Logo

Facebook messengers alternatives

People are becoming more and more concerned with their privacy and Facebook's flagship messaging application is caught between it all. While still widely popular it has becoming to lose its ground due to many unanswered questions about privacy encryption.

Lucky for all of us there are alternatives for more secure messaging.

SIGNAL

Arguably the most secure of all well-regarded messaging apps, Signal is the favorite of the European Commission, as well as newsrooms around the world. While Signal doesn’t disclose how many daily or monthly users the app has, Google’s Play Store says it has been installed more than 50 million times. While using Signal, each voice or video call connected through the app includes full end-to-end encryption.

Signal takes an extra step by hiding message metadata so that the location of the original message is missing. While it asks for your mobile number, that number isn’t used with your profile. Instead, it acts as a numeric username. Once registered, you will find 1-1 chat, audio, and video calls, disappearing or “secret” chats, and a privacy lock so nobody can access the app even if they have your phone. Best of all, it’s completely free to use.

TELEGRAM

One of the biggest competitors to Facebook Messenger (and WhatsApp), Telegram is a very strong alternative. With more than 400 million users, it offers an interface that should feel right at home for anyone coming from Messenger. Telegram offers some huge benefits over Messenger, including features like groups that can hold up to 200,000 members for a chat. There is no limit on your media or chat size, and you can share all types of files between users and in groups.

From a privacy standpoint, Telegram has robust security, but it is worth noting that only “secret” messages are end-to-end encrypted and can self-destruct. Non-secret messages can be stored on Telegram’s servers so you can pick them up between your devices quickly. That’s a consideration worth knowing prior to making Telegram your default Messenger replacement. Telegram is free across all platforms.

THREEMA

Rising in popularity, Threema is another privacy-focused alternative that has quickly become a competitor to Facebook Messenger. This paid service ($2.99 on both App Store and Play Store) is a pay-once, use forever option. Once you pay the small fee, you gain all of Threema’s touted privacy options, like open-source end-to-end encryption for both messages and calls.

Like Signal, Threema won’t require you to link any phone numbers or emails to your account. All chats are handled anonymously, and the service generates a random user ID when you first open and register for the app. No data is collected from any of your chats and no ads are shown.

The Swiss-made app does have its own servers hosted in Switzerland, which do not store any chat messages. Another privacy benefit of Threema is the notion that all of your contact lists, groups, and user profiles are hosted on your device, not on the Swiss servers. Because of that, Threema can once again state that none of your personal info is stored anywhere they have access.

Do You Need Help with Your Device?

Our Team of Experts May Help
Troubleshoot.Tech Experts are There for You!
Replace damaged files
Restore performance
Free disk space
Remove Malware
Protects WEB browser
Remove Viruses
Stop PC freezing
GET HELP
Troubleshoot.Tech experts work with all versions of Microsoft Windows including Windows 11, with Android, Mac, and more.

Share this article:

You might also like

A Quick Guide to Fixing the Stop C00002lA Fatal System Error

Stop C00002lA Fatal System Error- What is it?

C00002lA Fatal System Error is a blue screen of death error that may occur when you start your Windows NT 4.0 based computer. This error causes the screen to turn blue and the system also shuts down. The stop C000021A error message is displayed in the following format:

Stop c000021a {Fatal System Error} The session manager initialization system process terminated unexpectedly with a status of 0xc0000017 (0x00000000, 0x0000000) The system has been shut down.

Error Causes

The stop C000021A error occurs when either Crsrss.exe or Winlogon.exe fails. When the Windows NT kernel identifies that either of these processes has failed, it stops and the error code stop C000021A appears on the computer screen. Here are some of the underlying causes for the stop C0000021A error:
  • The incompatible third-party program
  • Hard disk issues
  • Service pack installation has failed
  • Mismatched system files have been installed
  • Bad and invalid registry keys

Further Information and Manual Repair

To resolve the stop C000021A Fatal System Error on your PC try the following solutions:
  • Remove Incompatible Third Party Programs

If the error occurred after you recently installed a new program, then it is advisable to remove that program. The error occurs due to the incompatibility of the program. To remove the program go to the start menu and click on the control panel. Now click on Add/Remove Program tab and double click on the program name that you recently installed and remove it from the list. Once removed, not reboot your PC. Reinstall a compatible program and run it. It is most likely to resolve the issue. However, if the stop C000021A error still occurs, then it means the problem is critical. It is related to the registry.
  • Repair and Restore the Registry

