How to Add Safe Mode to Windows 10 Boot Menu Options

A few days ago we celebrated fixing of months-long PrintNightmare vulnerability by Microsoft, sadly a new bug and issue have been found. Firstly discovered Microsoft stated:

A remote code execution vulnerability exists when the Windows Print Spooler service improperly performs privileged file operations. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could run arbitrary code with SYSTEM privileges. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights.

A few days ago, Microsoft officially released a patch that was supposed to finally fix it. As you might recall this vulnerability was present for quite some time, Microsoft's solution after a long struggle was to elevate certain privileges to administrator account only and remove user accounts from managing printers. It complicated things a little bit but it was stated payoff was worth it. The new issue now is that on a system that already had accounts created and set, old accounts still can hijack the system, patch issues address only accounts that are created after the fix is administrated, old ones can still do whatever they want. Once again of course Microsoft has stated that until it is again resolved you should again disable the Print Spooler service as a temporary workaround.

Setup has failed to determine install choices

Running the Windows Setup does not always go smoothly as you could encounter some errors along the way. One of these errors is the “Something happened, Setup has failed to determine supported install choices” error. The only given option in such cases is to click the Close button and exit the setup. This kind of error in Windows setup can occur when you try to downgrade to the previous version of Windows using the built-in mechanism. This error could be caused by a corrupted image or it is also possible that the set of files are incomplete. Aside from that, it could also be due to compatibility issues or that the module used to downgrade the Windows operating system is not configured properly. To fix this error, you have to run the Windows Setup program in compatibility mode so that you can downgrade Windows. You could also use the image for the lower version of Windows that’s available on the official site of Microsoft. But before you do any of these, make sure that you’re logged in as an administrator. To fix the “Something happened, Setup has failed to determine supported install choices” error, follow the given options below sequentially.

Option 1 – Try to run the Installer of the downgraded version in Compatibility Mode

This is the first thing you can try to resolve the issue instead of going right ahead on making a bootable device. So if you are downgrading Windows, you can try to run the installer in the compatibility mode for that specific Windows version.

Look for the setup file.
Once you find it, right-click on it and select Properties from the context menu.
After that, go to the Compatibility tab and mark the checkbox for “Run this program in compatibility mode for:” and from the drop-down list, select either Windows 7 or Windows 8.
You also have to check the “Run as administrator” option.
Now click the Apply button and then click OK to save the changes made and check if it has resolved the issue or not.

Option 2 – Try to troubleshoot compatibility

This option is almost the same as the first one except it is an alternative way of fixing the “Setup has failed to determine supported install choices” error in case the first one didn’t work. In this option, you will troubleshoot the compatibility issue.

Look for the setup file.
Then right-click on it and select the “Troubleshoot compatibility” from the context menu.
After that, click on the “Try recommended setting” option. Once the process is done, the error message should be gone.

Option 3 – Run the DISM tool

You can run the DISM tool as well to help fix the error code 0x80244022 during Windows Update. Using this built-in tool, you have various options such as the “/ScanHealth”, “/CheckHealth”, and “/RestoreHealth”.

Open the Command Prompt with admin privileges.
Then type in the following commands and make sure to hit Enter right after you type each one of them:
- Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
- Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
- exe /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 the image from the official site of Microsoft

If none of the options given above worked, you can try to use the image from Microsoft’s official site. This would help, especially if the error is caused by a corrupted image or image folder with incomplete files.

Fix Error 0x80070057 in Windows

Hello and welcome to another problem-solving tutorial on errortools.com. Today we will be solving error 0x80070057, we could not format the selected partition which occurs during setup and installation when performing a clean install of Windows from a USB drive. So, you have backed up your files and decided to format and do clean WIndows installation, you have your USB ready, you reboot the system, plug in USB, start Windows setup, choose the hard drive on which you want to do a clean install and then this happens. error 0x80070057

This error is very frustrating and it annoys pretty much anyone who encountered it but do not worry we have a solution for you. First thing is to confirm the error prompt, Click on the OK button and then on X to exit Windows 10 installation wizard. Click on yes to confirm that you want to exit the setup. You will find yourself in original installation windows. On that screen choose and click on Repair your computer. Choose an option screen that will pop up, click on Troubleshoot. In the advanced options, click on the command prompt. Once you are in command prompts type DISKPART and hit ENTER In the diskpart prompt type LIST DISK and hit ENTER again. type SELECT DISK #, where # is listed disk number where you would like to install Windows. type LIST VOLUME in order to list volumes in the selected disk and hit ENTER You need to select the volume on which you would like to place your WINDOWS, to do this type in SELECT VOLUME #, where # is the listed number of the volume Finally, type FORMAT FS=NTFS and hit ENTER You have successfully formated a given volume, you can now exit DISKPART and return to setup, to exit DISKPART simply type exit and hit ENTER. Leave command prompt as well by again typing exit and hitting ENTER You will be returned to Choose an option screen, click on Turn off your PC. Your drive has been successfully formatted and it is ready for clean Windows installation, you can now restart your Windows 10 installation and the process will complete without errors.

