How to Fix Error Code 0xC004C020

Error Code 0xC004C020 (Code 0xC004C020) – What is it?

Error code 0xC004C020 (Code 0xC004C020) is an error that occurs when you attempt to activate a copy of Windows 7 with a key, but the key has already been activated multiple times. When receiving this error code, it means that you are trying to exceed the number of times that the Windows 7 key is allowed to be activated.

Common symptoms include:

  • Attempting to install Windows 7 with a key and a dialog box with the code 0xC004C020 is displayed.
  • The computer is unable to install Windows 7 with the key.
  • Certain features will refrain from working until the correct key has been entered.

Solution

Restoro box imageError Causes

Error Code 0xC004C020 occurs when you are not able to install Windows 7 using a previously purchased key code that has been installed numerous times previously on the same computer.

  • You are not able to use your previously used key to install Windows 7.
  • You have used the Windows 7 key the maximum number of times allowed.

Error code 0xC004C020 simply means that the Windows 7 code that you are trying to use to install Windows 7 has already been used the maximum number of times allowed, even when installing it on the same computer that it was previously used on. This would indicate that the key is what is known as a volume key- meaning that there is a cap on the number of uses.

Further Information and Manual Repair

Many people encounter this problem when they are doing software development or testing and need to reinstall Windows 7. Some people might also encounter this error code when installing Windows 7 with a key that was used too many times previously. It should be noted that there are several ways to fix this problem, but if nothing is working, you should contact a computer repair technician.

Method One

Activate by phone- the long method.

  1. Click the start button, right-click Computer, click Properties, and then click Activate Windows.  This will open Windows Activation.
  2. Click on “Show me other ways to activate”.
  3. Find and enter the Windows 7 key, then click Next.
  4. Click on “Use the automated phone system”. If you are prompted for an administrator password or a confirmation, confirm or type the password now.
  5. Select the location nearest to you and then click the Next button.
  6. There will be a list of available phone numbers, choose one and call it. There will be an automated system that will guide the activation process.
  7. Enter the installation ID when prompted, it will be listed on your computer screen.
  8. The phone system will give you a confirmation ID, write this down.
  9. Type this confirmation ID into the space that is provided by step 3. This will be in the activation dialogue. Then, click NEXT and follow the instruction.
  10. If this is not successful, stay on the line and be transferred to a customer service representative that will assist you.

Method Two

Activate by phone- this is a much simpler method.

  1. Click on Start, type: slui.exe 4 into the Search box
  2. Press Enter on the keyboard.
  3. Pick your country.
  4. Choose the Phone Activation option; stay on hold to speak with a customer service representative.

Method Three

Error code 0xC004C020 occurs if you have used your Windows 7 activation key on multiple computers, or multiple times on the same computer. You are not allowed to exceed the uses of the key—you should consider purchasing a new key if this is the case. A Windows 7 key is available for purchase online through the Microsoft website, in the shop section. The new product key must then be activated within 30 days, or it becomes no longer valid. It can be activated online or through the telephone.

If it is not activated on time, features will stop working until the new key has been activated. This should be the last resort method, as you should not have to purchase a new Windows 7 key code if it is not necessary. If you wish to always have at your disposal a utility tool to fix these Windows 10 and other related issues when they do arise, download and install a powerful automated tool.

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Guide to Fixing the Error 0x800CCC90 Quickly

What is the error code 0x800ccc90?

The 0x800ccc90 is a common Outlook Express error. This error occurs when Outlook Express fails to connect to the mail server that handles incoming and outgoing emails.

The error is usually displayed as:

“There was a problem logging onto your mail server. Your User Name was rejected.”

Though this error does not pose any security threats to your PC if it is not fixed immediately, it may limit your ability to send and receive emails on your Outlook email address.

Error Causes

The error 0x800ccc90 is usually triggered by the following causes:

  1. Authentication problem- This happens when your account details are not authenticated by the server. In this case, you will see a pop up message displaying ‘Server:’pop3.example.com’, or ‘Secure (SSL): No, Server Error: 0x800ccc90’.
  2. Failure of POP3 server

Further Information and Manual Repair

If you come across the error 0x800ccc90, then don’t you worry! You don’t have to hire a professional to resolve this issue. In fact, you can fix it all by yourself. Here are some DIY solutions to repair this problem.

Solution 1:

  • Go to the ‘Tools’ tab and select ‘Accounts’
  • As you click on the accounts tab, an internet accounts box will appear on the screen
  • Now double click on the account property box.
  • After that go to the server tab and click it.
  • Now check on the box that says ‘My Server Requires Authentication.’
  • Once you check on this option now click on apply to accept changes and then close the window.
  • To bring the changes into effect, restart Outlook and then try to send emails again. Hopefully, this will work.

Solution 2:

However, if you are still unable to resolve the problem, then this means the PST files are corrupt and damaged and there is no problem from the server's end. When this happens, then the best way to resolve this problem is to download a PST repair tool.

We suggest downloading the PST repair tool from a trusted website.

After downloading it, run and scan it on your PC to detect errors. You will have to be patient because scanning may take a couple of minutes. Once the scanning is complete, click on repair to resolve the problem.

