your computer
You need to restart your computer first and then try updating Chrome again. There are times when it’s only a temporary issue that can be fixed by simply restarting your computer.
Option 2 – Try checking antivirus programs, firewall, and parental control settings
If you have antivirus programs, a firewall installed in your computer, as well as parental controls, then any of these could be blocking you to download anything, including the update for Chrome. This is why you have to double-check and make sure that software updates aren’t being blocked by these programs. On the other hand, you can also try running the Network Troubleshooter as it can help you resolve any DNS or connectivity issues. To use it, follow the steps below.
Open the Search bar on your computer and type in “troubleshoot” to open the Troubleshoot settings.
Next, scroll down and select the “Network Adapter” option from the right pane.
Then click on the Run Troubleshooter” button.
After that, your computer will check for any possible errors and will pinpoint the root cause of the problem if possible.
Option 3 – Try to remove Proxy
Removing the Proxy might also help you in fixing the Chrome Update errors. Here’s how you can do it:
Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
Then type “inetcpl.cpl” in the field and hit Enter to pull up the Internet Properties.
After that, go to the Connections tab and select the LAN settings.
From there. Uncheck the “Use a Proxy Server” option for your LAN and then make sure that the “Automatically detect settings” option is checked.
Now click the OK and the Apply buttons.
Restart your PC.
Note: If you are using a third-party proxy service, you have to disable it.
Option 4 – Try to reset Winsock, TCP/IP & Flush DNS cache
Resetting Winsock, TCP/IP, and flushing DNS might help in resolving the Chrome Update errors just follow these steps:
Right-click on the Start button and click on Command Prompt (administrator) so you can pull up an elevated Command Prompt.
After that, execute each one of the commands listed below. And after you typed in one after the other, you have to hit Enter.
netsh winsock reset – type in this command to reset Winsock
netsh int ip reset resettcpip.txt – type in this command to reset TCP/IP
ipconfig /flushdns – type in this command to flush the DNS cache
Next, restart your PC and check if the problem’s fixed.
Option 5 – Try to run the Chrome Cleanup tool
You might want to run Google Chrome’s built-in Malware Scanner & Cleanup tool as it could also help in getting rid of any unwanted ads, pop-ups, and even malware, as well as unusual startup pages, toolbars, and anything else that might overtake the network and could affect the performance of the browser.
Option 6 – Get rid of any conflicting browser extensions
Open Chrome and press Alt + F keys.
Go to More tools and click Extensions to look for any suspicious browser extensions or toolbars.
Click the Recycle bin and select Remove.
Restart Chrome and press Alt + F keys again.
Proceed to On Startup and mark Open a specific page or set of pages.
To check if the browser hijacker is still active, click Set pages, if it is active, overwrite the URL.
Option 7 – Reset Google Chrome
Resetting Chrome can also help you get rid of the error. Resetting Chrome will restore its default settings, disabling all the extensions, add-ons, and themes. Aside from that, the content settings will be reset as well and the cookies, cache, and site data will also be deleted. To reset Chrome, here’s what you have to do:
Open Google Chrome, then tap the Alt + F keys.
After that, click on Settings.
Next, scroll down until you see the Advanced option, once you see it, click on it.
After clicking the Advanced option, go to the “Restore and clean up option and click on the “Restore settings to their original defaults” option to reset Google Chrome.
In case you don’t know, Microsoft Office uses a separate mechanism than the Windows operating system for specific purposes such as Updates and Activation which brings in the content dependencies of this mechanism on different services and processes. Thus, in such cases, you could encounter errors like the error code 0x80070426. When you get this error, you will see the following error message on your screen:
“An unexpected error has occurred. Your request cannot be processed at this time. Please try again later. (0x80070426)”
This kind of error is caused by various supporting processes and services that are not working or are not being triggered as they were supposed to. If you are currently facing this issue, worry not for this post will guide you in fixing it. There are two potential fixes you can try – you can either check the responsible services or manually run the Activation Script. For more details refer to the given options below.
