Couldn’t open PDF in Edge Error in Windows

Taking information from the internet or from other sources usually involves selecting the text, copying it into the clipboard, and then pasting it into your file. In today's modern applications pasting text will most of the time take its formating with it.

By formatting what I am talking about are parameters like font size, line breaks, hyperlinks, font styles, etc. and sometimes you do not want any of these in your file, you would like and prefer to have just plain text so you can format it as you wish.

In order to paste just plain text instead of using the CTRL + V keyboard shortcut, press CTRL + SHIFT + V instead. This shortcut will paste the only text into your file.

Shortcut and Microsoft Word

Leave it to Microsoft to make its shortcut not work in their application. In Microsoft Word, you can only use the standard CTRL + V shortcut, if you press CTRL + SHIFT + V nothing will happen. So in order to paste the only text into a word document, choose to paste special > text only

Other applications

I have tried CTRL + SHIFT + V in various applications like photoshop, illustrator, InDesign, visual studio code, slack, discord, WordPress installations, etc and only one that has not worked for me was Word and office in general so you are safe to use this trick and have desired results.

Error Code 0x80248014 - What is it?

Error Code 0x80248014 is an error that is particularly associated with the Windows 10 operating system. It generally appears during the Windows Update process and can interrupt the update installation, causing it to fail.

Common symptoms include:

• Inability to download, install, or run updates on the Windows 10 operating system
• The vague message that appears when the error occurs
• Inability to finalize purchases made from the Windows Store
• Inability to run a check to see if updates need to be installed

The resolutions available for Error Code 0x80248014 include the use of the command prompt and delving into the settings for Windows. While most users should be able to navigate the resolution methods on their own if you do not feel comfortable undertaking these steps on your own or if you aren’t able to resolve the error fully using these methods, get in touch with a qualified Windows repair technician who is familiar with issues in Windows updates.

Solution

Error Causes

There are several common culprits that can make Error Code 0x80248014 appear on your Windows device. The most common ones include problems with your connections, interference on the server, or problems in the settings for the Windows Store itself from which the updates are downloaded.

If you believe that your error relates most specifically to the Windows Store, you may want to jump directly to method two in order to attempt to resolve the issue.

Further Information and Manual Repair

There are a number of ways that you can try to resolve Error Code 0x80248014 on your Windows 10 operating system. The first will attempt to reset the issue using the command prompt, while the second attempts to address the issues that are associated directly with the Windows Store.

If you do not feel comfortable taking the steps below, be sure to get in touch with a qualified Windows repair technician to assist you.

Here are the top two methods to resolve Error Code 0x80248014 on the Windows 10 operating system:

Method One:  Attempt to Resolve the Error Using the Command Prompt

To use this method, employ the following steps in order:

• Step One: To begin, open up the Start menu and select the option for the Command Prompt, choosing to run it in Admin mode.
• Step Two: Put in the commands below, hitting the Enter key after each one:
  • net stop WuAuServ
  • %windir%
• Step Three: Open up the Windows folder on your local hard drive. Look for the folder labeled “SoftwareDistribution” and change the name to “SDold”.
• Step Four: Go back into the Command Prompt as an administrator and enter this command:  “net start WuAuServ”.
• Step Five: Attempt to run your check for Updates again.

You may want to reboot your computer after running the steps above to ensure that the changes that you’ve made are fully applied to your device.

Method Two:  Reset Your Windows Store Settings

In some cases, Error Code 0x80248014 can appear on a device when the settings for the Windows Store have been altered or cannot be successfully read by the machine in question. If you believe that this is the case on your machine, you can run a simple command to renew your Windows Store settings.

To attempt to reset your Windows Store settings, open up your search bar and type in the following phrase “wsreset.exe,” then hitting Enter. Running this command will reset your Windows Store settings to their defaults.

After you reset your Windows Store settings, it may be a good idea to reboot your computer to ensure that all changes have fully taken effect on your device. Once this has been done, you can open the Windows Store back up and try to download or install the programs that you were attempting to purchase when the error code occurred.

If you are still experiencing the effects on your Windows 10 operating system or if you have not been able to follow the steps above to completion, it may be time to get in touch with a qualified Windows repair technician to assist you with the error resolution process.

