Enable or Disable Windows 10 Boot Log

If you suddenly encounter Activation Error codes such as 0xC004E016, 0xC004F210, 0xC004F034, and 0xC004F00F on your Windows 10 computer, then they all point to the same issue – Invalid Product Key or Version mismatch. When you see any of the aforementioned error codes above, it indicates that you are either entering a wrong product key or you are using an incorrect ISO when installing it on your computer. In such cases, you may see either of the following error messages:

“You are running Windows 10 Pro, but you have a valid digital license for Windows 10 Home.” Or: “The specified product key is invalid or is unsupported by this version.”

If you got the error code 0xC004F00F then it means that you’ve entered a product key for the Enterprise edition of Windows to activate Windows 10 Pro or Windows 10 Home. It could be that you have a key from your work and you accidentally use it on your Home PC. If you got the error codes 0xC004E016, 0xC004F210, then it means that you have entered a product key that is meant for a different edition or version of Windows. On the other hand, if you got the error code 0xC004F034 instead, then it means that you have entered an invalid product key or a product key for a different Windows version. Whichever error codes you have, refer to the possible solutions given below to fix the Invalid Product Key or Version mismatch Activation Error in Windows 10.

Option 1 – Try running the Windows 10 Activation Troubleshooter

The first thing you can do to resolve this Activation error is to run the Windows 10 Activation Troubleshooter. 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.

Option 2 – Try purchasing a new license

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 to 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.

Option 3 – Try activating Windows 10 via mobile phone

Activating Windows 10 can also be done using your phone. Just note that you have to call Microsoft to do so.

• In the Start Search box, type in “Slui 4” and tap Enter.
• Next, select your country and click on Next.
• Keep the window open and call the toll-free number of the country you’re from.
• Afterward, a confirmation ID should be given by the automated system which you must take a note of.
• Finally, in the box on the window, type in the confirmation ID and click on the Activate button. That should do it.

Athwbx.sys or the Qualcomm Atheros driver file is known to trigger several Blue Screen of Death errors. This occurs when the driver gets corrupted or when the operating system is unable to access or find it. In addition, bad sectors in the hard disk or RAM can also cause BSOD errors. The athwbx.sys file is known to cause the following BSOD errors listed below:

• SYSTEM_THREAD_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED (athwbx.sys)
• STOP 0x0000000A: IRQL_NOT_LESS_EQUAL (athwbx.sys)
• STOP 0x0000001E: KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED (athwbx.sys)
• STOP 0×00000050: PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA (athwbx.sys)
• Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart. You can search online later for this error: athwbx.sys

Before you proceed with the troubleshooting tips given below, you might want to try performing System Restore as it could resolve Blue Screen errors caused by the athwbx.sys file. To run System Restore, follow these steps:

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• After that, type in “sysdm.cpl” in the field and tap Enter.
• Next, go to the System Protection tab then click the System Restore button. This will open a new window where you have to select your preferred System Restore point.
• After that, follow the on-screen instructions to finish the process and then restart your computer and check if the problem is fixed or not.

If System Restore didn’t help in fixing the Blue Screen error, now’s the time for you to resort to the troubleshooting tips provided below but before you get started, make sure that you create a System Restore point first.

Option 1 – Try recreating the athwbx.sys file

The first thing you can try is to recreate the athwbx.sys file. Every time your Windows 10 PC boots up, it looks for all the system drivers in place and if it is unable to find them, it tries to create them. This is why if you remove your corrupt driver file, chances are, you might get a fixed file recreated just for you. How? Refer to the steps below.

• Boot your Windows 10 PC in Safe Mode.
• Then open File Explorer and navigate to this location: C:/Windows/System32/drivers
• From there, look for the file named sys and rename it to athwbx.old.

Note: As you can see, the file’s extension has changed from .sys to .old.

• Now restart your computer and check if the athwbx.sys Blue Screen error is now fixed.

Option 2 – Try to update or rollback your device drivers

If the first option didn’t work for you, then it’s time to either update or roll back the device drivers. It is most likely that after you updated your Windows computer that your driver also needs a refresh. On the other hand, if you have just updated your device drivers then you need to roll back the drivers to their previous versions. Whichever applies to you, refer to the steps below.

