How to Fix CPU Not Compatible Error Message On Windows 10

In recent times, some Windows 10 users have seen an error code BCM20702A0, when using Bluetooth and they are concerned as to what it is all about. We can say for certain that it has something to do with your Bluetooth driver. The error message in question is:

The drivers for this device are not installed. There are no compatible drivers for this device.

The problem here tends to no longer allow specific Bluetooth components to properly communicate with your Windows 10 operating system. It also affects laptops that do not have native Bluetooth support; therefore, the manufacturer installed a dongle on the inside to deliver the service. This is not the best way to do things because native support is always better. On the other hand, maybe you’re using a Broadcom USB Bluetooth dongle that is acting up, and as such, the error is showing. Below are solutions provided for this particular error and how to eliminate it.

1. Run the Bluetooth Troubleshooter

   Press ⊞ WINDOWS to open the menu and select settings In settings choose Update & Security Go to troubleshoot and on the right panel click on additional troubleshooters Click on Bluetooth Select Run the troubleshooter, then sit back and allow the tool to do its thing. Once you’ve completed the task, click on Apply this fix if any repairs are needed Reboot your computer

2. Install Broadcom driver from official website

   Windows drivers for Broadcom Bluetooth devices are no longer posted on their website. They should be available through Microsoft’s Windows Update service. If drivers were not downloaded automatically by Windows Update, use Device Manager to refresh the driver from Windows Update. However, the Broadcom Bluetooth drivers seem to be available here on the Lenovo website. To fix the BCM20702A0 driver error, you may download and install them. After downloading it, right-click on the downloaded item, and select Run as administrator. After installation, restart your computer, then check again if it works.

3. Remove all Bluetooth drivers and USB controllers

   If previous solutions did not work, go to device manager and remove all Bluetooth devices along with all USB controllers. Reboot your computer and Windows will automatically reinstall and set all devices.

If you were trying to install a program on your Windows 10 computer but encounter an error instead that says, “Error 1310, Error writing to file: <PATH>, Verify that you have access to that directory” then read on as this post will guide you on how you can fix it. This kind is a fairly common type of error encountered by many Windows users. You can get this error when you try to install certain programs like Excel, AutoCAD, Adobe Photoshop, and some other Adobe products on Windows. One of the most likely causes for this error is that the required files or location is already used by some other software which means that Windows finds that you are trying to overwrite a software that is already installed. Aside from that, it could also occur if the program installer does not have access to write to that directory. To fix Error 1310, here are some potential fixes that could help.

Option 1 – Clear up temporary or junk files

The error could be caused by some temporary or junk files in your computer and so you need to clear them up to fix the problem. You can achieve that using the Storage Sense feature.

• Open Setting > System > Storage from the WinX Menu.
• From there, you will see a list of all the local and connected storage devices along with the details on the free space. Make sure that Storage Sense is on.
• Next, find a link that says “Free Up Space” and click it to open.
• After that, a screen which is the built-in program in Windows 10 will appear and will scan your computer for the following junk files so you can free up disk space:
  • Windows Upgrade Log Files
  • The system created Windows Error Reporting Files
  • Thumbnails
  • Temporary Internet Files
  • Previous Windows Installation Files
  • Delivery Optimisation Files
  • DirectX Shader Cache
• Choose the files you want to get rid of and then click on the remove files option. Note that you’ll have an idea of the total size as you select any of the junk files listed above.
• Now go to the “Free Up Space Now” section and click the Clean Now button. This will get rid of all the temporary or junk files in your computer and should hopefully fix Error 1310.

Option 2 – Reinstall the program in a Clean Boot State

You can also troubleshoot Error 1310 in a Clean Boot state. It could be that there are some third-party applications in your computer that's preventing the program from getting installed and to isolate this possibility, you need to boot your computer in a Clean Boot State and then try installing the program again. Putting your computer in this state can help you identify which program is the culprit and thus isolates the problem. In a Clean Boot state, your computer will start using only the pre-selected minimal set of drivers and startup programs. Note that you have to disable and enable one process at a time.

• 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.)
• After you’ve set your computer into a Clean Boot State, make sure that you’re signed in as administrator and then try to install the program again.

Option 3 – Try to unregister and re-register the Windows Installer Module

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Then type the “msiexec /unregister” command and hit Enter to unregister the Windows Installer Module.
• Next, type the “msiexec /regserver” command and hit Enter to re-register the Windows Installer Module.
• Now restart your computer and see if un-registering and re-registering the Windows Installer Module fixed the problem or not.

Option 4 – Take ownership of the location where you want to install the app

The next thing you can try to do is to take ownership of the particular folder as this worked for some users who experienced the same problem. But before you do that, you have to create a System Restore Point first, once that’s done, proceed to the given steps below.