This procedure is slightly long and tricky. To try it, you need to be technically sound. Here’s what you have to do: first create a parallel installation of Windows NT. Start your PC to the parallel installation and then open the Registry Editor. On the Registry Editor’s Windows menu click HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE on Local Machine and then click Load Hive. Now type the path %systemroot%system32configsystem into the System hive of the prior installation. Then click open. Here you will be prompted to enter the name of the key, type TEST. Note the setting for the current DWord value in the preceding registry key. This is 0x1 and is denoted by CURRENT:Reg_Dword: 0x1. This value indicated that the Current Control Set for your original Windows NT installation corresponds to ControlSet001 in this window. Now if the value is 2, it indicated that the Current Control Set corresponds to ControlSet002. Now locate the following registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINETESTControlSetXXXControlSession Manager. XXX is the Current Control Set Value. And delete any pending file rename operation entries. Then click TEST hive and then click Unload Hive. After that again repeat the process, open the registry menu and click load hive, here type the path %systemroot%system32configSoftware to the Software hive of the prior installation and then click open. Now you type TEST 2 when you are prompted for the name of the key. Remove any pending file rename operations entries in the following registry keys: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINETEST2MicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRunOnce HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINETEST2MicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRunOnceEx Now click TEST2 hive and then click unload hive. Quit the Registry Editor and then restart your original installation. This will resolve the stop C000021A error.
Read More
Airplane Mode turns on by itself in Windows
As you know, Airplane mode is the one that gets devices in such a state where all the wireless connections are turned off. However, recently, there are some reports from users claiming that the Airplane Mode turns on by itself in their Windows 10 computers. This kind of problem could be due to an error with the Network driver, third-party applications, and many other factors. Other users also reported that the Airplane Mode automatically flickers, while some stated that they aren’t able to toggle the option for Airplane mode. There are several options you can try to resolve this problem. You can try to configure the Power Management settings for the driver or run the Network troubleshooter. You could also roll back, reinstall or update the Network driver, as well as troubleshoot the problem in a Clean Boot State. For more details, follow each one of the given options below.

Option 1 – Try configuring the Power Management settings for the driver

The first thing you can do to fix the problem is to try configuring the Power Management settings for the driver. How? Refer to these steps:
  • Tap the Win + X keys to open the WinX menu and from there, select the Device Manager to open it.
  • Next, expand the Network adapters and select the entry for your Wi-Fi hardware.
  • After that, right-click on it and select Properties.
  • From there, go to the Power Management tab and uncheck the “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power” option.
  • Once done, restart your computer and see if it has fixed the problem.

Option 2 – Try to run the Network troubleshooter

To run the Network Troubleshooter, refer to these steps:
  • 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.
  • Restart your computer.

Option 3 – Try to update, rollback or reinstall the Network adapter drivers

The next thing you can do to resolve the problem is to update the Network Adapter drivers by following these steps:
  • 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 them.
  • Look for the Broadcom Network Adapter and right-click on it, as well as other network adapters that have an exclamation icon, and update them all.
  • Restart your PC and see if it helped in fixing the problem.
Note: If updating the network drivers didn’t help in fixing the problem, you can also try to roll back the very same drivers from their previous versions 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 drivers, 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 4 – Try to reset the Network Adapter

You can also try to perform a Network Reset to resolve the problem. This will reset the entire network configuration including your IP address. To perform Network Reset, follow these steps:
  • Tap the Win + I keys to open Settings.
  • From there, go to the Network and Internet section.
  • Next, scroll down and look for “Network Reset” under the status pane.
  • After that, click on Network Reset and then on Reset now to start resetting the network configuration. Once done, check if it is able to fix the error or not.

Option 5 – Try putting your computer in a Clean Boot State

You can also troubleshoot the problem in a Clean Boot state. It could be that there are some third-party applications in your computer that are causing the Airplane Mode to behave in a strange way. So, to isolate this possibility, you need to boot your computer in a Clean Boot State be using these steps:
  • Log onto your PC as an administrator.
  • Type in MSConfig in the Start Search to open the System Configuration utility.
  • From there, go to the General tab and click “Selective startup”.
  • Clear the “Load Startup items” check box and make sure that the “Load System Services” and “Use Original boot configuration” options are checked.
  • Next, click the Services tab and select the “Hide All Microsoft Services” check box.
  • Click Disable all.
  • Click on Apply/OK and restart your PC. (This will put your PC into a Clean Boot State. And configure Windows to use the usual startup, just simply undo the changes.)
  • After you’ve set your computer into a Clean Boot State, try to observe if the Airplane mode is now back to normal or not.
Read More
How to Get Rid of GifsGalore

The GifsGalore Toolbar from Mindspark Interactive Network, Inc. is proposed to active Web users who like to embed GIFs into their emails and share entertaining GIFs with friends via social media services. The GifsGalore software can be added to your Internet client for free but you need to be using Google Chrome, Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox for the GifsGalore Toolbar to be activated.

When installed it hijacks your New tab page and default search engine changing them to search.myway.com. This extension also monitors user browsing activity recording information such as: visited websites, clicked links, viewed products, etc. This information is later used to better target ads. While browsing the internet with this extension enabled you will see additional pop-up ads, as well as sponsored links and injected ads throughout your browsing session, especially in search results.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijacking is actually a form of unwanted software program, often a browser add-on or extension, which causes modifications in web browser’s settings. There are various reasons why you may experience an internet browser hijack; however commercial, advertising, and marketing are definitely the main reasons for their creation. The idea would be to force users to visit specific sites that are aiming to improve their site visitor traffic and generate higher ad earnings. It could seem naive, but most of these sites are not legitimate and could present a serious risk to your online safety. Browser hijackers can even let other vicious programs without your knowledge further damage the computer.