Method Three: 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 is SYNTP.SYS file? it is a system file created by Synaptics Touchpad drivers that are responsible for all the gestures and tracking users’ touch on the Touchpad. However, what happens when this driver fails? Well, it’s either that your touchpad will partially stop working or it will completely stop working at all. And in such cases, you will encounter the SYNTP.SYS Blue Screen error along with any of the following error codes:

• IRQL_NOT_LESS_EQUAL
• KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED
• INVALID_PROCESS_ATTACH_ATTEMPT

To resolve the problem, use the instructions given below as a reference.

Option 1 – Run the Memory Diagnostic Tool to check for Memory leaks

• Tap the Win + R keys to open Run and type exe and hit Enter to open the Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool.
• After that, it will give two options such as:
  • Restart now and check for problems (Recommended)
  • Check for problems the next time I start my computer
• Once your computer has restarted, perform a basic scan or you could also go for the “Advanced” options such as “Test mix” or “Pass count”. Simply tap the F10 key to start the test.

Note: After you select the option, your PC will restart and check for memory-based issues. If it finds any issues, it will automatically fix them and if there’s no issue found, then it’s most likely not a memory-based issue so you should try the other options given below.

Option 2 – Try reinstalling the Synaptics Driver

You might want to reinstall the Synaptics driver to resolve the SYNTP.SYS Blue Screen error.

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• After that, type “appwiz.cpl” in the field and hit Enter to open the Programs and Features section in the Control Panel.
• Next, you have to look for the “Synatics Point Device driver” and right-click on it, and then click on Uninstall to remove it from your computer.
• Restart your PC and then check for updates under the Windows Update section.
• After that, it will find the latest available and stable Synaptics driver and then install it.
• Then click the “Check or Updates” under the Windows update section and it will automatically look for the latest available Synaptic driver and install it for you.
• Now restart your PC and for the changes to take effect.

Option 3 – Try to run a System File Checker scan

You can also try to run a System File Checker or SFC scan in order to scan your computer for corrupted files that might be the cause behind the Error 0x80000003. Once it finds any corrupted system files, it will automatically fix them. To run System File Checker, here’s what you have to do:

• 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 after the scan is completed.

Option 4 – Perform a System Restore

Performing System Restore might help you in fixing the SYNTP.SYS Blue Screen error. You can do this option either by booting into Safe Mode or in System Restore. If you are already in the Advanced Startup Options, just directly select System Restore and proceed with the next steps. And if you have just booted your PC into Safe Mode, refer to the steps below.

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• After that, type in “sysdm.cpl” in the field and tap Enter.
• Next, go to the System Protection tab then click the System Restore button. This will open a new window where you have to select your preferred System Restore point.
• After that, follow the on-screen instructions to finish the process and then restart your computer and check if the problem is fixed or not.

Option 5 – Try to run the CHKDSK utility

Running the CHKDSK utility might also help you resolve the SYNTP.SYS errors. 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 following command and hit Enter:

chkdsk /f /r

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

Option 6 – Use the Blue Screen Troubleshooter

The Blue Screen troubleshooter is a built-in tool in Windows 10 that helps users in fixing BSOD errors like SYNTP.SYS Blue Screen error. It can be found on the Settings Troubleshooters page. To use it, refer to these steps:

• Tap the Win + I keys to open the Settings panel.
• Then go to Update & Security > Troubleshoot.
• From there, look for the option called “Blue Screen” on your right-hand side and then click the “Run the troubleshooter” button to run the Blue Screen Troubleshooter and then follow the next on-screen options. Note that you might have to boot your PC into Safe Mode.

TPM, also known as Trusted Platform Module, is a specialized chip used for security as well as encryption of users’ private data like Fingerprint, Facial data, and many more. TPM also comes with a Management Console and if you are not able to load the Management Console and you got the “Cannot load Management Console” error instead, read on as this post will guide you in fixing the problem. This type of issue usually happens when you clear or disable the TPM using the settings in the BIOS and so when you run the Trusted Platform Module Management console, you encounter the error. To fix the “Cannot load Management Console” error in your Windows 10 computer, here are some options you should check out.

Option 1 – If TPM is cleared in the BIOS:

If the Trusted Platform Module is cleared in the settings of the BIOS, you have to close and restart the TPM Management console or TPM.msc once again. It could be that the TPM Management has to reload the changes again after you’ve made them which is why you encounter the “Cannot load management console” error.

