How to Fix Error Code 0xC004F00F on Your PC

PriceGong is a browser add-in for Internet Explorer, Chrome and Firefox that analyzes web sites your browser visits and attempts to find coupons and other deals associated with the merchant’s product offerings or services. If PriceGoing sees a corresponding deal, it will attempt to inject an affiliate ‘code’ in order to collect various affiliate based commissions if a purchase is made while trying to offer you the best price of that particular product, or, in many cases try and show you an alternative product that is similar even if it is sold by a different merchant. Upon further inspection it was found that PriceGong failed to function in our testing.

While installed, this extension might display additional ads, inject sponsored content into webpages, even if the sponsored content is of lower quality than the original ones.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijackers (sometimes known as hijackware) are a kind of malicious software that alters web browser settings without the computer owner’s knowledge or consent. These types of hijacks are increasing at an alarming rate around the globe, and it could be really nefarious and often dangerous too. They’re created to disrupt browser programs for various purposes. In most cases, hijackers are designed for the benefit of online hackers usually through income generation from forced advert mouse clicks and site visits. Though it might seem naive, all browser hijackers are damaging and thus always regarded as security risks. In a much worst case, your browser could be hi-jacked to download malware that will do a great deal of damage to your computer or laptop. Major symptoms that an internet browser has been hijacked Signs that an internet browser is hijacked include: 1. home page is changed 2. bookmark and the new tab are also modified 3. the essential web browser settings are modified and unwanted or insecure sites are put into the trusted websites list 4. discover new toolbars that you didn’t add 5. never-ending pop-up ads appear and/or your web browser popup blocker is disabled 6. your web browser has become unstable or starts running sluggishly 7. you’re disallowed access to specific web pages, for example, the website of an antivirus software manufacturer like SafeBytes.

Precisely how browser hijacker infects computers

A browser hijacker can be installed on your computer if you visit an infected website, click an email attachment, or download something from a file-sharing site. They are usually included with toolbars, add-ons, BHO, plug-ins or browser extensions. Other times you may have accidentally accepted a browser hijacker as part of a software program bundle (usually freeware or shareware). An example of some well-known browser hijacker includes Anyprotect, Conduit, Babylon, SweetPage, DefaultTab, RocketTab, and Delta Search, but the names are regularly changing. The existence of any browser hijacker on your computer can substantially diminish the web browsing experience, record your internet activities that result in troublesome privacy issues, create system stability problems and finally cause your computer to slow down or to a practically unusable state.

Browser Hijacker Malware – Removal

Some hijackers can be removed by uninstalling the freeware they were included with or by removing any extension you have recently added to your system. However, most browser hijackers are hard to get rid of manually. No matter how much you try to eliminate it, it might come back over and over. You should think about performing manual repairs only if you are a tech-savvy individual, as there are potential risks associated with messing around with the system registry and HOSTS file. Installing and running antivirus application on the affected computer could automatically erase browser hijackers and other malicious programs. SafeBytes Anti-Malware discovers all kinds of hijackers – including PriceGong – and eliminates every trace quickly and efficiently. Use a system optimizer along with your antivirus software to solve various computer registry issues, remove system vulnerabilities, and improve your computer's overall performance.

Tips on How to Remove Malware that is Blocking Websites or Preventing Downloads

Practically all malware is bad, but certain kinds of malware do much more damage to your PC than others. Some malware variants alter browser settings by including a proxy server or modify the PC’s DNS configuration settings. In these cases, you’ll be unable to visit some or all of the websites, and therefore unable to download or install the required security software to eliminate the infection. If you are reading this now, you may have perhaps recognized that a virus infection is the real cause of your blocked web traffic. So how to proceed if you want to install an anti-malware application like Safebytes? There are a few fixes you can attempt to get around with this particular issue.

Use Safe Mode to resolve the problem

Safe Mode is actually a unique, simplified version of Windows where just bare minimum services are loaded to counteract viruses as well as other troublesome programs from loading. In case the malware is set to load automatically when computer boots, switching into this particular mode could prevent it from doing so. To boot into Safe Mode, hit “F8” key on the keyboard right before Windows boot screen shows up; Or after normal Windows boot up, run MSCONFIG, look over “Safe Boot” under Boot tab, and click Apply. Once you’re in Safe Mode, you can attempt to download and install your antivirus program without the hindrance of the virus. At this point, you could run the antivirus scan to eliminate viruses and malware without any hindrance from another malicious application.

