Hide application and features in control panel

Program and features are Control panel section where once accessed contains all programs installed on the operating system. From these windows, any logged-in user can modify applications, uninstall them, etc. If for whatever reason you want to limit this access to users and remove this group from the control panel please do keep reading as we show you how you can achieve this desired result using two methods: via policy editor or registry editor. Feel free to use any provided method as both works (except on Windows 10 Home edition) and achieve the same thing, it all comes down to preferred preference on how you wish to do things.

Local group policy editor method

This method is more straightforward and easier perhaps than its counterpart but it has one significant drawback, it will not work on Windows 10 Home edition which does not have in itself a policy editor included. If you are using Windows 10 Home edition then feel free to skip this method and do it via registry editor. That being said let's start:

  • Press ⊞ WINDOWS + R to open the run dialog
  • Inside run dialog type in gpedit.msc followed by ENTER to open Group policy editor
  • Go to User Configuration\ Administrative Templates\ Control Panel\ Programs\
  • Double-click on the setting named Hide Programs and Features page
  • Change the toggle option from Not Configured to Enabled
  • Click on the Apply button and then the Ok button to save the changes
  • at this point, everything is supposed to be applied and your changes should take effect immediately. However, it has come to our attention that sometimes this is not the case. If you are one of these users which for whatever reason have not experienced applying to set momentarily do not despair and follow this quick guide on how to refresh settings and apply them right away.
  • Press ⊞ WINDOWS + X to open the hidden menu
  • Click on command prompt (admin)
  • In command prompt type in gpupdate /force and press ENTER in order to force update and set setting right away

Registry editor method

The registry editor method is a more complex one but it will be your only way of doing it if as mentioned you are running Windows 10 Home edition. As always it is highly recommended to make a backup of the Windows registry before tempering with it.

  • Press ⊞ WINDOWS + R to open the run dialog
  • Inside run dialog type in regedit and press ENTER to open the registry editor
  • If you would like to make a backup of the Windows registry go to File > Export and save the backup on a secure location naming it as you wish
  • Locate the following key inside the registry editor HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Programs
  • Right-click on the right pane of the Programs key and choose the New > DWORD (32-bit) Value option
  • Name the value as NoProgramsAndFeatures
  • Double-click on the NoProgramsAndFeatures value to open it
  • Change the value data to 1
  • Save the changes
  • Reboot the computer in order for changes to take effect.

note: you can always change values back in order to show again panel by changing the value to 0 in registry editor or choosing Not Configured or Disabled in the local group policy editor

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if you were following our articles you are aware that Windows 10 has a build-in-game mode that you can summon by pressing ⊞ WINDOWS + G. But did you know that you can use this to capture and record your screen? Hello and welcome to another great tutorial about how to get the maximum out of your Windows 10, today our topic will be recording your screen using Windows 10 game mode.
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Option 2 – Use the Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter

You might also try running the Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter as it can help in resolving issues with the Windows Store apps. This built-in tool can resolve most of the app-related problems. To use it, go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshooting > Windows Store Apps and from there, click the start the troubleshooter button. The Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter will scan the computer for any issues with the Windows store apps and will automatically fix them if it finds any.

Option 3 – Re-register all the Windows 10 UWP apps using PowerShell

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Option 4 – Try to run the DISM tool

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Switching to Dark mode in Windows 11

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Everything You Need to Know About Disk Partitioning

Disk partitioning is a concept that’s been around for so long, but is still only familiar to few. If done right, it can help get your computer in perfect order. 

Today we bring you a simple definition of disk partitioning, its pros and cons, and a quick tip on how to do it properly to reap its full benefit!

Definition and purpose

The simplest way to define disk partitioning would be: it’s exactly what it sounds like. It means taking a hard disk drive and separating it into different segments. These segments are called partitions. You can visualize it as cutting a cake into smaller pieces - not necessarily of the same size, though. 

So what is the purpose of these pieces?

Well, when you first get a hard drive, it’s basically just a bunch of unallocated storage space. Until there’s at least one partition, this space is unusable to your operating system. Once you create a partition, your OS will recognize it as usable storage space. 

You can choose to create a single partition and use it for all your files, from program files to personal data. A lot of off-the-shelf computers come with one primary partition like this and a small secondary one reserved for recovery purposes. 

