Changing color of START menu in Windows 10

If you are trying to run Windows Upgrade on your Windows 10 computer but suddenly interrupted by the error 0x800F081E – 0x20003, worry not for this post will guide you on how you can fix this Windows Upgrade error. This particular Windows Upgrade error is a Windows status code for CBS_E_NOT_APPLICABLE which indicates that some of the update requirements are missing or the files that are installed are already of a higher version compared to the ones that are still pending. In most cases, this error occurs when you try to upgrade to earlier versions of the Windows 10 N edition to a later version. Here’s the full content of the error message:

“0x800f081E-0x20003, The installation failed in the SECOND_BOOT phase with an error during BOOT operation”

In case you don’t know, Microsoft distributes special “N” editions of Windows in Europe and the “KN” editions in Korea. These editions are the same as the standard editions of Windows except that they do not have the Windows Media Player as well as the multimedia playback features. Thus, when the Windows Upgrade fails with the error code and error message and it doesn’t provide much information as to why the update couldn’t be installed, there is something you can do about it to fix the error. Since Windows uses generic error codes and so if you see the error code 0x800f081e, you have to check the error log first. For more details, follow the instructions laid out below. Step_1: You need to navigate to C:$WINDOWS.~BTSourcesPanther and from there look for the text file named “setuperr.log” and open it with a text viewer/editor program like Notepad. Step_2: After opening the setuperr.log file, you should see content that’s similar to this:

C:WINDOWSSoftwareDistributionDownload80b2677d6e15a2a206625bb25a7124feamd64_Microsoft-Windows-MediaPlayer-Package~~AMD64~~10.0.17134.1. Error: 0x800F081E 2019-09-10 20:26:57, Error SP Operation failed: Add [1] package C:WINDOWSSoftwareDistributionDownload80b2677d6e15a2a206625bb25a7124feamd64_Microsoft-Windows-MediaPlayer-Package~~AMD64~~10.0.17134.1. Error: 0x800F081E[gle=0x000000b7]

Note: From the content above, it is clear that the Windows Upgrade failed due to complete due to the Windows Media Player. It could be that the log file may contain other error messages and other error codes and if you see the error code 0x800f081e from the list, then you need to uninstall the Media Feature Pack. Step_3: You have to uninstall the Media Feature Pack.

• Tap the Win + R keys to launch the Run dialog box and type “optionalfeatures.exe” in the field and hit Enter to open the Windows Features wizard.
• Next, you need to wait until the list of Windows Features populates and then click on the + sign to collapse the folder of the Media Features.
• After that, uncheck the “Windows Media Player” option from the Media Features folder.
• Now click on the Yes and OK buttons to save the changes made and then close the Windows Features dialog box.
• Restart your computer and boot, try to run the Windows Upgrade process again, and check if the error is fixed or not.

Note: If the installation has been successfully completed, you have to go back to the Windows Features and enable the Windows Media Player again. And if you are using the Windows 10 N Edition, then you can just download and install the latest version of the Media Feature Pack for your Windows 10 N edition. On the other hand, running the built-in Windows Update troubleshooter could also help you resolve any Windows Update-related problems, including the error 0x800F081E – 0x20003. 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.

The dialog boxes that you see on your Windows computer exist to send you a message or to notify you. However, you can also encounter issues with them. Recently, some users reported that they’re getting empty or blank dialog boxes. It’s definitely hard to choose between Yes or No or to click OK when you don’t know the context of the dialog box. If the same thing happened to you, worry not for there are some possible solutions that can help you fix the problem. This kind of problem usually happens when there are some issues with the graphics driver or when there is some corrupted software. Whichever the case is, here are some fixes you can check out to fix the empty or blank dialog boxes on your Windows 10 computer.

Option 1 – Run 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 the cause why you’re getting the errors 0x8024a11a and 0x8024a112. To run the SFC command, follow the steps given below.

• Type “cmd” in the Start search and then right-click on the appropriate search result.
• Next, select “Run as administrator” to open Command Prompt with admin privileges.
• 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.

 Now restart your computer and see if the problem is fixed or not.

Option 2 – Try to update or rollback the Graphics driver

You can try to update your Graphics card driver using the Device Manager in your computer to resolve the blank dialog boxes problem or you can also go directly to the website of your graphics card manufacturers like NVIDIA, Intel, or AMD and go to the section called Drivers then check if there’s a new available update – if there is, download and install it. To update your Graphics driver via Device Manager, refer to these steps:

• First, boot your computer into Safe Mode.
• After that, tap the Win + R keys to launch Run.
• Type in devmgmt.msc into the box and tap Enter or click OK to open the Device Manager.
• After that, a list of device drivers will be displayed. From there, look for the Display Adapters and click on them.
• After that, right-click on each entry under the Display Adapters and select the “Uninstall Device” option from the menu.
• Now restart your computer.
• After restarting your computer, go to the Settings app and Check for Updates in the Windows Update section.

Note: If updating the Graphics driver didn’t fix the problem, you can also try to roll back to its previous version and see if that helps.

Option 3 – Run the DISM tool

The next thing you can do is run the DISM tool. This tool is known to repair potentially corrupted files in your system as having them could also system issues like the blank dialog boxes. 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 problem is now fixed.

Option 4 – Try to repair or reinstall the software

If the issue with the empty dialog boxes only occurs in a specific program, you can either try to repair the program or reinstall it. You can find the Repair option in the Add/Remove program section when you select the concerned program. If repairing the program didn’t work, you might have to uninstall it and then reinstall it.

