Change Font Size in Sticky Notes in Windows

The Get Coupons Fast Toolbar is a Browser Extension for Google Chrome developed by Mindspark Inc. This extension allows quick access to the most popular coupon websites available. While this might look like a good useful idea, keep in mind that it has been classified as a Browser Hijacker by Several anti-virus applications.

When installed this extension will hijack your new tab page, changing it to a customized version of Search.MyWay.com. While active It records user browser activity, this data is later used to better target ads. While browsing the internet with this extension installed you will see additional pop-up ads, sponsored content, and injected ads into your browser search results and pages. GetCouponsFast usually comes bundled with other PUP-s or Browser Hijackers that may harm your computer and it is recommended you remove it from your PC.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijacking means that a malicious code has taken control over and altered the settings of your internet browser, without your permission. They are created to disrupt browser functions for various reasons. It redirects you to the sponsored sites and inserts ads on your internet browser that assists its developer to generate revenue. While it might seem harmless, these tools were created by malicious people who always look to take advantage of you, so that they could make money from your naivety and distraction. They did not just ruin your browsers, but browser hijackers can also modify the system registry, making your computer or laptop susceptible to various other types of attacks.

Signs of browser hijacker infection

There are plenty of signs that indicate the web browser has been highjacked: 1. you notice unauthorized modifications to your web browser’s home-page 2. you find re-directed to internet sites you never intended to visit 3. the default browser configurations have been modified and/or your default web engine is altered 4. you’ll see many toolbars on your browser 5. you might see never-ending pop-up adverts on your computer screen 6. your browser has become unstable or starts running slowly 7. you are blocked to access the websites of antivirus solution providers.

How does a computer get infected with a browser hijacker?

Browser hijackers might use drive-by downloads or file-sharing networks or an email attachment in order to reach a targeted computer system. They could also come from add-on applications, also known as browser helper objects (BHO), web browser extensions, or toolbars. Some internet browser hijackers spread in user’s computers using a deceptive software distribution method called “bundling” (often through freeware and shareware). Browser hijackers will affect the user’s web browsing experience severely, monitor the websites visited by users and steal sensitive information, cause difficulty in connecting to the web, and eventually create stability problems, making programs and systems freeze.

Removal

Some hijackers can be simply removed by deleting the free software they were included with or by deleting any add-ons you have recently added to your browser. Unluckily, the majority of the software applications utilized to hijack an internet browser are deliberately designed to be difficult to detect or get rid of. And there is no denying the very fact that manual repairs and removal can certainly be a difficult task for a novice PC user. Moreover, there are various risks connected with tinkering around with the system registry files. Installing and running anti-malware software on the affected computer will automatically erase browser hijackers as well as other unwanted programs. In order to get rid of persistent browser hijackers effectively, install the award-winning Anti-Malware tool Safebytes Anti-Malware. Employ a pc optimizer (such as Total System Care) along with your anti-malware to repair various computer registry problems, remove computer vulnerabilities, and improve your computer performance.

How To Get Eliminate Virus That Is Blocking Antivirus Downloads?

Malware could cause all sorts of damage once they invade your computer, starting from stealing your private details to erasing data files on your computer system. Some malware is created to hinder or block things that you wish to do on your PC. It may not permit you to download anything from the net or it will prevent you from accessing a few or all of the websites, in particular the anti-virus sites. If you are reading this article right now, you may have perhaps realized that a malware infection is a reason for your blocked internet connectivity. So what to do if you want to download and install an anti-virus application like Safebytes? There are some steps you can take to circumvent this problem.

Boot Windows in Safe Mode

Safe Mode is actually a unique, simplified version of Windows in which just bare minimum services are loaded to prevent malware and also other troublesome programs from loading. If the malicious software is set to load automatically when the PC starts, shifting into this mode may prevent it from doing so. In order to enter into Safe Mode or Safe Mode with Networking, press the F8 key while the system is booting up or run MSCONFIG and find the “Safe Boot” options under the “Boot” tab. Once you are in safe mode, you can attempt to install your anti-malware program without the hindrance of the malicious software. Right after installation, run the malware scanner to remove standard infections.

