Disable Speech Recognition feature in Windows

If you got an Activation Error 0xC004F211 after having installed or upgraded your Windows 10 PC, then this indicates that some hardware in your computer has changed which’s causing the error to pop up. Windows might not be able to determine if the key is used on a new computer or if it’s still the same one if you have just removed or upgraded old hardware. But worry not for this post will guide you in fixing the Windows Activation Error 0xC004F211 on your Windows 10 computer. When you encounter this error, you will see the following error message on your screen:

“Cannot activate Windows 10. Try activating again later. If that doesn’t work, contact support. Error code: 0xC004F211.”

Note that although hardware changes cause this error, the minor ones don’t really cause any issues with activation, however, if you have made any significant hardware change such as replacing your motherboard, it will most likely cause the activation error. In such cases, the Windows Activation system will treat this as new hardware and you will need a new license for that. Even if your Windows 10 computer has a genuine key, it might still fail to get activated which results in the Windows Activation Error 0xC004F211. Thus, before you do other troubleshooting steps, you need to run the Windows 10 Activation Troubleshooter first. To do so, follow these steps:

• Go to Settings and then select Activation.
• After that, click on the Windows Activation and then troubleshoot. This will help you address most of the commonly found activation issues in Windows devices.

In addition, there is an exception offered by Microsoft – if you are connected to a Microsoft account prior to the hardware change, then you can most certainly use the same license key to reactivate Windows 10 again. Microsoft calls this an “Exception path” which should be fixed easily by the Windows Activation Troubleshooter as pointed out earlier. However, if the Windows Activation Troubleshooter isn’t able to resolve the error you can try purchasing a new license. In such rate case, even if you do have a Microsoft account available on your Windows 10 computer, and if Windows was never activated, this solution will not work. And if you haven’t connected your Microsoft account with your Windows 10 computer prior to the major hardware change, then your only option left is to purchase a new license. For you to do that here are some steps you can follow.

• To purchase a new Windows license, the first thing you have to do is click on the Start button > Settings > Update & Security.
• From there, go to Activation and select the “Go to Microsoft Store” option.
• After receiving your new license, you need to go back to Update & Security then go to Activation and select the “Change product key” option.
• Now update your Windows 10 computer using the new key and it should automatically activate your computer.
• Next, you have to create a Microsoft account or connect your existing local account to your online account.
• Once the system links the key and the account, you need not buy a new license in case something like this happens again.

Note: If you are an IT administrator, you need to keep in mind that there is a limit to the number of times you can reactivate Windows on your computer. Moreover, if you don’t see any option to reactivate the license, and it is a work computer, you need to contact your organization’s tech support.

We have all been there, unfortunately, the application freezes, and sometimes it can even freeze whole windows. Well if the whole Windows freezes because of the application there is not much we can do except hard reset but if only the application freezes we can still kill it and return the PC in working condition. The first thing you can try is to press ALT + F4, this shortcut is for closing the program, if the application is frozen Windows will try to close it when using this shortcut, and if it succeeds you will find yourself on the desktop environment in Windows with non-responsive application taken care of. If however, this fails and the application is not closed, try ending it in the task manager. To open task manager press CTRL + SHIFT + ESC, locate unresponsive application select it, and click on the end task button on the bottom right.

LINUX has become more than just a dedicated server Operating system, more and more it is gaining ground in home computers as well and as services like Steam and Gog are offering their titles for LINUX it is gaining more and more ground daily.

Why LINUX?

So, what makes LINUX so good? First of all security, no other Operating system has that high level of security like LINUX and that is the reason why it is widely used as a server. Other advantages are it is less resource hungry and its architecture is made in such a way that it does not has applications remains and traces which remain in the system, once an application is deleted from OS, it is deleted and every trace is removed from OS. Apple OS is based on LINUX kernel but made specifically for their hardware.