Option 2 – If TPM is disabled in the BIOS:

If you opted to disable TPM using the BIOS settings or you have turned it off by accident, then you have to enable it back and you have two options to do that – you can either enable TPM from the BIOS or using the Windows PowerShell. For more details, refer to the instructions below.

Enabling TPM from the BIOS:

• You need to first reboot your PC and then go to the BIOS.
• From there, look for TPM under the security options and in case the TPM management option has been disabled or greyed out, refer to the sub-steps given below to make it active again
  • Enable the Admin password in the BIOS.
  • Then go back to the TPM settings and check if the TPM management is already available.
• After that, you should now be able to enable TPM. Remember that it’s always a good idea to have an ADMIN password for your BIOS as it makes sure that no one can change the settings in your computer BIOS and Security level options.

Enable TPM via Windows PowerShell:

• This second option is a lot easier compared to the first one if you have admin privileges. So once you’ve opened the Windows PowerShell with admin privileges, you need to run the following command:
  • $tpm = gwmi -n rootcimv2securitymicrosofttpm win32_tpm
  • $tpm.SetPhysicalPresenceRequest(6)
• After you execute the commands given above, you need to restart your computer.
• Now, once your computer has restarted, you need to accept any BIOS prompts and then check if the “Cannot load management console” error is now fixed.

OEM Partition, also known as System Reserved Partition, is placed by the OEM to help users recover their computers or bring back the original state of the computer when it was bought. If you’ve observed that a part of your hard drive says “Healthy (OEM partition)” in the Disk Management and it occupies space in GBs, then this means that it’s normal and there’s nothing to worry about except that part of the storage space is not available and even when you right-click on it, the only thing it displays is the Help menu. Thus, in this guide, you will be guided on how you can merge as well as delete an OEM partition in your Windows 10 computer. Since the Disk Management tool in Windows won’t let you merge or delete the OEM partition, you can just use the built-in command-line tool known as Diskpart. Note that you have to be extra careful when you run the commands as it could mess your computer up and before you proceed with the instructions provided below, make sure that you create a System Restore point first. Once you have that covered, follow the instructions below. Step 1: Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box and type “cmd” in the field and tap Enter to open the Command Prompt. Step 2: Next, execute this command to launch the Diskpart tool: diskpart Step 3: Execute this second command to view the list of the disks in your computer: list disk Step 4: Now select the disk you want to manage by executing this command: select disk x Note: In the command above, replace “x” with the letter of your disk. Step 5: After that, execute this command to display all the volumes or partitions: list partition Step 6: Now execute this command to select the partition you want to delete: select partition x Note: You have to replace “x” with the partition you want to delete. Step 7: Once done, execute this command to delete the selected partition: delete partition override Step 8: Afterwards, execute this command to merge the OEM partition with the adjoining value: Extend Note: if you only want to merge part of the partition, you need to use this command “extend [size=<size>]”. For instance, you want to extend its size by 5GB, then you need to type “Extend size=5000”. The size you set is the size you select from the OEM partition. This will extend the selected volume by size in MB or megabytes.

As you know, the functioning of the Windows Sandbox feature is supported by various components in the background of the Windows operating system. And the only way for you to enable the Windows Sandbox feature in your computer is through the Turn Windows features on or off utility. This feature will work directly on the basis of Virtualization which is also supported by Hyper-V. However, there are some reports claiming that some computers have the Windows 10 Sandbox item greyed out in the Turn Windows features on or off utility. Thus, in this post, you will be guided on what you can do to resolve such a problem in your Windows 10 computer. In this kind of problem, you should know that this has something to do with the Second Level Address Translation which is one of the important pillars of how the Windows 10 Sandbox feature functions. Thus, if the Second Level Address Translation or SLAT feature in Windows Sandbox is not supported by the CPU of your computer, there is no way for you to use Windows Sandbox on your computer. On the other hand, if SLAT is supported, then there is definitely something you can do to resolve the greyed-out Sandbox item in Windows 10.

To get started, follow the steps provided below.

Step 1: First, you have to boot into the BIOS of your PC. Step 2: After that, make sure that the following options are set to their respective configurations:

• Hyper-V – Enabled
• VM Monitor Mode – Yes
• Virtualization – Enabled
• Second Level Address Translation (VT-d or RVI) – Enabled
• Data Execution Prevention – Enabled

Step 3: Once you’re done, save the configuration and then restart your Windows 10 computer as usual. Step 4: Once your computer has restarted, you should see the same option in the Turn Windows features on or off utility and it should no longer be greyed out. Then you can now enable the feature and follow the onscreen instructions need to use the feature as best as you can.

