Capture screen with Windows 10

What is Error Code 0xC004C003?

Error code 0xC004C003 has to do with activating Windows 10 after a clean install. This problem has been a frequent nuisance to users trying to update from Windows 7 or 8.1 following the invite path they got from Microsoft.

Solution

Error Causes

There are several problems that may have caused error code 0xC004C003. The most common of them are:

• The product key entered was invalid, and cannot be used to activate the new OS.
• The user followed the proper installation procedure, but the Windows update servers were too busy to handle the activation at that moment.
• The free upgrade invitation was followed but after the reinstallation, the copy of Windows 10 was still not activated.
• The user tried to perform a full clean install of Windows 10 instead of upgrading from Windows to Windows 10

Further Information and Manual Repair

A lot of solving error code 0xC004C003 has to do with the method in which the user has tried to update the system. If one decided to try and update the program before being invited to do so by the update manager, he must wait. Unfortunately, if one chooses to do it on his own and download a clean install, he was never given a product code to authenticate the process. There are two options to address error code 0xC004C003 — either restore to the previous Windows Operating System or call Microsoft (or visit their Website) and purchase a product key. The Windows update servers are very busy. There are lots of Microsoft users around the world, and the servers are doing their best to get to each and every one of the users as fast as possible, but they can only move at a certain speed. Your best bet is to sit back and wait a while. But what if you were invited, and properly downloaded Windows 10, then decided to do a clean install? It is advised that one do not try to enter Windows 7 or 8.1 serial code as this will not work. However, unlike the problem above, these users will NOT need to purchase a product key. According to Microsoft Support Staff, the installation servers are also very jammed because of the high numbers of installations going on right now. No matter what posts you may read, the key IS genuine, and it is NOT blocked, broken, or invalid. To check if Windows has been properly activated, open the Command Window. Make sure you are logged into an administrator profile; otherwise this check will not work. Type in “slmgr.vbs/ato” and click Enter and then wait. While waiting, the command will check on the status of the activation. Windows Script Host will open and show whether or not it is activated. A lot of users have reported that the activation did not work for the first few times. However they later reported after some more attempts, no issue was found in the way the operating system updated and that the activation process went smoothly. This is most likely due to the overload on the Windows Update servers, so bear with Microsoft. Users have reported that when trying to correct error code 0xC004C003, they have followed the upgrade path and then been told by Microsoft that the key was invalid and they had to purchase a new one. If the upgrade path provided by Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 is correctly followed then there is nothing to worry about Just wait a while and try it again. If there are prolonged issues, speak with a technician by visiting the Microsoft website and contacting the help center by calling the number provided. Give them all relevant information and they will be sure to help accordingly. The best solution to fix error code 0xC004C003 is to wait. In essence, the user will be waiting to reenter the same product key. According to Microsoft, and many user posts found online, it is recommended to wait a while and then try to activate again. This seemed to be an answer to most users' problems, and seem to work just fine. If the problem persists, take it to a windows repair technician to have it sorted out. If that does not work, use a powerful automated tool to fix the problem.

If the Sleep option is missing from the Power Menu then this could be caused by the power settings, local group policy configuration, etc. in your computer. Based on the reports of users who experience the same problem, the issue occurred after they’ve updated or upgraded their Windows 10 computers. As you know, the sleep mode is quite useful in certain cases and is utilized by most users. If you put your computer in sleep mode, it actually minimizes the power usage of your computer while at the same time keeps your current session running. So if sleep mode is suddenly missing, then that could be a problem but worry not for this post will give you possible fixes to resolve the issue. Make sure to follow each one of them carefully to achieve good results.

Option 1 – Check the Power settings

As mentioned, one of the reasons why the Sleep option is missing could be the power settings in your computer. To check this possibility, make sure that you’ve enabled the sleep mode in the Power options setting window. How? Refer to these steps:

• First, go to the Start menu, and from there open Control Panel.
• Next, set the View by Large icons and select the Power Options.
• After that, click on the “Choose what the power buttons do” option on the left-hand side.
• Then click on the “Change settings that are currently unavailable” option and make sure that Sleep is checked under the Shutdown settings.
• Afterward, click on Save changes.