So, next time when you are unable to send or receive emails on your Outlook Express and you see the 0x800ccc90 error message, then try using the solutions given above to resolve the error right away.

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How to fix 502 Bad Gateway error in Windows
Browsing the internet doesn’t always go smoothly, you might encounter ads, pop-ups, viruses, malware, and even errors. In this post, we’ll walk you through how you can fix the 502 Bad Gateway error that you might encounter in browsing the internet. This kind of error suggests the server which is the one that’s acting as a gateway to facilitate in taking your request to the server and bring some response back has received an invalid response or even no response at all. It could be that the connection is broken or that there is an issue on the server-side that returns an invalid response. Even though the 502 Bad Gateway error is a server-related error, there are still a few things you can try that might help resolve it, if tapping the Ctrl + F5 keys does not resolve the problem. Keep in mind that it doesn’t matter what website you open as this error can appear on any website. To resolve the problem, you need to follow the options prepared below.

Option 1 – Check the network cable connections and restart your router

As with other connection problems, this is the most basic thing to do before you try other troubleshooting options because the root cause of the problem might be as simple as a cable not connected properly or a router that just needs to be restarted. Thus, checking the network cable connection to see if there is anything out of order can help as well as restarting your router.

Option 2 – Reset Winsock, TCP/IP & Flush DNS

Resetting Winsock, TCP/IP, and flushing DNS might help you resolve the issue. To do so, follow these steps:
  • Right-click on the Start button and click on Command Prompt (administrator) so you can pull up an elevated Command Prompt.
  • After that, execute each one of the commands listed below. And after you typed in one after the other, you have to hit Enter.
  1. netsh winsock reset – type in this command to reset Winsock
  2. netsh int ip reset resettcpip.txt – type in this command to reset TCP/IP
  3. ipconfig /flushdns– type in this command to flush the DNS cache
  • Next, restart your PC and check if the problem’s fixed.

Option 3 – Change the DNS

Changing the DNS server for your network can also help you fix the 502 Bad Gateway error. You can use a public DNS like the Google Public DNS, Open DNS, Yandex DNS, Comodo Secure DNS, and many more. All you have to do is to override the default DNS settings on your PC so that you can specify which DNS server is used as well as which IP address should be used for a specific domain.

Option 4 – Try updating the Network Adapter Driver

Follow the steps below to update your Network Adapter Driver:
  • Tap the Win + R keys to launch the Run window and then type in the “devmgmt.msc” command and hit Enter to open the Device Manager window.
  • From there, expand the list of all the network drives and update each one of them.
Note: If updating the network drivers didn’t help in fixing the problem, you can also try to uninstall the very same drivers and restart your Windows 10 PC. After that, the system itself will reinstall the drivers you just uninstalled. Alternatively, you can also download and install the drivers from the manufacturer’s website directly.

Option 5 – Try a Network Reset

When all else fails, you might have to consider resetting your entire network settings. Simply follow the steps below to do so.
  • Click on the Start button and then click on the gear-like icon for Settings to open it.
  • Next, select Network and Internet.
  • Then scroll down and look for “Network Reset” – click on it and then click on the Reset now button.
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Fix Black border or bar on Monitor
If you suddenly see a black border in your computer’s display then you might be wondering how come this happened but worry not for this post will give you a couple of suggestions that could help you resolve the problem. The black bar could appear at the bottom or just the sides of the screen. Whichever it may be, there are options you can check out. Refer to the options givens below and make sure to follow them carefully.

Option 1 – Try checking the screen resolution

You might want to try checking the resolution of your screen.
  • Open the Windows 10 Settings and go to Display.
  • Next, go for the “100% (Recommended)” option under Scale and layout for the size of the text, apps, and other items.
  • After that, select the Recommended setting again under Resolution.
Now check to see if the black bars are still there. They should be gone at this point, but if for some strange reason nothing has changed, then attempt the steps below.

Option 2 – Try updating Graphics & Monitor drivers

You might want to try updating your graphics and monitor drivers if you haven’t updated them for some time now. To do that, refer to these steps:
  • First, boot your computer into Safe Mode.
  • After that, 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. From there, look for the Graphics drivers or the Monitor drivers and then click each one of them.
  • After that, right-click on each entry and select the “Uninstall Device” option from the menu.
  • Now restart your computer.
  • After restarting your computer, go to the Settings app and Check for Updates in the Windows Update section.
Note: You can also try to roll back the graphics and monitor drivers back to their previous versions if updating them didn’t work. You can also try visiting the manufacturer’s website and download the graphics or monitor driver setup for your operating system.

