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Combine Hard drives with storage spaces

Why combining hard drives with storage spaces? Ok, I will admit it, I am a modern digital hamster when it comes to digital goods. I like to collect stuff and more than anything else I like to have all of that at the tip of my fingers. And how digital goods grow in size themselves (movies on Blu-ray are like 50GB each) and the collection grows in size single hard drive is starting to be completely obsolete when it comes to storage.

Sometimes we will need large storage for these kinds of personal collections, sometimes we will need it for work reasons. Whatever your reason might be Windows 10 is offering us a solution via Storage spaces.

Storage spaces is an integral part of Windows and it is meant as a tool to provide you with a RAID environment without a RAID controller. Of course, combining multiple hard drives via storage paces instead of RAID will not be so fast or stable but for home use of storing a large quantity of data is perfectly enough.

With Storage Spaces you will also have an option to reduce some space for increased security of data loss if by any chance one of your HDD fails.

How to Create a Storage Space

To create storage space in Windows, press ⊞ WINDOWS + R to open the run dialog.

keyboard with windows and r markedIn the run box type in Control Panel and press ENTER

run dialog with control panel typed inIn Control Panel find Storage Spaces and left-click on it.

Control panel with storage spaces markedOnce storage spaces open, left-click on Create a new pool and storage space

storage spaces manage storage spacesOnce you click on create new, you will be greeted with a list of hard drives you can use for this operation.

storage spaces select drivesPlease note that all hard drives you choose will be completely erased and formatted and then assign a single drive letter. Click on Create pool.

storage spaces resiliency type optionsYou will find yourself in new storage options where you can assign a drive letter, give storage space a name, etc.

Storage spaces types

One thing I would like to focus on here is resiliency type, when you expand the resiliency type drop-down menu you will see 4 options inside. Simple, Two-way mirror, Three-way mirrors, and Parity.

Simple: If you choose Simple as an option, you will have maximum hard drive space but no resiliency at all, meaning that if by any chance any of your hard drives malfunction, you are losing your data from that drive completely.

Two-way mirror: This option will save your data if one of your drives fails but you need at least 2 drives and storage space will be limited since some of it will be a safe backup option for the case of a drive failure. However if one of your drives fails, you can replace it in a second and keep on working as nothing happened.

Three-way mirror: This option similar to the previous one will offer you safe data-keeping from a hard drive failure. this option will save your data even if 2 hard drives malfunction but it will require having 5 of them connected in order to be able to choose this option.

Parity: Maybe the most popular option among people who want to have 2 or 3 drives merged but do not want to lose too much space of the two-way mirror option. It offers some protection and it does not take so much space as two-way does, let us say it is a kind of win-win situation.

Conclusion

I personally go for simple and have an important backup on optical drives but only for reason I could use more space, know that this way is requiring from me to always have a backup in optical media and that I will need to restore all of it back if even one HDD fails which could take time. But if this way is ok with you, go for it, you will have more space to use.

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Enable Touch Keyboard in Windows 11
Touch KeyboardIf by any chance you are working on a touchscreen PC, tablet, or any similar device and have no access to a hardware keyboard there is a way to place Touch Keyboard on your screen for easy typing, and you can enable icon on the taskbar for easy access.

Enabling the Touch Keyboard

  1. Right-click on the Taskbar
  2. Select Taskbar Settings
  3. Go to Personalization > Taskbar
  4. Click on Taskbar Corner Icons to expand it
  5. Click on the switch next to Touch Keyboard to turn it ON
  6. Close settings
The icon will immediately appear on the Taskbar in the lower right corner. Clicking the icon virtual keyboard will appear on the lower part of the screen. You can use this keyboard to type in applications the same as you were typing on hardware one. By taping on X in the upper right corner, you will hide the keyboard. Tap on the icon in Taskbar to bring it up again.

Hide the Taskbar icon

If you do not want to use Touch Keyboard anymore you can easily hide the icon:
  1. Right-click on the Taskbar
  2. Select Taskbar Settings
  3. Go to Personalization > Taskbar
  4. Click on Taskbar Corner Icons to expand it
  5. Click on the switch next to Touch Keyboard to turn it OFF
  6. Close settings
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Taskbar has disappeared from the Desktop
As you know, the Taskbar is one of the integral parts of the Windows desktop and it has been there since the release of Windows 1.0 and up until now with Windows 10. Since then, Microsoft has been modifying the Taskbar with a new design which makes it a home for new features such as Windows Search, Task View, and many more. However, there are times when you may that the Taskbar has disappeared or has stopped responding. If you experience either one of these scenarios, read on as this post will walk you through what you can do to resolve the problem. Here are some suggestions you can check out to resolve the issue with the Taskbar in Windows 10 but before you proceed, make sure that you create a System Restore point first. To do that, follow these steps:
  • In the Start search, type in “create a restore point” and click the entry “System Properties”.
  • Next, select the main system drive under Protection Settings and click on the Configure button.
  • After that, select the “Turn on system protection” option and then click on the Apply and OK buttons to save the changes made.
Once you’ve created a System Restore point, refer to the troubleshooting steps below to fix the Taskbar in Windows 10.