Use an alternate web browser to download security software

Web-based malware can be environment-specific, aiming for a particular browser or attacking particular versions of the browser. The best solution to avoid this issue is to choose an internet browser that is known for its security features. Firefox contains built-in Malware and Phishing Protection to keep you secure online.

Run anti-virus from a pen drive

Another option would be to make a portable anti-malware program onto your USB flash drive. To run anti-virus using a pen drive, follow these simple measures: 1) Download Safebytes Anti-Malware or Windows Defender Offline onto a virus-free PC. 2) Plug the USB drive into the clean computer. 3) Double-click the Setup icon of the anti-malware program to run the Installation Wizard. 4) Select thumb drive as the place when the wizard asks you where you wish to install the application. Follow the directions to complete the installation process. 5) Unplug the flash drive. Now you can utilize this portable anti-virus on the infected computer. 6) Double click the Safebytes Anti-malware icon on the pen drive to run the application. 7) Click the “Scan Now” button to start the virus scan.

SafeBytes Anti-Malware Overview

Want to download the best anti-malware application for your desktop? There are many applications on the market that comes in free and paid versions for Windows systems. Some are very good ones, some are ok types, while some are just fake anti-malware programs that will damage your personal computer themselves! While looking for an antimalware program, pick one that offers reliable, efficient, and total protection against all known viruses and malware. On the list of recommended software is SafeBytes AntiMalware. SafeBytes has a good history of quality service, and customers appear to be happy with it. Safebytes is among the well-established PC solutions companies, which provide this all-inclusive anti-malware application. With its outstanding protection system, this tool will automatically detect and remove most of the security threats, which include adware, viruses, browser hijackers, PUPs, trojans, worms, and ransomware.

SafeBytes possesses a variety of wonderful features that can help you protect your computer from malware attacks and damage. Listed below are a few of the great ones:

Real-time Protection: SafeBytes provides round-the-clock protection for your computer restricting malware intrusions in real-time. They are very efficient in screening and getting rid of numerous threats because they’re regularly improved with new updates and alerts. Robust Anti-malware Protection: Built on a highly acclaimed antivirus engine, this malware removal tool has the capacity to find and remove various stubborn malware threats such as browser hijackers, PUPs, and ransomware that other common antivirus programs will miss. Web protection: SafeBytes checks the hyperlinks present on a webpage for possible threats and tells you if the website is safe to explore or not, through its unique safety rating system. Minimal CPU and Memory Usage: SafeBytes is a lightweight and simple to use antivirus and anti-malware solution. As it utilizes very low computer resources, this software leaves the computer power exactly where it belongs: with you. 24/7 Customer Service: Support service is available 24 x 7 x 365 days via chat and email to answer your queries. Overall, SafeBytes Anti-Malware is a solid program since it has lots of features and could identify and remove any potential threats. Now you may realize that this tool does more than just scan and delete threats on your computer. So when you need advanced forms of protection features and threat detections, purchasing SafeBytes Anti-Malware could be well worth the dollars!

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you don’t want to use malware removal software and prefer to eliminate GetCouponsFast manually, you could do so by going to the Windows Add/Remove Programs menu in the control panel and deleting the offending program; in cases of browser extensions, you can remove it by visiting the browser’s Add-on/Extension manager. Additionally, it is advised to reset your web browser settings to their default state. Lastly, check your hard disk for all of the following and clean your registry manually to remove leftover application entries after uninstallation. Please keep in mind that only advanced users should attempt to manually edit the system files since deleting any single vital registry entry results in a serious problem or even a PC crash. Moreover, certain malicious programs are capable to defend against its removal. It is recommended that you do the removal process in Windows Safe Mode.