• First, locate the concerned folder and right-click on it then select Properties.
• Next, click on the Edit button in the Properties window and click OK to confirm if you got a User Account Control elevation request.
• After that, select user/group from the permission windows or click on the Add button to add another user or group. It would be best if you add “Everyone” to give permission.
• Then check “Full Control” under the “Allow” column to assign full access rights control permissions.
• Now edit the permission to Full Control for “Everyone”.
• Click OK to save the changes made and then exit.
• Finally, try to install the application again.

In the latest Windows 11 fiasco, it is reported that the operating system is slowing down some SSD drives. Good thing is that it does not affect all of SSD on the market but the ones which it is affecting can see even a 45% of speed drop. Microsoft has not published a solution to this issue, but users point out two potential problems. The first is a security mechanism based on disk virtualization, which is supposed to slow down the performance of SSDs. The second, in turn, is related to the place of installation of Windows 11 – users indicate that if the performance test is performed on a medium with no files associated with the system, its performance results are similar to the parameters given by the manufacturer. Transfer speeds were to be slightly improved with the latest Windows 11 update 22000.348. However, users are still waiting for a solution to the problem that significantly reduces the efficiency of SSD media.

More information

The details described leading to speculation that the problem could be related to drivers that Microsoft is providing. On further tests, all Nvme drives that use the Microsoft driver have this problem, but Intel 905P, which has its own driver provided by Intel, is working at full power,”.

Error Code0x80070426 - What is it?

When Windows evolved into Windows 10, the program known as Windows Security Essentials is no longer. It is now the program known as Windows Defender. When a computer is upgraded from a previous version of Windows up to Windows 10, the Windows Defender takes over and will replace the Security Essentials. In a small percentage of Windows 10 upgrades, something will go wrong and the new program will fail to replace Security Essentials. The result will be that the operating system has both of the programs installed. In this case, Windows Defender will not offer any protection and Security Essentials will not be able to defend either. This error code will also present itself when the Windows Mail App in Windows 10 fail to retrieve and sync email from the user's account.

Common symptoms include:

• There will be an error message that says: “An error has occurred in the program initialization. If this problem does continue, contact your System Admin. Error code 0x80070426.”
• The computer will be left completely vulnerable to spyware and viruses.
• The Windows Mail App will not be able to retrieve mail and will not sync with the PC user's mail.
• The user can be doing anything on their computer and the error code will show up unprompted.
• The computer will lock up, become slow, crash, or even freeze when dealing with error code 0x80070426.
• The programs from an older version of Windows do not replace the newer version from Windows 10.

Solution

Error Causes

Error code 0x80070426 will present itself when a PC user has upgraded their OS from a previous version of Windows to the new Windows 10 version. When this happens, a small portion of users will experience the disconnect between older versions of specific programs, namely the virus protection. When the previous version of the program under a different name is not completely removed and the new virus protection program is installed, the programs will cancel each other out and collectively offer no protection.

This error code may also be found when Windows 10 tries to sync the user's email with the Windows Mail App.

Further Information and Manual Repair

There are a few methods to repair this problem. It should be noted that should anyone feel that the instructions are too complicated, they should contact a Windows repair technician to ensure that the error is fixed properly.

Method One: Uninstall Microsoft Essentials

Hold down the Windows Key and press R. Type in taskmgr into the run dialogue. You should locate the Windows Defender Service (this may show up as Windefend). Right-click on it and then choose Stop.

This will stop the program, but the program will start back up automatically when the computer restarts. While this program is stopped, uninstall Essentials.

To do this: go to Control Panel, Programs, and Features, Uninstall a Program. Alternately, you may hold down the Windows Key and press R, type in appwiz.cpl, click OK, and then locate Microsoft Essentials. Uninstall it, and then restart your computer.

After this is done, go to Settings, Update, and Security. Choose Windows Defender and ensure that Real-time protection is on. Refer back to the Task Manager, Services. Make sure that Defender service is on and running.

Method Two: If the problem occurs in the Windows Mail App

When error code 0x80070426 presents itself in the form of an error with the Mail app, it may be necessary to run an SFC scan.

Right-click on the Start menu or Windows icon, and select Command prompt. The command prompt may be navigated by using shortcut keys Win and X and then select it.

Run the command prompt and then type in sfc /scannow and then press enter. The SFC scan will be run, and be careful not to abort the process before it has finished. This will scan for any files that are lost or corrupt on the PC.

If the scan has found any corrupt files, type in this code and then hit Enter: findstr /c:”[SR]” %windir%LogsCBSCBS.log >”%userprofile%Desktopsfcdetails.txt.