As you know, a Virtual Private Network or VPN is used to access a particular network from another network which is why it is also referred to as a mini-internet. Moreover, you can use it in two ways. One, you can use it to get you access to a closed server which means that you would not be getting access to the internet. Second, you can also use it to access a set of resources while at the same time get access to the internet. However, what if you want to access your resources at home even when you’re away? And what if you want to use the private server at home or at your office even when you’re away? This is where the callout for a VPN server for yourself comes in. And so in this post, you will be guided in how you can create a public VPN server on your Windows 10 computer. Follow each one of the given steps below to get started. Step 1: Find your IP address. This step is rather simple since all you have to do is open Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center. From there, click on “Local Area Connection” and then click on Details where you’ll see your IP address next to “Autoconfiguration IPv4 Address”. Step 2: Next, set up port forwarding on your router. In this step, you will have to configure port forwarding in your router so that you would be able to connect to the VPN server through a public network like the internet.

• Log in to the Admin Panel of your router. You have to do this since your router will be the gateway for your access to the network.
• After you’re logged in, look for the “Port Forwarding” or “Applications and Gaming” or “NAT/QoS” menu tab and other similar names.
• Now you need to set the port number to 1723 for connections based on Point to Point Tunneling Protocol.
• Then save the configuration and reboot your router.

Step 3: Set up a VPN server on Windows 10.

• In the Cortana search box, type “ncpa.cpl” and click on the related entry from the search results.
• After that, tap the Alt + F keys to bring down the File Menu and then select New Incoming Connection which will open a mini window where you can allow the user accounts on the particular machine to access the VPN connection.
• On the other hand, you can also click the “Add someone” button so that you can add someone else to the whitelist that can access the connection.
• Now click on Next and you’ll see an option to select how people will connect to the network. Check the checkbox for the “Through the Internet” option.
• After that, you will see a page where you have to configure the network. Just select IPv4 and then click on Properties.
• From there, you will be asked to continue some additional settings like letting users access your Local Area Network or how IP addresses will be allocated to these users. Click on OK to save the changes you’ve made.
• Click on Allow Access after you configure the network. And if you want to, you have the option to print this information for future reference or for the client machine.
• Now click on Close to exit the configuration process.

Step 4: Allow the VPN Connections through the firewall In this step, you will have to allow the VPN connections through the firewall.

• In the Cortana search box, type “Allow an app through Windows Firewall” and click on the related search result to open the intended Windows Firewall settings.
• Next, click on Change Settings.
• Then scroll down to check if Routing and Remote Access is Enabled for both the Public and Private networks and click on OK.

Step 5: Set up a VPN connection on Windows 10 Now all that’s left for you to do is to set up a VPN connection on Windows 10.

• Go to Settings > Network and Internet.
• From the list of options given, click on VPN located on the left pane to see the related settings.
• After that, click on the “+” icon to add a VPN connection.
• Next, select Windows Default under VPN Provider and under the Connection Name, input your VPN’s name, and then enter the IP address you got from the VPN service provider under the Server name or address section.
• Now select PPTP under VPN type since it is the most commonly used protocol for VPNs.

Holiday Photo Edit is a Browser Extension for Google Chrome developed by Mindspark Inc. and offers users a basic photo editing tool alongside links to some popular editing websites.

When installed this extension changes your default search engine to MyWay and hijacks your New Tab page, changing it to HolidayPhotoEdit. It monitors user browsing activity recording visited websites and clicked links in order to learn more about the user, this data is later used/sold to better target Injected Ads.

While browsing the internet with the HolidayPhotoEdit extension enabled, users will experience more ads throughout their search results, additional sponsored links to partner products, and sometimes even pop-up ads with special giveaways designed to lure users to buy something.

Popular anti-virus scanners have marked HolidayPhotoEdit as a Browser Hijacker, and it is recommended to remove it from your computer.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijackers (sometimes called hijackware) are a type of malware that changes internet browser configuration settings without the computer owner’s knowledge or approval. These hijacks appear to be increasing at an alarming rate across the world, and they could be actually nefarious and often dangerous too. Practically all browser hijackers are made for advertising or marketing purposes. In most cases, it will drive users to particular sites which are trying to boost their advertising campaign revenue. Though it might appear naive, all browser hijackers are harmful and therefore always regarded as security risks. Browser hijackers can even permit other vicious programs without your knowledge to further damage your PC.