• Open the Devices Manager from the Win X Menu.
• Then locate the device drivers and right-click on them to open the Properties.
• After that, switch to the Driver tab and click on the Uninstall Device button.
• Follow the screen option to completely uninstall it.
• Finally, restart your computer. It will just reinstall the device drivers automatically.

Note: You can install a dedicated driver on your computer in case you have it or you could also look for it directly from the website of the manufacturer.

Option 3 – Run the System File Checker Scan

System File Checker or SFC is a built-in command utility that helps in restoring corrupted files as well as missing files. It replaces bad and corrupted system files with good system files. To run the SFC command, follow the steps given below.

• Tap Win + R to launch Run.
• Type in cmd in the field and tap Enter.
• After opening Command Prompt, type in sfc /scannow

The command will start a system scan which will take a few whiles before it finishes. Once it’s done, you could get the following results:

1. Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.
2. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them.
3. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them.

• Restart your computer.

Option 4 – Try to run the CHKDSK utility

Running the CHKDSK utility might also help you resolve the athwbx.sys Blue Screen error. If your hard drive has issues with integrity, the update will really fail as the system will think that it’s not healthy and that’s where the CHKDSK utility comes in. The CHKDSK utility repairs hard drive errors that might be causing the problem.

• Open Command Prompt with admin privileges.
• After opening Command Prompt, execute the following command and hit Enter:

chkdsk /f /r

• Wait for the process to be completed and then restart your computer.

Option 5 – Run the Memory Diagnostic Tool

Running the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool in Windows 10 might also help you in fixing the athwbx.sys Blue Screen error. Refer to the steps below on how to run this tool:

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

Note: After you select the option, your PC will restart and check for memory-based issues. If it finds any issues, it will automatically fix them and if there’s no issue found, then it’s most likely not a memory-based issue so you should try the other options given below.

Option 6 – Run the Blue Screen Troubleshooter

The Blue Screen troubleshooter is a built-in tool in Windows 10 that helps users in fixing BSOD errors like athwbx.sys. It can be found on the Settings Troubleshooters page. To use it, refer to these steps:

• Tap the Win + I keys to open the Settings panel.
• Then go to Update & Security > Troubleshoot.
• From there, look for the option called “Blue Screen” on your right-hand side and then click the “Run the troubleshooter” button to run the Blue Screen Troubleshooter and then follow the next on-screen options. Note that you might have to boot your PC into Safe Mode.

This is not the first time that Intel is trying to enter the GPU field but its adventures so far were, well let us agree not so good. All of that is hoping to be changed with the upcoming ARC GPU. The first generation of Arc graphics, code-named Alchemist and previously known as DG2, will support desktop PCs and laptops and is set to arrive in the first quarter of 2022. Alchemist will have hardware-based Ray tracing and AI-driven supersampling. This indicates that GPU is aimed to compete in the Hi-end spectrum and battle side by side with Nvidia and AMD on the market. Alchemist will also pack full DirectX 12 Ultimate support. Intel also released names for the next upcoming future generations of ARC GPUs: Battlemage, Celestial & Druid. More information about ARC products will be released later this year. “Today marks a key moment in the graphics journey we started just a few years ago. The launch of the Intel Arc brand and the reveal of future hardware generations signifies Intel’s deep and continued commitment to gamers and creators everywhere,” Roger Chandler, Intel vice president, and general manager of client graphics products and solutions.

Microsoft office has two major packages, an online one, and an offline version. The online version of the course is Office 365 that requires a monthly subscription and it is always regularly updated and maintained. Another version is more of a typical old school application, install it and use it, no constant internet connection is required and no monthly subscription is required, buy once and use it. The last version of buying it once and use it was Office 2019 and after two years we are going to receive a new version soon. Microsoft has set its release date for October 5^th of this year and as always it will feature the current latest version of office applications and one-time purchase. The new office will support dark mode and other improvements tied to the new Windows 11 and some specific features tied to Office itself.

