Installation failed in the SAFE_OS phase

If you encounter the “Diskpart failed to clear disk attributes” error when you try to change the read-only state of a storage device using the Diskpart application and the request is denied, worry not for this post will give you a couple of fixes to resolve the problem. As you know, Diskpart is used for resolving read-only storage devices by changing their attribute via the command line. So if it is not able to change the attribute of the storage device, then you will most likely encounter an error such as this one. This kind of error is not uncommon and as long as there are no damaged physical attributes, you can resolve it right away. There are tons of reasons why you’re getting this error while using Diskpart, it could be that the storage device has a physical write-protected switch or the disk is hidden or has bad sectors. It could also be because the storage drive might be in RAW format or that you are running the Diskpart application without admin privileges. Whatever the cause may be, here are some options you can try to fix the problem but before you proceed, make sure that you log on to your PC as an administrator.

Option 1 – Check if there is a physical switch on the storage device

There are some USB devices and SD card readers that have a write-protected physical switch that disables all the writable options on the storage device and so if it is turned on, Diskpart won’t be able to change the disk attribute to writable. To check, simply look for the physical switch on both sides of the device and once you found it, make sure that it is toggled off and then plug the storage device back in then try running Diskpart once again.

Option 2 – Modify the WriteProtected key in the Registry Editor

Before you proceed, you have to create a System Restore Point first.

• Tap the Win + R keys to open Run and type “Regedit” in the field and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor.
• Next, navigate to the following path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlStorageDevicePolicies

• After that, look for the “WriteProtect” registry entry which is located on the left side of the window, and then double click on it.
• Change its value to “0” and click OK to save the changes made and exit the Registry Editor.

Option 3 – Run CHKDSK to check the drive 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 the “Diskpart failed to clear disk attributes” error.

• 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 [volume [[path] filename]] [/F] [/V] [/R] [/X] [/C] [: size]]

Note: In the command given above, “[/F]” will try to fix the system errors while “[/R]” will be the one to fix the bad sectors.

• 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.

Option 4 – Clear the attributes on RAW

• Tap the Win + S keys then type “diskpart” in the field.
• Click the Diskpart application and if a User Account Control dialog box pops up, click Yes to proceed.
• After opening an elevated Command Prompt, type in the commands listed below and make sure to tap Enter right after you key in one command after the other.
  • list volume
  • select volume ‘n’ (In this command, you have to replace ‘n’ with the volume number of the drive)
  • format fs=fat32 quick (In this command you also have the flexibility to change the format to ‘ntfs’ or ‘exfat’)
• After executing the commands given, unplug the removable storage device and wait for a couple of seconds and then plug it back in.
• Now try any normal write operations and see if the error no longer appears.

Option 5 – Try checking the hardware components

On the other hand, it is also possible that the issue has something to do with a hardware problem and so you need to check the hardware components on your computer to determine that.

The Microsoft Store error 0x80073d12 occurs when you try to download software from the store. In order to solve the issue follow the presented guide step by step in the order presented.

1. Check do you have enough hard drive space for installation

   Store locates and assigned space on the hard drive before it installs the application, if there is not enough space available it will return the given error. Go to file explorer and check is there enough space available.

2. Check that game is not expansion

   If you are trying to install expansion for the game without owning the required base game, you will receive the mentioned error. Check the store page to see if there are some prerequisites for the game like other games or packs.

3. Install the game from my library

   Press Start. Open the Microsoft Store App. Click the See more … button at the top right of the MS Store app’s window. Click Download and updates on the menu. Click Downloads on the left to open My library. Then click Ready to install to open a list of apps. Click the Install button for the game app that you need to install.

4. Install on another partition

   It was reported that an error vanishes if installation is placed on another partition instead of the default C drive.

SysPlayer is a potentially unwanted ad-supported media application from Goobzo.com. It can display targeted ads, hijack browser search results, and can display pop-up ads. This player gathers information about your visited websites, the number of clicks on each website, and cookie information containing sensitive data, that it occasionally sends back to the server.

Multiple Anti-virus programs detect SysPlayer as malicious or potentially unwanted as of the time of publication of this video. It has been associated in bundles with iWebar, which is also flagged by many AVs.

From the publisher:

SysPlayer is an extremely lightweight free Media Player with built-in codecs, which supports the most popular video and audio formats, as well as DVD, audio CD, Webcams, and other devices. It lets you play your video files, and watch images.

About Potentially Unwanted Applications

People have experienced it – you download and install a piece of free software, next you see some unwanted programs on your computer system, find a strange toolbar on your web browser, or find your default search engine has been changed. You did not set them up, so how did they appear? A Potentially Unwanted Program, also known as PUP, in short, is actually software that contains adware, installs toolbars, or has other hidden goals. These types of programs are almost always bundled up with free software which you download via the internet or may also be bundled inside the custom installers of many download sites. Despite being considered very destructive, PUPs aren’t necessarily computer viruses or malware The main reason for this is the fact that the majority of PUPs get into users’ PC’s not because they exploit security weaknesses, for example, but because the users give consent to download and install it – unknowingly in general. On the other hand, there is no doubt that PUPs are still bad news for PC users as they can be incredibly dangerous to the computer in many ways.

