Fix Unable to terminate the process Error in Windows 10

Not a Valid Win32 Application Error - What is it?

Not a Valid Win32 Application error code that indicates either the file or the program you are attempting to run missing or corrupt. And because of this error, Windows is unable to open your desired file or run the program successfully.

Error Causes

The ‘Not a Valid Win32 Application’ is triggered due to multiple reasons such as:

• Unsuccessful program installation due to damaged disc/CD
• Corrupted or incompatible file
• The hard drive is loaded with bad and invalid entries
• Malware invasion or viral infection

When you come across this error code on your PC, it is advisable to resolve it as it will cause you a great deal of inconvenience hampering program and file accessibility. Furthermore, if the error code occurs due to malware or viruses, then it can lead to severe data security threats and privacy issues.

Further Information and Manual Repair

To resolve the Not a Valid Win32 Application error on your PC, you don’t need to be a technical expert or hire a professional. Though this error might be crucial it is easy to fix. Here are some of the many methods that you can try to resolve this error code on your PC:

• Check for File Compatibility

If you downloaded a file that is not compatible with your Windows version then you will come across this error. In this case, it is advisable to download the file version that is compatible and can run easily on the Windows version installed on your system. Nonetheless, if the file is compatible but still doesn’t run on your PC, then it’s possible that the file became corrupt during the download. Try downloading the file again.

• Check if the CD is Clean

You may also come across the Not a valid Win32 application error code if the program installation from the CD is unsuccessful. This happens when the CD is dirty or it is scratched. The program does not copy properly onto the computer from the damaged CD. So, if the CD is scratched and dirty, buy a new CD and try installing the program again.

• Verify the Program You Want to Run is Still on the Computer

If you are running the program from a shortcut, then verify that the program is still installed on your PC. This error may occur if the program is no longer installed on the computer. If you find the program is not installed on your system, then reinstall and try running the program again.

• Wrong File Name Issue

Make sure the program or the file you are attempting to run on your system does not contain the same name as the long filename directory it is saved in. For example, running a file named ‘program’ in the ‘program files’ directory can cause errors in some Windows versions. If this is the issue, then try installing the program in a different directory.

• Repair Hard Drive

If the hard drive is bad or corrupted, it can also generate the not a valid Win32 application. And because of this error files and programs fail to execute successfully as not all data can be read from the hard drive. To repair this issue first you need to run defrag and ScanDisk Microsoft built-in tools. These tools check for errors on the hard drive.

• Run an Antivirus

If the error code occurs due to a viral infection or malware attack on your system, then you must download an antivirus, scan, and remove such malicious software. However, antivirus may slow down the speed of your PC. So, to resolve speed issues and boost the performance of your system, you may have to download a system optimizer.

Blue Screen of Death or Stop errors are definitely one of the most difficult issues to face in your Windows computer. One of them is the UNEXPECTED STORE EXCEPTION BSOD error. When you encounter this Stop error on your Windows 10 computer, this means that the store component has caught an unexpected exception. There are many potential causes for this error, but we’ve narrowed it down to a few specific causes – for one, this error could be caused by your antivirus program installed on your computer, two, it could also be caused by outdated hardware drivers on your computer, it could also be an error in the file system as well as some issue with the lock screen app, or even output to an unexpected port. Whichever the cause may be, you can use a couple of fixes laid out below. Make sure to carefully follow them.

Option 1 – Try to update your Display driver

• First, boot your computer into Safe Mode.
• After that, tap the Win + R keys to launch Run.
• Type in devmgmt.msc into the box and tap Enter or click OK to open the Device Manager.
• After that, a list of device drivers will be displayed. From there, look for the Display Adapters and click on them.
• After that, right-click on each entry under the Display Adapters and select the “Uninstall Device” option from the menu.
• Now restart your computer.
• After restarting your computer, go to the Settings app and Check for Updates in the Windows Update section.

Note: You also have the option to go directly to the website of your graphics card manufacturers like NVIDIA, Intel, or AMD and go to the section called Drivers then check if there’s a new available update – if there is, download and install it.

Option 2 – Run both the System File Checker scan and DISM tool

If the problem is caused by corrupted system files, then you can use both the System File Checker and the DISM tool. To use them, follow the instructions below.

• Tap the Win + X keys or right-click on the Start button and click the “Command Prompt (Admin)” option. Alternatively, you can also search for “cmd” in the Cortana search box and right-click on Command Prompt from the search results, and select the “Run as administrator” option.
• After that, if a User Account Control prompt pops up, click on Yes to proceed.
• Once the Command Prompt window is pulled up, type the following command and hit Enter:

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

• Wait for the process to be completed. Once it’s done, type the following command and hit Enter:

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 PC.