What Is 0x80004001 Error Code?

0x80004001 is an error code that Windows users encounter quite commonly.

This error usually occurs when users try to update an old Windows application or attempt to run a certain application. When this error appears on the screen, the system automatically restarts to stop further processing. The error results in a blue screen after the system boots.

This blue screen is known as the Blue Screen of Death.

Error Causes

There are different files in the Windows operating system responsible for its smooth functioning. Sometimes problems like viruses or incorrect register entries corrupt or damage these files. This is when this 0x80004001 error appears.

Simply put, some of the most common causes that trigger 0x80004001 error are listed below as follows.

• Corrupt or damaged EXE, VXD, DLL files of Windows
• Incorrect entry of registry files
• Presence of viruses or malware in the system
• Corrupt or damaged system files
• Unfinished application installation

Irrespective of what causes this error, it is of utmost importance to troubleshoot it as soon as possible.

Further Information and Manual Repair

While there are several ways of troubleshooting this error, the two most useful approaches have been listed below as follows.

• This solution is for advanced users. Start your system and log on to it as the administrator. Click on the Start button. Now select All Programs->Accessories->System Tools. Finally, click on System Restore. In a new window, select the option “Restore My Computer to an Earlier Time”. Now click on Next. A list of restore points will be displayed. Choose the most recent restore point from this list and click “Next”. Now click next on the confirmation Window again. Once the restoration is finished, the computer will restart itself and you will observe that the error no longer appears.
• This solution is for beginner or novice users. Download a 0x80004001 error repair utility available online. Install this program on your computer and use it to scan for the error in your system. When the scan completes, find if any feature allows you to fix errors. If yes, click on it. Now restart your computer again. You will notice that the virus has disappeared. It is a good idea to use error repair utilities because they scan the system, diagnose the error and then perform the repair.

Use any of the methods listed above to get rid of the 0x80004001 error once and for all.

No one knows everything about a program off hand. You need to use the program for a long time before you can even possibly know all that it is able to do and all you are able to achieve with it. However, this doesn’t mean that you don’t need help from time to time. This is also the case when Outlook errors pop up. Sometimes there are things you must or probably should do with your program that you do not understand and definitely don’t know how to do. Set up POP3 with your email account in Outlook is one of these things you will probably need help to achieve.

Steps to Set up POP3

First, you may need to know what POP3 is. POP3 is the way emails are sent from one email address to another. It may be more or less instant nowadays, but the process is still long and hard-winded. Similar to how your letters get from your mailbox to the recipients' mailbox, your emails get from you to the next person. Letters are picked up in your mailbox and sent to your post office where they send it to the recipient’s post office who sends it to the recipient’s mailbox. Similarly, your email is sent to your outbox, which sends it to your email service provider, that sends it to the recipient’s email service provider who sends it to their inbox. This is one of the reasons that sending an email to someone who uses the same email service provider as you is about a millisecond faster. This process of sending emails is called POP3 and you need to set it up if you use Outlook on Microsoft. This, on Outlook, also determines which email account you send your emails from. You see, on Outlook and many other email service providers, you can have many different email addresses, no even necessarily with the email service provider’s prefix on the end. Now, if you want to see this for yourself, go on to your settings on Outlook and look for manage email accounts. If you have more than one email account, you will see them listed. Somewhere on the sidebar, you will see POP3 as well. If you want to add more email accounts to this, such as a business email or a personal email, then just click ‘Add new account’ instead of 'Manage email accounts'. When you click on an email account you have linked already, you will see on this side the details for your POP3 (incoming emails) and your SMTP (outgoing emails). This can be changed, but since everyone’s number of accounts and type of accounts is different, there is no set way to change this. However, you can give Microsoft a call and they will walk you through the necessary steps in order to change this.

Conclusion

So, POP3 can be incredibly easy to understand or incredibly hard; it depends on how good you are with electronics and the advice you are given. But don’t try to change things by yourself; get a professional from Microsoft to help you with POP3 on your Microsoft Outlook account.