Download the anti-malware program in an alternate web browser

Malicious program code may exploit vulnerabilities in a specific internet browser and block access to all anti-malware software websites. If you appear to have a virus attached to Internet Explorer, then switch to an alternate web browser with built-in security features, such as Firefox or Chrome, to download your favorite anti-malware program – Safebytes. Create a bootable USB antivirus drive Another option is to save and operate an anti-malware software program entirely from a Flash drive. Follow these steps to use a flash drive to clean your infected PC. 1) On a virus-free computer, install Safebytes Anti-Malware. 2) Plug in the USB drive to a USB port on the uninfected computer. 3) Double-click on the downloaded file to open the installation wizard. 4) Choose the flash drive as the location for saving the software file. Follow activation instructions. 5) Transfer the flash drive from the clean computer to the infected PC. 6) Double-click the anti-malware software EXE file on the pen drive. 7) Run Full System Scan to detect and clean-up up all sorts of malware.

SafeBytes Anti-Malware: Light-weight Malware Protection for Windows Computer

If you’re looking to buy anti-malware for your laptop or computer, there are lots of brands and packages for you to consider. A few of them do a great job in eliminating threats while some will harm your computer by themselves. You should select a company that builds industry-best anti-malware and has earned a reputation as trustworthy. On the list of highly recommended application by industry analysts is SafeBytes Anti-Malware, a popular security application for Microsoft Windows. SafeBytes antimalware is a very effective and easy to use protection tool which is ideal for users of all levels of IT literacy. This software could easily detect, eliminate, and protect your computer from the most advanced malware intrusions such as spyware, adware, trojan horses, ransomware, PUPs, worms, parasites as well as other potentially harmful software applications.

SafeBytes possesses a plethora of wonderful features that can help you protect your computer from malware attack and damage. Let’s check out some of them below:

Robust, Anti-malware Protection: Using a critically acclaimed malware engine, SafeBytes provides multilayered protection which is designed to find and remove threats which are hidden deep inside your computer’s operating system. Real-time Threat Response: SafeBytes provides a totally hands-free live protection that is set to observe, block, and remove all threats at its very first encounter. It will constantly monitor your laptop or computer for hacker activity and also provides users with advanced firewall protection. Web Filtering: SafeBytes inspects the hyperlinks present on a webpage for possible threats and notifies you if the website is safe to browse or not, through its unique safety ranking system. Fast Scan: Safebytes Anti-Malware, with its enhanced scanning engine, offers ultra-fast scanning which will immediately target any active on-line threat. Lightweight: SafeBytes is a light-weight and user friendly anti-virus and antimalware solution. Since it utilizes very little computer resources, this application leaves the computer’s power exactly where it belongs: with you. 24/7 Guidance: Support service is readily available for 24 x 7 x 365 days through chat and email to answer your queries. SafeBytes can keep your PC protected from most advanced malware threats automatically, thus keeping your internet experience secure and safe. You can rest assured that your computer will be protected in real-time as soon as you put this software to use. So if you are looking for the best anti-malware subscription for your Windows-based PC, we highly recommend SafeBytes Anti-Malware program.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

To eliminate PriceGong manually, navigate to the Add/Remove programs list in the Control Panel and choose the offending program you want to remove. For web browser extensions, go to your web browser’s Addon/Extension manager and choose the add-on you want to disable or remove. You might even want to reset your home page and search engine providers, and also clear your web browser cache and cookies. Finally, check your hard disk for all of the following and clean your registry manually to remove leftover application entries following uninstalls. However, editing the Windows registry is actually a complicated job that only advanced computer users and professionals should attempt to fix the problem. In addition to that, certain malware is capable of replicating or preventing deletion. You’re advised to do this procedure in Windows Safe Mode.

Spending a large amount of time working or gaming in front of the computer can take a toll on your health. And as someone who indeed spends a large amount of time in front of the computer, I would like to share some insights about how can you be happy and healthy at the same time by incorporating some practices and habits.

Get good chair

This is first on the list because it matters the most. A proper sitting chair is essential for back health. If your budget allows it, do yourself a favor and get an anatomic sitting chair or gaming chair with lumbar support. It costs but it is worth it.

Learn to sit properly

As the important chair is, sitting properly is also as important as much. Your spine believe it or not is a very important part of your body and you need to take care of it. Sadly long periods of sitting sessions are bad for muscles around the spine that could reflect on the spine itself. Keep your back straight and keep your head not down nor up, place it in a position like when you are walking so the spine that is going from your head is in line with the spine on your back.