Find out how to identify a browser hijack

When your web browser is hijacked, the following can happen: the browser’s homepage is modified; bookmark and the new tab are also changed; the default search engine has been changed and your browser security settings have been lowered without your knowledge; you see unwanted new toolbars added; unstoppable flurries of popup ads appear on your computer screen; your web browser gets sluggish, buggy, crashes very often; you are prohibited access to particular web pages, including the site of an anti-malware software developer like SafeBytes.

How browser hijacker finds its way onto your computer system

Browser hijackers might use drive-by downloads or file-sharing networks or perhaps an email attachment to reach a targeted computer. They may also come from any BHO, browser extension, toolbar, add-on, or plug-in with malicious purpose. Other times you might have unintentionally accepted a browser hijacker as part of an application package (usually freeware or shareware). Examples of well-known browser hijackers are Fireball, CoolWebSearch. save, Ask Toolbar, RocketTab, and Babylon Toolbar.

Removal

Some browser hijacking could be quite easily reversed by discovering and removing the corresponding malware software from your control panel. Yet, certain hijackers are far harder to find or eliminate since they might get themselves associated with some crucial computer files that enable them to operate as a necessary operating system process. Additionally, manual removals demand deep system knowledge and therefore can be a very difficult job for novices. Installing and running an anti-malware program on the affected computer could automatically erase browser hijackers and other malicious applications. Safebytes Anti-Malware has a sophisticated anti-malware engine to help you prevent browser hijacking in the first place, and mop up any pre-existing problems. And use a PC optimizer, like Total System Care, to get rid of all related files in the registry and repair browser issues.

What you can do if Malware Stops You From Downloading Or Installing Anything?

All malware is bad, but certain types of malware do a lot more damage to your computer than others. Some malware is created to restrict or prevent things that you want to do on your PC. It may well not let you download anything from the internet or stop you from accessing some or all websites, particularly the antivirus websites. If you’re reading this article, you may have infected by a virus that stops you from installing security software such as Safebytes Antimalware on your PC. There are some actions you can take to circumvent this problem.

Remove malware in Safe Mode

The Windows OS includes a special mode known as “Safe Mode” in which just the bare minimum required programs and services are loaded. If the malware is obstructing internet access and affecting the computer, launching it in Safe Mode allows you to download anti-virus and run a scan whilst limiting possible damage. To enter into Safe Mode or Safe Mode with Networking, press the F8 key while the computer is starting up or run MSConfig and find the “Safe Boot” options in the “Boot” tab. After you restart into Safe Mode with Networking, you can download, install, as well as update the anti-malware program from there. At this point, you could run the antivirus scan to remove computer viruses and malware without any interference from another application.

Download the security software using an alternate web browser

Web-based viruses can be environment-specific, aiming for a particular browser or attacking specific versions of the browser. If you are not able to download the anti-malware software program using Internet Explorer, it means the virus could be targeting IE’s vulnerabilities. Here, you should switch over to a different browser like Firefox or Chrome to download the Safebytes Anti-malware program.

Install and run antivirus from your USB drive

Another solution is to create a portable anti-malware program onto your USB stick. Adopt these measures to run the antivirus on the affected computer system. 1) Make use of another virus-free computer to download Safebytes Anti-Malware. 2) Plug the Thumb drive into the uninfected computer. 3) Double click on the executable file to run the installation wizard. 4) Select flash drive as the place when the wizard asks you where you wish to install the software. Do as instructed on the screen to finish up the installation process. 5) Now, transfer the USB drive to the infected computer system. 6) Double click the Safebytes Anti-malware icon on the thumb drive to run the software. 7) Click on “Scan Now” to run a complete scan on the affected computer for malware.

How SafeBytes Anti-Malware Keep your Computer Virus Free

If you’re planning to purchase anti-malware for your desktop, there are plenty of brands and utilities for you to consider. A few of them are good but there are lots of scamware applications that pretend as legit anti-malware programs waiting around to wreak havoc on your computer. You need to go with a tool that has obtained a strong reputation and detects not only viruses but other kinds of malware as well. Amongst few good applications, SafeBytes Anti-Malware is the strongly recommended software program for the security-conscious individual. SafeBytes anti-malware is a trusted tool that not only protects your PC completely but is also extremely user-friendly for people of all ability levels. With its cutting-edge technology, this application can help you remove multiples types of malware which include viruses, trojans, PUPs, worms, ransomware, adware, and browser hijackers.

