How to Fix Error 126

One of the issues with external storage devices is that unplugging them right away without using the “Safely Remove Hardware” feature is not safe and doing so could lead to data corruption and data loss. However, in some cases, even when you use the “Safely Remove Hardware” feature, you could get an error that says:

“Windows can’t stop your ‘Generic volume’ device because a program is still using it. Close any programs that might be using the device, and then try again later.”

It is possible that the system is still using the external device – for instance, a copy operation might still be in progress, or Windows is still indexing the contents of the drive in the background or it could also be that the drive is not configured to be quickly removed. To fix this error, there are a couple of suggestions you can try. You can try to close all the open programs and file explorer windows, or you could also configure the Device Removal Policy or change its file system to FAT32. In addition, you can also try to change its drive letter or use the DISKPART utility to get the drive to be offline or simply manage the hogging process that prevents it from being safely removed. Follow each one of the given potential fixes below to resolve the error when using the Safely Remove Hardware feature.

Option 1 – Close all the open programs and File Explorer windows

The first thing you have to do to resolve the error is to close any open programs as well as File Explorer windows. This is because there are some programs and File Explorer instances that could be using the external device in the background which explains why you’re getting the error when you try to safely remove your device.

Option 2 – Try to configure the Device Removal Policy

The next thing you can do is to configure the Device Removal Policy. How? Refer to these steps:

• Open File Explorer and right-click on the drive where you encountered the error.
• Next, select Properties from the context menu.
• After that, navigate to the Hardware tab and select the disk drive where you got the error under the “All disk drives” section.
• Then select Properties under the Device Properties section. This will open a new mini window and from there, select Change Settings on the bottom portion of the window.
• Now navigate to the Policies tab and select the “Quick Removal (default)” option under the Removal Policy section.
• Click on the OK and Apply buttons to save the changes made and then see if the error is now fixed.

Option 3 – Try to manage the hogging process

You could also try managing the hogging process to get rid of the error.

• Tap the Ctrl + Shift + Esc key combination to open the Task Manager.
• Then look for the running processes and programs that are hogging your USB storage device. If there is a program that’s using your device, it will hog on some Disk or CPU while transferring data and interacting with the device which is why you’re getting an error when you safely remove the device.
• Next, select the concerned processed and right-click on each one of them, and then select the End Task or End Process option. You can also restart the Explorer.exe process and see if that helps.

Option 4 – Try to change the drive letters

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run utility and then type “diskmgmt.msc” in the field and click OK or tap Enter to open Disk Management.
• Next, look for your USB storage device using the drive letter that’s assigned to it. Right-click on your device and select the “Change Drive Letter and Paths…” option.
• This will open a mini window and from there select the drive letter you want to change and click on the Change button.
• After that, another smaller window will appear where you’ll have to select the new drive letter from the drop-down menu.
• Click OK and if you got a warning prompt, just click on Yes.
• Now restart your computer.

Option 5 – Try using DISKPART utility to get the drive to be offline

The next thing you can try to resolve the issue is to use DISKPART. Refer to the given steps below to do so.

• Tap the Win + R keys to launch Run and then type “cmd” in the field and tap Enter or click OK to open an elevated Command Prompt.
• Next, type and enter this command to execute it: diskpart
• The command you entered will initiate the DISKPART utility. After that, type and enter this second command: list disk
• Next, type and enter this third command: list volume
• The commands you just executed will help you in either listing all the Disk connects or all the partitions on those disks formed and from there, you need to select one command depending on the “list” command you entered. You can execute either of the two following commands:
  • select disk #
  • select volume #

• After that, it will select the Disk or Partition you want to select.
• Now type either one of the following commands:
  • offline disk #offline volume #
• The command you entered will mark the selected disk is Offline. Afterward, try to safely remove your USB Storage device. Just remember that when you plug it back in again, you have to carry out the same method except for the last given command as this time you will have to enter either of these commands in order to get your USB storage device back online:
  • online disk #
  • online volume #

Option 6 – Try to change the file system to FAT32

If you keep getting this error on a particular USB device, you might have to format the disk and change its file system to FAT32. Make sure that you copy its contents safely into another location before you format the disk. Keep in mind that formatting the disk will remove all the contents of your drive.