Option 5 – Try troubleshooting the problem in a Clean Boot State

You might also want to troubleshoot the problem in a Clean Boot State. Doing so will help you isolate the problem. Refer to the steps below to do so:

• 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.)

Usually when online service is not working or when something goes wrong online it is DNS, well that is what most of the time is the case. And yes, DNS or Domain Name Server seems to be an issue with Facebook being completely down along with Instagram and wassap. The true cause is that there is no working Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) routes into Facebook's sites. BGP is the standardized exterior gateway protocol used to exchange routing and reachability information between the internet top-level autonomous systems (AS). Most people, indeed most network administrators, never need to deal with BGP. Cloudflare VP Dane Knecht was the first to report the underlying BGP problem. This meant, as Kevin Beaumont, former Microsoft's Head of Security Operations Centre, tweeted, "By not having BGP announcements for your DNS name servers, DNS falls apart = nobody can find you on the internet. Same with WhatsApp btw. Facebook has basically de-platformed themselves from their own platform." Many people are very annoyed by this and with the fact that they cannot use their social media platforms but it seems that Facebook employees are in even bigger annoyance as it was reported that Facebook employees can't enter their buildings because their "smart" badges and doors were also disabled by this network failure. If true, Facebook's people literally can't enter the building to fix things. Reddit user u/ramenporn, who claimed to be a Facebook employee working on bringing the social network back from the dead, reported, before he deleted his account and his messages: "DNS for FB services has been affected and this is likely a symptom of the actual issue, and that's that BGP peering with Facebook peering routers has gone down, very likely due to a configuration change that went into effect shortly before the outages happened (started roughly 1540 UTC). There are people now trying to gain access to the peering routers to implement fixes, but the people with physical access is separate from the people with knowledge of how to actually authenticate to the systems and people who know what to actually do, so there is now a logistical challenge with getting all that knowledge unified. Part of this is also due to lower staffing in data centers due to pandemic measures." Ramenporn also stated that it wasn't an attack, but a mistaken configuration change made via a web interface. Both BGP and DNS are down, the "connection to the outside world is down, remote access to those tools don't exist anymore, so the emergency procedure is to gain physical access to the peering routers and do all the configuration locally." Technicians on site don't know how to do that and senior network administrators aren't on site. It seems that it will all be down for a couple of more hours before the issue is resolved.

As you know, the Videos folder can be found under “This PC” by default on your Windows 10 computer. However, as per the reports of some users, there are a few occasions where it somehow gets replaced by the Documents folder. In other words, the Videos folders are replaced by a duplicated copy of the Documents folder. Out of the two Documents folder, one Document folder will contain all the usual files and subfolders while the second one is empty. Although when you click the Documents icon on your Desktop (if you have a shortcut), it will still take you to the right Documents folder. To fix this particular issue and get the Videos folder back in the File Explorer, here are some potential fixes that should help.

Option 1 – Run System Restore

The first thing you can try to do to resolve the problem is to run System Restore. This can help you go back to the previous state of your computer before the issue with the Videos and Documents folder.

• 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 – Try to restore Defaults

The next thing you can do is to restore Defaults. How? Refer to these steps:

• Open File Explorer and then right-click on any of the two Documents folders.
• After that, select the Properties option from the context menu and switch to the Location tab and click on Find target.
• Next, copy the address and paste it in the field above the “Find target” option, and then click the “Restore Default” button.

Option 3 – Try to change the Registry Path

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Then type “Regedit” in the field and tap Enter to open the Registry Editor.
• Next, navigate to this registry path: HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerUser Shell Folders
• After that, edit the path for {35286A68-3C57-41A1-BBB1-0EAE73d76C95} under the “User Shell Folders” key to match the path shown for My Videos: %USERPROFILE%Videos.
• Once you’re done, open the folder under “This PC” that has the Documents icon and tap Shift + right-click in the folder background, and then select the “Open PowerShell window here” option to fix the naming of the Documents folder. The path should read: “C:users<UserName>Documents.
• Next, execute this command: ri desktop.ini –force
• The command you entered will delete the files and folders and so when added for Documents, it will get rid of the empty Documents folder.
• Now all you that’s left to do is to find where the target location is going to be for both folders and check if anyone foes to the user name location.
• Then delete the one which goes to the incorrect location.

SmartScreen is a cloud-based anti-phishing and anti-malware component that’s come packed in all Windows 8 (8.1) and Windows 10 versions. This security component is also used in several browsers and programs like Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge and Outlook.com. Although this program is quite useful, there’ve been reports that SmartScreen is apparently blocking Microsoft’s own apps from opening. According to some users, they only get the “Windows SmartScreen can’t be reached right now” error message every time they try to open apps from the built-in Windows suite like Photos, Mail, Alarms, Maps, etc. Whenever Windows SmartScreen is either down or unreachable on an end-user PC, your computer won’t be able to download anything in both official and unofficial channels. This error might be due to a corrupted Windows account, or it could be that SmartScreen is disabled from the Windows Defender Security Center or it might be down due to an MS issue. In addition, the error might also be caused by a proxy entry.

Option 1 – Make sure that SmartScreen is enabled

Before anything else, the first thing you must do is to check if SmartScreen is even enabled as it might be the reason why you’re getting the error. You can verify this by simply going to the Windows Defender Security Center. To do so, follow the steps below.