Stretch

By medical standards, each hour of sitting should be accompanied by a stretch session since sitting itself is placing too much pressure on certain muscles and blood circulation is lowered. Changing leg position and doing just a little stretch each hour can be really beneficial for your health in long run.

Take breaks

Yes, playing games is fun and most of the time we do not want to stop playing, especially if we are winning but taking breaks is essential for your personal health. Old saying goes that overdoing anything is bad and this applies true even to things that we do for pleasure and relaxation. Take periodic breaks to stretch, stand up and maybe even walk just a little.

Drink water

During long work hours or long gaming sessions, it is not uncommon that we are so focused on our activity that we forget to take our water intake. Approximately 2liters of water per day is needed for an adult person to function properly during that day and if you spend long times in front of a PC do not forget to drink water.

Do not neglect your daily tasks

As enjoyable as it is gaming can make us forget about our daily tasks, do not neglect your life and your tasks. Remember, gaming is only OK if it does not interfere with the daily things that you need to do. Do not postpone going for groceries because of gaming, do not switch shower for another level in the game. Do all of the things you must do first and then sit and game.

Take care of yourself mentally

Having mental health is as important as having a physical one. Playing games is fun, but playing games with someone is even better, do not forget to socialize and invite some friends so you can share some fun times together. Also, detach yourself from outcomes that will come because of gaming, this is very important for gamers that do a lot of PVP games and get annoyed and angry when they lose or when some other player is talking trash. Remember, gaming is for you to relax and enjoy, not to stress you.

If your Windows computer is not booting up and displays Secure Boot Violation – The system found unauthorized changes on the firmware, operating system, or UEFI drivers error message on the screen, then you can follow this tutorial to troubleshoot the problem. When you encounter this kind of problem on your computer, you will get the following error message on your screen:

“Secure Boot Violation The system found unauthorized changes on the firmware, operating system, or UEFI drivers. Press [OK] to run the next boot device or enter directly to BIOS Setup if there are no other boot devices installed. Go to BIOS Setup > Advanced > Boot and change the current boot device into other secured boot devices.”

This kind of error message pops up due to the Secure Boot that protects your computer from running any non-OEM signed boot software during startup. In other words, the Secure Boot firmware is the one that scans for non-signed boot software each time your computer boots up and if it detects anything strange, it will block the boot and will display the error message. To fix this error, there are two things you can try. You can try to disable the Secure Boot or try using a System Restore Point. For more detailed instructions, refer to each one of the options provided below.

Option 1 – Disable the Secure Boot in the BIOS

Disabling the Secure Boot in the BIOS settings is definitely recommended to resolve the issue. To disable Secure Boot, here’s what you have to do:

• First, boot your computer into Windows 10.
• Next, go to Settings > Windows Update. From there, check if there is anything that you have to download and install if you see any available updates. Usually, OEMs send and update the list of trusted hardware, drivers, and operating systems for your computer.
• After that, go to the BIOS of your computer.
• Then go to Settings > Update & Security > Advanced Startup options. If you click on Restart Now, it will restart your computer and give you all the advanced options.
• Next, select Troubleshoot > Advanced Options. As you can see, this screen offers you further options including System restore, Startup repair, Go back to the previous version, Command Prompt, System Image Recovery, and UEFI Firmware Settings.
• Select the UEFI Firmware Settings which will take you to the BIOS.
• From there, go to the Security > Boot > Authentication tab where you should see Secure Boot. Note that every OEM has its own way of implementing the options so it varies.
• Next, set Secure Boot to Disabled and set Legacy Support to On or Enabled.
• Save the changes made and exit. Afterward, your computer will reboot.

Option 2 – Try running System Restore in Advanced Startup Options

Since you probably can’t boot into your Windows 10 computer, you can try to run System Restore again in the Advanced Startup Options.

• Boot your computer into the Advanced Startup Options screen.
• From there, you will see some options to troubleshoot when you can’t log in to Windows in the usual way.
• Now select Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Command Prompt.
• After that, type “rstrui” and hit Enter to execute the command which will start the System Restore process.