Option 3 – Try to run the DISM tool

You can also run the DISM Tool as it might also help in getting rid of the black border or bar on your Windows 10 computer. Using this built-in tool, you have various options such as the “/ScanHealth”, “/CheckHealth”, and “/RestoreHealth” which could help you resolve the problem.
  • 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 4 – Troubleshot the problem in a Clean Boot State

There are some instances that some conflicting programs installed in your computer might be the one that’s causing the Black border issue. To identify which program is causing the problem, you need to put your computer in a Clean Boot State. To do so, follow the steps below.
  • 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.)
  • From there, start to isolate the problem by checking which one of the programs you installed recently is the root cause of the problem.
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Guide for Removing SMSFromBrowser Malware

What is SMSFromBrowser

SMSFromBrowser is a Browser Extension developed by MindSpark. This extension usually comes bundled up with other software or via online advertising. Allegedly this extension allows you to send SMS messages from your computer, however, all it does is point you to other websites that offer this service. While active this extension monitors your browsing behavior, it records your website visits, clicks, links, and sometimes even private information, in order to use this data to better serve additional ads. During your browsing sessions, you may encounter additional unwanted ads, sponsored links, and sometimes even pop-up ads. Several anti-virus scanners have detected this extension as a potentially unwanted extension / Browser Hijacker, and due to its privacy mining behavior, it is not recommended to keep it on your computer.

Browser hijackers (sometimes referred to as hijackware) are a kind of malicious software that modifies web browser settings without the computer owner’s knowledge or permission. These hijacks appear to be increasing at an astonishing rate around the world, and they could be actually nefarious and sometimes harmful too. Browser hijackers are capable of doing more than just modifying homepages. These are typically used to force hits to a specific site, manipulating web traffic to generate ad revenue. Though it might seem naive, these tools are made by vicious people who always try to take advantage of you, so that they can easily make money from your naive and distraction. As soon as the program attacks your laptop or computer, it starts to mess things up a whole lot that slows your system down to a crawl. In the worst-case scenario, you will be forced to deal with serious malware threats as well.

Indications of browser hijack

There are many signs of web browser hijacking: 1. home page is changed 2. your browser is constantly being redirected to porn sites 3. the default online search engine and the default browser settings are altered 4. discover new toolbars that you simply didn’t add 5. you notice numerous ads pop up on the browsers or computer screen 6. your browser gets sluggish, buggy crashes very often 7. you can’t go to specific sites such as homepages of anti-malware software.

How it infects your personal computer

A browser hijacker can be installed on your computer or laptop when you visit an infected site, click on an e-mail attachment, or download something from a file-sharing website. They can be included with toolbars, BHO, add-ons, plug-ins, or browser extensions. Some internet browser hijackers spread in user’s PC by using a deceptive software distribution technique known as “bundling” (often through freeware and shareware). A good example of a notorious browser hijacker is the most recent Chinese malware known as “Fireball”, which has attacked 250 million PCs worldwide. It acts as a hijacker but could be turned into a fully functioning malware downloader afterward. Browser hijackers could interrupt the user’s web surfing experience greatly, keep track of the websites visited by users and steal financial information, cause difficulty in connecting to the web, and eventually create stability problems, making applications and computers freeze.

Removal

Some types of browser hijackers can be effortlessly removed from your PC by deleting malicious applications or any other recently added freeware. Many times, it could be a tough job to discover and get rid of the malicious program because the associated file will be running as part of the operating system process. And there’s no denying the very fact that manual repairs and removal methods can be a difficult job for an amateur computer user. Also, there are several risks associated with fiddling around with the pc registry files. Browser hijackers could be effectively removed by installing and running an anti-malware application on the affected computer. To remove any browser hijacker from your PC, you can download the following professional malware removal program – Safebytes Anti-Malware. And utilize a system optimizer, such as Safebytes Anti-Malware, to erase all associated files in the registry and repair browser problems. All malware is detrimental and the degree of the damage may vary greatly according to the type of infection. Certain malware types alter web browser settings by adding a proxy server or modify the computer’s DNS configuration settings. In such cases, you will be unable to visit some or all internet sites, and thus unable to download or install the required security software to eliminate the infection. If you’re reading this article, odds are you’re stuck with a virus infection that is preventing you to download or install the Safebytes Anti-Malware program on your system. Follow the instructions below to get rid of the malware by alternative methods.

Install the anti-virus in Safe Mode

If the malware is set to run automatically when Microsoft Windows starts, entering Safe Mode could very well block the attempt. Just bare minimum required programs and services are loaded whenever you boot your PC into Safe Mode. To start your Windows XP, Vista, or 7 PCs in Safe Mode with Networking, follow the instructions below. 1) Tap the F8 key continuously as soon as your PC boots, however, before the large Windows logo shows up. This would invoke the “Advanced Boot Options” menu. 2) Use the arrow keys to choose Safe Mode with Networking and press ENTER. 3) Once this mode loads, you should have an internet connection. Now, get the malware removal application you need by using the web browser. To install the program, follow the guidelines in the installation wizard. 4) Right after the software is installed, let the diagnostic scan run to eliminate trojans and other malware automatically. Use an alternate internet browser to download an antivirus application Some malware only targets specific web browsers. If this sounds like your situation, employ another browser as it might circumvent the virus. The best way to avoid this problem is to opt for an internet browser that is known for its security measures. Firefox has built-in Phishing and Malware Protection to help keep you secure online.