Option 1 – Try to restart the Explorer process

This may sound really basic but it actually is a proven method to fix the Taskbar issue. So if anything gets stuck on the system tray or the Taskbar, you can always fix it by restarting the explorer.exe. How? Refer to these steps:
  • First, right-click on the Taskbar and select the Task Manager.
  • After opening the Task Manager, go to the Processes tab and look for the process named “Windows Explorer”.
  • Then right-click on that process and select the option to Restart. Afterward, you should now be seeing the Taskbar as this will reload the whole Windows Shell.

Option 2 – Unhide the Taskbar using the Settings app

It is possible that the Taskbar could be hidden so you can try to unhide it using the Settings app.
  • Tap the Win + I keys to open Settings.
  • After that, go to Personalization > Taskbar.
  • From the main section, make sure that the “Automatically hide the task in desktop mode” is toggled to the off position. However, if it’s already off then proceed to the next options below.

Option 3 – Make sure that you are not in Tablet Mode

Since Windows 10 is designed to work on both desktop and mobile devices, it could be that your computer has slipped into Tablet Mode which explains why you’re not seeing the Taskbar. To check if your computer is really in Tablet Mode, follow these steps:
  • Go to the Start menu and select Settings.
  • Next, select the System setting and from the left pane select the Tablet Mode.
  • From there, make sure that the buttons next to the options given below are set to the off position:
    • Hide app icons on the taskbar in tablet mode
    • Automatically hide the taskbar in tablet mode

Option 4 – Try to check the Projection Settings

You might also want to check the Projection settings as it could be the reason why Taskbar has disappeared.
  • Tap the Win + P keys to open the Windows Projection settings.
  • Next, make sure that you select the “PC screen only” option and then check if your Taskbar has now appeared or not.
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How to remove Nectar Toolbar from your Windows PC

Nectar Toolbar is a Browser addon for Internet Explorer developed by AIMIA Coalition Loyalty. This addon changed your default search provider to Yahoo UK. While installed, you might see additional unwanted ads and sponsored links injected in the search results.

From the Author: We all search the web every day for information from handy how-to’s, must know news about shopping. So wouldn’t it be great if you could collect extra Nectar points just for doing something you do already? Like to shop online? Nectar Search will also tell you when you’re on a shopping website (like Argos, Debenhams, Next, Play.com, and Apple) where you can collect points too.

Several anti-virus scanners have marked this addon as a Browser Hijacker and are therefore not recommended to keep on your computer.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijacking means a malicious program code has power over and modified the settings of your browser, without your permission. Browser hijackers could do more than just changing home pages. In general, hijackers are developed for the benefit of online hackers often through income generation that comes from forced ad mouse clicks and website visits. Nonetheless, it isn’t that harmless. Your web safety is compromised and it is also really annoying. In a much worst case, your browser could be hijacked to download malicious software that will do a great deal of damage to your computer.

Key symptoms that your browser has been hijacked

When your browser is hi-jacked, the following can happen: you notice unauthorized changes to your internet browser’s homepage; you observe new unwanted favorites or bookmarks added, usually directed to advertisement-filled or porn websites; the default browser configurations have been changed and/or your default web engine is altered; unwanted new toolbars are added to your internet browser; you might notice numerous pop-up adverts on your computer screen; your browser has instability issues or exhibits frequent errors; You can’t access particular websites, especially anti-malware websites.

Exactly how they invade computers

A browser hijacker can be installed on your computer or laptop when you go to an infected site, click on an e-mail attachment, or download something from a file-sharing site. Many internet browser hijackings originate from add-on programs, i.e., browser helper objects (BHO), toolbars, or plug-ins added to browsers to provide them additional features. Other times you might have accidentally accepted a browser hijacker as part of a software bundle (generally freeware or shareware). Popular examples of browser hijackers include CoolWebSearch, Conduit, OneWebSearch, Coupon Server, RocketTab, Delta Search, Searchult.com, and Snap.do. Browser hijacking can bring about serious privacy problems and even identity theft, affect your web browsing experience by taking control over outgoing traffic, drastically slows down your computer or laptop by depleting lots of resources, and lead to system instability also.

Browser hijacker removal methods

Some browser hijacking can be easily stopped by identifying and eliminating the corresponding malware software from your control panel. However, most hijackers are quite tenacious and require specialized applications to get rid of them. Moreover, browser hijackers could modify the Windows registry so it can be extremely tough to fix manually, particularly when you are not a tech-savvy person. Browser hijackers can be effectively removed by installing and running an anti-malware application on the affected computer. To get rid of any browser hijacker out of your computer, you could download this particular top-notch malware removal application – SafeBytes Anti-Malware. Together with anti-malware, a PC optimizer software, similar to Total System Care, could help you correct Windows registry errors, remove unwanted toolbars, secure your internet privacy, and stabilize programs installed on your computer.

