The File Explorer in Windows 10 provides several ways to organize the contents of folders and files in the system. Windows users can utilize some efficient styles to view the contents of the file system as per the user’s requirement. A user may opt to display the file picture in large size thumbnails while the other one could opt to set the icons of folder and files in a small or medium size list. On the other hand, while setting up several styles for the folder and file icons, some Windows 10 users have experienced some unusual issues where there is the Black background showing up behind folder icons. They tried refreshing the File Explorer a couple of times but it didn’t help in fixing the problem and the black squares are still visible on some folder icons.
The black squares behind the folder icons might look disturbing though it’s not really a big problem and is merely a graphical glitch that does not cause any damage or whatsoever to the content of the folder and files. The most likely cause of this glitch might have something to do with the corrupted system files or it could also be caused by outdated thumbnail caches. In addition, graphical glitches like this one could also occur if you are using out outdated graphics drivers. To fix this problem, you need to follow the options laid out below.
Option 1 – Try using the Disk Cleanup to remove Thumbnail files
The Disk Cleanup tool is one of the options you can try to fix the black squares behind the folder icons. Through this tool, you can delete all the Thumbnail files on your disk. To use it, refer to these steps:
Open the Search bar and type “disk cleanup” in the field.
After opening Disk Cleanup from the search results, then from the drop-down menu select the C: drive to clean up and click OK.
Wait for the scanning process to complete. Once it’s done, select the files you want to delete.
Ensure that you select the box labeled “Thumbnails” under the Files to Delete section then click on OK.
After that, a confirmation box will appear, just click on Delete files to delete the files permanently.
Restart your PC.
Option 2 – Try resetting the Thumbnail cache
You have the option to manually delete the Thumbnail Cache to resolve the black square background behind the folder icons issue. Follow the steps given below to reset the Thumbnail cache.
Open the File Explorer.
Next, navigate to the View tab and select the option with Hidden items to display all the hidden folders and files.
Next, go to this path: C:Users<username>AppDataLocal
In the given path, make sure that you put your actual username in the username field. Then look for a file named “IconCache.db”. Right-click on this file and click on Delete.
After that, go to this path: C:Users<username>AppDataLocalMicrosoftWindowsExplorer
From there, select all the files and delete them.
Note: If a prompt appears saying, “The files are in use and cannot be deleted”, simply select the “Do this for all current items” option and then click on Try Again. If you get an error message, click on Cancel to close the window and restart your computer.
Option 3 – Try updating or reinstalling the Graphics driver
Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box and then type in devmgmt.msc and tap Enter or click OK to open the Device Manager.
Expand the section for the outdated device drivers.
And then select the outdated driver(s) and right-click on it/them.
From the drop-down menu, select the Update Driver option if you wish to update the driver or select the Uninstall device if you want to uninstall the driver and then follow the on-screen instructions to install the latest version of the driver.
Restart your PC after the installation to allow the system to reinstall the driver.
As of late, users have been reporting about getting an error saying, SAFE_OS phase error during Replicate_OC operation when they tried to upgrade their Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 computers to Windows 10. Although the error code in this problem could vary, in this situation, it states:
0xC1900101 – 0x20017, The installation failed in the SAFE_OS phase error during Replicate_OC operation
To fix this issue, you need to follow the given options below. But before you do, you need to create a System Restore point first so that if anything goes wrong, you can always undo the changes you’ve made.
Option 1 – Try to change the Windows 10 installation
According to security experts, one of the main causes of this error is the KB3064209Windows Update. This particular update is the one responsible for updating the CPU Microcode for processors made by Intel. Thus, if you don’t use an Intel processor, you can skip this option and proceed to the next one. However, if you use Intel, make sure to follow the instructions in this option carefully. Take note that in this solution, C: partition is referred to as the OS Partition while H: partition is referred to as the USB Pen Drive.
First, you need to download the Windows 10 ISO from the Windows 10 Media Creation tool and then copy its contents to the Pen Drive H.
Next, tap the Win + X keys and click on the Command Prompt (Admin0 option. If a User Account Control appears, simply click Yes.
After opening Command Prompt, type the following command:
From there, right-click on the file named “mcupdate_GenuineIntel.dll and click on Properties.
Next, go to the Security tab and click on Advanced. In the Advanced section, change the Owner to your User Account and click OK.