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Next, type “ms-settings:windowsdefender” in the field and hit Enter to open the Windows Defender Security Center.
• After that, click on the Open Windows Defender Security Center button located under Windows Security.
• Then click on App & browser control.
• From there, make sure that the Check apps and files toggle is set to Warn and then check the same thing for Microsoft Edge and SmartScreen for Microsoft Store apps.
• If it turns out that SmartScreen is indeed disabled, you have to restart your computer after making some changes and then check if the issue is fixed upon the next startup.

Option 2 – Check if SmartScreen is down for maintenance

Another possible reason why SmartScreen is not working is that it might be scheduled for maintenance. When SmartScreen is scheduled for maintenance, it will become unreachable for a lot of users at the same time and so before you go over unnecessary troubleshooting steps, you need to verify if SmartScreen is down for maintenance or not.

Option 3 – Try to disable the proxy server

If applicable, you can try to disable the proxy server to fix SmartScreen. There are some users who reported that they’ve fixed the problem after they’ve disabled the use of a proxy server using the built-in way. In some instances, certain proxy servers can interfere with the SmartScreen component and cause it to become unusable. However, if you are not using a proxy server, just skip this option and proceed to the next one, otherwise, follow the steps below to disable the proxy server.

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Next, type “ms-settings:network-proxy” in the field and hit Enter to open the Proxy tab under Settings.
• After that, scroll down to the Manual proxy setup and make sure that the toggle button of the “Use a proxy server” option is turned off.
• Now restart your PC and check if the problem is fixed upon the next startup.

Option 4 – Try to create a new Windows user account

There are some users who were able to fix the problem by simply creating a new Windows user account. Although this solution will make you lose a couple of settings enforced through your user account, it’s actually effective in circumventing the “Windows SmartScreen can’t be reached right now” error. To create a new Windows user account, here’s what you have to do:

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• And then type “ms-settings:otherusers” in the field and hit Enter to open the Family & other people tab under the Accounts menu.
• After that, click on the “Add someone else to this PC” option and then click on “I don’t have this person’s sign-in information.
• Next, insert the user credentials like emails, password, birth date, etc., and then click Next. Take note that if you want to create a new local user account, just click on Add a user without a Microsoft account.
• After you’re done creating the new Windows user account, click the start icon and then click the account icon and choose to Sign out.
• After you’re logged in, check if SmartScreen now works properly or not.

Boost My PC is a program developed by 1.0.2.6. During setup, a scheduled task is added to Windows Task Scheduler in order to launch the program at various scheduled times (the schedule varies depending on the version). When installed, it will add a context menu handler to the Windows shell in order to provide quick access to the program.

Boost My PC presents itself as a legit PC speed-up utility, it scans your computer for problems and displays errors that need to be fixed. Upon accepting to fix these alleged errors, you are asked for a Payment in order to activate this product for a few months.

Many anti-virus scanners have marked this application as a Potentially Unwanted Program, and while Boost My PC is not so harmful on its own, it comes bundled with other Potentially Unwanted Programs that might harm your computer.

About Potentially Unwanted Applications

If you’ve ever downloaded and installed a software package via the internet (shareware, freeware, etc,), odds are high you’ve unwittingly installed unwanted programs on your computer. Potentially Unwanted Programs (PUP), also referred to as Potentially Unwanted Applications (PUA), are programs that you never wanted in the first place and sometimes come bundled with freeware software. Once installed, most of these applications can be hard to remove and become more of a pain rather than a benefit. It’s clear by the name – unwanted applications – but did not really constitute “malware” in the traditional sense. Much like malware, PUPs create problems when downloaded and installed on your machine, but what makes a PUP different is that you grant consent to download it – though the truth is vastly different – the software installation bundle actually tricks you into agreeing to the installation. Regardless of whether it is considered malware or otherwise, PUPs are almost always detrimental to the user as they could bring on adware, spyware, keystroke logging, along other dangerous “crapware” features on your computer.

Exactly how do unwanted programs look like?

Potentially Unwanted Programs appear in different forms and varieties, however, most times, these are typically adware programs that show annoying pop-up adverts and advertisements on web pages you drop by. PUPs that come as browser add-ons and toolbars are widely identifiable. These toolbars change your homepage and your search engine in the installed web browser, track your web activities, influence your search results with redirects and sponsored links, and eventually slow down your web browser and diminish your browsing experience. PUPs lie inside the gray part of the software spectrum. They may carry keyloggers, dialers, along with other software built right into them that might monitor you or send out your sensitive information to 3rd parties. Even if the PUPs aren’t inherently malicious, these programs still do practically nothing good on your personal computer – they will take valuable resources, slow your PC, weaken your device’s security, making your PC more susceptible to malware.

Tips on protecting yourself from PUPs

• Read the EULA carefully. Look for clauses that say that you ought to accept advertising and pop-ups or bundled programs from the company. • Choose the “custom” install whenever downloading a program. In particular, look closely at those tiny boxes that have been checked as default, where you might ‘agree’ to receive ads or install software bundlers. • Use an ad blocker/pop-up blocker; Deploy anti-malware products such as Safebytes Anti-malware. These types of applications will establish a wall between the computer and cybercriminals. • Avoid installing freeware software you will not make use of. Avoid installing browser extensions and applications you aren’t knowledgeable about. • Only download software from the original providers’ sites. Stay away from download portals because they use their own download manager to pack additional programs together with the initial download.

What you can do if Malware Prevents You From Downloading Anything?