To skip the repair of corrupt or missing files, type in: Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth. The details of the scan can be found on the sfcdetails.txt file that will be on the desktop.

Method Three: Use An Automated Tool

If you wish to always have at your disposal a utility tool to fix these Windows 10 and other related issues when they do arise, download and install a powerful automated tool.

AnytimeAstrology is a browser extension for Google Chrome developed by Mindspark Inc. When installed, this extension will change your default new tab page to a custom search provider called MyWay (search.myway.com).

While browsing the internet with this extension installed, you will see additional ads through your browsing sessions, including but not limited to Sponsored Content, Injected Ads and Pop-up Ads.

While AnytimeAstrology is active it will monitor your browsing habits, recording website visits, clicked links, viewed products, etc. This information is later sent back to Mindspark Ad network servers where it is used to better target additional injected ads into your web pages.

Several anti-virus applications have marked this extension as a Browser Hijacker and it is recommended to remove it from your computer.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijackers (also known as hijackware) are a kind of malicious software that modifies web browser configuration settings without the computer owner’s knowledge or approval. These hijacks are raising at an alarming rate globally, and it can be actually nefarious and often harmful too. Browser hijackers could do more than just changing homepages. In most cases, hijackers are created for the benefit of online hackers usually through income generation that comes from forced ad clicks and site visits. While it might seem harmless, these tools are made by malicious people who always try to take advantage of you, so that they can earn money from your naive and distraction. Browser hijackers can also permit other vicious programs without your knowledge to further damage your computer.

Key symptoms that your browser has been hijacked

The following are some symptoms that indicate you’ve been hijacked: 1. your homepage has been reset to some unfamiliar site 2. your browser is constantly being redirected to porn sites 3. default internet search engine is modified 4. you find unwanted new toolbars added 5. you observe a lot of pop-up ads on your screen 6. your browser has become unstable or starts running slowly 7. you can’t visit certain websites such as homepages of antivirus software.

How browser hijacker finds its way to your computer

Browser hijackers could use drive-by downloads or file-sharing websites or perhaps an e-mail attachment in order to reach a targeted computer. They could also come from add-on software, also referred to as browser helper objects (BHO), web browser extensions or toolbars. Browser hijackers sneak into your computer along with free software downloads that you unwittingly install along with the original. An example of some well known browser hijacker includes Conduit, Anyprotect, Babylon, SweetPage, DefaultTab, RocketTab, and Delta Search, but the names are constantly changing. The existence of any browser hijacker on your computer might considerably diminish the web browsing experience, monitor your internet activities that result in serious privacy issues, produce system stability issues and ultimately cause your PC to slowdown or to an almost unusable condition.

The best ways to remove a browser hijacker

Some hijackers can be simply removed by deleting the free software they came with or by eliminating any extension you have recently added to your system. The sad thing is, the majority of the software applications used to hijack a internet browser are deliberately built to be hard to eliminate or detect. Novice computer users should never attempt for the manual form of removal methods, since it calls for thorough computer knowledge to carry out repairs on the computer registry and HOSTS file. Installing and running anti-malware application on the affected system will automatically erase browser hijackers and other unwanted applications. SafeBytes Anti-Malware could counter persistent hijackers and give you proactive computer protection against all kinds of malware. Together with the anti-virus tool, a system optimizer, such as SafeBytes’s Total System Care, could help you in removing all linked files and modifications in the registry automatically.

How to Get rid of Malware that is Blocking Websites or Preventing Downloads

Malware could potentially cause a great deal of damage to your PC. Some malware sits in between the computer and the internet connection and blocks some or all websites that you really want to visit. It might also prevent you from adding anything to your PC, especially anti-malware software. If you’re reading this article, you may have got affected by a virus that prevents you from installing a security software like Safebytes Anti-Malware. Follow the instructions below to get rid of malware through alternate methods.

Eliminate malware in Safe Mode

If the malware is set to run immediately when Windows starts, entering safe mode could very well block the attempt. Just the minimum required programs and services are loaded when you start your PC in Safe Mode. To launch your Windows XP, Vista or 7 computer in Safe Mode with Networking, do as instructed below. 1) At power-on/startup, press the F8 key in 1-second intervals. This will invoke the Advanced Boot Options menu. 2) Select Safe Mode with Networking using arrow keys and press ENTER. 3) Once this mode loads, you will have an internet connection. Now, use your internet browser normally and navigate to https://safebytes.com/products/anti-malware/ to download Safebytes Anti-Malware. 4) As soon as the software program is installed, allow the scan run to eliminate trojans and other threats automatically.