Create a bootable USB anti-virus drive

Another option is to store and run an antivirus software program completely from a Flash drive. To run anti-malware from a flash drive, follow these simple steps: 1) On a virus-free PC, download and install Safebytes Anti-Malware. 2) Insert the pen drive on the same PC. 3) Run the setup program by double-clicking the executable file of the downloaded software, which has a .exe file extension. 4) Choose the USB flash drive as the destination for saving the software file. Follow the directions to complete the installation process. 5) Now, transfer the thumb drive to the infected computer system. 6) Double click the Safebytes Anti-malware icon on the pen drive to run the application. 7) Press the “Scan” button to run a full computer scan and remove malware automatically.

Benefits and Features of SafeBytes Anti-Malware

These days, an anti-malware tool can protect your computer or laptop from various types of internet threats. But wait, how to select the best one amongst plenty of malware protection applications that are available on the market? You may be aware, there are several anti-malware companies and products for you to consider. Some of them are good, some are ok types, and some will ruin your PC themselves! You need to be very careful not to select the wrong application, particularly if you purchase a premium application. When it comes to commercial antimalware tool options, many people opt for well-known brands, like SafeBytes, and they are quite happy with it. SafeBytes can be described as a powerful, real-time anti-malware application that is created to assist the average computer end user in safeguarding their computer from malicious internet threats. Through its cutting-edge technology, this software will help you protect your PC against infections caused by various kinds of malware and other threats, including spyware, adware, computer viruses, worms, trojan horses, keyloggers, ransomware, and potentially unwanted program (PUPs).

SafeBytes has excellent features when compared to various other anti-malware programs. A few of them are given as below:

Real-time Active Protection: SafeBytes gives you round-the-clock protection for your personal computer limiting malware attacks instantly. They are extremely effective in screening and removing various threats because they’re continuously revised with new updates and alerts. Robust, Anti-malware Protection: Safebytes is made on the best virus engine within the industry. These engines will detect and get rid of threats even during the early stages of a malware outbreak. Internet Security: SafeBytes inspects the hyperlinks present on a webpage for possible threats and informs you if the website is safe to visit or not, through its unique safety rating system. Low CPU Usage: SafeBytes is a lightweight and user-friendly anti-virus and anti-malware solution. Since it uses minimum computer resources, this application leaves the computer power exactly where it belongs to: with you actually. 24/7 Online Tech Support: You may get absolutely free 24/7 technical support from their computer experts on any product queries or computer security concerns. SafeBytes will keep your personal computer safe from the latest malware threats automatically with almost no input needed from you again. Once you have downloaded and installed this software, you will no longer have to bother about malware or any other security concerns. You will get the best all-around protection for the money you pay on SafeBytes anti-malware subscription, there isn’t any doubt about it.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you wish to manually remove SMSFromBrowser without the use of an automated tool, it may be possible to do so by removing the program from the Windows Add/Remove Programs menu, or in cases of browser extensions, going to the browsers AddOn/Extension manager and removing it. You will likely also want to reset your browser. To ensure the complete removal, manually check your hard drive and registry for all of the following and remove or reset the values accordingly. Please note that this is for advanced users only and may be difficult, with incorrect file removal causing additional PC errors. In addition, some malware is capable of replicating or preventing deletion. Doing this in Safe Mode is advised. The following files, folders, and registry entries are created or modified by SMSFromBrowser
Files: %ALLUSERSPROFILE%MicrosoftWindowsStart MenuProgramsSMSfromBrowser %ALLUSERSPROFILE%Start MenuProgramsSMSfromBrowser %LOCALAPPDATA%SMSfromBrowserTooltab %UserProfile%Local SettingsApplication DataSMSfromBrowserTooltab Registry: HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareWow6432NodeMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionexplorerBrowser Helper ObjectsFFE35078-94B2-4FC0-990D-BF8289BC25E4 HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionexplorerBrowser Helper ObjectsFFE35078-94B2-4FC0-990D-BF8289BC25E4 HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareWow6432NodeMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionexplorerBrowser Helper Objects3188EEFD-9259-445D-8CCD-B99D6296AD1A HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtStats3188EEFD-9259-445D-8CCD-B99D6296AD1A HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtSettingsFFE35078-94B2-4FC0-990D-BF8289BC25E4 HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtSettingsB1D7EA4A-79CA-454E-897F-F5A052E467F6 HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtSettings3188EEFD-9259-445D-8CCD-B99D6296AD1A HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerApproved Extensions, value: 3188EEFD-9259-445D-8CCD-B99D6296AD1A HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerApproved Extensions, value: B1D7EA4A-79CA-454E-897F-F5A052E467F6 HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerApproved Extensions, value: FFE35078-94B2-4FC0-990D-BF8289BC25E4 HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerToolbar, value: B1D7EA4A-79CA-454E-897F-F5A052E467F6 HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareWow6432NodeMicrosoftTracingSMSfromBrowser_RASMANCS HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftTracingSMSfromBrowser_RASMANCS HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareWow6432NodeMicrosoftTracingSMSfromBrowser_RASAPI32 HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftTracingSMSfromBrowser_RASAPI32 HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareAppDataLowHKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareSMSfromBrowser_f7 HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerDOMStoragesmsfrombrowser.dl.myway.com HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareSMSfromBrowser HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINEHKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftware[APPLICATION]MicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionUninstall..Uninstaller
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Fix Chrome ERR_BAD_SSL_CLIENT_AUTH_CERT
The Google Chrome browser checks the SSL Security Certificate of the website that you are trying to open. However, if Chrome is not able to check the certificate then you might encounter an error related to the SSL Certificates which you might face when browsing the web. This particular error is the ERR BAD SSL CLIENT AUTH CERT error which is caused by many factors such as the computer’s Time, Cached Data is corrupt, Date is out of sync, as well as third party software installed in your computer is the one that’s blocking the site and many more. The ERR_BAD_SSL_CLIENT_AUTH_CERT error might also be coming from the website’s end. It could be that the server is rejecting the certificate the client website is sending. The certificate might have already expired or the server may not trust its issuer – whichever the case may be, here are some options you can check out to fix the error.