Malware could cause all sorts of damage after they invade your system, from stealing your private details to deleting files on your computer system. Certain malware types alter web browser settings by including a proxy server or change the computer’s DNS configuration settings. In these cases, you’ll be unable to visit certain or all websites, and therefore unable to download or install the required security software to remove the infection. So what you should do if malicious software prevents you from downloading or installing Anti-Malware? Even though this kind of problem can be difficult to get around, there are a few steps you can take.

Download the application in Safe Mode with Networking

If any virus is set to run immediately when Windows starts, stepping into safe mode could block this attempt. Just the minimum required applications and services are loaded whenever you start your PC in Safe Mode. To start your Windows XP, Vista, or 7 computers in Safe Mode with Networking, follow the instructions below. 1) Press the F8 key continuously as soon as your system boots, but before the large Windows logo shows up. This should bring up the Advanced Boot Options menu. 2) Select Safe Mode with Networking with arrow keys and hit ENTER. 3) Once you get into this mode, you should have online access once again. Now, use your internet browser normally and navigate to https://safebytes.com/products/anti-malware/ to download and install Safebytes Anti-Malware. 4) Immediately after installation, run a full scan and let the software remove the threats it discovers.

Switch over to a different web browser

Some malware only targets specific web browsers. If this sounds like your situation, employ another web browser as it may circumvent the computer virus. If you’re not able to download the security software using Internet Explorer, this means the virus may be targeting IE’s vulnerabilities. Here, you must switch to another internet browser like Chrome or Firefox to download the Safebytes program.

Install and run anti-virus from a USB drive

Another option is to store and operate an anti-malware program completely from a Flash drive. Try these simple steps to clear up your infected computer by using portable anti-malware. 1) Download the anti-malware on a virus-free computer. 2) Plug the Flash drive into the clean computer. 3) Run the setup program by double-clicking the executable file of the downloaded software, with a .exe file extension. 4) Select the drive letter of the flash drive as the place when the wizard asks you where you want to install the anti-malware. Do as instructed on the computer screen to finish off the installation process. 5) Transfer the pen drive from the uninfected computer to the infected computer. 6) Double-click the EXE file to open the Safebytes tool right from the thumb drive. 7) Click on “Scan Now” to run a scan on the affected computer for viruses.

Ensure the Safety of Your PC by Installing SafeBytes Anti-Malware

If you’re looking to buy anti-malware for your computer, there are numerous brands and packages for you to consider. A few are very good ones, some are ok types, and some are merely fake anti-malware programs that could damage your personal computer themselves! You have to be very careful not to pick the wrong product, especially if you purchase a paid application. On the list of strongly recommended software programs is SafeBytes Anti-Malware. SafeBytes carries a very good history of top-quality service, and clients appear to be happy with it. SafeBytes anti-malware is a trustworthy tool that not only secures your system completely but is also very easy to use 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 other threats, including spyware, adware, computer viruses, worms, trojan horses, keyloggers, potentially unwanted programs (PUPs), and ransomware.

There are plenty of wonderful features you’ll get with this particular security product. These are some of the highlighted features included in the software.

World-class AntiMalware Protection: Built on a highly acclaimed anti-virus engine, this malware removal application has the capacity to detect and get rid of several stubborn malware threats like browser hijackers, PUPs, and ransomware that other common antivirus programs will miss. Live Protection: SafeBytes gives you round-the-clock protection for your PC restricting malware attacks in real-time. It will regularly monitor your pc for hacker activity and also provides users with advanced firewall protection. Safe Web Browsing: SafeBytes provides an instant safety rating about the web pages you’re going to visit, automatically blocking risky sites and making sure that you are certain of your online safety while browsing the world wide web. Low CPU Usage: This program is lightweight and can run silently in the background, and that does not impact your computer efficiency. 24/7 Customer Support: SafeBytes provides 24/7 technical support, automatic maintenance, and updates for the best user experience. To sum it up, SafeBytes has created a meaningful anti-malware solution that is aimed to protect your computer against various malware. Malware problems can become a thing of the past once you put this software program to use. For top protection and the best value for your money, you can’t get better than SafeBytes Anti-Malware.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you don’t wish to use an automated tool and like to eliminate Boost My PC manually, you could possibly do so by going to the Add/Remove Programs menu in the Control Panel and deleting the offending program; in cases of web browser add-ons, you could remove it by going to the browsers Add-on/Extension manager. You will definitely also want to reset your internet browser. If you opt to manually delete the system files and Windows registry entries, make use of the following list to ensure that you know precisely what files to remove before executing any actions. Please remember that this is for skilled users only and may be challenging, with wrong file removal leading to additional PC errors. In addition, certain malware is capable of replicating itself or preventing deletion. It is highly recommended that you carry out the removal procedure in Safe Mode.

Any modifications in a computer, either big ones or small ones can definitely trigger some errors which is why you have to be careful when you modify the system setting. One of the errors you might encounter when you’ve modified your computer is the WHEA_UNCORRECTABLE_ERROR 0x00000124 Blue Screen Error. According to the error data provided by the Windows Hardware Error Architecture or WHEA, aside from system modifications, you could also encounter this error if your computer has a hardware failure which could be due to a hard drive, RAM, or any other hardware component. In most cases, it is related to physical hardware failures which might have something to do with defective hardware, heat-related, memory as well as a processor that is starting to fail or has already failed. To fix the WHEA_UNCORRECTABLE_ERROR 0x00000124 Blue Screen error, here are some suggestions you have to check out.