Use an alternate web browser to download an antivirus application

Some malware mainly targets particular internet browsers. If this is your case, make use of another browser as it might circumvent the computer virus. If you suspect that your Internet Explorer happens to be hijacked by a virus or otherwise compromised by online hackers, the best plan of action is to switch to a different 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

To successfully eliminate the malware, you will need to approach the problem of running antivirus program on the affected PC from a different angle. Follow these steps to employ a USB flash drive to fix your infected PC. 1) Download the anti-malware program on a virus-free PC. 2) Insert the pen drive on the same system. 3) Run the setup program by double-clicking the executable file of the downloaded application, which has an .exe file extension. 4) When asked, select the location of the USB drive as the place where you want to put the software files. Follow the onscreen instructions to finish the installation. 5) Remove the pen drive. You can now use this portable antivirus on the affected computer. 6) Double-click the antivirus program EXE file on the thumb drive. 7) Run Full System Scan to detect and clean-up up all types of malware.

Protect Your Computer Against Viruses and Malware With SafeBytes Anti-Malware

Would you like to download the best anti-malware software program for your desktop? There are numerous applications in the market that comes in free and paid versions for Microsoft Windows computers. Some are good ones, some are ok types, while some are simply just bogus anti-malware software which will damage your personal computer themselves! You must pick one that is dependable, practical and has a strong reputation for its malware protection. On the list of recommended software programs is SafeBytes AntiMalware. SafeBytes has a really good history of excellent service, and customers appear to be very happy with it. SafeBytes antimalware is a highly effective and easy-to-use protection tool which is created for users of all levels of IT literacy. Through its cutting-edge technology, this software will help you protect your PC against infections brought on by different kinds of malware and similar threats, including adware, spyware, computer viruses, worms, trojan horses, keyloggers, potentially unwanted program (PUPs), and ransomware.

There are plenty of amazing features you will get with this security product. Listed below are some of the great features included in the application.

World-class AntiMalware Protection: This deep-cleaning antimalware program goes much deeper than most antivirus tools to clean out your computer system. Its critically acclaimed virus engine detects and disables hard to remove malware that conceals deep within your personal computer. Active Protection: SafeBytes delivers complete and real-time security for your computer system. They are highly effective in screening and removing numerous threats since they’re continuously improved with new updates and alerts. Safe Web Browsing: Through its unique safety ranking, SafeBytes tells you whether a site is safe or not to visit it. This will ensure that you’re always certain of your online safety when browsing the web. Faster Scanning: SafeBytes’s virus scan engine is among the fastest and most efficient within the industry. It's targeted scanning considerably increases the catch rate for malware that is embedded in various PC files. Lightweight Application: SafeBytes is a lightweight application. It consume a really small amount of processing power as it works in the background so you’re free to use your Windows-based PC the way you really want. 24/7 Premium Support: You can get absolutely free 24/7 technical support from their IT experts on any product queries or PC security concerns. SafeBytes has created a fantastic anti-malware solution to help you conquer the latest malware threats and virus attacks. You can be sure that your computer system will be protected in real-time as soon as you put this software to use. So if you are searching for the best anti-malware subscription for your Windows-based PC, we suggest the SafeBytes Anti-Malware application.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you wish to manually get rid of AnytimeAstrology without the use of an automated tool, it may be possible to do so by removing the program from the Windows Add/Remove Programs menu, or in cases of web browser plug-ins, going to the browser’s AddOn/Extension manager and removing it. You will most probably also want to totally reset your browser to its default configuration settings. Finally, examine your hard disk for all of the following and clean your computer registry manually to get rid of leftover application entries after uninstallation. Please remember that this is for professional users only and may be difficult, with wrong file removal leading to additional system errors. Additionally, some malicious programs have the capability to defend against its removal. You are urged to do this procedure in Windows Safe Mode.

Have you been feeling anxious in the digital space? Feeling like you have a million eyes on you each time you visit a website? It can definitely make you uneasy. Luckily there’s an easy fix, and it’s called a VPN.

In this article we’ll take you through the basics of what a VPN does and some of the biggest benefits you can reap from buying one.

VPN: definition and how it works

VPN stands for Virtual Private Network, so its name already says a lot about what it does. 

A VPN is specialized software that keeps your browsing private and secure. Essentially it hides your identity, preventing possible cyberattacks and data theft. This is especially important in cases of public network use, where you’re highly exposed to potential threats.

To be more specific, this software encrypts your Internet Protocol (IP) address by filtering it through a server hosted by the VPN provider first. That way, it prevents your Internet service provider, third parties and lurking online thieves from tracking the actual you.