If your Windows PC encounters an error, it will display a Blue Screen of Death or BSOD error which usually comes up for a fraction of second and creates some logs or Dumps Files as what other user prefers to call it and then boots your PC suddenly. This process usually takes place quickly that most users find it hard to get the error code and won’t probably be able to check what really went wrong with their PCs. This is where the dump files come in. They are stored internally in your computer and can only be accessed by an administrator. They are classified into 4 main types and in Windows 10 they are either:

1. Complete Memory Dump
2. Kernel Memory Dump
3. Small Memory Dump (256 KB)
4. Active Memory Dumps

Dump Files are useful as they could help you in resolving the problem and so you need to configure your Windows 10 PC to create them but first, you need to make a system restore point. This is essential as you are about to modify some system files as well as critical Windows 10 settings. There are two ways you can create Dump files – first is by modifying the settings in the Startup and Recovery and lastly is via the WMIC command line. Refer to the instructions prepared below to be guided on how you can create Dump files after any BSOD error using these options.

Option 1 – via Startup and Recovery

• Type in “control panel” in the Cortana Search box and then click on Control Panel from the search results to open it.
• After opening Control Panel, you need to make sure that you view the contents by their Category then click on the header link which is labeled “System and Security” or you could also right-click on the This PC icon and then click on Properties.
• Next, select the Advanced system settings from the left panel. Once you do, a new and small window will pop up.
• Under the newly opened window, look for the section called Startup and Recovery and then click on the Settings button.
• And from the System Failure section, you can choose any option from the drop-down for Write debugging information such as:
  • None – this means that there is no dump file created by Windows
  • Small Memory Dump – this means that Windows will create a Minidump file on BSOD
  • Complete Memory Dump – this means that Windows will create a Complete Memory Dump file on BSOD
  • Automatic Memory Dump – this means that Windows will create an Automatic Memory Dump file on BSOD
  • Active Memory Dump – this means that Windows will create an Active Memory Dump file on BSOD

Note: The complete dump needs a page file that is allowed to be the size of the physical memory installed in your PC with a dedicated 1 MB of space for just the page header.

• Now once you have selected the most suitable option for you, just click on OK/Apply and then exit.
• Restart your PC to successfully apply the changes made.

Option 2 – via the WMIC command line

• The first thing you need to do to create Dump files via the WMIC command line is to tap the Win + X keys combination or simply right-click on the Start button and then select the Command Prompt (Admin) option. You could also type in “cmd” in the Cortana search box and then right-click on Command Prompt from the results and select Run as administrator.
• After that, type in any of the commands given below depending on your preferences so that your Windows 10 PC will be configured to create Dump Files:
  • No dump file: wmic RECOVEROS set DebugInfoType = 0
  • Small Memory Dump: wmic RECOVEROS set DebugInfoType = 3
  • Kernel Memory Dump: wmic RECOVEROS set DebugInfoType = 2
  • Complete Memory Dump: wmic RECOVEROS set DebugInfoType = 1
  • Automatic Memory Dump: wmic RECOVEROS set DebugInfoType = 7
  • Active Memory Dump: wmic RECOVEROS set DebugInfoType = 1

Note: A complete dump has to have a Page file which is allowed to be the size of the physical memory installed on your PC accompanied by a 1 MB space for just the page header.

• Now type in “exit” in the Command Prompt to exit it.
• Restart your PC to apply the changes made successfully.

The latest update from Panos Panay on Twitter is including New and redesigned Snipping tool inside Windows 11. From the shared video, we can see that it includes modern Windows 11 UI redesign and it looks and feels like a part of Windows 11. More things that can be seen from the shared video is that it looks like the new snipping tool is a merged version of the old with snip & sketch. It is good to see that it is still possible to capture screen with easier way natively inside Windows 11 but some more functionality would be more welcome I guess. Users were asking for added functions for a long time like adding simple text for example but from shared video, no new features were presented so for some users 3^rd party solutions will still be the way to go. The new and redesigned Snipping tool will roll out with the next update and we will see then about all new features inside it firsthand. Until then, take care.