Find Out How To Install Safebytes Anti-Malware On An Infected Computer system

All malware is bad and the consequences of the damage will vary based on the specific type of malicious software. Certain malware goes to great lengths to stop you from downloading or installing anything on your computer system, particularly anti-virus programs. If you are reading this, you probably have infected by a virus that stops you from installing a security program like Safebytes Anti-Malware. Follow the instructions below to remove malware through alternative methods.

Install in Safe Mode with Networking

Safe Mode is a unique, simplified version of Windows where just essential services are loaded to counteract malware and other problematic programs from loading. In case the malicious software is set to load immediately when the PC boots, switching to this mode could prevent it from doing so. To boot into Safe Mode, hit “F8” key on the keyboard right before Windows logo screen appears; Or right after normal Windows boot up, run MSCONFIG, look over Safe Boot under Boot tab, and then click Apply. Once you are in Safe Mode, you can try to install your anti-malware application without the hindrance of the malware. After installation, run the malware scanner to eliminate standard infections.

Download the anti-malware program in a different internet browser

Some malware only targets particular internet browsers. If this is your case, employ another browser as it might circumvent the computer virus. In case you suspect that your Internet Explorer happens to be hijacked by a computer virus or otherwise compromised by online hackers, the most effective course of action is to switch over to a different web browser such as Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, or Apple Safari to download your favorite security application – Safebytes Anti-Malware.

Make a bootable USB anti-virus drive

Another solution is to save and run an anti-malware software program entirely from a Thumb drive. To run antivirus from a thumb drive, follow these simple steps: 1) On a clean computer, install Safebytes Anti-Malware. 2) Plug the USB drive into the clean computer. 3) Double-click the Setup icon of the anti-malware software to run the Installation Wizard. 4) Select the drive letter of the pen drive as the location when the wizard asks you where you would like to install the anti-virus. Follow the onscreen instructions to finish the installation. 5) Now, insert the USB drive into the corrupted PC. 6) Run the Safebytes Anti-malware directly from the pen drive by double-clicking the icon. 7) Simply click “Scan Now” to run a complete scan on the affected computer for malware.

SafeBytes Anti-Malware Features

To protect your laptop or computer from various internet-based threats, it’s important to install anti-malware software on your personal computer. However, with countless numbers antimalware companies out there, these days it is hard to decide which one you should buy for your laptop. Some of them do a great job in eliminating malware threats while some will damage your PC by themselves. You must be careful not to pick the wrong product, especially if you buy a paid application. On the list of strongly recommended software by industry leaders is SafeBytes Anti-Malware, the most dependable program for Microsoft Windows. SafeBytes anti-malware is a trustworthy tool that not only secures your PC permanently but is also quite user-friendly for people of all skill levels. Once you’ve got installed this application, SafeByte's sophisticated protection system will ensure that no viruses or malware can seep through your PC.

SafeBytes anti-malware provides an array of enhanced features that sets it aside from all others. Some of them are listed as below:

Real-Time Protection: SafeBytes gives you round-the-clock protection for your PC limiting malware intrusions in real-time. This utility will constantly monitor your computer for suspicious activity and updates itself continuously to keep abreast of the constantly changing threat landscape. Most effective AntiMalware Protection: Built on a greatly acclaimed anti-virus engine, this malware removal application can find and get rid of numerous stubborn malware threats such as browser hijackers, potentially unwanted programs, and ransomware that other common anti-virus applications will miss. Website Filtering: Safebytes allots all websites a unique safety score that helps you to have an idea of whether the webpage you’re just about to visit is safe to browse or known to be a phishing site. Fast Multi-threaded Scanning: Safebytes Anti-Malware, with its advanced scanning engine, offers extremely fast scanning which can promptly target any active online threat. Low CPU/Memory Usage: SafeBytes is well known for its low influence on processing power and great detection rate of various threats. It operates silently and efficiently in the background so you’re free to utilize your PC at full power all of the time. 24/7 Customer Service: For any technical concerns or product assistance, you could get 24/7 professional assistance through chat and email. Put simply, SafeBytes has created a meaningful anti-malware solution that is aimed to protect you against all manner of malware. You now may understand that this particular software does more than just scan and eliminate threats from your PC. So if you’re searching for the absolute best malware removal application out there, and when you don’t mind shelling out a few bucks for it, opt for SafeBytes Anti-Malware.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