And then back to the Security tab, click on the Edit button and check on Full control to make sure that your User Account has all the privileges.
Now click on Apply and then OK.
After that, delete the file you saw earlier which is named mcupdate_Genuine.dll.
Then close all the Windows File Explorer instances and go back to the Command Prompt window and unmounts the image you mounted before by typing the following command:
Afterward, repeat the steps from mounting up until here for these files:
wim /index:2
wim /index:1
wim /index:2
Now delete the mount folder and remove the USB Pen Drive and then boot with the installer.
Option 2 – Try to perform a Disk Cleanup
Chances are, some unnecessary files in your computer might be interrupting the installation process which explains why you’re getting SAFE_OS phase error during Replicate_OC operation instead so you need to perform a Disk Cleanup in order to fix the problem.
Option 3 – Try updating all your drivers
Every now and then, drivers get corrupted or outdated so it’s no surprise that they conflict with the operating system and cause errors like the SAFE_OS phase error during the Replicate_OC operation. To fix the problem, you need to update all your drivers. Follow the steps below to update your drivers.
Tap the Win + R keys to launch Run.
Type in devmgmt.msc into the box and tap Enter or click OK to open the Device Manager.
After that, a list of device drivers will be displayed. If you see a red or yellow sign that shows up against the driver, right-click on the driver’s name and select “Update Driver Software” or “Uninstall”. And if you find any “Unknown device”, you need to update it as well.
Select the “Search automatically for updated driver software” option and then follow the instructions to complete the process.
Restart your PC.
Note: You also have the option to go directly to the website of your graphics card manufacturer and check if there’s a new update – if there is, download it.
Option 4 – Try to update your system’s BIOS
Aside from outdated drivers, outdated BIOS could also be the reason why you’re getting the SAFE_OS phase error during Replicate_OC operation which is why you need to update your system’s BIOS in order to resolve the issue.
Option 5 – Try checking the Windows Services status
In the Cortana search box, search for “Services” and then click on the Services icon.
After that, the Services utility will be opened in a new window.
Next, look for the following services:
BITS (Background Intelligent Transfer Service)
Windows Update Service
Cryptographic Service
Then right-click on each one of the services and click on Properties. From there, select Automatic from the drop-down of the Startup Type menu.
Now click on OK for each one of them and restart your PC to apply the changes made.
Option 6 – Try to check the RAM modules
There are many times when all the components of the RAM weren’t able to be used by the computer so you need to check the RAM modules.
You need to first turn off your PC and then take out your RAM physically.
Next, clean it with a soft cloth and blow some air into the RAM slot in the motherboard.
Recent Windows updates have been slowly but surely moved a lot of control panel features into settings. This indicates that in the long term goal is probably to get rid of the control panel altogether. No matter how the setting app is easy to use and good there are still things in the control panel that we need and we will still need until they are all moved in the setting application.
There are several ways to open and get to the control panel from run dialog to shortcut keys but one perhaps more convenient and easiest way is to just simply have in file explorer right beside hard drives double click away.
In order to place the control panel icon inside file explorer, we will need the help of our old friend: the registry editor. As always playing with the registry editor can cause some instability and it is always a smart thing to back up it first before attempting any kind of edits.
Registry editor adding a key
To open registry editor press ⊞ WINDOWS + R to open the run dialog and inside type in REGEDIT followed by ENTER
Once the registry editor is opened locate the following key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MyComputer
Right-click on the NameSpace folder on the left navigation pane and then select New > Key
Rename the key with {21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D} (This CLSID code will add access to the Category view of the Windows 10 Control Panel) or with {26EE0668-A00A-44D7-9371-BEB064C98683} (This CLSID code will add access to the large icons view of the Windows 10 Control Panel)
Save and exit the registry editor
Now when opened, file explorer will show a control panel icon for easy access.
The File Explorer in Windows 10 provides several ways to organize the contents of folders and files in the system. Windows users can utilize some efficient styles to view the contents of the file system as per the user’s requirement. A user may opt to display the file picture in large size thumbnails while the other one could opt to set the icons of folder and files in a small or medium size list. On the other hand, while setting up several styles for the folder and file icons, some Windows 10 users have experienced some unusual issues where there is the Black background showing up behind folder icons. They tried refreshing the File Explorer a couple of times but it didn’t help in fixing the problem and the black squares are still visible on some folder icons.