Option 2 – Modify the Local Group Policy

If the Power setting isn’t the cause of the problem, then you might want to check the Local Group Policy and modify it. There is a dedicated policy for showing the sleep option in the power menu and if this policy is disabled, then it’s no wonder why you don’t see the sleep option in the power menu. To change this policy, refer to the steps below.

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Then type “gpedit.msc” in the field and hit Enter to open the Group Policy Editor.
• Next, navigate to this path: Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> File Explorer
• Look for the “Show sleep in the power options menu” option from the right-hand side pane and double click on it.
• Now change it to Enabled and click on the Apply and OK buttons to save the changes made and restart your computer.

Option 3 – Try to turn on Standby

Standby, also known as InstantGo, is a feature in Windows 8 and 10 that allows users to maintain network connectivity after a computer has been put into sleep mode. Thus, if this feature is disabled, it can cause the Sleep option to disappear from the power menu. To turn it on, follow these steps:

• Tap the Win + R keys to open Run.
• And type “Regedit” in the field and tap Enter to open the Registry Editor.
• Next, navigate to this path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlPower
• From this path, look for the “CsEnabled” key on the right-hand side of the pane and double-click on it.
• Set its value to “1” and click OK to save the changes made.
• Now reboot your PC.

Note: If you were not able to find the CsEnabled key, then this indicates that your computer does not support the Standby feature. And if that’s the case, proceed to the next given option below.

Option 4 – Try to install a Video Card driver

On the other hand, some users reported that the problem was caused by the video card driver. And if your computer lacks the video adapter driver, it can also cause the same problem. Windows 10 typically install the video card driver on its own, however, there are rare cases when it doesn’t which is why you have to do it yourself manually. All you have to do is go to your manufacturer’s website and look for the video card driver, download it and then install it. Once you’ve installed the video card driver, reboot your computer and check if it has fixed the problem.

If you have a BlueTooth device on your computer, you know that each time you need to receive or transfer the file you need to find the icon in the system tray, right-click on it and choose the desired option. But there is a simpler solution, create a Bluetooth icon on the desktop so it is always easy to access. Open File Explorer by pressing ⊞ WINDOWS + E Go to C:\Windows\System32 Find fsquirt.exe Right-click on it and choose copy Go to the desktop and right-click, choose paste Rename the file to Bluetooth And, you are done!

Wallpapers by MyWay is a browser hijacker, also known as Wallpaper Homepage adware. It was developed by Mindspark Interactive Network, Inc and it is widely promoted on the Internet as a genuine search engine powered by Google with an ability to customize homepage background and add some quick access links. This hijacker can be found in the most popular web browsers including Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, and IE. Generally Wallpaper by MyWay hijacker appears on the user’s computer without the user being fully aware of its modification.

While installed users will experience additional ads showing up in their search results, as well as sponsored content and pop-up ads. This extension has been flagged by several anti-virus scanners and it is recommended to remove it from your computer.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijack is a very common type of online fraud where your web browser settings are altered to allow it to do things you never intend. Browser hijacker malware is designed for many different reasons. These are generally used to force visitors to predetermined sites, manipulating web traffic to generate ad revenue. Nevertheless, it’s not that harmless. Your internet safety is jeopardized and it is also really irritating. Additionally, hijackers can make the entire infected system fragile – other harmful malware and viruses would take hold of these opportunities to get into your system very easily.

Signs of browser hijacker infection

Symptoms that your browser is hi-jacked include: 1. you see unauthorized modifications to your web browser’s home-page 2. you find yourself regularly directed to a different site than the one you meant 3. the default web engine and the default browser settings is modified 4. find new toolbars which you did not add 5. you notice lots of pop-up ads on your computer screen 6. your internet browser has instability issues or displays frequent errors 7. you’re blocked to access those sites of anti-malware solution providers.

Exactly how browser hijacker finds its way onto your computer

Browser hijackers can enter a computer by some means or other, for instance via file sharing, downloads, and e-mail also. Many internet browser hijackings come from add-on programs, i.e., browser helper objects (BHO), toolbars, or plug-ins added to web browsers to provide them additional functionality. A browser hijacker can be installed as a part of freeware, shareware, demoware and fake programs. An example of some popular browser hijackers includes Babylon, Anyprotect, Conduit, DefaultTab, SweetPage, RocketTab, and Delta Search, however, the names are often changing. Browser hijackers could record user keystrokes to collect potentially valuable information that leads to privacy issues, cause instability on systems, significantly disrupt user’s browsing experience, and finally slow down the system to a point where it will become unusable.

