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Disable Telemetry & Data Collection in Windows

The Windows 10 Telemetry and Data Collection features are auto-enabled and they collect all sorts of user activity and sends it to Microsoft. Microsoft says that the data collected only enhances the overall user experience and Windows functionality better but the number of data breaches happening across the globe has forced users to be extra cautious about their data privacy. So naturally, from stronger passwords and other services management, it is only logical to turn off Windows data gathering.

To do so:

  • Press ⊞ WINDOWS + R to open the run dialog.
  • In the Run dialog type: taskschd.msc
  • Press CTRL + SHIFT + ENTER key combo to open Task Scheduler in admin mode.
  • On the left pane, navigate to the: Task Scheduler Library > Microsoft > Windows > Customer Experience Improvement Program
  • At the location, on the middle pane, right-click on the task named Consolidator and select Disable from the context menu...
  • Repeat the process with all other tasks listed in the middle pane.
  • Exit Task Scheduler.

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WslRegisterDistribution, 0x8007019e,0x8000000d
The Windows Subsystem for Linus, also known as WSL, is a useful and excellent tool for developers. However, it isn’t without flaws as users can still encounter some errors when using it. One of these errors is the error code WslRegisterDistribution, 0x8007019e,0x8000000d. Although it seems like the error is have something to do with the installation of WSL, it could be a false positive since some users who’ve installed WSL still encountered the same problem. Here’s the context of the error:
“Installing, this may take a few minutes… WslRegisterDistribution failed with error: 0x8007019e/0x8000000d Error: 0x8007019e/0x8000000d The parameter is incorrect. Press any key to continue.”
Error code 0x8007019e or 0x8000000d could be due to the absence of supporting Windows 10 features since the error does not even let one use the WSL-based command line. If you are one of the users facing this problem, then you’ve come to the right place as this post will provide you with a couple of suggestions to fix it. There are two options you can check out to fix the problem, but before you do that, you need to make sure that the Windows Subsystem for Linux feature is enabled. The two options include enabling WSL using the “Turn Windows features on or off” option and using the Windows PowerShell.

Option 1 – Try to enable the WSL using the “Turn Windows features on or off” option

  • To get started, search for “Turn Windows Features on or off” in the Start Search and click on the appropriate result to open a dialog box.
  • After that, you will see a populated list in the dialog box and from there, look for the “Windows Subsystem for Linux” option.
  • Once you find it, select OK. This will search and install the system files needed and ask you to restart your computer.
  • Restart your computer. The Linux distro should now work without any trouble.

Option 2 – Try to use Windows PowerShell

The next thing you can do to fix the error code 0x8007019e or 0x8000000d is to use Windows PowerShell.
  • Tap the Win + X keys and click on the “Windows PowerShell (Admin)” option to open Windows PowerShell as admin.
  • After that, execute this command to enable the Windows Subsystem for Linux feature: Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux
  • The command you entered will start to search for the required system files and install them.
  • If prompted, type “Y” to restart your computer. This should fix the problem.
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How to Fix Error 400

Error 400 - What is it?

Error 400 is a bad request error that displays in the internet browser like a web page. It pops up when the web page you’ve requested cannot be found. Error 400 may be displayed in one of the following formats on the computer screen:
  • ‘400 Bad Request’
  • Bad Request - Invalid URL"
  • "HTTP Error 400 - Bad Request"
  • "Bad Request. Your browser sent a request that this server could not understand.”
  • "HTTP Error 400. The request hostname is invalid."
  • "400 - Bad request. The request could not be understood by the server due to malformed syntax. The client should not repeat the request without modifications."

Solution

Restoro box imageError Causes

Error 400 can be generated due to multiple reasons. These include:
  • Wrong URL
  • Browser cookies
  • Outdated DNS cache
Though this error code is not fatal like the blue screen of death and runtime errors nonetheless it is still advisable to fix it to access your desired website without any inconvenience.