Whether or not you want to split your disk into more than one segment is up to you. We would generally recommend it, though. The whole point of partitioning is for each segment to have its own purpose.

So treating all your storage space as a single unit containing different file types would be like constructing an office building with only one massive room for everything - day-to-day work, conferences, interviews, etc. And all of this for different departments of the company. You can see how this might get a little messy.

Creating multiple partitions eliminates the task of running several different types of files from the same place. This takes a heavy load off the entire process of accessing data.

Disk partitioning also brings a ton of other benefits to the table. An important disclaimer, though: there are disadvantages too. We will walk you through both sides to help you get an objective idea and make an informed decision.

Several 4TB hard disks in a unit.
Source: Kina on Unsplash

What are the benefits of disk partitioning?

1. Better file organization

This is the most obvious and perhaps the biggest advantage of partitioning your hard drive. 

As we already mentioned, partitioning allows you to create separate segments for different file and data types. You wouldn’t want to use the same partition for your system files and for games, would you? 

If organization and time management are important to you, then multiple partitions are the right solution. Searching for specific files will be much easier overall. Say you have one hard drive, but three partitions: C for the system files alone, D for multimedia files and documents, and E for games and apps. Your computer loads the system from C without interference from the other two, and you know exactly where to look when searching for a file.

2. Easy reinstallation

File management isn’t the only thing made faster and simpler thanks to partitioning. If you opt for creating multiple segments on your drive, reinstalling Windows will be easy peasy. 

That’s because all you need to do is format the partition your system is on. Then you reinstall the OS on it, and there you go. Now you have a clean installation, with all your files saved on other partitions intact. You can even make a copy of your system partition, so you can revisit the exact same installation in the future if you want. And the whole time your pictures, music, documents stay exactly where you left them. 

A laptop with list of apps on a desk.
Source: Andrew M on Unsplash

3. Possibility of using multiple file systems

By now you’ve understood that partitions function completely separately. This means that, if for some reason you need multiple file system capabilities, partitioning will allow that.

One segment could be used for, say, an NTFS file system, while another could run ext or APFS.

4. Running different OSes

You’re an avid Windows user but need to use Linux on the side? No problem. You don’t need to buy a separate computer or anything. The possibility of running different file systems also means you can use partitioning to run multiple operating systems.

Doesn’t that sound enticing? One machine for multiple totally different uses!

5. Backup and recovery made simple

Data loss can happen on any disk, partitioned or not. However, it’s much easier to get it back on a partitioned one. You know where you stored what, and each partition can be backed up exactly as it is. It’s also a lot faster to back up single partitions than entire hard drives.

Ultimately this also means a faster path to recovery. If you lose or accidentally delete important files and data, you might want to use a recovery tool like Recuva to scan for them and get them back. Recuva is even powerful enough to recover data from damaged hard drives. But no matter how powerful, scanning a whole drive is strenuous for any recovery tool. Scanning independent partitions is a lot more convenient than that, and will get you to your goal more efficiently.

6. Optimized performance

Now, let’s keep in mind that computer performance is influenced by a number of factors. Partitioning alone isn’t what makes it better or worse. However, it can contribute to optimization. It’s easier for your computer to scan, say, a 40 GB partition to fetch the system file it needs than scanning the entire capacity of your drive.

7. Improved security (possibly*)

Separate partitions can help make your system more secure. Firstly, they minimize file corruption. If one partition gets corrupted, the others should remain unaffected. And keeping in mind the previous point about backup and recovery, ‘fixing’ the damaged partition would be much easier than fixing the entire hard drive. 

Partitioning also improves security in terms of malware protection. A malicious attack on one partition is easier to deal with than malware on the whole drive. If your system partition gets infected, you can simply reinstall your OS and that should do the trick.

*Do keep in mind that partitioning can’t defend you against more advanced attacks. So make sure not to give in to a false sense of security.

What are the disadvantages of partitioning?

1. Data is still vulnerable

Yes, it’s easier to back up and recover data from independent partitions. And yes, partitioning may help protect separated files and data to a higher degree. But remember: everything is still on a single physical drive. So while digital errors and issues may be easier to deal with on partitioned drives, physical damage obviously won’t be.

If your hard drive is destroyed in some way, all data on it will be gone. That’s why, if you have crucial files on your PC, it’s important to give them the proper backup treatment before it’s too late.