If your WIFI signal is strong but you can not connect to the internet then keep reading in order to find out why this happens and what can you do to fix it. One very important thing to know and understand is that WIFI and the internet are two different things and that they altho connected and working together are basically 2 things. WIFI is a name for a group of technologies that are using radio vawes to connect to the router in order to access the internet. The Internet itself is series of computers all connected in LAN. Think of WIFI like some invisible cable that connects your computer to the router. When we put things into perspective this way it becomes clear that we can indeed have a strong WIFI signal and that we are connected to the router but the router itself is not connected to the internet. So basically troubleshooting an internet connection is troubleshooting the router itself. The most common approach is to reset the router, turn it off, then back on, check cables, etc. But be sure that if your WIFI signal is strong and you can not access the internet it is a router issue.

EliteUnzip is a program developed by Mindspark Interactive. This program lets you compress and extract all the popular archive types.

From the Author:

Elite Unzip is a program for creating and extracting archive files; it has support for over 20 file formats. This application downloads onto your computer in two parts: one for your desktop, and one for your browser. They both work together to make packing and unpacking archive files easy.

While EliteUnzip itself is not a threat, it comes bundled with other software that might cause a problem to your computer.

Due to its bundled nature, several anti-virus scanners have marked EliteUznip as a Potentially Unwanted Program and is therefore not recommended to keep on y our computer, especially because there are other free programs that do the same functions without the additional bundled software.

About Potentially Unwanted Applications

Precisely what is a Potentially Unwanted Program (PUP)?

Have you ever found out an unwanted program running on your computer and wondered how the heck it got there? These unwanted programs, which are known as Potentially Unwanted Programs, or PUPs in short, often tag along as a software bundle when downloading the program and can result in major problems for computer users. It’s clear by the name – unwanted programs – but did not really constitute “malware” in the traditional sense. The reason for this is that the majority of PUPs enter into users’ computers not because they exploit security weaknesses, for instance, but mainly because the users give consent to download it – unknowingly in many instances. No matter whether it is regarded as malware or otherwise, PUPs are almost always bad for a computer owner as they might bring on adware, spyware, keystroke logging, and other nasty “crapware” features on your PC.

What do PUPs do on your computer, precisely?

Most Potentially Unwanted Programs comes in the form of adware, which generally aims to exhibit lots of annoying pop-up ads, banners, coupons, and deals on websites you explore. PUPs that come in the form of browser add-ons and toolbars are widely identifiable. They may track your online activities, redirect your search results to risky sites where adware and spyware can be downloaded, hijack your home page, and slow your browser down to a crawl. PUPs carry a dangerous bite if left behind unchecked. The worst part of setting up a PUP is the spyware, adware, and keystroke loggers that could hide inside. These are programs that don’t do anything good for you; in addition to taking over space on the hard disk, they will also slow down your PC, often change settings without your permission, and the list of bothersome features goes on and on.

Protect yourself from unwanted programs

• When installing anything on your desktop, always read the fine print, like the license agreement. Don’t accept terms of use that are for bundled applications. • Normally, when installing a software program you get two options, ‘Standard Installation’ and ‘Custom Installation’. Don’t opt for ‘Standard’ as unwanted programs might automatically be installed that way! • Use good anti-malware software. Try Safebytes Anti-malware which can spot PUPs and treat them as malware by flagging them for deletion. • Be alert when you download and install freeware, open-source programs, or shareware. Nowadays ‘freeware’ isn’t actually freeware – but crapware bundling nonsense. • Only use official product sites for downloading applications. Steer clear of download websites altogether since most websites compel users to download the program with their own download manager, which is often bundled up with some kind of PUPs.

Virus Blocking Access To Safebytes Site And Preventing Anti-Malware Downloads – What You Should Do?