LINUX popularity

So naturally, the question pops up why LINUX is not more popular? One of the reasons is its difficulty, to work in LINUX you need to have some level of computer knowledge, Windows is more user-friendly and a lot of people prefer the ease of use to features. This is somewhat been fixed sort of speak in last years since we have LINUX distributions which aim to be more simple and user friendly but it is far from easy of use of one Windows. Another big reason was software support. Altho some powerhouse software has its LINUX versions and works just fine, even better than on Windows, your typical user applications lack and games were almost non-existent making LINU users rely on Windows emulation software for simple applications, and often it did not work properly. This has also changed for the better in later years but as with the previous point, it is still far from being Windows wide.

What is LINUX distro?

Linux comes in different versions called distributions. What this means is that the basic core of the Operating system is the same though all LINUX versions and all LINUX drivers and software will work on anyone, they will visually and feature-wise be different. Also, they will be more complex for use or they will have different hardware requirements. Choosing the right LINUX distribution is no easy task and we are here to help you by offering you certain points and guides in hopes to direct you on the right path.

What Do You Need the Distro for?

This might be perhaps the most crucial question when trying to decide which LINUX distribution you want to install. Depending on your preferences and goal like work, games, security, media you will need to consider the best distributions in the field of your preference. A very good place to get this kind of information is on DistroWatch. When on-site, navigate to the Distribution category search filter and choose the option best suited to your needs.

What Kind of Software Will You Be Using?

Like the previous question, this one is also your personal preference but it will make difference if you are planning to use a different type of software. If your plans are gaming for example you will want the latest and greatest LINUX kernel version for maximum hardware compatibility. If you are a regular desktop user you will aim for a distro that is updated constantly so you are working with the latest versions of Chrome or Firefox. In some cases, depending on your software you might want to run older but faster distribution.

What Kind of Hardware Will You Be Using?

If your computer is up to date you can run any distribution that you like but if it is an older rig your options might be a little limited. Now depending on the technical characteristics of your computer and its age it may come down to just a few available distributions which are specially tailored to run on old hardware. These kinds of distributions are lightweight and do not take much space but sadly can not offer you the latest and greatest in software but for usual everyday tasks like web browsing, word processing, email viewing, etc they work perfectly fine. You can have a great office machine with proper lightweight distribution offering you all that you need to be able to work.

How Much do you know about computers?

As stated before, LINUX is not as user-friendly as WIndows and your overall technical knowledge can play a big role in deciding which LINUX you want to adapt. If you are more of a casual user then avoid technical distributions which will require to manually tweak tons of stuff, go for more automated ones. If you are a power user however and enjoy wrestling with each detail then perhaps some distro with more command-oriented nature.

What Kind of Community Are You Looking For?

Now you might ask what does community has to do with the operating systems but the same as Windows, LINUX also can have some issues, and sometimes installing drivers will require certain steps to be taken. How it is much easier to find a solution when having a great community surrounding the project I suggest not dismissing this part when choosing your distro. Every community is helpful, but they’re all helpful in different ways. If you would like to read more helpful articles and tips about various software and hardware visit errortools.com daily.

0xc00d36cb error shows up when you are trying to play a video or movie using the default player in Windows. This error can occur due to a glitch in the media player or corrupted system files. in this guide, we will show you how to tackle this issue and fix it.

1. Run the video playback troubleshooter

   • Click on Start and select Settings.
   • Go to Update and Security.
   • Scroll down and open the Troubleshoot tab.
   • Scroll down and select the Video Playback option.
   • Click the Run the Troubleshooter button.
   • The troubleshooter will perform an initial scan and offer a few options.
   • Select Continue with this troubleshooter.
   • The troubleshooter will scan the system again for driver and codec issues.
   • Follow on-screen instructions and apply recommended fixes.

2. Reset the Movies and TV app

   • Click on Start and select Settings.
   • Go to Apps and open the Apps and features tab.
   • Scroll down to Movies and TV.
   • Select Movies and TV.
   • Click Advanced options.
   • Scroll down and click on the Reset button.

3. Create a new user account

   • Click on Start and select Settings.
   • Open Accounts.
   • Open the Family & other users tab.
   • Scroll down to Other users and click the Add someone else to this PC button.
   • In the Microsoft account window, type your email address.
   • If you don’t want to enter an email address and establish a local account, click on I don’t have this person’s sign-in information option instead.
   • Next, select Add a user without a Microsoft account (for a local account).
     • Else, enter your Microsoft account login details.
   • Enter a user name and password for your new account. Also, select a security question and add an answer to it.
   • Once the new profile is ready, log out of your current account.