Option 1 – Try checking the responsible Services
In the Start search, type “services.msc” in the field and tap Enter or click OK to open the Windows Services Manager.
If a User Account Control or UAC prompt appears, just click on Yes to proceed to the Windows Services Manager utility window.
After that, look for the “Software Licensing Service” service entry from the given list of services inside the window.
Then right-click on it and select Properties and from there, make sure that its Startup Type is set to Automatic.
Once done, click on the Start button to start the service and then exit the Services Manager.
Next, tap the Win + R keys to open the Run utility and then type “cmd” in the field and tap Enter to open an elevated Command Prompt.
After that, type and enter each command below one after the other.
net start slsvc
sc qc slsvc
sc queryex slsvc
sc qprivs slsvc
sc qsidtype slsvc
sc sdshow slsvc
Now check if the problem is fixed or not.
Option 2 – Try to manually run the Activation Script
In the Start search, type “cmd” and right-click on Command Prompt from the given search results and then select the “Run as administrator” option to open Command Prompt with admin privileges.
Next, navigate to the following location inside the Command Prompt command-line utility if you are using Office 16.
If you encounter an error message saying, “The connection was denied because the user account is not authorized for remote login” when you try to establish a remote connection, read on as this post will help you resolve the problem. This kind of error occurs when the targeted host does not allow you to access that system remotely. Based on the error, you are not authorized to log in remotely which means that you need to obtain the correct permission.
There are several potential fixes you can try for this error. You can try to check the Remote Desktop Users group or add users to the Security group or check the Remote Desktop Service itself.
Refer to the options provided below for more detailed instructions to fix the “The connection was denied because the user account is not authorized for remote login” error.
Option 1 – Try checking the Remote Desktop Users group
You can encounter this error when the Remote Desktop Users group does not have any permission for your user account that you are using to establish a remote connection. Thus, you need to make sure that your user account is a member of the Remote Desktop Users group. How? Refer to these steps:
Tap the Win + R keys on your keyboard and then type “cmd” in the field and tap Enter or click OK to open Command Prompt.
After opening Command Prompt, type the “lusrmgr.msc” command and tap Enter to execute it.
Alternatively, you can also search for “lusrmgr.msc” in the Start Search and once you’ve opened it, select Users and then double click on your user name to open its Properties.
From there, switch from the “General” tab to the “Member Of” tab.
Next, if you can’t see any Remote Desktop Users group under the Administrator, you have to add it. To do that, just click on the Add button.
After that, on the newly opened window, click on the Advanced and Find Now buttons, respectively.
And in the Search results box, double click on Remote Desktop Users.
Now click on the OK button to save the changes made and check if you can now connect to a remote host or not.
Option 2 – Try to add a user to the Security group
You can actually block or allow a user from logging on through the Remote Desktop Services. However, if you do not have the right setting, you won’t be able to use this functionality. Thus, you need to confirm this setting. To do that, follow the steps below.
In the Start Search, type “secpol.msc” in the field and tap Enter to open the Local Security Policy panel.
From there, go to User Rights Assignment.
Next, look for a policy named “Allow log on through Remote Desktop Services” located on your right-hand side and then double click on it to open its Properties.
If you were not able to find the Remote Desktop Users under Administrator, then you have to add it by simply clicking on the Add User or Group button.
After that, enter “Remote Desktop Users” in the blank field and click the OK button to save the changes made.
Now restart your computer and try connecting again to the remote host.
Option 3 – Try checking the Remote Desktop Users group
There is a service that’s supposed to be running and needs to be set up correctly for you to connect to the remote host. And so you need to ensure that this service is up and running. To do so, follow these steps:
Tap the Win + R keys to launch the Run utility.
Then type “services.msc” in the field and hit Enter or click OK to open the Services Manager.
Next, look for the Remote Desktop Services and double click on it to open its Properties.