What do PUPs do on your computer, really?

Unwanted programs can be found in many forms. More often, they can be found in adware bundlers which are known to use aggressive and misleading advertising. The majority of bundlers install many adware applications from several companies, each of which possesses its own EULA policy. Total System Care entirely eliminates this threat and protects your computer against unwanted programs or malware infection. PUPs that come as browser add-ons and toolbars are readily recognizable. They’ll modify web browser settings, change default search provider, substitute the default home page with their very own websites, decelerate internet speed, and can ruin your system also. They may look innocent but PUPs are usually spyware. They could include things like information gathering code which could gather and send your private information to organizations. Even if the PUPs really aren’t inherently malicious, these programs still do practically nothing good on your computer – they’ll take valuable system resources, slow down your computer, weaken your computer security, and make your system more vulnerable to trojans.

Protect yourself from PUPs

• Read the terms and conditions so that the end-user license agreement (EULA) you’re accepting is only for the program you actually intend to download. • Pick the “custom” install whenever installing a software program. Particularly, pay attention to those tiny boxes that have been checked by default, where you might ‘agree’ to receive advertising or install software bundlers. • Have a top-notch anti-virus program like Total System Care which will protect your personal machine from PUPs. Once you install this software, protection from viruses and PUPs is already switched on. • Avoid installing a freeware program you will not use. Prior to adding a toolbar or browser extension, think of whether it is really needed. • Always download programs from the original website. The majority of PUPs find their way to your computer system is through download portals, so stay away from it entirely.

What To Do If You Cannot Install Any Anti-virus?

Practically all malware is bad, but certain kinds of malicious software do a lot more damage to your computer or laptop than others. Some malware variants modify web browser settings by including a proxy server or modify the PC’s DNS configuration settings. In these instances, you’ll be unable to visit certain or all of the sites, and therefore not able to download or install the necessary security software to eliminate the malware. If you are reading this article, you probably have got affected by malware that stops you from installing security software such as Safebytes Anti-Malware. Even though this sort of issue will be harder to get around, there are some steps you can take.

Eliminate viruses in Safe Mode

The Windows operating system includes a special mode known as “Safe Mode” in which just the bare minimum required applications and services are loaded. If the malware is obstructing access to the internet and affecting your computer, launching it in Safe Mode allows you to download anti-virus and run a diagnostic scan while limiting possible damage. In order to enter into Safe Mode or Safe Mode with Networking, press F8 while the computer is starting up or run MSCONFIG and look for the “Safe Boot” options in the “Boot” tab. Once you restart into Safe Mode with Networking, you could download, install, and update the anti-malware program from there. At this point, you are able to run the antivirus scan to get rid of computer viruses and malware without hindrance from another application.

Use an alternate web browser to download an anti-malware program

Some malware only targets certain internet browsers. If this is your case, employ another web browser as it can circumvent the computer virus. If you’re not able to download the anti-virus application using Internet Explorer, this means the virus may be targeting IE’s vulnerabilities. Here, you should switch over to a different internet browser like Firefox or Chrome to download the Safebytes Anti-malware program.

Create a portable USB antivirus for removing malware

Another option would be to make a portable antivirus program on your USB thumb drive. Follow these steps to employ a USB drive to clean your corrupted system. 1) On a virus-free PC, download and install Safebytes Anti-Malware. 2) Plug the USB drive into the uninfected computer. 3) Double-click on the downloaded file to open the installation wizard. 4) Pick thumb drive as the location when the wizard asks you exactly where you would like to install the software. Follow the activation instructions. 5) Transfer the USB drive from the uninfected PC to the infected computer. 6) Double-click the EXE file to run the Safebytes tool right from the thumb drive. 7) Click the “Scan” button to run a full computer scan and remove malware automatically.

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

If you’re looking to buy anti-malware for your computer system, there are many brands and applications for you to consider. A few of them do a good job in eliminating threats while many will harm your computer themselves. It is important to opt for a company that creates industry-best antimalware and has achieved a reputation as reliable. When considering trustworthy applications, Safebytes AntiMalware is certainly the highly recommended one. SafeBytes can be described as a powerful, real-time antivirus application that is created to assist the everyday computer end user in safeguarding their PC from malicious threats. Once you have installed this software program, SafeBytes superior protection system will make sure that absolutely no viruses or malicious software can seep through your PC. SafeBytes anti-malware takes computer protection to a whole new level with its advanced features. The following are some of the great features included in the product. World-class AntiMalware Protection: This deep-cleaning antimalware program goes much deeper than most anti-virus tools to clean out your personal computer. Its critically acclaimed virus engine finds and disables hard-to-remove malware that hides deep within your computer. Active Protection: SafeBytes gives real-time active supervision and protection from all of known viruses and malware. They’re extremely effective in screening and getting rid of numerous threats because they’re regularly improved with new updates and alerts. Quick Multi-threaded Scanning: Safebytes Anti-Malware, with its advanced scanning engine, provides extremely fast scanning which will quickly target any active online threat. Web Protection: SafeBytes checks and provides a unique safety ranking to every single site you visit and block access to web pages known to be phishing sites, thus safeguarding you from identity theft, or known to contain malware. Light-weight Utility: SafeBytes provides complete protection from online threats at a fraction of the CPU load due to its enhanced detection engine and algorithms. 24/7 Premium Support: Support service is accessible 24 x 7 x 365 days through chat and email to answer your concerns.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you wish to manually remove SysPlayer without the use of an automated tool, it may be possible to do so by removing the program from the Windows Add/Remove Programs menu, or in cases of browser extensions, going to the browsers AddOn/Extension manager and removing it. You will likely also want to reset your browser. To ensure the complete removal, manually check your hard drive and registry for all of the following and remove or reset the values accordingly. Please note that this is for advanced users only and may be difficult, with incorrect file removal causing additional PC errors. In addition, some malware is capable of replicating or preventing deletion. Doing this in Safe Mode is advised.