Further Information and Manual Repair

Here are some of the best ways to fix error 400 on your PC without any professional help. Try these methods to resolve error 400:

Method 1

This might come to you by surprise that the most common cause for a 400 Bad Request error is because the URL of the website was typed wrong. So, first things first make sure the URL you’ve inserted is correct. If the URL typed is correct, then try other methods illustrated below.

Method 2

Sometimes error 400 may pop up due to outdated DNS records. DNS cache stores the location (IP addresses) of web servers that contain pages that you’ve viewed recently. You are unable to access the site if the location of the webserver changes before the entry in your DNS cache updates. If this is the error cause then simply clear your DNS cache to resolve. Follow these steps to clear the DNS cache on Windows 8.
  • Press Win+X to open the WinX menu.
  • Now ‘right click’ on command prompt and select RUN as Administrator. Enter the following command:
  • ipconfig /flushdns
If the command was successful, you will see the following message: Windows IP configuration successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache. This method will hopefully repair error 400 on your computer screen.

Method 3

Another reason for error 400 can be browser cookies. Many sites report error 400 when a cookie it reads is corrupt or too old. In such a situation it is advisable to clear your browser cookies. You can do it manually but it can be time-consuming virtually because the steps involved in deleting cookies differ considerably depending on what web browser you’re using. So, to avoid the hassle it is advisable to download Reimage to remove browser cookies immediately. This is a user-friendly PC Fixer deployed with a powerful registry cleaner. It removes all obsolete and unnecessary files from your PC including junk files, internet history, and cookies in seconds. Click here to download Restoro.
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Steam Deck's docking station delayed

The docking station was promised upon release of the Deck but it was pushed back and now the official statement is that it is delayed again.

Steam deck docking station

Valve said in an announcement on June 1:

“Due to parts shortages and COVID closures at our manufacturing facilities, the official Steam Deck Docking Station is delayed. We’re working on improving the situation and will share more info when we have it.”

Valve

The docking station was presented at the same time as Deck itself and the whole idea was to make Steam Deck work like a laptop docking station. It has ports for USB devices, displays, and network connections that became functional the moment Deck is placed on it. Docking supports a mouse, keyboard, and external display making it an almost full PC station if needed.

Valve confirmed that its official dock station will not improve performance so while you wait for its release you can use another docking station with a USB Type-C connector.

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The application was unable to start 0xc00007b
As you know, Windows programs depend on several operations to get executed and at the same time, there are also numerous parameters that have to be fulfilled for a program to get executed. However, based on some reports, there was an error when some users tried to run a program. This error says, “The application was unable to start correctly (0xc00007b)”. There could be various reasons why this error occurs but the main one is most likely due to an x86 application that is not compatible with the x64-based operating system. To fix this problem, you can run the Check Disk utility or reinstall the application or the Microsoft .NET Framework. You can also try reinstalling DirectX or replace the corrupted DLL file(s). For more details, refer to the given options below.

Option 1 – Try running the Check Disk utility

  • In the Windows Search box, type “command prompt” and from the search results, right-click on Command Prompt and select “Run as administrator”.
  • After opening Command Prompt, type this command and tap Enter: chkdsk <Partition Letter>: /f
  • The command you entered will start to check for errors and fix them automatically. Else, it will throw an error message saying, “Chkdsk cannot run because the volume is in use by another process. Would you like the schedule this volume to be checked the next time the system restarts? (Y/N)”.
  • Tap the Y key to schedule Disk Check the next time your computer restarts.

Option 2 – Re-enable the Microsoft .NET Framework

You could also try to disable the Microsoft .NET Framework then enable the latest version of the .NET Framework on your PC and check if the error is fixed

Option 3 – Try to reinstall the program

There are times when some supporting module for your application under the hood could have messed up the application where you get the error. To fix this, you have to uninstall the program and then download its latest version from its official site and then install it again. Once you’re done, run the application and see if the error is fixed.

