Fix Steam stuck on Allocating disk space

If you don’t have the required drivers installed in your computer, the hardware that you try to connect to your computer will most likely fail. In order to keep the operating system running on your computer, manufacturers develop drivers that can work harmoniously with your devices and applications. However, internet Wi-Fi connections can fail if suitable drivers are not installed. Worry not though for this post will guide you in installing Wi-Fi drivers on your Windows 10 computer. As you know, a driver is an essential piece of software designed for a specific operating system like Windows 10, Linux, and many more. The operating system uses it to communicate with other hardware devices such as printers and mice. Most hardware manufacturers feature a support page of their own product where you can look for the necessary drivers available for download. You will see that the Windows operating system has a set of drivers that are already installed and you do not have to do anything except plug in the device. So if the driver is not locally available, it will pull it down from its web server and automatically install it for you after you connect the device. However, there are instances when you might encounter some issues while using your Wi-Fi and during these times, you might have to reinstall your Wi-Fi drivers so read on as this post will provide you guidelines in installing Wi-Fi drivers in Windows 10. Refer to the steps below to do so. Step 1: First, go to your manufacturer’s website and look for the right driver you want to install to download your Wi-Fi driver. Step 2: After that, you have to download the correct Wi-Fi driver if it’s available. You have to know the exact name and version of the driver so that you can download it and this information can be found from the Device Manager. Just make sure that you have the right wireless adapter driver downloaded. Step 3: Once done, open the setup of the new driver that you’ve downloaded earlier and run the file and then follow the next on-screen instructions that appear right after. Step 4: You’re not done yet as you need to verify if you have downloaded and installed the correct Wi-Fi driver. Refer to the sub-steps below to do so:

• First, right-click on the Start button and select the Device Manager to open it.
• From there, look for the Network Adapters and expand its category to make all the network adapters visible including the wireless adapter.
• You can easily spot the wireless adapter as it has the “wireless” term in its entry.
• Next, right-click on the wireless driver entry in the Device Manager and select Network adapters, and then click on Properties to check the version number of the driver.
• Now select the Driver tab and view the details. If it looks well then it means that you have the right version of the driver installed.

Step 5: Restart your computer.

The errors that are caused by the BIOS of your computer can get annoying as they can be hard to fix for they are really dangerous and won’t be resolved by simple fixes. This is because of the fact that these kinds of errors do not even allow you to load your operating system as it throws the error even before you can access your computer. One of these errors is the “Error 0199: System Security – Security password retry count exceeded”. Fixing this error can be quite tricky but you need not worry for you will be guided in doing so. Simply follow the given instructions below.

Option 1 – Try to update the BIOS

Updating the BIOS can help you fix the “Error 0199, Security password retry count exceeded” error but as you know, BIOS is a sensitive part of a computer. Even though it is a software component, the functioning of the hardware depends on it largely. Thus, you must be careful when modifying something in the BIOS. So if you don’t know much about it, it’s best if you skip on this option and try the other ones instead. However, if you are well-versed in navigating the BIOS, then follow the steps below.

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Next, type “msinfo32” in the field and press Enter to open System Information.
• From there, you should find a search field on the bottom where you have to search for the BIOS version and then press Enter.
• After that, you should see the developer and version of the BIOS installed on your PC.
• Go to your manufacturer’s website and then download the latest version of BIOS on your computer.
• If you are using a laptop, make sure that you keep it plugged in until you have updated the BIOS.
• Now double click on the downloaded file and install the new BIOS version on your computer.
• Now restart your computer to apply the changes made.

Option 2 – Try resetting the BIOS

If updating the BIOS didn’t help in fixing Error 0199, you can try to reset the BIOS instead.

• Start your computer and tap the F10 key during the booting process to enter the BIOS. If it does not work, you can try tapping the F1 or F2 key as well as the Del key.
• Once you’re already in the BIOS, tap the F9 key to get the prompt to RestoreLoad default configuration now for the BIOS.
• Next, click on Yes and then follow the next on-screen instructions that appear to set the BIOS back to its default settings.
• Once you’re done restoring the default settings of the BIOS, restart your computer and then check if it now boots properly.

There are times when system files get corrupted and if the Windows Update process finds the system’s integrity questionable, chances are, the update, upgrade or the installation may fail and you will only be getting an error code 0x80073712 instead of completing the process. The error code 0x80073712 indicates that a file needed by the Windows setup or the Windows Update is most likely missing or damaged. To resolve the problem, here are some suggestions you can try.