Credit: FLY:D on Unsplash

Some providers, such as Surfshark VPN with its IP Rotator feature, even make it a habit to frequently change your IP address to further protect your identity. With most VPN providers, you can also appear to be in a completely different country, adding to your disguise.

There are tons of advantages you can look forward to if you decide to use a VPN. Take a look at some of the crucial ones.

Benefits of using a VPN

When choosing a VPN, you can find both free and paid options. We recommend you go with the paid ones, since they have stronger security, encryption and data protection, as well as more advanced features. Free VPNs come with limitations and risk of malicious attacks on the software itself.

You can choose to buy a singular VPN service or opt for antivirus software that has a VPN built in, for example Bitdefender’s Ultimate Security plan. That depends on what you use your computer for and how much. 

When you pick one, here’s what it can do for you.

1. Access region-specific content

When we said you could change your location, we meant it. Say you’re using a streaming service and a show you desperately want to watch isn’t available in your country. You can use your VPN to make it look like you’re browsing from a country where it’s unlocked.

This option is also convenient for gamers who want to access maps, skins and other in-game items unavailable in their location.

Surfshark VPN (Credit: Dan Nelson on Unsplash)

In addition, you can use this powerful feature when you’re traveling to a region where some of your favorite content may not be accessible.

Do keep in mind that you need to read the Terms and Conditions (yeah, we know - who does that?) of your games and services before doing this, since you could end up getting a penalty. It’s also important to remember that there are entire countries that have strict regulations or even bans on VPNs, for example Belarus, Russia and China. So make sure to be very cautious with your VPN use, friends.

2. Browse like no one’s watching

VPNs shield your browsing habits from prying eyes on the web. Those can be malicious hackers or just third-party cookies tracking your every move to later bombard you with targeted ads. For example, Surfshark VPN features a Cookie blocker that blocks all cookie-related pop-ups and lets you browse in peace (and secret). It works even when the VPN is turned off, which is also pretty neat.

In addition, their CleanWeb 2.0 technology makes sure ads and especially malware don’t stand a chance at all, since they’re blocked before they can even load.

The inability of sites to track your browsing means they can’t collect and analyze any of your data. So, your personal information - or your company’s information in case that’s what you’re using your computer for - is entirely hidden and secure.

3. Save money

It’s well-known that the prices of certain items and services vary based on your location, browsing time, age and many other factors. This most commonly goes for airline tickets and hotel stays.

You can use your VPN to avoid high prices and surcharges. Clear all cookies, turn on your VPN and visit an online shopping site to check out their prices. Then compare your findings with the offers you see when your VPN is off, when you spend a long time on the site or have an active account with the company. 

Sometimes this can really help you find the best deals and avoid breaking the bank. But again, check the Terms and Conditions before you purchase something using a VPN.

4. Secure your smart home

The more smart devices you have connected to your network, the more exposed you are to potential cyberattacks. Phones and computers are generally designed to be decently secure even without a VPN or antivirus, but smart home devices leave a lot to be desired in that regard. 

Protecting your home network with a VPN software means all devices connected to it are secure, be it an air purifier or Alexa.

5. Prevent connection slowdown

Your ISP can intentionally slow down your internet speed based on how much data you’ve consumed (data throttling) or your activities online (bandwidth throttling).

But with a VPN, what kind of data you send and receive and how much is entirely hidden. Therefore, if your ISP can’t see you, they can’t control you and they can’t throttle down your speed.   

The bottom line

You can never be too safe online. So definitely think about getting yourself a solid VPN to pump up your privacy and security as much as you can. And if you have any questions or need help choosing the perfect software for you, feel free to reach out to us.

Plugin.dll Error - What is it?

Plugin.dll is a dynamic link library file associated with Adobe Photoshop CC powered by Adobe Systems Incorporated for the Windows Operating System. DLL are small programs similar to ‘exe’ files which allow multiple software programs to share the same functionality. It is used to call commands, load applications, and successfully execute applications. Plugin.dll error messages may appear during program installation, while a plugin.dll related software program (Adobe Photoshop CC) is running, during startup and shutdown.

Solution

Error Causes

Plugin.dll errors may occur due to multiple reasons such as:

• Missing or corrupt Plugin.dll files
• Viral infection
• Issues in the Windows registry
• Broken registry keys

Plugin.dll errors may appear on a Windows-based computer as the following:

1. “Plugin.dll not found."
2. “The file Plugin.dll is missing."
3. “Cannot register Plugin.dll."
4. "Cannot start Adobe Photoshop CC. A required component is missing: Plugin.dll. Please install Adobe Photoshop CC again."

All the causes of the plugin.dll error code are associated with the registry. It is advisable to repair this error before it causes serious damages to your system.