Browser hijacker removal methods

Certain types of browser hijackers can be quickly removed from your computer by deleting malicious programs or any other recently installed shareware. However, the majority of hijacking codes are certainly not easy to get rid of manually, as they go deeper into the operating system. Furthermore, manual removals require in-depth system knowledge and therefore can be a very difficult job for novices. Installing and running anti-malware programs on the affected computer can automatically delete browser hijackers and other malicious programs. One of the top tools for repairing browser hijacker infections is SafeBytes Anti-Malware. It helps you get rid of any pre-existing malicious software on your computer and gives you real-time monitoring and protection against new threats. Use a system optimizer (such as Total System Care) along with your anti-malware to fix various registry issues, remove computer vulnerabilities, and improve your computer overall performance.

How To Get Remove Malware That Is Preventing Antivirus Installation?

All malware is detrimental and the consequences of the damage will vary according to the specific type of malicious software. Some malware goes to great lengths to stop you from downloading or installing anything on your computer, especially anti-virus software programs. If you are reading this article, you may have infected by a virus that stops you from downloading a security software such as Safebytes Antimalware on your PC. Refer to the instructions below to remove malware in alternative ways.

Use Safe Mode to fix the issue

If the malware is set to run at Windows start-up, then booting in safe mode should avoid it. Only the minimum required applications and services are loaded when you boot your laptop or computer into Safe Mode. To launch your Windows XP, Vista, or 7 computers in Safe Mode with Networking, follow the instructions below. 1) After switching on the computer, press the F8 key before the Windows splash screen starts to load. This would conjure up the Advanced Boot Options menu. 2) Select Safe Mode with Networking with arrow keys and hit ENTER. 3) When this mode loads, you should have an internet connection. Now, make use of your web browser normally and navigate to https://safebytes.com/products/anti-malware/ to download and install Safebytes Anti-Malware. 4) After installation, do a complete scan and allow the program to remove the threats it discovers.

Switch to some other internet browser

Malicious code might exploit vulnerabilities in a specific internet browser and block access to all anti-malware software websites. When you suspect that your Internet Explorer happens to be hijacked by a trojan or otherwise compromised by online hackers, the most effective course of action would be to switch over to a different internet browser such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Apple Safari to download your chosen computer security software – Safebytes Anti-Malware.

Install anti-malware on a flash drive

Here’s another solution which is creating a portable USB anti-malware software package that can scan your computer for malware without needing installation. Adopt these measures to employ a flash drive to fix your corrupted PC. 1) On a clean PC, download and install Safebytes Anti-Malware. 2) Plug in the pen drive into the uninfected computer. 3) Run the setup program by double-clicking the executable file of the downloaded software, with a .exe file format. 4) Choose the flash drive as the destination for saving the software file. Follow the activation instructions. 5) Now, transfer the thumb drive to the infected computer. 6) Double-click the antivirus software EXE file on the thumb drive. 7) Click on the “Scan Now” button to start the malware scan.

How SafeBytes Anti-Malware Keep your Machine Virus Free

If you are looking to download an anti-malware application for your computer, there are plenty of tools on the market to consider but you just cannot trust blindly anyone, no matter whether it is a free or paid program. A few of them do a good job in eliminating threats while many will ruin your computer themselves. You must select one that is dependable, practical, and has a good reputation for its malware source protection. When considering commercial anti-malware application options, many people select well-known brands, like SafeBytes, and they are quite happy with it. SafeBytes is a powerful, real-time antivirus application that is designed to assist everyday computer user in safeguarding their PC from malicious threats. With its most advanced virus detection and repair technology, this software will help you protect your personal computer against infections caused by different types of malware and other internet threats, including adware, spyware, viruses, worms, trojans, keyloggers, ransomware, and potentially unwanted program (PUPs).