To eliminate Nectar Toolbar manually, go to the Add or Remove programs list in the Windows Control Panel and choose the program you want to remove. For browser extensions, go to your web browser’s Addon/Extension manager and select the add-on you want to remove or disable. You’ll probably also want to reset your internet browser to its default settings. Finally, check your hard disk for all of the following and clean your computer registry manually to get rid of leftover application entries after uninstallation. But bear in mind, this can be a tough task and only computer professionals can perform safely. In addition, certain malicious programs have the capability to defend against its removal. Completing this task in Safe Mode is suggested.
Files: C:\Program Files (x86)\Nectar Toolbar C:\Program Files (x86)\Nectar Toolbar\tbunsg7A.tmp\AimiaPoints.png C:\Program Files (x86)\Nectar Toolbar\tbunsg7A.tmp\AimiaPointsAct.png C:\Program Files (x86)\Nectar Toolbar\tbunsg7A.tmp\AimiaToolbar.css C:\Program Files (x86)\Nectar Toolbar\tbunsg7A.tmp\ArrowDown.png C:\Program Files (x86)\Nectar Toolbar\tbunsg7A.tmp\ArrowRight.png C:\Program Files (x86)\Nectar Toolbar\tbunsg7A.tmp\ArrowUp.png C:\Program Files (x86)\Nectar Toolbar\tbunsg7A.tmp\arrow_refresh.png C:\Program Files (x86)\Nectar Toolbar\tbunsg7A.tmp\background.html C:\Program Files (x86)\Nectar Toolbar\tbunsg7A.tmp\background.js C:\Program Files (x86)\Nectar Toolbar\tbunsg7A.tmp\basis.xml C:\Program Files (x86)\Nectar Toolbar\tbunsg7A.tmp\BrowserTweak.css C:\Program Files (x86)\Nectar Toolbar\tbunsg7A.tmp\btn-background-grey.png C:\Program Files (x86)\Nectar Toolbar\tbunsg7A.tmp\CanCollect.png C:\Program Files (x86)\Nectar Toolbar\tbunsg7A.tmp\CanCollectAct.png C:\Program Files (x86)\Nectar Toolbar\tbunsg7A.tmp\closeIcon.png C:\Program Files (x86)\Nectar Toolbar\tbunsg7A.tmp\cog.png C:\Program Files (x86)\Nectar Toolbar\tbunsg7A.tmp\Collecting.png C:\Program Files (x86)\Nectar Toolbar\tbunsg7A.tmp\CollectingAct.png C:\Program Files (x86)\Nectar Toolbar\tbunsg7A.tmp\computer_delete.png C:\Program Files (x86)\Nectar Toolbar\tbunsg7A.tmp\eShopsMenu.html C:\Program Files (x86)\Nectar Toolbar\tbunsg7A.tmp\eShopsMenu.js C:\Program Files (x86)\Nectar Toolbar\tbunsg7A.tmp\help.png C:\Program Files (x86)\Nectar Toolbar\tbunsg7A.tmp\HelpMenu.html C:\Program Files (x86)\Nectar Toolbar\tbunsg7A.tmp\HelpMenu.js C:\Program Files (x86)\Nectar Toolbar\tbunsg7A.tmp\icon-128.png C:\Program Files (x86)\Nectar Toolbar\tbunsg7A.tmp\icon-16.png C:\Program Files (x86)\Nectar Toolbar\tbunsg7A.tmp\icon-48.png C:\Program Files (x86)\Nectar Toolbar\tbunsg7A.tmp\icons.bmp C:\Program Files (x86)\Nectar Toolbar\tbunsg7A.tmp\icons.png C:\Program Files (x86)\Nectar Toolbar\tbunsg7A.tmp\ie7vista.png C:\Program Files (x86)\Nectar Toolbar\tbunsg7A.tmp\ie7xp.png C:\Program Files (x86)\Nectar Toolbar\tbunsg7A.tmp\ie8bg.png C:\Program Files (x86)\Nectar Toolbar\tbunsg7A.tmp\IE8GuardWorkaround.exe C:\Program Files (x86)\Nectar Toolbar\tbunsg7A.tmp\info.txt C:\Program Files (x86)\Nectar Toolbar\tbunsg7A.tmp\InstIcon.ico C:\Program Files (x86)\Nectar Toolbar\tbunsg7A.tmp\jquery-1.7.2.min.js C:\Program Files (x86)\Nectar Toolbar\tbunsg7A.tmp\jquery.placeholder.min.js C:\Program Files (x86)\Nectar Toolbar\tbunsg7A.tmp\JSON.js C:\Program Files (x86)\Nectar Toolbar\tbunsg7A.tmp\main.js C:\Program Files (x86)\Nectar Toolbar\tbunsg7A.tmp\menu.js C:\Program Files (x86)\Nectar Toolbar\tbunsg7A.tmp\nectar-icon-32×32.png C:\Program Files (x86)\Nectar Toolbar\tbunsg7A.tmp\PIE.htc C:\Program Files (x86)\Nectar Toolbar\tbunsg7A.tmp\PIE.js C:\Program Files (x86)\Nectar Toolbar\tbunsg7A.tmp\SearchHist.html C:\Program Files (x86)\Nectar Toolbar\tbunsg7A.tmp\SearchHist.js C:\Program Files (x86)\Nectar Toolbar\tbunsg7A.tmp\search_glass.png C:\Program Files (x86)\Nectar Toolbar\tbunsg7A.tmp\separator.png C:\Program Files (x86)\Nectar Toolbar\tbunsg7A.tmp\separator_arrows.png C:\Program Files (x86)\Nectar Toolbar\tbunsg7A.tmp\TbCommonUtils.dll C:\Program Files (x86)\Nectar Toolbar\tbunsg7A.tmp\tbcore3.dll C:\Program Files (x86)\Nectar Toolbar\tbunsg7A.tmp\TbHelper2.exe C:\Program Files (x86)\Nectar Toolbar\tbunsg7A.tmp\tbhelperU.dll C:\Program Files (x86)\Nectar Toolbar\tbunsg7A.tmp\uninstall.exe C:\Program Files (x86)\Nectar Toolbar\tbunsg7A.tmp\UninstIcon.ico C:\Program Files (x86)\Nectar Toolbar\tbunsg7A.tmp\update.exe C:\Program Files (x86)\Nectar Toolbar\tbunsg7A.tmp\version.txt C:\Program Files (x86)\Nectar Toolbar\tbunsg7A.tmp\Yahoo.ico C:\Program Files (x86)\Nectar Toolbar\tbunsg7A.tmp\yahoo.png C:\Program Files (x86)\Nectar Toolbar\tbunsg7A.tmp\your_logo.png Registry: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software376694984709702142491016734454 HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run 13376694984709702142491016734454
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Fix Windows Script Host in Windows startup
In case you don’t know, the Windows Script Host provides capabilities such as batch files but it also includes many other features like it can be used by a user manual as well as created by the operating system to automate the flow of operations in the system. However, there are a lot of errors that could take place in such a process. One of them is the following error:
“Script: <PATH of the VBS Script> Line: x Char: x Error: The description of the error. Code: xxxxxxxx Source: (Source of the error)”
At the time of writing, it isn’t clear yet what the root cause of the error really is but there are several potential fixes you can check out to fix it. You can try to run the System File Checker or set the default value for the .vbs key, or troubleshoot the problem in a Clean Boot State. You could also try to repair Install Windows 10 or scan your computer for malware. For more detailed instructions refer to the following options.