After that, go to the “Log On” tab and select the “This account” option and then click on the Browse button.
On the next screen that appears, look for the Advanced button and click on it and use the Find Now button to search.
You will see “NETWORK SERVICE”. Double click on it and then save the changes you’ve made to the settings.
Finally, restart your PC and see if the problem is now fixed.
Error code 0x80070652 occurs when Windows users attempt to upgrade their operating system while another program is in the process of being downloaded. It may also occur due to problems related to previously failed update attempts within Window Update. When this Windows 10 upgrade occurs, Windows users fail to access the version of Windows they are attempting to download. Instead, a message box occurs stating that error code 0x80070652 has occurred on the device. If this error message is not rectified, it could give birth to other Windows 10 errors such as error code 0x80072EE2.
Solution
Error Causes
Error code 0x80070652 may result from Windows 10 users attempting to download another program while upgrading their operating system. It may also be caused by an issue related to previous installations of updates. For instance, in some cases, your previous installation of the Windows process may have been interrupted or it was simply not completed properly. This causes any other upgrade process that follows to result in error code 0x80070652.
Further Information and Manual Repair
But what can be done in such a situation to resolve the error code? Windows users have several options available. For instance, they can wait on any additional program that may be in the process of downloading to complete the process before attempting to upgrade Windows. They may also troubleshoot problems related to any failed updates or select a system restore point in which the error code was not present.
The manual repair methods Windows 10 users choose may involve any of the solutions mentioned previously. The choice is largely dependent on the user and his determination to fix the error code. However, note that automated tools or Windows repair technicians may also provide solutions to PC issues like error code 0x80070652.
Method One: Verify and Troubleshoot Failed Upgrades
Since previously failed updates within Windows Update can lead to the occurrence of error code 0x80070652, Windows 10 users will need to verify which of these failed updates occurred by checking the history section of the Windows Update tool. Once you’ve been able to verify that failed updates have occurred in the recent past, you’ll need to troubleshoot these problems to rectify the error code. Follow the instructions below to check for updates that have failed to install properly via Windows Update.
Step one: Type Windows Update in the Search box near Start Menu
Step two: Select Windows Update settings
Step three: Select Update history
Step four: Review updates from the most recent to least recent to see which updates have failed
Step five: Click failed updates for more details and troubleshoot accordingly.
Once you’ve completed the troubleshooting of any updates which failed, proceed by rebooting your device. You may then reattempt to upgrade to the latest version of Windows 10 once no other program is in the process of being downloaded.
If the problem causing error code 0x80070652 was related to failed updates of the past, these issues will likely be resolved once you successfully troubleshoot them. However, if the error code reoccurs, apply the next manual repair solution mentioned in this article.
Method Two: Download Updates Manually via Microsoft Download Center
Another option available to users is simply downloading updates manually by visiting the official Microsoft website, specifically the Windows section which provides downloads. To successfully complete this process, ensure you look for stand-alone packages of these downloads available on the website. You will need to know the Microsoft Knowledge Base (KB) article number related to the specific update(s) which failed.
Once a Windows user has verified the KB article number of the specific update, download it from the Microsoft website, then select Run to install the update. Reboot your PC, then check Windows Update to see if you are able to successfully complete the Windows 10 upgrade.
If the upgrade fails, you may need to implement the next manual repair method as is mentioned below.
Method Three: Use Windows System Restore
One of the best options for Windows 10 users facing certain PC problems is to apply System Restore. This allows them to reset their machine for a period of time in which the problem was not present. This is known as the restore point. To apply this manual repair method, follow the steps below.
Step one: In the search box beside the Start Menu, type System Restore
Step two: Select Create a restore point
Step three: Select the System Protection tab then Configure or Create
Step four: Provide details regarding a system restore point of your choice
Step five: Select Create, then OK.
Method Four: Download 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.
