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Fix microphone not working in Windows 10

The microphone has become from exclusive niche hardware to everyday requirements. In today's world when we live in a pandemic most of the work has shifted from office to home where people need working computers with microphones, working microphones.

So what do we do when the microphone stops working? Keep reading on to find out and hopefully, we will fix this as fast as possible.

Check Microphone Privacy Settings

In 2019, Microsoft introduced new privacy features to Windows that give you more granular control over which apps are accessing your microphone. The side effect of this is that certain apps may be blocked from using your microphone without you even knowing.

To find out if this is the issue, go to Settings > Privacy > Microphone.

Click Change and make sure the slider is set to On. This will broadly mean that the mic is now enabled on your PC.

Next, make sure the slider under Allow apps to access your microphone is set to On, then look through the list of Microsoft Store apps to make sure the apps you want to use are selected.

You’re likely to be using many apps, not from the Microsoft Store, so to make sure these are enabled, scroll down even further and set the Allow desktop apps … slider to On.

Check Microphone Driver

The outdated or corrupted driver could be the issue for the microphone not working in Windows 10.

To check the driver status, follow these steps:

  1. In your Start menu search for Device Manager
  2. In the device manager window search for sound and expand it.
  3. Once expanded, you should see your audio drivers. Note that the names of these will vary depending on the manufacturer.
  4. On Audio, right-click, and select properties. On the General tab, check to see if the device is working properly.
  5. If it is not working properly, click on the driver tab and select the update option.
  6. Repeat for the other audio drivers.
  7. Restart the computer.

Check the Sounds setting

  1. In the taskbar, right-click on the speaker icon at the far-right corner and select the sound option.
  2. On the Recording tab, click on the microphone and select the Properties option.
  3. Select the levels tabs and increase the volume for both microphone and microphone boost.
  4. Go to the Enhancement tab of the same pop-up and make sure that the immediate mode checkbox is checked.
  5. Click Ok and restart the computer.

The sound troubleshooter

  1. Right-click on the sound icon at the far-right corner of the taskbar and select troubleshoot sound problems.
  2. The computer will detect any fault that exists with your audio and recommend fixes for you. You just need to read through the prompts and click the options that you think will work for you.

Try microphone on another computer

If previous steps have not produced results, try the microphone on another computer, if it is not working there then it is a hardware malfunction

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The server did not register with DCOM
There are times when after you upgrade your Windows operating system, the System Logs under the Event Viewer will display an error message saying, “Event ID 10010 error – The server did not register with DCOM within the required timeout”. What is DCOM? DCOM stands for “Distributed Component Object Model”. It is a proprietary Microsoft technology that allows the Component Object Model or COM software to communicate across a network. You can consider it as an extension of COM which is equipped with the capability of solving a couple of inherent problems related to the COM model to the better use over a network. COM is a tool that’s used for advanced configuration and troubleshooting in Windows 10. Developers usually use it to configure routine components and application behavior like participation in transactions and object pooling and so on. The Component Services needs the DCOM wire protocol in order to communicate with the Component Object Model components on other computers. By default, in a Windows-based system, the network computers are configured initially to enable DCOM. There are also some components in Windows that might require registering themselves with DCOM. However, if they fail to do so, you will encounter the “The server did not register with DCOM within the required timeout” error. To fix this, here are some suggestions you can check out.

Option 1 – Try to use the Component Services

  • Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
  • Then type “dcomcnfg” in the field and tap Enter to pull up Component Services.
  • Next, double click on the Computers folder located in the right pane and right-click on My Computer, and select the Properties option.
  • After that, switch to the COM Security tab under My Computer Properties and then go to the Access Permissions section.
  • From there, click the Edit Default button and in the new window that appears, apply the correct permission to objects under the Group or user names section.
  • Once you’re done, click OK and exit. This should fix the error.

Option 2 – Make sure that Function Discovery Resource Publication Properties Services is running

  • In the Cortana search box, type “services” and click on the Services icon to open the Services Manager. Alternatively, you can also tap the Win + R keys to launch the Run prompt and then type “services.msc” in the field and hit Enter to open the Services Manager.
  • Next, scroll down and look for the “Function Discovery Resource Publication” entry and double click on it.
  • Then switch to the General tab and from there, make sure that the Startup Type is set to “Manual (Triggered).
  • You also have to make sure that the service is running so if it’s not, just click on the Start button to start the service.
  • Now click on Apply to save the changes made.