Option 3 – Make a proper bootable USB Drive/Stick

To make a proper bootable USB drive, you need to use the Windows Media Creation tool. The Media Creation tool in Windows allows you to use the ISO installation file to make a bootable device that you can use to install Windows on your PC. Note that this is kind of different from the usual installation process as it could erase your computer’s current settings and data on the primary drive. Thus, before you proceed, you need to backup all your data into some removable drive and then use the Media Creation Tool to make a bootable drive.

• After making the bootable drive, you need to plug it into your computer and then reboot.
• Next, tap the F10 or Esc key to open the boot options.
• Now set the boot priority of the removable drive the highest. Once the setup comes forth, follow the next onscreen instructions and install Windows without any problems.

Typical use of file explorer will probably not need any kind of elevated privileges, but from time to time you might encounter some tasks that will require administrator rights in order to perform them. If this is the case you will need to run file explorer with these rights but inside Windows 11 that is somewhat hidden and not 1 click away. How this is the case we have decided to put a little tutorial on how to accomplish this very task and run file explorer with administrator privileges.

Open File Explorer via EXE file

1. Open File Explorer typically
2. Navigate to This PC > Windows (C:) > Windows
3. Locate file explorer application
4. Right-click on it and select Run as Administrator
5. Run File Explorer

A new instance of file explorer will pop with elevated administrator privileges.

Run it as an administrator using the Task Manager

1. Open the Task Manager ( CTRL + SHIFT + ESC )
2. Click on More details (at the bottom)
3. After the task manager expands click on the File tab
4. Click on Run New Task
5. Type in explorer.exe and check the box next to it that says Create this task with administrative privileges
6. Click on OK

File Explorer will now run as administrator.

TCI/IP or as known as Internet protocol is one that controls packets that are sent over the internet and makes sure that each one has reached its destination so you can pleasantly browse your favorite websites. The setting for the given protocol is stored locally on your machine and most of the time, everything works fine and good, but sometimes, these settings can get corrupted.

Malware or other software can temper with setting making TCP/IP making it wrong and throwing nondescript connection errors in your face. If you are faced with this issue worry not because fixing this issue is really easy.

Before we actually go and fix the issue please do scan your system with your protection suite just to be sure that if there is any kind of malware on the system it is properly removed from it.

Resetting TCP/IP

First thing is to open search and find PowerShell, press the Windows key on the keyboard, and type in PowerShell so search results are shown. Click on Run as administrator to open PowerShell in elevated mode.

Once PowerShell is opened type indie it:

netsh IP reset and press ENTER. The task will start executing and at this point you will see a lot of Resetting, OK! messages. Once everything is finished restart your PC and you are good to go.

The quickest way to control and manage the volume of your Windows 10 PC is using the Volume control icon in the system tray. However, you might encounter issues in using it especially if you recently updated your PC. After the update, if it no longer responds to mouse clicks, be it a right-click or left-click, read on as this post will show you what you can do to remedy that issue. If you think that you’re the only one who has experienced this problem, you are mistaken as several users also reported that the volume icon does highlight and shows the volume level if you hover the cursor over it but it does not really do anything at all. This is definitely the quickest way to change the audio output in Windows 10 especially when you have to change from speakers to your earphone and whatnot. If you are one of the users whose Windows 10 Taskbar Volume Control icon has stopped working and every time you click on the icon and nothing happens and you’re still not able to adjust the volume of your Windows 10 computer, read on as this post will show you what you can do to fix that problem. Although the audio is working just fine, you will still not be able to adjust the volume from its control icon. The problem is most likely related to the UI interaction. There are times when icons in the taskbar also experience the same issue where you can hover your mouse over them but nothing happens when you click on them. As mentioned, the issue with the volume icon does not seem to affect the actual audio of the computer. Double-check to confirm and if it turns out that the audio is indeed working fine, you can use the hardware of your keyboard to manage and control the volume, however, the software just won’t work. This issue is really inconvenient especially for users who connect their laptops to a bigger display. To fix this issue, here are some suggestions you need to check out.

Option 1 – Try to restart the Windows Explorer

This option may sound silly but it has actually worked in fixing the issue for some users. So if anything gets stuck on the taskbar or system tray, the best way to revive them is by restarting Windows Explorer.

• Right-click on the taskbar and then select the Task Manager.
• Next, look for Windows Explorer under the Processes tab.
• Then right-click and select restart.
• After that, wait for the restart process to be completed and for the user interface to refresh. Note that you will notice the Taskbar disappearing and reappearing again. It will reload the entire user interface and allows you to access the volume icon. It should work this time.