SafeBytes anti-malware provides a myriad of enhanced features that sets it aside from all others. Below are a few of the good ones:

Robust, Anti-malware Protection: Built upon a greatly acclaimed anti-virus engine, this malware removal tool can identify and remove several stubborn malware threats like browser hijackers, PUPs, and ransomware that other common antivirus software will miss. Live Protection: SafeBytes gives you round-the-clock protection for your personal computer restricting malware intrusions instantly. They’re extremely effective in screening and removing numerous threats because they are regularly improved with new updates and alerts. Web Filtering: SafeBytes inspects the links present on a web page for possible threats and alerts you whether the website is safe to browse or not, through its unique safety ranking system. Fast Scan: SafeBytes’s virus scan engine is one of the quickest and most efficient in the industry. It's targeted scanning greatly increases the catch rate for viruses which is embedded in various computer files. Very Low CPU and RAM Usage: SafeBytes is a lightweight and easy-of-use anti-virus and anti-malware solution. Since it uses low computer resources, this application leaves the computer power exactly where it belongs to: with you. 24/7 Premium Support: You will get 24/7 technical support to quickly resolve any issue with your security tool. To sum it up all, SafeBytes Anti-Malware offers superb protection combined with very low system resource usage with both great malware detection and prevention. You now may realize that this particular software does more than just scan and eliminate threats from your computer. You’ll get the best all-around protection for the money you spend on SafeBytes AntiMalware subscription, there isn’t any doubt about it.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

To remove GifsGalore manually, go to the Add or Remove programs list in the Windows Control Panel and select the program you want to get rid of. For internet browser extensions, go to your web browser’s Addon/Extension manager and choose the add-on you would like to remove or disable. You’ll probably also want to reset your web browser. If you choose to manually delete the system files and registry entries, use the following list to make sure you know precisely what files to remove before undertaking any actions. However, editing the registry is usually a difficult task that only experienced users and professionals should try to fix it. Moreover, some malware is capable of replicating or preventing deletion. Carrying out this malware-removal process in Safe Mode is recommended.
Files: %LOCALAPPDATA%\GifsGaloreTooltab %UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application Data\GifsGaloreTooltab %UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\fnjgjdfhhakkbojkgmiihabbbjhgbchh %UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\fnjgjdfhhakkbojkgmiihabbbjhgbchh %LOCALAPPDATA%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\fnjgjdfhhakkbojkgmiihabbbjhgbchh Registry: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\[APPLICATION]\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall..Uninstaller GifsGaloreTooltab Uninstall Internet Explorer HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\LowRegistry\DOMStorage\gifsgalore.dl.tb.ask.com HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\LowRegistry\DOMStorage\gifsgalore.dl.myway.com HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\GifsGalore
Read More
How to remove CrazyForCrafts From Your PC

CrazyForCrafts is a Browser Extension from Mindspark Interactive. This Toolbar Extension allegedly offers users tons of DIY crafting guides and tricks, however all that it does is point you in the right direction. It links you back to some of the most popular DIY Crafting websites on the internet that you can find at any time by a simple search.

While this may look useful and faster than looking around the internet for good DIY projects, remember that this extension injects itself into your browser, changing your new tab page to Search.MyWay.com and records your browsing habits, can view your internet history, and know whatever you are looking for or viewing online.

While using this extension you will see additional pop-up ads, sponsored content, and injected ads throughout your browsing sessions.

Due to its behavior this extension has been marked for removal by several anti-virus scanners, and it is recommended to remove it from your computer to prevent data leaks.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijackers (sometimes called hijackware) are a type of malicious software that alters web browser configuration settings without the computer owner’s knowledge or permission. These hijacks appear to be increasing at an worrying rate around the world, and it can be really nefarious and sometimes dangerous too. They’re designed to disrupt browser functions for many different reasons. These are typically used to force visitors to a specific website, manipulating web-traffic to earn ad revenue. Although it might appear naive, all browser hijackers are damaging and therefore always classified as security threats. In a much worst case, your internet browser could be hijacked to download malware that will do a great deal of damage to your computer or laptop.

How one can know whether the browser is hijacked?

Symptoms that a web browser is hi-jacked include: the browser’s homepage is changed; new bookmarks pointing to pornographic sites have been added to your favorite pages; the essential web browser settings are modified and unwanted or insecure sites are added to the trusted websites listing; you are finding new toolbars you have never found before; you might see numerous pop-up ads on your computer screen; your browser has become unstable or starts running sluggishly; Inability to navigate to certain sites, especially antivirus as well as other computer security software websites.

How browser hijacker infects computers

Browser hijackers may use drive-by downloads or file-sharing websites or perhaps an e-mail attachment to reach a targeted PC. They also come from add-on software, also called browser helper objects (BHO), browser extensions, or toolbars. Also, certain freeware and shareware can put the hijacker in your PC through “bundling”. Examples of well-known browser hijackers are Fireball, CoolWebSearch. GoSave, Ask Toolbar, RocketTab, and Babylon Toolbar. The presence of any browser hijacker on your system might substantially diminish the web browsing experience, track your online activities that result in serious privacy concerns, develop system stability problems and eventually cause your computer to slow down or to an almost unusable condition.

How to remove a browser hijacker

Some hijackers can be easily removed by uninstalling the free software they were included with or by removing any extension you’ve recently added to your browser. But, most hijacking codes are certainly not very easy to get rid of manually, as they go much deeper into your operating system. You should consider performing manual repairs only if you’re a tech-savvy person, as potential risks are associated to tinkering with the system registry and HOSTS file. Browser hijackers could be effectively removed by installing anti-malware software on the affected system. SafeBytes Anti-Malware can counter relentless browser hijackers and provide you with proactive PC protection against all kinds of malware. In addition to anti-virus software, a system optimizer software, like Total System Care, will help you correct Windows registry errors, remove unwanted toolbars, secure online privacy, and stabilize software programs installed on your PC.