Option 1 – Sync Date and Time

The first thing you can try is to sync the Date and Time of your computer as the wrong Date and Time settings are one of the most common causes of connection problems like the ERR_BAD_SSL_CLIENT_AUTH_CERT error. This is because of the incompatibility between the SSL Certificate validation date and the System Clock. Thus, you have to sync your System Clock. Refer to the steps below to do so.
  • Right-click on the Taskbar and click on the Adjust Date and Time option.
  • Next, click on the Sync Now button to synchronize the Date and Time with the Microsoft Servers.
  • Now make sure that the Time Zone that’s set on the same page is correct.

Option 2 – Try clearing the browser data

There are times when some data in the browser is conflicting with the loading of the website and triggers errors like ERR_BAD_SSL_CLIENT_AUTH_CERT. And so you can try to clear your browser’s data. This might be a very basic solution but oftentimes it works in fixing this kind of error in Google Chrome. Follow the steps below to clear the data in your browser.
  • Open your Google Chrome browser.
  • After that, tap the Ctrl + H keys. Doing so will open a new panel that allows you to delete the browsing history and other data in your browser.
  • Now select every checkbox that you see and click on the Clear browsing data button.
  • Then restart your Chrome browser and check if you can now open any website or not.

Option 3 – Try to check and fix any possible conflicts with third-party programs

Third-party programs like internet protection software could be interrupting the connection and causing the error. For some unknown reason, your antivirus program or firewall might be detecting the webpage you are trying to open as malicious or with less credibility which is why it is blocking the browser from opening the website. To fix that, if you have third-party programs installed like VPN, security software, or any add-on, or firewall, you can disable them temporarily and see if it fixes the problem and you’re able to pull up the website. After a while, you have to enable them back and configure their settings so that the website won’t get blocked again.

Option 4 – Try enabling SSL 3 / TLS and disable QUIC Protocol

If you were using Google Chrome when you got the ERR_BAD_SSL_CLIENT_AUTH_CERT error, then you need to follow the protocol fixes for SSL3/TLS and QUIC which are usually some of the reasons that cause the SSL version / Cipher Mismatch. It also has a few fixes for Windows 10 computer where you can clear the certificates and make sure that your computer date and time is in sync with your time zone and so on. If you were using Edge or Internet Explorer when you got the error, then you have to follow the steps below.
  • Type “Internet” in the search box of your browser. After that, you should see the Internet Options from the search results.
  • Next, open the Internet Properties window and switch to the Advanced tab and then scroll down to the Security section.
  • From there, check the “Use TLS 1.1” checkbox as well as the “Use TLS 1.2” checkbox and then click OK to save the changes made.
  • Restart the browser.
On the other hand, if you were using Firefox when you go the error, here’s what you have to do.
  • Open Firefox and in the address bar, type “about:config” and hit Enter.
  • If a warning appears, just click on the “I accept the risk!” button to proceed.
  • Next, type in “TLS” in the search field and hit Enter.
  • Then look for “security.tls.version.min” and double click on it and set its integer value to 3 to force the protocol of TLS 1.3.
  • Now click OK and restart Firefox and do the same thing with SSL.

Option 5 – Try to update Google Chrome

You might also want to try updating your browser to its latest version and have it installed in your computer. After you install the update, check if you can now open the website you were trying to open earlier.