Option 4 – Run System File Checker scan

If reinstalling the program didn’t work, you can also try running the System File Checker or SFC scan to fix the error. System File Checker is a command utility built into your computer that helps restore corrupted files and missing files. Refer to the following steps to run it:
  • Hit the Win + R keys to launch Run.
  • Type in cmd in the field and tap Enter.
  • After opening Command Prompt, type in sfc /scannow
The command will start a system scan which will take a few whiles before it finishes. Once it’s done, you could get the following results:
  1. Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.
  2. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them.
  3. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them.
  • Reboot your computer.

Option 5 – Try running the DirectX Diagnostic Tool

Since the error has something to do with the DirectX Graphics APIs, you can run the DirectX Diagnostic tool to resolve the problem.

Option 6 – Try updating or re-installing DirectX

If the DirectX Diagnostic tool didn’t work, you can try to update or reinstall DirectX instead. This can help in fixing the problem because when you reinstall or update DirectX, it will replace the incompatible or corrupted components of DirectX from your computer.
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Fix Error Code 0x80090016 for PIN and MS Store
If you encounter Error Code 0x80090016 while trying to create a PIN or when you are using Microsoft Store, then you’ve come to the right place as this post will guide you in how you can fix this problem. Recently some users reported that they were unable to sign in or set up the Windows 10 Login PIN. Note that the potential fixes for this issue are totally different in both scenarios. Here’s the error message you get when you encounter the PIN related error:
“Something went wrong, We weren’t able to set up your PIN. Sometimes it helps to try again or you can skip for now and do this later.”
On the other hand, here’s the error message you get for the Microsoft Store-related error:
“Try that again, Something happened on our end and we couldn’t sign you in.”
Here are some potential fixes you can try to fix the Error Code 0x80090016 in the Microsoft Store:

Option 1 – Try to sync the Date and Time

The first thing you can try is to sync the Date and Time of your computer as the wrong Date and Time settings are one of the most common causes of connection problems like the Error Code 0x80090016. This is because of the incompatibility between the SSL Certificate validation date and the System Clock. Thus, you have to sync your System Clock. Refer to the steps below to do so.
  • Start by tapping the Win + I keys to open the Windows Settings.
  • Next, go to Time & Language > Date & time.
  • From there, turn the toggle on for the “Set time automatically and Set time zone automatically” option on the right-side panel.
  • After that, click on Region & language located on the left side panel and make sure that the Country or region on the right-side panel is set to the country you live in.
  • Now close the Settings app and restart your computer and see if it fixes the problem or not.

Option 2 – Try to re-register the Microsoft Store app via PowerShell

  • Tap the Win + X key combination or right-click on the Start button and click on the Windows PowerShell (Admin) option.
  • If a User Account Control or UAC prompt appears, just click on Yes to proceed and open the Windows PowerShell window.
  • Next, type in or copy-paste the following command to re-register the Microsoft Store app and tap Enter:
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $Env:SystemRootWinStoreAppxManifest.xml
  • Wait for the process to be completed and then restart your computer.

Option 3 – Try to reset the Microsoft Store cache

Just like browsers, Microsoft Store also caches as you view apps and games so it is most likely that the cache is no longer valid and must be removed. To do so, follow the steps below.
  • Right-click on the start button and click on Command Prompt (administrator).
  • Next, type in the command, “exe” and tap Enter. Once you do, the command will clear the cache for the Windows Store app.
  • Now restart your PC and afterward, try opening Microsoft Store again and then see if Error Code 0x80090016 is resolved or not.

Option 4 – Try to run the Windows Store Troubleshooter

The Windows 10 Store Apps Troubleshooter will help you in fixing the Error Code 0x80090016. This is a great built-in tool from Microsoft that helps users fix any app installation issues. So this is worth a try to solve the problem. This built-in tool also helps you fix the Windows 10 Store if it isn’t working. To use the Windows Store Troubleshooter, follow the steps below.
  • Tap Win + I keys again to open the Windows Settings panel.
  • Go to Update & Security and then go to Troubleshoot.
  • On your right-hand side, scroll down to find the Windows Store Apps and then click on Run the troubleshooter option and see if it fixes the problem.
On the other hand, you can use the options below if you encounter Error Code 0x80090016 while setting up your PIN.

