If you encounter the DRIVER_UNLOADED_WITHOUT_CANCELLING_PENDING_OPERATION Blue Screen error with an error code of 0x000000CE then it means that a driver failed to cancel the pending operations before unloading. Some of the driver files that might be the culprit include the intelppm.sys, intcdaud.sys, tmxpflt.sys, mrxsmb.sys and asusptpfilter.sys.
This kind of Blue Screen error occurs when the driver failed to cancel lookaside lists, worker threads, DPCs, and other items before unloading. You can usually identify which driver file is triggering the BSOD error in the BSOD error itself since its name would be printed on the blue screen and stored in memory at the location (PUNICODE_STRING) KiBugCheckDriver.
Refer to the possible solutions given below to fix the DRIVER_UNLOADED_WITHOUT_CANCELLING_PENDING_OPERATIONS error.
Option 1 – Perform a System Restore
Performing System Restore might help you in fixing the SYNTP.SYS Blue Screen error. You can do this option either by booting into Safe Mode or in System Restore. If you are already in the Advanced Startup Options, just directly select System Restore and proceed with the next steps. And if you have just booted your PC into Safe Mode, refer to the steps below.
Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
After that, type in “sysdm.cpl” in the field and tap Enter.
Next, go to the System Protection tab then click the System Restore button. This will open a new window where you have to select your preferred System Restore point.
After that, follow the on-screen instructions to finish the process and then restart your computer and check if the problem is fixed or not.
Option 2 – Disable the BIOS Memory options
Disabling the BIOS Memory options such as Caching and Shadowing can help you in fixing the DRIVER_UNLOADED_WITHOUT_CANCELLING_PENDING_OPERATIONS Blue Screen error. All you have to do is enter the BIOS first and then use the Arrow and Enter keys to select your choices. And if you can’t seem to find it, look for specific instructions from your OEM or you could also look out for instructions from the manufacturer of your motherboard.
Option 3 – Update or rollback your device drivers
If the first option didn’t work for you, then it’s time to either update or roll back the device drivers. It is most likely that after you updated your Windows computer that your driver also needs a refresh. On the other hand, if you have just updated your device drivers then you need to roll back the drivers to their previous versions. Whichever applies to you, refer to the steps below.
Open the Devices Manager from the Win X Menu.
Then locate the device drivers and right-click on them to open the Properties.
After that, switch to the Driver tab and click on the Uninstall Device button.
Follow the screen option to completely uninstall it.
Finally, restart your computer. It will just reinstall the device drivers automatically.
Note: You can install a dedicated driver on your computer in case you have it or you could also look for it directly from the website of the manufacturer.
Option 4 – Try to run the CHKDSK utility
Running the CHKDSK utility might also help you resolve the DRIVER_UNLOADED_WITHOUT_CANCELLING_PENDING_OPERATIONS Blue Screen error. If your hard drive has issues with integrity, the update will really fail as the system will think that it’s not healthy and that’s where the CHKDSK utility comes in. The CHKDSK utility repairs hard drive errors that might be causing the problem.
Open Command Prompt with admin privileges.
After opening Command Prompt, execute the following command and hit Enter:
chkdsk /f /r
Wait for the process to be completed and then restart your computer.
Option 5 – Run the Memory Diagnostic Tool to check for Memory leaks
Tap the Win + R keys to open Run and type exe and hit Enter to open the Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool.
After that, it will give two options such as:
Restart now and check for problems (Recommended)
Check for problems the next time I start my computer
Once your computer has restarted, perform a basic scan or you could also go for the “Advanced” options such as “Test mix” or “Pass count”. Simply tap the F10 key to start the test.
Note: After you select the option, your PC will restart and check for memory-based issues. If it finds any issues, it will automatically fix them and if there’s no issue found, then it’s most likely not a memory-based issue so you should try the other options given below.
Option 6 – Try analyzing the Memory Dump Files
You can also try to analyze the Memory Dump files as it can help you identify the root cause of the DRIVER_UNLOADED_WITHOUT_CANCELLING_PENDING_OPERATIONS error.
Option 7 – Try checking the Registry settings
You might also want to try disabling the concerned driver file if it is mentioned in the Stop error. For example, if the stop error mentioned the “intelppm.sys” driver file then you have to disable this driver file since it is most likely the culprit. To do that, follow the steps below.
Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
Next, type “Regedit” in the field and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor.
After that, go to the this registry path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SYSTEM > CurrentControlSet > Services > Processor
From there, double click on Start and change its value to “4”.
Now go to this path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SYSTEM > CurrentControlSet > Services > Intelppm.