The following files, folders, and registry entries are created or modified by SysPlayer

Error Code 0x80070057 – What is it?

Error code 0x80070057 occurs when Windows users are having problems installing updates on their machines. The error code may result due to issues affecting Windows Update, for instance, problems with system files or settings that can be accessed or modified using the registry in Windows. Error code 0x80070057 affects multiple versions of the Windows operating system including Windows 10. Common symptoms manifested when this error code and other update error codes occur include the following:

• Inability to complete the installation of updates via Windows Update
• Presence of error code message box

Error Causes

Update error codes like error code 0x80070057 occur when there are issues related to system files, programs or malicious software is present on one’s machine. To combat these issues, users may need to implement manual repair procedures, depending on the specific error code present on their device.

Solution

Further Information and Manual Repair

Windows users can fix error code 0x80070057 by manually repairing or deleting subkeys and values within the Windows registry. This enables Windows Update to function as the proper modification of settings and other information present in the registry can fix problems associated with certain error codes.

The manual repair procedures also enable users to address specific problems on the devices that may not be fixed through the use of other methods.

Method One: Back-Up Registry in Windows

The Windows registry contains information regarding applications installed on the version of Windows you use on your device. This information as well as settings related to hardware are all accessible to users and can be useful when combating problems like error code 0x80070057.

However, users will need to be very careful when making modifications within the registry in Windows. This is due to the fact that errors made while accessing the registry can lead to serious issues on your PC. Backing up your registry before you modify it is crucial since it will provide protection against any problems that may arise if you make an error. This is the first step in resolving error code 0x80070057. Follow the steps below to back up your registry properly.

• Step one: Type regedit.exe in the search box near the Start button.
• Step two: Type the appropriate password or provide confirmation if you are prompted to do so
• Step three:  Locate Registry Editor
• Step four: Select registry key or subkey that you want to back up
• Step five: Click File > Export
• Step six:  In the Export Registry File dialog box, choose a location where you will save the backup copy
• Step seven: Name the backup file then select Save.

In the case of fixing error code 0x80070057, the registry file or subkey you will need to back up relates to this: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE. This contains configuration details or information related to your machine regardless of the user. Also note that the registry, once you have created a backup file, will be protected, thus enabling you to move to the manual method mentioned below.

Method Two: Make Changes to the Windows Registry

The execution of modifications to the registry can be a complex procedure, especially if you are an average Windows 10 user who lacks technical knowledge. Thankfully, even non-technical users can access the solutions they need by simply following the instructions provided in this article.

You may also contact a Windows repair technician as well, in case you have trouble implementing the steps mentioned for modifying your Windows registry or if other problems arise while you are proceeding with these instructions.

Step one: Access the Windows Registry Editor by typing regedit.exe in the search box near the Start button.

Step two: Type the appropriate password or provide confirmation if you are prompted to do so

Step three:  Locate Registry Editor

Step four: Enter the following:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsUpdateUX] "IsConvergedUpdateStackEnabled"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsUpdateUXSettings] "UxOption"=dword:00000000

After making these modifications in the Windows registry, restart your machine. You can then check Windows Update to see if the problem has been resolved. If the modifications to the registry have proven successful, you will no longer see the error code 0x80070057 message box. You will also be able to complete all updates via Windows Update.

Method Three: Download an Automated Tool

If you wish to always have at your disposal a utility tool to fix these Windows 8 and other related issues when they do arise, download and install a powerful automated tool.

What Is 0x80004005 Outlook Error?

0x80004005 Outlook is an error that users commonly encounter while attempting to send or receive emails on Outlook.

The message that appears usually states “This message could not be sent. Try sending the message again or contact your network administrator."

The client operation failed. Error is [OX80004005- 0X0004B9-OXOO501].

Error Causes

This error is usually caused by a problem in the Local Area Network or LAN. What actually happens is that signals with the wireless LAN are lost or a connection problem occurs within the network cable.

As a result, the 0x80004005 Outlook error is triggered while sending or receiving an email. Sometimes the problem goes away on its own. However, if it recurs after a few hours, it shows that some problem exists within the network.