FreeDownloadManager Removal Tutorial

Free Download Manager is a software program developed by FreeDownloadManager.ORG. According to the publisher:

This software downloads files and converts videos. Its features include integration with all browsers, support of downloads from RapidShare, BitTorrent support, adjusting traffic usage, resuming broken downloads, and adds BitTorrent support, flash video download, upload manager, portable mode, and remote control.

During setup, the program creates a startup registration point in Windows in order to automatically start when any user boots the PC. It adds a browser extension to help it cache files you are downloading over your browser. The software is designed to connect to the internet and adds a Windows Firewall exception in order to do so without being interfered with. It also hooks up to start automatically and cache every download even if it's turned off.

This software comes bundled with video converters that some anti-virus programs marked as malware and therefore it is considered a potentially unwanted program.

About Potentially Unwanted Applications

If you’ve ever downloaded freeware or shareware, odds are high that your computer can get installed with a bunch of unwanted programs. These unwanted applications, officially known as Potentially Unwanted Programs (PUPs), often come bundled with other software and install themselves on user’s computers without their knowledge. They might not look like computer viruses to some individuals, but they can create huge annoyances and lead to serious difficulties for users. It’s clear by its name – unwanted programs – but did not really constitute “malware” in the traditional sense. What makes a PUP different from malware is the fact that when you download one, you’re doing it with your approval – even though in most cases unconsciously and unwillingly. Nevertheless, there is no doubt that PUPs continue to be bad news for PC users as they can be incredibly detrimental to your computer in several ways.

How does unwanted software affect you?

Unwanted programs come in various forms. Usually, they could be found in adware bundlers that are known to use aggressive and deceptive advertising. The majority of bundlers install multiple adware applications from a number of companies, each of which has its own EULA policy. Safebytes Anti-Malware entirely eliminates this threat and safeguards your PC against PUP or adware infection. They will also come in the form of web browser extension add-ons and toolbars. Not just they needlessly fill up space on your computer screen, toolbars could also manipulate search results, keep an eye on your web browsing activities, decrease your internet browser’s efficiency, and slow down your net connection to a crawl. Potentially unwanted programs utilize aggressive distribution methods to get in your computer. They will often include things like information gathering code that will collect and send your private information to other companies. Due to this unwanted program, your application may freeze, your security protections may get turned off that can leave your computer susceptible, your system could get damaged, and this list goes on and on.

Tips to prevent PUPs

• Always read the license agreement and privacy statement. Don’t agree unless you understand exactly what you are acknowledging. • Always choose “Custom” or “Advanced” installation and don’t blindly click the Next button, which will allow you to uncheck any foistware software programs you do not want. • Install an ad blocker/pop-up blocker; Add anti-malware products such as Safebytes Anti-Malware. These applications could establish a wall between the computer and cybercriminals. • Be alert if you install freeware, open-source programs, or shareware. Nowadays ‘freeware’ is not really freeware – but ‘crapware’ bundling nonsense. • Always download software from trusted sources like official websites instead of untrustworthy sharing space. Avoid file-hosting sites wherever possible.

Can't Install Safebytes Anti-malware due to the presence of Malware? Do This!

Malware could cause plenty of damage to your PC. Some malware types modify browser settings by including a proxy server or change the PC’s DNS configurations. In these cases, you’ll be unable to visit certain or all of the internet sites, and thus not able to download or install the required security software to remove the infection. If you are reading this article, you may have got infected by malware that stops you from installing a computer security program such as Safebytes Anti-Malware. There are some fixes you can attempt to get around with this obstacle.

Get rid of viruses in Safe Mode

In the event the malware is set to load at Windows startup, then booting in safe mode should avoid it. Only minimal required programs and services are loaded whenever you boot your PC in Safe Mode. To launch your Windows XP, Vista, or 7 computers in Safe Mode with Networking, do as instructed below. 1) Tap the F8 key continuously as soon as your PC boots, however, before the large Windows logo appears. This would conjure 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 should have an internet connection once again. Now, use your browser normally and navigate to https://safebytes.com/products/anti-malware/ to download and install Safebytes Anti-Malware. 4) Following installation, run a complete scan and let the software program remove the threats it discovers.