4. Check for permission issues

   • Right-click on the problematic file and select Properties.
   • Open the Security tab.
   • Click the Advanced button.
   • In the Advanced Security Setting window, click the Change link.
   • In the Select User or Group window, enter Everyone in the text box.
   • Click the Check Names button.
   • Click OK and Apply to save the changes.
   • Close all the Properties windows.
   • Try playing the file or modifying the properties and check for any improvements.

New Apple's upscaling technology called MetalFX will place iOS and macOS devices back into the gaming world. Apple had great games back in the old days and some all-time hits like the prince of Persia have been made first for apple but along the way, it just lost it.

Same as NVIDIA's DLSS and Intel's XeSS systems, Apple MetalFX also uses AI algorithms to upscale the resolution of output game frames. So, for example, the GPU inside your MAC might render the game at 1080p, but through MetalFX and AI upscaling it will look like a 4K image but have a good frame rate since it is rendered in base resolution.

The ability to make AI strike a good balance between performance and image quality is a key to technology in today's modern gaming and having this technology will help developers a ton to be able to achieve great results on Apple hardware.

The First MetalFX Games

So far three official games that will use this technology and be released natively for Appl hardware are Resident Evil 8 Village, GRID legends, and No Man's Sky. All three games have been confirmed and Resident Evil 8 Village is already sent for review people are impressed since the game can run smoothly on all Apple devices, even ones with an M1 CPU.

Apple is back into gaming

When you say Apple gaming is probably the last thing that comes to your mind but truth be told Apple makes more money from games than Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony combined. Also, Apple itself was a big player once regarding computer games as well, Myst and Prince of Persia are games that were made and have been released for Apple first. Bungie was also founded by Apple developers and Halo was originally announced as a Mac game.

Apple has been trying and pushing gaming on its platform since it kind of died down. Today all Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft controllers work without any issues with all Apple products. Apple also has its own gaming subscription service, Apple Arcade, and its Apple TV is packed with GPU that can rival Xbox ones.

MetalFX API ties and brings it all together, it is designed to get the most performance from the hardware by minimizing overhead.

Now, computers and laptops do not hold any large numbers if we look at the user base, and that could deter developers but if we look at iPad and iPhone things are different there, much different. How same CPU power these devices and how MetalFX is available across all products it is clear that there is a market for games there. No Man's Sky is coming to iPad using these technologies and bringing full computer experience to tablets.

Error Code 47 – What is it?

It is a device driver error that users encounter when they use Windows 2000 operating system and its later versions.

The error occurs when the connected peripheral device, upon removal using the ‘Safe Removal Hardware’ program, hangs up a problem within the process. The error prompt you then see is referred to within the operating system as error code 47.

It usually pops up on your computer screen with the following message:

Windows cannot use this hardware device because it has been prepared for "safe removal", but it has not been removed from the computer. (Code 47)

Solution

Error Causes

There are many factors responsible for the Error Code, the primary ones are listed below:

• An incomplete program installation
• An incomplete program uninstallation
• System recovery from viruses
• Corrupted Windows system registry entries

Further Information and Manual Repair

Error Code 47, like other device driver error codes, is relatively easy to solve. You can fix the error code in the following ways:

Method 1 – Reconnect the device to your computer

Unplugging and plugging the USB cable of the device into the computer is the easiest way to resolve the error.

Doing this will help refresh the system and increase the likelihood of the device driver files loading and function properly.

Method 2 – Restart your PC

Another simple method you can use to solve your PC error code is to simply restart your Windows system.

It may be that the error prompted upon connecting the device you have connected is merely a temporary problem, and upon restart, will resume functioning smoothly.

Method 3 – Manually uninstall then reinstall the device driver

If both of the above-listed methods fail to resolve the problem, you may have to resort to manually uninstalling and then reinstalling the device driver causing the problem.