All malware is inherently unsafe, but certain kinds of malicious software do a lot more damage to your computer or laptop than others. Some malware variants alter browser settings by adding a proxy server or change the computer’s DNS configuration settings. When this happens, you will be unable to visit some or all of the sites, and therefore unable to download or install the necessary security software to eliminate the malware. If you are reading this, chances are you’re stuck with a virus infection that is preventing you to download and install Safebytes Anti-Malware software on your computer. There are some actions you can take to circumvent this issue.

Install in Safe Mode

In the event the malware is set to run at Windows start-up, then booting in safe mode should avoid it. Since only the minimal applications and services start-up in safe mode, there are hardly any reasons for conflicts to happen. The following are the steps you should follow to start your computer into the Safe Mode of your Windows XP, Vista, or 7 computers (go to Microsoft site for directions on Windows 8 and 10 computers). 1) Tap the F8 key continuously as soon as your computer boots, however, before the large windows logo comes up. This should bring up the Advanced Boot Options menu. 2) Make use of the arrow keys to select Safe Mode with Networking and press ENTER. 3) Once you get into this mode, you should have internet access once again. Now, obtain the malware removal software you need by using the web browser. To install the program, follow the guidelines in the setup wizard. 4) Following installation, run a full scan and let the program eliminate the threats it finds.

Download the antivirus software in a different internet browser

Some malware mainly targets particular browsers. If this sounds like your case, make use of another internet browser as it may circumvent the virus. If you appear to have malware attached to Internet Explorer, then switch over to a different browser with built-in safety features, such as Firefox or Chrome, to download your favorite anti-malware program – Safebytes.

Install antivirus on a thumb drive

Here’s yet another solution which is utilizing a portable USB anti-malware software package that can check your system for malware without needing installation. Adopt these measures to use a flash drive to clean your infected system. 1) Download the anti-malware on a virus-free computer. 2) Plug the pen drive into the uninfected computer. 3) Double click on the exe file to open the installation wizard. 4) When asked, select the location of the pen drive as the place where you want to store the software files. Follow the directions to complete the installation process. 5) Transfer the thumb drive from the uninfected computer to the infected PC. 6) Double-click the anti-malware software EXE file on the thumb drive. 7) Click on “Scan Now” to run a scan on the affected computer for viruses.

Benefits and Features of SafeBytes Anti-Malware

If you are looking to purchase anti-malware for your PC, there are various brands and applications for you to consider. A few of them are great and some are scamware applications that pretend as authentic anti-malware software waiting to wreak havoc on your computer. You need to pick a tool that has gained a good reputation and detects not only computer viruses but other types of malware as well. When considering commercial application options, many people opt for popular brands, such as SafeBytes, and are very happy with them. SafeBytes anti-malware is really a powerful, highly effective protection application intended to help users of all levels of IT literacy in finding and removing harmful threats out of their computer. This application could easily identify, remove, and protect your computer from the most advanced malware intrusions such as adware, spyware, trojan horses, ransomware, worms, PUPs, as well as other possibly damaging software applications.

There are lots of great features you’ll get with this security product. Below are a few of the best ones:

Real-Time Protection: SafeBytes provides real-time active monitoring service and protection against all known computer viruses and malware. It will monitor your personal computer for suspicious activity regularly and shields your personal computer from unauthorized access. Best AntiMalware Protection: Safebytes is built on the very best virus engine in the industry. These engines will find and remove threats even during the early phases of a malware outbreak. Fast Multi-threaded Scanning: SafeBytes’s virus scan engine is one of the quickest and most efficient in the industry. It's targeted scanning substantially increases the catch rate for viruses that are embedded in various PC files. Web Protection: SafeBytes inspects the links present on a webpage for possible threats and tells you whether the website is safe to view or not, through its unique safety rating system. Light-weight: SafeBytes is well known for its minimal impact on computer resources and great detection rate of numerous threats. It operates quietly and efficiently in the background so you’re free to make use of your PC at full power all of the time. Premium Support: SafeBytes gives you 24/7 technical support, automatic maintenance, and upgrades for the best user experience. SafeBytes has created a wonderful anti-malware solution to help you conquer the latest malware threats and virus attacks. Once you have downloaded and installed SafeBytes Anti-Malware, you will no longer have to bother about malware or other security concerns. So if you want sophisticated forms of protection features & threat detections, purchasing SafeBytes Anti-Malware will be worth the money!