Note: You should see the “Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them. Details are included in the CBS.Log %WinDir%LogsCBSCBS.log” message on your screen. On the other hand, if you see the “Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them. Details are included in the CBS.Log %WinDir%LogsCBSCBS.log” message instead, then you should run the following command in Command Prompt:

findstr /c:"[SR]" %windir%LogsCBSCBS.log >"%userprofile%Desktopsfclogs.txt"

The command you entered will open up the logs on your Desktop where you can look for files that are causing the error on your computer manually.

Option 3 – Disable Fast Start-up

If you want your computer to boot faster, then you might have enabled Fast Start-up. This feature is ideal for computers that are using a hard disk drive. However, turning on this feature also means that when the computer boots, it might lag some drivers that are loaded when it initially boots up. Thus, it might be the potential cause of the UNEXPECTED STORE EXCEPTION BSOD error. Thus, you need to disable Fast Start-up. To do that, follow these steps:

• Boot your PC into Safe Mode.
• Then tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Next, type in “control” to open Control Panel.
• After that, select Hardware and Sound and click on Power Options.
• Select “Choose what the power buttons do” from the left side menu pane and click on Change settings that are currently unavailable.
• Afterward, uncheck the “Turn on fast startup (Recommended)” entry and click on Save Changes.
• Now restart your PC for the changes to take effect and then check if the problem’s fixed afterward.

Option 4 – Try to run the Chkdsk utility

You can also run the Chkdsk utility to resolve the UNEXPECTED STORE EXCEPTION BSOD error. 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.

Qtcore4.dll Error - What is it?

Qtcore4.dll is a dynamic link library file that helps Microsoft Windows in loading several key components of the system. The Qtcore4.dll error occurs when the Qtcore4.dll file cannot be loaded to run the application supported by this .dll file. The Qcore4.dll missing error message may occur while booting your system or launching a certain program. It is a blue screen of death error type. The Qtcore4.dll error code is often displayed as:

BLUE SCREEN ERROR - QtCore4.dll Not Found

Filei386QtCore4.dll could not be loaded. The error code is 7. Setup cannot continue. Press any key to exit.

Solution

Error Causes

This error code is triggered by a variety of reasons such as:

• Windows file allocation file gets damaged
• Your computer BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) are misconfigured
• The Qtcore4.dll file gets corrupt
• Registry gets damaged and corrupt
• Non-Microsoft program not running in tandem with Windows
• Malware attack
• Improper hardware driver software

It is advisable to fix the Qtcore4.dll error code immediately as this error can pose serious threats to your system. Qtcore4.dll error can lead to system breakdown.

Further Information and Manual Repair

Here are some ways of fixing the Qtcore4.dll error on your system:

1. Re-install the Program Causing Qtcore4.dll error message to pop up

As dll files are shared files sometimes due to program deletion and installation .dll file settings can get misconfigured, damaged, and corrupt. In such a scenario, you can try reinstalling the program that is causing Qtcore4.dll error message to appear on the screen.

2. Reconfigure your Mis-configured BIOS

If BIOS misconfiguration is the cause of this error code on your system, then try reconfiguring your system’s misconfigured BIOS.

• To do this boot the computer and then press the BIOS designated keys to enter the BIOS. The keys may vary from manufacture to manufacture but typically, the setup keys are F2, F10, F12, and Del.
• Once you figure out the setup keys, press them rapidly when booting the computer.
• After successfully hitting the setup keys, the BIOS will load and you will see the BIOS setting menu on your screen. Adjust settings. Go to SATA Operation and change RAID AHCI to RAID ATA. Save changes and then exit.

3. Scan Your PC with a Registry Cleaner and an Antivirus

However, after adjusting the BIOS if the error still pops up on your screen, then this indicates the problem is bigger than you think. It triggers either malware attack or registry corruption. If these are the underlying causes for the Qtcore4.dll error on your system then you need to scan your PC with a registry cleaner and an antivirus. Registry is the main database of your system; if this gets corrupt it is most likely to result in system failure and valuable data loss. And as for malware, the biggest concern is data security threats. Today’s advanced and lethal malware like viruses and spyware can give easy access to hackers to enter your system from a remote location, browse through your confidential and private data and manipulate it to their advantage. This has led to a surge in various types of cyber crime, data breaches, and identity theft cases over the years. To avoid all this while resolving the error code Qtcore4.dll on your PC, registry cleaning and repair and antivirus scan are needed. You can either download 2 separate tools on your system to scan your PC which by the way will take a lot of time and increase your chances of the system slow down or you can download Restoro.