• Open File Explorer and right-click on the drive where you got the error and then select Format from the context menu.
• Next, in the newly opened mini window, select the FAT32 (Default) option from the drop-down menu under File System.
• Now check the Quick Format checkbox and then click on the Start button to start formatting your drive.

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.

Surfshark VPN (Credit: Dan Nelson on Unsplash)

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.

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.

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

Valve said in an announcement on June 1:

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

Valve

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

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

Nvidia announced the third generation of GeForce RTX GPUs called Ada Lovelace. New technology is bringing 76 billion transistors with 18,000 CUDA cores along with new gen ray tracing cores and improved Tensor cores as well. The new lineup also comes with DLSS 3 which is vastly improved from its previous version pushing a 4 times increase in frame rates over native rendering.

RTX 4090, a better model of GPU will come with 16,384 CUDA cores and a boost clock speed of 2.52 GHz. Also, it is packed with stunning 24 GB of GDDR6V VRAM. In Nvidia's words, its performance is twice faster than the 3090 Ti in games like Flight simulator, three times faster on Portal RTX, and four times faster on RacerX.

RTX 4080 comes in two modes, one with 12GB VRAM and a stronger one with 16GB VRAM but differences do not end here. The lower model is packing 7,680 CUDA cores while the stronger one is going to 9,728 CUDA cores. We will wait to see how will these cores count impact real-world performance in games.

As for prices, the flagship model RTX 4090 will be $1,600 USD and it will hit the market on October 12th. RTX 4080 12GB model will be $900 USD and the model with 16GB VRAM will go up to $1,200 USD. This, of course, is the price for Founders Edition cards, OEM cards from third parties like ASUS, MSI, Gigatech, etc will cost more.

WeatherBlink is an extension for google chrome, Mozilla, and internet explorer. It allows users to check out the weather anywhere in the world at any time. This might seem like a convenient feature, however, this toolbar also displays unwanted ads, hijacks your browser home page, collects personal data about your web surfing habits, visits, and clicks. From the author: Access local weather forecasts, weather radar, allergy, and pollen reports, and worldwide weather news – all in one convenient spot! This extension configures your New Tab page to WeatherBlink™ to provide these features.

Be prepared with instant weather forecasts. Access FREE and accurate weather forecasts with one click!

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijack is a very common type of online fraud where your web browser settings are modified to make it do things you do not intend. Browser hijackers can do more than simply modifying home pages. It redirects you to the sponsored internet sites and inserts ads on the internet browser that helps its creator generate ad revenue. A lot of people assume that these kinds of websites are legitimate and harmless but that is not true. Nearly every browser hijacker poses an actual threat to your online safety and it is necessary to classify them under privacy dangers. In a worst-case scenario, your internet browser could be hi-jacked to open up your computer to a host of additional computer infections.

Indications of browser hijack

Below are some symptoms that indicate you’ve been hijacked: 1. the browser’s home page is changed 2. bookmark and the new tab are also modified 3. default online search engine is modified 4. you see unwanted new toolbars added 5. you notice a lot of pop-ups on your computer screen 6. web pages load very slowly and often incomplete 7. you’ve disallowed entry to particular web pages, for example, the website of an antimalware software firm like SafeBytes.

So how exactly does a browser hijacker infect a computer?

A browser hijacker could be installed on your PC when you go to an infected website, click an email attachment, or download something from a file-sharing website. They also come from add-on applications, also referred to as browser helper objects (BHO), browser extensions, or toolbars. Sometimes you may have mistakenly accepted a browser hijacker as part of a software program bundle (usually freeware or shareware). Typical examples of browser hijackers include CoolWebSearch, Conduit, RocketTab, OneWebSearch, Coupon Server, Searchult.com, Snap.do, and Delta Search.

Tips on how to remove browser hijackers

Certain browser hijacking can be easily stopped by discovering and eliminating the corresponding malware application from your control panel. However, certain hijackers are more difficult to find or eliminate as they might get themselves associated with certain crucial system files that enable it to work as a necessary operating-system process. You should think about carrying out manual repairs only if you’re a tech-savvy person because there are possible risks associated with fiddling around with the system registry and HOSTS file.

How One Can Eliminate Malware that is Blocking Websites or Preventing Downloads

Malware could potentially cause several different types of damage to PCs, networks, and data. Certain malware goes to great lengths to prevent you from downloading or installing anything on your PC, especially anti-malware applications. If you’re reading this, you probably have got infected by a virus that prevents you from downloading security software like Safebytes Anti-Malware. There are a few fixes you could try to get around with this issue.