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

Malware can cause all kinds of damage once they invade your PC, ranging from stealing your private details to deleting files on your PC. Some malware is meant to interfere with or prevent things that you wish to do on your PC. It may well not allow you to download anything from the net or it will stop you from accessing a few or all internet sites, especially the anti-malware sites. If you’re reading this, odds are you’re stuck with a malware infection which is preventing you to download or install Safebytes Anti-Malware program on your system. Although this type of issue will be difficult to get around, there are a few steps you can take.

Get rid of malware in Safe Mode

The Windows-based PC has a special mode referred to as “Safe Mode” in which only the minimum required applications and services are loaded. In the event the malware is blocking access to the internet and affecting your computer, starting it in Safe Mode enables you to download antivirus and run a scan while limiting potential damage. To enter into Safe Mode or Safe Mode with Networking, press the F8 key while the computer is booting 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 may download, install, as well as update anti-malware software from there. Following installation, run the malware scanner to eliminate standard infections.

Obtain the antivirus software using an alternate web browser

Malicious code could exploit vulnerabilities on a particular browser and block access to all anti-virus software websites. If you appear to have a virus attached to Internet Explorer, then switch over to a different browser with built-in safety features, such as Firefox or Chrome, to download your favorite anti-malware program – Safebytes.

Make a bootable USB anti-virus drive

Here’s yet another solution which is using a portable USB anti-malware software package that can check your computer for malicious software without needing installation. To run anti-malware using a USB drive, follow these simple steps: 1) Download the anti-malware on a virus-free PC. 2) Plug the Flash drive into the uninfected computer. 3) Double click on the exe file to run the installation wizard. 4) Choose the drive letter of the pen drive as the place when the wizard asks you where you would like to install the antivirus. Follow activation instructions. 5) Remove the pen drive. You can now utilize this portable anti-malware on the affected computer system. 6) Run the Safebytes Anti-malware directly from the pen drive by double-clicking the icon. 7) Click “Scan Now” to run a complete scan on the infected computer for malware.

Features of SafeBytes Anti-Malware

If you are planning to buy anti-malware for your computer system, there are lots of brands and packages for you to consider. A few of them are great, some are ok types, and some will destroy your computer themselves! You have to be careful not to select the wrong application, especially if you buy a paid software. Amongst few good applications, SafeBytes Anti-Malware is the highly recommended tool for security-conscious people. SafeBytes antimalware is a very effective and easy to use protection tool which is designed for end-users of all levels of computer literacy. With its cutting edge technology, this software will help you get rid of multiples types of malware which includes viruses, worms, PUPs, trojans, adware, ransomware and browser hijackers.

SafeBytes anti-malware takes PC protection to a whole new level with its enhanced features. A few of them are given as below:

Real-time Threat Response: SafeBytes offers complete and real-time security for your personal machine. This utility will constantly keep track of your PC for any suspicious activity and updates itself regularly to keep abreast of the latest threats. World-class AntiMalware Protection: Using its advanced and sophisticated algorithm, this malware elimination tool can identify and get rid of the malware threats hiding in your computer effectively. Web protection: SafeBytes checks the hyperlinks present on a web page for possible threats and alerts you if the website is safe to view or not, through its unique safety rating system. Lightweight: SafeBytes is lightweight software. It use up a very small amount of processing power as it works in the background so you’re free to use your Windows-based PC the way you would like. 24/7 Support: You can get totally free 24/7 technical assistance from their computer experts on any product queries or computer security issues. Overall, SafeBytes Anti-Malware is a solid program since it has plenty of features and could detect and remove any potential threats. Now you may realize that this tool does more than just scan and delete threats from your PC. For the best protection and the best value for money, you can’t get better than SafeBytes Anti-Malware.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

To get rid of CrazyForCrafts manually, navigate to the Add/Remove programs list in the Control Panel and choose the offending program you want to get rid of. For web browser plug-ins, go to your web browser’s Addon/Extension manager and select the plug-in you want to remove or disable. It is also suggested to reset your browser to its default condition to fix corrupt settings. If you choose to manually delete the system files and registry entries, use the following checklist to make sure you know exactly what files to remove before undertaking any actions. Please keep in mind that this is for skilled users only and might be challenging, with incorrect file removal leading to additional system errors. Additionally, certain malicious programs have the capability to defend against its deletion. Completing this task in Safe Mode is advised.
Registry: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetServicesWpm HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerMain Default_Page_URL HKEY_LOCAL_Machine\Software\Classes\[adware name] HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run .exe HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\random HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\run\random HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings CertificateRevocation = 0
Read More
Fix Windows errors 80240020, 8007002C, 80246007, 80070004
Upgrading your Windows 10 computer does not always go smoothly and you often encounter not just one but various errors so, in this post, we are going to cover several Windows 10 upgrade errors such as 80240020, 8007002C, 80246007, 80070004. All these upgrade errors are related to the Windows Update folder. Thus, you need to clear the Software Distribution folder, repair the System Image and fix System Health in order to resolve all these Windows 10 Upgrade errors. Before you get started on the steps to resolve these tons of errors, you have to disable your security program for the meantime, disconnect your peripherals, remove USBs connected to your PC and then make sure that your PC is connected to the main power supply. Once you have everything covered, carefully follow the options given below.

