Error 0x8000ffff prevents you from using the Microsoft store. Altho it is not a critical error that will break Windows, it is annoying enough that will require fixing so we can use the store once again and install apps when we want to. Interesting thing is that this error was present inside Windows 10 as well causing some annoyance, you think Microsoft would learn, and then you see reality. Anyway, we have not come here to bash Microsoft, we came to solve errors.
So there are several problems that can cause this error like issues with accessing the Microsoft servers, corrupt system files, settings being misconfigured, malware infections, or conflicting applications. We will cover all solutions for each scenario taking approaches from most simple solutions to more complex ones. Follow the guide and let's fix this annoyance.
Wait for Microsoft's servers to become accessible
Yes, just wait. If the problem is tied to Microsoft servers having heavy load or being temporarily down there is not much you can do except for their tech team to resolve the issue. Go to Twitter or Facebook and check the Microsoft page to see if anyone else has this issue, if several people are reporting the same error then it is due to server problems. In this case, the only thing you can do is to wait.
Run troubleshooter
If servers are working fine then the issue is within your system so let's get down to fixing. Most simple and easiest solution is to let Windows try and resolve the problem by itself. We will use troubleshooter for this, Windows's integrated fixing solution:
Press ⊞ WINDOWS + I to open the settings app
Click on System in the left panel, then on Troubleshoot on the right
Click on Other troubleshooters
In most Frequent section find Windows Update and click on the Run button
Wait for the troubleshooter to finish and follow on-screen instructions
Clear Store cache
If the troubleshooter has not found the issue or was unable to repair it, the next step is cleaning the Microsoft store cache in order to eliminate corrupted or partial cache files.
Press ⊞ WINDOWS + R to open the run dialog
In run dialog type in: wsreset and press OK or press ENTER
A black screen will appear and it will not give any kind of feedback about progress, so it might seem like Windows has frozen, but do not panic nor try to do anything, this kind of behavior is normal, just wait for the process to finish and once it is done Microsoft store will launch with the cleared cache.
Disable Proxy
Proxy setting can interfere with establishing a connection to the store servers and if previous solutions have not worked we will check proxy next.
Press ⊞ WINDOWS + R to open the run dialog
Inside run dialog type: inetcpl.cpl and hit ENTER or press OK button
Inside Internet Properties click on the Connections tab and then on LAN settings
Uncheck the box next to Use a proxy server for your LAN and click on OK
Turn off antivirus
If nothing worked so far, turn off your anti-virus software, there is a slight possibility that your antivirus is misconfigured or preventing the system from accessing the store. Turn off antivirus and firewall to make sure that this is not an issue.
Delete the software distribution folder
So, we have tried a lot of things, and the error still persists? Let's then go to the next step and delete the software distribution folder in order to be remade new so we can eliminate corruption in the folder itself. To do this follow the guide:
Press ⊞ WINDOWS + S to open the search menu
Inside search type in Windows terminal, right-click on the terminal and click on Run as administrator.
Confirm with YES on UAC prompt pop up
Inside terminal press CTRL + SHIFT + 2 to open command prompt
inside command prompt type in: net stop wuauserv and press ENTER
Then type in: net stop bits followed with ENTER
Next press ⊞ WINDOWS + R to open the run dialog
Inside run dialog type in C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution and press the OK button or ENTER
File Explorer will open and you will find yourself inside SoftwareDistribution folder. Press CTRL + A to select all files inside
Press on the delete icon or press DEL, confirm with YES
Once all files are deleted, the system will redownload new ones.
Enable Cryptographic service
Windows 11 has come with a cryptographic service that aims to make your computer more secure but if the service is turned off it can be the cause of 0x8000ffff error. In order to turn this service back ON, follow the guide:
Press ⊞ WINDOWS + R to open the run dialog
In run dialog type in services.msc and press ENTER or click on the OK button
In the list find Cryptographic Services and double click on it
Inside properties click on Startup type dropdown menu and select Automatic from the list
Click on the Start button to run service and then on the OK button to save the changes
Run SFC scan
SFC is an internal Windows tool for fixing corrupt system files, application will scan all system files and repair ones that are corrupted. To run an SFC scan do the following:
Press ⊞ WINDOWS + S to open the search menu
Inside search type in Windows terminal, right-click on the terminal and click on Run as administrator.