2. Disbalance of space

Allocating storage space on separate partitions may be a little more tricky than you think. You may fill up one partition a lot faster than another. So on one side you’re struggling with space, and on another you have too much of it to spare. Imagine nearly filling up your system partition and then it turns out you need a lot more space for its updates than you thought.

That’s why you really have to be sure you actually have enough files of different types that you need help managing efficiently. Otherwise you’ll just create a struggle and disbalance in terms of storage.

3. Increased risk of error

If done incorrectly, partitioning can lead to more harm than good. Aside from space disbalance, there is an increased risk of incorrect partition sizes and formatting. Plus, human error is also a factor: in a moment of distraction, you may erase one partition when you meant another. Undoing such mistakes will definitely be tedious and time-consuming.

4. SSDs eliminate the need of partitioning

SSDs (solid-state drives) don’t function in the same way that HDDs do. They have faster read times and can organize files on their own. This quite literally eliminates the need for organization on your part.

Partitioning: yes or no?

The bottom line is that multiple partitions might not be necessary for the average user. But if you’re planning on storing many file types or different file and operating systems on the same PC, then you should give it a shot. It’s also an excellent solution for businesses, of course.

And if our pros and cons list isn’t enough to help you decide, you can always send us a message and we’ll help you make the right choice.

Decided to partition your hard drive?

If you’ve decided to give it a go, you definitely should make sure to do it right. 

The two most effective and reliable ways to partition are using the built-in options on Windows or investing in a dedicated partitioning tool, like the EaseUS Partition Master. Which one you'll opt for depends on your specific needs. 

Option 1 may be more suitable for users with at least some level of experience. In this case, you’d have to know exactly which steps to take without making errors. This is done in Disk Management on Windows 10/11. From there, you can select the partitions you’d like to split into different volumes of selected sizes.

If this is your first time partitioning, we highly suggest you either consult professionals for this or move on to option 2. The EaseUS partitioning software is specifically designed for beginners, with an intuitive interface helping you succeed in the process. All you need to do is pick the Partition Master package tailored to your needs and follow their guide

Each package offers technical support as well, and even free upgrades (to varying degrees based on your subscription). Plus, all of this is valid for not one, but two PCs.

It’s the perfect solution for a smooth and error-free partitioning process. If you want to organize your hard drives efficiently and make the most of all your space without doing irreparable damage, it’s definitely worth the investment.

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Microsoft project Volterra

Microsoft will soon offer 4 CPU computer specifically aimed at developers and its name is Volterra. The machine as stated will come with 4 processors but the strange thing is that they will be ARM-based instead of x86.

CEO of Microsoft, mister Satya Nadella has introduced the product and Microsoft has released a youtube video promoting it.

https://youtu.be/yICVNta8jMU

The computer system will have Qualcomm's NPU or built-in neural processing unit to use AI's power to help developers write and produce better and faster code. The sad news is that besides processors used there is no other information on other components that will go into this system.

As seen in the video, the computer reminds me a lot of the apple MAC mini with its size and design, and as stated it is made from recycled plastic which in our opinion will bring the price under $1000.

Microsoft has not provided an official price tag for Volterra, but our hope is that it will be more affordable than building your own development PC. Also, there was nothing said about computer availability, we suspect that the selling model will be typical Microsoft one with first models available only in the USA and moving forward slowly opening it to other markets.

Volterra specifications

As previously said nothing except the number of CPUs and their type has been officially said but we managed to get some information about some other specific things not including its inside components.

microsoft volterra

The unit will have a fan inside of it for cooling purposes and better performance and that is what was officially stated by Microsoft. On the outside, it is known that the computer will have three USB-A ports, a mini DisplayPort, and an ethernet input. All of these will be positioned on the back of the device, on its left side there will be two USB-C ports.

The unit itself will be running on Windows 11 but it was not disclosed anything about the version, we presume since this is a model aimed for professional use that it will come with Windows 11 PRO version.

Currently available tools for ARM

Since this product is aimed at developers logically support for developing software is a must-have and at the time of this writing software that will come and that will run on Volterra is:

  • Visual Studio 2022
  • Visual Studio Code
  • Visual C++
  • Modern .NET 6 & JAVA
  • Classic .NET
  • Windows Terminal
  • Windows Subsystem for Android
  • Windows Subsystem for Linux

Conclusion

Once MAC studio has been released it showed that specific builds have their audience and can be sold for less of a price than full-fledged custom-made workstations. There is no doubt that Microsoft Volterra will find its audience but will that be enough to have more versions of this compact computer only time will tell.