Option 1 – Try to perform System Restore

Before you further troubleshoot the problem, you might want to perform System Restore first as the BSOD error might be caused by system modifications. Thus, to undo them, you can use System Restore. Run it using these steps:

• First, 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 – Try disabling Overclocking

If overclocking is enabled, you might have to disable it as some users reported that the WHEA_UNCORRECTABLE_ERROR 0x00000124 error started to appear right after overclocking. To disable it, follow the steps below.

• Go to the Start Menu and open Settings.
• Next, select Update and Security and go to the Recover tab.
• From there, click on Restart now in Advanced startup. This will restart your computer.
• Once you’re in the Advanced startup, go to Troubleshoot and then select the Advanced Options.
• From there, select the UEFU Firmware Settings.
• Now click on Restart. Once your computer has restarted, it will automatically open BIOS.
• From the BIOS, go to the Advanced tab and navigate to Performance and then look for Overclocking.
• Once you’ve found Overclocking, make sure that it is disabled. If it’s not, then disable it and then save the changes made by tapping the F10 key.
• Start your computer normally and check if the WHEA_UNCORRECTABLE_ERROR 0x00000124 error is now fixed.

Option 3 – Check your computer’s cooling components and make sure that they are working

It is a known fact that an overheated PC causes system slowdowns and even Blue Screen errors like WHEA_UNCORRECTABLE_ERROR 0x00000124. To fix it, you need to check your computer’s cooling components to see whether they’re properly working or not. Then make sure that you clean them up including the fan and other hardware from dust and other debris.

Option 4 – Use the Windows Memory Diagnostics

Since the problem has something to do with the physical RAM, you need to use Windows Memory Diagnostics. To run it, refer to these steps:

• Tap the Win + R keys to open Run and type exe and hit Enter to open the Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool.
• After that, it will give two options such as:
  • Restart now and check for problems (Recommended)
  • Check for problems the next time I start my computer
• Once your computer has restarted, perform a basic scan or you could also go for the “Advanced” options such as “Test mix” or “Pass count”. Simply tap the F10 key to start the test.

Note: After you select the option, your PC will restart and check for memory-based issues. If it finds any issues, it will automatically fix them.

Option 5 – Update or rollback or disable concerned device drivers

To fix the WHEA_UNCORRECTABLE_ERROR 0x00000124 error, you can also try to roll back, or update, or disable the concerned device drivers.

• Open the Devices Manager from the Win X Menu.
• Then locate the device drivers particularly the ones that are under the sections of Keyboard, Mouse, USB, and HID Drivers.
• Next, right-click on them to open the Properties.
• After that, switch to the Driver tab and click on the Uninstall Device button.
• Follow the screen option to completely uninstall it.
• Finally, restart your computer. It will just reinstall the device drivers automatically.

Note: You can install a dedicated driver on your computer in case you have it or you could also look for it directly from the website of the manufacturer. On the other hand, if you have just updated your device drivers then you need to roll back the drivers to their previous versions or disable them.

Option 6 – Try running System File Checker or SFC scan

You could also run System File Checker or SFC scan to fix the BSOD error. It 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. 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.

• Reboot your PC.

Option 7 – Try to disable the Digital Driver Signature Enforcement

• Reboot your computer from the Start menu.
• Then select the option while pressing the Shift key. This will open the Advanced Boot menu.
• From there, click on Troubleshoot and select Startup Settings.
• Now select the “Disable driver signature enforcement” option using the arrow keys on your keyboard and then restart your computer normally.

Error Code 8024402C – What is it?

When upgrading to Microsoft Windows 10, some users may encounter Error Code 8024402C. This error, while attempting to update, is a result of five possible issues. The error code itself is not a critical concern, yet while the error is occurring, users will not be able to upgrade their Windows software. As with any Microsoft error code, even if it is not critical, it is recommended that the error be addressed sooner rather than later. An insignificant error now could lead to a larger, more catastrophic error later on. Common symptoms include:

• A dialog box appears with the Error Code 8024402C when attempting to upgrade to Microsoft Windows 10.
• Your current version of Windows is unable to recognize the need for an update to Microsoft Windows 10.

Solution

Error Causes

As previously stated, there are five major reasons why error code 8024402C occurs.

• An erroneous character in the proxy override settings
• A wrongly configured firewall is preventing the update from taking place.
• Attempting to access the Windows 10 update through a VPN (Virtual Private Network) connection.
• Workstations that operate behind a corporate ISA server.
• A corporate network system that does not have auto proxy enabled.

The sooner these known causes are addressed, the sooner you will be able to successfully upgrade to Microsoft Windows 10.

Further Information and Manual Repair

Microsoft Support posits four different resolutions to these known error code 8024402C issues. Some of these methods will be more comfortable for at-home users than others. If you are experiencing this issue in a corporate or business setting, it may be better to have your IT tech or department attempt the methods.

Method 1:  When your firewall is causing the issue.

1. Access your firewall software.
2. Specifically, look into the settings associated with your firewall.
3. Make sure that the following three websites are listed as exceptions to your firewall or proxy.

• https://*.windowsupdate.microsoft.com
• http://download.windowsupdate.com
• http://*.windowsupdate.microsoft.com

4. If any of these websites are missing from your firewall list, add them to the list.
5. Restart your Microsoft Windows 10 update.

Method 2: For an erroneous character in the proxy override settings.

1. Open internet explorer, if you use another program to access the internet, you will still need to use internet explorer for this solution.
2. Open your internet explorer tools window.
3. Click on internet options.
4. Choose the connections tab.
5. Select LAN settings.
6. Choose the Advanced option.
7. Delete anything that appears in the exceptions section.
8. Closeout of internet explorer.
9. Click on your start button.
10. Select RUN and type CMD into the field, press ENTER.
11. This will access the command prompt screen. Type “proxycfg -d” and press ENTER.
12. Type the command “net stop wuauserv” and press ENTER.
13. Finally, type “net start wuauserv” and press ENTER.
14. Now you have cleared your proxy cache. Access the Microsoft Windows 10 update again to download.