Set its value to “4” and then restart your computer to apply the changes made.
Option 8 – Run the Blue Screen Troubleshooter
The Blue Screen troubleshooter is a built-in tool in Windows 10 that helps users in fixing BSOD errors like DRIVER_UNLOADED_WITHOUT_CANCELLING_PENDING_OPERATIONS. It can be found on the Settings Troubleshooters page. To use it, refer to these steps:
Tap the Win + I keys to open the Settings panel.
Then go to Update & Security > Troubleshoot.
From there, look for the option called “Blue Screen” on your right-hand side and then click the “Run the troubleshooter” button to run the Blue Screen Troubleshooter and then follow the next on-screen options. Note that you might have to boot your PC into Safe Mode.
There is a lot of software on the market today, but from time to time we discover something extraordinary and unique worth sharing and today we have a threat for you. Ventoy is a tool that will help you with system reinstallations and system maintenance once and for all.
If you are a computer user that has multiple operating systems or you are installing and maintaining different hardware via different OS there is a high chance that you have multiple USB sticks with different operating systems on them.
Now the problem with that is that there are probably too many unlabeled sticks around or you do not have enough so you keep making system USBs depending on which one you might need.
Ventoy solves all of these problems by letting you have as many operating systems images as your USB has capacity. The only thing you need to do is get the software here: https://www.ventoy.net/en/index.html and make a USB with it, then you can freely just copy your ISO images onto the USB and once it is inserted into the computer you will be given a menu to choose which one you would like to start with, simple as that.
The NVIDIA Control Panel is a useful tool for users who have NVIDIA graphics on their PCs as this tool allows users to how the graphics card is used on the computer using several controls that come with the graphics card from NVIDIA. Thus, it can be quite inconvenient when it suddenly crashes all of a sudden for some reason. This kind of problem could be due to the toggling of Output Dynamic Range is limited, or there could be some issue with the integrity of the Power Supply for the graphics card, and many more. So if you are using NVIDIA on your computer and its Control Panel keeps on crashing on your Windows 10 computer, then you’ve come to the right place as this post will guide you in sorting the problem out. For more details, refer to the guidelines laid out below.
Option 1 – Try to toggle the Output Dynamic Range
The first thing you can do to fix the problem is to toggle the Output Dynamic Range by following these steps:
Navigate to this path: Display > Change resolution.
Next, scroll a bit on the right-side panel until you see the Output Dynamic Range drop-down.
After that, select “Full” from the drop-down menu.
Apply the changes you’ve made and see if it is able to fix the problem with the NVIDIA Control Panel.
Option 2 – Try changing the Power Management and Vertical Sync settings
The next thing you can do to fix the problem is to change the Power Management, as well as the Vertical Sync settings.
Open the NVIDIA Control Panel and go to this path: 3D Settings > Manage 3D Settings.
Next, set the Power Management to be “Prefer Maximum Performance” for your processor located on the right-side panel.
After that, set the Vertical sync setting off and then click on the Apply button located at the bottom-right portion of the window and check if it is able to fix the problem or not.
Option 3 – Try updating the drivers from the official site of NVIDIA
If both the first and second given options didn’t work, you can also try updating the drivers from the official NVIDIA website. And in case you don’t know the type of Nvidia graphics card that your computer is on, follow the steps below:
Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
Next type in “dxdiag” in the field and click OK or hit Enter to open the DirectX Diagnostic Tool.
From there, you can see what type of Nvidia graphics card that your system is on.
Take note of your graphics card information and then look for the best drivers for your operating system. Once you’ve downloaded and installed the file, restart your PC.
Option 4 – Try to roll back the driver to the previous version
If updating the NVIDIA display drivers didn’t work for you, then it’s time to roll back the device drivers. It is most likely that after you updated your Windows computer that your driver also needs a refresh.
Tap the Win + R keys to launch the Run window and then type in the “MSC” command and hit Enter to open the Device Manager window.
Under the Device Manager, you will see a list of drivers. From there, look for the NVIDIA Drivers and expand it.
Next, select the driver entries that are labeled appropriately.
Then select each one of them and double click to open a new mini window.
After that, make sure that you’re on the Driver tab and if you are not, just navigate to it then click the Roll Back Driver button to switch back to the previous version of the NVIDIA Drivers.
Now restart your computer to successfully apply the changes made.