Obtain the anti-malware program using an alternate browser

Web-based viruses could be environment-specific, targeting a particular web browser or attacking particular versions of the web browser. In case you suspect that your Internet Explorer has been hijacked by a computer virus or otherwise compromised by online hackers, the most effective thing to do would be to switch to a different browser like Chrome, Firefox, or Safari to download your chosen computer security program – Safebytes Anti-Malware.

Run antivirus from your pen drive

Here’s yet another solution which is creating a portable USB antivirus software package that can scan your computer for malicious software without the need for installation. Try these simple steps to clear up your infected computer by using a portable antivirus. 1) On a virus-free PC, download and install Safebytes Anti-Malware. 2) Put the pen drive into the clean PC. 3) Double click on the downloaded file to open the installation wizard. 4) Choose the drive letter of the flash drive as the location when the wizard asks you where you want to install the antivirus. Follow the directions to finish the installation process. 5) Unplug the pen drive. Now you can utilize this portable anti-virus on the affected computer system. 6) Run the Safebytes Anti-malware directly from the USB drive by double-clicking the icon. 7) Click on “Scan Now” to run a scan on the infected computer for malware.

Features and Benefits of SafeBytes Anti-Malware

If you are looking to purchase anti-malware for your computer system, there are numerous brands and applications for you to consider. A few of them do a good job in getting rid of malware threats while some will ruin your PC by themselves. You must choose a product that has gained a good reputation and detects not only viruses but other kinds of malware too. Among few good programs, SafeBytes Anti-Malware is the strongly recommended software for the security-conscious user. SafeBytes anti-malware is a very effective and easy-to-use protection tool that is created for users of all levels of IT literacy. Once you’ve got installed this software program, SafeBytes superior protection system will make sure that no viruses or malware can seep through your computer. SafeBytes anti-malware provides an array of advanced features that sets it aside from all others. The following are some of the good ones: World-class AntiMalware Protection: Safebytes is made on the very best virus engine in the industry. These engines can detect and remove threats even during the early stages of a malware outbreak. Real-time Active Protection: SafeBytes provides complete and real-time security for your personal machine. It will monitor your personal computer for suspicious activity at all times and shields your PC from unauthorized access. Fast Multi-threaded Scanning: Safebytes Anti-Malware, using its advanced scanning engine, provides super-fast scanning that can immediately target any active online threat. Safe Web Browsing: Through its unique safety rating, SafeBytes notifies you whether a website is safe or not to access it. This will ensure that you’re always certain of your safety when browsing the online world. Lowest Memory/CPU Usage: This software is lightweight and will work silently in the background, and that does not have an effect on your PC efficiency. 24/7 Live Expert Support: You can obtain high levels of support round the clock if you’re using their paid software.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you wish to manually remove FreeDownloadManager 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 FreeDownloadManager