Option 1 – Try to run a System File Checker scan

  • In the Windows Start Search, type “command prompt” and right-click on Command Prompt from the search results, and then select the “Run as administrator” option.
  • After opening Command Prompt with admin privileges, type the “sfc /scannow” and tap Enter to execute it.
  • Once the scan is finished, restart your computer and see if the Windows Script Host error.

Option 2 – Try setting the default value for the .vbs key

  • Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box and type “Regedit” in the field and tap Enter to open the Registry Editor.
  • Next, navigate to this registry path: ComputerHKEY_CLASSES_ROOT.vbs
  • From there, double click on the default string and change its Value data to “VBSFile”.
  • Exit the Registry Editor and restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

Option 3 – Try troubleshooting the problem in a Clean Boot State

Setting your computer in a Clean Boot State can help you diagnose and later troubleshoot the problems in your computer. During this state, the system will start with a minimal number of drivers and startup programs that help in isolating the problem with the interfering software. To put your computer in a Clean Boot State, follow the given steps below.
  • Log onto your computer as an administrator.
  • Type in MSConfig in the Start Search to open the System Configuration utility.
  • From there, go to the General tab and click “Selective startup”.
  • Clear the “Load Startup items” check box and make sure that the “Load System Services” and “Use Original boot configuration” options are checked.
  • Next, click the Services tab and select the “Hide All Microsoft Services” check box.
  • Click Disable all.
  • Click on Apply/OK and restart your PC. (This will put your PC into a Clean Boot State. And configure Windows to use the usual startup, just simply undo the changes.)
  • From there, start to isolate the problem by checking which one of the programs you installed recently is the root cause of the problem.

Option 4 – Try to repair install Windows 10

  • First, you have to click this link and then click the Download Tool Now button.
  • Next, click the “Use the tool to create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file)…” option and follow the next given instructions on the screen.
  • Now select the ISO file option in step 5.
  • After that, you should now have an ISO file.
  • Next, go to the location where you’ve downloaded the ISO file.
  • Then right-click on the Windows 10 ISO file and select the Open with option and then select File Explorer.
  • Now click on “setup.exe” and follow the next instructions that appear on the screen. When asked, you have to select either Nothing (clean install) or Keep personal files only option. Take note that you must not select the “Keep personal files, apps, and Windows settings”.