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Option 1 – Reboot your router

The first thing you can try to do to fix the error is to simply restart your router. All you need to do is reboot the router from its Admin panel or you can also turn it off manually and turn it back on after a couple of seconds so that it can completely reboot. Once you’re done, try accessing your server again and see if the error is now fixed.

Option 2 – Try to update TeamViewer on both users’ end

You might have to update the TeamViewer on both ends and to do that, you need to start the TeamViewer installer again. Once it is installed, run the program and click on the Help option in the Menu ribbon and then select the “Check for updates…” option. If an update is found, you will be notified within a couple of seconds through a pop-up mini window. From there, click on Update and then follow the next onscreen instructions that appear and choose your TeamViewer version to update.

Option 3 – Try reinstalling TeamViewer via the Unattended Remote Access

If the first two given options didn’t work, you might have to reinstall TeamViewer from the Windows 10 Settings app or Control Panel.
  • Tap the Win + R keys to launch the Run utility and type “regedit” in the field and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor.
  • Here, navigate to this registry key: Computer HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE SOFTWARE Wow6432Node TeamViewer
  • Next, look for the TeamViewer key and right-click on it, and select Delete.
  • After that, restart your PC to apply the changes made and then start TeamViewer again, and then click on Connection > Open Management Console.
  • Then sign in or sign up to get registered and select the Add new device radio button under Add > Add computer located on the top-right corner and then select the Download now option.
  • Now follow the next onscreen instructions that appear to complete the installation and then check if it fixes the problem or not.

Option 4 – Try reconfiguring the Remote Access

You can also try to reconfigure Remote Access in case there is some misconfiguration that might have caused the problem with TeamViewer.
  • On your Desktop, right-click on This PC and click on Properties.
  • Next, go to the left side of the navigation panel and click on Remote Settings.
  • From there, make sure that the “Allow Remote Assistance Connections to this computer” checkbox is checked under the Remote Assistance section.
  • Once done, click on the Advanced button. This will open a new mini window where you’ll have to check the “Allow this computer to be controlled remotely” option under the Remote Control section.
  • Then click on OK and see if it fixed the problem.

Option 5 – Try to kill any conflicting processes

  • Tap the Ctrl + Shift + Esc key combination to open the Task Manager.
  • Then navigate to the Processes tab and right-click on the BGInfo process.
  • Now select the End Task option to kill its process and then start TeamViewer again and check if the problem is resolved.

Option 6 – Try to optimize the quality of connection

You need to take care of two things under this option – first, you have to disable the loading of the Wallpaper of the computer which is the one that you’re trying to access remotely. To do that, you have to select the Extras menu from the menu ribbon and then select Options. And under the Remote Control section, check the “Remove remote wallpaper” option. The next thing you have to do is to optimize the quality for the speed by selecting the “Optimize Speed” for the menu of Quality still under the Remote Control section.
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Mfplat.dll is missing or was not found
One of the primary packages that install the Windows Media Player is the Media Feature Pack among other related files that are needed by the associated software products. And one of the essential DLL files in that package is the mfplat.dll file which is needed by various games and streaming services. So if this DLL file goes missing, you will most likely encounter any of the following error messages:
  • “mfplat.dll missing”
  • “The application failed to start because mfplat.dll was not found.”
  • “The program can’t start because mfplat.dll is missing from your computer.”
In other circumstances, the Media Feature Package does not come pre-installed with the main Windows package especially for those who use Windows N, thereby causing the error to pop up. The main cause of this problem is that users who use Windows 10 N do not have the Media Feature pack pre-installed with the installation package. Aside from that, the installation package could go missing after a few Windows Updates or if you have uninstalled it by accident. To resolve this problem, you need to check out each one of the given options below.

