If you are frequently experiencing slow loading of folders in your Windows 10 computer, Downloads folder for instance, then you’ve come to the right place as this post will help you resolve such issue. Slow loading of folders is a common problem faced by many users even when they are using the latest hardware like SSDs. So if you experience the same thing, be it with the Downloads folder or other folders on your computer, there is a way to resolve that issue and make the folder load faster. Slow-loading means when you attempt to open the folder, it takes a couple of seconds before it displays its contents. In such cases, you’ll see a green loading address bar that says “Working on it” which can get quite annoying especially if you are in a hurry. And if you notice that this only happens in the Downloads folder, there certainly is something wrong. This kind of problem can occur on SSDs and normal hard drives. The main reason behind the occurrence of this problem is that the folder may have been optimized for viewing photos or other media formats which is why it takes quite longer than usual to load all the files and their thumbnails. However, since the Downloads folder usually contains all kinds of files like documents, zip files, audio/video files, etc. there is no need to optimize this folder for media files only because doing so is only going to make the Windows File Explorer slow in loading the folder’s contents and thumbnails which does not exist for many files.

Option 1 – Configure the Downloads folder

• Right-click on the Downloads folder or the folder you’re having trouble opening.
• Then click on Properties and go to the Customize tab.
• After that, click on the “Optimize this folder for” option in the drop-down menu.
• Next, select General items from the drop-down which might have been set by default to Pictures or Video.
• You also have the option to apply this template to all the subfolders, that is if your folder has any subfolders.
• Now apply the settings and restart Windows Explorer.

Note: Once you’ve completed the steps above, it should now make the folder content display a lot faster than before. Now try to open the Downloads folder which would not take much time as you will see the changes right away.

Option 2 – Run CHKDSK to check your disk for errors

When it comes to some issues concerning the hard drive or removable devices, there is a utility in Windows that might help which is called “chkdsk”. This error check utility can help with several issues in the system including File System Error -2147219196.

• Tap the Win + S keys to open the Search box.
• Then type “command prompt” in the field and from the search results that appear, right-click on Command Prompt and select “Run as administrator”.
• After opening an elevated command prompt, copy and paste the following command and hit Enter:

chkdsk /r /f

• Now if you are prompted to run CHKDSK after your reboot your PC, just tap Y and reboot your PC.
• If CHKDSK is not able to find any errors, tap the Win + E keys and navigate the access window. From there, right-click on the concerned drive and click on Properties.
• After opening Properties, click on the tab Tools and then click on the “Check” button under the Error-checking section.
• Wait until the process is completed and then restart your computer.
• Once your computer has restarted, try accessing the file and check if the error persists.

You might have experienced a situation when you restarted your Windows 10 PC after an upgrade and you tried logging into your account but only a screen with a message saying, “Preparing Windows”. If the screen only stays that way, this indicates that Windows 10 is trying to complete the upgrade or waiting for some files to load up so that you can use your account. Some users also reported that when they tried logging into their accounts, they also get the same message on their screens. To resolve this issue, read on as this post will show you what you can do if your Windows 10 PC is stuck on the “Preparing Windows” screen. A lot of users have tried logging back into their account once more but to no avail as the same screen still greets them. And even when they tried the Ctrl + Alt + Del combo, it still didn’t work. This only goes to show that your account might somehow be corrupted.

Option 1 – Try booting your PC into Safe Mode

The first thing you can do to resolve the issue is to try booting your computer into Safe Mode and then log in using an Admin account. If it seems like your admin account has caused the problem, you need to create an admin account first and then log in after you reboot into the account and then log off. After that, restart your PC normally and check if the problem’s resolved or not. If not, refer to the next given option below.

Option 2 – Try to repair your corrupted profile via Registry

In this second option, you can try to repair the corrupted profile using the Registry but before you proceed, make sure to create a System Restore Point and then follow the steps below.