Option 2 – Restart the Audio services

Restarting the audio services in your computer can also help you fix the volume control issue and to do that, refer to these steps:

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Type in “services.msc” in the field and hit Enter to open Services.
• From there, look for Windows Audio and then right-click on it and go to Properties.
• After that, you have to make sure that the Startup Type is set to Automatic.
• Then click on the Stop button. Once it has stopped, start it again.
• Now restart your computer and see if you can now access the volume icon on the taskbar.

Option 3 – Try to update or roll back the Audio driver

If the glitch in your audio has something to do with software, chances are it might be related to the audio driver – it could be that the newest version of your Windows 10 does not work well with the old version of the driver. This is why you have to update your audio driver to the newest available version.

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box and then type in devmgmt.msc and tap Enter or click OK to open the Device Manager.
• Expand the section for the outdated device drivers.
• And then select the outdated driver(s) and right-click on it/them.
• From the drop-down menu, select the Update Driver option and follow the on-screen instructions to install the latest version of the driver.
• Then also click on the option, “Search automatically for updated driver software.
• Restart your PC after the installation.

Note: If updating the Audio driver didn’t work, you can go to the website of your PC manufacturer and look for the support section where you can download the drivers for your computer. You just need to take note of your PC’s correct model and model number so you can find the appropriate driver.

Option 4 – Try running the Playing Audio Troubleshooter

Since the Windows 10 operating system has the Playing Audio Troubleshooter, you can use this troubleshooter to try and fix the volume control issue on your PC. You can access this tool in the Control Panel or in the Taskbar Search and even on the Troubleshooters page of Windows 10. Run this troubleshooter and see if it can fix the issue or not.

As you know, Microsoft is consistent in pushing updates to its supported versions of the Windows operating systems in order to make it better and defend it from different kinds of vulnerabilities. And pushing billions of active Windows computers every now and then is really not an easy thing to do since it calls for a complex Windows Update delivery module. These complexities often give rise to various errors like the Windows Update error code 0x80004005. When you encounter this kind of Windows Update error, you will see the following error message on your screen:

“There were problems installing some updates, but we’ll try again later. If you keep seeing this and want to search the web or contact support for information, this may help 0x80004005.”

This kind of Windows Update error occurs due to an issue while either installing or downloading an update. There are several ways you can fix the problem. You can try to replace the dpcdll.dll file, reset the Windows Update-related services, run the Windows Update troubleshooter or manually install the Windows Updates. For more details, check out the options given below.

Option 1 – Try to replace the DLL file with a trusted source

The first thing you can do is to replace the dpcdll.dll file with a trusted source.

• First, you need to get the new dpcdll.dll file from another computer with preferably the same file version number as your computer.
• After that, you need to boot your PC into Safe Mode and navigate to the paths listed below and then replace the file using a USB drive or other external storage devices.
  • For x86: This PC > C:/Windows/System32
  • For x64: This PC > C:/Windows/SysWOW64
• Next, type “cmd” in the Cortana search box and right-click on Command Prompt, and select “Run as administrator” to open it with administrator privileges.
• Now type the “regsvr32 dpcdll.dll” command and hit Enter.
• Restart your PC and check if the error is now fixed.

Option 2 – Try to reset the Windows Update components

If by any chance that the third option didn’t work, you can also try resetting the Windows Update components as it could also help you resolve the Windows Update error. How? Refer to the following steps:

• Open Command Prompt with admin privileges.
• After that, type each one of the following commands and hit Enter after you key in one after the other.
  • net stop wuauserv
  • net stop cryptsvc
  • net stop bits
  • net stop msiserver

Note: The commands you entered will stop the Windows Update components such as Windows Update service, Cryptographic services, BITS and MSI Installer.

• After disabling WU components, you need to rename both the SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2 folders. To do that, type each one of the following commands below and don’t forget to hit Enter after you type one command after the other.
  • ren C:WindowsSoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
  • ren C:WindowsSystem32catroot2 Catroot2.old
• Next, restart the services you’ve stopped by entering another series of commands. Don’t forget to hit Enter after you key in one command after the other.
  • net start wuauserv
  • net start cryptsvc
  • net start bits
  • net start msiserver
• Close Command Prompt and reboot your PC.