Why Restoro?

• Total System Care is an advanced, user-friendly, high, and multi-functional repair.
• It is deployed with a powerful and intuitive registry cleaner. It also functions as a system optimizer. It spares you from downloading numerous tools to address and resolve different errors on your PC.
• It is your one-stop solution for not only Qtcore4.dll problems but practically all PC-related issues.
• The registry cleaner utility detects all the malicious, unnecessary, and obsolete files overloading and corrupting your RAM.
• This includes junk and temporary files. It wipes them out thus clearing your disk space. Simultaneously, it also repairs the damaged and misconfigured dll files including the Qtcore4.dll file, and fixes the corrupt registry.
• The privacy error utility has the properties of an antivirus. It detects and removes malware, viruses adware, and spyware from your system in seconds.
• Total System Care resolves the Qtcore4.dll error on your system and boosts the performance of your system. It has a simple and neat interface which makes it quite easy for users to operate it, even those who are not technically adept.
• It is compatible with all Windows versions

Click here to download Restoro and repair the Qtcore4.dll error on your PC.

If you are following the latest gaming trends and spend a lot of time on social media, watching streams, etc. you might be under impression that gaming as a hobby is very expensive. If you plan to play the latest games on a very large screen in their highest setting that might be true but if you do not care about that you can still play games and spend much less money on them.

That being said we are here to share with you some tips and tactics on how to play good games with minimum money spent.

Do not buy games the moment when they are released

Buying a game on its launch date is maybe the worst and most expensive thing you can do. Games have their highest price on launch day but sadly with the current state of the industry, they are in their worst state as well. Games eventually became better over time after patches are released but so does their price drops after the hype has calmed down. So if you really must have some specific game on its launch day, go for it but know that by doing so you are getting the worst version of the game for its higher price.

Wishlist games and wait for the sale

All services today have a wishlist, very good and money-saving tactic is to wishlist interesting titles and wait for them to be on the sale. Services will usually have the option of sending you an email once your wishlist titles are on sale so you will be notified once they do. A good tactic as well is to wait for large sales like for example summer, winter, easter sales, or many other seasonal ones.

Get free games

Some online stores are offering free games from time to time and some are always offering some titles as gifts in order to get customers to their platform. EPIC has become famous for gifting some great titles over the past years completely for free and there are a lot of free-to-play games on each platform that you can play.

Get second-hand PC

Having a new computer is great but if your budget is tight you might consider getting your PC as a second hand instead of the new one. Hardcore games will switch components more frequently than your typical users and usually the components will be sold cheaper and be more affordable.

Play games on some older devices in general

Many games today are available on many platforms not only just on your typical PC. Same titles are available on your mobile phones, tablets, and even on your Android TV. Many titles will not even require the latest technology or monster of a computer in order to run them. You can also lower game settings and play many games on lower hardware if you do not mind not having top graphics settings.

Play over the cloud streaming

If you are very tight on budget but want to enjoy new games in their full glory there is always the option to play games via a cloud streaming service, it is not exactly a mega cheap option since it has a monthly fee but it is cheaper than some high-end gaming computer. If you combine this with the game pass you can enjoy the latest games with high-quality settings and pay it on a monthly basis.

In some cases, a couple of Windows 10 laptops, especially the newer ones that run the NVIDIA RTX series GPUs have been experiencing some problems, particularly with their headphone jacks which seem to be malfunctioning even though the internal speakers works just fine. And despite having all the drivers updated to their latest versions, the problem still occurs. According to security experts, this kind of problem occurs on laptop computers that are manufactured by MSI and since there is still no workaround or reliable fix released by the company, in this post you will be guided on how you can resolve the problem with the headphone jack. So if you are using a laptop made by MSI and are experiencing the same issue, then you’ve come to the right place. There are several potential fixes you can check out to resolve the problem, you can try to force reboot your computer or clean your headphone jack and then plug it back in properly. In addition, you could also try to update your Audio drivers or set your headphone as default. For more information, follow each one of the given options below.

Option 1 – Try to force reboot your computer

The first thing you can do is to force reboot your computer as this simple fix could help in fixing the problem. This option is quite simple, just make sure that before you do it, you have to save all your work.

• First, turn on your computer and press and hold the power button for at least 30 seconds. You might notice the screen flashing or making any changes, just ignore it.
• After that, plug out and plug in your computer and automatically turn it on.
• Once done, check if the headphone jack is now working fine.