Start Windows in Safe Mode

Safe Mode is actually a unique, basic version of Windows where just essential services are loaded to counteract malware as well as other problematic programs from loading. In the event the malware is blocking access to the internet and affecting your PC, launching it in Safe Mode enables you to download anti-virus and run a diagnostic scan while limiting possible damage. To start the computer into Safe Mode, hit the “F8” key on your keyboard right before the Windows logo screen comes up; Or after normal Windows boot up, run MSCONFIG, check Safe Boot under Boot tab, and click Apply. Once you restart into Safe Mode with Networking, you may download, install, as well as update anti-malware software from there. At this point, you could run the anti-malware scan to eliminate computer viruses and malware without any interference from another application.

Switch over to an alternate browser

Some malware may target vulnerabilities of a specific browser that block the downloading process. The most effective solution to avoid this problem is to pick a browser that is renowned for its security features. Firefox has built-in Phishing and Malware Protection to help keep you secure online.

Install antivirus on a thumb drive

To effectively remove the malware, you have to approach the problem of running an anti-malware software program on the affected computer from a different angle. Adopt these measures to run the anti-virus on the affected computer. 1) Download Safebytes Anti-Malware or Windows Defender Offline onto a virus-free computer system. 2) Plug the USB drive into the clean PC. 3) Double-click the Setup icon of the anti-malware program to run the Installation Wizard. 4) When asked, choose the location of the USB drive as the place in which you would like to store the software files. Follow activation instructions. 5) Unplug the flash drive. You may now utilize this portable anti-virus on the infected computer. 6) Double-click the Safebytes Anti-malware icon on the flash drive to run the program. 7) Press the “Scan Now” button to begin the virus scan.

SafeBytes Anti-Malware: Lightweight Malware Protection for Windows Computer

Do you want to install the best anti-malware software for your computer system? There are plenty of applications available in the market which comes in paid and free versions for Microsoft Windows computers. A few of them are good, some are ok types, while some will damage your computer themselves! You need to be careful not to select the wrong application, particularly if you purchase a paid application. On the list of recommended software programs is SafeBytes AntiMalware. SafeBytes has a very good track record of top-quality service, and customers seem to be very happy with it. SafeBytes can be described as a powerful, real-time anti-spyware application that is made to assist the common computer end user in safeguarding their PC from malicious internet threats. Using its cutting-edge technology, this application can assist you to get rid of multiples types of malware which include computer viruses, PUPs, trojans, worms, ransomware, adware, and browser hijackers. SafeBytes has a variety of features that can help you protect your PC from malware attacks and damage. Below are a few of the great ones: Antimalware Protection: With a critically acclaimed anti-malware engine, SafeBytes gives multi-layered protection which is intended to find and eliminate viruses and malware that are concealed deep in your computer’s operating system. Real-time Threat Response: SafeBytes provides round-the-clock protection for your PC restricting malware intrusions in real-time. It’ll regularly monitor your laptop or computer for hacker activity and also gives users sophisticated firewall protection. Quick Multi-threaded Scanning: SafeBytes’s high-speed malware scanning engine lessens scan times and extends the life of the battery. At the same time, it’ll effectively detect and get rid of infected computer files or any internet threat. Internet Security: Safebytes allots all sites a unique safety score that helps you to get an idea of whether the website you’re just about to visit is safe to browse or known to be a phishing site. Low CPU/Memory Usage: SafeBytes is well known for its minimal influence on computer resources and great detection rate of numerous threats. It works quietly and efficiently in the background so you are free to utilize your computer or laptop at full power all the time. 24/7 Customer Support: You will get 24/7 technical support to promptly resolve any problem with your security tool.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

To remove WeatherBlink manually, go to the Add or Remove programs list in the Control Panel and select the program you want to get rid of. For internet browser plug-ins, go to your browser’s Addon/Extension manager and select the plug-in you want to remove or disable. You will probably also want to reset your internet browser. Finally, examine your hard drive for all of the following and clean your registry manually to remove leftover application entries after uninstallation. Please remember that only experienced users should try to manually edit the registry because incorrect file deletion results in a major problem or perhaps a PC crash. Furthermore, certain malware is capable of replicating or preventing deletion.