Option 1 – Try running the DISM Tool

Running the DISM Tool helps in repairing the Windows System Image as well as the Windows Component Store in Windows 10. Using this built-in tool, you have various options such as the “/ScanHealth”, “/CheckHealth”, and “/RestoreHealth”.

• Open the Command Prompt as admin.
• Then type in this command: 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.

After you run this tool, a log file is created at C:WindowsLogsCBSCBS.log. On the other hand, if the Windows Update client is already broken, you will be prompted to use a running Windows installation as the repair source or use a Windows side-by-side folder from a network share, as the source of the files. Although the chances of this happening are less, if it turns out to be the case, you need to run an advanced command in the DISM tool to repair a broken Windows Update. Just repeat the process above but use the following command instead:

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:C:RepairSourceWindows /LimitAccess

Option 2 – Try running the System File Checker

System File Checker or SFC is a built-in command utility that helps in restoring corrupted files as well as missing files. It replaces bad and corrupted system files with good system files that might be causing the error 0x80073712. 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.

Option 3 – Try running the Chkdsk utility

You can also try running the Chkdsk utility to resolve the Windows Update error 0x80073712. If your hard drive has issues with integrity, the update will really fail as the system will think that it’s not healthy and that’s where the Chkdsk utility comes in. The Chkdsk utility repairs hard drive errors that might be causing the problem.

• Open Command Prompt with admin privileges.
• After opening Command Prompt, execute the commands listed below, and don’t forget to hit Enter right after you type in each one of them and if you have installed Windows to some different directory, you must replace “C” with the name of the drive you’ve installed Windows with.
• chkdsk C: /r /x
• chkdsk C: /f

Note: The Chkdsk function might take a while before it finishes its operations so you need to be patient and wait until the entire process is completed.

Option 4 – Try running the Windows Update Troubleshooter

Running the built-in Windows Update troubleshooter could also help you resolve the Windows Update error 0x80073712. 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.

Option 5 – Try running Microsoft’s online troubleshooter

You also have the option to run Microsoft’s online troubleshooter which could help you fix Windows Update errors.

What Is Htmlayout.dll Error?

Htmlayout.dll is a linked library which is also known as HTMLayout. In simple words, it is an embeddable HTML layout and rendering component. htmlayout.dll is generally associated with Avast Internet Security, Bit Defender Internet Security 2011, and other similar programs. If you’re noticing that a continuous popup that reads:-

‘HTMLayout.dll cannot be loaded to properly start GUI. Therefore process cannot continue’, ‘Htmlayout.dll not found’, ‘The file htmlayout.dll is missing’,

and so on, then your system may be exposed to serious privacy and security threats.

Solution

Error Causes

To begin with, DLL files are shared files, and they can and do exist outside the software applications. While these files do provide benefits to software developers, once they are separated, they can only spell trouble. Hence, you start seeing the HTMLayout error, which will most probably occur at system startup, program startup, or when trying to use specific functions in a program. There are a number of reasons why the HTMLayout errors occur, and some of the common ones include:

• The file is missing because it was accidentally deleted from the system.
• The file was damaged by a virus and as a result, your system cannot access it.
• The file was related to the registry and is now corrupt or obsolete.
• The program that was related to the file was not uninstalled properly.
• The file was overwritten by a corrupt or outdated version.
• The spyware or malware deleted the original file and disguised it as the HTMLayout.

Further Information and Manual Repair

While the HTMLayout DLL error may sound like too much trouble, it is rather easy to resolve with a few steps. If you are getting the error because of a specific program or file, then you should reinstall to make sure the error does not pertain. For that, follow these steps:

1. Go to Start and select the Control Panel.
2. Click on the Add/Remove Programs icon and select the programs that show the error on the list.
3. Select Remove/Uninstall to safely remove the program from your system.
4. Restart the system and reinstall the program again.

This is the easy way out if the HTMLayout DLL error is occurring as a result of the file missing. However, there can be cases when the file has been tampered with by virus or registry issues. For that, the safest bet is to download Restoro. Restoro is not just another registry cleaner. Instead, it is a multi-functional PC Fixes that works as an antivirus, registry cleaner, system optimizer, and much more. What’s more interesting about Restoro is that it provides real-time results as opposed to other registry cleaners. In other words, you will actually feel a difference in PC performance and security after installing and using the program. The software is compatible with all Windows versions. So just click here and download Restoro to get rid of HTMLayout error and other issues in your system!