Option 3 – Try resetting the default DCOM permissions

  • Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
  • Then type “dcomcnfg” in the field and tap Enter to pull up Component Services.
  • After that, expand Component Services > Computers and right-click on My Computer, and then select Properties.
  • Next, go to the Default Properties tab, and in the Default Distributed COM Communication Properties section, make sure that:
    • Default Authentication Level is set to Connect
    • Default Impersonation Level is set to Identify.
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How to Fix Error Code 22

Error Code 22 - What is it?

Code 22 is a type of Device Manager Error code. Device manager errors are reported by the drivers causing the problem. It indicates that the devices are disabled in the Device Manager. This error code is displayed in the following format:
This device is disabled. (Code 22)
It looks like a very simple matter to enable a device from the Device Manager interface but if the device fails to load then there are likely greater underlying problems with the drivers. Drivers allow hardware devices to communicate with other hardware devices and the operating system. Drivers contain instructions and operating procedures for devices. Without a driver, a hardware device will not function and may not even appear in the Device Manager.

Solution

driverfix boxError Causes

Common causes of error code 22 are:
  • Device is disabled
  • Driver is outdated
  • The driver is missing or corrupt
  • The previous attempt to update the driver failed
  • Device is damaged
  • The device is not configured as the default device
This means that though the error code 22 typically indicates that the device reporting the error is disabled but other causes can also be associated with the error occurrence.

Further Information and Manual Repair

Here are some of the best and easy do-it-yourself methods to resolve error 22 on your PC. Try these methods to repair the issue.

Method 1

If the error code 22 is triggered due to a disabled device, then all you need to do to resolve the issue is enable the device. To enable the disabled device, follow these steps. Simply go to the start menu and type Device Manager in the search bar. Now click on the Device Manager and then click Actions. After you Click Actions, double click Enable Device. The Enable Device Wizard will pop up. Follow all the prompts from the Enable Device Wizard. This will hopefully resolve the issue.

Method 2

If method 1 doesn’t work then this means the problem is deeper than you think.  The problem can be triggered by the missing, corrupted, or outdated driver for the device reporting the error. In such a situation it is advisable to reinstall the driver for the device. To do this first uninstall the driver for the device reporting error code 22 then reinstall the driver.
  • For this simply click the Start menu, go to the control panel and then click Performance and Maintenance, and then System.
  • In the new window, you will then see a tab called Hardware and the Device Manager.
  • Double click on the device whose driver you need to uninstall.
  • Click on the properties window with a tab marked driver. Then click on the driver you want to uninstall.
To activate changes reboot your PC. Now reinstall the latest and updated version of the driver uninstalled using the Plug and Play feature.

Method 3

Sometimes devices can also get damaged due to registry issues. In such an event, install Restoro. It is a PC Fixer deployed with a registry cleaner. The registry cleaner wipes out all the unnecessary and obsolete files damaging the registry and repairs them in a few minutes. Click here to download Restoro.
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Fix the MEMORY 0x000000FC Stop Error
The Blue Screen of Death error or BSOD is definitely not an issue to face on your computer. Many users, if not all, have already experienced this headache at least once. One of these BSOD errors is the ATTEMPTED EXECUTE OF NOEXECUTE MEMORY error. The bug check error code for this is 0x000000FC and is usually caused by outdated or faulty drivers. In some cases, it could also be caused by an error in the Random Access Memory or RAM. This kind of error in the RAM might be physical, based on drivers, or even some kind of unwanted malware. So basically there are lots of possibilities why this particular BSOD error pops up. If you are currently facing this BSOD error, read on and carefully follow the suggestions given below but before you do that, make sure to create a System Restore point just in case something goes wrong. This way, you can always undo those changes using the System Restore point. Once you have that covered, proceed to the options given below to fix the ATTEMPTED EXECUTE OF NOEXECUTE MEMORY error.

Option 1 – Try updating Windows 10 with all the security patches and updates

You might be able to fix the ATTEMPTED EXECUTE OF NOEXECUTE MEMORY error by simply updating your Windows 10 computer with all the security patches and updates. To do so, go to Settings then proceed to the Windows Update section > Update & Security > Windows Update, and then click on the Check for Updates option. After you do that, it will automatically find and install all the latest security patches and feature updates from Microsoft.

Option 2 – Try updating all your drivers

From time to time, drivers get corrupted or outdated so it’s no surprise that they conflict with the operating system and cause errors like the ATTEMPTED EXECUTE OF NOEXECUTE MEMORY BSOD error. To fix the problem, you need to update all your drivers. Follow the steps below to update your drivers.
  • Tap the Win + R keys to launch Run.
  • Type in devmgmt.msc into the box and tap Enter or click OK to open the Device Manager.
  • After that, a list of device drivers will be displayed. If you see a red or yellow sign that shows up against the driver, right-click on the driver’s name and select “Update Driver Software” or “Uninstall”. And if you find any “Unknown device”, you need to update it as well.
  • Select the “Search automatically for updated driver software” option and then follow the instructions to complete the process.
  • Restart your PC.
Note: You also have the option to go directly to the website of your graphics card manufacturer and check if there’s a new update – if there is, download it.