Option 5 – Try to manage the NGC Folder

  • You need to boot your computer into Safe Mode first.
  • Next, delete all the contents of the NGC folder and you can do that by taking ownership of the folder first. To do so, refer to these sub-steps:
    • 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.
  • After you take ownership of the folder, you can now delete all of its contents.
  • Once you’re done, restart your computer and see if the problem is fixed.

Option 6 – Try to use the Group Policy Editor

  • Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box
  • Then type “gpedit.msc” in the field and hit Enter or click OK to open the Group Policy Editor.
  • Next, navigate to this setting: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Logon
  • After that, double click on “Turn on convenience PIN Sign-in” and set its radio button to Enable. This policy setting has the following description:
“This policy setting allows you to control whether a domain user can sign in using a convenience PIN. If you enable this policy setting, a domain user can set up and sign in with a convenience PIN. If you disable or don’t configure this policy setting, a domain user can’t set up and use a convenience PIN. Note: The user’s domain password will be cached in the system vault when using this feature. To configure Windows Hello for Business, use the Administrative Template policies under Windows Hello for Business.”
  • After you set the radio button to Enable, it will turn on the Logins using the PIN. Note that setting the radio button to Disabled or Not Configured will turn off the Logins using the PIN.
  • Now exit the Group Policy Editor and restart your PC so that the changes can take effect.
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Disabling the Recently Opened Files in Windows
The Windows 10 operating system comes with a user-friendly interface as well as better security features compared to its previous versions. One of these new features is the “Recently Opened Files” feature which displays all the files you’ve opened recently in File Explorer. Although it might seem useful, some users see this as a privacy concern especially if there are other users that use the same computer. If you are one of these users, read on as this post will guide you on how you can disable the “Recently Opened Files” feature in Windows 10. There are three ways you can disable the “Recently Opened Files” feature. You can manually clear the recent files, or disable the feature via Control Panel. You can also do it using the Group Policy Editor.

Option 1 – Manually clear the recent files

The first thing you can do is to clear the recent files manually. Since the information about the recently opened files is stored in the form of cached data, you can locate this data and delete it manually, from time to time. To do that, follow these steps:
  • Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run utility and copy this address in the field: %AppData%MicrosoftWindowsRecent
  • Next, tap the Ctrl + A keys to select all the items and then tap the Shift + Delete keys simultaneously.
  • After that, a prompt will appear where you have to click on Yes. This will delete all the recently opened files in the File Explorer the next time you open it.

Option 2 – Disable the feature via Control Panel

The next option you can try to disable the feature is via Control Panel. Refer to these steps to do so:
  • First, click on the Start Menu button and select the Settings icon.
  • After that, click on Personalization and then on Start located on the left pane.
  • Next, scroll down until you see the “Show recently opened items” in Jump Lists on the Start or the Taskbar and click on it and then toggle it off.