Option 2 – Try to clean the headphone jack and plug it properly

The next thing you can do to fix the problem is to clean your headphone jack and plug it back in properly. Make sure that you use a cotton swab in cleaning the headphone jack as there are instances where some dust might have settled in the port which results in issues like your headphone jack no working.

Option 3 – Try to update, rollback or reinstall the Audio driver

If the glitch in your audio has something to do with software, chances are it might be related to the audio driver – it could be that the newest version of your Windows 10 does not work well with the old version of the driver. This is why you have to update your audio driver to the newest available version.

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box and then type in MSC and tap Enter or click OK to open the Device Manager.
• Expand the section for the outdated device drivers.
• And then select the outdated driver(s) and right-click on it/them.
• From the drop-down menu, select the Update Driver option and follow the on-screen instructions to install the latest version of the driver.
• Then also click on the option, “Search automatically for updated driver software.
• Restart your PC after the installation.

Note: If updating or reinstalling the Audio driver didn’t work, you can go to the website of MSI and look for the support section where you can download the drivers for your computer. You just need to take note of your PC’s correct model and model number so you can find the appropriate driver.

Option 4 – Try to set the headphone as the default device manually

There are times when you plug a headphone, it does not toggle the default audio device. Thus, to fix this issue, you have to set the default audio device to the headphones manually. To do that, follow these steps:

• First, right-click on the volume icon located on the system tray.
• Next, select the Open sound settings option to open the Sound section in the Windows 10 Settings app.
• From there, select the Control Panel for Sound on the rightmost column. This will open a new mini window.
• After that, select your headphone under the Playback tab and click on the Set default button.
• Once done, click on Apply and then OK buttons to save the changes made.

Option 5 – Try to run the Playing Audio Troubleshooter

Since the Windows 10 operating system has the Playing Audio Troubleshooter, you can use this troubleshooter to try and fix the problem with the headphones. You can access this tool in the Control Panel or in the Taskbar Search and even on the Troubleshooters page of Windows 10.

MyScrapNook is a browser extension for Google Chrome that allows users to easily find scrapbook templates, layouts, and graphics. This extension requires the use of Adobe Flash Player and does not work with Chrome’s built-in flash player.

When installed MyScrapNook will change your home page and default search engine to MyWebSearch.com. It will also inject unwanted ads and sponsored links into your search queries. This extension has been marked as a Browser Hijacker by several anti-virus applications and is recommended to remove it from your PC.

From the Author:

FREE scrapbooking templates, layouts, and graphics! Get creative with tons of FREE scrapbooking features. With MyScrapNook, you can make beautiful, custom scrapbooks — with just a few clicks. Let us help you capture the memories with FREE scrapbook templates. The MyScrapNook extension offers convenient web search and features from the Chrome New Tab page.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijack is a common type of internet fraud where your web browser configurations are altered to make it do things you don’t intend. Basically, nearly all browser hijackers are created for marketing or advertising purposes. These are generally used to force visitors to predetermined sites, manipulating web traffic to generate ad revenue. Many people assume that such websites are legitimate and harmless but that is not the case. Nearly all browser hijacker pose an existent threat to your on-line safety and it is important to classify them under privacy dangers. Browser hijackers can even allow other vicious programs without your knowledge to further damage your computer.

How to know whether the web browser is hijacked?

There are numerous signs of browser hijacking. Below are some of them: the browser’s home page is changed; bookmark and the new tab are likewise modified; the default online search engine has been changed and your browser security settings have been cut down without your knowledge; you notice many toolbars on the web browser; numerous pop-up ads show up and/or your browser popup blocker is disabled; your web browser gets slow, buggy, crashes often; You cannot access particular websites, especially anti-virus sites.

Exactly how browser hijacker infects PCs

There are several ways your computer can become infected by a browser hijacker. They typically arrive through spam e-mail, via file-sharing websites, or by a drive-by-download. They also come from add-on application, also known as browser helper objects (BHO), web browser extensions or toolbars. Also, certain freeware and shareware can put the hijacker within your PC through the “bundling” technique. An example of some notorious browser hijacker includes Anyprotect, Conduit, Babylon, SweetPage, DefaultTab, Delta Search, and RocketTab, however, the names are constantly changing. Browser hijackers can interrupt the user’s web browsing experience greatly, track the websites visited by users and steal sensitive information, cause problems in connecting to the net, and then finally create stability problems, causing applications and system to freeze.