Option 5 – Try scanning your computer using Windows Defender

It is possible that your computer is infected with malware which could be why you’re getting the Windows Host Script error. Thus, you need to scan your computer using Windows Defender.
  • Tap the Win + I keys to open Update & Security.
  • Then click on the Windows Security option and open Windows Defender Security Center.
  • Next, click on Virus & threat protection > Run a new advanced scan.
  • Now make sure that Full Scan is selected from the menu and then click the Scan Now button to get started.
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Fix Error 0x8004230F when creating Restore
Creating a System Restore point is definitely a must especially when you are about to make some changes to your computer. This will help make sure that the system settings and files can go back to an earlier point, should something go wrong, without affecting any personal files. However, there are cases when creating a System Restore Point does not go smoothly and you encounter an error that says, “The shadow copy provider had an unexpected error while trying to process the specified operation ( ox8004230F )”. Aside from creating System Restore Point, you can also encounter this error when you create a system image or backup. According to reports, this error pops up when the required services are not running or not properly responding. And to fix it, there are several recommendations that will be provided in this post to fix the Error 0x8004230F when creating System Restore point in Windows 10. You can try to check the Volume Shadow Copy Services status or run the VSSADMIN tool. You could also check the status of the Microsoft Software Shadow Copy Provider Service or create System Restore Point in a Clean Boot State. For more details, refer to the provided options below.

Option 1 – Try checking the status of the Volume Shadow Copy Service

  • Tap the Win + R keys to launch the Run utility and type “services.msc” in the field and hit Enter to open the Windows Services Manager.
  • From the list of services, look for the Volume Shadow Copy service and double-click on it.
  • After that, this will open the Properties where you have to make sure that the Startup type is set to Automatic (Delayed Start) and then click on the Start button underneath it.
  • Once done, click on Apply and then OK to save the changes made.
  • Now try creating a System Restore Point again and see if the error is already fixed or not.

Option 2 – Try to run the VSSADMIN tool

In case you don’t know, the shadow copy provider is sensitive and some other backup, disk cloning, etc. can make it malfunction. To fix this, you can run the VSSADMIN tool by following these steps:
  • Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box and type “cmd” and hit Enter to open Command Prompt.
  • Next, execute this command to check if you have other third party VSS admin providers: vssadmin list providers
  • After that, if it finds any, you need to disable them but if it does not find anything, then proceed.

Option 3 – Try to check the Microsoft Software Shadow Copy Provider Service status

  • Tap the Win + R keys to launch the Run utility and type “services.msc” in the field and hit Enter to open the Windows Services Manager.
  • From the list of services, look for the Microsoft Software Shadow Copy Provider Service and double click on it.
  • After that, this will open the Properties where you have to make sure that the Startup type is set to Automatic (Delayed Start).
  • Once done, click Apply and OK to save the changes and then try creating System Restore Point again.

Option 4 – Troubleshot the problem in a Clean Boot State

It is possible that some third-party program installed in your computer might be the one that’s causing the ox8004230F when you try to create a System Restore point. Thus, you can try to boot your computer in a Clean Boot State and then try to perform the task again.
  • 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 “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 to configure Windows to use the usual startup, just simply undo the changes.)
  • Once your computer has restarted try to create a System Restore Point again and if it now works, start to isolate the problem by checking which one of the programs you installed recently is the root cause of the problem.
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Yellow triangle with exclamation on Battery
Seeing a yellow triangle with an exclamation mark on the battery symbol on the System Tray of your Windows 10 laptop is not really uncommon especially if your battery is about to run out of power. However, if you just purchased your laptop recently and the first thing you’ve noticed when you first opened it is the yellow triangle with an exclamation mark in the battery, read on as this post will help you resolve this issue. Seeing this kind of icon on your computer does not necessarily mean that you have to replace your battery as there are still several potential fixes you can try to resolve the problem. So if you notice this icon, you can try running the Power troubleshooter as it will help you resolve any potential issues with the battery. Aside from that, you can also restore the default settings of the power plan manually or uninstall and reinstall the battery driver. For more information, refer to the given options below.

Option 1 – Try to run the Power troubleshooter

As pointed out, the Power troubleshooter can help you resolve any issues your battery might have automatically. It plans and detects system settings that can affect power usages like timeout and sleep settings, display settings, and screensavers and restores them to their default settings. To run this troubleshooter, follow these steps:
  • Open the Windows Settings and go to the Update and Security option.
  • Next, click on the Troubleshoot option under Update and Security and then scroll down until you see the “Power” option.
  • Under Power, click on the “Run the troubleshooter” button to start running the Power troubleshooter.
  • Wait for a couple of seconds until the Power troubleshooter is done scanning your computer for issues. Once it’s done, follow the next on-screen instructions that appear on the screen.
  • If needed, restart your computer and see if it has fixed the problem.

Option 2 – Restore the default settings of the Power plan manually

  • Open the Windows Settings again and select System.
  • Next, scroll down until you see the “Power & sleep” option.
  • After that, click on the “Additional power settings” option located in the right pane to open the Power Options.
  • Now click on the link that says, “Change Plan Settings” and select the “Restore default settings for this plan” option.