Confirm with YES on UAC prompt pop up
Inside terminal press CTRL + SHIFT + 2 to open command prompt
inside command prompt type in: SFC /scannow and press ENTER
Wait for the whole process to finish and reboot your system
Run DISM scan
Similar to SFC, DISM scan will scan your system Windows image and if required it will repair it.
Press ⊞ WINDOWS + S to open the search menu
Inside search type in Windows terminal, right-click on the terminal and click on Run as administrator.
Confirm with YES on UAC prompt pop up
Inside terminal press CTRL + SHIFT + 2 to open command prompt
inside command prompt type in: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth and press ENTER
Wait for the whole process to finish and restart your computer
We’ve already covered disabling Security Questions If you want to disable Security Questions on your Windows 10 computer then you’ve come to the right place as this post will guide you in doing exactly that. In this post, you will be disabling Security Questions using a PowerShell script. This PowerShell script is called “Update-AllUsersQA”. It is designed to remove or disable the security questions and answers for local users on a Windows 10 computer. It lets administrators take control of the security questions in the environment and at the same time minimizes the risk that comes with them.
If a user has a Microsoft account that’s configured to sign in to Windows 10 then he will not probably notice the Password Recovery questions. On the other hand, if he has a chosen local account for installing Windows, he will e prompted to create three security questions that can be used to reset the password and log into the Windows 10 account in case there is any misfortune. However, if you do not have much use for these Security Questions, then you can definitely have them disabled using a simple PowerShell script which you can download from GitHub.
For more details on how to disable security questions in a Windows 10 machine, refer to the steps provided below.
Step 1: You need to first download the .ps1 file from the GitHub repository.
Step 2: Once you’ve downloaded the file, open the PowerShell window with admin privileges.
Step 3: After that, navigate to the folder where you had saved the .ps1 file. Then copy the address of the folder location.
Step 4: Next, change the directory by using the following command:
cd "folder location address"
Step 5: After that, enter the following script to disable the security questions:
Update-AllUsersQA
Once you’ve completed the steps above, the Security Questions should be disabled and you will be notified with a message stating that the feature has been disabled. On the other hand, if you have a change of heart and you want to enable the Security Questions back, here are some steps you need to take:
Step 1: First, open the PowerShell window as admin.
Step 2: Next, run the same script with one more parameter such as:
Update-AllUsersQA -answer SecretAnswer
Step 3: And that’s about it. Do not forget to replace the Secret Answer with your preferred one and once you’re done, it will be set as the answer for all the Security Questions.
Step 4: Now all that’s left to do is go to the Settings app to change the answer to the questions and you should be good to go.
If this unfortunate COVID-19 worldwide pandemic has managed to teach us, I would argue it is that our health is the most important thing. So in that spirit, we will continue in this article reviewing some of the best fitness trackers that can be found in the time of writing this article in 2021.
Now the market for fitness trackers is not small by any means and offerings are also not small, from no-name manufacturers costing only a few bucks to more serious one’s going slightly over 100 USD there is a fitness tracker for everyone.
In this particular article, we will not focus on cheap few dollars no-name ones, instead, we will be offering top ones in the field among some in the middle range simply because we can stand behind them considering quality and precision.
Fitbit Charge 4 fitness and activity tracker
Fitbit is not a pioneer company in the world of fitness trackers and it shows. Charge 4 model offers maybe the best quality, performance, and features for its price. It stands out with implemented GPS meaning that you will need your phone for tracking workouts. It also offers step tracking, sleep tracking, automatic workout-tracking, active zone minutes, etc.
It weighs 30g and has 1 inch grayscale OLED. Battery life is said to hold up to 4 days if you use built-in GPS regularly, if you decide to use GPS constantly device will last only 5 hours. Without GPS it can last up to 7 days and it is water-resistant and waterproof up to 50 meters.
Amazfit Band 5
Amazon’s offering of fitness tracker is aimed at beginners and as such, it is lacking some advanced features including an automated working tracker or GPS, also the model does not have replaceable bands so customization is not an option.
It does however offer activity and sleep tracking, heart rate monitoring and it is the only model that integrates with Alexa. The manufacturer states that the battery can last up to 15 days depending on usage which places Amazfit Band 5 as a device that has a longer life of use.
The device itself is packed with a 1.1-inch color OLED and it weights 12g. It is splash-resistant, not water-resistant.
Xiaomi Mi Band 6
Xiaomi tracker is the best budget version on this list including in it 30 sport modes like running, cycling, yoga, swimming, and more. Battery life is not bad also packing up to 14 days of life but only if the device is not used constantly.