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

To remove EliteUnzip manually, go to the Add/Remove programs list in the Control Panel and choose the program you want to get rid of. For internet browser plug-ins, go to your browser’s Addon/Extension manager and select the plug-in you want to remove or disable. You will additionally also want to totally reset your internet browser to its default settings. To make sure of complete removal, find the following Windows registry entries on your system and remove it or reset the values appropriately. However, this is often a tricky task and only computer professionals could perform it safely. Also, certain malware is capable of replicating itself or preventing its deletion. Carrying out this malware-removal process in Safe Mode is suggested.

Error Code 0xC004C770 – What is it?

If the Error Code 0xC004C770 popped up on your computer during your activation of the Windows 10 software, don’t worry. This is a fairly common error, especially for people who own more than one computer upon which Windows 10 is installed and activated. The gist of this error code is that the product key that you have entered has already been claimed or used on a different computer. Because there are limitations on the number of computers that can use any given license activation code or product key, this error code can arise when you have exceeded that limit. If you have a single-use license and have already entered the particular product key onto another machine, you may see this error come up during activation.

Both Error Code 0xC004C770 and Error Code 0x803FA071 arise from the same problem and the same steps can be used to resolve both error codes.

Solution

Error Causes

Error Code 0xC004C770 is likely to appear on your screen during activation of Windows 10 if you or anyone else in your organization have already entered in the product key used on another computer. If you have a multiple-use license, the product key that you are entering may already have been used for the maximum number of computers allowed under that license.

Further Information and Manual Repair

There are two basic methods for addressing the issues associated with Error Code 0xC004C770. These methods can easily be implemented by anyone who is comfortable interacting with the Windows Store from their computer, which makes the resolution of this particular error code fairly simple and straightforward.

If you are unable to complete the steps below or Error Code 0xC004C770 has not been resolved after following the guides below, contact a Windows technician who is familiar with the Windows 10 activation process to assist you in the process. You can also get in touch with the Windows technical support team to assist you in the process if needed.

Method One: Purchase A New Product Key from Windows

If you have already used the product key on another computer or have used it on the maximum number of allowed devices, you may need to purchase an additional product key for the computer with Error Code 0xC004C770. Product keys can be purchased physically from a retailer that sells Windows 10 software licenses or purchased directly from the Windows store.

To purchase a new product key directly from the Windows Store, follow the steps below:

• Step One: Select the Windows start button at the bottom of your toolbar. Click on “Settings,” then select the option for “Update and Security.”
• Step Two: Click on the “Activation” option.
• Step Three: In the menu that appears, choose the option to “Go to Store” and follow any on-screen instructions to finalize a purchase of the Windows 10 software and product key.
• Step Four: Use the new product key to complete the installation and activation of the Windows 10 software on your computer.

If you are unable to see the “Go to Store” option when you reach the “Activation” page, you may not be set as an administrator of your machine. In this case, get in touch with the support personnel from your company to complete the purchase, installation, and activation process on your computer.

Method Two: Attempt to Finish Activation via Phone

For users who have changed out parts of their computer’s hardware, like putting in a new motherboard or activating a new hard drive, you may have more success if you attempt activation through a phone.

In order to activate your copy of Windows 10 from your phone, follow the steps below:

• Step One: On your mobile device, open up the search box from the taskbar.
• Step Two: In the search box, enter the phrase “SLUI 04.”
• Step Three: Select the “SLUI 04” option that appears.
• Step Four: Follow the directions given on the screen to complete the activation process for your copy of Windows 10.

As with any error code resolution, if the methods above are not successful or if you are not comfortable with your ability to successfully complete the steps above, get in contact with a qualified professional who is trained in the Windows 10 activation process to assist you or download a powerful automated tool to get the job done.