Also, it is important to understand that different factors can affect the quality of wireless connections in a network.

For instance, garage door openers, microwave ovens, and Bluetooth devices can easily become obstacles, disrupting the connection and causing the quality to degrade. Other causes are listed below as follows.

• Missing, corrupt, or damaged registry keys
• Existence of viruses
• Outdated drivers

It is a must to fix this error otherwise potential risks associate with this error such as permanent damage and blue screens.

Further Information and Manual Repair

There are two ways to fix this error and both are listed below as follows.

• One solution is to disable script blocking in Norton Antivirus. Most users encountering this problem have Norton Antivirus installed on their PCs. To correct this problem, simply turn off the ‘Enable Script Blocking’ feature. However, there is a downside associated with this solution. Enabling script blocking will make your network or computer vulnerable to viruses and malware. That’s why it is not advised to implement this solution.
• The alternative solution is to simply disable the new-mail notification feature offered in Outlook. To disable notifications of any new emails, the steps go as follows. Open Outlook and go to the Tools menu. Here you will come across ‘Options’.Click on it and then select the ‘Preferences’ tab. Here you will find the ‘Email Options’. Click on it and then uncheck the checkbox against the option, ‘Display a notification message when new mail arrives’. Click Ok two times.

Both these workarounds will work. Therefore, it is advised that you employ any one of them as per your needs.

DiscoverAncestry is a Browser Extension for Google Chrome developed by Mindspark Inc that presents itself as a web tool to discover the origins or meanings of particular family names. When installed this extension changes your default new tab page to search by MyWay, as well as your default search engine to Search.MyWay.com

While active, DiscoverAncestry logs user browsing information, recording clicked links, visited websites and viewed products. This information is later used to better target personal ads. Browsing the internet with this extension active will result in injection of additional ads, sponsored content and even pop-up ads throughout the browsing sessions.

DiscoverAncestry is usually found bundled with other potentially unwanted software, this combined alongside its aggressive ad injection is why DiscoverAncestry has been marked as a Browser Hijacker, and it is recommended to remove it from your computer.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijacking is regarded as the web’s constant risks that target web browsers. It’s a type of malware program that redirects web browser requests to other suspicious websites. Basically, most browser hijackers are made for advertising or marketing purposes. It redirects you to the sponsored websites and inserts adverts on your internet browser which helps its developer generate income. It might seem naive, but the majority of such websites aren’t legitimate and can pose a significant risk to your on-line safety. In a much worst case, your internet browser could be hi-jacked to download malware that will do a lot of damage to your computer.

Browser hijacking signs and symptoms

There are several symptoms that could indicate a browser hijacking: 1. your homepage is reset to some unknown site 2. bookmark and the new tab are also changed 3. default online search engine is modified 4. you’re getting browser toolbars you haven’t witnessed before 5. you will find random pop-ups start showing regularly 6. your internet browser has instability issues or exhibits frequent errors 7. you are blocked to access the websites of antivirus solution providers.

How does a computer get infected with a browser hijacker?

Browser hijackers can get into a computer by some means or other, for instance via file sharing, downloads, and email also. Many web browser hijackings originate from add-on applications, i.e., toolbars, browser helper objects (BHO), or extensions added to web browsers to give them extra features. A browser hijacker may also come bundled-up with some free application that you inadvertently download and install, compromising your PC security. Common examples of browser hijackers include CoolWebSearch, Conduit, Coupon Server, OneWebSearch, RocketTab, Snap.do, Delta Search, and Searchult.com. Browser hijackers may record user keystrokes to gather potentially valuable information leading to privacy issues, cause instability on systems, drastically disrupt user’s browsing experience, and eventually slow down the computer to a stage where it becomes unusable.

Removal

Some browser hijacking can be simply reversed by discovering and eliminating the corresponding malware software through your control panel. However, many hijackers are really tenacious and need specialized applications to remove them. Also, manual removals demand deep system understanding and thus can be quite a difficult task for novices. Professionals always suggest users eliminate any malicious software including browser hijackers by using an automatic malware removal tool, which is easier, safer, and faster than the manual removal procedure. To remove any kind of browser hijacker from your laptop or computer, you should download the following certified malware removal tool – SafeBytes Anti-Malware. Along with anti-virus software, a system optimizer tool, similar to Total System Care, will help you repair Windows registry errors, get rid of unwanted toolbars, secure your online privacy, and stabilize programs installed on your computer.

Learn How to Get rid of Malware that is Blocking Websites or Preventing Downloads

Viruses may cause a lot of damage to your computer. Some malware sits in between your PC and the internet connection and blocks some or all internet sites that you really want to visit. It will also prevent you from adding anything to your PC, particularly antivirus applications. If you’re reading this article, you probably have affected by a virus that prevents you from downloading a security program like Safebytes Antimalware on your PC. There are some actions you can take to circumvent this issue.