Device drivers serve as a connection between the hardware in your computer and the operating system. So if any of the device drivers fail, the concerned hardware will stop communicating with Windows. And when you encounter some network-related issues, you can run the Network Adapter troubleshooter to fix them. However, this built-in troubleshooter does not work all the time as there are still problems that it can’t fix on its own and you’ll see the following error message:

“Windows could not find a driver for your network adapter.”

If you encounter this kind of error, read on as this post will help you in fixing the problem but before you get started in troubleshooting the problem, try running the Network Adapter Troubleshooter again.

• Open the Search bar on your computer and type in “troubleshoot” to open the Troubleshoot settings.
• Next, scroll down and select the “Network Adapter” option from the right pane.
• Then click on the Run Troubleshooter” button.
• After that, your computer will check for any possible errors and will pinpoint the root cause of the problem if possible.

Refer to each one of the solutions given below to get started:

Option 1 – Update the Network Adapter drivers

Of course, the first thing you can try to do is to update the Network Adapter drivers to resolve the error.

• Tap the Win + R keys to launch the Run window and then type in the “devmgmt.msc” command and hit Enter to open the Device Manager window.
• Under the Device Manager, you will see a list of drivers. From there, look for the Network Adapters and expand it.
• Then right-click on each one of the Network drivers and update them all.
• Restart your PC and see if it helped in fixing the BSOD error.

Note: If updating the network drivers didn’t help in fixing the “Windows could not find a driver for your network adapter” error, you can also try to uninstall the very same drivers and restart your Windows 10 PC. After that, the system itself will reinstall the drivers you just uninstalled. Alternatively, you can also download and install the drivers from the manufacturer’s website directly. To reinstall the network adapter driver, refer to these steps:

• Open the Devices Manager from the Win X Menu.
• Then locate the device drivers and right-click on them to open the Properties.
• After that, switch to the Driver tab and click on the Uninstall Device button.
• Follow the screen option to completely uninstall it.
• Finally, restart your computer. It will just reinstall the device drivers automatically.

Option 2 – Try running the Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter

Apart from the Network Adapter Troubleshooter, you can also run another built-in troubleshooter in Windows, the Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter, as it can also help you in resolving the “Windows could not find a driver for your network adapter” error.

• The first thing you need to do is click on Start and then on the gear-like icon to pull up the window for Settings.
• After opening Settings, look for the Update and Security option and select it.
• From there, go to the Troubleshoot option located on the left-hand side of the list.
• Next, select Hardware and Devices from the list and open the Troubleshooter and run it. Once it is doing its job, wait for it to complete the process and then restart the system.
• After the system restarts, check if the problem’s now fixed. If not, refer to the next option given below.

Option 3 – Try performing a System Restore

You might also want to perform a System Restore that might help you in fixing the error. You can do this option either by booting into Safe Mode or in System Restore. If you are already in the Advanced Startup Options, just directly select System Restore and proceed with the next steps. And if you have just booted your PC into Safe Mode, refer to the steps below.

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• After that, type in “sysdm.cpl” in the field and tap Enter.
• Next, go to the System Protection tab then click the System Restore button. This will open a new window where you have to select your preferred System Restore point.
• After that, follow the on-screen instructions to finish the process and then restart your computer and check if the problem is fixed or not.

EverydayLookup is a browser extension for Google Chrome developed by Mindspark Inc. This extension allows users to find what mobile network a certain number belongs to, to find out an area code of a country/town, or locate a town by zip code. While these features look promising and interesting, this extension comes with a downside.

When installed, this extension will change your default search engine, the home page, and new tab to search from MyWay.com, it will monitor user browsing activity, log searches, visited links, opened websites, and other information. This information is forwarded to Mindspark ad servers, then later sold/used to better target ads.