Option 3 – Try running a Memory Check using Windows Memory Diagnostic

As mentioned, this error might be caused by some issues in the memory. To resolve it, you need to run the Memory Check on your Windows 10 PC. Refer to these steps to do so.
  • Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
  • Then type “mdsched.exe” in the field and hit Enter to open the Windows Memory Diagnostic.
  • After that, the Windows Memory Diagnostic will give out two options such as:
  1. Restart now and check for problems (recommended)
  2. Check for problems the next time I start my computer
  • Select any of the given options. After that, your computer will restart and check for memory-based issues upon the restart. If there are any issues, it will automatically them.

Option 4 – 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 with good system files that might be causing the ATTEMPTED EXECUTE OF NOEXECUTE MEMORY BSOD 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.
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Fix terminated lsass.exe in Windows
The Local Security Authority Subsystem Service or LSASS.exe is a process in the Windows operating system that is valuable as it enforces the security policy on the computer. Every time you log in to the Windows Server, the LSASS.exe is the one that handles the password changes and creates the access tokens while updating the security log. However, it is also frequently targeted by malware and is often imitated. The original location of this file is at “C:/Windows/System32” so if you open the Task Manager and notice that a process with a similar name has a different location then it is definitely a threat and is exploiting the security of your computer. To resolve issues related to LSASS.exe, here are some fixes that could help.

Option 1 – Use the Performance Monitor’s Active Directory Data Collector

Note that this option will only work on the recent Windows server versions. Refer to the steps below to use the Performance Monitor’s Active Directory Data Collector set on your computer.
  • Tap the WINKEY + R button to open the Run dialog box.
  • Then type “Perfmon.msc” in the field and hit Enter to open the Performance Monitor and from there open the Server Manager.
  • Next, navigate to Diagnostics > Reliability and Performance > Data Collector Sets > System from the left side of the navigation bar.
  • Then right-click on “Active Directory Diagnostics” and select Start from the context menu. This will take about 5 minutes or 300 seconds depending on the performance capabilities of your hardware to gather the data required and then take some more time to compile a report from the gathered data. Note that these timings are dependent on one another.
  • After the report is compiled, you can find it under Diagnostics > Reliability and Performance > Reports > System > Active Directory Diagnostics. The report will contain all the information as well as conclusions. However, it does not mean that it will also contain the exact cause of the problem with LSASS.exe. Nevertheless, it should help you in fixing the problem.

Option 2 – Try to run the System File Checker

System File Checker or SFC is a built-in command utility that helps in restoring corrupted files as well as missing files. It replaces bad and corrupted system files to good system files that might be the cause why the LSASS.exe file is having some issues. To run the SFC command, follow the steps given below.
  • Type “cmd” in the Start search and then right-click on the appropriate search result.
  • Next, select “Run as administrator” to open Command Prompt with admin privileges.
  • After opening Command Prompt, type in sfc /scannow
The command will start a system scan which will take a few whiles before it finishes. Once it’s done, you could get the following results:
  1. Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.
  2. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them.
  3. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them.
 Now restart your computer and see if the problem is fixed or not.