Install anti-malware in Safe Mode with Networking

In the event the malware is set to run at Windows start-up, then booting in safe mode should avoid it. Just bare minimum required programs and services are loaded when you boot your PC in Safe Mode. Here are the steps you need to follow to start into the Safe Mode of your Windows XP, Vista, or 7 computers (check out the Microsoft website for instructions on Windows 8 and 10 computers). 1) At power on, press the F8 key while the Windows splash screen begins to load. This should bring up the Advanced Boot Options menu. 2) Choose Safe Mode with Networking using arrow keys and hit Enter. 3) Once you get into this mode, you will have an internet connection again. Now, obtain the malware removal program you need by utilizing the web browser. To install the program, follow the directions within the setup wizard. 4) Right after installation, do a complete scan and allow the software eliminate the threats it finds.

Utilize an alternate browser to download antivirus software

Some malware only targets certain browsers. If this sounds like your situation, utilize another internet browser as it can circumvent the malware. The ideal way to avoid this problem is to opt for a internet browser that is known for their security features. Firefox contains built-in Phishing and Malware Protection to keep you safe online. Create a portable USB antivirus for removing viruses Another method is to download and transfer an anti-malware application from a clean PC to run a virus scan on the infected computer. To run antivirus using a USB drive, follow these simple measures: 1) Make use of another virus-free computer system to download Safebytes Anti-Malware. 2) Plug the USB drive into the clean computer. 3) Double-click the executable file to open the installation wizard. 4) When asked, choose the location of the USB drive as the place where you want to store the software files. Follow the on-screen instructions to finish the installation. 5) Transfer the flash drive from the clean computer to the infected computer. 6) Double-click the anti-malware software EXE file on the pen drive. 7) Run Full System Scan to identify and clean-up up all sorts of malware.

SafeBytes Anti-Malware: Lightweight Malware Protection for Windows Computer

If you are looking to purchase anti-malware for your desktop, there are numerous brands and packages for you to consider. A few are well worth your money, but most aren’t. When looking for an antivirus tool, select one which provides dependable, efficient, and comprehensive protection against all known computer viruses and malware. On the list of highly recommended applications by industry leaders is SafeBytes Anti-Malware, well-known security software for Windows computers. SafeBytes is a powerful, real-time anti-spyware application that is made to assist everyday computer users in safeguarding their computers from malicious threats. Once you’ve got installed this software, SafeBytes advanced protection system will make sure that absolutely no viruses or malicious software can seep through your PC.

There are lots of amazing features you’ll get with this security product. The following are some typical features present in this software program:

Active Protection: Malware programs aiming to get into the system are discovered and stopped as and when detected by the SafeBytes real-time protection shields. This utility will always keep track of your computer for any suspicious activity and updates itself continuously to keep current with the latest threats. World-class AntiMalware Protection: Built upon a highly acclaimed antivirus engine, this malware removal tool can find and get rid of various obstinate malware threats such as browser hijackers, PUPs, and ransomware that other typical anti-virus applications will miss. Fast Multi-threaded Scanning: SafeBytes’s virus scan engine is one of the fastest and most efficient within the industry. It's targeted scanning tremendously increases the catch rate for viruses which is embedded in various computer files. Web Protection: SafeBytes provides instant safety rating about the webpages you’re about to visit, automatically blocking dangerous sites and to make sure that you’re certain of your online safety while browsing the net. Lightweight Utility: This software is lightweight and will work silently in the background, and will not impact your PC efficiency. 24/7 Customer Service: You can obtain totally free 24/7 technical support from their IT experts on any product queries or computer security issues. SafeBytes has created a wonderful anti-malware solution to help you conquer the latest computer threats and virus attacks. Now you may realize that this particular software does more than just scan and eliminate threats from your computer. So if you are searching for the best anti-malware subscription for your Windows-based computer, we strongly recommend SafeBytes Anti-Malware software.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you don’t want to use an automated tool and prefer to eliminate DiscoverAncestry manually, you might do so by going to the Windows Add/Remove Programs menu in the control panel and deleting the offending software; in cases of web browser plug-ins, you can remove it by visiting the browsers Add-on/Extension manager. You might even want to reset your web browser settings, and also delete temporary files, browsing history, and cookies. To ensure complete removal, manually check your hard disk and registry for all of the following and remove or reset the values accordingly. Please remember that this is for skilled users only and may be challenging, with wrong file removal leading to additional system errors. Furthermore, certain malware keeps replicating which makes it tough to eliminate. You are suggested to do this process in Windows Safe Mode.

A not long time ago we had an article about the deep WEB and dark WEB here on errortools.com explaining its origins and its purpose. The article can be found here if you are interested: https://errortools.com/windows/what-is-deep-and-dark-web/ Now at this point in time, we want to present you with 15 great Deep WEB sites that could offer you some information not found anywhere else, that could offer you some privacy, or simply to have some fun and safely explore how it is like to be part of deep WEB. Take notice that for successful visiting of given sites you will need to have installed TOR browser. More about Tor browser itself can be found here: https://errortools.com/blog/software-review-series-tor-browser/ and its official website for download here: https://www.torproject.org/download/ Make sure that you copy the onion link and paste it into your TOR browser in order to access the site. That being said, let’s begin.