Further Information and Manual Repair

To repair the plugin.dll error on you system, you don’t have to hire a technician or be adept at computer programming. The best way to resolve this error code is to download Restoro. This is a new, innovative, high and multi-functional PC fixer integrated with powerful and performance-driven multiple utilities. It includes a registry cleaner, and system stability scanner. So, whether the cause of the error code Plugin.dll error on your system is missing DLL files or even broken registry keys, Restoro can help you repair all these issues in no time. It is user-friendly and can be operated by users of all levels. Dll files go missing and registry gets corrupt because of the data overload in the RAM/the hard disk. This happens due to poor PC maintenance. The registry tends to save all the activities performed on the PC this includes even the junk files, invalid registry entries and files from uninstalled programs. If the registry is not cleaned regularly, such files accumulate a lot of disk space which leads to registry malfunctioning. It damages .dll files and eventually corrupts the registry. By scanning your PC with a powerful registry cleaner, you can easily wipe out the files cluttering your PC and clear your disk space. Additionally, it also repairs the damaged plugin.dll files, fragmented disk and corrupt registry.  Thereby restoring your PC to its normal condition and resolving the plugin.dll error code on your system. Besides this, you can also run Restoro on your PC to resolve speed issues and Active X and class errors. It is safe, efficient and compatible with all Windows versions. Click here to download Restoro and resolve the plugin.dll error.

ConvertDocsOnline is a Browser Extension for Google Chrome developed by Mindspark Inc. This extension offers users a quick and easy way to convert documents without any additional applications installed on their computer, it also has quick access links to popular websites that the average user might find interesting. While all this may look appealing and nice, this extension injects itself into your browser.

While installed, ConvertDocsOnline will monitor your browsing activity and record visited websites, clicked links, downloads, and even viewed products. All this information is later used/sold to Mindsparks Ad network to better serve user-targeted ads.

Browsing the internet with this extension installed will result in ad placement throughout your browsing sessions. These ads might appear as normal links (sponsored content), ad links, or even pop-up ads.

ConvertDocsOnline has been marked as a Browser Hijacker by several Anti-Virus scanners and is therefore recommended for optional removal from your PC.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijackers (sometimes referred to as hijackware) are a type of malware that changes web browser settings without the user’s knowledge or permission. These types of hijacks are increasing at an alarming rate around the globe, and they can be truly nefarious and sometimes dangerous too. There are plenty of reasons why you may have a browser hijack; however commercial, marketing, and advertising are definitely the primary reasons for their creation. In most cases, browser hijacking is used for earning advertising revenue that comes from forced ad mouse clicks and site visits. It might appear naive, but the majority of these sites are not legitimate and may pose a significant threat to your online safety. In a much worst case, your internet browser could be hijacked to download malicious software that can do a lot of damage to your PC.

Symptoms of browser hijacker malware

Symptoms that a web browser is a hi-jacked include: 1. the browser’s homepage is modified 2. your internet browser is constantly being redirected to adult websites 3. the default online search engine and/or the default browser settings are altered 4. you see many toolbars in your internet browser 5. you might find endless pop-up adverts on your computer screen 6. your web browser gets slow, buggy crashes very often 7. you can’t navigate to certain web pages, such as computer security software-related websites.

How they infect computer systems

Browser hijackers can enter a PC in some way or other, for example via downloads, file sharing, and e-mail also. Many browser hijackings come from add-on software, i.e., toolbars, browser helper objects (BHO), or plug-ins added to browsers to give them extra functionality. Browser hijackers sneak to your computer in addition to free software downloads also that you unwittingly install alongside the original. Examples of popular browser hijackers are Fireball, CoolWebSearch. GoSave, Ask Toolbar, RocketTab, and Babylon Toolbar. The existence of any browser hijacker on your computer could drastically diminish the web browsing experience, record your internet activities that lead to critical privacy issues, degrade overall computer efficiency, and result in application instability also.

Removing browser hijackers

Certain hijackers could be removed by simply uninstalling the related freeware or add-ons from the Add or Remove Programs in the Windows control panel. But, many hijacking codes are certainly not very easy to get rid of manually, since they go deeper into your operating system. Beginner PC users should not try for the manual form of removal methods, as it calls for thorough system knowledge to perform fixes on the system registry and HOSTS file. Browser hijackers can be effectively removed by installing and running anti-malware software on the affected PC. To get rid of any browser hijacker from your laptop or computer, you should download this particular certified malware removal application – SafeBytes Anti-Malware. Along with the antivirus tool, a system optimizer, like SafeBytes’s Total System Care, will help you in getting rid of all related files and modifications in the computer registry automatically.

Virus Blocking Access To Safebytes Website And Preventing Anti-Malware Downloads - What You Should Do?