Option 3 – Put your computer in a Clean Boot State

If none of the options given above helped, you can try putting your computer in a Clean Boot State as this can help you in finding any incompatible programs that’s causing the problem.
  • 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.
Once you’ve found any incompatible programs, you need to uninstall them. Refer to the steps below to do so.
  • In the search box, type in “control” and then click on Control Panel (desktop app) among the search results.
  • After that, select Programs and Features from the list which will give you a list of all the programs installed on your computer.
  • From there, look for the concerned program and select it and then uninstall it.
Note: If you have downloaded the app from the Windows Store, you can simply right-click on it from the application list and then uninstall it.
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5 ways to open task manager in Windows 11
Something we are used to doing in a certain way inside Windows 10 is slightly changed in Windows 11. One of those things is how you open task manager, well kind of. task managerOption to right-click on the taskbar and launch task manager is gone but do not worry there are other same and simple ways you can launch it.
  1. Press CTRL + SHIFT + ESC or CTRL + ALT + DEL
  2. Right-click on the START button
  3. Type task manager in start search on top in the start menu
  4. Type taskmgr in command prompt
  5. Press ⊞ WINDOWS + R to open run dialog and type in taskmgr
And that’s it, now depending on your situation, you might use different methods to evoke task manager.
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How to Fix Low FPS in Apex Legends
  • In your Graphics Settings, select r5apex.exe and change the Graphics performance preference to Classic App, set it to High Performance, and then launch the game as an administrator when you want to play.
  • Inside the Nvidia Control Panel, click “Manage 3D Settings”, and select Apex Legends and change it to “Prefer Maximum Power”
  • You can also change “pre-rendered frames” to 1, but it will make you lag just a tiny, tiny bit.
  • Turning the shader cache on can help improve FPS, but on some systems, it may cause additional negative performance changes.
  • If you have the ability to use G-Sync, use that as well (Only available on some monitors and graphics cards)
  • From the task manager, change the priority of r5apex.exe to “High” and close out of other applications.
  • Update your graphics drivers.
  • Ensure your PC complies with the games minimum system requirements:
    • OS: 64-bit Windows 10
    • CPU: Intel Core i3-6300 3.8GHz / AMD FX-4350 4.2 GHz Quad-Core Processor
    • RAM: 6GB
    • GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GT 640 / Radeon HD 7700
    • GPU RAM: 1 GB
    • HARD DRIVE: Minimum 30 GB of free space
  • Check to see if your system has the game’s recommended hardware requirements:
    • OS: 64-bit Windows 10
    • CPU: Intel i5 3570K or equivalent
    • RAM: 8GB
    • GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 970 / AMD Radeon R9 290
    • GPU RAM: 8GB
    • HARD DRIVE: Minimum 30 GB of free space
  • Within the game, try to set the settings to:
    • Full Screen
    • Disable V-Sync
    • Anti-Aliasing to Disabled/TSAA (slight performance difference)
    • Use Native Resolution
    • Keep Field of View at around 80-100
    • Texture Streaming Budget to High
    • Texture filtering as low as possible while still being playable
    • Ambient occlusion as low as possible
    • Shadow all to Low / Lowest
    • Model detail low
    • Effects detail low
    • Volumetric lighting / Dynamic spot shadows Disabled
    • Ragdolls low
    • Impact marks the lowest
  • Make sure other applications are not placing overlays (Discord, GeForce, Xbox Gaming)
  • Clean your temporary files and uninstall other games to give your PC room to have the game run.
  • Don’t use products like CCleaner as they may remove necessary files from your computer.
  • Closeout of Chrome when you’re playing the game or follow our guide on Optimizing Chrome Performance
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Printer not activated, error code 30
If your printer has been working just fine and you suddenly get an error message saying, Printer not activated, error code 30”, then something is definitely wrong and it’s not good especially if you have lots of things to do. Worry not, as this post will help you resolve the printer issue. Simply follow each one of the given options below carefully.

Option 1 – Try running the Printer Troubleshooter

The first thing you can to resolve the printer issue is running the Printer Troubleshooter. This built-in troubleshooter can detect and automatically fix the problem for you. To use it, follow these steps:
  • Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
  • Next, type “msdt.exe /id PrinterDiagnostic” in the field and click OK or hit Enter to open the Printer Troubleshooter.
  • Then click the Next button and follow the next on-screen instructions to fix the issue with the printer.

Option 2 – Check if the concerned printer is set as the default one

It could be that the printer you are trying to use is not set as the default printer. This is mostly the case so to fix the issue, you need to set the concerned printer as default. To do that, follow the steps below.
  • Tap the Win + I keys to open the Settings app.
  • After opening Settings, select Devices from the menu and then click the Printers and scanners option.
  • From there, look for the printer you are using among the list of options. After you find it, click on it and select the Manage option.
  • Now click on the “Set as Default” option to set the printer as default.

Option 3 – Try updating the driver for USB Composite Device

The problem with your printer might also be caused by the USB Composite Device. It could be that the USB Composite Device is acting up. Thus, you need to remove and reinstall it. How? Follow the steps below.
  • First, click the Start button and type “device manager”.
  • Then click on the “Device Manager” from the search results to open it.
  • From there, look for the USB Composite Device option and right-click on it, and select the Update Driver from the options.
  • Restart your PC and then click the “Search automatically for updated driver software” option.
  • Now uninstall and remove the printer driver software and reinstall it then refresh.