Mail2Tor

http://mail2tor2zyjdctd.onion/ If you want secure and private ways of sending your emails then look no further. Mail2Tor uses a webmail client and encrypts each email received or sent, combine that for not storing IP addresses and you have a private and safe environment for your emails.

The Hidden Wiki

http://zqktlwiuavvvqqt4ybvgvi7tyo4hjl5xgfuvpdf6otjiycgwqbym2qad.onion/wiki/index.php/Main_Page The Hidden Wiki is the go-to site if you want to explore more of deep WEB since it is the site of collected .onion sites. Think of it as a registry of onion sites that want to be accessed publicly but offer anonymity.

TorLinks

http://torlinksd6pdnihy.onion/ TorLinks is another site focusing on .onion site listings. Site themselves are divided into categories and are easy to find. Take note that .onion sites come and go so make sure to visit frequently both The Hidden Wiki and TorLinks in order to be updated.

Torch Search Engine

ttp://xmh57jrzrnw6insl.onion/ Torch is the oldest and most well-known search engine for dark web links, with its database of over a million .onion websites there is a chance that you will find what you are looking for on it.

DuckDuckGo

http://3g2upl4pq6kufc4m.onion/ Integrated into TOR itself as a default search engine DucDuckGo has proven itself to be a great competitor and challenger to Google. But unlike Google, DuckDuckGo will not track you nor store your search activities making it a great general private search engine.

Facebook

https://www.facebookwkhpilnemxj7asaniu7vnjjbiltxjqhye3mhbshg7kx5tfyd.onion/ Yup, Facebook has its own .onion version of its popular platform. Now since Facebook itself is a social media platform anonymity is out of the question but with .onion routing, you can have and maintain a Facebook account from locations where you normally could not like in some countries where Facebook.com is banned.

Galaxy3

http://galaxy3bhpzxecbywoa2j4tg43muepnhfalars4cce3fcx46qlc6t3id.onion/ Galaxy3 is also a social platform, the site is mostly populated with code experts and other individuals posting all kinds of stuff.

The Dark Lair

http://vrimutd6so6a565x.onion/index.php/Board Dark Lair was the first image exchange website that evolved into a social network. One difference from the other two mentioned is that you can engage in the website without registration as an anonymous user.

Pro Publica

https://www.propub3r6espa33w.onion/ The aim of the five-time Pulitzer Prize winner ProPublica is “To expose abuses of power and betrayals of the public trust by government, business, and other institutions, using the moral force of investigative journalism to spur reform through the sustained spotlighting of wrongdoing.” It’s the first major online publication to have a .onion address. The non-profit newsroom is funded by organizations such as the Sandler Foundation and has made countless contributions to the fight for free speech and privacy.

Soylent News

http://7rmath4ro2of2a42.onion/ Soylent news is an onion site that well brings news. The difference from other sites of the same content is that Soylent news is community moderated without any big names involved so it is authentic in its content.

CIA

ttp://ciadotgov4sjwlzihbbgxnqg3xiyrg7so2r2o3lt5wz5ypk4sxyjstad.onion/ Tor’s history is an unlikely tale. It was created by the U.S Navy with the purpose of helping informants in foreign nations to communicate safely over the Internet. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), in that spirit, released a .onion site so that people from across the globe can browse their resources securely and anonymously.

Secure drop

https://secrdrop5wyphb5x.onion/ Secure drop is a platform for changing leaked information and for journalists to communicate with their leads in private. It is used by Washington Post, Pro Publica, and The Guardian.

Hidden Answers

http://answerszuvs3gg2l64e6hmnryudl5zgrmwm3vh65hzszdghblddvfiqd.onion/ Hidden Answers is Reddit or Quora of the dark web but as in the spirit of the dark web, all discussed topics and stories are in total anonymity.

SCI-HUB

http://scihub22266oqcxt.onion/ With over 50 million research papers in the domain of science shared freely, Sci-Hub eliminates all barriers of free knowledge and offers a unique approach to education and scientific information.

Smartmixer.IO

http://smrtmxdxognxhv64.onion/ Smartmixer is a bitcoin mixer. The service scrambles your bitcoin with other users making your purchases completely anonymous. And that's it. 15 dark WEB onion sites you need to visit. I hope that you enjoyed the list and found something useful in it. Also, note that onion links can change overnight so if any of provided links do not work just go to DuckDuckGo and search for the site with the onion at the end.

What is this particular error?

One common issue when trying to upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 or 8 is incompatible software. Any installed software or app that isn’t compatible with Windows 10 will prevent you from continuing with the set-up. Normally, you’ll get an error message “What needs your attention” and it will ask you to uninstall a list of apps manually. Unfortunately, some users reported that they couldn’t find the app it asks to uninstall. In some cases, users said they’ve already uninstalled the app but it still won’t start the Windows 10 Setup.

Solution

Error Causes

This type of issue normally occurs because of the following:

• Incompatible software/apps
• Corrupted software/apps
• Incomplete uninstallation

Further Information and Manual Repair

Here are some steps you can take whenever you encounter this error.