There are lots of wonderful features you’ll get with this security product. Some of them are listed as below:

Robust Anti-malware Protection: Using its advanced and sophisticated algorithm, this malware elimination tool can detect and remove the malware threats hiding within your computer system effectively. Active Protection: SafeBytes gives you round-the-clock protection for your PC limiting malware attacks in real-time. It will check your personal computer for suspicious activity at all times and safeguards your PC from unauthorized access. Fast Scan: This computer software has one of the fastest and most efficient virus scanning engines in the industry. The scans are very accurate and take a short amount of time to complete. Web Protection: Safebytes allots all sites a unique safety score that helps you to have an idea of whether the website you’re about to visit is safe to view or known to be a phishing site. Light-weight: SafeBytes gives complete protection from online threats at a fraction of the CPU load due to its enhanced detection engine and algorithms. 24/7 Customer Service: Expert technicians are at your disposal 24/7! They will quickly resolve any technical issues you may be experiencing with your security software. To conclude, SafeBytes Anti-Malware is really great for securing your PC against all kinds of malware threats. Malware problems will become a thing of the past once you put this software program to use. So if you’re looking for the best anti-malware subscription for your Windows-based PC, we highly recommend SafeBytes Anti-Malware software

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you’d like to manually remove Wallpapers by MyWay without using an automated tool, it may be possible to do so by removing the application from the Microsoft Windows Add/Remove Programs menu, or in cases of web browser extensions, going to the browsers AddOn/Extension manager and removing it. You will probably also want to reset your internet browser to its default configuration settings. If you opt to manually delete the system files and registry entries, use the following checklist to make sure you know exactly what files to remove before performing any actions. Please keep in mind that this is for professional users only and might be difficult, with wrong file removal leading to additional system errors. In addition, some malware is capable of replicating or preventing deletion. Carrying out this malware-removal process in Safe Mode is recommended.

If you suddenly encounter the DRIVER_CORRUPTED_EXPOOL Blue Screen of Death error when using your computer, then there might be some issues with the device drivers on your Windows 10 computer. This kind of BSOD error can occur at any point while you are using your PC. Its main cause is due to some error in the System Pool where a driver becomes incompatible with the operating system or when the configuration files get corrupted for some reason. If you are one of the users who are currently inconvenienced by the DRIVER_CORRUPTED_EXPOOL error, worry not, as this post will give you some potential fixes that might help resolve the problem.

Option 1 – Perform a System Restore

Performing System Restore might help you in fixing the DRIVER_CORRUPTED_EXPOOL Blue Screen error. You can do this option either by booting into Safe Mode or in System Restore. If you are already in the Advanced Startup Options, just directly select System Restore and proceed with the next steps. And if you have just booted your PC into Safe Mode, refer to the steps below.

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• After that, type in “sysdm.cpl” in the field and tap Enter.
• Next, go to the System Protection tab then click the System Restore button. This will open a new window where you have to select your preferred System Restore point.
• After that, follow the on-screen instructions to finish the process and then restart your computer and check if the problem is fixed or not.

Option 2 – Run the Blue Screen Troubleshooter

The Blue Screen troubleshooter is a built-in tool in Windows 10 that helps users in fixing BSOD errors like DRIVER_CORRUPTED_EXPOOL error. It can be found on 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.

Option 3 – Update the Device drivers

The device driver installed in your computer might be incompatible with your operating system which is the reason why the DRIVER_CORRUPTED_EXPOOL Blue Screen error occurs. To fix that, you have to update your device drivers.

• Tap the Win + R keys on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
• After that, type “msc” in the field and hit Enter or click OK to open the Device Manager.
• After opening the Device Manager, update all the outdated Device drivers on your computer.
• Next, right-click on all the driver entries that are appropriately labeled, and then click the Update driver option.
• Now restart your PC and check if the BSOD error is fixed or not.

Option 4 – Uninstall any faulty device drivers

• Tap the Win + R keys on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
• After that, type “msc” in the field and hit Enter or click OK to open the Device Manager.
• From there, look for any device driver which has a yellow exclamation mark which indicates that something is wrong with them.
• And then right-click on each one of them and click on Uninstall.
• Once you’re done uninstalling the faulty drivers, restart your computer and allow your computer to reinstall the drivers you just uninstalled.