CyboScan PC Optimizer is promoted as a useful program that helps you clean unnecessary files and registry entries on the Windows Operating System. When installed CyboScan PC Optimizer will automatically scan your computer for issues. Upon reviewing the scan results, it was discovered that most, if not all of these issues were exaggerated, and removing them will not give the promised speed boost. The CyboScan PC Optimizer program appears to scan the Registry for installed anti-virus and anti-spyware shields and may recommend users to install products from partners. This Potentially Unwanted Program comes bundled with other Potentially Unwanted Applications that may harm your Operating System or lead to information compromise.

CyboScan PC Optimizer is also known as MySoftScans PC Cleaner, none of these offer any details about the development company and users will end up paying a fee of up to 99.95USD every 3 months for using the program.

About Potentially Unwanted Applications

You have encountered it – you download a free application, then you discover some unwanted applications on your computer or discover a strange toolbar has been added to your web browser. You did not install them, so how did they appear? These unwanted programs, which are called Potentially Unwanted Programs, or PUPs in short, typically tag along as a software bundle when downloading the application and can result in major problems for computer users. The idea of PUP was actually coined to outline this crapware as something other than malicious software. This is because, the majority of PUPs get into a computer not because they slip via the security holes, for instance, but mainly because the users have installed them themselves – 100 % unintentionally needless to say. Even though a PUP isn’t really malware by definition, it could nevertheless be dangerous software that puts the computer at risk exactly the same way a virus does.

Exactly how do unwanted programs look like?

Unwanted programs can be found in many forms. Typically, they could be found in adware bundlers which are known to utilize aggressive and misleading advertising. The majority of bundlers install many adware applications from several companies, each of which has its own EULA policy. Safebytes Anti-malware completely eliminates this threat and protects your machine against PUP or adware infection. Also, the majority of free programs nowadays come with a few unwanted add-ons; in most cases a web browser toolbar or browser modification such as a homepage hijacker. They may track your online routines, redirect your search results to unsafe websites where viruses can be downloaded and installed, hijack your search page, and slow your browser down to a crawl. PUPs lie inside the gray part of the software spectrum. Some PUPs contain keyloggers, dialers, and other software to gather your individual information which often can lead to identity theft. These are software programs that don’t really do anything useful to you; in addition to taking over space on the hard disk, they also slow down your computer, often alter settings without your permission, and the list of bothersome features goes on and on.

How one can prevent PUPs

• Read carefully before agreeing to the license agreement as it might possess a clause about PUPs. • Always pick the custom if you’re provided a choice between Recommended and Custom Installations – never click Next, Next, Next blindly. • Install reputable antivirus software, just like Safebytes Anti-malware that offers real-time protection against PUPs. • Do not download free applications or shareware unless you actually need it. Disable or remove toolbars and browser extensions you don’t actually need. • Always download software from the original site. The majority of PUPs find their way onto your PC is via download portals, so steer clear of it entirely. Remember that although PUPs can cause damage and hinder the proper functioning of your computer, they can’t enter into your computer without your permission, so be watchful not to give it to them.

Malware Blocking Internet And All Anti-Malware Software? Do This!

Malware can cause all kinds of damage when they invade your system, starting from stealing sensitive details to erasing files on your computer. Some malware variants modify web browser settings by adding a proxy server or modify the computer’s DNS settings. In such cases, you will be unable to visit some or all of the internet sites, and therefore unable to download or install the necessary security software to get rid of the computer virus. If you’re reading this article, odds are you’re stuck with a virus infection that is preventing you to download and/or install the Safebytes Anti-Malware program on your PC. There are a few options you can try to get around with this issue.

Make use of Safe Mode to resolve the issue

Safe Mode is a unique, simplified version of Windows in which just essential services are loaded to stop malware and also other problematic applications from loading. In the event, the malware is set to load automatically when the computer boots, switching to this particular mode may well prevent it from doing so. To start the computer into Safe Mode, hit the “F8” key on your keyboard right before the Windows logo screen shows up; Or after normal Windows boot up, run MSConfig, check “Safe Boot” under Boot tab, and then click Apply. Once you’re in Safe Mode, you can try to download and install your antivirus software application without the hindrance of the malicious software. Right after installation, run the malware scanner to remove most standard infections.