If you are running Windows Update on your Windows 10 computer and you suddenly encounter error code 0x8000FFFF, E_UNEXPECTED – Unexpected failure then read on as this post will give you a couple of suggestions to resolve this problem. Note that you can encounter this error not only on Windows Update but also on Microsoft Store apps at times.
Follow the options given below to fix error code 0x8000FFFF, E_UNEXPECTED – Unexpected failure error on your Windows 10 PC.
Option 1 – Try to reset the Microsoft Store cache
Just like browsers, Microsoft Store also caches as you view apps and games so it is most likely that the cache is no longer valid and must be removed. To do so, follow the steps below.
Right-click on the start button and click on Command Prompt (administrator).
Next, type in the command, “wsreset.exe” and tap Enter. Once you do, the command will clear the cache for the Windows Store app.
Now restart your PC and afterward, try opening Microsoft Store again.
Option 2 – Check 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 Cryptographic Service. Then right-click on it and select Properties from the context menu.
After that, check if the service is started by checking the Service status. If it is started, click on the Stop button to stop the service and if it is already stopped, leave it as it is, at least for now.
Next, make sure that the Startup type menu in the Service’s properties is set to Automatic before you go on.
Now confirm any dialog boxes that may appear as you set the Startup type and then click on the Start button located in the middle before you exit Properties.
Option 3 – Delete the contents in the Software Distribution folder and Catroot2 folder
Open the WinX Menu.
From there, open Command Prompt as admin.
Then type in the following command – don’t forget to hit Enter right after typing each one of them.
net stop wuauservnet start cryptSvcnet start bitsnet start msiserver
After entering these commands, it will stop the Windows Update Service, Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS), Cryptographic, and the MSI Installer
Next, go to the C:/Windows/SoftwareDistribution folder and get rid of all the folders and files thereby tapping the Ctrl + A keys to select them all and then click on Delete. Note that if the files are in use, you won’t be able to delete them.
After resetting the SoftwareDistribution folder, you need to reset the Catroot2 folder to restart the services you just stopped. To do that, follow these steps:
Type each one of the following commands.
net start wuauservnet start cryptSvcnet start bitsnet start msiserver
After that, exit Command Prompt and restart your computer, and then try to run Windows Update once more.
Option 4 – Check the Root Permissions
You might also want to check the permissions on the root of C: and make sure that “BUILTINUsers have read access because if it doesn’t, then no wonder why you’re getting the error code 0x8000FFFF.
Option 5 – Try to use the Media Creation tool
The Media Creation tool in Windows allows you to use the ISO installation file to make a bootable device that you can use to install Windows on your PC. Note that this is kind of different from the usual installation process as it could erase your computer’s current settings and data on the primary drive. Thus, before you proceed, you need to backup all your data into some removable drive and then use the Media Creation Tool to make a bootable drive.
After making the bootable drive, you need to plug it into your computer and then reboot.
Next, tap the F10 or Esc key to open the boot options.
Now set the boot priority of the removable drive the highest. Once the setup comes forth, follow the next onscreen instructions and install Windows without any problems.
Option 6 – Try installing the updates in a Clean Boot State
It could be that some third-party application is the one that’s causing the problem so it’s best if you put your computer in a Clean Boot state. During this state, you can start the system with a minimum number of drivers and startup programs that will surely help you in isolating the root cause of the issue.
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” checkbox 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” checkbox.
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.)
After that, try to install the Windows app again.
Note: If you are able to install the app without any trouble at all then it means that the error is caused by some third-party application in your computer. You need to look for the culprit and uninstall it once you found it.
Option 7 – Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter
Running the built-in Windows Update troubleshooter is one of the things you can first check out as it is known to automatically resolve any Windows Update errors like error code 0x8000FFFF. 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.
As you know, the Google Drive service is a Backup and Synchronization service provided by Google. It was launched way back in April 2012 which provides users with the options to synchronize, store and share files by uploading them to Google’s servers where they stay until they are deleted personally by the users and can be accessed anywhere using the Google Account that’s used to upload them.