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

The Software Distribution folder in the Windows operating system is a folder that can be found in the Windows directory and is used to store files temporarily which might be required to install the Windows Update on your PC. Thus, it is required by the Windows Update and maintained by WUAgent. A lot of users tried deleting the files in this folder to fix the problem and so far it has worked. Like them, you can try clearing the Windows Update cache by simply deleting the contents of the folder named “SoftwareDistribution” since Windows apparently can’t clear and re-download the update contents once they are corrupted. Thus, deleting the contents of this folder will make Windows download the contents again which will fix the problem. To do that, follow the steps below.
  • Open the WinX Menu.
  • From there, open Command Prompt as admin.
  • Then type in the following command – don’t forget to hit Enter right after typing each one of them.
net stop wuauserv net stop bits
  • After entering these commands, it will stop the Windows Update Service and the Background Intelligent Transfer Service.
  • Next, go to the C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution folder and get rid of all the folders and files thereby tapping the Ctrl + A keys to select them all and then click on Delete. Note that if the files are in use, you won’t be able to delete them.
  • Once all the contents in the Software Distribution folder are deleted, restart your PC and then go back to Command Prompt and input the following commands again.
net start wuauserv net start bits
Since the folder has already been flushed, it will be populated afresh the instant your restart your computer and open Windows Update.
  • Now Open Settings and check for Windows Updates. Windows 10 should begin the download right away.

Option 2 – Try using the DISM tool

Running the DISM Tool helps in repairing the Windows System Image as well as the Windows Component Store in Windows 10. Using this built-in tool, you have various options such as the “/ScanHealth”, “/CheckHealth”, and “/RestoreHealth”.
  • Open the Command Prompt with admin privileges.
  • Then type in the following commands and make sure to hit Enter right after you type each one of them:
    • Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
    • Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
    • exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
  • Do not close the window if the process takes a while as it will probably take a few minutes to finish.
Note: If it happens that the Windows Update client is broken, you need to run the following command to repair it then restart your PC and click on Update once again.
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:C:RepairSourceWindows /LimitAccess
Note: The Windows Upgrade error, with error code 80240020 is an expected error message that happens when the upgrade requires customer user action. Thus, you need to do the following steps to resolve this particular Windows Upgrade error.
  • Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
  • Then type “regedit” in the field and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor.
  • After that, navigate to this registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionWindowsUpdate
  • Now right click on WindowsUpdate located in the left pane and then create a new key and name it as “OSUpgrade
  • Next, right-click in an empty space in the left pane and create a new DWORD and name it “AllowOSUpgrade” and enter “1” as its value.

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

Putting your PC in a Clean Boot state can also help you install Windows Updates or Upgrades without any trouble because, during this state, you can start the system with a minimum number of drivers and startup programs that will surely help you in isolating the root cause of the issue.
  • Log onto your PC as an administrator.
  • Type in MSConfig in the Start Search to open the System Configuration utility.
  • From there, go to the General tab and click “Selective startup”.
  • Clear the “Load Startup items” checkbox and make sure that the “Load System Services” and “Use Original boot configuration” options are checked.
  • Next, click the Services tab and select the “Hide All Microsoft Services” checkbox.
  • Click Disable all.
  • Click on Apply/OK and restart your PC. (This will put your PC into a Clean Boot State. And configure Windows to use the usual startup, just simply undo the changes.)
  • After that, try to install the Windows Updates or upgrade again.
Read More
What to do if CPU is not running at full speed
The speed at which the CPU runs varies depending on any Windows laptop or desktop. And in case you don’t know, the CPU does not run at full speed all the time as it depends on how the operating system distributes the load so it works accordingly. However, there are instances when it runs at full speed especially if your Windows 10 computer is on a heavy workload. But if you find that even when your computer is already on a heavy workload and the CPU is still not running at full speed, then you need to look into this situation. To verify that your CPU’s speed, you can use any CPU stress test tool. This kind of issue is common on laptops compared to desktop computers since laptop runs on battery. The Intel Processor on laptops uses the Speed Stepping Technology which means that when you are doing some small tasks on your laptop, the processor’s speed is reduced. On the other hand, if this happens when you are using a heavy application, it can be due to a low charge on the laptop’s battery. Thus, Windows will try its best to keep the computer running for as long as possible by reducing the CPU speed or processor. But there are times when you are ready to sacrifice battery to make sure that the work gets done on time. To achieve that, here are some options you can check out.

Option 1 – Try setting the processor state to the maximum in Power Options

  • Type “control” in the search box to view the classic Control Panel as well as the popular options.
  • Next, click on Power Options > Change plan settings > Change advanced power settings.
  • Then navigate to Processor power management > Maximum processor state.
  • Now select 100% when it is on Battery and Plugged in.
  • After that, expand the System cooling policy option and make sure to set it as Active to make sure that the battery won’t overheat.
  • Finally, apply the changes made to all the profiles of the power management and restart your computer. This will ensure that your CPU will run at maximum power at all times.