Method 3: If a VPN connection is causing error code 8024402C.

1. Disconnect from your VPN connection, thus connecting directly to the internet without a proxy or network.
2. Retry the Microsoft Windows 10 update.
3. After the update is successful, reconnect to the VPN network.

Method 4: Use this is an ISA server is in place at your networked business site.

1. Access the ISA firewall client option. From here your goal is to initiate the ISA server automatic detection feature.
2. From the control panel, select the firewall client option.
3. Choose the configure option.
4. Check the box next to “automatically detect firewall server”.
5. Select the “update now” button.
6. Click the OK button.
7. Restart your Microsoft Windows 10 update.

Again, not all of these methods are meant for computer users who do not usually explore and change software settings of this nature. If you do not feel comfortable with any of these methods, you can opt to download and install a powerful automated tool to repair Windows error code 8024402C.

CalendarSpark is a browser extension developed by MindSpark. This extension allows an easy way to print or view calendar templates and make schedulers for a day/week/month/year. This browser extension hijacks your browser home page and search engine, changing them to MyWay.com. While the extension is installed it monitors your browsing activity and collets visited websites, clicked links, and sometimes even personal information, which it later uses to display targeted unwanted ads through your browsing sessions.

While browsing the internet with this extension installed you will see additional sponsored links, ads, and sometimes even pop-up ads on websites that are not supposed to have any of these. Several anti-virus scanners have detected this extension as a Browser Hijacker, and due to its data collecting behavior, it is not recommended to keep it on your computer.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijackers (sometimes called hijackware) are a kind of malware that modifies web browser configuration settings without the computer owner’s knowledge or permission. These kinds of hijacks are raising at an alarming rate across the world, and they could be truly nefarious and sometimes harmful too. Browser hijacker malware is created for a number of reasons. These are generally used to force hits to a specific site, manipulating web traffic to generate ad revenue. However, it’s not that harmless. Your online safety is jeopardized and it is also extremely irritating. In a worst-case scenario, your browser could be hijacked to open up your computer system to a host of additional attacks.

Indications of browser hijack

When your browser is hi-jacked, the following could happen: your home page is reset to some unknown webpage; you get redirected to sites you never intended to visit; The default search page of the web browser is changed; unwanted new toolbars are added to your internet browser; you’ll find random pop-ups start showing on a regular basis; your internet browser starts running slowly or exhibits frequent errors; Inability to navigate to certain websites, particularly antivirus as well as other security software sites.

Exactly how browser hijacker finds its way onto your PC

Browser hijackers can enter a PC by some means or other, including via file sharing, downloads, and e-mail as well. They could also be deployed via the installation of an internet browser toolbar, add-on, or extension. A browser hijacker can be installed as a part of freeware, shareware, demoware, and pirated programs. An example of some well-known browser hijacker includes Conduit, Anyprotect, Babylon, DefaultTab, SweetPage, RocketTab, and Delta Search, but the names are regularly changing. Browser hijackers could interrupt the user’s web surfing experience significantly, track the websites visited by users and steal sensitive information, cause problems in connecting to the net, and then finally create stability issues, causing programs and computers to freeze.

Removal

Some kinds of browser hijackers can be quickly removed from the computer by deleting malicious applications or any other recently added freeware. Regrettably, most of the software applications used to hijack an internet browser are intentionally designed to be difficult to remove or detect. Furthermore, manual removals require in-depth system knowledge and therefore can be an extremely difficult job for novice computer users.

What you can do if Virus Stops You From Downloading Antivirus?

Practically all malware is inherently dangerous, but certain types of malware do much more damage to your computer than others. Some malware sits in between your computer and your internet connection and blocks a few or all websites that you would like to check out. It will also block you from the installation of anything on your PC, especially antivirus applications. If you’re reading this article now, you might have perhaps realized that virus infection is the real cause of your blocked net connectivity. So how to proceed when you want to download and install an antivirus application like Safebytes? Although this sort of problem can be tougher to circumvent, there are some steps you can take.

Download the software in Safe Mode with Networking

In Safe Mode, you may change Windows settings, un-install or install some program, and eliminate hard-to-delete viruses and malware. In case the virus is set to load immediately when the PC starts, switching to this mode can prevent it from doing so. To boot into Safe Mode, press “F8” key on the keyboard just before Windows logo screen appears; Or after normal Windows boot up, run MSCONFIG, look over Safe Boot under Boot tab, and then click Apply. After you reboot into Safe Mode with Networking, you could download, install, as well as update the anti-malware program from there. At this point, you can run the anti-malware scan to eliminate viruses and malware without hindrance from another application.

Obtain the antivirus program using an alternate web browser

Some malware only targets particular internet browsers. If this sounds like your situation, utilize another browser as it may circumvent the virus. The best way to avoid this problem is to choose a browser that is well known for its security features. Firefox has built-in Phishing and Malware Protection to help keep you safe online.