Option 1 – Try to enable Media Playback via Command Prompt

If you encounter the mfplat.dll missing error when you attempt to run PLEX or other similar streaming service and you’ve already verified that the Media Feature Pack is indeed installed, you might want to try enabling it using an elevated Command Prompt. There are cases when a particular Windows Update ends up disabling the feature and creates the grounds which results in the mfplat.dll missing error. Thus, you can have to enable the feature via Command Prompt.
  • Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
  • Then type “cmd” in the field and hit Enter to open an elevated Command Prompt.
  • Next, click on Yes if a User Account Control prompt pops up.
  • After opening Command Prompt, copy and paste the following command and hit Enter to execute it:
dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:MediaPlayback
  • Close Command Prompt and then open the app once again to check if the problem is now fixed.

Option 2 – Try installing the Media Feature Pack for Windows 10 N version

As mentioned, the Windows 10 N version does not come with Windows Media Player. Meaning to say, the Media Feature Pack is also not installed by default or won’t be updated by the Windows Update component. So if you are not quite sure what Windows 10 version you currently have installed, refer to these steps:
  • Tap the Windows key + S and then type “about” in the search box.
  • From the search results, click on the “About your PC” to open the About tab of the Settings app.
  • Afterward, scroll down to the Windows specifications and check your Windows version under Edition.
Note: If you have verified that your PC is using the Windows 10 N version, you need to install the appropriate Media Feature Pack for your computer. How? Refer to the steps below:
  • Click this link to download and install the Media Feature Pack from Microsoft’s official website.
  • Upon installation, select the edition you want to install using the drop-down menu and then click on Confirm. Take note that there are few reasons why you’d want to install the older version since most streaming services like PLEX and most games usually require version 1803.
  • After that, wait until the request is validated. The download should begin in a few minutes automatically.
  • Once the download is completed, open the installation executable file and follow the next on-screen instructions to install the Media Feature Pack on your computer.
  • Restart your computer. After your computer has rebooted, open the application where you’re getting the mfplat.dll missing error and then check if the problem is now fixed.

Option 3 – Try to extract a copy of the mfplat.dll file from the windows.old directory

If you encounter the error shortly after you just upgraded to Windows 10 from an older version, the best thing you can do to resolve the problem is to use windows.old directory to fetch an old copy of the mfplat.dll file. To do so, follow the steps below.
  • Go to the Windows drive and then look for the windows.old directory where it preserves a copy of your old operating system as well as associated files in case something goes out of hand during the upgrade process.
  • After that, open the windows.old folder and then go to the syswow64 folder.
  • Next, from the syswow64 folder, copy the mfplat.dll file and paste it to C:/windows/syswow64.
  • Restart your computer and check if the error is now resolved or not.
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Restore default Display Color settings in Windows 10
The color settings in a Windows computer certainly matter a lot especially when it comes to printing pictures. Users who are found or edit photos for a living change their computer’s color settings in order to ensure that the printout looks like the actual colors. However, those settings might not be appropriate for computer display and you can really tell right away that there something’s not right in the display. You might also notice some weird tint which isn’t easy to get rid of. You can’t actually tell the difference at first, not until you look at some other computers and then wonder what’s wrong with yours so, in this guide, you will know how to restore the display color settings back to their default state on your Windows 10 PC. Make sure to follow each one of the steps laid out below carefully to restore the default Display Color settings.

Step 1: Set the Color Management Settings to default.

  • In the Start search box, type in “color management”. Once you see it in the search results, open it.
  • Once you’ve pulled up the Color Management window, go to the Advanced tab. From there, make sure that every single option is set to default – from all the options in both the “Windows Color System” and “ICC rendering intent to WCS gamut mapping”.
Note: You also have the option to reset it for everyone by simply clicking on the “Change system defaults” button.
  • Finally, you can also try to calibrate your display.

Step 2: Set the Graphics Properties to default.

After making changes in the Color Management settings, you need to also set the Graphics Properties to default.
  • Start by right-clicking on any empty space on your desktop.
  • Then select the Graphics properties from the context menu. From the Graphics properties window, you will see that most sections have to restore defaults.

Step 3: Try using Nvidia Color Settings for Desktop

The next thing you can try is using the Nvidia Color Settings if you have Nvidia graphics installed on your Windows 10 PC. Just the Control Panel to reset the color settings.
  • From the system tray, launch the Nvidia control panel.
  • Next, go to Display > adjust desktop color settings.
  • From there, select the display and then select the Nvidia Settings.
  • After that, change the options accordingly in order to get the correct combination though you can always leave them to default.
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