Option 6 – Get rid of any conflicting browser extensions

  • Open Chrome and press Alt + F keys.
  • Go to More tools and click Extensions to look for any suspicious browser extensions or toolbars.
  • Click the Recycle bin and select Remove.
  • Restart Chrome and press Alt + F keys again.
  • Proceed to On Startup and mark Open a specific page or set of pages.
  • To check if the browser hijacker is still active, click Set pages, if it is active, overwrite the URL.
Note: If removing the browser extensions or toolbars didn’t work, you can also try to reset your Google Chrome browser.
  • Open Google Chrome, then tap the Alt + F keys.
  • After that, click on Settings.
  • Next, scroll down until you see the Advanced option, once you see it, click on it.
  • After clicking the Advanced option, go to the “Restore and clean up option and click on the “Restore settings to their original defaults” option to reset Google Chrome.
  • Now restart Google Chrome.
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How to Fix Unknown Hard Error in Windows 10
The “Unknown Hard” error that keeps on appearing in Windows 10 can put users in an unpleasant situation. This kind of error leads to the freezing of the taskbar, blackening of the screen, and sudden disappearance of the icons on the Desktop. And each time you try to open Windows, the system will only give you an error message saying that it’s a critical error and some applications like Start and Cortana won’t work. Upon analysis, it seems that the “sihost.exe” is not responding and that it is the one that’s causing the c000021a Unknown Hard error to pop up. Sihost.exe files represent the Shell Infrastructure Host which is an essential component in the Windows operating system. The Windows Shell Infrastructure Host is primarily responsible for handling some graphical elements of the operating system interface such as the Start menu and the taskbar transparency. And so if the Shell Infrastructure or Sihost.exe has stopped, has been removed, or corrupted, you will most likely have issues with the overall functionality of the Windows operating system and you’ll get the Unknown Hard error In addition, the ctfmom.exe Unknown Hard error may also occur due to incompatible drivers installed on your PC. Ctfmom is a process that identifies inputs such as handwriting, languages, and many more. It’s the one that controls the functions of background behavior. To resolve this issue, you need to first try to identify which application is the one that’s running the sihost.exe file. And if needed, you need to either update or reinstall or completely uninstall the problematic application.

Option 1 – Try to run the System File Checker

The SFC Scan or System File Checker, us a built-in utility in Microsoft Windows that can be found in the C:\Windows\System32 folder. This tool allows users to scan and restore any corrupted system files in Windows that might be causing the Unknown Hard error to appear. Before you use this tool, make sure to find out whether the sihost.exe on your computer is a Trojan that you have to remove or if it’s a file that belongs to a trusted Windows application. Once you have that sorted out, follow the steps below.
  • Tap Win + R to launch Run.
  • Type in cmd in the field and tap Enter.
  • After opening Command Prompt, type in sfc /scannow
The command will start a system scan which will take a few whiles before it finishes. Once it’s done, you could get the following results:
  1. Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.
  2. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them.
  3. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them.

Option 2 – Try to use System Restore

You can also try using System Restore. This is one of the ways you can use it to back up your PC. Since restore points are created automatically each week by System Restore, you can use System Restore to restore your computer back to an earlier good point in time.

Option 3 – Try to troubleshoot the error in a Clean Boot State

Putting your PC in a Clean Boot state can help you diagnose and troubleshoot the issues in your system. During this state, you can start the system with a minimum number of drivers and startup programs that will surely help you in isolating the root cause of the Unknown Hard Error.
  • Log onto your PC as an administrator.
  • Type in MSConfig in the Start Search to open the System Configuration utility.
  • From there, go to the General tab and click “Selective startup”.
  • Clear the “Load Startup items” checkbox and make sure that the “Load System Services” and “Use Original boot configuration” options are checked.
  • Next, click the Services tab and select the “Hide All Microsoft Services” checkbox.
  • Click Disable all.
  • Click on Apply/OK and restart your PC. (This will put your PC into a Clean Boot State. And configure Windows to use the usual startup, just simply undo the changes.)
After putting your PC in a Clean Boot State, try creating a system restore point and see if the problem still occurs. Clean Boot troubleshooting is designed to help you isolate the problem. For you to execute a clean boot troubleshooting, you must do a couple of actions (the steps are given above) and then restart your PC after every action. You might have to disable one third-party app after the other to really isolate the issue. And once you’ve narrowed down the problem, you can either disable the third-party app that’s causing the problem or remove it. Note that you must switch your PC back into the Normal Startup mode after you’re done troubleshooting the problem. Here’s how you can do it:
  • From the “Start” menu, go to System Configuration.
  • After that, switch to the General tab and click the option for “Normal Startup”.
  • Next, go to the Services tab and clear the checkbox for “Hide all Microsoft services”.
  • Then find and click “Enable all” and if prompted, you have to confirm.
  • Afterward, go to the Task Manager and enable all the Startup programs and confirm the action.
  • Restart your PC when prompted.
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Four Proven Methods to Fix The Rundll Error

Rundll Error - What is it?

Rundll Error, DLL is also known as Dynamic Link Library is a Window library that basically consists of instructions and codes used and shared by multiple programs installed on your system. It helps programs load and run smoothly. Rundll error is generated when the system fails to access DLL files thereby hampering your ability to successfully run your desired program.

Solution

Restoro box imageError Causes

The rundll error code is triggered due to multiple reasons such as:
  • DLL file affected by virus and malware
  • Poor program installation
  • Invalid Windows registry entries
It is advisable to fix the run.dll error immediately without any delay because this error exposes your PC to serious threats such as system crash, freeze, failure, data loss, and even privacy threats like cybercrime, data breaches, and identity thefts.

Further Information and Manual Repair

To resolve the rundll error on your system, here are some solutions that you can try:

Solution 1: Reboot your System

Sometimes rebooting your system can also resolve the issue. However, if it doesn’t then you need to try some other solution to fix it.