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Then type “regedit” in the field and hit Enter or click OK to open the Registry Editor.
• Next, go to this registry key: ComputerHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionProfileList
• Once you’ve opened the registry key, you should see a list of all the user profiles on your computer. Now click on each S-1-5 folder and look for the “ProfileImagePath” entry and double-click on it to check which user account it is related to. You will see a path like “CUsersACK” where “ACK” is the username.
• You should know which among the user account is corrupted. Just look for a key named “RefCount” and change its Value data to “0” and click OK. And if it isn’t available, simply right-click on the right pane and create it.
• After that, double click on the key named “State” and make sure that the Value data is “0” and click OK.
• Exit the Registry Editor and restart your computer to apply the changes made.

Option 3 – 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 the cause why your screen is stuck at “Preparing Windows”. 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 4 – Try to repair hard disk errors using the Chkdsk utility

You can also run the Chkdsk utility to resolve the problem. 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.
• chkntfs /t
• chkntfs /t:10

Windows and Devices chief Panos Panay has revealed new focus sessions feature that will be in Windows 11 on his Twitter account today. He himself is referring to it as a game-changer especially with Spotify integration.

So what is a focus session?

From the video clip provided on Twitter, we can see that focus session users will be able to choose a specific task from the previously made task list, choose songs that will play in the background while the task is active, and set a timer for the chosen task with breaks. Maybe the best comparison and explanation would be a desktop google calendar task with music, basically, that’s it. A neat and good organizer inside your Windows 11 operating system. I think that this is generally a good idea and for sure it will find its audience.

The GDI32.DLL is a DLL (Dynamic Link Library) file that was developed by Microsoft. It is an essential file of the Windows OS as it contains instructions and information for exe files to follow. These DLL files also use to store the various procedures and codes for the Windows programs. It is considered an essential component of Windows because it ensures that all the programs on Windows are operating properly. So, if the gdi32.dll not found on your computer, then it can negatively impact your computer and the associated programs. Though DLL files used to be so efficient and convenient, they are extremely vulnerable to errors and issues.

1. Perform SFC scan

   Press ⊞ WINDOWS + X to open the Windows menu From the menu choose command prompt (admin) In command prompt type sfc /scannow and press ENTER Leave the computer for the operation to be completed and Reboot your computer

2. Run DISM

   Press ⊞ WINDOWS + X to open the Windows menu From the menu choose command prompt (admin) in command prompt type: DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth and press ENTER wait for the process to be finished and Reboot your computer

3. Update device driver

   Go to your manufacturer's website and update drivers for your components with the latest versions.

4. Update Windows

   If you have an update ready for Windows, update it and see if this will remove the error

5. Scan computer for malware

   Perform a full PC scan for malware to see if this is causing issues with the GDI32.DLL error.

6. Download file

   One solution is to download a file from the official site and place it in the corresponding folder.

7. Perform System restore

   Rollback system restore before the issue happened and your Windows will be working as intended

Error Code 80004002 - What is it?

Error code 80004002 will be encountered when there are absent registry keys. These missing registry keys will hinder an update process when initiated. However, this error code can be averted once the user makes a reinstall of the Windows Update Client. The steps will be highlighted throughout the article.

Solution

Error Causes

Error code 80004002 might occur for various valid reasons. In cases of installing programs, a user might mistakenly install a new program over another, that was not properly (completely) uninstalled. This could cause a stack-up of registry keys and error messages. Additionally, error code 80004002 might be a consequence of malware, viruses, and adware.

Further Information and Manual Repair

If left unchecked, error code 80004002 could amount to system freezes and crashes, slow computer performance, error codes upon installation, and even blue screen errors. To fix this error code, you might want to attempt one or all the methods below. This is due to the fact that the problem might stem from various reasons.

Method 1: Safe Mode

Ensure to boot your computer in safe mode. This is to ensure that you are properly able to troubleshoot Windows update error code 80004002. To load your computer in safe mode, turn on the computer, press F8 before it fully loads to the ‘sign in’ screen.

Method 2: Update Outdated Drivers

One of the many reasons why you’ll encounter error code 80004002 is in light of the fact that your drivers might have been outdated. To check if your driver is outdated, Right click on the Start menu, select the Device Manager option. From there, you’ll be able to tell which device(s) is corrupted and needs updating.