Option 3 – Disable the feature using the Group Policy Editor

If you are using the Windows 10 Pro version, then you have access to edit the functions in the Group Policy. The Group Policy function has the option that can disable all the default services of Windows 10. Note that in this step, you will permanently disable the “Recently Opened Files” feature. So before you proceed, make sure that you really want to disable this feature permanently and not in the meantime.
  • Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box and type “gpedit.msc” in the field and click OK or tap Enter to open the Group Policy Editor.
  • Next, on the left side pane, click on the “User Configuration” option and then click the “Administrative Templates” option.
  • After that, select the “Start Menu and Taskbar” option and select the “Don’t keep the history of recently opened documents” option in the right pane.
  • Now double click on this option and check the “Enabled” option and then click on Apply and OK buttons to save the changes made.
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Finding out which GPU is in your computer
Every computer has to have a graphic card, it is one of the essential components in order for the computer to work. If you have a second-hand computer, got one as a gift, or similar, there is a high chance that you do not really know which components are inside. Luckily finding out which graphic card you have inside is quite easy. Right-click the taskbar and select Task Manager Click the Performance tab at the top of the window, if you don’t see the tabs, click “More Info.” Select “GPU 0” in the sidebar. The GPU’s manufacturer and model names are displayed at the top right corner of the window. You’ll also see other information, such as the amount of dedicated memory on your GPU, in this window. Windows 10’s Task Manager displays your GPU usage here, and you can also view GPU usage by application. If your system has multiple GPUs, you’ll also see “GPU 1” and so on here. Each represents a different physical GPU.
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Recent Items aren't visible under Taskbar
In this post, you will be guided on what to do if the Recent Items are no longer visible in the Taskbar icons in Windows 10. This can be quite inconvenient especially if you work simultaneously on many files and documents together and would require you to visit them regularly to incorporate changes. Thus, if you find that the Recent items are not visible in the Windows Taskbar, read on. In order for the Recent Items to appear on the taskbar icons in Windows 10 again, there are four potential fixes you can check out. You can try to show the recently opened items via Settings or clear the cache of the recent items. You could also make some changes in the Windows Registry or use the Group Policy Editor. But before you proceed with these potential fixes, it’s best if you create a System Restore Point first just in case something goes wrong after you made changes in the system. The System Restore Point allows you to undo these changes and bring back the previous state of your computer. Thus, you need to create one and then carefully follow the given options below.

Option 1 – Show the recently opened items via Settings

The first thing you can do to fix the problem is to show the recently opened items through the Settings app.
  • Open the Settings app and select Personalization.
  • From there, select the Start option and scroll down until you see the “Show recently opened items in Jump Lists on Start or the taskbar” option.
  • Make sure that its toggle button is turned on.

Option 2 – Try to clear the Recent Items cache

  • Tap the Win + E keys to open File Explorer.
  • Next, copy and paste this link on the address bar: %AppData%Microsoftwindowsrecentautomaticdestinations
  • Once you’re in the given location, you should see multiple files. Now select all these files and completely delete them.
Note: These files are automatically recreated when you interact with the system like performing tasks such as opening apps or accessing files.
  • After that, go to this next location: %AppData%Microsoftwindowsrecentcustomdestinations
  • Once there, delete all of its files and restart your computer. This should resolve the problem.

Option 3 – Try making changes via Registry Editor

The next thing you can do to fix the problem is to apply some tweaks in the Registry by following these steps:
  • Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box and type “Regedit” in the field and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor.
  • Next, navigate to this registry sub-path: HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersion
  • From there, select the Policies Explorer folder located in the left pane.
  • Then move to the right pane and look for the “NoRecentDocsHistory” entry and right-click on it.
  • Now delete this entry.
Note: This entry is the one that stores the Group Policy setting for “Do not keep the history of recently opened documents. The Group Policy adds this entry to the registry with a value of 1 if you enable the “Do not keep the history of recently opened documents” policy. On the other hand, if you disable the policy by setting it to “Not configured” or deleting it, the Group Policy will delete the entry from the registry, and the system will act as though the value is 0 – for instance, it keeps the history of the recently opened files in your computer.