The black squares behind the folder icons might look disturbing though it’s not really a big problem and is merely a graphical glitch that does not cause any damage or whatsoever to the content of the folder and files. The most likely cause of this glitch might have something to do with the corrupted system files or it could also be caused by outdated thumbnail caches. In addition, graphical glitches like this one could also occur if you are using out outdated graphics drivers. To fix this problem, you need to follow the options laid out below.
Option 1 – Try using the Disk Cleanup to remove Thumbnail files
The Disk Cleanup tool is one of the options you can try to fix the black squares behind the folder icons. Through this tool, you can delete all the Thumbnail files on your disk. To use it, refer to these steps:
Open the Search bar and type “disk cleanup” in the field.
After opening Disk Cleanup from the search results, then from the drop-down menu select the C: drive to clean up and click OK.
Wait for the scanning process to complete. Once it’s done, select the files you want to delete.
Ensure that you select the box labeled “Thumbnails” under the Files to Delete section then click on OK.
After that, a confirmation box will appear, just click on Delete files to delete the files permanently.
Restart your PC.
Option 2 – Try resetting the Thumbnail cache
You have the option to manually delete the Thumbnail Cache to resolve the black square background behind the folder icons issue. Follow the steps given below to reset the Thumbnail cache.
Open the File Explorer.
Next, navigate to the View tab and select the option with Hidden items to display all the hidden folders and files.
Next, go to this path: C:Users<username>AppDataLocal
In the given path, make sure that you put your actual username in the username field. Then look for a file named “IconCache.db”. Right-click on this file and click on Delete.
After that, go to this path: C:Users<username>AppDataLocalMicrosoftWindowsExplorer
From there, select all the files and delete them.
Note: If a prompt appears saying, “The files are in use and cannot be deleted”, simply select the “Do this for all current items” option and then click on Try Again. If you get an error message, click on Cancel to close the window and restart your computer.
Option 3 – Try updating or reinstalling the Graphics driver
Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box and then type in devmgmt.msc and tap Enter or click OK to open the Device Manager.
Expand the section for the outdated device drivers.
And then select the outdated driver(s) and right-click on it/them.
From the drop-down menu, select the Update Driver option if you wish to update the driver or select the Uninstall device if you want to uninstall the driver and then follow the on-screen instructions to install the latest version of the driver.
Restart your PC after the installation to allow the system to reinstall the driver.
Have you been feeling anxious in the digital space? Feeling like you have a million eyes on you each time you visit a website? It can definitely make you uneasy. Luckily there’s an easy fix, and it’s called a VPN.
In this article we’ll take you through the basics of what a VPN does and some of the biggest benefits you can reap from buying one.
VPN: definition and how it works
VPN stands for Virtual Private Network, so its name already says a lot about what it does.
A VPN is specialized software that keeps your browsing private and secure. Essentially it hides your identity, preventing possible cyberattacks and data theft. This is especially important in cases of public network use, where you’re highly exposed to potential threats.
To be more specific, this software encrypts your Internet Protocol (IP) address by filtering it through a server hosted by the VPN provider first. That way, it prevents your Internet service provider, third parties and lurking online thieves from tracking the actual you.
Credit: FLY:D on Unsplash
Some providers, such as Surfshark VPN with its IP Rotator feature, even make it a habit to frequently change your IP address to further protect your identity. With most VPN providers, you can also appear to be in a completely different country, adding to your disguise.
There are tons of advantages you can look forward to if you decide to use a VPN. Take a look at some of the crucial ones.
Benefits of using a VPN
When choosing a VPN, you can find both free and paid options. We recommend you go with the paid ones, since they have stronger security, encryption and data protection, as well as more advanced features. Free VPNs come with limitations and risk of malicious attacks on the software itself.
You can choose to buy a singular VPN service or opt for antivirus software that has a VPN built in, for example Bitdefender’s Ultimate Security plan. That depends on what you use your computer for and how much.
When you pick one, here’s what it can do for you.
1. Access region-specific content
When we said you could change your location, we meant it. Say you’re using a streaming service and a show you desperately want to watch isn’t available in your country. You can use your VPN to make it look like you’re browsing from a country where it’s unlocked.
This option is also convenient for gamers who want to access maps, skins and other in-game items unavailable in their location.