All malware is bad and the level of the damage will vary greatly in accordance with the type of infection. Some malware types modify browser settings by including a proxy server or modify the PC’s DNS configuration settings. In such cases, you’ll be unable to visit some or all of the websites, and thus unable to download or install the necessary security software to remove the malware. If you are reading this now, you may have probably realized that a malware infection is the cause of your blocked net traffic. So how to proceed when you want to install antivirus software such as Safebytes? Do as instructed below to remove malware through alternate ways.

Get rid of viruses in Safe Mode

The Windows operating system includes a special mode known as “Safe Mode” where just the bare minimum required programs and services are loaded. If the malicious software is set to load immediately when PC boots, switching into this particular mode can prevent it from doing so. In order to enter into Safe Mode or Safe Mode with Networking, press the F8 key while the PC is starting up or run MSConfig and look for the “Safe Boot” options under the “Boot” tab. Once you are in safe mode, you can try to download and install your antivirus software application without the hindrance of the malware. Now, you can actually run the antivirus scan to eliminate computer viruses and malware without hindrance from another malicious application.

Switch to an alternate internet browser

Some malware only targets certain internet browsers. If this is your situation, make use of another internet browser as it can circumvent the malware. If you’re not able to download the anti-virus program using Internet Explorer, this means the virus could be targeting IE’s vulnerabilities. Here, you need to switch to a different internet browser like Firefox or Chrome to download the Safebytes Anti-malware program.

Install antivirus on a USB drive

Another option would be to make a portable anti-malware program on your USB stick. Adopt these measures to run the anti-malware on the infected PC. 1) On a clean PC, download and install Safebytes Anti-Malware. 2) Plug the pen drive into the clean PC. 3) Double click on the downloaded file to open the installation wizard. 4) When asked, choose the location of the pen drive as the place where you would like to store the software files. Follow the instructions on the computer screen to finish up the installation process. 5) Now, transfer the thumb drive to the infected PC. 6) Double-click the anti-malware program EXE file on the pen drive. 7) Run Full System Scan to detect and clean-up up all kinds of malware.

Review of SafeBytes Anti-Malware

If you are planning to purchase anti-malware for your desktop, there are plenty of brands and utilities for you to consider. Some are good ones, some are decent, while some are simply just bogus anti-malware applications that can ruin your personal computer themselves! You have to pick a tool that has got a good reputation and detects not only computer viruses but other sorts of malware also. When thinking about trustworthy programs, Safebytes Anti-Malware is certainly the strongly recommended one. Safebytes is one of the well-established PC solutions companies, which provide this all-inclusive anti-malware software. Using its cutting-edge technology, this application will assist you to get rid of multiples types of malware including computer viruses, trojans, PUPs, worms, ransomware, adware, and browser hijackers.

SafeBytes anti-malware takes computer protection to a whole new level with its advanced features. These are some of the highlighted features included in the tool.

Real-time Active Protection: SafeBytes gives real-time active monitoring and protection against all known viruses and malware. It’ll monitor your PC for suspicious activity continuously and safeguards your PC from illegal access. Robust, Anti-malware Protection: Built upon a highly acclaimed anti-virus engine, this malware removal tool has the capacity to find and get rid of several stubborn malware threats such as browser hijackers, PUPs, and ransomware that other typical antivirus applications will miss. Extremely Speed Scanning: SafeBytes Anti-Malware has got a multi-thread scan algorithm that works up to 5 times faster than any other anti-malware software. Web Protection: Through its unique safety score, SafeBytes informs you whether a site is safe or not to access it. This will make sure that you’re always certain of your safety when browsing the world wide web. Light-weight: SafeBytes is really a lightweight tool. It uses up an extremely small amount of processing power as it operates in the background so you’re free to use your Windows-based PC the way you want. 24/7 Assistance: Support service is available 24 x 7 x 365 days through chat and email to answer your concerns. SafeBytes can keep your personal computer protected from most advanced malware threats automatically, thus keeping your online experience secure and safe. Malware issues will become a thing of the past once you put this software program to use. You’ll get the best all-around protection for the money you spend on SafeBytes AntiMalware subscription, there is no doubt about it.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

To eliminate ConvertDocsOnline manually, go to the Add/Remove programs list in the Control Panel and choose the program you want to get rid of. For internet browser extensions, go to your web browser’s Addon/Extension manager and select the add-on you intend to remove or disable. You might also want to reset your home page and search engine providers, as well as delete browsing history, temporary files, and internet cookies. In order to ensure the complete removal, manually check your hard drive and Windows registry for all of the following and remove or reset the values as needed. But bear in mind, this can be a tricky task and only computer professionals could carry it out safely. Furthermore, certain malicious programs are capable to defend against its removal. It is advised that you carry out the removal process in Safe Mode.