Option 2 – Try to update or disable the Intel Power Management driver

The next option you can try is to update or disable the Intel Power Management driver. The Intel-powered computers have dedicated software that controls CPU speed and Fan speed when it needs to save battery. You can try disabling it temporarily and check if there are any changes with the CPU fan speed.
  • First, restart your computer by holding the Shift key to boot your computer into Troubleshooting or Advanced mode.
  • Next, go to Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Command Prompt.
  • Then change the directory to C:/Windows/System32/driver and then rename the file named “Intelppm” by entering the “ren intelppm.sys intelppm.sys.bak”.
  • Now restart your computer.
Note: If you were not able to find the drivers in C:/Windows/System32/driver, check if they are available under C:/Drivers/IntelPPM. After that, the CPU speed should change now with the Intel driver missing from the system. And in case you want to enable it, simply follow the same steps given above and rename the file again.

Option 3 – Try disabling the IPPM using the Command Line or Registry Editor

  • Command Prompt:
    • Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box and type “cmd” and tap Enter to open Command Prompt.
    • Next, type this command and hit Enter: sc config intelppm start= disabled
    • The “sc config” command you entered modifies the value of a service’s entries in the registry as well as in the Service Control Manager database.
  • Registry Editor:
    • 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 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetServicesintelppm.
    • From there, double click on the intelppm and change the Start key value to
    • Now close the Registry Editor and reboot your computer.
Note: The steps given will make sure that the CPU will run at maximum power at all times.
Read More
How to Fix Low FPS in Apex Legends
  • In your Graphics Settings, select r5apex.exe and change the Graphics performance preference to Classic App, set it to High Performance, and then launch the game as an administrator when you want to play.
  • Inside the Nvidia Control Panel, click “Manage 3D Settings”, and select Apex Legends and change it to “Prefer Maximum Power”
  • You can also change “pre-rendered frames” to 1, but it will make you lag just a tiny, tiny bit.
  • Turning the shader cache on can help improve FPS, but on some systems, it may cause additional negative performance changes.
  • If you have the ability to use G-Sync, use that as well (Only available on some monitors and graphics cards)
  • From the task manager, change the priority of r5apex.exe to “High” and close out of other applications.
  • Update your graphics drivers.
  • Ensure your PC complies with the games minimum system requirements:
    • OS: 64-bit Windows 10
    • CPU: Intel Core i3-6300 3.8GHz / AMD FX-4350 4.2 GHz Quad-Core Processor
    • RAM: 6GB
    • GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GT 640 / Radeon HD 7700
    • GPU RAM: 1 GB
    • HARD DRIVE: Minimum 30 GB of free space
  • Check to see if your system has the game’s recommended hardware requirements:
    • OS: 64-bit Windows 10
    • CPU: Intel i5 3570K or equivalent
    • RAM: 8GB
    • GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 970 / AMD Radeon R9 290
    • GPU RAM: 8GB
    • HARD DRIVE: Minimum 30 GB of free space
  • Within the game, try to set the settings to:
    • Full Screen
    • Disable V-Sync
    • Anti-Aliasing to Disabled/TSAA (slight performance difference)
    • Use Native Resolution
    • Keep Field of View at around 80-100
    • Texture Streaming Budget to High
    • Texture filtering as low as possible while still being playable
    • Ambient occlusion as low as possible
    • Shadow all to Low / Lowest
    • Model detail low
    • Effects detail low
    • Volumetric lighting / Dynamic spot shadows Disabled
    • Ragdolls low
    • Impact marks the lowest
  • Make sure other applications are not placing overlays (Discord, GeForce, Xbox Gaming)
  • Clean your temporary files and uninstall other games to give your PC room to have the game run.
  • Don’t use products like CCleaner as they may remove necessary files from your computer.
  • Closeout of Chrome when you’re playing the game or follow our guide on Optimizing Chrome Performance
Read More
How to Fix Windows 10 Error 0x8007000d

Error Code 0x8007000d - What is it?

Error Code 0x8007000d is a common error code that can be found on the Windows 10 Operating system, although it can also appear in previous versions of the operating system, as well.

Common symptoms include:

  • Inability to download new updates.
  • Inability to run the Update tool through to completion.

There are four basic ways to try to resolve Error Code 0x8007000d on your Windows machine. Three of these are pretty simple for even the most basic users, while the final method requires some familiarity with running commands in the Command Prompt. If you don’t feel that you have the skill or confidence to complete the steps listed below, it is generally recommended that you get in touch with a qualified computer repair technician that can assist you in error resolution.

Error Causes

The main cause for the appearance of Error Code 0x8007000d on a Windows machine is that one of the files that the Update tool uses to run one or more updates cannot be found or has experienced damage. Fortunately, there are a few things that you can try on your machine that can be used to attempt to resolve the issues at hand.