Option 5 – Try running the System File Checker

System File Checker or SFC is a built-in command utility that helps in restoring corrupted files as well as missing files. It replaces bad and corrupted system files with good system files that might be causing the Machine Check Exception BSOD error. To run the SFC command, follow the steps given below.

• Tap Win + R to launch Run.
• Type in cmd in the field and tap Enter.
• After opening Command Prompt, type in sfc /scannow

The command will start a system scan which will take a few whiles before it finishes. Once it’s done, you could get the following results:

1. Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.
2. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them.
3. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them.

Option 6 – Try updating the BIOS

As you know, the BIOS is a sensitive part of a computer. Even though it is a software component, the functioning of the hardware depends on it largely. Thus, you must be careful when modifying something in the BIOS. So if you don’t know much about it, it’s best if you skip on this option and try the other ones instead. However, if you are well-versed in navigating the BIOS, then follow the steps below.

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Next, type “msinfo32” in the field and press Enter to open System Information.
• From there, you should find a search field on the bottom where you have to search for the BIOS version and then press Enter.
• After that, you should see the developer and version of the BIOS installed on your PC.
• Go to your manufacturer’s website and then download the latest version of BIOS on your computer.
• If you are using a laptop, make sure that you keep it plugged in until you have updated the BIOS.
• Now double click on the downloaded file and install the new BIOS version in your computer.
• Now restart your computer to apply the changes made.

Option 7 – Try resetting Windows 10

To fix this BSOD error, you can try resetting Windows 10. Doing so won’t get rid of any file in your system – instead of erasing all your media files and documents, this reset option resets all the system settings and files.

Crash Dump is a type of malfunction that can happen when a few portions of the processor's data or RAM memory are erroneously copied to one or more files. It is common among Windows PCs. It used to be most prominent on the Windows 95 edition but subsequent versions have mostly remedied the situation. Even with the remedies over time though, this error still occurs.

Error Causes

A Crash Dump usually points to some serious and critical errors with your Computer. Below are some of the possible causes for this error:-

• Corrupt memory
• Incorrect configurations on hardware
• Programming errors.
• Incompatible drivers
• Faulty Operating system

Despite the listed causes for Crash Dumps. Nobody is ever ready for them. A crash dump is classified as an unexpected error simply because it can happen anytime.

Further Information and Manual Repair

Most PC users get scared and anxious when a crash dump happens. Which need not be the case. You can easily repair a Crash Dump without necessarily requiring a computer technician. Follow these simple steps and the malfunction will soon dissipate:

a) Re-Install the Operating System

Put the setup CD into the computer disk drive. Once you've completed this, reboot the pc.

b) Push F8

Push the F8 function key on your keyboard while the pc is re-booting. This takes you to a menu where you should choose “Advanced Boot Options”

c) Click "Repair My Computer"

As soon as you push the F8 option, and do what's suggested in the last measure above, you must click on "Repair My Computer" and press the "Return/Enter" key.

d) Click on the "Startup Repair"

Search for the start-up repair option, and choose it. Subsequently, move to Next. Using this method, the cause of the Crash dump will undoubtedly be recognized and ended after a thorough scan of your system. Additionally, it is smart to take note of the whole Crash Dump information that appears on your screen. Windows supplies you with detailed error messages. Write down each of the error codes in hexadecimal values as well as capital characters as displayed on the screen.

• Disconnect Hardware  and Un-Install all Drivers

Disconnect and remove any new hardware that is causing your PC to crash dump. Uninstall any drivers you used to install the hardware. If this solves the problem, contact the hardware manufacturer and request the latest and updated device drivers. At length, prior to starting panicking, see the error information that appears on your own display. Browse to see whether it includes info on a certain driver that you ought to search for and install. Bottom line, remain calm when your computer crash dumps and use the mentioned steps to repair it.

There is a lot of software on the market today, but from time to time we discover something extraordinary and unique worth sharing and today we have a threat for you. Ventoy is a tool that will help you with system reinstallations and system maintenance once and for all.

If you are a computer user that has multiple operating systems or you are installing and maintaining different hardware via different OS there is a high chance that you have multiple USB sticks with different operating systems on them.

Now the problem with that is that there are probably too many unlabeled sticks around or you do not have enough so you keep making system USBs depending on which one you might need.