Carrying out this malware-removal process in Safe Mode is recommended.

Each you connect time external devices like scanners, printers, and the likes to a Windows 10 computer, the device either pushes the drivers through the USB or any other port, or you are expected to install the drivers through external media. In both cases, the driver will be loaded into the system, allowing you to use the device. However, it doesn’t always go smoothly as you could encounter some errors like the “Windows cannot load the Device Driver for this hardware because a previous instance of the Device Driver is still in memory ( Code 38 )”. If you encounter such an error in the Device Manager, then this means that a previous version of the device driver is still in memory and that each time the device is used, that previous version is loaded into memory and then unloaded which triggers the “Windows cannot load the Device Driver for this hardware because a previous instance of the Device Driver is still in memory (Code 38)” error. This kind of error occurs if the operating system loads the unwanted driver or if it fails to unload the driver. It could be that there is an obsolete version of the driver that’s still installed in the system or it could also be that you need to update your USB drivers as they could be outdated or the problem could also be due to some third party program that is interfering with the installation. Whatever the cause is, here are some suggestions you can check out to resolve the problem.

Option 1 – Uninstall previously installed drivers and reinstall their latest working version from the manufacturer’s website

The first thing you can do is to uninstall the drivers that are currently installed on your computer and then reinstall their latest working versions from their official sites. This kind of error is commonly encountered while loading drivers for scanners and printers. This is due to the fact that their drivers and software come along with a package which is usually in external media like CD or DVD. So when you install the software package, there’s a possibility that a newer version has been launched by its manufacturer. When that happens, you have to uninstall the previously installed driver package and then download the drivers from the manufacturer’s website and install them.

Option 2 – Run the Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter

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

Option 3 – Update or reinstall the Universal Serial Bus Controller driver

Since it could be a driver issue, you can try to update or reinstall the Universal Serial Bus Controller drivers using the Device Manager. Refer to the following steps:

• First, click the Start button and type “device manager”.
• Then click on the “Device Manager” from the search results to open it.
• From there, look for the “Universal Serial Bus controllers” option and then right-click on each one of the USB drivers and select the Update Driver from the menu.

Note: If it is a regular USB drive, then it will be listed as a USB Mass Storage Device but if you have a USB 3.0 device, then look for a USB 3.0 Extensible Host Controller.

• Restart your PC and then click the “Search automatically for updated driver software” option.

Note: If updating the USB Controller drivers didn’t work, you can try to reinstall them instead.

Option 4 – Restart your computer in a Clean Boot State

If the first three given options didn’t work and you still see the error when you connect external devices, you can try putting your computer in a Clean Boot State and then try connecting them again.

• 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.)
• Now try to connect the external devices and check if the error is now gone.

If you suddenly encounter PFN_LIST_CORRUPT Blue Screen of Death error while using your computer then it means that the Page Frame Number or PFN list is corrupted. Page Frame Number is an indexing number used by the hard drive to find out the location of every single file on the physical disk. This kind of Blue Screen error is usually caused by a driver that’s passing a bad memory descriptor list and it can either be temporary or permanent. And so to fix this particular BSOD error, read on as this post contains a couple of suggestions that could help. Keep in mind that when you get a Blue Screen error like PFN_LIST_CORRUPT, the power connection to your PC must not be interrupted and so if you are using a laptop, it’s best if you connect it to a power source. On the other hand, if creating a dump from 0% to 100% takes up more than 5-10 minutes, then you have to force shut down your computer by pressing and holding the Power Key for 10 seconds or at least until the CPU lights turn off. After you do that, proceed to the troubleshooting tips prepared below.

Option 1 – Run the Blue Screen Troubleshooter

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

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

Option 2 – Run a System File Checker scan

You can also try to run a System File Checker or SFC scan in order to scan your computer for corrupted files that might be the cause behind the PFN_LIST_CORRUPT error. Once it finds any corrupted system files, it will automatically fix them. To run System File Checker, here’s what you have to do:

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

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

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

• Restart your computer after the scan is completed.

Option 3 – Check for any hard disk errors

• On your desktop, right-click on the “This PC” or computer icon and then select Manage to open the Disk Management. Here you get to check your drive’s health.
• Next, click on Disk Management on the left side panel.
• From there, check the state of your drives. If it shows that all your partitions are healthy then it means all is good and that the problem may have something to do with some physical issues with your hard drive.