This would be necessary since the remaining incomplete files due to a partial removal or installation of programs is what contributes to the error code. By uninstall and reinstalling the device driver program, it would lead to the completion of the files.

You can do this by firstly logging in as Administrator and open Device Manager. Select the device that is causing the problem and double click it and make sure that the peripheral is connected properly to the PC.

Upon opening, click on the ‘Driver’ tab and then select ‘Update Driver’. Make sure to refer to the system documentation that you received with your PC or computer to check for the motherboard details and driver specifics.

Method 4 – Use software to automatically download the driver

Manually uninstalling and reinstalling the driver will usually do the trick; however, it may be time-consuming especially when you would have to resort to your hardware user manual.

Therefore, using a program such as DriverFIX can save you a lot of time and frustration in having your device work properly on your computer.

DriverFIX, with its user-friendly approach to help you fix your PC issues, comes with an integrated database that detects which drivers you need to reconfigure within just a few seconds and downloads it automatically. It further ensures that your drivers are installed in their entirety leaving no room for any incomplete files to remain that create Error Code 47. It also has the added advantage of being able to backup and restores your files should there be the slightest possibility of system file damage. Thus, registry damage can be averted by letting the software roll back the system files to an earlier healthy checkpoint. DriverFIX is the answer to fixing your PC error codes accurately and quickly. Click here to download DriverFIX to fix Error Code 47 quickly and effectively!

When you run a program in Windows 10, error 0xc000012f may pop up, mentioning that the files and binaries you’re trying to run are corrupted. Error 0xc000012f means Bad Image, denoting that the program’s executable or one of the supporting modules is corrupt. Or there is probably a DLL mismatch. This error usually manifests itself after a windows update or after installation of some application, in order to fix it follow the steps below:

1. Perform SFC scan

   Press ⊞ WINDOWS + X to open the Windows menu From the menu choose command prompt (admin) In command prompt type sfc /scannow and press ENTER Leave the computer for the operation to be completed and Reboot your computer

2. Run DISM

   Press ⊞ WINDOWS + X to open the Windows menu From the menu choose command prompt (admin) in command prompt type: DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth and press ENTER wait for the process to be finished and Reboot your computer

3. Reinstall application

   If this error has been popping up after the application install remove the installed application and install it again. There is the possibility that the application installer has by accident corrupted some files, reinstalling it might fix the issue.

4. Uninstall Windows update

   In some cases, Windows update can introduce this issue, go to Windows updates, into advanced options, and uninstall the latest update to see if this will fix the error.

5. Install Visual C++ Redistributable

   Go to the official Microsoft website and download C++ redistributable package and install it

6. Install new windows update

   If there is a new Windows update install, there is a chance that in the last update something went wrong and it is very likely that it was fixed in the last one.

What Is Installation Error 1628?

Installation Error 1628 is, as the name suggests, an installation error. When it occurs, a generic 1628 message is displayed to the user. When this message appears, it is either a problem with the install files or an issue with the InstallShield.

Solution

Error Causes

Installation Error 1628 is caused because every Windows-based program or application has been designed that such that it has to be installed on the computer for use. This installation process is important because it not only moves files to the appropriate location on one’s hard drive but also because the process creates registry entries in Windows System files. A vast majority of these programs and applications have a built-in tool that’s responsible for aptly performing this installation. This built-in tool is the InstallShield. This establishes that when this error occurs, it is either because of some unforeseen issue that occurred during the installation process or because of some problem with the InstallShield.

Further Information and Manual Repair

In order to keep this error from occurring in the future, some recommendations are outlined below.

• Check the installation disc and determine if there are any smudges, scratches, or fingerprints on it. If the system is unable to read data from the disc, Installation Error 1628 will be generated. In order to ensure that the Installation Disc is clean, use a microfiber cloth. Dampen it lightly with water and clean the disc. Wipe the inside of the disc lightly in an outward direction, making sure that it is not wiped in a circular pattern. Try to reinstall the application or program after cleaning the disc. The issue should be resolved. However, if it persists, some problems may be with the InstallShield.
• The alternative solution is to repair the InstallShield and the procedure goes as follows.