Find out how to identify a browser hijack

The typical signs that signify having this malicious software on your PC are: 1. the home page of the web browser is changed suddenly 2. you observe new unwanted bookmarks or favorites added, usually directed to advertisement-filled or pornography websites 3. the essential web browser settings are modified and unwanted or unsafe resources are put into the trusted sites list 4. unwanted new toolbars are added to your browser 5. many pop-up ads appear and/or your web browser pop-up blocker is disabled 6. your web browser has become unstable or starts running sluggishly 7. you have prohibited entry to particular websites, for example, the website of an anti-malware software developer like SafeBytes.

How does a browser hijacker infect a computer?

Browser hijackers can get into a PC by some means or other, including via file sharing, downloads, and email also. They also come from add-on software, also called browser helper objects (BHO), web browser plug-ins, or toolbars. Some internet browser hijackers spread in user’s PC using a deceptive software distribution method called “bundling” (generally through freeware and shareware). A good example of some well-known browser hijackers includes Anyprotect, Conduit, Babylon, SweetPage, DefaultTab, Delta Search, and RocketTab, but the names are constantly changing.

Removing browser hijackers

Certain hijackers can be removed by just uninstalling the related free software or add-ons from the Add or Remove Programs in the Microsoft Windows Control Panel. However, many hijackers are quite tenacious and require specialized tools to get rid of them. And there is no denying the very fact that the manual fixes and removal methods could be a difficult job for an amateur computer user. Furthermore, there are various risks associated with tinkering around with the pc registry files. Browser hijackers can be effectively removed by installing and running anti-malware software on the affected PC. To eradicate any kind of browser hijacker from your PC, you could download this particular professional malware removal program – SafeBytes Anti-Malware. Together with the antivirus tool, a system optimizer, such as SafeBytes’s Total System Care, could help you in deleting all related files and modifications in the registry automatically.

Can't Install Safebytes Anti-malware because of Malware? Try This!

Malware could potentially cause many different types of damage to PCs, networks, and data. Some malware variants modify internet browser settings by adding a proxy server or change the PC’s DNS configuration settings. When this happens, you’ll be unable to visit certain or all internet sites, and thus not able to download or install the required security software to clear out the computer virus. If you’re reading this right now, you may have probably realized that a malware infection is the cause of your blocked internet traffic. So how to proceed if you need to download and install an anti-malware program such as Safebytes? Even though this kind of issue will be difficult to get around, there are a few actions you can take.

Install the antivirus in Safe Mode

If the malware is set to load at Windows startup, then booting in safe mode should prevent it. Only the bare minimum required applications and services are loaded whenever you start your computer in Safe Mode. You will have to do the following to eliminate malware in Safe mode. 1) At power-on/startup, hit the F8 key in 1-second intervals. This would invoke the “Advanced Boot Options” menu. 2) Select Safe Mode with Networking using arrow keys and hit ENTER. 3) When this mode loads, you should have internet access. Now, use your web browser normally and go to https://safebytes.com/products/anti-malware/ to download Safebytes Anti-Malware. 4) After installation, run a full scan and allow the program to delete the threats it discovers.

Utilize an alternate internet browser to download anti-malware software

Malicious program code may exploit vulnerabilities on a particular internet browser and block access to all anti-virus software websites. The ideal way to overcome this issue is to select an internet browser that is renowned for its security features. Firefox contains built-in Malware and Phishing Protection to help keep you secure online.

Create a bootable USB antivirus drive

Another way is to download and transfer an anti-malware program from a clean PC to run a scan on the infected computer. Adopt these measures to employ a flash drive to clean your corrupted PC. 1) On a clean computer, download and install Safebytes Anti-Malware. 2) Plug the Thumb drive into the uninfected computer. 3) Double-click the Setup icon of the anti-malware program to run the Installation Wizard. 4) Choose the drive letter of the flash drive as the place when the wizard asks you where you would like to install the antivirus. Follow the instructions on the computer screen to finish off the installation process. 5) Now, insert the pen drive into the corrupted PC. 6) Double click the Safebytes Anti-malware icon on the flash drive to run the software. 7) Click on the “Scan” button to run a full computer scan and remove viruses automatically.