Ventoy solves all of these problems by letting you have as many operating systems images as your USB has capacity. The only thing you need to do is get the software here: https://www.ventoy.net/en/index.html and make a USB with it, then you can freely just copy your ISO images onto the USB and once it is inserted into the computer you will be given a menu to choose which one you would like to start with, simple as that.

Features

• 100% open source (license)
• Very simple to use (Get started)
• Fast (limited only by the speed of copying the iso file)
• Can be installed in USB/Local Disk/SSD/NVMe/SD Card
• Directly boot from ISO/WIM/IMG/VHD(x)/EFI files, no extraction needed
• Support to browse and boot ISO/WIM/IMG/VHD(x)/EFI files in local disk Notes
• No need to be continuous in disk for ISO/WIM/IMG/VHD(x)/EFI files
• Both MBR and GPT partition styles are supported
• x86 Legacy BIOS, IA32 UEFI, x86_64 UEFI, ARM64 UEFI, MIPS64EL UEFI supported
• IA32/x86_64 UEFI Secure Boot supported Notes
• Linux Persistence supported Notes
• Windows auto installation supported Notes
• Linux auto installation supported Notes
• Variables Expansion supported for Windows/Linux auto-installation script Notes
• FAT32/exFAT/NTFS/UDF/XFS/Ext2(3)(4) supported for main partition
• ISO files larger than 4GB supported

• Menu alias, Menu tip message supported
• Password protect supported
• Native boot menu style for Legacy & UEFI
• Most types of OS supported, 1000+ iso files tested
• Linux vDisk(vhd/vdi/raw...) boot solution Notes
• Not only boot but also complete the installation process
• Menu dynamically switchable between ListView and TreeView mode Notes
• "Ventoy Compatible" concept
• Plugin Framework and GUI plugin configurator
• Injection of files into runtime environment
• Boot configuration file dynamically replacement
• Highly customizable theme and menu style
• USB drive write-protected support
• USB normal use unaffected
• Data nondestructive during a version upgrade
• No need to update Ventoy when a new distro is released

So far we probably all know what are good new and exciting features that W11 is bringing to the table, let’s talk now about features that will be removed and are not there but we had them in W10

1. Taskbar, do not worry, it is still there but it will be locked hard only to the bottom, people is removed, applications cannot customize areas and some icons will not appear in the system tray.
2. Start Menu, No more named groups, cannot be resized, live tiles are history and pinned apps and sites will not migrate
3. Tablet mode is completely removed
4. Touch keyboard will not dock or undock on screen sizes bigger than 18 inches
5. The timeline feature is no more
6. The wallet is also removed
7. Cortana is not active on first boot experience and it is no longer pinned to the taskbar
8. Desktop wallpapers are not synched anymore when using an MS account
9. IE is disabled, IE mode in edge here to fill the gap
10. Math panel is removed with math recognizer as separate install on demand
11. News and interests are now Windows Widgets
12. Quick status is no longer on the lock screen nor in the settings
13. S Mode exclusive only to Windows 11 home edition
14. Snipping Tool continues to be available but functionality has been replaced with the Snip & Sketch tool functionality.3D Viewer, OneNote for Windows 10, Paint 3D, and Skype won't be installed anymore on new systems. They remain available when systems are upgraded.

As you know, Microsoft Edge is the default web browser in Windows 10 operating system. It is a built-in browser that replaced the ancient Internet Explorer for its performance and features. Aside from being the default web browser, it is also set as a default PDF viewer in Windows 10. So if you open a PDF file, it will be automatically opened in the Edge browser even if you have installed a PDF reader on your computer. However, some users recently reported getting an error that says, “Couldn’t open PDF in Edge, Something’s keeping this PDF from the opening” when they tried to open a PDF file or view an internet link that has a downloadable PDF file in the Edge browser. If you are one of these users, read on as this post will help you troubleshoot the problem and fix it. This kind of error mostly occurs if you have installed other PDF viewers on your computer. They could be interrupting Edge while it tries to open the PDF documents. To fix it, check if Microsoft Edge is set as the default PDF viewer or you could also try to clear its browsing cache. In addition, you could also reset or repair Edge. For detailed instructions, refer to the given options below.