Option 3 – Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter

You might also want to run the Windows Update Troubleshooter as it could also help in fixing Windows Update error 0x80004005. To run it, go to Settings and then select Troubleshoot from the options. From there, click on Windows Update and then click the “Run the troubleshooter” button. After that, follow the next on-screen instructions and you should be good to go.

Option 4 – Try downloading and installing the Windows Updates manually

Windows Update Error 0x80004005 might be due to a Windows Update that has failed. So if it is not a feature update and only a cumulative update, you can download the Windows Update and install it manually. But first, you need to find out which update has failed, and to do so, refer to the following steps:

• Go to Settings and from there go to Update and Security > View Update History.
• Next, check which particular update has failed. Note that Updates that have failed to install will be displayed under the Status column which has a label of “Failed”.
• After that, go to the Microsoft Download Center and look for that update using its KB number and once you find it, download and then install it manually.

Note: You can also use the Microsoft Update Catalog, a service from Microsoft that provides a list of software updates that can be distributed over a corporate network. With the help of this service, it can be easier for you to find Microsoft software updates, drivers as well as fixes.

If you’ve been using your Windows 10 PC for a long time now, you might have come across a couple of issues – from minimal ones to critical ones like the Blue Screen of Death or BSOD stop errors. One of these BSOD errors you can encounter is the DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL Blue Screen error. This particular BSOD error is caused by iaStorA.sys, iaisp64 sys, Netwtw04.sys, nvlddmkm.sys, ndis.sys, wrUrlFlt.sys, and other driver files on Windows 10. This error indicates that a kernel-mode driver tried to access pageable memory at a process IRQL that was too high. When you encounter this error, just like a typical BSOD error, your computer will abruptly stop and you will see a blue screen with an error message saying:

“Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart. We’re just collecting some error info, and then we’ll restart for you. (100% complete) If you’d like to know more, you can search online later for this error: DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL (wrUrlFlt.sys)”

The iaStorA.sys file is a software component that’s related to the Intel Rapid Storage Technology by Intel. It is a software solution supported by Intel Smart Response Technology which allows the PC to communicate with the hardware as well as externally connected devices. The Intel Rapid Storage Technology enables the Peripheral Component Interconnect Express or PCIe storage support, serial ATA RAID or Redundant Array of Independent Disks 0, 1, 5, and 10 support, and the PUIS or power-up in standby is also supported. To resolve this kind of BSOD error, you have to update, roll back or fresh-install the problematic driver. Refer to the options laid out below for detailed instructions.

Option 1 – Try removing the Intel Rapid Storage Technology or IRST drivers

The first thing you can try is to fix the Wi-Fi driver or the Ethernet driver on your computer to resolve the BSOD error. Take note that this option works not only on Windows 10 but also other Windows versions.

• Tap the Win + R keys on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
• After that, type “devmgmt.msc” in the field and hit Enter or click OK to open the Device Manager.
• After opening the Device Manager, click on the “IDE ATA/ATAPI Controller” entry and expand it.
• Next, right-click on all the driver entries that are appropriately labeled, and then click on Uninstall device.
• Now restart your PC and check if the problem’s fixed or not. If not, proceed to the next given option below.

Option 2 – Try updating the Intel Rapid Storage Technology or IRST drivers

If you’ve already tried uninstalling the IRST driver but you’re still getting the DRIVER IRQL NOT LESS OR EQUAL Blue Screen error when you use your Windows 10 PC, then this means that the drivers might be corrupted or not compatible with the operating system version that you are using right now. So to fix the problem, you have to update your drivers. To do that, follow the steps below.

• The first thing you need to do is to go to your OEM’s website.
• Once you’re already on the OEM’s website, go to the Drivers section and get the latest version for your device and then try to overwrite it.

Alternatively, you can also update the drivers via the Device Manager:

• Tap the Win + R keys on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
• After that, type “devmgmt.msc” in the field and hit Enter or click OK to open the Device Manager.
• After opening the Device Manager, click on the “IDE ATA/ATAPI Controller” entry and expand it.
• Next, right-click on all the driver entries that are appropriately labeled, and then click the Update driver option.
• Now restart your PC and check if the BSOD error is fixed or not.

Option 3 – Try using the System File Checker via Command Prompt

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 to good system files that might be causing the DRIVER IRQL NOT LESS OR EQUAL Blue Screen error. To run the SFC command, follow the steps given 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.