The Windows 10 system allows users to change the default location of the User folders to another drive. This is probably to make sure that the files stay safe in case the system suddenly crashes. However, in some cases, while changing the path to another drive, for instance, the D drive or any folder, the Windows system recognized it as a hard drive as well so even though the files will be saved on that folder, it will appear as a hard drive in the Windows Explorer or look merged with another folder. It could also be that you had dragged and dropped a user folder to another user folder by accident. So if you’re wondering how you can unmerge the User folders, read on as this post will guide you on how exactly you can do that. Take note that even if you try to use the File History to restore the User folders, it still won’t work and you won’t be able to move them back to their previous locations nor restore the folders back to their previous versions and it would only state that they are not available. In the instructions given below, we are using the Downloads folder as an example.

• Step 1: Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Step 2: Next, type “Regedit” in the field and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor.
• Step 3: After opening the Registry Editor, navigate to the following registry key:

ComputerHKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerUser Shell Folders

• Step 4: Then double-click on the multi-string value {374DE290-123F-4565-9164-39C4925E467B} located in the right hand pane. And in the Value Data, copy and paste the following value:

%USERPROFILE%Downloads

• Step 5: Now click OK and close the Registry Editor.

Note: Look close enough and you’ll see that the multi-string values belong to each one of the folders. From there, you have a Desktop, Favorites, Skydrive, Music, Pictures, and many more.

• Step 6: Restart your computer. After that, the operating system will pick up the new folder location during the startup. Here are the values for the other folders:

Music – {1CF1260C-4DD0-4ebb-811F-33C572699FDE} Pictures – {3ADD1653-EB32-4cb0-BBD7-DFA0ABB5ACCA} Videos – {A0953C92-50DC-43bf-BE83-3742FED03C9C} Documents – {A8CDFF1C-4878-43be-B5FD-F8091C1C60D0} Desktop – {B4BFCC3A-DB2C-424C-B029-7FE99A87C641}

• Step 7: Now all you have to do is to change the location correctly. Start by tapping the Win + E keys to open the Windows File Explorer.
• Step 8: After that, right-click on the Downloads folder located in the right-hand pane.
• Step 9: Then click on Properties and go to the Location tab then type “D:\Downloads” in the location box.
• Step 10: Click the Apply button and then the OK button to save the changes made. Doing so would ensure that not only the Downloads folder is restored but also that it does not stay merged to another folder or appear as a drive.

The “Unknown Hard” error that keeps on appearing in Windows 10 can put users in an unpleasant situation. This kind of error leads to the freezing of the taskbar, blackening of the screen, and sudden disappearance of the icons on the Desktop. And each time you try to open Windows, the system will only give you an error message saying that it’s a critical error and some applications like Start and Cortana won’t work. Upon analysis, it seems that the “sihost.exe” is not responding and that it is the one that’s causing the c000021a Unknown Hard error to pop up. Sihost.exe files represent the Shell Infrastructure Host which is an essential component in the Windows operating system. The Windows Shell Infrastructure Host is primarily responsible for handling some graphical elements of the operating system interface such as the Start menu and the taskbar transparency. And so if the Shell Infrastructure or Sihost.exe has stopped, has been removed, or corrupted, you will most likely have issues with the overall functionality of the Windows operating system and you’ll get the Unknown Hard error In addition, the ctfmom.exe Unknown Hard error may also occur due to incompatible drivers installed on your PC. Ctfmom is a process that identifies inputs such as handwriting, languages, and many more. It’s the one that controls the functions of background behavior. To resolve this issue, you need to first try to identify which application is the one that’s running the sihost.exe file. And if needed, you need to either update or reinstall or completely uninstall the problematic application.