Files: C:WINDOWSsystem32netmsg.dll C:DocumentsUserLocalTempfdminst.exe C:DocumentsUserLocalTempis-FJKMF.tmpfdminst.tmp C:WINDOWSsystem32msctfime.ime C:DocumentsUserLocalTempis-FN3E3.tmp_isetup_shfoldr.dll C:WINDOWSsystem32shfolder.dll C:DocumentsUserLocalTempis-FN3E3.tmpfdminno.dll C:DocumentsUserLocalTempis-FN3E3.tmpnsProcessW_modified.dll C:WINDOWSsystem32shell32.dll C:Documents and SettingsUserStart Menudesktop.ini C:Documents and SettingsUserStart MenuProgramsdesktop.ini C:WINDOWSRegistrationR000000000007.clb C:WINDOWSwin.ini Registry: HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareCodeGearLocales HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareCodeGearLocales HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareBorlandLocales HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareBorlandDelphiLocales HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionIMM HKEY_USERSS-1-5-21-1547161642-507921405-839522115-1004SoftwareMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionAppCompatFlagsLayers HKEY_CURRENT_USERSOFTWAREMicrosoftCTF HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftCTFSystemShared HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionFontSubstitutes HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersion HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersion HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareFreeDownloadManager.ORGFree Download Manager 5 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPoliciesExplorer HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPoliciesExplorer HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionShellCompatibilityObjects20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309DInProcServer32 HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTDriveshellexFolderExtensions HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTDriveshellexFolderExtensionsfbeb8a05-beee-4442-804e-409d6c4515e9 HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerUser Shell Folders HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerUser Shell Folders HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESystemCurrentControlSetControlSession Manager HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerShell Folders HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerMountPoints2CPCVolume HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerMountPoints2CPCVolume475c7950-e3d2-11e0-8d7a-806d6172696f HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerMountPoints2CPCVolume475c7952-e3d2-11e0-8d7a-806d6172696f HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerMountPoints2475c7952-e3d2-11e0-8d7a-806d6172696f HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerMountPoints2475c7950-e3d2-11e0-8d7a-806d6172696f HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTDirectory HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTDirectoryCurVer HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTDirectory HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorer HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorer HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPoliciesSystem HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerAdvanced HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTDirectoryShellExIconHandler HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTDirectoryClsid HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTFolder HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTFolderClsid HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftwindowsCurrentVersionExplorerAutoComplete HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftwindowsCurrentVersionExplorerAutoComplete HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerAutoComplete HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerAutoComplete HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftCOM3 HKEY_USERSS-1-5-21-1547161642-507921405-839522115-1004_Classes HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesREGISTRYUSER HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID0BB2765-6A77-11D0-A535-00C04FD7D062 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID0BB2765-6A77-11D0-A535-00C04FD7D062TreatAs HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID0BB2765-6A77-11D0-A535-00C04FD7D062 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID0BB2765-6A77-11D0-A535-00C04FD7D062InprocServer32 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID0BB2765-6A77-11D0-A535-00C04FD7D062InprocServerX86 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID0BB2765-6A77-11D0-A535-00C04FD7D062LocalServer32 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID0BB2765-6A77-11D0-A535-00C04FD7D062InprocHandler32 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID0BB2765-6A77-11D0-A535-00C04FD7D062InprocHandlerX86 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID0BB2765-6A77-11D0-A535-00C04FD7D062LocalServer HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID0BB2765-6A77-11D0-A535-00C04FD7D062 HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID0BB2765-6A77-11D0-A535-00C04FD7D062TreatAs HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID3C036F1-A186-11D0-824A-00AA005B4383 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID3C036F1-A186-11D0-824A-00AA005B4383TreatAs HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID3C036F1-A186-11D0-824A-00AA005B4383 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID3C036F1-A186-11D0-824A-00AA005B4383InprocServer32 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID3C036F1-A186-11D0-824A-00AA005B4383InprocServerX86 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID3C036F1-A186-11D0-824A-00AA005B4383LocalServer32 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID3C036F1-A186-11D0-824A-00AA005B4383InprocHandler32 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID3C036F1-A186-11D0-824A-00AA005B4383InprocHandlerX86 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID3C036F1-A186-11D0-824A-00AA005B4383LocalServer HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID3C036F1-A186-11D0-824A-00AA005B4383 HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID3C036F1-A186-11D0-824A-00AA005B4383TreatAs HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID0BB2763-6A77-11D0-A535-00C04FD7D062 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID0BB2763-6A77-11D0-A535-00C04FD7D062TreatAs HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID0BB2763-6A77-11D0-A535-00C04FD7D062 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID0BB2763-6A77-11D0-A535-00C04FD7D062InprocServer32 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID0BB2763-6A77-11D0-A535-00C04FD7D062InprocServerX86 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID0BB2763-6A77-11D0-A535-00C04FD7D062LocalServer32 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID0BB2763-6A77-11D0-A535-00C04FD7D062InprocHandler32 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID0BB2763-6A77-11D0-A535-00C04FD7D062InprocHandlerX86 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID0BB2763-6A77-11D0-A535-00C04FD7D062LocalServer HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID0BB2763-6A77-11D0-A535-00C04FD7D062 HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID0BB2763-6A77-11D0-A535-00C04FD7D062TreatAs HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID3C036F1-A186-11D0-824A-00AA005B4383InProcServer32 HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClassesCLSID0BB2763-6A77-11D0-A535-00C04FD7D062InProcServer32 HKEY_CURRENT_USERsoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerAdvanced HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINEsoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerAdvanced HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionFontSubstitutes HKEY_USERSS-1-5-21-1547161642-507921405-839522115-1004 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionLanguagePackSurrogateFallback HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionUninstallFree Download Manager_is1 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionUninstallFree Download Manager_is1 HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareFreeDownloadManager.ORGFree Download ManagerSettingsCommunity HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareFreeDownloadManager.ORGFree Download ManagerSettingsNetworkBittorrent HKEY_CURRENT_USERKeyboard LayoutToggle HKEY_CURRENT_USERSOFTWAREMicrosoftCTFLangBarAddIn HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftCTFLangBarAddIn

What is and how to Remove Shortcut Virus

Shortcut virus is an easily spreadable and annoying combination of Worm and Trojan that hides all of your files and folders and then replaces them with shortcuts that look identical to replaced files and folders.