Removing browser hijackers

Some hijackers can be removed by deleting the free software they came with or by eliminating any extension you have recently added to your browser. Sometimes, it could be a difficult job to discover and remove the malicious component because the associated file could be running as part of the operating system process. And there is no denying the very fact that the manual fixes and removal methods can certainly be a difficult job for an amateur computer user. On top of that, there are plenty of risks associated with fiddling around with the system registry files. Experts always recommend users get rid of any malicious software including browser hijacker by using an automatic malware removal tool, which is easier, safer, and faster than the manual removal process. If you’d like to eliminate persistent hijackers effectively, install the top-rated, award-winning anti-malware software Safebytes Anti-Malware. Together with the anti-virus tool, a system optimizer, like SafeBytes’s Total System Care, will help you in deleting all linked files and modifications in the computer registry automatically.

Learn How To Install Safebytes Anti-Malware On An Infected PC

All malware is bad and the degree of the damage can vary greatly with regards to the type of infection. Some malware sits in between your computer and the internet connection and blocks a few or all internet sites that you want to visit. It might also block you from installing anything on your computer, especially the antivirus program. If you’re reading this, you may have infected by malware that prevents you from installing security software such as Safebytes Anti-Malware. There are some steps you can take to get around this issue.

Download the software in Safe Mode with Networking

In the event the malware is set to run at Windows start-up, then booting in safe mode should prevent it. Since only the bare minimum programs and services start-up in “Safe Mode”, there are rarely any reasons for issues to take place. Here are the steps you have to follow to boot into the Safe Mode of your Windows XP, Vista or 7 computers (go to Microsoft site for instructions on Windows 8 and 10 computers). 1) Press the F8 key repeatedly as soon as your computer boots, however, before the big Windows logo or black screen with white texts shows up. This will invoke the “Advanced Boot Options” menu. 2) Select Safe Mode with Networking using arrow keys and press ENTER. 3) As soon as this mode loads, you should have the internet. Now, utilize your browser to download and install Safebytes Anti-malware. 4) Immediately after installation, run a complete scan and allow the software program to delete the threats it finds.

Switch to some other internet browser

Malicious code could exploit vulnerabilities in a specific browser and block access to all anti-virus software sites. If you seem to have a virus attached to Internet Explorer, then switch over to an alternate browser with built-in safety features, such as Firefox or Chrome, to download your favorite antivirus program – Safebytes.

Install and run anti-malware from your flash drive

Another solution is to store and run an antivirus program completely from a USB drive. Abide by these steps to run the anti-malware on the affected computer. 1) Make use of another virus-free computer to download Safebytes Anti-Malware. 2) Connect the USB flash drive to a USB port on the uninfected computer. 3) Double click on the downloaded file to open the installation wizard. 4) Pick a thumb drive as the place when the wizard asks you where you want to install the software. Follow activation instructions. 5) Transfer the USB drive from the uninfected computer to the infected PC. 6) Double-click the EXE file to run the Safebytes program from the thumb drive. 7) Click on the “Scan” button to run a full system scan and remove viruses automatically.

Detect And Destroy Viruses With SafeBytes Anti-Malware

Want to download the very best anti-malware software program for your desktop? You can find many applications on the market that comes in free and paid versions for Windows computers. A few are really worth your money, but most aren’t. You have to be very careful not to select the wrong product, particularly if you purchase a paid software. One of the highly recommended software by industry experts is SafeBytes Anti-Malware, a popular security application for Windows computers. SafeBytes anti-malware is a trustworthy tool that not only protects your computer system completely but is also very user friendly for people of all ability levels. Once you’ve got installed this software program, SafeBytes superior protection system will ensure that absolutely no viruses or malware can seep through your personal computer.

There are many great features you will get with this particular security product. Here are a few popular features found in this computer software:

Anti-Malware Protection: With a critically acclaimed malware engine, SafeBytes offers multilayered protection that is intended to catch and get rid of threats that are concealed deep inside your computer’s operating system. Live Protection: SafeBytes gives you round-the-clock protection for your PC limiting malware intrusions in real-time. This software will always keep track of your PC for any suspicious activity and updates itself continuously to keep abreast of the constantly changing threat situation. “Fast Scan” Features: This software program has got one of the fastest and most efficient virus scanning engines in the industry. The scans are extremely accurate and take a short amount of time to complete. Safe Web Browsing: SafeBytes inspects the links present on a web page for possible threats and tells you whether the site is safe to view or not, through its unique safety ranking system. Light-weight: This software program is not “heavy” on the computer’s resources, so you’ll not see any performance troubles when SafeBytes is operating in the background. 24/7 Premium Support: You can obtain high levels of support 24/7 if you’re using their paid version. SafeBytes has created a wonderful anti-malware solution to help you conquer the latest malware threats and virus attacks. Malware trouble will become a thing of the past once you put this tool to use. If you’re seeking the very best malware removal tool out there, and if you don’t mind paying out some dollars for it, go for SafeBytes Anti-Malware.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you’d like to manually remove MyScrapNook without the use of an automated tool, it might be actually possible to do so by deleting the application from the Microsoft Windows Add/Remove Programs menu, or in cases of browser plug-ins, going to the browser’s AddOn/Extension manager and removing it. It’s also advised to reset your browser settings to their default state. If you opt to manually delete the system files and Windows registry entries, use the following list to ensure that you know precisely what files to remove before executing any actions. Please be aware that this is for professional users only and may be challenging, with incorrect file removal causing additional PC errors. In addition, some malware keeps replicating which makes it difficult to get rid of. Doing this in Safe Mode is recommended.