While browsing the internet with this extension you will see additional injected ads and sponsored content throughout your browsing sessions (even if the ads do not match your search queries). It can inject banners to websites, and sometimes even put an ad above website content making it extremely annoying to deal with.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijacking means that a malicious code has taken power over and modified the settings of your web browser, without your permission. Browser hijackers are capable of doing many different things on your computer. Typically, browser hijacking is used for earning ad revenue that comes from forced advert mouse clicks and site visits. Even though it might seem naive, all browser hijackers are damaging and thus always classified as security threats. Browser hijackers can also permit other destructive programs without your knowledge to further damage the computer. How one can determine if your browser is hijacked Signs that a browser is a hi-jacked include: 1. your home page is reset to some unknown webpage 2. new bookmarks pointing to pornographic websites have been added to your favorite pages 3. the essential web browser settings are modified and unwanted or unsafe resources are added to the trusted sites list 4. find new toolbars that you simply did not add 5. you find lots of pop-ups on your screen 6. your web browser starts running slowly or presents frequent errors 7. Inability to navigate to certain websites, particularly antivirus and other security software webpages.

Exactly how browser hijacker finds its way to your computer

Browser hijackers can get into a computer in some way or other, for instance via file sharing, downloads, and e-mail too. Many web browser hijackings come from add-on programs, i.e., browser helper objects (BHO), toolbars, or extensions added to browsers to give them additional features. Sometimes you may have mistakenly accepted a browser hijacker as part of a software bundle (generally freeware or shareware). A good example of some well-known browser hijackers includes Conduit, Anyprotect, Babylon, DefaultTab, SweetPage, Delta Search, and RocketTab, but the names are continually changing. Browser hijackers can record user keystrokes to gather potentially invaluable information leading to privacy concerns, cause instability on computers, severely disrupt user’s browsing experience, and eventually slow down the computer to a stage where it becomes unusable.

How to get rid of a browser hijacker

Certain browser hijacking could be simply stopped by discovering and removing the corresponding malware application through your control panel. Many times, it could be a tough job to find and delete the malicious program because the associated file will be running as part of the operating system process. Moreover, manual removal requires you to perform many time-consuming and tricky procedures that are very hard to conduct for new computer users. Industry experts always suggest users eliminate any malware including browser hijacker by using an automatic removal tool, which is easier, safer, and faster than the manual removal solution. If you’d like to eliminate persistent hijackers effectively, install the award-winning anti-malware software Safebytes Anti-Malware. And employ a system optimizer, such as Total System Care, to erase all related files from the registry and fix browser issues.

Can't Install Safebytes Anti-malware because of a Virus? Try This!

Practically all malware is inherently harmful, but certain types of malware do a lot more damage to your computer than others. Some malware types modify browser settings by adding a proxy server or modify the computer’s DNS configuration settings. In such cases, you will be unable to visit some or all sites, and thus unable to download or install the required security software to remove the infection. So what to do if malicious software prevents you from downloading or installing Anti-Malware? There are some fixes you could try to get around with this problem.

Install in Safe Mode with Networking

In the event the malware is set to load at Windows startup, then booting in safe mode should avoid it. Since only the bare minimum applications and services launch in “Safe Mode”, there are rarely any reasons for issues to take place. To start your Windows XP, Vista, or 7 computers in Safe Mode with Networking, do as instructed below. 1) At power on, press the F8 key while the Windows splash screen starts to load. This will conjure up the Advanced Boot Options menu. 2) Choose Safe Mode with Networking with arrow keys and hit Enter. 3) Once you get into this mode, you should have an internet connection once again. Now, utilize your browser to download and install Safebytes Anti-malware. 4) After installation, run a full scan and let the program delete the threats it discovers.

Obtain the security software using an alternate browser

Malicious program code may exploit vulnerabilities on a specific browser and block access to all anti-malware software sites. In the event you suspect that your Internet Explorer has been hijacked by a computer virus or otherwise compromised by online hackers, the ideal approach would be to switch to a different internet browser like Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, or Apple Safari to download your chosen security software – Safebytes Anti-Malware.

Install and run anti-virus from your Thumb drive

Another way is to download and transfer anti-malware software from a clean PC to run a scan on the affected computer. Abide by these steps to run the anti-malware on the infected computer. 1) On a clean computer, install Safebytes Anti-Malware. 2) Insert the USB drive into the uninfected computer. 3) Double-click the executable file to open the installation wizard. 4) Pick the USB drive as the location when the wizard asks you exactly where you want to install the application. Follow the directions to complete the installation process. 5) Now, transfer the pen drive to the infected PC. 6) Double-click the EXE file to open the Safebytes software right from the pen drive. 7) Hit the “Scan Now” button to start the virus scan.