Note: Before taking any steps, make sure that you’re highly equipped to do so. Some steps might affect the system and even do more damage to your computer. You might also want to consider using an automated tool instead.

Method 1 – Perform a clean boot, then retry upgrading

A clean boot is normally done to start Windows using the least set of drivers and startup programs available. By doing this, it eliminates possible software issues that happen when installing or uninstalling a program in Windows 10.

Before performing a clean boot, make sure to take note of the following:

• You need administrative privileges in order to perform this action.
• When doing this, your computer might lose temporarily functionality. However, it will return after start-up.
• It is highly advisable to not use the System Configuration to change advanced boot options.

Here are the steps to perform a clean boot.

• Step 1 – Go to Start and search for msconfig
• Step 2 – Go to System Configuration
• Step 3 – Under Services tab, click on the “Hide all Microsoft services” checkbox. Then, choose to Disable all
• Step 4 – Go to the System Configuration’s Startup tab. Then, click on “Open Task Manager”
• Step 5 – In the Task Manager dialog box, you will see a Startup tab. Choose items that you want to disable and then click the Disable button
• Step 6 – Close the Task Manager dialog box.
• Step 7 – Go back to the Startup tab of the System Configuration box. Click “Ok” then proceed with restarting.

Method 2 – Manually uninstall programs from the Program Files folders

Instead of using the “add or remove programs” feature in Windows, you might need to manually install the program directly from the C drive. To do this, follow the steps below:

• Step 1 – Go to the C drive, and look for the Program Files folders. For 32-bit users, you can find it at C:\Program Files. If you’re using the 64-bit version of Windows, go to C:\Program Files (x86) folder.
• Step 2 – Find the “uninstall” application file
• Step 3 – Right-click, and run the file as administrator. Wait for the uninstallation to finish. In some software, you need to restart your system before the uninstallation will take effect.

Note: In some cases, you may also need to search for files related to the program. You can use the search bar under Drive C to do this. Delete those files as well.

Method 3 – Create a new user account

Before upgrading to Windows 10, create a new user account. Make sure it has administrative privileges. From there, run the upgrade.

Method 4 – Use third-party uninstaller services

If you still can’t run Windows 10 Setup after the above methods, you might need to rely on a third-party service. Microsoft recommends Revouninstaller that can help you.

Before using this software, reinstall the application or utility that Windows 10 wants you to install. Then, use Revouninstaller to delete the program completely.

Method 5 – Disable third-party antivirus software

Some users who experienced this issue reported that it was solved after disabling or completely uninstalling the anti-virus software installed in their system.

Method 6 – Use a trusted automated tool

If after trying the above methods, the problem still persists, it might be best to use a trusted automated tool to fix the issue.

These days, Google Chrome is definitely one of the most used browsers in the browser. Google has almost created a nearly perfect product that rarely experiences problems. However, a lot of users have reported an issue where some files they’re downloading or their downloads in their Google Chrome browsers are stuck at 100%. So if you are one of these users, read on as this post will guide you on what you can do to resolve the problem. This kind of problem could be caused by several factors. It is possible that the file download process could be blocked by a third-party antivirus or it could be that the content-length header could be missing from the server. Aside from that, a Google Chrome extension could also be the culprit or it could be that the current installation of the browser could be corrupted. This kind of problem can get really annoying as the download process has already utilized system resources as well as take up your time. Thus, you need to fix the problem using several suggestions. You can try to clear the browser cache, disable the Chrome virus scan, whitelist the file on the third-party antivirus program, put your browser in Incognito mode and download the file again. On the other hand, you could also try to reset or reinstall the browser. For more details, follow the options provided below.

Option 1 – Try to clear browser cache and try downloading again

There are times when some data in the browser is conflicting with the loading of the website and triggers some problems like download getting stuck at 100%. And so you can try to clear your browser’s data. This might be a very basic solution but oftentimes it works in fixing this kind of error in Google Chrome. Follow the steps below to clear the data in your browser.

• Open your Google Chrome browser.
• After that, tap the Ctrl + H keys. Doing so will open a new panel that allows you to delete the browsing history and other data in your browser.
• Now select every checkbox that you see and click on the Clear data button.
• Then restart your Chrome browser and check if you can now complete the download again.

Option 2 – Try disabling Chrome virus scan

The next thing you can do to resolve the problem is to disable the Chrome virus scan. It is possible that the virus scan is the one that’s preventing the download to be completed, thus, try to disable it and see if it works.

Option 3 – Whitelist the file you’re downloading in your antivirus program

The download getting stuck might also be caused by your antivirus program which could be interfering it from running. To fix this, you have to whitelist dism.exe. How? Refer to these steps:

• Open the Windows Defender Security Center from the system tray area.
• Next, click the “Virus & threat protection” option and then open the “Virus and threat protection settings”.
• After that, scroll down until you find the “Exclusions” and click on the “Add or remove exclusions” option.
• Then click the plus button and select the type of exclusion you want to add and from the drop-down list, select Folder.
• Next, navigate to this path and select the WinSxS folder: C:/Windows/WinSxS
• When a User Account Control or UAC prompt, just click on Yes to proceed.