Utilize an alternate internet browser to download antivirus software

Some malware only targets certain browsers. If this is your case, use another internet browser as it may circumvent the virus. If you’re not able to download the antivirus application using Internet Explorer, it means malware may be targeting IE’s vulnerabilities. Here, you should switch to an alternate web browser like Firefox or Chrome to download Safebytes software.

Create a portable antivirus for removing malware

Here’s another solution which is using portable USB anti-malware software that can scan your system for viruses without the need for installation. Abide by these steps to run the anti-virus on the affected computer system. 1) On a virus-free computer, install Safebytes Anti-Malware. 2) Plug the Flash drive into the uninfected computer. 3) Double click on the executable file to run the installation wizard. 4) Choose the USB stick as the location for saving the file. Follow activation instructions. 5) Transfer the thumb drive from the uninfected computer to the infected PC. 6) Run the Safebytes Anti-malware directly from the USB drive by double-clicking the icon. 7) Click on “Scan Now” to run a scan on the infected computer for malware.

Protect Your Personal Computer From Viruses and Malware With SafeBytes Security Suite

If you’re looking to install an anti-malware program for your computer, there are various tools on the market to consider but you should not trust blindly anyone, irrespective of whether it is a free or paid program. Some of them do a great job in eliminating threats while some will ruin your PC themselves. When searching for an antivirus program, pick one that provides solid, efficient, and comprehensive protection against all known viruses and malware. On the list of highly recommended software by industry leaders is SafeBytes Anti-Malware, popular security software for Windows computers. Safebytes is among the well-established PC solutions companies, which provide this all-inclusive anti-malware software program. With its most advanced virus detection and repair technology, this software will help you protect your PC against infections caused by different kinds of malware and other internet threats, including spyware, adware, viruses, worms, trojans, keyloggers, potentially unwanted program (PUPs), and ransomware.

SafeBytes anti-malware provides an array of enhanced features that sets it apart from all others. Here are some of the good ones:

Real-time Active Protection: SafeBytes gives complete and real-time security for your personal machine. It will constantly monitor your pc for hacker activity and also gives users superior firewall protection. Antimalware Protection: This deep-cleaning antimalware software program goes much deeper than most antivirus tools to clean out your computer. Its critically acclaimed virus engine detects and disables hard-to-remove malware that hides deep within your PC. Web Security: Safebytes allots all sites a unique safety ranking that helps you to get an idea of whether the webpage you’re going to visit is safe to view or known to be a phishing site. Extremely Speed Scanning: This software has got one of the quickest and most powerful virus scanning engines in the industry. The scans are extremely accurate and take a short amount of time to complete. Lightweight: SafeBytes is a lightweight and easy-to-use anti-virus and anti-malware solution. Since it utilizes low computer resources, this program leaves the computer power exactly where it belongs: with you. 24/7 Guidance: You can get 24/7 technical assistance to promptly resolve any concern with your security tool. On the whole, SafeBytes Anti-Malware is a solid program as it has lots of features and can detect and eliminate any potential threats. Once you have downloaded and installed this software, you will no longer have to worry about malware or any other security worries. If you need sophisticated forms of protection features & threat detections, buying SafeBytes Anti-Malware could be worth the dollars!

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you wish to manually get rid of CyboScan PC Optimizer without the use of an automated tool, it might be possible to do so by removing the application from the Windows Add/Remove Programs menu, or in cases of browser plug-ins, going to the browsers AddOn/Extension manager and removing it. You will likely also want to reset your internet browser. In order to ensure the complete removal, manually check your hard disk and computer registry for all of the following and remove or reset the values accordingly. Having said that, editing the registry is actually a difficult task that only advanced users and professionals should try to fix the problem. Furthermore, certain malware keeps replicating which makes it tough to remove. You’re suggested to do this procedure in Safe Mode.

A lot of users complain about low storage space each time a Windows Feature update is released as well as to complain about not being able to download the updates, slow update experience, and many other complaints. The main issue is that many users do not have enough storage space available on their PCs. And now to make sure that none of the updates gets stuck because of low storage space, Microsoft presented the Reserved Storage feature which comes preinstalled with v1903 or those where v1903 was clean installed. This guide will be showing you how you can enable or disable the Reserved Storage in your Windows 10 computer. As you know, the Windows Update process should have enough space so that it can download, extract and apply the update on the computer. Usually, the size of the Reserved Storage is around 7GB which gives enough space for the update, temporary files, system caches, apps, and many more. And according to Microsoft, the size of the Reserved Storage space will vary from time to time and will depend on how you use your computer.