In addition, you can use this powerful feature when you’re traveling to a region where some of your favorite content may not be accessible.
Do keep in mind that you need to read the Terms and Conditions (yeah, we know - who does that?) of your games and services before doing this, since you could end up getting a penalty. It’s also important to remember that there are entire countries that have strict regulations or even bans on VPNs, for example Belarus, Russia and China. So make sure to be very cautious with your VPN use, friends.
2. Browse like no one’s watching
VPNs shield your browsing habits from prying eyes on the web. Those can be malicious hackers or just third-party cookies tracking your every move to later bombard you with targeted ads. For example, Surfshark VPN features a Cookie blocker that blocks all cookie-related pop-ups and lets you browse in peace (and secret). It works even when the VPN is turned off, which is also pretty neat.
In addition, their CleanWeb 2.0 technology makes sure ads and especially malware don’t stand a chance at all, since they’re blocked before they can even load.
The inability of sites to track your browsing means they can’t collect and analyze any of your data. So, your personal information - or your company’s information in case that’s what you’re using your computer for - is entirely hidden and secure.
3. Save money
It’s well-known that the prices of certain items and services vary based on your location, browsing time, age and many other factors. This most commonly goes for airline tickets and hotel stays.
You can use your VPN to avoid high prices and surcharges. Clear all cookies, turn on your VPN and visit an online shopping site to check out their prices. Then compare your findings with the offers you see when your VPN is off, when you spend a long time on the site or have an active account with the company.
Sometimes this can really help you find the best deals and avoid breaking the bank. But again, check the Terms and Conditions before you purchase something using a VPN.
4. Secure your smart home
The more smart devices you have connected to your network, the more exposed you are to potential cyberattacks. Phones and computers are generally designed to be decently secure even without a VPN or antivirus, but smart home devices leave a lot to be desired in that regard.
Protecting your home network with a VPN software means all devices connected to it are secure, be it an air purifier or Alexa.
Credit: Bence Boros on Unsplash
5. Prevent connection slowdown
Your ISP can intentionally slow down your internet speed based on how much data you’ve consumed (data throttling) or your activities online (bandwidth throttling).
But with a VPN, what kind of data you send and receive and how much is entirely hidden. Therefore, if your ISP can’t see you, they can’t control you and they can’t throttle down your speed.
The bottom line
You can never be too safe online. So definitely think about getting yourself a solid VPN to pump up your privacy and security as much as you can. And if you have any questions or need help choosing the perfect software for you, feel free to reach out to us.
Every now and then, the Windows Installer can also encounter some problems or glitches. One of these problems is where the Windows Update Standalone Installer, Windows Defender as well as Windows Firewall throws an error message that says, “The specified service does not exist as an installed service, 0x80070424”. This type of error can actually affect various applications on your computer so you have to fix it as soon as you can.
Although there is no clear reason for what really causes this error, there are various suggestions you can try to fix it.
Option 1 – Try to run the Windows Update troubleshooter
Windows 10 have various troubleshooters that can help you resolve many system issues. So if you’re dealing with errors “The specified service does not exist as an installed service, 0x80070424”, you can run the Windows Update troubleshooter to resolve it.
To run it, go to Settings and then select Troubleshoot from the options. From there, click on Windows Update and then click the “Run the troubleshooter” button. After that, follow the next on-screen instructions and you should be good to go.
Option 2 – Try to reconfigure the Windows Time Service
In the Start Search, type “command prompt” and right-click on Command Prompt from the search results.
Then click on the “Run as administrator” option to open Command Prompt with admin privileges.
Now execute each one of the given commands sequentially and hit Enter right after you type each one of them.
net stop W32time
exe /unregister
exe /register
net start W32time
After executing the given commands above, wait until it says, “W32Time successfully registered”.
Option 3 – Try to restart related Windows services
First, type “command prompt” in the Start Search and right-click on Command Prompt from the search results.
Then click on the “Run as administrator” option to open Command Prompt with admin privileges.
Now execute each one of the given commands sequentially and hit Enter right after you type each one of them.
SC config wuauserv start= auto
SC config bits start= auto
SC config cryptsvc start= auto
SC config trustedinstaller start= auto
Note: The commands you’ve just executed will make sure that the required Windows services are available.
Option 4 – Try to download and install the Windows Update Agent
You might also want to download and install the latest Windows Update Agent as it could also help you resolve the “The specified service does not exist as an installed service, 0x80070424” error.