It has activity and sleep tracking, a heart rate monitor, sleep tracking, customizable replicable bands and it is water-resistant up to 50m.
It comes in a 1.56 inch AMOLED color display and it weighs 63g. The device also has menstrual health tracking making it a great device for women.
Samsung Galaxy Fit 2 fitness tracker
Now we are getting into serious and little more expensive ones. Galaxy Fit 2 is among the top-notch trackers currently on the market. It of course can work along with Samsung’s smartwatches and mobile phones. Packed in the military-grade 1.1-inch casing with color AMOLED and weighing 91g with battery life up to 21 days and water resistance up to 50m this bracelet is an absolute beast.
It comes packed with features from standard sleep tracking to automated workout-tracking but it also has a connection to Samsung’s Health mobile app to choose from over 90 workouts, it monitors heart rate and stress levels making it really one of the complete solutions for serious fitness enthusiasts.
Garmin Vivosmart 4 fitness tracker
Last on our list is Garmin vivosmart 4. The device itself is not very impressive, 7 days battery life with 0.7 inch OLED display and 17g weight packed with 50m water resistance is nothing spectacular, Samsung’s model is packing better hardware and way more battery life but all of the mentioned devices fall flat if we compare software to Garvin.
Garvin’s Vivosmart 4 software is best on the list, it keeps track of your steps, sleep, calories burned, floors climbed, various exercises, and heart rate as standard features but you'll have advanced sleep tracking with REM sleep. It can also gauge blood oxygen saturation levels during the night with its wrist-based Pulse Ox sensor. In addition, a relaxation breathing timer complements the all-day stress tracking feature. Lastly, the "Body Battery" monitor helps optimize your daily activities based on your energy levels making it truly the only complete tracking solution on this list.
That's it for our review of fitness trackers of today, be sure to come back each day to find more interesting articles and tips for your everyday digital life.
The author of the famous software library mode-ipc that gets over a million downloads per week found that it has some questionable code inside. The code itself behaves like this: if it finds out that your location is within Russia or Belarus it will try to replace the contents of all files on the computer with a heart emoji.
One important thing is that we here are not supporting the current Ukrainian situation and are against any type of violence or war but we also do not support this kind of behavior as well. If we look at this only from a technical perspective, we would then classify the mode-ipc library as malware and a harmful piece of code no matter the motivation behind it.
So this so-called protestware is well basically malware, but not always, it will protest when certain conditions are met. The issue with this is that companies and users should not be placed under harm if they do not share the personal view of the code author. Imagine if, for example, I would publish code to delete all pictures from your computer if my code found out that you do not like metal music. I guess you not liking metal music and war in Ukraine are two very different things but the source is the same, unreliable code that invades your privacy in order to serve one purpose, punishment for disagreeing with my personal views and that should not be allowed.
Not all protestware are equal, some will not harm your computer on purpose, they will just annoy you with some messages like viruses did in their infancy stages, others might place some developer sanctions but no matter the outcome basic principle is the same, it does something without user consent and without informing the user that something like that might happen.
On the internet, many blog posts and discussions were open about this issue and its morality. Discussion is still active with different takes on the situation and how to prevent it. Our take on this matter is that professional developers should have standards and not submit to doing harm for the sake of personal views and feelings.
In the long run, this kind of behavior and practice can only harm developers involved in this kind of entanglement. Infected libraries will in time stop being used since people would not trust them and authors will have a stain on their name as impulsive or not trustworthy.
Afraid of the growing threats online? As you should be. But we’re here to show you what kinds of malware are out there and what you can do to keep them at bay.
Malware definition
Malware comes from the term malicious software. It’s software designed to attack and exploit devices and networks to the advantage of the hacker who made it.
Malware can be transmitted in different ways. Most commonly this happens via infected USB drives, downloadable files or malicious websites. Depending on the type and ultimate goal, the consequences of a malware attack can range from negligible to catastrophic.
Credit: Ed Hardie on Unsplash
What kinds of malware are there?
1. Virus
A virus is typically spread via infected files, websites or links. It’s one of the oldest malware types and one of the most difficult to get rid of. That’s because, once activated, it replicates itself - hence the name.
It can perform different kinds of attacks, depending on what the creator wants to achieve. The main characteristic of a virus is that it really doesn’t show itself until you activate the host. So that’s a scary thought for sure.