Option 4 – Try downloading the file in Incognito mode

There are certain browser extensions, especially those security programs, that prevent any suspicious files from being downloaded. So the easy way to fix the problem is to launch the Chrome browser in Incognito mode and then try to download the file again. Additionally, you might want to consider disabling the problematic extension.

Option 5 – Reset Chrome

Resetting Chrome can also help you fix the problem. This means that you will be restoring its default settings, disabling all the extensions, add-ons, and themes. Aside from that, the content settings will be reset as well and the cookies, cache, and site data will also be deleted. To reset Chrome, here’s what you have to do:

• Open Google Chrome, then tap the Alt + F keys.
• After that, click on Settings.
• Next, scroll down until you see the Advanced option, once you see it, click on it.
• After clicking the Advanced option, go to the “Restore and clean up option and click on the “Restore settings to their original defaults” option to reset Google Chrome.
• Now restart Google Chrome.

Option 6 – Try to clean reinstall Chrome

There are instances when programs leave files behind after you’ve uninstalled them and the same thing can happen to Chrome so before you reinstall Chrome, you have to make sure that you have deleted the User Data folder. To do so, refer to the following steps:

• Hit the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Next, type “%LOCALAPPDATA%GoogleChromeUser Data” in the field and hit Enter to open the User Data folder.
• From there, rename the default folder and name it something else, e.g. “Default.old”.
• After that, install Google Chrome again and check if the issue is now fixed.

There are cases when you encounter some issues while updating your Windows 10 computer. One of these issues is the error 0x80240034. This particular error is a Windows Update Error that appears on the Windows Update pane every time an update fails to install. When this happens, your Windows Update will only get stuck at 1% and nothing happens afterward and eventually fails. If you click on the View Installed Update History, you will see the error code 0x80240034 for the failed updates. You will see this error each time you try to update your Windows PC. Take note that this issue doesn’t only happen to a specific version of the Windows Update but on various different Windows builds based on many users. What’s more, is that some users are also seeing a different error code when their Windows Update fails but they still end up seeing the error code 0x80240034 when they check the Windows Update history. At the time of writing, it isn’t determined yet what really causes this error but it’s most likely due to some corrupted files in the computer which is why the most common solution you can try is resetting the Windows Update cache. On the other hand, other users also resolved the issue by using the ISO and selecting the “Do not keep previous settings” option during the Windows Update so it might be something to do with transferring the previous settings through the update client. For clear instructions in fixing this issue, refer to the two options provided below.

Option 1 – Try to clear the Windows Update Cache/Distribution Folder

As mentioned earlier, a lot of users tried clearing the Windows Update cache to fix the problem and so far it has worked. Like them, you can try clearing the Windows Update cache by simply deleting the contents of the folder named “SoftwareDistribution” since Windows apparently can’t clear and re-download the update contents once they are corrupted. Thus, deleting the contents of this folder will make Windows download the contents again which will fix the problem. To do that, follow the steps below.

• Step 1: Tap the Windows key once.
• Step 2: Next, type in “command prompt” in the Windows Start Search, and from the search results that appear, right-click on Command Prompt and select the “Run as administrator” option from the context menu.
• Step 3: After opening Command Prompt, type in “net start wuauserv” and hit Enter.
• Step 4: Then type in “rmdir %windir%SoftwareDistribution /S /Q” and hit Enter.
• Step 5: Now type in “net start wuauserv” and hit Enter. Once it’s done, try updating your Windows PC again, it should now work just fine.

Option 2 – Update Windows via ISO file

If option 1 didn’t work for you, you can try this second option of updating your Windows 10 computer using an ISO file which means that you will have to create a Windows 10 bootable media and use it to install the latest Windows 10 version. The most user reported that this option works and the reason why it does have something to do with the Windows Update client since the Windows Updates downloaded from the regular Windows Update client seems to create issues such as the error 0x80240034. However, issues like this one don’t occur when the very same Windows Updates are downloaded and installed via an ISO file. Take note that when using a Windows ISO file, you will be asked to choose what you want to do with the previous settings and apps. A lot of users opted for the “Not to keep the old Windows settings” option which has resolved the issue. So if you want to keep the previous settings then you must try to update Windows first while keeping the old settings. However, if it doesn’t work, you have to try installing the latest version of Windows without keeping the previous settings.

• Step 1: Click this link and then click the Download Tool Now button.
• Step 2: Next, click the “Use the tool to create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file)…” option and follow the next given instructions on the screen.
• Step 3: Now select the ISO file option in step 5.
• Step 4: After that, you should now have an ISO file.
• Step 5: Next, go to the location where you’ve downloaded the ISO file.
• Step 6: Then right-click on the Windows 10 ISO file and select the Open with an option and then select File Explorer.
• Step 7: Now click on “setup.exe” and follow the next instructions that appear on the screen. When asked, you have to select either: Nothing (clean install) or Keep personal files only option. Take note that you must not select the “Keep personal files, apps, and Windows settings since it doesn’t really work.