Once disguised it will wait patiently for a user's click and once that happens it will replicate itself and further infect the system. This rapid spread can lead to stolen personal data, some system hick-ups, and other system-related issues. This malware mainly affects physical file transfer devices like for example and most USB drives, hard drives, and SD memory cards and it can easily transfer itself to the computer. The advantage of this shortcut virus comparing it to others is that it is mostly undetected by a vast variety of antivirus software. So running just anti-virus software maybe not be enough to remove it from your system. Luckily for all unfortunate users that have caught this annoyance, it can be easily removed fully manually in a short time.

How to Remove Virus from USB and other removable media

Firstly plugin USB, SD, or removable drive. The infection will transfer to your computer when the infected drive is plugged in so before we go to clean the computer itself, clean each removable drive that you have. Also know that infection will spread from computers into removable devices as well if it is not cleaned. Open the File Explorer and remember under which letter is removable drive registered. Open Command prompt but with administrator privileges and go to infected rive by typing its letter followed with “:” (for example D:) and press ENTER Once you have successfully gone to infected drive type in command prompt: Attrib -s -r -h /s /d *.* This will unlock all original files back into removable storage, next copy all files to your computer, and format the removable drive. Once the format is complete, unplug the removable device. Continue to clean all devices with the same method.

How to Permanently Remove a Shortcut Virus from Your PC

Now once we have cleaned all removable devices it is time to fully clean the PC Firstly open the task manager ( CTRL + SHIFT + ESC ), in the process tab find wscript.exe or wscript.vbs, right-click on it (or both if present), and select End Task. Now close the task manager and press Start. Inside start typing in registry editor to search for it and once found open it. Find the following key inside the registry editor: HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Run In the right panel, look for any strange-looking key names, such as odwcamszas, WXCKYz, OUzzckky, etc. For each one, run a Google search to see if it's related to shortcut viruses. If any returns a positive match, right-click on them and select Delete. !!! Accidentally deleting an important key can cause Windows to become unstable, so double-check everything !!!. Close the Registry Editor Now press ⊞ WINDOWS + R to open the run dialog and type in it Msconfig followed by ENTER. Once the System Configuration window opens go to the Startup tab. In the Startup tab, look for any strange-looking .EXE or .VBS programs, select each one and click Disable. Close the Window. Once again open the run dialog and type inside %TEMP% and press ENTER in order to open the Windows temp folder. Inside this folder delete everything. Next in the File explorer go to C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup Look for any strange-looking .EXE or .VBS files and delete them.

Internet, best or worst thing ever

Started as an internal network and has slowly expanded since 1960 internet has taken over the world. In the beginning, it was a means of information change but in the modern age you can run applications and virtual machines over the internet, you can stream video and audio, and you can communicate in real-time with someone on the other side of Earth.

With the internet growing so fast in such a small amount of time it is only logical and wise to take a step back and take a good look at what it offers now, what are great things about it and what are some of the worst.

Good sides of the internet

Information

There are a lot of advantages of the internet, first and foremost is information. Internet was made as an information exchange service and even today you can find a lot of various information about various topics that interest you. A site like Wikipedia is a completely free online encyclopedia and a lot of news companies have their own internet sites where you can find free information and news.

On the other hand, there are also websites like udemy, edx, Coursera, and many others that will offer you the education, some for free, some for money but you can get a glimpse and part of university quality education for just a fraction of price.

Online shopping

Sites like Amazon have used the internet and launched themselves as today's multi-billion companies. In today's world, there is not a single thing you can not buy online. Many sites today are going from the large online marketplace where you can find everything to small niche specialized ones. Also every major brand in the world today has its own online store.

Other shops will offer you music, movies, games, etc. Services like steam, xbox pass, sony pass etc, will let you buy games online, other music, movies, and many more.

Streaming services

Days, when you had to buy movies in order to watch them at home, are gone, thanks to the internet we have plenty of streaming services for movies and tv shows as well as ones for music. If you do not want to spend money on actually purchasing things then a good idea is to have a streaming plan set up when you want it.

Email and messaging

Communication is a great thing and since the dawn of mankind people have been talking and sharing with each other, the internet has made it possible to send mail electronically and instantly and modern chat communication is everywhere. We can not just talk with our friends and family that can be on the other side of the world, we can also talk in real-time with the sales representative, with technical service, or attend online classes with a group of people.

Cloud storage services

Saving your pictures in this digital media age on the hard drive can be risky but thanks to modern technologies you can save most of your precious files on cloud servers for safekeeping. From pictures to documents and even other files that you need and want to save. There are some of them that will offer you a free amount and some basic free plans as well.

Bad sides of the internet

Malware, viruses, and phishing

We could not talk about the bad side of the internet if we do not mention its greatest threat. Bad sites, infected software, phishing emails, and many more malicious threats. Problem is that these kinds of tricks and attacks have become more and more sophisticated and harder to detect and avoid.