Option 4 – Try updating all the drivers for your Printer

  • 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. Look for Print queues from the list of drivers displayed and click on it to see all the Printer drivers.
  • Next, right-click on each one of the drivers and select “Update driver” to update the driver. Do it for all the Printer drivers
  • After that, select the “Search automatically for updated driver software” option and then follow the instructions to complete the process.
  • Restart your PC and try printing a document again and see if the “Printer not activated, error code -30” no longer pops up.
Note: You also have the option to go directly to the website of your printer manufacturer and check if there’s a new update – if there is, download it.
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Logitech G Cloud gaming handheld

Logitech announced the Logitech G CLOUD gaming handheld, somewhat of a STEAM Deck competitor. Somewhat, because the reason is that not like Deck this device is not packing huge power in order to run locally PC games, instead it is made with one goal in mind to connect to Cloud gaming and let you play games in that way.

Logitech G cloud gaming handheld

The device is packed with a 7-inch display featuring 1080p resolution in a 16:9 ratio with a refresh rate of 60Hz, an analog thumbstick, a D-pad, 4 action buttons, and triggers. Inside the device beats Snapdragon 720G (CPU used in most Android phones), 4GB of LPDDR4X RAM & 64GB of internal storage. As seen hardware is way less impressive than one that is packed inside the STEAM deck but as stated this handheld is not meant to run natively PC games so this hardware will suffice for its purpose.

Logitech has partnered with both Nvidia and Microsoft to add GeForce now and Xbox Cloud Gaming access to its device. If you have an account on either one of these services you can fully use them on the Logitech G Cloud gaming handheld. You can also play some Android games via the Google play store but the main goal is Cloud gaming.

The price of 350$ USD is not very impressive since STEAM Deck which is a way more capable device is running for 400$ USD, for the difference of only 50$ USD Deck has an advantage, and the price itself is a hard point for selling and if we place into this mix som retro handhelds that go as low as 100$ USD Logitech is in an awkward position. Note that Nintendo Switch is 300$ USD.

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Best free cloud storages

In today's age, free cloud storage is no longer anything exclusive and plenty of companies will offer some free amount of it in hopes that you will buy a premium plan. Among plenty of starter and free options, there are of course some that are more generous and more appealing and offer a larger quantity of free space and even some other services.

cloud storage

In this article, we are taking a look and recommending some of the best ones in our opinion.

Google drive

First on the list is of course google with its google drive. With an amazing 15GB of free could storage just given to anyone who makes a google account this had to be the first recommendation. Also since google drive is requiring a google account you will be given all google office tools for free as well as the Gmail service. Completely free 15GB at your fingertips if you do not mind google tracking policies.

Microsoft one drive

Another company on the list, with only 5GB storage seems little compared to google this entry was simply included because google Microsoft also offers you Office 365 WEB for free with skype along with their Hotmail. So all in all another full package of apps with some free storage that requires also just an account.

IceDrive

With the free offer of 10GB this comes as an easy recommendation, IceDrive is a cloud storage company that is not offering anything of productivity apps but it has some great features in their cloud solution like being able to see encrypted files in your cloud. All you have to do to get this 10GB of storage is to make a free account.

MEGA

With an amazing 20GB of free storage, MEGA is certainly one that gives the most space for free. Sadly a few years ago it was hacked and files and user information were leaked, for that reason, it is on our last place of recommendation but if you are not worried about their security and plan just to use this as a temporary file sharing service with that amount I am sure it will fill your needs.

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Fix an Unformattable and Unusable USB Drive
If you have a USB that has stopped working and does not show any signs of life do not throw it away just jet. Hello and welcome to another great tutorial on errortools.com, today we will explore how to bring back to life dead USB memories.

Detect a Corrupted  Drive:

If your computer is still able to detect your USB drive, you might want to know if it’s been corrupted. Select the Properties of the drive folder and check the device status. If it says This device is working properly this USB drive is worth saving. There’s no need to worry if you can’t see the USB drive folder.

Erase the USB Drive with Diskpart Tool

Press ⊞ WINDOWS + X top open start menu and choose Command prompt (admin) Type diskpart and press ENTER Type in list disk and press ENTER Locate your USB drive by size and type in select disk#, where # is the number of removable disks.

Reallocate the USB Drive Volume

Press ⊞ WINDOWS + R to open the run dialog and type in diskmgmt.msc Select the USB drive and Right-click on it and select create simple volume. It will lead to a new simple volume wizard window. Once you click next, you can specify the volume size for the pen drive. Select the maximum volume, which is shown as a default unit in MB. As soon as you see the next step, select assign drive letter which will help you view your pen drive once again. Format the partition in the next step. This may be just an extra step because you have already wiped the data clean. But it is always better to be sure. Click Finish to complete the new simple volume wizard which will now be allocated to the USB drive. After you reallocate the unallocated USB drive space, you will be able to view the USB drive storage once again.
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