Keyboard shortcuts are undeniably one of the most utilized ways and are helpful in maximizing productivity through the various applications at top speed in Windows 10. It offers the option to create custom keyboard shortcuts that allow users to launch apps, and even websites, instantly. There are already tons of keyboard shortcuts that are built-in in Windows 10 but in case you don’t know, you can actually create new ones. Doing so is not a difficult task and in this post, you will be guided on how you can exactly create custom keyboard shortcuts in your Windows 10 computer. Most users would create desktop shortcuts or pin the apps in the taskbar to speed up the process of working on their computers. It is an easy task to do since you can easily do it by dragging an app from the Start Menu to the desktop or by simply right-clicking on the executable app and selecting the “Create Shortcut” option. However, doing so would take physical effort and there are times when you have to minimize all the apps to get to the desktop so you can click the shortcut and this is where the Custom Keyboard Shortcuts come in handy. You can create Custom Keyboard Shortcuts in Windows 10 for various programs – from the traditional desktop apps to the new universal apps – you can fling in a shortcut so that you can instantly open them faster compared to when doing it manually and besides this also wouldn’t affect any of the ongoing system activity. To get started, you need to follow the steps provided below carefully.

To add Custom Keyboard hotkeys to a program and website desktop shortcuts, here’s what you have to do:

Step 1: First, you have to right-click on the app or website and select Properties. Step 2: After that, go to the Shortcut tab and from there, you will see the “Shortcut key” textbox which allows you to enter a new or custom keyboard shortcut for the app or website. Step 3: In the textbox field, input your preferred letters to set up the new hotkey. Keep in mind that this custom shortcut has to be combined with the Ctrl + Alt keys which means that if you want to select “N”, you have to tap the Ctrl + Alt + N keys. Step 4: Once done, click on the Apply and OK buttons to save the changes made and then close the window. Step 5: After that, tap the newly created keyboard shortcut, Ctrl + Alt + N keys again to open the app or website you’ve set up earlier.

To add Custom Keyboard hotkeys to a desktop app or an independent program that can be installed using direct download, here’s what you have to do:

Step 1: First, open the Start Menu and look for the icon/tile of the required app in the menu. However, if you are not able to find the desired app, then just click on the All Apps option to navigate through all the apps that are installed on your PC. Step 2: Once you find the app, just right-click on it and select More and then click on the “Open file location” option. Step 3: This will open a new window with the shortcut icon. Right-click on the app’s shortcut icon and select Properties. Step 4: This will open the Properties window where you can add the shortcut combination. Keep in mind that just like the previous method, the custom shortcut has to be combined with the Ctrl + Alt keys. For instance, if you select E, then you also have to set a keyboard shortcut that includes Ctrl + Alt, so it will be, Ctrl + Alt + E. Step 5: Once you’re done, click on the Apply and OK buttons to save the changes made. You should now be able to use the custom shortcut key you’ve set.

If you are running Windows Update on your Windows 10 computer and you suddenly encounter error code 0x8000FFFF, E_UNEXPECTED – Unexpected failure then read on as this post will give you a couple of suggestions to resolve this problem. Note that you can encounter this error not only on Windows Update but also on Microsoft Store apps at times. Follow the options given below to fix error code 0x8000FFFF, E_UNEXPECTED – Unexpected failure error on your Windows 10 PC.

Option 1 – Try to reset the Microsoft Store cache

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

• Right-click on the start button and click on Command Prompt (administrator).
• Next, type in the command, “wsreset.exe” and tap Enter. Once you do, the command will clear the cache for the Windows Store app.
• Now restart your PC and afterward, try opening Microsoft Store again.