Recently, a lot of users reported that they were unable to connect to Google Drive from their Windows 10 computers. This kind of problem has been noticed in the middle of the upload process and can be seen at times after the app launches. If you also experience the same issue, then you’ve come to the right place as this post will guide you in fixing it.
There are a lot of possible reasons why this kind of problem occurs. It could be that the app was not able to launch properly or the internet got disconnected when the app was about to launch. It is also possible that the Firewall has blocked the app from connecting to the internet or that the antivirus program is preventing the app from making contact with its database. Aside from that, it is possible that the account you are using on your computer is preventing Google Drive from connecting to the internet due to some configuration errors.
Follow the suggestions provided below to fix the connection issue with Google Drive.
Option 1 – Configure the Firewall
As mentioned, the Windows Firewall might be blocking the app from contacting its database so, in this option, you have to allow Google Drive through the Firewall. To do so, follow these steps:
In the Windows Start Search, type “firewall” and click on the “Allow an app or feature through Windows Firewall” option from the search results.
After that, you will see a list of apps, and here, click on the “Change Settings” button.
Next, scroll down and make sure to check both the “Public” and “Private” options for Google Drive.
Now click on Ok to save the changes made and then try to launch Google Drive again.
Option 2 – Try to launch Google Drive again
Google Drive might have not launched properly that’s why it can’t connect to its servers so you can try to launch it again and see if it helps.
Tap the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys to open the Task Manager.
Next, go to the Processes tab and click on the “View” option located at the top.
After that, uncheck the “Group by Type” option and click on the “Google Drive Sync” from the list of processes.
Then click on the “End Task” option and close the Task Manager.
Launch Google Drive again and see if the issue is now resolved.
Aside from Firewall, antivirus programs, especially the third party ones, are also known to block files applications the instant it detects a threat to the system. Thus, your antivirus program might be the reason why you can’t download anything on your Windows 10 computer. To fix this, you can try to disable the antivirus program on your computer in the meantime and then try to launch Google Drive again. Do not forget to enable them again as disabling them can leave your computer vulnerable to cyber threats.
Option 4 – Try to create a new account
There are times when a certain configuration for a user account might be blocking some elements of the Google Drive app. In such cases, you can try to create a new account to fix the problem.
Click on the Windows key and then click on the icon for Settings.
From there, click on the Accounts button and select the “Family & Other People” option from the left pane.
Next, click the “Add someone else to this PC” option.
After that, click on the “I don’t have this person’s sign-in information” option and select the “Add a user without a Microsoft Account” setting.
Type in the credentials for the new account you are creating and click on Next.
After the account is created, click on the account and then select the “Change account type” option.
Click on the drop-down menu and select the “Administrator” option and then click on OK.
Now sign out of the current account and sign in to the new one and then open Google Drive again.
Wondering if upgrading to Windows 11 will boost your gaming experience? We can’t give you a straightforward answer, sadly. But we can take you through the tweaks you can expect if you have all the right requirements and help you make a final decision.
Is Windows 11 good for gaming?
Essentially, the answer to this question is yes. Microsoft has definitely added a bunch of enhancements and features to its latest OS to give gamers the best possible experience. However, you have to keep in mind that this may not work out smoothly for every single user.
Whether you’ll be able to fully take advantage of the Windows 11 gaming features really depends on your setup. As expected, Windows 11 has more demanding system requirements than its predecessor.
Credit: Florian Olivo on Unsplash
So, unless your hardware can run the new OS comfortably, you might not be able to make the most of all these gaming perks. In that case, we recommend you first upgrade your hardware and then make the switch. Be prepared to be a little surprised by a few other interesting changes in comparison to Windows 10, though!
For some of the new gaming features to work, it’ll also be necessary for you to have an NVMe SSD and an HDR-compatible monitor. So let’s take a look at 4 big improvements you can expect if your setup is compatible.