Explanation

The Reserved Storage space feature is enabled by default on devices that come preinstalled with the May 2019 update or after performing a clean installation of the Windows 10 OS. To check if your computer has this feature, you need to go to Settings > System > Storage and from there click on the “Show more categories” link and then click on the “System & reserved” option. However, if you can’t find the Reserved Storage from the list, then it’s probably because your computer has limited space on the hard disk or it is not a fresh or new install. On the other hand, if you have this feature but have no use for it and want to disable it instead, then read on as this post will also show you how it’s done.

Solution

Keep in mind that when you disable the Reserved Storage feature, chances are, you might be unable to enable it back so you need to make sure that it’s really what you want to do before you disable it permanently. So if you really want to disable Reserved Storage, you can do so using the Registry Editor. Before you proceed, you have to create a System Restore point first and then carry out the following steps.

• Tap the Win + R keys to launch the Run utility and type “Regedit” in the field and then tap Enter to open the Registry Editor.
• Next, navigate to this registry path: ComputerHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionReserveManager
• From there, double click on the DWORD named “ShippedWithReserves” and set its value to “1”.
• Once you’re done, restart your computer and see if the Reserved Storage feature is now gone.

On the other hand, if you want to reduce the Reserved Storage space, there are two ways you can do that. First, you can go to Settings > Apps > Apps & features > Manage optional features and from there, uninstall the optional features that you do not use. The second one is you have to go to Settings > Time & Language > Language and then uninstall the languages and their add-on which you don’t use. Note: The Reserved Storage feature is also used by system processes and apps to create temporary files and once the Reserved Storage space fills up, Windows 10 will delete them automatically. It is undeniable a useful feature so disabling it is not recommended but if you are running on low storage space and don’t have much choice, then you may disable it at your own risk.

Following a two-year investigation by the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, the state has filed a lawsuit against Activision Blizzard for fostering a "frat boy" culture in which female employees are allegedly subjected to unequal pay and sexual harassment. As reported by Bloomberg, Activision Blizzard is being accused by the state of California of discriminating against female employees at nearly all levels of employment, including in regards to compensation, promotion, assignments, and termination. The state alleges Activision Blizzard’s leadership has failed to address any of these outstanding issues or prevent them from occurring within the workplace. You can read the full details of the lawsuit here. The suit, filed Tuesday in the Los Angeles Superior Court, says Activision Blizzard, which is made up of about 20 percent women, assigns women, and women of color, to "lower paid and lower opportunity levels" with lower starting pay for similar work as their male counterparts. The documents also accuse Activision Blizzard of fostering a "pervasive 'frat boy' workplace culture in the office. Male employees are said to drink "copious amounts of alcohol" as they make their way through cubicles and "often engage in inappropriate behavior toward female employees." Male employees are said to come to work hungover, play video games during work "while delegating their responsibilities to female employees, engage in banter about their sexual encounters, talk openly about female bodies, and joke about rape." The lawsuit also cites one particular incident where a female employee, who was already subjected to intense sexual harassment at the company, committed suicide during a work trip with a male supervisor who allegedly brought inappropriate, sexual items with him on the trip. The lawsuit is asking for an injunction that will force Activision Blizzard to comply with workplace protections, as well as deliver unpaid wages, pay adjustments, back pay, and lost wages and benefits for female employees.

An Activision Blizzard spokesperson sent the following statement in response to the allegations:

We value diversity and strive to foster a workplace that offers inclusivity for everyone. There is no place in our company or industry, or any industry, for sexual misconduct or harassment of any kind. We take every allegation seriously and investigate all claims. In cases related to misconduct, the action was taken to address the issue. The DFEH includes distorted, and in many cases false, descriptions of Blizzard’s past. We have been extremely cooperative with the DFEH throughout their investigation, including providing them with extensive data and ample documentation, but they refused to inform us what issues they perceived. They were required by law to adequately investigate and to have good faith discussions with us to better understand and to resolve any claims or concerns before going to litigation, but they failed to do so. Instead, they rushed to file an inaccurate complaint, as we will demonstrate in court. We are sickened by the reprehensible conduct of the DFEH to drag into the complaint the tragic suicide of an employee whose passing has no bearing whatsoever on this case and with no regard for her grieving family. While we find this behavior to be disgraceful and unprofessional, it is, unfortunately, an example of how they have conducted themselves throughout the course of their investigation. It is this type of irresponsible behavior from unaccountable State bureaucrats that are driving many of the State’s best businesses out of California. The picture the DFEH paints is not the Blizzard workplace of today. Over the past several years and continuing since the initial investigation started, we’ve made significant changes to address company culture and reflect more diversity within our leadership teams. We’ve updated our Code of Conduct to emphasize a strict non-retaliation focus, amplified internal programs and channels for employees to report violations, including the “ASK List” with a confidential integrity hotline, and introduced an Employee Relations team dedicated to investigating employee concerns. We have strengthened our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and combined our Employee Networks at a global level, to provide additional support. Employees must also undergo regular anti-harassment training and have done so for many years. We put tremendous effort into creating fair and rewarding compensation packages and policies that reflect our culture and business, and we strive to pay all employees fairly for equal or substantially similar work. We take a variety of proactive steps to ensure that pay is driven by non-discriminatory factors. For example, we reward and compensate employees based on their performance, and we conduct extensive anti-discrimination training including for those who are part of the compensation process. We are confident in our ability to demonstrate our practices as an equal opportunity employer that fosters a supportive, diverse, and inclusive workplace for our people, and we are committed to continuing this effort in the years to come. It is a shame that the DFEH did not want to engage with us on what they thought they were seeing in their investigation.

Conclusion

We will see how things work out, but I am not too optimistic for Activision Blizzard, truth to be told these reports are really bringing up some disturbing news on the sunlight. I just hope that all responsible will be brought to justice.

Microsoft allows its users to download a copy of Windows to install on PCs. However, when you enter the key after the installation and you got the Activation Error 0xC004F212 instead, then it means that the license key and the Windows version you’ve just installed, do not match. When you encounter this error, you will see the following error message on your screen:

“The product key used on this PC didn’t work with this edition of Windows. Activation Error 0xC004F212.”

Every time Microsoft generates a license for a copy of Windows, it is associated with one particular Windows variant. Windows comes in many editions like Enterprise, Home, Professional, and so on. For instance, if you bought a license for Windows 10 Enterprise but you have installed Windows 10 Professional instead, then the activation will surely fail and you’ll encounter the Activation Error 0xC004F212. You will be asked to select which edition you want to install when you reinstall Windows 10 using a digital license. If you opted for an edition other than the one you are licensed to use, then you will most likely get the Activation Error 0xC004F212. If you have purchased your license key from a store or some website, you might want to check back with them about the exact version of Windows. Doing so will help you narrow down the problem. And if you have second thoughts about the license key’s validity, you can just reach out to a Microsoft Support agent to check the validity of the license key. Also, if have bought it from the store, there should be an option to get a refund. That way you can choose to buy the right version of Windows.

Option 1 – Try running the Windows 10 Activation Troubleshooter

The first thing you can do to resolve the Activation Error 0xC004F212 is to run the Windows 10 Activation Troubleshooter. To do so, follow these steps:

• Go to Settings and then select Activation.
• After that, click on the Windows Activation and then troubleshoot. This will help you address most of the commonly found activation issues in Windows devices.

The Windows 10 Activation Troubleshooter will determine if your license key is a valid Windows 10 digital license for an edition that is not currently installed. If it turns out that it’s not, then the troubleshooter will show you how to install the correct edition.

Option 2 – Try forcing Windows 10 ISO to use the right version

You can also try to force Windows 10 ISO to use the correct version depending on the product key. Note that this option only works between Windows 10 Home and Professional version since they both have a common ISO. So if it’s Enterprise, then this option won’t work for you.

• Extract the Windows 10 ISO files using an extractor.
• Then browse to the folder you created and go to the sources folder.
• From there, you need to create a text file named “PID.txt” and make sure to follow the exact format given below:

[PID] Value=xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx

Note: “xxxxx” is the KEY to your Windows version.

• Next, you need to create the ISO again or bootable media that will repack everything and then create the Media file. You can use the Media Creation tool for this.

Note: Windows will check the key during the installation and will figure out the right version of Windows.