Protect Your PC and Privacy With SafeBytes Anti-Malware

To protect your PC from various internet-based threats, it’s very important to install an anti-malware application on your PC. However, with countless numbers anti-malware companies in the marketplace, nowadays it’s hard to decide which one you should purchase for your personal computer. Some of them are great and some are scamware applications that pretend as authentic anti-malware software waiting around to wreak havoc on your PC. You have to look for a product that has got a good reputation and detects not just computer viruses but other types of malware too. One of the recommended software is SafeBytes AntiMalware. SafeBytes has a superb reputation for top-quality service, and clients are very happy with it. SafeBytes anti-malware is a highly effective and easy-to-use protection tool that is made for end-users of all levels of computer literacy. After you have installed this software program, SafeBytes advanced protection system will ensure that no viruses or malicious software can seep through your computer.

SafeBytes anti-malware offers an array of enhanced features that sets it aside from all others. Some of them are given as below:

Live Protection: SafeBytes provides complete and real-time security for your personal machine. It’ll continuously monitor your computer for hacker activity and also gives end-users sophisticated firewall protection. World-class AntiMalware Protection: Built upon a highly acclaimed anti-virus engine, this malware removal application can identify and get rid of many obstinate malware threats like browser hijackers, PUPs, and ransomware that other typical antivirus programs will miss. Safe Browsing: SafeBytes checks and gives a unique safety ranking to each and every website you visit and block access to web pages known to be phishing sites, thus safeguarding you from identity theft, or known to contain malicious software. Lightweight Application: SafeBytes is a lightweight and user-friendly anti-virus and antimalware solution. As it utilizes minimal computer resources, this tool leaves the computer’s power exactly where it belongs: with you. Fantastic Tech Support Team: You could get high levels of support 24/7 if you’re using their paid software. SafeBytes has developed a wonderful anti-malware solution to help you conquer the latest computer threats and virus attacks. There is no doubt that your computer system will be protected in real-time as soon as you put this software program to use. You will get the very best all-around protection for the money you pay on SafeBytes anti-malware subscription, there’s no question about it.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you do not want to use malware removal software and prefer to get rid of HolidayPhotoEdit manually, you may accomplish this by going to the Windows Add/Remove Programs menu in the control panel and removing the offending software; in cases of web browser plug-ins, you could uninstall it by visiting the browsers Add-on/Extension manager. You’ll probably also want to totally reset your internet browser to its default configuration settings. Lastly, examine your hard disk for all of the following and clean your computer registry manually to remove leftover application entries following an uninstallation. But bear in mind, this is often a challenging task and only computer experts could accomplish it safely. Furthermore, some malware keeps replicating which makes it difficult to remove. Completing this task in Safe Mode is recommended.

The author of the famous software library mode-ipc that gets over a million downloads per week found that it has some questionable code inside. The code itself behaves like this: if it finds out that your location is within Russia or Belarus it will try to replace the contents of all files on the computer with a heart emoji.

One important thing is that we here are not supporting the current Ukrainian situation and are against any type of violence or war but we also do not support this kind of behavior as well. If we look at this only from a technical perspective, we would then classify the mode-ipc library as malware and a harmful piece of code no matter the motivation behind it.

So this so-called protestware is well basically malware, but not always, it will protest when certain conditions are met. The issue with this is that companies and users should not be placed under harm if they do not share the personal view of the code author. Imagine if, for example, I would publish code to delete all pictures from your computer if my code found out that you do not like metal music. I guess you not liking metal music and war in Ukraine are two very different things but the source is the same, unreliable code that invades your privacy in order to serve one purpose, punishment for disagreeing with my personal views and that should not be allowed.

Not all protestware are equal, some will not harm your computer on purpose, they will just annoy you with some messages like viruses did in their infancy stages, others might place some developer sanctions but no matter the outcome basic principle is the same, it does something without user consent and without informing the user that something like that might happen.

On the internet, many blog posts and discussions were open about this issue and its morality. Discussion is still active with different takes on the situation and how to prevent it. Our take on this matter is that professional developers should have standards and not submit to doing harm for the sake of personal views and feelings.