Method 3: Reinstall Windows Update Client

To perform this process, follow the steps below:

1. Locate “My Computer” or “This PC” on your device.
2. Select the “Properties” option.
3. Under the System option, determine whether your System type is 64-bit or 32-bit version of Windows.
4. Use the links below to install the Windows Update client:

Click for 32-bit Operating System

Click for 64-bit Operating System

5. After installation, search for Windows Update from the Search option.
6. Select the Check for Updates option.
7. Once any updates are found, hit Install Updates.

Method 4: Use An Automated Tool

If you wish to always have at your disposal a utility tool to fix these Windows 10 and other related issues when they do arise, download and install a powerful automated tool.

What's Error 0x8004060c?

If you use Ms-Outlook. You may experience the malfunction 0x8004060c sooner or later. This malfunction was proven to arise in nearly every MS Outlook variation be it 2010 or 2,000, 2007. The malfunction 0x8004060c hinders your capacity to deliver and get e-mails from and your MS-Outlook account and happens without any forewarning. The error happens when the PST file grows too big and there's almost no memory to handle the increase (Which is rather rare nowadays). Generally, the PST file has about 2 gigabytes upper limit and when you reach that, this error is unavoidable. This error happens when you attempt incorporating data that is fresh into your MS-OUTLOOK Account.

Solution

Error Causes

This malfunction might generate difficulties for you personally as your e-mails vanish and can happen suddenly. The system could also crash at times unpredictably. You may not be able to see fresh notifications and attachments in your e-mail. Also, it's also possible to drop significant contact details. What's more, this malfunction could stop e-mails that are fresh to arrive in your inbox. Therefore, it is undoubtedly a significant issue that has to be repaired immediately. The following may be some of the causes for error 0x8004060c:-

• This error might occur when OST/PST file got corrupt.
• OST file becomes inaccessible due to Exchange connectivity or synchronization issue.
• OST/PST file exceeded its default maximum file size.

Further Information and Manual Repair

In the event that you find the malfunction 0x8004060c at any stage, you should do the repair instead of risking dropping connections and all the significant data in your account. The easiest way to repair this malfunction and to handle this issue would be to download the Restoro. Click here to obtain this fix tool on your computer. After installing, click your mouse's left button after which can use the application. It repairs the error code 0x8004060c in the least period and walks you through the entire repair procedure quickly.

If you encounter Error Code 0x80090016 while trying to create a PIN or when you are using Microsoft Store, then you’ve come to the right place as this post will guide you in how you can fix this problem. Recently some users reported that they were unable to sign in or set up the Windows 10 Login PIN. Note that the potential fixes for this issue are totally different in both scenarios. Here’s the error message you get when you encounter the PIN related error:

“Something went wrong, We weren’t able to set up your PIN. Sometimes it helps to try again or you can skip for now and do this later.”

On the other hand, here’s the error message you get for the Microsoft Store-related error:

“Try that again, Something happened on our end and we couldn’t sign you in.”

Here are some potential fixes you can try to fix the Error Code 0x80090016 in the Microsoft Store:

Option 1 – Try to sync the Date and Time

The first thing you can try is to sync the Date and Time of your computer as the wrong Date and Time settings are one of the most common causes of connection problems like the Error Code 0x80090016. This is because of the incompatibility between the SSL Certificate validation date and the System Clock. Thus, you have to sync your System Clock. Refer to the steps below to do so.

• Start by tapping the Win + I keys to open the Windows Settings.
• Next, go to Time & Language > Date & time.
• From there, turn the toggle on for the “Set time automatically and Set time zone automatically” option on the right-side panel.
• After that, click on Region & language located on the left side panel and make sure that the Country or region on the right-side panel is set to the country you live in.
• Now close the Settings app and restart your computer and see if it fixes the problem or not.

Option 2 – Try to re-register the Microsoft Store app via PowerShell

• Tap the Win + X key combination or right-click on the Start button and click on the Windows PowerShell (Admin) option.
• If a User Account Control or UAC prompt appears, just click on Yes to proceed and open the Windows PowerShell window.
• Next, type in or copy-paste the following command to re-register the Microsoft Store app and tap Enter:

powershell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $Env:SystemRootWinStoreAppxManifest.xml

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

Option 3 – Try to reset the Microsoft Store cache

Just like browsers, Microsoft Store also caches as you view apps and games so it is most likely that the cache is no longer valid and must be removed. To do so, follow the steps below.