Option 1 – Try to run the System File Checker

The SFC Scan or System File Checker, us a built-in utility in Microsoft Windows that can be found in the C:\Windows\System32 folder. This tool allows users to scan and restore any corrupted system files in Windows that might be causing the Unknown Hard error to appear. Before you use this tool, make sure to find out whether the sihost.exe on your computer is a Trojan that you have to remove or if it’s a file that belongs to a trusted Windows application. Once you have that sorted out, follow the steps 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 2 – Try to use System Restore

You can also try using System Restore. This is one of the ways you can use it to back up your PC. Since restore points are created automatically each week by System Restore, you can use System Restore to restore your computer back to an earlier good point in time.

Option 3 – Try to troubleshoot the error in a Clean Boot State

Putting your PC in a Clean Boot state can help you diagnose and troubleshoot the issues in your system. 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 Unknown Hard Error.

• 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 putting your PC in a Clean Boot State, try creating a system restore point and see if the problem still occurs. Clean Boot troubleshooting is designed to help you isolate the problem. For you to execute a clean boot troubleshooting, you must do a couple of actions (the steps are given above) and then restart your PC after every action. You might have to disable one third-party app after the other to really isolate the issue. And once you’ve narrowed down the problem, you can either disable the third-party app that’s causing the problem or remove it. Note that you must switch your PC back into the Normal Startup mode after you’re done troubleshooting the problem. Here’s how you can do it:

• From the “Start” menu, go to System Configuration.
• After that, switch to the General tab and click the option for “Normal Startup”.
• Next, go to the Services tab and clear the checkbox for “Hide all Microsoft services”.
• Then find and click “Enable all” and if prompted, you have to confirm.
• Afterward, go to the Task Manager and enable all the Startup programs and confirm the action.
• Restart your PC when prompted.

Recently, a number of users reported that their Google Chrome browsers keep on opening new tabs no matter what they do. This issue could be due to lots of reasons but the main ones are corrupt installation, background applications, adware, dubious browser extensions, malware, and so on. Although there are a lot of possible causes for this particular issue in Chrome, its potential fixes are straightforward so you should not have any problem following the given options below.

Option 1 – Get rid of any conflicting browser extensions

As mentioned, shady browser extensions can cause unusual behavior in a browser. Chances are, these extensions or toolbars might be conflicting with the loading of the website. Thus, you have to get rid of these unwanted extensions and toolbars to fix the issue.

• Open Chrome and press Alt + F keys.
• Go to More tools and click Extensions to look for any suspicious browser extensions or toolbars.
• Click the Recycle bin and select Remove.
• Restart Chrome and press Alt + F keys again.
• Proceed to On Startup and mark Open a specific page or set of pages.
• To check if the browser hijacker is still active, click Set pages, if it is active, overwrite the URL.

Option 2 – Try to disable applications from running in the background

• Open Google Chrome and then click on the menu button located in the top-right corner.
• From the drop-down, select Settings and then scroll down until you see the Advanced button. Click on it.
• Next, turn off the toggle for “Continue running background apps when Google Chrome is closed” under the System section.
• Now restart Chrome and check if it is working properly.

Option 3 – Try to configure the search settings of Chrome

• Open Google Chrome and type any search query in the address bar and then tap Enter.
• After that, it will open the Google search engine. From the top-right corner, click the Settings button.
• Next, select Search settings from the drop-down menu.
• Then scroll down to the new page that appears and make sure that the “Open New Window for each result” option is set to Uncheck.
• Once you’re done, save the changes made and restart Google Chrome.

Option 4 – Reset Chrome

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

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

Option 5 – Try to clean reinstall Chrome

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

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

Option 6 – Try scanning your computer using Windows Defender

As mentioned, the error when accessing the security settings or properties of a folder or file might be due to a virus or malware. It could be that it had made some modifications that prevents you from accessing security settings or properties. To eliminate it, you have to scan your computer using security programs like Windows Defender.

• Tap the Win + I keys to open Update & Security.
• Then click on the Windows Security option and open Windows Defender Security Center.
• Next, click on Virus & threat protection > Run a new advanced scan.
• Now make sure that Full Scan is selected from the menu and then click the Scan Now button to get started.