1. Stop InstallShield’s running process. It may have been crashed and simply needs to be restarted. Now access task manager. Press Ctrl+Alt+Del and the task manager will open. Now go to the processes tab and disable ‘idriver.exe’ and ‘msiexec.exe’ from here.
2. Now go to ‘C: Program Files/Common Files’. Here you will find the ‘InstallShield’ folder. Select ‘rename’ and modify the folder name to ‘InstallShield1’. Confirm rename and start the installation process again. Now Windows will try to re-install any InstallShield files one needs.
3. If the error persists after renaming the InstallShield folder, download the Windows Installer from Microsoft’s website. This file will determine whether or not your version is valid. Old versions often have bugs that cause problems. Your system is now ready to be used.

Error 126 - What is it?

Error 126 is a Windows PC error that mostly occurs either during program installation or removal. It is commonly experienced by Vista, XP and Windows 7 users. When the error 126 is generated, it usually terminates the program installation process, immediately. It is advisable to take corrective error repair measures immediately to ensure that you are easily able to install your desired program and you don’t encounter the error again.

Solution

Error Causes

There are multiple reasons for the occurrence of the error code 126 including. The reasons are listed below:

• Dll file corruption
• Missing or damaged dll files
• Corrupt and misconfigured system files
• Improper program installation
• Viral infection
• Corrupt registry
• Improper hardware

Further Information and Manual Repair

To resolve the error 126 on your PC, you don’t always have to hire a technician or be a computer programmer yourself. Though this error is critical the good news is that it is very easy to resolve. You can fix the error even if you are not technically sound. Try the solutions that we have listed below to help you resolve error 126 immediately:

Solution 1: Disable Firewall Protection

Sometimes Firewall protection may stop you from installing new programs on your PC successfully and this may display the error 126 on your PC. In such a scenario, disable Firewall protection and then try installing the desired program again. See if it works.

Solution 2: Restore Points

Sometimes dll files can go missing due to program removals and you may come across the error 126. To resolve it, restore points. This will help you restore your PC back to the way it was functioning before you removed a program and will also help you recover the lost and missing dll files.

• This can be done, by clicking the start menu.
• Now go to all programs, then accessories, and then system tools.
• Here you will see the ‘System Restore’ option. Simply click on it.
• This will help you open a new window. Here select the option ‘Restore My Computer to an Earlier Time’ point.
• As you select it, it will show you a list of restore points.
• Choose the latest restore point you see in the list and click ‘Next’ to continue. Now confirm to finish restoration.
• Restart your PC to activate the changes.

Solution 3: Scan for Viruses

The underlying cause for the error could also be related to viruses on your PC. To remove the viruses, you will have to download a powerful antivirus and scan your entire PC. Please note, anti-viruses are notorious for slowing down system performance, so you might have to compromise on the speed of your PC.

Solution 4: Run a Hardware Diagnostic

To find out which hardware is causing the error message to pop up, you will have to run a hardware diagnostic. For this, simply go to the start menu, type Memory Diagnostic in the search bar. Now access this tool and click on Diagnose your Memory problems. As you click on it, it will ask you to perform the check by either restarting the PC immediately or on the next restart. Select the immediate one to get going. The system will carry a scan on the memory and show you the list of problematic errors detected during the scan. To resolve this error then all you have to do is replace the piece of faulty hardware. Nonetheless, if no faulty hardware is detected, this means the error is related to the registry.

Solution 5: Clean and Restore the Registry

The error 126 is also sometimes generated due to poor PC maintenance which leads to registry issues. The registry basically saves and stores all the data and activities performed on the PC. This also includes junk files, invalid registry entries, bad keys, temporary files, internet history, and cookies. This accumulates a lot of disk space. If not removed, they damage the registry and corrupt other important files like system and dll files, thereby generating PC-related error codes like error 126. The best way to resolve this error on your PC in seconds is to download Restoro on your PC. This is an advanced and multi-functional PC repair tool embedded with multiple powerful utilities including an intuitive registry cleaner, an antivirus, and a system optimizer. The registry cleaning feature detects all registry issues and errors. It wipes out all the unnecessary and obsolete files cluttering the system, fixes the damaged dll files, and restores the registry back to normal. Simultaneously, the antivirus utility scans for all privacy errors and malicious software infecting your system. This includes malware, adware, spyware, and Trojans. The system optimizer feature ensures your PC performance does not slow down. It boosts the speed of your PC to its optimum level. This PC fixer is safe, user-friendly, and efficient. It can be downloaded on any Windows version. Click here to download Restoro on your system and resolve error 126 right away!