Option 5 – Try to reset the Windows Update components
If by any chance that the second option didn’t work, resetting the Windows Update components could also help you resolve the problem. How? Refer to the following steps:
Open Command Prompt with admin privileges.
After that, type each one of the following commands and hit Enter after you key in one after the other.
net stop wuauserv
net stop cryptsvc
net stop bits
net stop msiserver
Note: The commands you entered will stop the Windows Update components such as Windows Update service, Cryptographic services, BITS, and MSI Installer.
After disabling WU components, you need to rename both the SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2 folders. To do that, type each one of the following commands below, and don’t forget to hit Enter after you type one command after the other.
Next, restart the services you’ve stopped by entering another series of commands. Don’t forget to hit Enter after you key in one command after the other.
net start wuauserv
net start cryptsvc
net start bits
net start msiserver
Close Command Prompt and reboot your PC and then check for updates on your computer and see if the error is resolved.
Option 6 – Try running the Windows Firewall troubleshooter
You could also try to run the Windows Firewall troubleshooter as it might also help you fix the problem. This could help in repairing and fixing Windows Firewall issues automatically. Check if it’s available for your Windows.
When it comes to downloading and installing games in the Windows operating system, Steam is one of the well-known sources. You can find many big titles in Streams such as PUBG, Heaven Vaults, and a whole lot more. It is undeniably a great source of getting games in the Windows operating systems. However, just like other software, Steam is not immune to errors as you could encounter errors while using it. This isn’t caused by a bad code but also due to reliance on various factors in both respects to the software and hardware. One of these errors is the Application Load Error 5:0000065434. This kind of error can appear when you launch numerous game titles on your Windows 10 computer like Skyrim, Oblivion, Bully, Morrowind, Vortex, and many more.
To fix this application error in Steam, you can try to copy the Steam executable file or use the Command Prompt. You could also try to verify the integrity of the game files feature or delete any conflicting files on your computer.
Option 1 – Try copying the Steam executable file
The first thing you can do to fix the error is to copy the executable file of Steam.
First, right-click on the desktop shortcut of steam located on your Desktop and click on the “Open file location” option.
After that, copy the executable file for Steam and navigate to the folder of the library of the games which is usually located in SteamSteamAppsCommon
Now paste the Steam executable file you just copied inside the folder of the game and see if it fixes the error or not.
Option 2 – Try to use the Command Prompt
In the Start Search, type “command prompt” and right-click on Command Prompt from the search results and then select the “Run as administrator” option.
After opening Command Prompt as administrator, execute the following command:
cd "C:Program Files (x86)Steamsteamappscommon"mklink "steam.exe" "C:Program Files (x86)Steamsteam.exe"
The command you entered will create a link between the executable file of Steam to the operating system. Once you see a message that states, “Operation completed successfully”, restart your computer.
Option 3 – Try to use the “Verify integrity of the game files” feature
The next thing you can do to get rid of the error is to use the “Verify integrity of the game files” feature. How? Refer to these steps:
Open Steam and right-click on the entry of the game where you encountered the error in the Library and then select Properties.
After that, navigate to the LOCAL FILES tab and click the “VERIFY INTEGRITY OF GAME FILES” button.
Wait for the process to be completed and see if the feature has helped in fixing the error or not.
Option 4 – Try to delete any conflicting files
The error might be caused by some conflicting files on your computer which is why you have to delete them. To do that, follow these steps:
Open the Documents folder and look for the folder created by the game that’s throwing the error. For instance, it could be stored in the “My Games” folder.
Next, delete the folder and then try to launch the game again and see if the error is now fixed.
Since its release, Hearthstone has changed and innovated how digital card games are played. From its cross-platform matchmaking to interesting random mechanics and making the game free to play from day 1 have paved the road to Hearthstone's success. If you by any chance get lost connection to game server error and find yourself unable to play please stay awhile and listen
Keep reading and try provided solutions as they are presented to fix this issue and continue gaming.
ActiveX Controls are plugins you may constantly come across when working with Internet Explorer. An illustration of these kinds of control is the MICROSOFT IE Flash Player. They frequently result into significant problems for the Computer, yet they're vital for IE to operate correctly.