Pornography

Pornography is bad, having it freely available to children is even worse. Sadly the only way to regulate this is on a computer-by-computer basis by turning on parent control on each one. There are many studies that go into detail about why this is bad, sadly currently there are no effective ways to isolate this content.

No privacy

When we say there is no privacy we do not mean by using social media and not setting your privacy settings altho that also fits in this point, what we are talking about is data mining of your habits and things you do. It is well known that today lot of websites are using some form of AI recommender system in order to tailor your internet experience to suit your needs better. Most of these AI systems are trained by mining your data and analyzing your habits.

If you have 2 google accounts there is a high probability chance that for the same query you will get different results, depending on your so far browsing habits. The same goes for other services as well.

Dark webshops

There are some great things in dark and deep WEB-like sites with true news and information. Even some legit libraries where you can find and download rare books. Sadly as goes with the internet dark and deep WEB also has its well, dark sides, from disturbing content to shops that sell stolen items to straight stealing your money by parading as legit shops but only to steal your money.

Dating sites

We all try to find someone that is perfectly matched with us but using the online dating site has many proven bad effects on psychology. It also devaluates interaction between people and can lower self-esteem.

Bad habits

Since the internet has become wildly available and popular on various devices like tablets and mobile phones more and more people are spending an unhealthy amount of time on it. Harvesting the benefits of the internet is great but find some time for other people as well.

Taskbar has disappeared from the Desktop

As you know, the Taskbar is one of the integral parts of the Windows desktop and it has been there since the release of Windows 1.0 and up until now with Windows 10. Since then, Microsoft has been modifying the Taskbar with a new design which makes it a home for new features such as Windows Search, Task View, and many more. However, there are times when you may that the Taskbar has disappeared or has stopped responding. If you experience either one of these scenarios, read on as this post will walk you through what you can do to resolve the problem. Here are some suggestions you can check out to resolve the issue with the Taskbar in Windows 10 but before you proceed, make sure that you create a System Restore point first. To do that, follow these steps:

In the Start search, type in “create a restore point” and click the entry “System Properties”.
Next, select the main system drive under Protection Settings and click on the Configure button.
After that, select the “Turn on system protection” option and then click on the Apply and OK buttons to save the changes made.

Once you’ve created a System Restore point, refer to the troubleshooting steps below to fix the Taskbar in Windows 10.

Option 1 – Try to restart the Explorer process

This may sound really basic but it actually is a proven method to fix the Taskbar issue. So if anything gets stuck on the system tray or the Taskbar, you can always fix it by restarting the explorer.exe. How? Refer to these steps:

First, right-click on the Taskbar and select the Task Manager.
After opening the Task Manager, go to the Processes tab and look for the process named “Windows Explorer”.
Then right-click on that process and select the option to Restart. Afterward, you should now be seeing the Taskbar as this will reload the whole Windows Shell.

Option 2 – Unhide the Taskbar using the Settings app

It is possible that the Taskbar could be hidden so you can try to unhide it using the Settings app.

Tap the Win + I keys to open Settings.
After that, go to Personalization > Taskbar.
From the main section, make sure that the “Automatically hide the task in desktop mode” is toggled to the off position. However, if it’s already off then proceed to the next options below.

Option 3 – Make sure that you are not in Tablet Mode

Since Windows 10 is designed to work on both desktop and mobile devices, it could be that your computer has slipped into Tablet Mode which explains why you’re not seeing the Taskbar. To check if your computer is really in Tablet Mode, follow these steps:

Go to the Start menu and select Settings.
Next, select the System setting and from the left pane select the Tablet Mode.
From there, make sure that the buttons next to the options given below are set to the off position:
- Hide app icons on the taskbar in tablet mode
- Automatically hide the taskbar in tablet mode

Option 4 – Try to check the Projection Settings

You might also want to check the Projection settings as it could be the reason why Taskbar has disappeared.

Tap the Win + P keys to open the Windows Projection settings.
Next, make sure that you select the “PC screen only” option and then check if your Taskbar has now appeared or not.

Fix nVIDIA driver issues in Windows 10

nVIDIA is one of the behemoths of the GPU world, but that not means that they are perfect and that they do not make mistakes, throw WIndows in the mix, and sometimes you have issues with your nVIDIA display drivers for various reasons which could get very unpleasant. But do not worry, we have your back and in this article, we will focus and help you to resolve common nVIDIA driver issues. So sit back and let's start with the repairs.