A Look at the Best AntiMalware Program

Today an anti-malware tool can protect your computer or laptop from different types of internet threats. But how to choose the right one amongst various malware protection application that’s available on the market? Perhaps you might be aware, there are numerous anti-malware companies and tools for you to consider. A few are well worth your money, but most aren’t. You need to be careful not to select the wrong application, particularly if you purchase a premium program. One of the highly recommended tools by industry leaders is SafeBytes Anti-Malware, the most dependable program for Windows computers. SafeBytes anti-malware is a trustworthy tool that not only secures your computer permanently but is also quite easy to use for people of all ability levels. This program can easily identify, remove, and protect your personal computer from the latest malware attacks such as spyware, adware, trojan horses, ransomware, PUPs, worms, parasites along other potentially harmful software programs.

SafeBytes has excellent features when compared to various other anti-malware programs. Listed here are some of the great ones:

Anti-Malware Protection: Using its advanced and sophisticated algorithm, this malware elimination tool can detect and eliminate the malware threats hiding in your computer system effectively. Active Protection: SafeBytes provides round-the-clock protection for your computer limiting malware attacks instantly. This software will constantly keep track of your computer for suspicious activity and updates itself continuously to keep current with the latest threats. Web Protection: Through its unique safety rating, SafeBytes alerts you whether a website is safe or not to access it. This will assure that you’re always certain of your online safety when browsing the internet. High-Speed Malware Scanning Engine: SafeBytes’s high-speed malware scanning engine lessens scan times and extends battery life. At the same time, it’ll effectively find and eradicate infected computer files or any internet threat. Low Memory/CPU Usage: SafeBytes is renowned for its minimal influence on computer resources and great detection rate of diverse threats. It runs quietly and efficiently in the background so you’re free to use your computer or laptop at full power all of the time. Premium Support: For any technical inquiries or product guidance, you can obtain 24/7 professional assistance via chat and e-mail. To conclude, SafeBytes Anti-Malware is really great for securing your computer against all sorts of malware threats. Malware trouble will become a thing of the past once you put this software program to use. If you’re looking for the very best malware removal application out there, and when you don’t mind shelling out some dollars for it, go for SafeBytes Anti-Malware.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you’d like to manually get rid of EverydayLookup without using an automated tool, it might be possible to do so by removing the application from the Microsoft Windows Add/Remove Programs menu, or in cases of browser plug-ins, going to the browsers AddOn/Extension manager and uninstalling it. You will likely also want to reset your internet browser. To be certain of complete removal, find the following registry entries on your computer and delete them or reset the values appropriately. However, this is a complicated task and only computer experts can perform it safely. Furthermore, certain malware is capable of replicating or preventing removal. It is recommended that you carry out the removal procedure in Windows Safe Mode.

ExpressFiles is a program developed by Express Solutions. A number of Anti-Virus programs have flagged this program as a Potentially Unwanted Application. In many instances, it is bundled with additional programs on installation.

The program claims it offers users easy to search for various currently popular search terms. During our testing, the software never displays any search results, no matter the search words. Upon installation and setup, it defines an auto-start registry entry which makes this program run on each Windows boot for all user logins. A scheduled task is added to Windows Task Scheduler in order to launch the program at various scheduled times. The program defines an exception rule in Windows Firewall, allowing it to connect to the internet without limitations and auto-update itself.

About Browser Hijackers

Precisely what is a PUP?