Error code 0x8007007b - What is it?

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

Common symptoms include:

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

Solution

Error Causes

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

Further Information and Manual Repair

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

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

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

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

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

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

Method Two

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

Method Three

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

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

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

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

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

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

Method Five: Use An Automated Tool

If you wish to always have at your disposal a utility tool to fix these Windows 10 and other related issues when they do arise, download and install a powerful automated tool.

Upgrading your Windows 10 computer does not always go smoothly and you often encounter not just one but various errors so, in this post, we are going to cover several Windows 10 upgrade errors such as 80240020, 8007002C, 80246007, 80070004. All these upgrade errors are related to the Windows Update folder. Thus, you need to clear the Software Distribution folder, repair the System Image and fix System Health in order to resolve all these Windows 10 Upgrade errors. Before you get started on the steps to resolve these tons of errors, you have to disable your security program for the meantime, disconnect your peripherals, remove USBs connected to your PC and then make sure that your PC is connected to the main power supply. Once you have everything covered, carefully follow the options given below.

Option 1 – Delete Windows 10 Update Files in the SoftwareDistribution folder

The Software Distribution folder in the Windows operating system is a folder that can be found in the Windows directory and is used to store files temporarily which might be required to install the Windows Update on your PC. Thus, it is required by the Windows Update and maintained by WUAgent. A lot of users tried deleting the files in this folder to fix the problem and so far it has worked. Like them, you can try clearing the Windows Update cache by simply deleting the contents of the folder named “SoftwareDistribution” since Windows apparently can’t clear and re-download the update contents once they are corrupted. Thus, deleting the contents of this folder will make Windows download the contents again which will fix the problem. To do that, follow the steps below.

• Open the WinX Menu.
• From there, open Command Prompt as admin.
• Then type in the following command – don’t forget to hit Enter right after typing each one of them.

net stop wuauserv net stop bits

• After entering these commands, it will stop the Windows Update Service and the Background Intelligent Transfer Service.
• Next, go to the C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution folder and get rid of all the folders and files thereby tapping the Ctrl + A keys to select them all and then click on Delete. Note that if the files are in use, you won’t be able to delete them.
• Once all the contents in the Software Distribution folder are deleted, restart your PC and then go back to Command Prompt and input the following commands again.

net start wuauserv net start bits

Since the folder has already been flushed, it will be populated afresh the instant your restart your computer and open Windows Update.

• Now Open Settings and check for Windows Updates. Windows 10 should begin the download right away.

Option 2 – Try using the DISM tool

Running the DISM Tool helps in repairing the Windows System Image as well as the Windows Component Store in Windows 10. Using this built-in tool, you have various options such as the “/ScanHealth”, “/CheckHealth”, and “/RestoreHealth”.

• Open the Command Prompt with admin privileges.
• Then type in the following commands and make sure to hit Enter right after you type each one of them:
  • Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
  • Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
  • exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
• Do not close the window if the process takes a while as it will probably take a few minutes to finish.

Note: If it happens that the Windows Update client is broken, you need to run the following command to repair it then restart your PC and click on Update once again.

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:C:RepairSourceWindows /LimitAccess

Note: The Windows Upgrade error, with error code 80240020 is an expected error message that happens when the upgrade requires customer user action. Thus, you need to do the following steps to resolve this particular Windows Upgrade error.

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Then type “regedit” in the field and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor.
• After that, navigate to this registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionWindowsUpdate
• Now right click on WindowsUpdate located in the left pane and then create a new key and name it as “OSUpgrade”
• Next, right-click in an empty space in the left pane and create a new DWORD and name it “AllowOSUpgrade” and enter “1” as its value.

Option 3 – Try running the Windows Update in a Clean Boot State.

Putting your PC in a Clean Boot state can also help you install Windows Updates or Upgrades without any trouble because, during this state, you can start the system with a minimum number of drivers and startup programs that will surely help you in isolating the root cause of the issue.

• Log onto your PC as an administrator.
• Type in MSConfig in the Start Search to open the System Configuration utility.
• From there, go to the General tab and click “Selective startup”.
• Clear the “Load Startup items” checkbox and make sure that the “Load System Services” and “Use Original boot configuration” options are checked.
• Next, click the Services tab and select the “Hide All Microsoft Services” checkbox.
• Click Disable all.
• Click on Apply/OK and restart your PC. (This will put your PC into a Clean Boot State. And configure Windows to use the usual startup, just simply undo the changes.)
• After that, try to install the Windows Updates or upgrade again.