You shouldn't ever overlook that after you install Active Controls in your Personal Computer, you effectively provide them with access to other areas of your PC. The ActiveX Controls not only tracks your search routines, but in addition puts malicious software, which might possibly be hazardous to your Computer.
Solution
Error Causes
ActiveX Controls make your Internet Explorer work as required and are usually great and beneficial to your own Computer. Yet, they can function as a source of problems because of the following factors.
You should stop installing ActiveX Controls from Un Trustworthy Resources
In the event they are installed by you from un trustworthy resources new threats are likely introduced by ActiveX Controls to your PC. One of the more regular types of ActiveX Controls worth necessary for installation is Flash Player. Yet, never be in a hurry to install these Controls from resources that you don't trust.
Limit The Number of ActiveX Controls You Install on your PC
Prevent installing java/oracle ActiveX controls, because of its weak security measures which could make your Personal Computer and any additional information there in, open to attacks.
Limit to the variety of ActiveX Controls that you install on your PC as these could increase the vulnerability canvas on your computer.
Further Information and Manual Repair
You can manually fix any malfunction that springs up from ActiveX Controls. Yet, more than mending the harm, produce the setting that ensures you never have troubles from them to start with. Just how do you do that?
a) Stop installing or downloading ActiveX Controls from Un Trustworthy Sources
This has been mentioned above, but it's worth repeating because it's the most common reason behind ActiveX Controls malfunctions. You might anticipate that for this kind of obvious reason for ActiveX Controls malfunctions, PC consumers would be extra cautious, however that is never true.
b) Limit ActiveX Controls Softwares
You can restrict ActiveX controls from running automatically on your PC. To limit them, head to Tools in Internet Explorer, and choose Internet Options. Proceed to the Security tab, and select Customs level
Browse completely down before you get to the area designated "ActiveX". Subsequently, mark "Prompt" under every choice that you encounter. But don't mark the choice indicated "Run ActiveX Controls and Plug-Ins", together with, "Script ActiveX Controls Marked Safe for Scripting".
By performing the measures emphasized above, you happen to be in substance stating that, you will not permit any installation of ActiveX Controls, without express authorization by you.
In this manner, you have better control over different forms of ActiveX Controls you permit to be installed, therefore reducing potential threats to your PC.
Error code 12 is a typical Device Manager error code. It usually pops on the computer screen when the computer experiences device driver problems or system resource conflicts.
Error code 12 is mostly displayed on the computer screen in the following format:
‘This device cannot find enough free resources that it can use. If you want to use this device, you will need to disable one of the other devices on this system.’
Solution
Error Causes
The error code 12 occurs when 2 devices installed on your PC are accidentally assigned the same I/O (input/output) ports or the same direct memory access channel.
This assignment is known to be made either by BIOS (Basic Input/output system) or by the operating system. It can sometimes be assigned by a combination of the two. Also, code 12 can also appear on your monitor screen if the BIOS didn’t allocate enough resources to the device.
Although this error code is not fatal, it is nonetheless advisable to fix it immediately to avoid inconvenience and hassle. This error is most likely to lower and hamper the performance of your system.
Further Information and Manual Repair
Here are some of the easiest and most effective do-it-yourself methods to resolve error code 12 on your PC. To perform these fixes, you don’t have to be technically sound or a computer programmer for that matter. Simply follow the steps to fix the problem right away.
Method 1 - Use the Troubleshooting Wizard to identify the Conflict
To repair error code 12, simply go to the start menu and type Device Manager in the search box. Now go to the Device Properties dialog box. After that click on the ‘General Tab’ and now access Troubleshoot to start the Troubleshooting Wizard.
The Wizard will ask you some questions and provide you a solution accordingly. Follow the instructions and resolution steps provided by the troubleshooting wizard to repair error code 12 on your PC.
Method 2 - Disable the Device to Resolve
By disabling the problematic device in the Device Manager, Windows will ignore that piece of hardware. Once disabled, Windows will then no longer assign system resources to that device and no driver/software will be able to use that device.
To disable, go to the Device Properties in the Device Manager and then click the Driver tab. Click disable located at the bottom of the window. Then you will be prompted with a message stating ‘Disabling this device will cause it to stop functioning. Do you wish to disable it?’ Click yes to continue and then click OK to save changes.
Method 3 - Restore Your PC to its Previous State
Another method to resolve error code 12 is to restore your PC to its previous state when it was working properly.