2. Adware
Sometimes an ad blocker isn’t enough to fight off unwanted ads. And some of them can, unfortunately, be malicious. They may redirect you to infected sites or prompt downloads of risky files. Even just opening a malicious site can lead to data theft.
So, definitely be careful when clicking around. Even if an ad seems completely legitimate, you can never be too sure.
3. Ransomware
Through ransomware, cybercriminals gain access to a user’s data and use it to extort them for money. Basically, the user is threatened with data deletion or even exposure if a ransom isn’t paid by a specific deadline.
This is a particularly nerve-wracking type of malware. If it targets an individual, it preys upon their sense of anxiety, fear, guilt and even shame. If it targets a business (which is a lot more common), it preys upon not only that business’s profit but also every single one of their customers and their data.
4. Trojans
This type of malware disguises itself very well as a legitimate-looking program. Once you download it, hackers can get full access and control of your device, data and network. They can even be hidden in games, apps and attachments. They cannot self-replicate, though, so we guess that’s… good news?
5. Worms
Worms can replicate, just like viruses, but you don’t need to actually activate the infected program for them to get going. They can be used for various purposes, ranging from data deletion to file encryption to support a ransomware attack.
Credit: Growtika on Unsplash
6. Spyware
Spyware refers to malicious software that stays hidden on your computer and monitors your activity. The best-known type is keyloggers. This can be used to steal sensitive data like passwords and banking information.
7. Rootkits
Rootkits are among the most dangerous types of malware. They allow administrative access and full control of a device, which lets hackers continue hijacking all your data and monitoring your activity without your knowledge.
8. Botnets
Botnets are networks made up of bots - computers that cybercriminals have infected with malicious software. Bots and botnets give hackers remote access to users’ devices and allow them to spy on your camera, take screenshots, memorize passwords and launch Distributed Denial of Service attacks. This one truly makes your hair stand on end.
What can you do about it?
You know the old adage - better safe than sorry. And trust us, malware attacks are such a pain in the you-know-what that you really don’t want to be sorry.
Luckily, there are simple solutions that can shield you from most digital threats these days. What you want to be looking at is a solid antivirus program. Well, technically, you need an antimalware program, but since the latter evolved from the former, we still mostly refer to them as antivirus software. The majority of antimalware programs these days don’t just shield you from potential risks online, but include additional features as well. For example, some Bitdefender antivirus packages also include parental control and a VPN. And Bitdefender is not just for PCs either - it offers protection for your beloved iPhone or Android as well. You can throw in a password manager in there too, for an additional layer of security.
Credit: Dan Nelson on Unsplash
If you aren’t too concerned about all these various threats or feel like you don’t need extra security, you can at least take a step to protect your information from being exposed to lurking cybercriminals as you’re browsing. This can be done through a good VPN like Surfshark, which hides your identity in the digital space and prevents your data from being tracked.
Choosing the right protective software is especially important if you have children with access to the Internet, since they’re unfortunately even more vulnerable to malicious attacks. If you aren’t sure what the right kind of antimalware program is right for you, you can reach out to us and we’ll be happy to help keep your entire household or office digitally secure.
The bottom line
The truth is that there’s no way to be 100% protected in the online world. Hackers are constantly coming up with new ways to infiltrate our devices. But malware-battling software evolves along with them and there’s still plenty you can do to keep risks away. Stay safe!
A solid reason to switch to Mac from Windows PC is Mac OS. Based on Linux, offers more stability and better security than Windows but you will not be able to find a vast array of applications on it.
Even when Mac OS X (the first big one) was first introduced, it looked and felt like ages beyond Windows (Microsoft just recently made a slick and modern design with Windows 11). Under the hood, it turned out that the operating system itself is stable and incredibly fast & responsive. If you value stability and easiness of use, Mac OS is the Operating system for you.
Apple ecosystem
This one is easy, if you are already invested in apple devices like iPhone and iPad, having an apple computer is one step forward into the apple ecosystem and one more step into easy sharing of documents and data between devices.
Calendars, emails, photos, videos, documents, and many more can easily be shared and synched between devices with a single apple ID making workflows much easier than on other operating systems.
Development
Developers all around the world say that developing on Mac is much better and smoother than on PC, this has probably to do something with OS being based on Linux but whatever the case is, it is much smoother and it just feels better. Apple laptops are often the go-to choice of developers for a reason.
Also if you are in the development business for applications and services aimed at iPhone or iPod then there is no really another way than to be into the apple ecosystem and own apple hardware.