Solution 2: Identify the Program Triggering the Error

To fix rundll error, the first thing that you need to do is to identify the program generating this error and check it for validity. For this, simply analyze the rundll error dialog box. Let’s say you get the following run.dll error on your system Error loading
C:\WINDOWS\system32\usvdgpo.dll.
This error message indicates that the program ‘usvdgpo’ is causing the run.dll error on the system. Once the program is identified, the next step is to stop it manually. For this, you go to the start menu and click run, now type ‘services.msc’ in the dialog box, and press ‘Enter’. After that right-click the related process to your rundll error and then click the ‘Stop’ button to stop the program. Now close the window. Though this action will stop the process it will not remove the reference to the bogus items. To remove that you will have to remove the program from the Windows Registry. This can be done by typing ‘Regedit’ in the Run dialog box. This will open the registry editor. From the keys listed in the left panel, navigate to the following key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Run. Now right-click on this key and click delete and then simply close the windows registry and reboot your system. After this, you will then have to uninstall the program to completely eradicate the rundll error. To do this, go to the control panel, Add/remove programs, and right-click to uninstall the program causing the run.dll error on your system. Click yes to confirm your decision. Once the program is uninstalled, reinstall the program using the program CD to get yourself an error-free program. This procedure is tricky, time-consuming, and maybe slightly challenging for you especially if you are not a computer programmer.

Solution 3: Run an Antivirus

If the cause of the run.dll error is a malware attack then you need to download an antivirus and run it on your system. However, this may impact the speed of your PC. Antivirus is notorious for slowing down PC speed.

Solution 4: Download Restoro.

If you are not a computer programmer, then running Restoro is possibly the easiest way for you to resolve rundll errors on your system in seconds. Restoro is an innovative, cutting edge, and multi-functional feature-filled PC repair tool that can be used to repair all kinds of system-related errors including rundll errors. The registry cleaner utility cleans up the RAM by removing unnecessary and obsolete files like junk files, invalid registry entries, and files from the uninstalled programs. It resolves disk fragmentation issues, repairs dll files, and the registry. In just a few clicks you can easily repair the registry and remove malware thereby resolving rundll errors on your system. Operating Total System Care is quite simple. It has a user-friendly interface and easy navigation. It is safe, efficient, bug-free, and compatible with all Windows versions Click here to download Restoro and resolve ‘rundll errors’ and access/run programs on your system smoothly.
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How to Enable Last Active Click feature
Microsoft has started to use group along with every open window in the Taskbar ever since the release of Windows 10. Early on, they used to show an individual entry for each one of the windows after grouping them which makes the taskbar look cleaner and organized. However, the main issue lies in the fact that you have to hover on your desired window to get on to them. At the time of writing, you need to tap the Ctrl key and click on the taskbar icon to open the last active window but you have to only click on the program’s taskbar icon after you apply the tweak given in this post for the last active window to open. Take note that the “Last Active” windows feature will only work if the taskbar buttons are combined. Before you get started doing the instructions given below, you need to create a System Restore Point first since you will be dealing with registry files and modifying some of the critical settings in Windows 10. Once you’ve done this, proceed to the given steps below. Step 1: Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box and then type “Regedit” in the field and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor. Step 2: If a User Account Control or UAC prompt appears, just click on Yes to proceed to open the Registry Editor. Step 3: Next, navigate to the following registry path:
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerAdvanced
Step 4: From there, right-click on the right side of the panel and select New > DWORD (32-bit) and then name it “LastActiveClick”. Step 5: After that, double click on the newly created DWORd to modify its value. Put “1” as its value data. Step 6: Then click OK and close the Registry Editor. Step 7: Now restart your computer to successfully apply the changes made. Note: In case you want to revert back to the default configuration, all you have to do is set the value data of LastActiveClick to “0” or simply delete that DWORD and restart your computer to successfully apply the changes made.
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Fix DISM Error: The scratch directory size ...
One of the most useful and powerful built-in utility in Windows 10 is the DISM tool. This tool can be used with the Command Prompt command line as well as for other purposes. However, it is not without flaws and there are times when you may encounter some issues while using it. One of the problems you can get while using the DISM tool is the following error:
“The scratch directory size might be insufficient to perform this operation”
This kind of error in DISM occurs when the DISM command is executed from the Windows Recovery Environment due to the limited size permissions of a delivery where the operating is being performed. To fix this DISM error, you need to follow the instructions laid out below. Step 1: First, tap the Win + R keys to open the Run utility and then type “cmd” in the field and tap Enter to open Command Prompt. Step 2: Next, you have to specify a scratch directory that contains the Windows folder and to do that, you can either use the DIR command or the BCEDIT command. So in the elevated command prompt type and enter “dir” or “bcedit”. Step 3: After that, you will see a list of folders inside the C: partition. Now you have to create a folder named “scratch” inside the partition. To do so, execute the following command:
mkdir C:Scratch
Note: The command you just entered will create a directory inside the root of the C: partition named Scratch. Step 4: Now that you’ve created the Scratch folder, note that each time you run any of the DISM commands, you have to enter the following code snippet in them:
/ScratchDir:C:Scratch
 Note: For instance, if you are using the DISM tool to repair the offline Windows image, instead of executing the “Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth” command, you now have to execute the “DISM /Image:C: /ScratchDir:C: Scratch /Cleanup-Image /Restorehealth” command. And if you want to remove a selected installed update package, you can use the “DISM /image:C: /ScratchDir:C:Scratch /Remove-Package /PackageName:Package_for_RollupFix~31bf3856ad364e75~amd64~~16299.196.4.9” command. Keep in mind that the mentioned package is only an example. And lastly, you also have to replace the drive letter in the new code snippet when you execute the commands given above.
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Enable or Disable Windows 10 Boot Log
Booting the Windows computer system includes loading it from the various boot devices such as drivers, network as well as USB drives when the computer is turned on. The instant the startup sequence is done loading the operating system the system hardware will be ready to perform some complex operations – in this process, the Boot Log in Windows 10 is a record that maintains the list of success or failure of many pieces of Windows 10 system during the booting process. In other words, the Boot Log is the one that keeps a record of all that has happened while loading from the computer storage system to the memory during the boot process. It is available for several devices like network, hardware devices, and the operating system which assist in detecting issues during the boot process and other issues with regards to troubleshooting. Through Boot Log, you’ll know which drivers were unloaded and loaded from the start of the system during the boot process. You have the option to either disable or enable this feature on your Windows 10 PC. Named as “ntbtlog.txt”, the log file lists all the successfully loaded processes and the unsuccessful ones during the boot process. It is saved to the drive C:Windowsntbtlog.txt. As mentioned, you can enable or disable this feature in two ways – the first one is by using the System Configuration or MSConfig while the second one is using the Command Prompt. In this post, we’ll show you how you can enable or disable Boot Log in Windows 10 either way.