For this, it is important to backup all your data first to avoid data loss issues that are likely to occur during this process. Creating backups manually can be a time-consuming and tedious task. To save time and quicken the process, it is best to install a program like DriverFIX.
DriverFIX is a user-friendly and intuitive device driver management software that helps backup all your data automatically and efficiently, while simultaneously restores your PC back to its previous state before you encountered problems.
Click here to download DriverFIX on your system to resolve error code 12
If you encounter a Blue Screen error that points out to the CMUDA.sys, read on as this post will guide you in fixing it. The CMUDA.sys file is a Windows operating system driver file that is related to the USB Device Audio capabilities of a computer. There are times when this file causes Blue Screen error due to some conflicts in RAM or some incompatible firmware or hard disk issues, corrupted drivers or malware infection, and so on.
There are various Blue Screen errors that are related to the CMUDA.sys file such as:
KMODE EXCEPTION NOT HANDLED
PAGE FAULT IN A NONPAGED AREA
IRQL NOT LESS OR EQUAL
SYSTEM THREAD EXCEPTION NOT HANDLED (CMUSBDAC.sys)
In most cases, the CMUDA.sys file usually triggers the SYSTEM_THREAD_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED Blue Screen error. Although this Blue Screen error may seem complicated, its workarounds are straightforward so you won’t have any problems in following them.
Option 1 – Try to update or rollback your device drivers
If the first option didn’t work for you, then it’s time to either update or roll back the device drivers. It is most likely that after you updated your Windows computer that your driver also needs a refresh. On the other hand, if you have just updated your device drivers then you need to roll back the drivers to their previous versions. Whichever applies to you, refer to the steps below.
Open the Devices Manager from the Win X Menu.
After opening the Device Manager, locate the device drivers that are marked with a small yellow exclamation mark icon and right-click on each one to open their Properties. On the other hand, you can also look for sub-entries under Sound, video, and game controllers like the C-Media USB Audio Class
After that, switch to the Driver tab and click on the Uninstall Device button.
Follow the screen option to completely uninstall it.
Finally, restart your computer. It will just reinstall the device drivers automatically.
Note: You can install a dedicated driver on your computer in case you have it or you could also look for it directly from the website of the manufacturer. You can download the as C-Media USB Audio Class driver from the cmedia.com website.
Option 2 – Try to recreate the CMUDA.sys file
The first thing you can try is to recreate the CMUDA.sys file. Every time your Windows 10 PC boots up, it looks for all the system drivers in place and if it is unable to find them, it tries to create them. Which is why if you remove your corrupt driver file, chances are, you might get a fixed file recreated just for you. How? Refer to the steps below.
Boot your Windows 10 PC in Safe Mode.
Then open File Explorer and navigate to this location: C:/Windows/System32/drivers
From there, look for the file named sys and rename it to CMUDA.old.
Note: As you can see, the file’s extension has changed from .sys to .old.
Now restart your computer and check if the CMUDA.sys Blue Screen error is now fixed.
Option 3 – Run the Blue Screen Troubleshooter
The Blue Screen troubleshooter is a built-in tool in Windows 10 that helps users in fixing BSOD errors. It can be found on the Settings Troubleshooters page. To use it, refer to these steps:
Tap the Win + I keys to open the Settings panel.
Then go to Update & Security > Troubleshoot.
After that, look for the option called “Blue Screen” on your right-hand side and then click the “Run the troubleshooter” button to run the Blue Screen Troubleshooter and then follow the next on-screen options. Note that you might have to boot your PC into Safe Mode.
On the other hand, you can also try running the online Windows 10 Blue Screen troubleshooter from Microsoft. It is a wizard that could help you fix any Stop errors related to the CMUDA.sys file and will offer you helpful links as you use it.
Option 4 – Try running the DISM tool
You can try running the Deployment Imaging and Servicing Management or DISM tool to fix the Wdf01000.sys Blue Screen error. 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.
Option 5 – Run System Restore
Running System Restore might also help in fixing Blue Screen errors related to the CMUDA.sys file.
Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
After that, type in “sysdm.cpl” in the field and tap Enter.
Next, go to the System Protection tab then click the System Restore button. This will open a new window where you have to select your preferred System Restore point.
After that, follow the on-screen instructions to finish the process and then restart your computer and check if the problem is fixed or not.