Option 3 – Contact Microsoft Support for assistance

If you’re at your wits’ end in trying to update your Windows 10 computer, you should consider contacting Microsoft Support for help as they can offer you various options that would make fixing Windows Activation Error 0xC004F212 a lot easier and faster.

In case you don’t know, Microsoft Office uses a separate mechanism than the Windows operating system for specific purposes such as Updates and Activation which brings in the content dependencies of this mechanism on different services and processes. Thus, in such cases, you could encounter errors like the error code 0x80070426. When you get this error, you will see the following error message on your screen:

“An unexpected error has occurred. Your request cannot be processed at this time. Please try again later. (0x80070426)”

This kind of error is caused by various supporting processes and services that are not working or are not being triggered as they were supposed to. If you are currently facing this issue, worry not for this post will guide you in fixing it. There are two potential fixes you can try – you can either check the responsible services or manually run the Activation Script. For more details refer to the given options below.

Option 1 – Try checking the responsible Services

• In the Start search, type “services.msc” in the field and tap Enter or click OK to open the Windows Services Manager.
• If a User Account Control or UAC prompt appears, just click on Yes to proceed to the Windows Services Manager utility window.
• After that, look for the “Software Licensing Service” service entry from the given list of services inside the window.
• Then right-click on it and select Properties and from there, make sure that its Startup Type is set to Automatic.
• Once done, click on the Start button to start the service and then exit the Services Manager.
• Next, tap the Win + R keys to open the Run utility and then type “cmd” in the field and tap Enter to open an elevated Command Prompt.
• After that, type and enter each command below one after the other.
  • net start slsvc
  • sc qc slsvc
  • sc queryex slsvc
  • sc qprivs slsvc
  • sc qsidtype slsvc
  • sc sdshow slsvc
• Now check if the problem is fixed or not.

Option 2 – Try to manually run the Activation Script

• In the Start search, type “cmd” and right-click on Command Prompt from the given search results and then select the “Run as administrator” option to open Command Prompt with admin privileges.
• Next, navigate to the following location inside the Command Prompt command-line utility if you are using Office 16.
  • x86: C:/Program Files (x86)/Microsoft Office/Office16
  • x64: C:/Program Files/Microsoft Office/Office16

• On the other hand, if you are using an older version, go to the following location instead.
  • x86: C:/Program Files (x86)/Microsoft Office/OfficeXX
  • x64: C:/Program Files/Microsoft Office/OfficeXX
• Once you’re in the location, type the following command to run the Activation Script and then tap Enter.

cscript ospp.vbs/act

• The command you just entered will activate your copy of Microsoft Office.

If the Task Manager is either blank or is not showing processes on your Windows 10 computer, then here are a few things you can do to resolve this issue. This kind of problem can occur due to some system file corruption or some malware infection in the system. Here are some suggestions you can try to resolve the problem with the Task Manager on your Windows 10 PC.

Option 1 – Try restarting your computer

The most common and most of the time effective way to resolve this kind of issue is to simply restart your computer. Thus, you have to restart your computer and see if it helps in fixing the Task Manager issue or not. If not, you can try the next given options below.

Option 2 – Run the DISM tool

If the first option didn’t work, then running the Deployment Imaging and Servicing Management tool can help you resolve the issue with the Task Manager as it will repair the Windows System Image as well as the Windows Component Store in Windows 10.

• After you access the Advanced Startup options, select Command Prompt by using the arrow keys on your keyboard.
• Next, type in this command: DISM /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 3 – Make sure that the display columns are selected in the Task Manager

You have to make sure that you have checked or selected the display columns you want to be displayed. So if none of them are selected, you might not see any details at all. Thus, you need to right-click on the space near Name and select the columns.

Option 4 – Run the System File Checker Scan

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 the reason why the Task Manager is blank or is not showing processes. 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.

• Restart your computer.

Option 5 – 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 Task Manager 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.

Option 6 – Try scanning your computer using Windows Defender

As mentioned, the Task Manager issue might be caused by some malware in the system and so to eliminate the malware, you have to scan your computer using security programs like Windows Defender.

• Tap the Win + I keys to open Update & Security.
• Then click on the Windows Security option and open Windows Defender Security Center.
• Next, click on Virus & threat protection > Run a new advanced scan.
• Now make sure that Full Scan is selected from the menu and then click the Scan Now button to get started.