Professional software
A lot of professional-grade software exists for both the Windows platform and Mac OS but there is some software that exists exclusively for Apple hardware like Final Cut Pro or Logic Pro. Both applications are used by professionals and are industry-standard software.
Logic pro is used by industrial audio specialists all around the world and is used in professional studios. Final Cut Pro is also used worldwide by video editors and if you are specializing in any of these two fields Mac seems like a very reasonable platform since the software can not be found on Windows. These two are examples, there are other similar applications that are only available on Mac OS
Longevity
Apple hardware is made of high-quality materials and components and it is proven over time that it lasts longer than usual. There are iPhones out there that have 13 years and they are still working, G3 and G4 Macs that are still functional.
When buying Apple products they will outlive other ones if treated properly so in the end you could be saving money by purchasing them.
Social media is here to stay it seems, from Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc each site has its users and its rules. Companies, bloggers, public figures, and people, in general, are using them on a daily basis and some are posting cool ads, nice graphics, videos, and many more in order to gain followers or just to share something that they think is worth.
Making your post look good is somewhat essential if you plan on reaching a larger audience and Adobe's Express aims to fill that gap. It is the latest Adobe product that is purposely made for graphic and video creation for social media.
Adobe is well known in the world of professional design in all spheres like print, web, and motion, with this application, they want to take over social media design with Express. The direct competitor to Spark and canva, Express is filled with high-quality adobe templates and some great stuff found in photoshop like automatic background removal which gives it an edge over other applications.
The good thing about Express is that there is a completely free version and premium, like its competitors but with some benefits that clearly show that Adobe is determined to place its application on top of the game. The free plan includes:
Thousands of unique templates, design assets, and Adobe Fonts.
A limited collection of royalty-free Adobe Stock-free collection photos.
Basic editing and photo effects including remove background and animate.
Create on both web and mobile.
2GB of storage.
For 10 USD per month of 100 USD prepaid annual fee, you get a premium plan that includes:
All premium templates and design assets.
The entire collection of over 160 million royalty-free Adobe Stock collection* photos.
Over 20,000 licensed Adobe Fonts, curved type, grids, and font pairs.
Premium features like refine cutout, resize, and graphic groups.
Plan, schedule, and publish social media content across multiple channels.
Add your branding, logo, colors, and fonts in one tap.
Convert & export to and from PDFs and other file types.
Create, manage, and share your templates and assets with Creative Cloud Libraries.
Create on both web and mobile.
100GB of storage.
The application itself is incredibly easy to learn and to work with and literally, anyone can pick it up and start creating immediately. No matter are you just starting with social media or using Canva or Spark, give Express a go, make a free account and try it, I guarantee that you will find some features amazing, and its ease of use relaxing.
The store is not downloading Apps: As you know, the Windows Store is one of the places where you can download Windows apps. However, there are times when you might not be able to do so for some reason. For instance, if you search for an app and click on the get it now button, instead of downloading the app, nothing happens and there are also cases when the download will start but the page will refresh after half a second. When this issue happens, you won’t be seeing any error message or warning at all. So you’ll just have to look at the download get started where the page will refresh and you’ll be back at the Get button.
This issue in the Windows 10 Store only happens for a few apps so even though you are able to download some apps, you might be able to do on other ones. Note that the apps affected are random and there is no specific set of apps that cause this issue while downloading and that this problem will repeat again each time you click on the Get it now button. This issue is definitely caused by Windows itself and has something to do with a bug in the Windows store which was brought by the latest Windows Update. It’s already a known issue among other Windows 10 users who are also suffering the same dilemma. So until Microsoft releases another update to fix this bug, you will have no choice but to deal with it in the meantime. On the other hand, you can also try a couple of suggestions laid out in this post. Follow the steps in every option given below to fix the issue with the Windows 10 Store.
Option 1 – Try signing out from the Microsoft Store
A lot of Windows 10 users were able to resolve the problem by simply signing out and signing back into the Microsoft Store. How? Follow these steps:
Go to the Microsoft Store.
Next, go to the Get page of the app you were trying to download.
And then click on your account picture located in the top right corner of the window and select your account.
Sign out from your account and after that, click the Get button to download the app.
After that, a new window will appear where you’ll have to select your account and click on Continue.
Now enter your credentials. Once you do, the app should be downloaded automatically after you’re signed in. And that’s about it.