If you encounter an error saying, “Boot Device Not Found” when you turn on your Windows 10 computer, then you’ve come to the right place as this post will guide you on how you can fix this problem. Apart from the error message, you will also see a message that states, “Please install an operating system on your hard disk, Hard Disk<xxx>”. You will then be asked to tap the F2 key to initiate the System Diagnostics. If you install the Windows operating system, it becomes the boot device, and when your computer boots, the UEFI or the BIOS looks for the operating installed on your drive and continues the process. So when you encounter the “Boot Device Not Found” error, this means that the UEFI or the BIOS wasn’t able to locate the drive where it can boot. There are several suggestions you can check out to resolve this error. You can try checking the connection with your boot drive or change the boot order. You can also fix the Boot Record from Recovery and see if the primary partition is active or not. But before you troubleshoot the problem, make sure that you have a bootable Windows USB drive ready since two of the options provided below will require you to boot into the Advanced Recovery mode. Once you have this covered, proceed to each one of the following options.

Option 1 – Try checking the connection with the boot drive

If you have a custom computer that comes with a cabinet, you might want to open it and remove any connected power supply, and then check the wires. As you know, drives are connected with the motherboard using a cable. So all you have to do is check if both ends are connected properly and make sure that the connection is not loose. You could also try to unplug the cable and plug it back in.

Option 2 – Try changing the boot order

You might also want to try changing the boot order of your computer. Each time a computer boots, the BIOS or the UEFI follows a boot order. It is the one that tells where to first look for the boot drive and if for some reason, a USB is connected to your computer and the first boot device found in the USB, then you have resolved the problem. All you have to do is to remove the USB device and boot or go into the BIOS and change the boot order yourself.

Option 3 – Try to rebuild the BCD files

The next thing you can do to resolve the issue is to Rebuild Boot Configuration Data or BCD files.

• You can start by booting into the installation environment for Windows 10 from an installation media.
• After that, click on Repair your computer and on the blue screen, select Troubleshoot and then select the Advanced options menu.
• From there, select Command Prompt and once you open it, enter each one of the commands given below by sequence.
  • bootrec /FixMbr
  • bootrec /FixBoot
  • bootrec /ScanOS
  • bootrec /RebuildBcd

• Once you’re done executing the commands given above, type “exit” to close the Command Prompt window and then restart your computer and see if it fixed the “Boot Device Not Found” error.

Option 4 – Try setting the System Partition to Active

Like the first given option, you also have to make sure that you have a bootable Windows 10 USB drive before you proceed to set the System Partition to Active. Once you have it covered, refer to these steps:

• Boot your computer using the bootable Windows 10 USB drive.
• Next, click Next when you get to the Welcome Screen.
• Then click on Repair your computer located at the bottom left part of the window and select Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Command Prompt.
• After opening Command Prompt, type the following command and hit Enter to start the Diskpart utility. It is a command line-based utility just like Command Prompt but has a UAC prompt once you provoke it. So if you encounter a UAC prompt, just click on Yes to proceed.

diskpart

• Now type the following command:

list disk

• From there, select your primary disk by typing the following command:

select disk number

• After that, list all the partitions on the selected disk by entering the following command:

list partition

• The command you just entered will list all the partitions created on your PC including both types of partitions that are visible to a normal user in the File Explorer as well as the ones created by Windows 10 by default which helps it in storing the boot files and other important system files.
• Now type the following command to select the partition that is usually around 100 MB in size:

select partition number

• Finally, type the following command to mark the partition active:

active

• Then type the “exit” command to exit the disk part utility.

Once it’s done, the primary drive should now be active and you should now be able to boot into your computer without the “Boot Device Not Found” error.