You might also want to run the CHKDSK utility to help you fix any issues with your hard disk. If your hard drive has issues with integrity, the update will really fail as the system will think that it’s not healthy and that’s where the CHKDSK utility comes in. The CHKDSK utility repairs hard drive errors that might be causing the problem.

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

chkdsk /f /r

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

Option 4 – Update the Device drivers

Updating the Device drivers can also help you fix the PFN_LIST_CORRUPT Blue Screen error. To do so, follow the steps below.

• 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 and select “Update Driver Software”.
• Select the “Search automatically for updated driver software” option and then follow the instructions to complete the process.
• Restart your PC and then check if the Blue Screen error is now fixed or not.

Option 5 – Disable OneDrive

The PFN_LIST_CORRUPT error might also be caused by OneDrive. Thus, you have to try disabling this program to resolve the problem.

• Tap the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys to open the Task Manager.
• Once the Task Manager is open, click on More Details located at the bottom left portion of the window.
• Then go to the Startup tab and select Microsoft OneDrive and then click Disable.

Error Code 35 - What is it?

Error Code 35 is a typical Device Manager error. It indicates information missing to properly configure your device.  Error code 35 is usually displayed in the following format:

“Your computer's system firmware does not include enough information to properly configure and use this device. To use this device, contact your computer manufacturer to obtain a firmware or BIOS update. Code 35”

Solution

Error Causes

The 2 common reasons for Device Manager error code 35 are:

• Outdated BIOS
• Mis-configured, corrupted, or outdated Drivers

No matter what the reason may be, it is advisable to resolve the problem immediately without any delay otherwise you will be unable to use your hardware device.

Further Information and Manual Repair

Below is the list of the most effective and easy to perform solutions to resolve error code 35 on your PC. These solutions do not require any technical knowledge or understanding. Simply follow the instructions to resolve this error code.

Method 1 - Update the BIOS

BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) is the embedded software on the computer’s motherboard.

Though not all PCs have the same BIOS manufacturer, but the steps for updating the BIOS are similar for all versions. Before you get started with the updating process, first identify your current BIOS version.

• For this, go to the start menu and type msinfo32, and press enter.
• Now click System Summary to view your BIOS version. Here you will see the version number and date.
• Now check your PC motherboard manufacturer’s website to download the BIOS update for the model you own. Also, download any Read Me Files and documentation. These contain guidelines and precautions that you should know before you update.
• Backup all your data and existing BIOS before you update the BIOS version. This will keep your data protected in case the attempt to update BIOS fails.
• Also, when updating, make sure to use an uninterruptible power supply. Remember power outage or even a small power fluctuation can corrupt the BIOS which is something you don’t want.
• Now it’s time to perform the update. Run the downloaded installer for the BIOS updating software. Double click on the executable file.
• Look for a button names Update, Flash, or Run.
• Click on it to start updating the new version
• After the update is complete, your computer will restart automatically.

This will hopefully resolve the problem. However, if the error still persists then there is a possibility that the error code is related to outdated drivers. To resolve, try method 2.

Method 2 - Download Driver Assist to Update Drivers Automatically

Update drivers to repair error code 35 on your PC by simply downloading DriverFIX. This is a cutting-edge program deployed with an intelligent programming system.

It is compatible with all Windows versions.

It scans your PC for problematic drivers and updates them with the latest and compatible versions automatically and in a few seconds thereby repairing all Device Manager error codes including error code 35 generated due to outdated/corrupted drivers.

In addition to this, it updates all device drivers on a regular basis, so you don’t have to stress over and keep a track of what drivers on your PC need to be updated and when.

Click here to download DriverFIX to resolve Device Manager error code 35 today!

FLoC is Google’s alternative to third-party cookies and is based on machine learning. This will allow the browser, any browser, to anonymously study how users are browsing and then group them into ‘cohorts’. Following this, you will be served ads based on your cohort and not on your individual data. So, you are still going to be targeted with ads but in a more anonymous manner. Google claims that this will improve user privacy since this “federated learning” happens on the user’s device and artificial intelligence-based learning involves sharing lesser users than what happens with third-party cookies. If something like this gets widely adopted by ad companies and services, it should “protect users” from tracking methods that are more intrusive than third-party cookies, like browser fingerprinting.