Note: Keep in mind that this option is merely a temporary solution to the problem and once you close the Microsoft Store and open it back again, you will be back to square one.
Option 2 – Wait for the Windows Update
As mentioned, this is already a known issue and a lot of Windows 10 users have already complained about it to Microsoft so a bug fix will be soon released in the latest Windows Updates.
DLL files, also known as Dynamic Link Libraries are external parts of applications that run on Windows as well as other operating systems. Almost all applications are not complete in themselves and store code in different files. In this post, we will be discussing one DLL file called ntdll.dll. It is described as “NT Layer DLL” which means that it contains some Kernel functions that help in the normal functioning of the Windows operating system. It is created by Windows in the System32 folder when the OS gets installed. This file can serve different programs simultaneously by providing them with different Kernel functions which support the programs’ performance. However, if you encounter the ntdll.dll file error on your Windows 10 computer, read on as this post will guide you in fixing the problem.
Option 1 – Try to re-register the ntdll.dll file
You may have to re-register the ntdll.dll file using the regsvr32.exe before you can successfully install the program and fix ntdll.dll file crash error. The Regsvr32 tool is a command-line utility that can be used to register and un-register the OLE controls like DLL and ActiveX (OCX) control in the Windows operating system. Follow the steps below to use it.
Open Command Prompt as admin from the WinX menu.
Next, type the following commands in the elevated Command Prompt and hit Enter to execute the command. This will re-register the affected DLL file using the Windows operating system tool, regsvr32.exe.
exe /u ntdll.dll
exe ntdll.dll
You should see a message saying, “DllRegisterServer in vbscript.dll succeeded” if the Regsvr32 tool was able to run successfully. After that, try to install the program again and see if it now works.
Option 2 – Disable problematic Internet Explorer add-ons
There are instances when some add-ons in the Internet Explorer browser can cause the ntdll.dll file crash error. Thus, you need to disable some add-ons in Internet Explorer and then check if it fixes the problem.
Option 3 – Try running the DISM tool
You might want to repair potentially corrupted files in your system as having them could also trigger the ntdll.dll file crash error. To repair these corrupted system files, you can run the DISM commands:
Tap the Win + X keys and click on the “Command Prompt (Admin)” option.
After that, input each one of the commands listed below sequentially to execute them:
Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
Once you’ve executed the commands given above, restart your computer and check if the DCOM error is now fixed.
Option 4 – Try to run the Program Compatibility Troubleshooter
You might also want to run the Program Compatibility Troubleshooter. This built-in troubleshooter is available in the Windows Update & Security section. From there, select Troubleshoot. This will find a list of programs for you and since you have already downloaded the driver files, just click on Not Listed located at the top of the program list. After that, browse and select the driver files and then let the program do its job.
Option 5 – Try to replace the DLL file with a trusted source
First, you need to get the new DLL file from another computer with preferably the same file version number.
After that, you need to boot your PC into Safe Mode and navigate to the paths listed below and then replace the file using a USB drive or other external storage devices.
x86: This PC > C:WindowsSystem32
x64: This PC > C:WindowsSysWOW64
Next, type “cmd” in the Cortana search box and right-click on Command Prompt, and select “Run as administrator” to open it with administrator privileges.
Now type the “regsvr32 ntdll.dll” command and hit Enter.
Restart your PC and check if the error is now fixed.
Option 6 – Try scanning your computer using Windows Defender
The ntdll.dll file crash error might also be infected with malware or virus and to eliminate it, you have to scan your computer using security programs like Windows Defender.
Tap the Win + I keys to open Update & Security.
Then click on the Windows Security option and open Windows Defender Security Center.
Next, click on Virus & threat protection > Run a new advanced scan.
Now make sure that Full Scan is selected from the menu and then click the Scan Now button to get started.
SMB which stands for “Server Message Block”, is a protocol used for file sharing. It provides the Read and Writes operating on network devices. Thus, it is why it is widely used when accessing a server-based in Linux. Its latest version is the SMB2 which follows after SMB1. The SMB2 contains more fixes to vulnerabilities that were found in SMB1. The predecessor was vulnerable since it served as a gateway to various modern ransomware which is why Microsoft disabled it by default starting with Windows 10 v1709.
When you try to share a file, you will get the following error message:
“Microsoft Windows Network: You can’t connect to the file share because it is not secure. This share requires the obsolete SMB1 protocol, which is unsafe and could expose your system to attack. Your system requires SMB2 or higher.”