Gaming enhancements on Windows 11
1. Enjoy faster loading speed with DirectStorage
For this powerful feature to work, you need a compatible graphics card and, as stated before, an NVMe SSD. It’s also important for your GPU to support the DirectX 12 graphics API at least. And since we’re on that subject, you’ll be happy to know that Windows 11 has also introduced a new version of the API called DirectX 12 Ultimate.
Now, what does DirectStorage do? It’s a new feature designed to make full use of the speedy storage of NVMe SSDs. It also transfers game data directly onto the graphics card, lightening the load on your CPU. Normally the CPU would have to decompress the data first, but DirectStorage helps bypass this. That’s how loading times are reduced and games run more smoothly.
2. Fully immerse yourself through Game Mode
Windows 11’s Game Mode is certainly a welcomed addition. When you turn on Game Mode, usage of background apps that aren’t essential to your game is reduced. This results in the game you’re running becoming a priority process. This way, it uses your hardware and system resources to the max. Ultimately, the Game Mode means less lag and higher frame rates so you can play undisturbed and fully enjoy your gaming session.
3. Vibrant visual experience thanks to AutoHDR
For this one you’ll absolutely need an HDR-compatible monitor. Basically, HDR (High Dynamic Range) means a wider range of contrasts and colors that can be displayed on a monitor.
Windows 10 has an HDR feature, but you have to turn it on and off manually (“Use HDR”). Plus, users have reported that, if left on, it results in an unappealing appearance of content other than movies and games.
Windows 11 fixes that problem with its AutoHDR feature. Toggling it results in the system automatically adjusting the color contrast, balance and brightness based on what you’re currently looking at. For gamers, this means vivid imagery in every single game, resulting in a supreme visual experience. You can check out Microsoft’s own video showcasing the power of AutoHDR.
Aside from AutoHDR, another way Windows 11 improves the visual aspect is through its support for refresh rates of up to 360Hz.
4. Xbox Game Pass & Game Bar
It’s no secret that Microsoft wants to integrate Windows and Xbox. We’ve seen some attempts with Windows 10, but they’re pretty wonky compared to the new OS.
Windows 11’s built-in Xbox Game Bar enables quite a few options all gamers desire. You can take screenshots and videos of your game and send them, for starters. Furthermore, you can use it to see audio settings and monitor your PC’s performance without having to leave the game or open the Task Manager.
Widgets are also a really cool part of the Game Bar. You can choose from a wide variety of widgets, such as Xbox Achievements, Spotify, Gallery, Xbox Social and more.
Moreover, the Xbox Game Pass has been streamlined on Windows 11. Game Pass is a subscription service that unlocks hundreds of awesome games and supports cloud streaming. Do keep in mind that the games are only unlocked for a certain period of time, as the selection rotates once in a while.
What can you do for a better gaming experience?
Windows 11 does offer tweaks that require zero input from you. However, there are a few things you can do manually to get even more out of your new OS while gaming.
Turn off enhanced pointer precision. Most games enhance precision by default, so having this feature on might interfere with that.
Make sure to select your high performance graphics card for each game. Go to Settings > Gaming > Game Mode and tap ‘Graphics’ from the ‘Related settings’ menu. Find the game you want to adjust, click on ‘Options’ and choose your high performance graphics card to be the default setting. While there, you can also turn on ‘Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling’ at the top.
Disable unnecessary apps and programs. As long as they aren’t essential to running your game, they might take up valuable system resources, so disable them to make space for your gaming requirements.
Check for pending updates and install them. It’s well-known that out-of-date software causes bugs, latency and crashes. The same goes for your GPU drivers.
Use the High-performance power plan (Control Panel > Power Options > Additional plans) to maximize the use of resources for the best possible performance.
Summary
Windows 11 has done quite a bit for avid gamers. We hope your setup is compatible with all these new features and you can experience these enhancements ASAP!
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