Install and run anti-malware from the Thumb drive

Here’s yet another solution which is creating a portable USB antivirus software package that can check your system for malicious software without the need for installation. To run anti-virus from a USB drive, follow these simple steps: 1) Use another virus-free PC to download Safebytes Anti-Malware. 2) Plug in the flash drive to a USB slot on the clean computer. 3) Double-click the executable file to open the installation wizard. 4) When asked, choose the location of the USB drive as the place where you would like to store the software files. Follow activation instructions. 5) Unplug the flash drive. You may now use this portable anti-malware on the affected computer. 6) Run the Safebytes Anti-malware directly from the flash drive by double-clicking the icon. 7) Run Full System Scan to detect and clean-up up all types of malware.

SafeBytes Anti-Malware Benefits

If you are looking to install anti-malware software for your PC, there are numerous tools on the market to consider but you cannot trust blindly to anyone, irrespective of whether it is free or paid software. A few of them are great, some are decent, while some will harm your computer themselves! You need to select one that is dependable, practical, and has a strong reputation for its malware protection. While thinking about the dependable software programs, Safebytes AntiMalware is certainly the strongly recommended one. SafeBytes anti-malware is a trusted tool that not only protects your computer system permanently but is also very user-friendly for people of all ability levels. Once you’ve got installed this software, SafeByte's sophisticated protection system will make sure that absolutely no viruses or malicious software can seep through your personal computer. SafeBytes has a plethora of amazing features that can help you protect your PC from malware attacks and damage. Listed below are some of the great features included in the tool. Optimum AntiMalware Protection: Using a critically acclaimed malware engine, SafeBytes provides multilayered protection that is designed to find and eliminate viruses and malware that are concealed deep in your computer’s operating system. Live Protection: SafeBytes offers a completely hands-free real-time protection that is set to observe, block, and wipe out all computer threats at its very first encounter. It will inspect your computer for suspicious activity regularly and its unparalleled firewall shields your computer from illegal entry by the outside world. Faster Scan: SafeBytes Anti-Malware has got a multi-thread scan algorithm that works up to 5 times faster than any other protection software. Website Filtering: SafeBytes checks and provides a unique safety ranking to each and every site you visit and block access to webpages known to be phishing sites, thus safeguarding you from identity theft, or known to contain malware. Light-weight: The program is light-weight and will work silently in the background, and will not impact your computer efficiency. Premium Support: For any technical inquiries or product assistance, you could get 24/7 professional assistance via chat and email.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

To get rid of CalendarSpark manually, navigate to the Add/Remove programs list in the Windows Control Panel and select the program you want to get rid of. For browser extensions, go to your web browser’s Addon/Extension manager and select the add-on you intend to remove or disable. You will probably also want to reset your internet browser. In order to ensure the complete removal, manually examine your hard disk and computer registry for all of the following and remove or reset the values accordingly. But bear in mind, this is a tricky task and only computer professionals can carry it out safely. In addition, certain malicious programs are capable to defend against its deletion. Doing this malware-removal process in Safe Mode is suggested.

The Free Wifi Hotspot is offered to users that own a laptop and a desktop PC that has a wired connection to the Internet and no WiFi modem. The Free Wifi Hotspot is said to help users share their Internet connection with mobile devices that support the 2G/3G/4G/USB tethering connectivity. However, users will need a 2G/3G/4G modem attached to the computer/laptop with access to the Internet if they intend to benefit from the Free Wifi Hotspot software. Additionally, the Free Wifi Hotspot may collect data like your Internet history, downloads log, and software configuration for product placement optimization. PC users that run the Free Wifi Hotspot software may be shown pop-up windows with marketing materials from time to time and maybe redirected to promotional offers.

Several anti-virus applications have flagged Free Wifi Hotspot as a Potentially Unwanted Applications and may come bundled with other PUP-s that may harm your computer or steal some information, due to these risks it is marked for optional removal.

About Potentially Unwanted Applications

Everybody has experienced it – you download a piece of free application, then you see some unwanted applications on your computer or find a strange toolbar has been included with your browser. You didn’t install them, so how did they appear? These unwanted applications, which are referred to as Potentially Unwanted Programs, or PUPs in short, typically tag along as a software package when downloading the application and can ruin your PC or cause major annoyances. PUP does not involve malware in the traditional sense. The reason is, the majority of PUPs end up in a computer not because they slip through the security holes, for example, but because the users have got installed them themselves – totally unintentionally needless to say. A PUP might not be regarded as malicious or harmful but nonetheless, it is a standard reason for clunky OSs; some PUPs are a lot more aggressive by deliberately slowing down your computer or laptop.

How does unwanted software impact you?

Unwanted programs come in many forms. Usually, they can be seen in adware bundlers that are known to utilize aggressive and misleading advertising. The majority of bundlers install many adware programs from several vendors, each of which has its own EULA policy. Safebytes Anti-malware totally eliminates this threat and safeguards your machine against PUP or adware infection. The PUPs likewise get installed into your computer in the form of browser add-ons and toolbars. They will modify web browser settings, change the default search engine, substitute the default home page with their very own websites, slow down browsing speed, and also will ruin your system also. Potentially unwanted programs apply aggressive distribution methods to get onto your personal computer. The worst part of installing a PUP is the spyware, adware, and keystroke loggers that may hide inside. These are software programs that don’t do anything good for you; in addition to occupying space on the hard disk, they will also slow down your PC, often change settings without your approval, the list of troublesome features goes on and on.