Who is against it?

Privacy-focused browsers DuckDuckGo, Brave, and Vivaldi have all warned users against FLoC and have said that they are going to block it on their end. Brave says that Google FLoC has a design that does not respect the customer’s privacy and consent. It has been designed to provide browsing behavior and interest data with any website that users may interact with, and this process does not involve fully informed consent. Vivaldi, another popular Chromium-based web browser, has also made its stance clear regarding the status of FLoC. The company said in a Reddit thread that the FLoC experiment does not work in Vivaldi. It happens because for FLoC to work, some features need to be enabled under the hood, but Vivaldi does not provide those options. The company also added that it plans to stop the entire FLoC component from being a part of the browser, regardless of how Google may implement it. Considering that Brave and Vivaldi have been privacy-focused browsers since their beginnings, the decision to stay away from FLoC is not surprising.

If you were trying to print some documents but encounter the HIDCLASS.SYS Blue Screen error instead, then you’ve come to the right place as this post will guide you in fixing any Blue Screen errors related to the HIDCLASS.SYS file. HIDCLASS.SYS is a Windows operating system driver file. HID or Human Interface Device includes Keyboards, mice, and other input devices. HIDCLASS.SYS is a critical system driver file that is responsible for connecting different kinds of devices all over the system, including the functionality where a Word Processor can access the printer to print documents. This file comes under the category of kernel-mode device drivers and if the driver fails, it can result in a Stop Error. There are a lot of Stop errors related to the HIDCLASS.SYS file, such as:

• KMODE EXCEPTION NOT HANDLED
• SYSTEM SERVICE EXCEPTION
• DRIVER POWER STATE FAILURE
• PAGE FAULT IN A NONPAGED AREA
• SYSTEM THREAD EXCEPTION NOT HANDLED
• DRIVER VERIFIER IOMANAGER VIOLATION
• IRQL NOT LESS EQUAL

The fixes for the Blue Screen errors related to the HIDCLASS.SYS files are pretty simple but before you troubleshoot the problem using these fixes, make sure that you boot your computer into Safe Mode with Networking first. After that, get started on these tips:

Option 1 – Update or rollback or disable concerned device drivers

To fix the HIDCLASS.SYS error, you can also try to roll back, or update, or disable the concerned device drivers.

• Open the Devices Manager from the Win X Menu.
• Then locate the device drivers particularly the ones that are under the sections of Keyboard, Mouse, USB, and HID Drivers.
• Next, right-click on them to open the Properties.
• After that, switch to the Driver tab and click on the Uninstall Device button.
• Follow the screen option to completely uninstall it.
• Finally, restart your computer. It will just reinstall the device drivers automatically.

Note: You can install a dedicated driver on your computer in case you have it or you could also look for it directly from the website of the manufacturer. On the other hand, if you have just updated your device drivers then you need to roll back the drivers to their previous versions or disable them.

Option 2 – Check for any incompatible devices

The next thing you can do to troubleshoot the HIDCLASS.SYS Stop error is to plug in and out each one of the different hardware that is connected to your computer. Doing so will help you determine which one of the hardware is the one that’s triggering the error to pop up. You will also know what hardware drivers or anything else that could be causing this error which includes external devices like mouse, keyboard, printer, as well as internally attached components like the Graphics card and so on.

Option 3 – Try running the ChkDsk utility

Running the ChkDsk utility can also help you resolve any Blue Screen errors related to the HIDCLASS.SYS file. To run this tool, refer to these steps:

• First, open This PC and right-click on your operating system partition for Windows.
• Next, click on Properties and navigate to the Tools tab.
• Then click on Check under the Error Checking section.
• After that, a new mini window will be opened and from there click on Scan drive and let it scan your disk drive partition for any errors and then restart your computer.

Option 4 – Try checking the Memory for any errors

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

Note: After you select the option, your PC will restart and check for memory-based issues. If it finds any issues, it will automatically fix them.

Option 5 – Run the System File Checker

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

• Type “cmd” in the Start search and then right-click on the appropriate search result.
• Next, select “Run as administrator” to open Command Prompt with admin privileges.
• After opening Command Prompt, type in sfc /scannow

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

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

• Now restart your computer and see if the Blue Screen error is fixed or not.