In this post, you will be guided on how to check if the SMB2.0 version can be installed on your Windows 10 computer. To get started, follow the steps below.
Step 1: Tap the Win + X keys to open the Device Manager.
Step 2: After that, click on the Windows PowerShell (Admin) option.
Step 3: In the Windows PowerShell window, type the following command and hit Enter:
Note: After entering the command, you will see the following content on your screen which means that your Windows 10 computer is now capable of running the SMB2 protocol
Now all that’s left for you to do is to enable the SMB 2 protocol on your Windows computer by enabling the SMB 1 protocol first and then upgrading it to SMB 2 afterward. Refer to the steps below for more details.
Step 1: Tap the Win + I keys to open the Settings app.
Step 2: Then type in “control panel” in the search area and click on Control Panel from the search results.
Step 3:After opening Control Panel, click on Programs. From there, select the “Turn Windows features on or off” option under the larger menu of Programs and Features.
Step 4: After that, Windows Features will appear on your screen. And from there, make sure that you select SMB 1.0/CIFS File Sharing Support and then click on OK.
Step 5: Now let it install all the required files and then restart your computer to apply the changes made successfully. After your computer has restarted, the SMB 2 protocol should now be supported on your Windows 10 computer.
Note: On the other hand, you can also enter the following command in the Windows PowerShell window. Just make sure you have admin rights to enable it.
If you are trying to update your Windows 10 computer but encounter the Windows update error 0x80244019 instead, read on as this post will help provide you some possible fixes to resolve the problem. This kind of Windows Update error is usually caused by your Windows Update settings or the Windows Update components. Many users who encountered this error reported that the update fails with the said error which keeps them from enjoying the latest features that the Windows Update brings.
In such cases, some of the common culprits for this Windows Update error are the Windows Update settings, Windows Update configuration, third-party antivirus programs, and so on. To resolve this error, you can check out the options provided below.
Option 1 – Restart your computer and try installing the Updates again
You can restart your computer and then try installing the updates once again. There are instances when a simple restart resolves Windows Update errors. Aside from that, it would also be better if you make sure that your internet connection is working and that it’s stable. And so after you restart your computer, check for updates once again and see if you’re still getting the error or not.
Option 2 – Try to change the Windows Update settings
You might also want to try tweaking the Windows Update settings. This will prevent other Microsoft products from being updated and besides, you can always turn the option back on afterward. To change Windows Update settings, follow these steps:
Tap the Win + I keys to open Settings.
Next, go to Updates and Security and click on the Advanced Options.
From there, turn off the “Get me updates for other Microsoft products when I update Windows” option.
Option 3 – Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter
Running the built-in Windows Update troubleshooter is one of the things you can first check out as it is known to automatically resolve any Windows Update errors like error code 0x80244019. To run it, Refer to these steps:
Tap the Win + I keys to open Settings.
From there, click Update and Security and go to the Troubleshoot section.
Next, select Windows Update and click the “Run the troubleshooter” button and wait until it’s finished, and then try to run Windows Update again.
Option 4 – Try to disable the third-party antivirus program
Disabling the antivirus program or any security software installed in your computer is always a good idea you can try when the Windows Update process does not go smoothly. There are times when you encounter Windows Update errors like 0x80244019 due to interference of third party antivirus programs. So before you try updating your computer again, make sure to disable the antivirus or security program and once the Windows Update is done, don’t forget to enable the antivirus program back again.
Option 5 – Try to manually install the Windows Updates
Windows Update Error 0x80244019 might be due to a Windows Update that has failed. So if it is not a feature update and only a cumulative update, you can download the Windows Update and install it manually. But first, you need to find out which update has failed, and to do so, refer to the following steps:
Go to Settings and from there go to Update and Security > View Update History.
Next, check which particular update has failed. Note that Updates that have failed to install will be displayed under the Status column which has a label of “Failed”.
After that, go to the Microsoft Download Center and look for that update using its KB number and once you find it, download and then install it manually.
Note: You can also use the Microsoft Update Catalog, a service from Microsoft that provides a list of software updates that can be distributed over a corporate network. With the help of this service, it can be easier for you to find Microsoft software updates, drivers as well as fixes.
Option 6 – Restart some Windows Update services
The first thing you have to do is to restart Windows Update-related services. Refer to the steps below to do so.
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 wuauservnet 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 wuauservnet 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 try to update your computer again and see if the error is fixed or not.