Tips on avoiding PUPs

• When installing anything on your desktop, always read the fine print, like the license agreement. Do not accept terms of use that are for bundled programs. • Don’t accept standard, express, default, or any other installation settings which are recommended. Always opt for “custom” installation. • Make use of an antivirus program to boost your protection. Anti-malware programs like Safebytes Anti-malware has got real-time features that will block PUPs before they harm your computer. • Avoid adding freeware software you won’t make use of. Nowadays ‘freeware’ isn’t actually freeware – but ‘crapware’ bundling nonsense. • Always download programs from the original website. Most PUPs find their way onto your PC is through download portals, so avoid it entirely. Comply with these tips and you will almost never get potentially unwanted programs on your computer.

How To Get Rid Of Malware That Is Blocking Antivirus Downloads?

Every malware is bad and the level of the damage can vary greatly depending on the type of malware. Some malware sits in between the computer and the internet connection and blocks some or all websites that you really want to check out. It will also block you from adding anything to your PC, especially the anti-virus program. If you’re reading this, you may have affected by a virus that prevents you from downloading a security application such as Safebytes Anti-Malware. There are some options you could try to get around with this particular issue.

Use Safe Mode to resolve the problem

In the event the malware is set to run at Windows startup, then booting in safe mode should avoid it. Since just the bare minimum programs and services launch in “Safe Mode”, there are rarely any reasons for conflicts to happen. Listed here are the steps you need to follow to boot into the Safe Mode of your Windows XP, Vista, or 7 computers (check out Microsoft site for directions on Windows 8 and 10 PCs). 1) At power on, press the F8 key before the Windows splash screen starts to load. This will conjure up the “Advanced Boot Options” menu. 2) Make use of the arrow keys to select Safe Mode with Networking and hit ENTER. 3) When you are into this mode, you should have access to the internet once again. Now, use your browser normally and navigate to https://safebytes.com/products/anti-malware/ to download and install Safebytes Anti-Malware. 4) Following installation, run a complete scan and allow the program to delete the threats it detects.

Switch over to some other internet browser

Certain malware might target vulnerabilities of a particular web browser that obstruct the downloading process. If you suspect that your Internet Explorer happens to be hijacked by a trojan or otherwise compromised by cybercriminals, the most effective thing to do is to switch to an alternate browser such as Chrome, Firefox, or Safari to download your chosen security application – Safebytes Anti-Malware.

Install security software on a USB drive

Another solution is to download and transfer antivirus software from a clean PC to run a scan on the affected computer. Abide by these steps to run the antivirus on the infected computer. 1) On a virus-free PC, install Safebytes Anti-Malware. 2) Plug in the pen drive to a USB slot on the uninfected computer. 3) Double-click the Setup icon of the antivirus software to run the Installation Wizard. 4) Select the flash drive as the destination for saving the software file. Follow activation instructions. 5) Now, insert the thumb drive into the infected system. 6) Double click the Safebytes Anti-malware icon on the pen drive to run the application. 7) Click “Scan Now” to run a complete scan on the infected computer for viruses.

SafeBytes Anti-Malware Benefits

If you are looking to download anti-malware software for your PC, there are lots of tools on the market to consider however, you should not trust blindly anyone, regardless of whether it is free or paid software. Some are very good ones, some are decent, and some are just bogus anti-malware software that will harm your computer themselves! You should opt for a tool that has gained a good reputation and detects not only viruses but other kinds of malware too. On the list of recommended software by industry leaders is SafeBytes Anti-Malware, a popular security application for Microsoft Windows. Safebytes is one of the well-established PC solutions companies, which provide this complete anti-malware software program. When you have installed this software, SafeByte's state-of-the-art protection system will ensure that no viruses or malware can seep through your computer.

SafeBytes anti-malware provides a plethora of enhanced features which set it apart from all others. Below are some of the best ones:

Live Protection: SafeBytes offers an entirely hands-free active protection and is set to monitor, block, and get rid of all computer threats at its first encounter. They’re very efficient in screening and getting rid of different threats because they are continuously revised with new updates and safety measures. World-class AntiMalware Protection: This deep-cleaning anti-malware program goes much deeper than most anti-virus tools to clean out your computer. Its critically acclaimed virus engine finds and disables hard-to-remove malware that conceals deep inside your personal computer. Safe Web Browsing: SafeBytes checks and provides a unique safety rating to every single website you visit and block access to webpages considered to be phishing sites, thus safeguarding you from identity theft, or known to contain malware. Lightweight Tool: SafeBytes is a lightweight and easy-of-use antivirus and antimalware solution. As it uses minimum computer resources, this program leaves the computer power exactly where it belongs to: with you actually. Fantastic Technical Support: Expert technicians are at your disposal 24/7! They will promptly resolve any technical issues you may be encountering with your security software. SafeBytes can keep your PC protected from most advanced malware threats automatically with almost no input needed from you again. Once you’ve downloaded and installed SafeBytes Anti-Malware, you will no longer need to bother about malware or other security worries. If you want sophisticated forms of protection features & threat detections, buying SafeBytes Anti-Malware could be worth the dollars!

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you’d like to perform the removal of Free Wifi Hotspot manually instead of using an automated software tool, you may follow these steps: Go to the Windows Control Panel, click the “Add or Remove Programs” and there, select the offending application to uninstall. In case of suspicious versions of browser extensions, you can actually remove them via your web browser’s extension manager. You’ll probably also want to totally reset your internet browser to its default configuration settings. To ensure the complete removal, manually examine your hard drive and Windows registry for all of the following and eliminate or reset the values accordingly. Please remember that only professional users should attempt to manually edit the registry because incorrect file removal leads to a major problem or even a computer crash. Furthermore, certain malware is capable of replicating itself or preventing deletion. It is advisable that you carry out the removal procedure in Windows Safe Mode.