Option 1 – Check if Microsoft Edge is set as the default PDF viewer

The first thing you can do is to check if Edge is set as the default PDF viewer. If it’s not, you have to set it as one to fix the problem.

• Open Control Panel and go to Default Programs.
• Then click on the “Associate a file type or protocol with a program” option.
• Next, select the PDF file option and click on Change program.
• After that, select Microsoft Edge in the pop-up window and then select the “Always use this app to open .pdf” option.
• Now click the OK button to set Edge as the default PDF viewer and then check if you can now open the PDF file in the Edge browser.

Option 2 – Clear the browser cache of Microsoft Edge

• Open Microsoft Edge.
• Then click on the three horizontal dots to open the menu.
• From there, click on Settings. And under Settings, click the “Choose what to clear” button under the Clear browsing data section.
• Next, check all the checkboxes and then click the Clear button to clear the browsing data in the Edge browser.
• Restart Edge.

Option 3 – Reset, repair or reinstall Microsoft Edge via Settings

You can reset, repair or reinstall the Edge browser through Settings. If none of it helped, you can try the following:

• Open File Explorer and then go to this path – C:/Users/YourUsername/AppData/Local/Packages

Note: Before you type in the path in the Address bar, make sure that you put your user account name in place with the “YourUsername”.

• Tap Enter to proceed.
• Next, look for the folder named “MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe” then right-click on it.
• Click on Properties and uncheck the option “Read-only” under the General tab in the Properties window.
• Click on Apply and then OK to save the changes made.
• After that, look for the MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe folder again and delete it. And if a prompt stating “Folder Access Denied” appears on your screen, just click on the Continue button to proceed – doing so will delete most of the content inside the folder except for the folder named “AC”.
• Restart your PC.
• Now all you have to do is to re-register Microsoft Edge using PowerShell. In the Start Menu, search “Windows PowerShell”.
• Right-click on Windows PowerShell from the search results and select the “Run as administrator” option.
• Type in this command in the PowerShell windows and tap Enter – Cd C:/Users/YourUsername

Note: Once again, make sure that you key in your user account name in place of “YourUsername.

• After that, type in this command and tap Enter – Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers -Name Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)AppXManifest.xml" -Verbose}
• Restart your PC.

The store is not downloading Apps: As you know, the Windows Store is one of the places where you can download Windows apps. However, there are times when you might not be able to do so for some reason. For instance, if you search for an app and click on the get it now button, instead of downloading the app, nothing happens and there are also cases when the download will start but the page will refresh after half a second. When this issue happens, you won’t be seeing any error message or warning at all. So you’ll just have to look at the download get started where the page will refresh and you’ll be back at the Get button. This issue in the Windows 10 Store only happens for a few apps so even though you are able to download some apps, you might be able to do on other ones. Note that the apps affected are random and there is no specific set of apps that cause this issue while downloading and that this problem will repeat again each time you click on the Get it now button. This issue is definitely caused by Windows itself and has something to do with a bug in the Windows store which was brought by the latest Windows Update. It’s already a known issue among other Windows 10 users who are also suffering the same dilemma. So until Microsoft releases another update to fix this bug, you will have no choice but to deal with it in the meantime. On the other hand, you can also try a couple of suggestions laid out in this post. Follow the steps in every option given below to fix the issue with the Windows 10 Store.

Option 1 – Try signing out from the Microsoft Store

A lot of Windows 10 users were able to resolve the problem by simply signing out and signing back into the Microsoft Store. How? Follow these steps:

• Go to the Microsoft Store.
• Next, go to the Get page of the app you were trying to download.
• And then click on your account picture located in the top right corner of the window and select your account.
• Sign out from your account and after that, click the Get button to download the app.
• After that, a new window will appear where you’ll have to select your account and click on Continue.
• Now enter your credentials. Once you do, the app should be downloaded automatically after you’re signed in. And that’s about it.

Note: Keep in mind that this option is merely a temporary solution to the problem and once you close the Microsoft Store and open it back again, you will be back to square one.

Option 2 – Wait for the Windows Update

As mentioned, this is already a known issue and a lot of Windows 10 users have already complained about it to Microsoft so a bug fix will be soon released in the latest Windows Updates.