Option 2 – Check the Cryptographic Service

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Next, type “services.msc” in the field and hit Enter or click OK to open Services.
• From the list of Services, look for the Cryptographic Service. Then right-click on it and select Properties from the context menu.
• After that, check if the service is started by checking the Service status. If it is started, click on the Stop button to stop the service and if it is already stopped, leave it as it is, at least for now.
• Next, make sure that the Startup type menu in the Service’s properties is set to Automatic before you go on.
• Now confirm any dialog boxes that may appear as you set the Startup type and then click on the Start button located in the middle before you exit Properties.

Option 3 – Delete the contents in the Software Distribution folder and Catroot2 folder

• Open the WinX Menu.
• From there, open Command Prompt as admin.
• Then type in the following command – don’t forget to hit Enter right after typing each one of them.

net stop wuauserv net start cryptSvc net start bits net start msiserver

• After entering these commands, it will stop the Windows Update Service, Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS), Cryptographic, and the MSI Installer
• Next, go to the C:/Windows/SoftwareDistribution folder and get rid of all the folders and files thereby tapping the Ctrl + A keys to select them all and then click on Delete. Note that if the files are in use, you won’t be able to delete them.

After resetting the SoftwareDistribution folder, you need to reset the Catroot2 folder to restart the services you just stopped. To do that, follow these steps:

• Type each one of the following commands.

net start wuauserv net start cryptSvc net start bits net start msiserver

• After that, exit Command Prompt and restart your computer, and then try to run Windows Update once more.

Option 4 – Check the Root Permissions

You might also want to check the permissions on the root of C: and make sure that “BUILTINUsers have read access because if it doesn’t, then no wonder why you’re getting the error code 0x8000FFFF.

Option 5 – Try to use the Media Creation tool

The Media Creation tool in Windows allows you to use the ISO installation file to make a bootable device that you can use to install Windows on your PC. Note that this is kind of different from the usual installation process as it could erase your computer’s current settings and data on the primary drive. Thus, before you proceed, you need to backup all your data into some removable drive and then use the Media Creation Tool to make a bootable drive.

• After making the bootable drive, you need to plug it into your computer and then reboot.
• Next, tap the F10 or Esc key to open the boot options.
• Now set the boot priority of the removable drive the highest. Once the setup comes forth, follow the next onscreen instructions and install Windows without any problems.

Option 6 – Try installing the updates in a Clean Boot State

It could be that some third-party application is the one that’s causing the problem so it’s best if you put your computer in a Clean Boot state. During this state, you can start the system with a minimum number of drivers and startup programs that will surely help you in isolating the root cause of the issue.

• Log onto your PC as an administrator.
• Type in MSConfig in the Start Search to open the System Configuration utility.
• From there, go to the General tab and click “Selective startup”.
• Clear the “Load Startup items” checkbox and make sure that the “Load System Services” and “Use Original boot configuration” options are checked.
• Next, click the Services tab and select the “Hide All Microsoft Services” checkbox.
• Click Disable all.
• Click on Apply/OK and restart your PC. (This will put your PC into a Clean Boot State. And configure Windows to use the usual startup, just simply undo the changes.)
• After that, try to install the Windows app again.

Note: If you are able to install the app without any trouble at all then it means that the error is caused by some third-party application in your computer. You need to look for the culprit and uninstall it once you found it.

Option 7 – Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter

Running the built-in Windows Update troubleshooter is one of the things you can first check out as it is known to automatically resolve any Windows Update errors like error code 0x8000FFFF. To run it, go to Settings and then select Troubleshoot from the options. From there, click on Windows Update and then click the “Run the troubleshooter” button. After that, follow the next on-screen instructions and you should be good to go.

The Disk Management tool in Windows 10 is a built-in tool that contains a user interface used to manage disk partitions to administrators of the computer. There are lots of instances when you have to change the size of the hard disk partition or reduce the size and so on. This is where the Disk Management tool comes in. It’s useful as the command line interface can be quite confusing and risky for some users. However, there are cases when this tool stops working. A proof of this the reports submitted recently by some Windows 10 users. Based on the reports, the Disk Management does not load or respond. If you are having the same problem, read on as this post will give you some suggestions on what you can do to resolve the problem.

Option 1 – Try restarting the Disk Management Service

• Tap the Win + R key combination to open the Run dialog box.
• Then type “services.msc” in the field and hit Enter or click OK to open the Windows Services Manager.
• Next, scroll down in the service list until you see the Virtual Disk Service. Double click on it to open and then select Automatic.
• Click on Apply and OK to save the changes made.
• If it hasn’t started yet, you can just click on the Start button to start the Service. The Virtual Disk service provides management services for disk, volumes, file systems as well as storage arrays.
• Now save all the changes you’ve made and restart your computer. Then check if you can now use the Disk Management tool without any problem.