Option 3 – Try to uninstall or reinstall the Battery driver

You might also want to uninstall or reinstall the battery driver as it can also resolve the problem. But before you start, you have to shut down your computer and remove the power chord as well as the battery. Once you’re done, follow these steps:
  • Plug the power chord and restart your computer.
  • Once your computer has restarted, tap the Win + R keys to open the Run utility and type “devmgmt.msc” in the field and tap Enter to open the Device Manager.
  • After that, look for the “Batteries” driver from the list of drivers and expand it.
  • Then right-click on the “Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System” driver and click on the “Uninstall device” option.
  • Once it’s done, restart shut down your computer and remove the power chord and then attach the battery.
  • Now attach the power chord again and restart your computer to automatically install the driver.
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Computer won’t upload Pictures to websites
Windows 10 is undeniably one of the great operating systems and the same thing can be said about a lot of computers that are running it. However, there are instances when things don’t go as you expect them to be. One of the many issues you might face when using Windows 10 is the inability to upload any pictures over the web. If you are facing this issue right now, you are not alone for a lot of users have suffered from the same problem at least once. Even though it might seem like a minor problem, some users find it inconvenient especially the ones who often upload pictures online. Worry not though for this post will guide you on what you can do if you aren’t able to upload any images to websites on your Windows 10 computer. To get started in troubleshooting the problem, here are some suggestions that might help:

Option 1 – Try to clear browser cache and try downloading again

There are times when some data in the browser is conflicting with the loading of the website and triggers some problems like not being able to upload pictures to websites. And so you can try to clear your browser’s data. This might be a very basic solution but oftentimes it works in fixing this kind of odd problem in your browser.

Option 2 – Open your browser in Incognito Mode

The next thing you can do to fix the problem is to try opening the web page in Incognito Mode. When your browser is in this mode, it will work without extensions. This would help in fixing the problem especially if it was caused by some extension or toolbar in your browser. All you have to do is open any web page in Chrome and tap the Ctrl + Shift + N key combination to open a window in Incognito Mode.

Option 3 – Try to disable and get rid of the problematic extension

The next thing you can do after trying the Incognito mode in your browser is to see if a browser extension is the one that’s causing the problem. And if you have installed a lot of browser extensions, then identifying which one is the culprit may take a while but not too long. Once you’ve identified the culprit, you can get rid of that browser extension and see if you can now upload pictures on websites.

Option 4 – Try to reset your browser

You might also want to reset your browser as it could also help in resolving the issue. To reset your browser, here’s what you have to do:

Google Chrome

  • Open Google Chrome, then tap the Alt + F keys.
  • After that, click on Settings.
  • Next, scroll down until you see the Advanced option, once you see it, click on it.
  • After clicking the Advanced option, go to the “Restore and clean up option and click on the “Restore settings to their original defaults” option to reset Google Chrome.
  • Now restart Google Chrome.

Mozilla Firefox

  • Open Mozilla Firefox and tap Ctrl + Shift + A to access the Add-ons Manager.
  • In the Extensions, menu Remove the unwanted extension.
  • Restart the browser and tap keys Alt + T.
  • Select Options and then move to the General menu.
  • Overwrite the URL in the Home Page section and then restart the browser.

Internet Explorer

  • Launch Internet Explorer.
  • Next, click the wrench icon for Settings.
  • Then click Internet Options.
  • After that, go to the Advanced tab.
  • From there, click the Reset button. This will reset Internet Explorer’s settings to their default condition.
  • Now click OK to save the changes made.
  • Restart your computer.

Option 5 – Update your browser or switch to another one

The last option you can try is to update your browser. You can do it by checking for any available updates from its official site and then install it. However, if updating the browser did not help, you might want to consider switching to another browser.
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Fixing Folder Size Issue in Windows 10
Recently, several Windows 10 users have reported an issue with the Windows folder sizes in their PCs. If you are one of these affected users, read on as this post will walk you through fixing this issue. For instance, if you have a folder with 100 GB worth of data and when checking its size using its properties, you see the wrong size instead of 100GB. The size displayed will most likely be a random number which can either be bigger or smaller than the real size of the folder. This incorrect folder size issue does not happen to any specific drive or certain kinds of folders as any folder can be affected by this incorrect folder size issue. When you try to rename the affected folder, the size will change but its size still remains to be incorrect. The root cause of this particular issue is in Windows 10 itself. It is a known bug that came along with one of the latest Windows Updates which prevents the File Explorer to accurately read the metadata of a certain folder or file and leads to displaying incorrect and unexpected file sizes and the reason why you might also notice that your drive is also not correct. Since this is brought upon by one of the recent or latest Windows Updates the good thing is that Microsoft will most likely release a fix on its next upcoming updates but until then, you will be left with no choice but to deal with an incorrect folder or file size. To remedy that, here are some suggestions you can try that might fix the problem.