If you suddenly encounter an error message that says, “This webpage is not available, Err_Connection_Closed” while browsing the internet or visiting a website and the website fails to load, then it means that there is some problem with your network connection. Similarly, you may also get other error messages like “Err_Network_Changed”, “Err_Connection_Reset” and “Err_Internet_Disconnected” errors in different browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. The problem lies in your Windows 10 computer and your internet connection since this is a network issue. So before you troubleshoot the problem using the suggestions given below, you need to refresh your browser first or you could also tap Ctrl + F5 on your keyboard to hard reload the webpage. If you’re still getting the same error message, then proceed to the guide below.

Option 1 – Try removing the Proxy

Removing the Proxy might also help you in fixing the “This webpage is not available, Err_Connection_Closed” error. Here’s how you can do it:

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Then type “inetcpl.cpl” in the field and hit Enter to pull up the Internet Properties.
• After that, go to the Connections tab and select the LAN settings.
• From there. Uncheck the “Use a Proxy Server” option for your LAN and then make sure that the “Automatically detect settings” option is checked.
• Now click the OK and the Apply buttons.
• Restart your PC.

Note: If you are using a third-party proxy service, you have to disable it.

Option 2 – Try using Google Public DNS

If the first option didn’t resolve the issue, you can try to use the Public DNS by Google and see if it can help fix the problem. You have to modify the DNS settings in your system explicitly and use the DNS IP addresses.

• The first thing you have to do is right-click on the network icon in the Taskbar and select Network and Sharing Center.
• Next, click on the “Change Adapter Settings” option.
• After that, search for the network connection that you are using to connect to the internet. Note that the option might be “Wireless Connection” or “Local Area Connection”.
• Right-click on your network connection and click on Properties.
• Then select the new window to choose the “Internet Protocol 4 (TCP/IPv4)” option.
• After that, click on the Properties button and click the checkbox in the new window for the option “Use the following DNS server addresses”.
• Type in “8.8.8.8” and “8.8.4.4” and click OK and exit.

Option 3 – Reset Winsock, TCP/IP & Flush DNS

Resetting Winsock, TCP/IP, and flushing DNS might help you resolve the Err_Connection_Closed error. 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 4 – Disable both the Antivirus program and Firewall temporarily

There are times when antivirus programs and the firewall blocks a website that they consider to be malicious or even because of false-positive effects which is why you have to disable these programs temporarily as it might be the reason why you’re getting the “This webpage is not available, Err_Connection_Closed” error when trying to browse the internet.

Option 5 – Try to check the network cables and then restart your router

The most obvious thing you can do first is to try checking if the network cables connected to your computer or router are properly connected or not. If it turns out that some network cables are not connected properly, then it’s probably why you’re getting this error.

Option 6 –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.

Computer viruses are malicious applications that have the ability to self replicate and spread over the system and various devices, just like viruses in organisms. We all know that computer viruses are bad and that you should avoid them however you can. So in this spirit, we are taking a deeper dive into what kind of viruses exist and how they function.

1. File-infecting Virus

A virus that attached itself to an executable program. It is also called a parasitic virus which typically infects files with .exe or .com extensions. Some file infectors can overwrite host files and others can damage your hard drive’s formatting.

2. Macro Virus

This type of virus is commonly found in programs such as Microsoft Word or Excel. These viruses are usually stored as part of a document and can spread when the files are transmitted to other computers, often through email attachments.

3. Browser Hijacker

This virus targets and alters your browser setting. It is often called a browser redirect virus because it redirects your browser to other malicious websites that you don’t have any intention of visiting. This virus can pose other threats such as changing the default home page of your browser.

4. Web Scripting Virus

A very sneaky virus that targets popular websites. What this virus does is overwrite code on a website and insert links that can install malicious software on your device. Web scripting viruses can steal your cookies and use the information to post on your behalf on the infected website.

5. Boot Sector Virus

These viruses are once common back when computers are booted from floppy disks. Today, these viruses are found distributed in forms of physical media such as external hard drives or USB. If the computer is infected with a boot sector virus, it automatically loads into the memory enabling control of your computer.

6. Polymorphic Virus

This virus has the capability to evade anti-virus programs since it can change codes every time an infected file is performed.

7. Resident Virus

A resident virus stores itself on your computer’s memory which allows it to infect files on your computer. This virus can interfere with your operating system leading to file and program corruption.

8. Multipartite Virus

A type of virus that is very infectious and can easily spread on your computer system. It can infect multiple parts of a system including memory, files, and boot sector which makes it difficult to contain.