• Right-click on the start button and click on Command Prompt (administrator).
• Next, type in the command, “exe” and tap Enter. Once you do, the command will clear the cache for the Windows Store app.
• Now restart your PC and afterward, try opening Microsoft Store again and then see if Error Code 0x80090016 is resolved or not.

Option 4 – Try to run the Windows Store Troubleshooter

The Windows 10 Store Apps Troubleshooter will help you in fixing the Error Code 0x80090016. This is a great built-in tool from Microsoft that helps users fix any app installation issues. So this is worth a try to solve the problem. This built-in tool also helps you fix the Windows 10 Store if it isn’t working. To use the Windows Store Troubleshooter, follow the steps below.

• Tap Win + I keys again to open the Windows Settings panel.
• Go to Update & Security and then go to Troubleshoot.
• On your right-hand side, scroll down to find the Windows Store Apps and then click on Run the troubleshooter option and see if it fixes the problem.

On the other hand, you can use the options below if you encounter Error Code 0x80090016 while setting up your PIN.

Option 5 – Try to manage the NGC Folder

• You need to boot your computer into Safe Mode first.
• Next, delete all the contents of the NGC folder and you can do that by taking ownership of the folder first. To do so, refer to these sub-steps:
  • First, locate the concerned folder and right-click on it then select Properties.
  • Next, click on the Edit button in the Properties window and click OK to confirm if you got a User Account Control elevation request.
  • After that, select user/group from the permission windows or click on the Add button to add another user or group. It would be best if you add “Everyone” to give permission.
  • Then check “Full Control” under the “Allow” column to assign full access rights control permissions.
  • Now edit the permission to Full Control for “Everyone”.
  • Click OK to save the changes made and then exit.
• After you take ownership of the folder, you can now delete all of its contents.
• Once you’re done, restart your computer and see if the problem is fixed.

Option 6 – Try to use the Group Policy Editor

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box
• Then type “gpedit.msc” in the field and hit Enter or click OK to open the Group Policy Editor.
• Next, navigate to this setting: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Logon
• After that, double click on “Turn on convenience PIN Sign-in” and set its radio button to Enable. This policy setting has the following description:

“This policy setting allows you to control whether a domain user can sign in using a convenience PIN. If you enable this policy setting, a domain user can set up and sign in with a convenience PIN. If you disable or don’t configure this policy setting, a domain user can’t set up and use a convenience PIN. Note: The user’s domain password will be cached in the system vault when using this feature. To configure Windows Hello for Business, use the Administrative Template policies under Windows Hello for Business.”

• After you set the radio button to Enable, it will turn on the Logins using the PIN. Note that setting the radio button to Disabled or Not Configured will turn off the Logins using the PIN.
• Now exit the Group Policy Editor and restart your PC so that the changes can take effect.

Bttray.exe Application – What is it?

Bttray.exe is basically a Bluetooth Tray Application. Bluetooth Tray Application is developed by WIDCOMM. It provides a system tray icon that allows users to see the status of their Bluetooth connections at a glance. It allows you to easily access the configuration and settings for the Bluetooth products enabling you to change the configuration of the Bluetooth devices. The bttray.exe application error may pop up on your computer screen due to some issue with the Bluetooth software. The process fails to initialize and therefore stops working. Bttray.exe application error code is  displayed in the following format:

• “BTTray.exe can’t initialize (0xc0150004).”
• “BTTray.exe – System Error”

Though this is not a fatal or critical computer error it is advisable to resolve it otherwise it will hamper your access to Bluetooth software and cause you a great deal of inconvenience.