Option 1 – Try using the System File Checker

The System File Checker or SFC is a built-in command utility that helps in restoring corrupted files as well as missing files. It replaces bad and corrupted system files to good system files that might be causing the incorrect folder or file size in Windows 10. 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 2 – Try resetting Windows 10

To fix the folder and file size issue, 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. That way, you won’t have to deal with inaccurate folders or file sizes as you browse and use your files.

Option 3 – 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.
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How to start Windows 10 in safe mode
Booting Windows 10 in safe mode can solve many issues with your computer since Windows will boot just in its basic core and you can safely maintain it, find a solution for issues, etc. Before, entering safe mode was easy and pretty straightforward, during Windows evolution, entering safe mode was somewhat complicated and not being made so directly like once it was but do not worry. Starting Windows in safe mode today is even maybe easier than it was before, it is just not so obvious as it once was. In this article, we will go through several ways how you can boot up Windows in safe mode in order to solve whatever issue is troubling you.
  1. Start safe mode from settings

    Open Settings by pressing the ⊞ WINDOWS + I or by just clicking on the Start button and clicking Settings. Go to Update & Security, then Recovery. In Advanced startup, click Restart now. Once your PC reboots, click Troubleshoot, then Advanced options. Select Startup Settings then Restart.
  2. Go to safe screen from Sign-in screen

    Click the Shift on your keyboard while clicking on the Power button on the bottom right corner of the screen. Once your PC restarts, click on Troubleshoot, then Advanced options. Select Startup Settings then Restart. After the reboot, select or the F4 on your keyboard to run in Safe Mode. If you choose to use Safe Mode with Networking, select or F5.
  3. Start Windows recovery Environment

    Go to the Windows Recovery Environment by doing the following steps: Press on the power button to turn off your device. Press on the button again to turn it on. Once Windows starts, press the power button again for 10 seconds to turn it off. Then press it on again. Upon the reboot, hold on to the power button for 10 seconds to turn it off, then turn it on again. Because you've repeatedly turned on and off your PC, you will be redirected to Windows Recovery Environment. On the pop-up window, click on Troubleshoot, then Advanced options. Select Startup Settings, then Restart. After the reboot, select or the F4 on your keyboard to run in Safe Mode. If you choose to use Safe Mode with Networking, select or F5.
  4. Hold SHIFT while pressing RESTART on the start menu

    On the Windows 10 sign-in screen, hold on the SHIFT on your keyboard. While pressing on the key, click on the Power button, then choose Restart on the pop-up menu. Once your PC restarts, click on Troubleshoot, then Advanced options. Select Startup Settings then Restart. After the reboot, select or the F4 on your keyboard to run in Safe Mode. If you choose to use Safe Mode with Networking, select or F5
  5. Boot from installation media and choose it in the command prompt

    Create a Windows 10 bootable installation media on any external storage media. Once you do this step, wait for the installation to load. Select your preferred language and click on Next. Click on Repair your computer at the bottom left of the menu. Click on Troubleshoot, then Advanced options. Select Command Prompt - Use the Command Prompt for advanced troubleshooting options. Type in the following command on the prompt: bcdedit /set {default} safeboot minimal Hit Enter and wait for it to tell you that "The operation completed successfully". Exit Command Prompt and click on Continue.
  6. Use system configuration tool

    In the Search bar, type in msconfig. Select the Boot tab and under the Boot options, put a check beside Safe boot. Click OK. Reboot PC
  7. Press SHIFT + F8

    Press SHIFT + F8 when turning on Windows. This redirects you to Advanced Boot Options Window, then choose to run Windows on Safe Mode
There you have it, 7 different ways to enter safe mode in Windows 10, we hope that any of these tips proved helpful and that you managed to enter the safe mode and fix your Windows issues.
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What to do if the Windows 10 Control Panel is not opening
The Control Panel is one of the most important tools in Windows which allows users to control and change various settings. However, there are cases when it experiences some problems like when users aren’t able to open it. Recently, a lot of users complained about not being able to open the Control Panel. To be more specific, users were able to open it but only lasted for a second, and then it’s gone. This is not just some issue you can ignore as this will prevent you from accessing some major settings in your computer and you won’t be able to perform some important task without it. According to security experts, this issue is most likely caused by a bug in the Windows Update. If you have installed an update recently, then it’s most likely the culprit. Aside from the Windows Update, there are also other things that can cause this issue. Some of them are the IDT audio panel and a control panel file that causes conflicting issues with the control panel that leads to this problem. Aside from these aforementioned cases, the Windows Error reporting services could also be one of the causes of this issue. As you can see, since there are a lot of possible causes for this problem, this post prepared a lot of options as well which you have to check out. Follow each one of them and see which one worked best for you.

Option 1 – Try updating your Windows 10 PC

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

Option 2 – Try uninstalling the IDT Audio Panel

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

Option 3 – Try deleting or renaming IDTNC64.cpl

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

Option 4 – Try to disable the Windows Error Reporting Service

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

Option 5 – Try opening Control Panel via Run

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