If you’ve ever downloaded a free application or shareware, chances are high that the computer can get installed with a bunch of unwanted applications. A PUA / PUP (potentially unwanted application / potentially unwanted program) is a software program that comes bundled with free software and you consent to install it on your PC. These are programs you almost certainly don’t want on your computer simply because it doesn’t give any valuable service. Despite being regarded as very detrimental, PUPs aren’t always viruses or malware One simple difference between PUP and malware is distribution. Malware is normally dropped by silent installation vectors like drive-by downloads while PUP gets installed with the consent of the computer user, who purposefully or unknowingly approves the PUP installation on its PC. Having said that, there is no doubt that PUPs remain bad news for PC users as they can be incredibly damaging to the computer in numerous ways.

Exactly how do unwanted programs look like?

Potentially Unwanted Programs appear in different forms and varieties, however, in the majority of instances, they are adware programs that exhibit irritating pop-up ads and advertisements on websites you explore. In addition, the majority of free programs these days come with some unwanted add-ons; in most cases an internet browser toolbar or browser modification like a homepage hijacker. They’ll keep track of your online routines, redirect your search results to risky websites where viruses can be downloaded and installed, hijack your home page, and slow your browser down to a crawl. Potentially Unwanted Programs occasionally act quite much like computer viruses or spyware. They might carry keyloggers, dialers, browser hijackers, and tracking components that gather system details, or tracks customer habits and relays this information to third-party firms. Even if the PUPs really aren’t basically malicious, these software programs still do absolutely nothing good on your personal computer – they will take valuable system resources, slow down your PC, weaken your computer security, and make your system more susceptible to trojans.

How do you avoid PUPs?

• Read cautiously before accepting the license agreement as it may have a clause about PUPs. • Always opt for the custom if you’re presented an option between “Custom” and “Recommended” Installations – never click Next, Next, Next blindly. • Have a top-notch antivirus program like Safebytes Anti-Malware which can protect your computer from PUPs. As soon as you install this software, protection from malware and PUPs is already switched on. • Think carefully before you download any kind of shareware or freeware. Disable or get rid of toolbars and browser extensions you don’t really need. • Only use official product websites for downloading programs. Stay away from download portals altogether as most websites compel users to download the software using their own download manager, which is often bundled up with some sort of PUPs.

What To Do If You Cannot Install Any Anti-Malware?

All malware is bad, but certain types of malicious software do a lot more damage to your computer than others. Some malware types modify browser settings by adding a proxy server or modify the PC’s DNS settings. In these instances, you will be unable to visit some or all of the websites, and therefore not able to download or install the required security software to remove the infection. If you are reading this right now, you have perhaps recognized that a malware infection is a reason for your blocked web connectivity. So how to proceed when you want to install an anti-malware application like Safebytes? Follow the instructions below to eliminate malware by alternative methods.

Install in Safe Mode

The Windows-based PC comes with a special mode called “Safe Mode” where just the bare minimum required applications and services are loaded. If the malware is set to load immediately when the computer starts, shifting to this mode may well 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 locate the “Safe Boot” options under the “Boot” tab. As soon as you restart the PC into Safe Mode with Networking, you could download, install, and update anti-malware software from there. Right after installation, run the malware scanner to get rid of standard infections.

Utilize an alternate internet browser to download antivirus software

Web-based malware could be environment-specific, targeting a specific web browser or attacking particular versions of the web browser. If you’re not able to download the anti-virus application using Internet Explorer, this means the virus is targeting IE’s vulnerabilities. Here, you need to switch to a different web browser such as Chrome or Firefox to download the Safebytes Anti-malware program.

Install and run antivirus from a Thumb drive

Here’s yet another solution which is creating a portable USB anti-virus software that can scan your computer for malware without the need for installation. Try these simple actions to clean up your infected computer using portable anti-malware. 1) Download Safebytes Anti-Malware or Microsoft Windows Defender Offline onto a clean PC. 2) Mount the pen drive on the same PC. 3) Run the setup program by double-clicking the executable file of the downloaded software, which has a .exe file extension. 4) Select the drive letter of the USB drive as the location when the wizard asks you exactly where you would like to install the anti-malware. Follow activation instructions. 5) Now, insert the thumb drive into the corrupted PC. 6) Run the Safebytes Anti-malware directly from the pen drive by double-clicking the icon. 7) Click the “Scan” button to run a full computer scan and remove viruses automatically.