Further Information and Manual Repair

Three primary methods exist for the resolution of Error Code 0x8007000d on a Windows machine. As mentioned above, two of these methods can usually be accomplished by basic users, while the third requires some degree of familiarity with the tools associated with the Command Prompt. If you don’t feel that you have the knowledge or skill necessary to follow these steps, contact a computer repair technician to aid you.

Here are the best ways to try to resolve Error Code 0x8007000d on your device:

Method One:  Use the Troubleshooting Tool from Windows Update

From the Windows Update tool, you can attempt to run a scan using the Windows Update Troubleshooter, which can try to identify the specific issue that is occurring and to fix it automatically.

Not only will this tool often fix the problem at hand, but it can also help you to avoid other errors that you may have encountered later on in the Update process. This tool should always be your starting point when you encounter an error as you attempt to download or install updates for your Windows machine.

After the tool has been run, restart your computer to apply any changes and then reopen the Update tool to reattempt installation.

Method Two:  Reset Your Computer

In some cases, the missing or corrupted files may be extensive enough that you need to restore your computer to an earlier point. If you create regular backups of your information or have a past version of the software that you can install, this can help you to resolve the issue. Otherwise, you may need to restore your device to its factory settings to resolve the error.

Always make sure to backup your important files and information before you perform a reset of your device, in order to ensure that you are able to return the computer to its original state when you have finished.

Method Three:  Use Command Line Tools to Resolve the Issue

One of the ways that you can try to resolve this particular error code is the use a DISM tool. This is accessed through the Command Prompt. In order to use this method, follow the steps below:

  • Step One: Open up the search bar in the Start Menu and type in the words “Command Prompt,” selecting it and choosing to run it as an administrator.
  • Step Two: Enter each of the commands below, hitting the “Enter” key when you finish each one:
    • exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Scanhealth
    • exe /Online /Clean-upimage /Restorehealth
    • Exit
  • Step Three: Attempt to run the Update program again. In some cases, you may want to restart your computer before you attempt to run the Update tool again.

If you have not been able to resolve the error code using the steps above or if you are unsure of your ability to follow these steps on your own, get in touch with a trusted computer repair professional that is familiar with the Update process and the errors associated with it.

Read More
Comparing FAT32, NTFS, exFAT file system
When we get ourselves a new USB stick, new hard drive, or any storage device not including optical drives they are usually preformatted and ready to be used out of the box. However, reformating them has several benefits and while we are reformatting we can choose in which file system format we want the memory to be formatted. In this article, we will compare and explore 3 typical and standard format options you can get while formating a new media in Windows 10.

FAT32

The oldest one on the list, coming all the way from DOS days. Great for devices that need to be plugged in different operating systems and for USB flash drives. Its advantages are compatibility with all major operating systems and little memory usage comparing to other ones. However, the file system is limited to file sizes of the maximum capacity of 4GB and partitions can not exceed more than 32GB.

NTFS

First introduced in Windows NT this file system offered slower performance than FAT32 and somewhat limited usability but the main advantages were more stability and fewer errors. Its main advantages are support for files larger than 4GB and partitions larger than 32GB along with the ability for on the file encryption, main disadvantage would be limited operating system usage, NTFS can not be used on systems that work on FAT32 like MS-DOS for example or older versions of Windows. The best usage for this file system is in internal hard disk drives and system drives.

exFAT

New kid on the block, well at least from the perspective of the previous 2. exFAT offers unlimited file sizes and unlimited partition sizes but at a price that is even more limiting than NTFS. Some Linux distributions will require a driver to be installed in order to see the exFAT partition. The best use is in storage, in external hard drives. That's it, 3 major file systems, we hope that you have managed to learn something new today, and remember to drop by tomorrow for more articles about advice, tips, tricks, and troubleshooting.
Read More
Corsair Voyager laptop review

Corsair is well known for RAM memory modules for PC but then it has expanded to PC peripherals and even selling some pre-build computers as well in past few years. New Corsair expansion now includes a laptop line, starting with their new gaming laptop Voyager.

Corsair Voyager laptop

Voyager laptop is packed with a mechanical keyboard and MacBook-like touch bar for your typing and pointing needs. It is built with a 16-inch QHD+ screen packing 240Hz that is run by Radeon 6800M GPU. Also inside lurks AMD 16 thread Ryzen 9 6900HS CPU, Wi-Fi 6E support, Dolby Atmos audio, and full HD 1080p WEB camera.

The keyboard has low-profile mechanical Cherry MX switches with per-key RGB lightning and above is what Corsair calls a macro bar, with 10 shortcut buttons and a small LCD in the center.

Corsair is also including a few features that tie in with its other products. Many of the company’s keyboards, mice, and other accessories use the ‘Slipstream’ USB wireless adapter, which is built into the Voyager laptop. The macro bar is also configured using the same software used for the Elgato Stream Deck, a popular product sold by Corsair.

Read More
1 2 3 171
Logo
Copyright © 2023, ErrorTools. All Rights Reserved
Trademark: Microsoft Windows logos are registered trademarks of Microsoft. Disclaimer: ErrorTools.com is not affiliated with Microsoft, nor claims direct affiliation.
The information on this page is provided for information purposes only.
DMCA.com Protection Status