Option 4 – Try to use the Group Policy Editor

  • Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run utility and type “gpedit.msc” in the field and tap Enter to launch the Group Policy Editor.
  • Next, navigate to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar.
  • Afterward, double click on the “Do not keep a history of recently opened documents” policy located on the right panel. This is the policy that lets you enable or disable recent items and frequent places.
  • Now to enable the recent items, as well as the frequent places, feature, click on the “Disabled” or the “Not Configured” option.
  • Once you’re done, close the Group Policy Editor and restart your PC.
Note: If you choose to enable this setting, the system and Windows programs will not create shortcuts to documents opened while the setting is in effect. Aside from that, they also stay but won’t display the existing document shortcuts and the system will empty the Recent Items menu on the Start menu and the Windows programs won’t also display shortcuts in the Start Menu. In addition, the Taskbar won’t also show the recently opened or frequently used folders, files, or websites.
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Get a Custom URL for Your YouTube Channel
Having a youtube channel nowadays is quite an easy task, you just need to create a free google account and there you go, you can start uploading videos to your YouTube channel. All you need in today's world is some applications for manipulating video material, creation of titles and graphics, some charisma and ideas for content and you could be a well-known YouTuber. For some guidance on software needed for this kind of creativity, we urge you to check our article about open source free software alternatives to paying ones here. So now that we have technicality out of way there is one more prerequisite that is needed in order for you to have your unique custom URL for your channel.
  • The channel must be at least 30 days old.
  • The channel must have a profile picture and a banner image.
  • The channel must have at least 100 subscribers.
You need to fulfill all three prerequisites in order to change your typical URL to something nicer and personal like youtube.com/myGREATchannel So if you have everything needed let's get that custom URL for your channel.
  1. Sign in to your YouTube channel
  2. On the top-right corner of the YouTube window, click on your profile picture.
  3. From the drop-down menu, select YouTube Studio.
  4. From the list on the right side of the YouTube Studio page, select Customization.
  5. Under Channel customization, select Basic info.
  6. Under Channel URL, click on Set a custom URL for your channel.
  7. Your custom URL will appear in the box below. You can change it as you desire.
  8. Click on the Publish button on the top-right corner of the window to set your custom URL.

WORD OF WARNING:

Once the custom URL is set, it can neither be changed nor transferred to someone else so make sure that channel name is really something that you want for the long run.
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KVM switch and its usage

You probably heard about switches for LAN but not a lot of people heard about KVM switches. So what exactly is KVM switch?

KVM switch

If we look at the name, it is a shortcut for Keyboard, Video & Mouse and the original idea was to have multiple computers but one keyboard, mouse, and monitor. These peripherals would be connected to the KVM switch and other computers could all use one set of these on the fly when needed.

The technology behind the switch is a little interesting since it will actively fake signals to other computers that are not using peripherals. Once they are switched to them the transition is smooth and not noticeable. In old days these switches were more important than today since on every mouse or keyboard disconnection you had to reboot the computer, and although today that is not the case CPU will still detect disconnection and on the next connection it will run through the ID of the device and try to use the existing driver and if peripheral was connected in other USB port, it will install the same driver but connect it to the new USB port.

This type of reconnection can slow down work and place unnecessary load on the CPU so that is why KVM will fake connection in order to make switching externals on the computer smooth and in nick of a time.

Modern KVM switch

These days modern KVM switches will offer you more options than just being able to switch between keyboard, mouse, and monitor. Modern switches now offer Lan, audio, and many more various options.

There are also different kinds of switches offering you only one option, like for example just a Video switch that will let you use one monitor on three computers and many more other specialized options.

Software switches

So far we talked about Hardware switches, a real device being able to take peripherals into it and switch computers on the fly. On the other line, we have software switch solutions that will have specific software installed on all computers and have it run at all times, and switching between them will be through specific software.

There are two very good and main advantages of using software solutions instead of a hardware one. First, of course, is the price, since the most popular Synergy is an open-source solution, completely free of charge. The second big advantage is that software switch is not limited to how many computers can you use. Hardware switches tend to go to a large number like 16 but if you have a large cluster of computers over a LAN, let's say 30 then the box solution might be difficult.

On the other hand software solution will switch only keyboard and mouse since each other computer will have to have some screen on it in order to work. Both solutions have their strong advantages and disadvantages and it is up to you to choose one that best suits you.

Conclusion

If you are multitasking with a lot of computers or just need your peripherals from time to time to connect to another machine then the KVM switch is something that you might find the use of. Just be aware that if you go for some cheap switch you might experience some lag on your peripherals, but if that is not a concern you can get hardware one for as low as $50 USD.

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