Solution

Error Causes

Bttray.exe application error code may be triggered due to one of the reasons stated below:

• Bttray.exe application is damaged
• Bttray.exe is accidentally removed from your PC
• The Bluetooth software or driver becomes problematic.
• Some modules that run by the process are corrupt
• Malware infection
• Invalid registry entries

Further Information and Manual Repair

If you experience a bttray.exe application error code on your system, it is recommended to fix it right away. To resolve this error you don’t have to be a computer programmer or a technical whiz or have to hire a professional and spend hundreds of dollars in repair. It is easy to fix, simply follow the manual methods given below:

Method 1- Reinstall Bluetooth Software

If the Bluetooth Software is damaged or outdated, the bttray.exe will also not work. If this is the cause of the error code, then simply reinstall Bluetooth software on your system. To do this, first, uninstall the current software and then download the latest version of the Bluetooth Software on your PC. To uninstall click start, go to the control panel, and then programs. Now select Bluetooth software and click uninstall to remove it. After that, install the latest version and update it. To activate changes

Method 2: Scan for Malware

Sometimes the bttray.exe application error code may pop up due to malware and viral infection. To fix it, download a powerful antivirus. Scan and remove malware to resolve.

Method 3: Clean Registry

The registry basically saves all the activities being performed on the PC including junk and obsolete files. If the registry is not clean frequently, unnecessary files like cookies, junk files, temporary files, and internet history can take up a lot of space and cause the registry to damage. Due to this error code like the bttray.exe application can also pop up. To resolve, clean the registry. You can do it manually but that may be difficult and time-consuming if you are not a computer programmer. However, a good alternative would be to download Restoro. This is a user-friendly and next-generation PC Fixer deployed with multiple utilities like a registry cleaner and an antivirus. Simply run it to remove viruses and clean the registry. Click here to download Restoro and resolve the bttray.exe application error now!

22H2 update for Windows 11 will arrive later this year and although Microsoft is not releasing anything big there will be some interesting improvements and fixes. We take a look at some that caught our attention.

Phishing protection

One of the most interesting upcoming features is enhanced phishing protection. Microsoft Defender SmartScreen will be upgraded to alert users when they try to store passwords in plain text files and also if they accidentally type in a Microsoft account password on phishing sites.

"These enhancements will make Windows the world's first operating system with phishing safeguards built directly into the platform and shipped out of the box to help users stay productive and secure without having to learn to be their own IT department,"

Microsoft

File Explorer gets tabs, a modern sidebar, and contextual suggestions

Finally, Windows File explorer is getting tabs that will allow much easier management of folders and files inside it.

It is confirmed that Microsoft is also working on a new 'HOME' sidebar that should be modern in design and in features including OneDrive so you can find everything in one place.

Pinning of favorite files was also mentioned so you can easily pin favorites for quick access.

Full-screen widgets

Windows 11 has brought back widgets in a new way and from all the feedback users are loving them. Currently, you have a widget sidebar on the left part of the screen where you have your chosen store widgets but from the Microsoft teaser, we will have soon the option to have them in full screen.

If you are using a widget for reading news, blogs, etc. this feature will be very good since you will be able to use your whole screen for information and not just a part of it.

Suggested actions

Another new feature is 'suggested actions' which is going to be particularly useful in apps like Microsoft Teams. With this new feature, you can highlight a date in a Teams message and Windows will suggest actions.

For example, if you highlight a date, you'll see a recommendation to create an event in Microsoft Calendar for that day.

VSSControl: 2147467259 Backup jobs failed. Cannot create a shadow copy of the volumes containing the writer’s data. VSS asynchronous operation is not completed. Code: [0x8004231f]

This message pops up when you are creating a snapshot system restore, usually, the issue is tied with insufficient space or service stopping. We will go into detail about how to fix both so you can finish the operation without any issue.

1. Check Volume Shadow Copy Services

   Easier and faster fix than the next one. Launch Services from the Start Menu, look for Volume Shadow Copy, double-click on it, and check the Service status. If it is stopped, click on the Start button. If it’s running, restart it by clicking Stop > Start.

2. Increase Shadow Storage Space

   If the first fix didn’t resolve the issue then you need to increase Shadow Storage Space. Launch Command Prompt as an administrator. Now, type the following command to check your Shadow Storage Space. vssadmin list shadowstorage Now, type the following command to allocate more storage (you can change 10GB with the amount of space you want to allocate) vssadmin resize shadowstorage /For=C: /On=C: /MaxSize=10GB