Rollback to the previous driver and stop automatic updates.
nVIDIA sometimes publishes really messy drivers which can really cause some serious issues, if by any chance you managed to be unlucky enough to get this kind of driver, do not despair, roll back to the previous working version and wait for the fix. To stop Windows from doing automatic driver updates, navigate to Control Panel > System & Security > System > Advanced System Settings > Hardware > Device Installation Settings. Then choose "No (your device might not work as expected)". Once you have turned off automatic driver updates, uninstall your current driver and install the previous version from the official nVIDIA website. Reboot your system
Reinstall nVIDIA driver
Reinstalling the driver might fix the issue if by any chance driver files got corrupted during download for example. First, you will need to delete some files in order to perform a clean installation. Log in as administrator if you are not one and delete following files and folders: C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nvdsp.inf fileC:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nv_lh fileC:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nvoclock fileC:\Program Files\NVIDIA Corporation\C:\Program Files (x86)\NVIDIA Corporation\Reboot your system Start driver installation again, choose custom installation, then clean install.
Update driver in the Device Manager
If driver updates for any reason can not work via the official install package from nVDIDA, try updating the driver in the Device Manager Navigate to Device Manager, expand graphic adapters, right-click on your nVIDIA device and click on update driver. Reboot your system

That's it, 3 solutions on how to remove, reinstall and update your nVIDIA driver, thank you for reading and I hope to see you again.

Mapped network drives are not working

When you have to connect to a drive that’s on a different computer or on external storage, that’s where the mapped network drives come in. Mapped network drives make accessing files a lot easier. However, there are times when it won’t work for some reason. Windows will notify you about the unavailability of mapped network drives in several ways. For one, Windows might display a red X on the network drives or it could be that its status will be unavailable when you try to use it from the Command Prompt or via a notification. It is recommended that you run a few scripts when you log in to your PC as it may so happen that the network drive takes more than usual to connect. Before you start troubleshooting the problem using the given options below, keep in mind that some workouts might only work under certain scenarios. You might need some network access at logon or you might need access to the Group Policy settings. So you need to choose what you prefer more. You can try the given workarounds below if the mapped network drives are not showing or connecting or working on your Windows 10 computer. These workarounds use scripts to make sure that you are connected to them as soon as you start to use your PC. As mentioned, before you can troubleshoot, you need to create scripts first. There are two scripts here namely MapDrives.ps1 which is executed by the second script named MapDrives.cmd and is done at a regular and non-elevated Command Prompt. Follow the steps below to get started.

You have to create a script file named “MapDrives.cmd” first and then save it on a place where the files are safe. To do that, open a text editor like Notepad and then copy and paste the following script:

PowerShell -Command "Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope CurrentUser Unrestricted" >> "%TEMP%StartupLog.txt" 2>&1 PowerShell -File "%SystemDrive%ScriptsMapDrives.ps1" >> "%TEMP%StartupLog.txt" 2>&1

After that, save the file and name it “MapDrives.cmd”.
Next, create a script file named “MapDrives.ps1” and then copy and paste the following content. Just make sure to save both scripts in the same folder.

$i=3 while($True){ $error.clear() $MappedDrives = Get-SmbMapping |where -property Status -Value Unavailable -EQ | select LocalPath,RemotePath foreach( $MappedDrive in $MappedDrives) { try { New-SmbMapping -LocalPath $MappedDrive.LocalPath -RemotePath $MappedDrive.RemotePath -Persistent $True } catch { Write-Host "There was an error mapping $MappedDrive.RemotePath to $MappedDrive.LocalPath" } } $i = $i - 1 if($error.Count -eq 0 -Or $i -eq 0) {break} Start-Sleep -Seconds 30 } Note: Now that you’ve created the script files, it’s time for you to proceed to the options given below.

Option 1 – Try creating a startup item

Note that this option only works on devices that have network access at login. So if it’s not there, the script will fail to reconnect the network drivers automatically. To create a startup item, here’s what you have to do:

Open the Startup folder located at %ProgramData%MicrosoftWindowsStart MenuProgramsStartUp.
From there, copy and paste the MapDrives.cmd.
After that, open the Scripts folder located at %SystemDrive%Scripts copy-paste MapDrives.ps1 and then copy and paste MapDrives.ps1 in there.

Note: After you complete the steps above, a log file named “StartupLog.txt” will be created in the %TEMP% folder. Now all that’s left for you to do is to log out of your computer and then log back in. This will ensure that the mapped drives are open.

Option 2 – Create a scheduled task

It is possible to create a scheduled task that runs as soon as you log in to your computer. To create a scheduled task, follow the steps below.