Overview of SafeBytes Anti-Malware

If you are looking to download the anti-malware program for your computer, there are lots of tools in the market to consider nonetheless, you just cannot trust blindly anyone, irrespective of whether it is free or paid software. A few of them do a great job in removing threats while some will ruin your PC by themselves. You need to pick a company that develops industry-best antimalware and has achieved a reputation as trustworthy. When considering commercial tool options, most people opt for well-known brands, such as SafeBytes, and they are quite happy with it. SafeBytes anti-malware is really a powerful, very effective protection software made to help users of all levels of computer literacy in detecting and removing malicious threats out of their computer. Using its outstanding protection system, this utility will quickly detect and get rid of the majority of the security threats, which include adware, viruses, browser hijackers, ransomware, PUPs, and trojans. SafeBytes anti-malware takes computer protection to a totally new level with its advanced features. Here are a few typical features present in this software: Live Protection: SafeBytes offers complete and real-time security for your laptop or computer. It’ll regularly monitor your computer for hacker activity and also gives end-users superior firewall protection. Most Reliable AntiMalware Protection: With its enhanced and sophisticated algorithm, this malware elimination tool can find and eliminate the malware threats hiding in your PC effectively. “Fast Scan” Features: SafeBytes’s high-speed malware scanning engine minimizes scanning times and extends battery life. Simultaneously, it will effectively identify and remove infected computer files or any online threat. Web Protection: SafeBytes checks and gives a unique safety ranking to each and every website you visit and block access to webpages considered to be phishing sites, thus safeguarding you from identity theft, or known to contain malicious software. Low CPU/Memory Usage: SafeBytes is well known for its low effect on computer resources and great detection rate of diverse threats. It runs quietly and efficiently in the background so you’re free to use your PC at full power all of the time. 24/7 Premium Support: SafeBytes gives you 24/7 technical support, automatic maintenance, and upgrades for the best user experience.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you wish to manually remove ExpressFiles 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 browser extensions, going to the browsers AddOn/Extension manager and removing it. You will likely also want to reset your browser. To ensure the complete removal, manually check your hard drive and registry for all of the following and remove or reset the values accordingly. Please note that this is for advanced users only and may be difficult, with incorrect file removal causing additional PC errors. In addition, some malware is capable of replicating or preventing deletion. Doing this in Safe Mode is advised.

The following files, folders, and registry entries are created or modified by ExpressFiles

In case you don’t know, Groove Music is due to retire its OneDrive streaming service this month. Despite that being the case, there is actually a workaround you can try to still continue enjoying music streaming. The app also allows you to play your own local files and if required, you can also modify or tailor the experience with new features – for instance, Groove Music brings an Equalizer to the settings of the app. As the name suggests, the equalizer allows you to tweak frequency responses to your liking. On top of being able to tweak individual bands, the equalizer supports few pre-set settings to enable quick changes. This post will guide you on the process of accessing and using the equalizer in the Groove Music app. To get started, refer to the instructions provided below. Step 1: You need to make sure that you are running the latest version of the Groove Music app or version 10.18011.1211.0 or higher in order to use the equalizer in Groove Music. If needed, you can check the version number from Windows Store. Step 2: Open Windows Store and then click on the ellipses icon and select the Downloads and Updates option. Step 3: Next, search for Groove Music and check its version number. Step 4: Now that you’ve verified the version number of Groove Music, you need to open the equalizer setting. It is enabled by default and to access it, click on the gear icon for Settings and select equalizer under the Playback settings. Step 5: After that, the Equalizer window will pop up. It is where you can configure the equalizer settings using the drop-down menu. Here are the following presets you can choose from:

• Flat
• Treble Boost
• Bass Boost
• Headphones
• Laptop
• Portable speakers
• Home Stereo
• TV
• Car
• Custom

Step 6: Drag the dots upwards or downwards to set your own preferences, as needed. Note: The only downside to this setting is that there is no shortcut available for quick access as you have to navigate through the Settings section manually to access it and change the preset configurations. In addition, the Groove Music app also works on the mobile version of Windows 10.