Option 1 – Enable or Disable Boot Log using System Configuration

Enable Boot Log:
  • Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
  • Then type in “msconfig” and click OK to open System Configuration.
  • After that, go to the boot tab and check the checkbox labeled “Boot Log” under the Boot options so that you can enable the Boot Log feature.
  • Then click on OK to save the changes made.
  • Next, click on the Restart button in the prompt window to get started with the Boot Log process.
  • After restarting your PC, go to C:Windowsntbtlog.txt to open the boot log.
Note: As pointed out earlier, the log file contains a list of all the successfully loaded drivers and also the list of drivers that failed to load during the boot process and every time you restart the system, the boot log file will keep on updating and will eventually increase the list of entries. For you to locate the drivers and make your troubleshooting a lot easier, I advised disabling the boot log after troubleshooting. To disable the boot log using System Configuration, refer to the steps below. Disable Boot Log:
  • Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
  • Then type in “msconfig” and click OK to open System Configuration.
  • After that, go to the boot tab and unmark or uncheck the checkbox labeled “Boot Log” under the Boot options so that you can disable the Boot Log feature.
  • Then click on OK to save the changes made.

Option 2 – Enable or Disable Boot Log using Command Prompt

Enable Boot Log:
  • Go to the Start Menu and then type in “command prompt” in the search bar.
  • After that, right-click on the Command Prompt option and select the “Run as administrator” option.
  • After opening Command Prompt, type in “bcdedit” and tap Enter.
Note: You have to find the Identifier of the current operating system first to enable the Boot log. You can find it under the Windows Boot Loader section in the “Description” field and in this case, it’s Windows 10. You can also find the operating system identifier under the Windows Boot Loader section next to the field name identifier.
  • To check if the boot log entry is disabled or enabled, go check the “Bootlog” field under the Windows Boot Loader. And if it turns out that the “bootlog” entry is enabled, the entry will be “Yes”. Otherwise, the entry will be “No”.
  • Next, type in the following command with the operating system identifier to enable the boot log.
bcdedit /set {identifier} bootlog Yes
Note: In the command given above, make sure that you replace the given system identifier with your computer’s system identifier. For instance: In this example, the identifier was replaced with the actual operating system identifier as current.
bcdedit /set {current} bootlog Yes
  • Afterward, restart the system to start the Boot log process.
  • After the restart, go to C:Windowsntbtlog.txt to open the boot log.
Note: Every time you restart your computer, the boot log file will keep on updating which will increase the size of the log eventually. So if you want seamless and easier troubleshooting, it is advised to disable the Boot log after you troubleshoot. To disable it using the Command Prompt, here’s what you have to do. Disable Boot Log:
  • Go to the Start Menu and then type in “command prompt” in the search bar.
  • After that, right-click on the Command Prompt option and select the “Run as administrator” option.
  • Once the Command Prompt is opened, type in the following command and then tap Enter to disable the boot log feature.
bcdedit/ set {identifier} bootlog No
Note: In the command given above, you need to replace the given system identifier with your computer’s system identifier. For instance: In this example, the {identifier} was replaced with the actual operating system identifier as {current}.
bcdedit /set {current} bootlog No
  • Now close the Command Prompt.
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