You have to copy the MapDrives.ps1 script file to the scripts folder of Windows located at %SystemDrive%Scripts.
After that, open the Task Scheduler and select Action > Create Task.
Next, type a name and description of the task in the General tab.
Then click on the Change User or Group button and select a local user group and click OK.
Now check the box labeled “Run with highest privileges” and switch to the Triggers tab.
From there, create a new trigger with the “At Logon” option in the Begin the task drop-down menu and then click OK.
After that, switch to the Actions tab and create a new action then choose to Start a program.
Next, type “Powershell.exe” in the Program/Script field, and in the Add arguments (optional) field, type the following:

-windowsstyle hidden -command .MapDrives.ps1 >> %TEMP%StartupLog.txt 2>&1

And in the Start in the (optional) field, type “%SystemDrive%Scripts” as the location of the script file.
Now under the Conditions tab, select the “Start only if the following network connection is available” option and then select Any connection and click OK.
Restart your computer or log off from your account and then log back in so that the task will be executed.

Option 3 – Use the Group Policy settings

You need this option if the mapped network drives are defined via Group Policy settings. You have to update the action of the drive maps to Replace. As a result, it will delete the existing mapped drive and create the mapping on each logon again. However, any settings on the mapped drive that are changed from the Group Policy settings will be gone on each logon. So if the changes don’t work, you need to run the gpupdate command together with the /force parameter in order to refresh the Group Policy setting quickly.

How to Fix Error Code 0x800ccc0f

Error code 0x800ccc0f - What is it?

Error code 0x800ccc0f is an error that occurs when users attempt to send/receive emails in Outlook or Outlook Express. Though information regarding the error is limited and sometimes difficult to decipher to those unfamiliar with error code issues, the following are possible symptoms users can expect when this error occurs:

Unexpected termination of the connection
Inability to access email messages sent to one’s account
Inability to send email messages

Solution

Error Causes

Errors in Outlook or Outlook Express may occur due to a multiplicity of reasons. It may be due to a problem with your network connection or the server. You may also encounter this problem after an extended period of inactivity.

Since the error could be due to one of many issues, several solutions are recommended. However, note that these suggestions require you to make changes that come with various risks. Be sure to implement these instructions correctly to avoid causing more problems to occur.

If you are not confident that you will be able to successfully implement the solutions below, get help from a certified Windows technician or IT professional.

Further Information and Manual Repair

As with other error codes, manual procedures are available which users can take to correct the problem. To implement manual repair, follow the methods suggested below:

Method one: Troubleshoot your Internet Connection

Since error code 0x800ccc0f may manifest itself due to an issue with your network, you can seek to rectify the problem by first checking your connection. To do this, open an Internet browser. Type a valid web address in the address bar and click Enter.

If you are unable to access the website, you may then seek to fix the Internet connectivity issue by using Microsoft Automated Troubleshooting Services. These free tools are available for download on Microsoft’s website.

Not only can these tools fix your Windows Firewall – if this is the cause of your connectivity issues. These automated troubleshooting tools can also resolve other issues related to your Internet browser or network.

However, if after downloading and running these tools error code 0x800ccc0f still persists in Outlook or Outlook Express, implement the solution below.

Method two: Verify your Network Connection

Verifying your network connection is another way you can resolve your Outlook issues, i.e. once the issue is in fact a network-based problem.

To verify your network connection, make sure your computer’s network devices are turned on and fully functioning. Also ensure that the cables that connect your computer to a network are secure. You may also contact your Internet Service Provider (ISP) to verify your connection.

If there is no issue with your network and error code 0x800ccc0f persists, you will need to implement method three.

Method three: Check your Firewall or Router Settings

Problems with sending or receiving email messages based on the 0x800ccc0f error code could also be due to configuration issues for individuals who connect using a router. If this is a misconfiguration issue, you may be able to resolve the problem by bypassing the router and connecting through your modem.

Before doing this, however, be sure to check if your firewall is turned on as connecting directly can leave your machine vulnerable. Prevent attacks by checking your Windows Firewall setting. After making adjustments where necessary to ensure the firewall is turned on, test your connectivity to ensure you can access a connection. Also, check Outlook to see whether the error message has been resolved. If the error persists, consider the next solution.

Method four: Disable Third-party Security Apps

Third-party apps like anti-virus software can sometimes cause interference, leading to errors. For this reason, check if the antivirus on your device is the source of the issue. Start by disabling the antivirus software. You may also turn off the software’s email scanning feature to verify whether or not that is the cause of the error.

Note that disabling your antivirus is only a temporary solution as it is not recommended that you use your computer without such protection in place. Consider replacing your antivirus or uninstalling and reinstalling for a permanent fix if indeed your issue with error code 0x800ccc0f was caused by interference from third-party apps.

Method five: Automated Tool

Also, consider downloading a powerful automated tool to protect your machine from possible errors in the future.

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