In the long run, this kind of behavior and practice can only harm developers involved in this kind of entanglement. Infected libraries will in time stop being used since people would not trust them and authors will have a stain on their name as impulsive or not trustworthy.

Booting the Windows computer system includes loading it from the various boot devices such as drivers, network as well as USB drives when the computer is turned on. The instant the startup sequence is done loading the operating system the system hardware will be ready to perform some complex operations – in this process, the Boot Log in Windows 10 is a record that maintains the list of success or failure of many pieces of Windows 10 system during the booting process. In other words, the Boot Log is the one that keeps a record of all that has happened while loading from the computer storage system to the memory during the boot process. It is available for several devices like network, hardware devices, and the operating system which assist in detecting issues during the boot process and other issues with regards to troubleshooting. Through Boot Log, you’ll know which drivers were unloaded and loaded from the start of the system during the boot process. You have the option to either disable or enable this feature on your Windows 10 PC. Named as “ntbtlog.txt”, the log file lists all the successfully loaded processes and the unsuccessful ones during the boot process. It is saved to the drive C:Windowsntbtlog.txt. As mentioned, you can enable or disable this feature in two ways – the first one is by using the System Configuration or MSConfig while the second one is using the Command Prompt. In this post, we’ll show you how you can enable or disable Boot Log in Windows 10 either way.

Option 1 – Enable or Disable Boot Log using System Configuration

Enable Boot Log:

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Then type in “msconfig” and click OK to open System Configuration.
• After that, go to the boot tab and check the checkbox labeled “Boot Log” under the Boot options so that you can enable the Boot Log feature.
• Then click on OK to save the changes made.
• Next, click on the Restart button in the prompt window to get started with the Boot Log process.
• After restarting your PC, go to C:Windowsntbtlog.txt to open the boot log.

Note: As pointed out earlier, the log file contains a list of all the successfully loaded drivers and also the list of drivers that failed to load during the boot process and every time you restart the system, the boot log file will keep on updating and will eventually increase the list of entries. For you to locate the drivers and make your troubleshooting a lot easier, I advised disabling the boot log after troubleshooting. To disable the boot log using System Configuration, refer to the steps below. Disable Boot Log:

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Then type in “msconfig” and click OK to open System Configuration.
• After that, go to the boot tab and unmark or uncheck the checkbox labeled “Boot Log” under the Boot options so that you can disable the Boot Log feature.
• Then click on OK to save the changes made.

Option 2 – Enable or Disable Boot Log using Command Prompt

Enable Boot Log:

• Go to the Start Menu and then type in “command prompt” in the search bar.
• After that, right-click on the Command Prompt option and select the “Run as administrator” option.
• After opening Command Prompt, type in “bcdedit” and tap Enter.

Note: You have to find the Identifier of the current operating system first to enable the Boot log. You can find it under the Windows Boot Loader section in the “Description” field and in this case, it’s Windows 10. You can also find the operating system identifier under the Windows Boot Loader section next to the field name identifier.

• To check if the boot log entry is disabled or enabled, go check the “Bootlog” field under the Windows Boot Loader. And if it turns out that the “bootlog” entry is enabled, the entry will be “Yes”. Otherwise, the entry will be “No”.
• Next, type in the following command with the operating system identifier to enable the boot log.

bcdedit /set {identifier} bootlog Yes

Note: In the command given above, make sure that you replace the given system identifier with your computer’s system identifier. For instance: In this example, the identifier was replaced with the actual operating system identifier as current.

bcdedit /set {current} bootlog Yes

• Afterward, restart the system to start the Boot log process.
• After the restart, go to C:Windowsntbtlog.txt to open the boot log.

Note: Every time you restart your computer, the boot log file will keep on updating which will increase the size of the log eventually. So if you want seamless and easier troubleshooting, it is advised to disable the Boot log after you troubleshoot. To disable it using the Command Prompt, here’s what you have to do. Disable Boot Log:

• Go to the Start Menu and then type in “command prompt” in the search bar.
• After that, right-click on the Command Prompt option and select the “Run as administrator” option.
• Once the Command Prompt is opened, type in the following command and then tap Enter to disable the boot log feature.

bcdedit/ set {identifier} bootlog No

Note: In the command given above, you need to replace the given system identifier with your computer’s system identifier. For instance: In this example, the {identifier} was replaced with the actual operating system identifier as {current}.

bcdedit /set {current} bootlog No

• Now close the Command Prompt.