Option 2 – Try using the System File Checker scan

System File Checker or SFC is a built-in command utility that helps in restoring corrupted files as well as missing files. It replaces bad and corrupted system files with good system files that might be causing some issues with the Disk Management tool. To run the SFC command, follow the steps given below.

• Boot your PC into Safe Mode.
• Tap Win + R to launch Run.
• Type in cmd in the field and tap Enter.
• After opening Command Prompt, type in sfc /scannow

The command will start a system scan which will take a few whiles before it finishes. Once it’s done, you could get the following results:

1. Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.
2. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them.
3. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them.

Option 3 – Try using the DISM tool

Aside from the System File Checker, the DISM tool can also help you resolve the issue with the Disk Management tool. It helps in restoring the health of your computer.

• Open the Command Prompt as admin.
• Then type in this command: Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
• Do not close the window if the process takes a while as it will probably take a few minutes to finish.

Option 4 – Try using Diskpart and Fsutil

If both the System File Checker and DISM tool didn’t work, you can use command-line tools like diskpart and fsutil. These command-line tools are powerful but you need to be careful especially if you’re not that familiar with using them. However, it’s recommended that you have somebody who knows if you’re really inexperienced with this kind of stuff.

BSOD or Blue Screen of Death errors are one of the toughest issues you can encounter in Windows 10 as well as the hardest ones to resolve as they simply shut the system down or restart it abruptly and claims that it isn’t possible to boot Windows again. One of the difficult BSOD errors is the Machine Check Exception BSOD error. The reason why it is hard to fix is that in most cases, it occurs soon after Windows loads which gives users little to no time in resolving it. To make things worse, the system also freezes right before it displays the blue screen error and shuts the system down. Usually, the Machine Check Exception Stop error occurs due to the failure or overstressing of the hardware components. And in the case of almost all Blue Screen of Death errors, the issue usually has something to do with the drivers. So if you frequently see this BSOD error from time to time, now’s the time to act on it by following the solutions given in this post.

Option 1 – Update the Device drivers

• Tap the Win + R keys to launch Run.
• Type in devmgmt.msc into the box and tap Enter or click OK to open the Device Manager.
• After that, a list of device drivers will be displayed. Look for the device driver you and then select either “Update driver” or “Uninstall device”. And if you find any “Unknown device”, you need to update it as well.
• Select the “Search automatically for updated driver software” option and then follow the instructions to complete the process.
• If you have chosen to uninstall the driver, follow the screen options to complete the process and then restart your PC.
• Connect the device and Scan for hardware changes – you can see this option under Device Manager > Action.

Option 2 – Try running the Blue Screen Troubleshooter

The Blue Screen troubleshooter is a built-in tool in Windows 10 that 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.

Option 3 – Try running the System File Checker

System File Checker or SFC is a built-in command utility that helps in restoring corrupted files as well as missing files. It replaces bad and corrupted system files with good system files that might be causing the Machine Check Exception BSOD error. To run the SFC command, follow the steps given below.

• Tap Win + R to launch Run.
• Type in cmd in the field and tap Enter.
• After opening Command Prompt, type in sfc /scannow

The command will start a system scan which will take a few whiles before it finishes. Once it’s done, you could get the following results:

1. Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.
2. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them.
3. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them.

Option 4 – Run the Startup Repair

In the Blue Screen where the Machine Check Exception error is displayed, tap the F8 key to go to the Startup Settings where you can find Startup Repair and then run it. Note that this is a must-try option especially if you are unable to start your computer and if you can use your computer for a few moments.

Option 5 – Run the DISM tool

There are cases when the Machine Check Exception error is caused by the Windows System Image so you need to repair it using the DISM or Deployment Imaging and Servicing Management tool. The DISM tool is another command-line tool in the Windows operating system that could help users fix various corrupted system files. To use it, follow these steps:

• Open the Command Prompt as admin.
• Then type in this command: Dism /Online /CheckHealth
• Do not close the window if the process takes a while as it will probably take a few minutes to finish.

Option 6 – Try resetting the BIOS

If you have made some modifications in the BIOS that might have caused this error, you have to revert those changes to resolve the issue. On the other hand, if you have made a couple of changes and you do not remember which is which, you might have to reset the BIOS.

Option 7 – Try resetting Windows 10

To fix this BSOD error, you can try resetting Windows 10. Doing so won’t get rid of any file in your system – instead of erasing all your media files and documents, this reset option resets all the system settings and files.