When Windows 10 was introduced as an upgrade to Windows 7 and 8, a lot were thrilled because of its new features. One of the most interesting features that this has is the Microsoft Store. Just like in our tablets and smartphones, we can now download our favorite apps from a trusted source. Without the Microsoft store app, you can’t download any applications that you can use on your computer. But what happens if you can’t open your Microsoft Store or you accidentally uninstalled it?
The most common error that users encounter when accessing Microsoft Store is the error code 0x80072efd. This error code appears when there is a problem with the internet connection. To resolve this, troubleshoot your modem by doing a simple power cycle. Turn off your modem and wait for a couple of minutes and turn it back on. It should refresh your internet. This works if there is really no problem on the Service provider’s side.
Disable your Proxy server, if you are using one to access the internet. To do this, press Windows + R keys on your keyboard. Type “inetcpl.cpl” in the box and go to Connection. Next, click on LAN settings then tick on the box next to Automatically detect settings. Uncheck the box below Proxy Server
Among the useful apps that came with the Windows 10 upgrade is PowerShell. It allows you to install and uninstall individual and all apps by using a series of commands. So you don’t have to worry if you can’t find your Microsoft Store or if you accidentally delete it.
To access PowerShell, type in the word PowerShell into the search box found beside your Window Icon. Look for PowerShell from the results and right-click on it and hit Run as Administrator.
When you are in the PowerShell window, enter the command below:
Another option is to download a Windows Update Troubleshooter. After you download it, open the troubleshooter tool and follow the steps. If you saved the file instead of directly opening it, go to the folder where the troubleshooter was saved and double click on the wu.diagcab file to rub the troubleshooter.
One of the most interesting error codes that you might encounter when accessing the Microsoft store is error code 1. This particular error code is resolved by changing your PC’s region to the United States. To do this, go to Settings and look for Time & Language. Then go to region and language. Under the Country or region, choose the United States from the dropdown menu then restart your computer.
The troubleshooting procedures above are the most common solution to resolve the problem on Microsoft Store issues but there are times that these procedures won’t work. If you are not confident to resolve this through the procedures mentioned in this article, there are so many tools online that you can download to help you out. It also helps to contact Microsoft or consult a technician to ensure that you are doing the correct procedure.
ChatZum is a Potentially Unwanted Program that installs a Toolbar into your browser. This program allegedly allows users to zoom in on photos without clicking on them, however, upon further research, it was discovered that this function does not work on the latest version of browsers.
From the Author: ChatZum is a Browser add-on (toolbar) that enables its users to hover over images in Major Social network's websites and view a larger version of an image.
While installing this toolbar will track user web browsing sessions and will record website visits, clicks, and sometimes even personal information. This information is later used to display targeted ads to the user. To allow easier user tracking, the program changes the browser home page and default search engine to Nation Search Advanced, which injects additional advertisements and tracks user activity.
Several anti-virus applications have marked this program as Potentially Unwanted, and it is not recommended to keep it on your computer, especially considering the fact it will most likely not work on your browser.
About Potentially Unwanted Applications
If you have ever installed a free application or shareware, chances are high that the computer will get installed with a bunch of unwanted applications. A Potentially Unwanted Program, also called PUP, in short, is actually software that contains adware, installs toolbars, or has got other hidden objectives. These types of programs are generally bundled up with a free application that you download from the internet or may also be bundled inside the custom installers of many download websites.
PUPs aren’t always viewed as “pure” malware in the strictest sense. A fundamental difference between PUP and malware is distribution. Malware is normally dropped by silent installation vectors like drive-by downloads while PUP gets installed with the consent of the computer user, who knowingly or unknowingly approves the PUP installation on their computer system. But, there is no doubt that PUPs remain bad news for PC users as it could be quite dangerous to your computer in many ways.
The damage PUPs can do
The unwanted programs after installation display numerous annoying pop-up ads, trigger fake alerts, and sometimes even forces a computer owner to pay for the software. PUPs that come as browser add-ons and toolbars are commonly recognizable. These toolbars alter your homepage and your search engine in the installed web browser, track your web activities, modify your search results with redirects and sponsored links, and eventually slow down your browser and diminish your browsing experience.
Potentially unwanted programs use aggressive distribution methods to get onto your computer. The worst part of setting up a PUP is the adware, spyware, and keystroke loggers that could lurk inside. Even if the PUPs really aren’t inherently malicious, these applications still do practically nothing good on your PC – they’ll take valuable system resources, slow down your PC, weaken your computer security, making your PC more vulnerable to malware.
How to avoid ‘crapware’
• Read the EULA thoroughly. Look for clauses that state that you have to accept advertising and pop-ups or bundled applications from the company.• Always opt for the custom if you’re offered an option between “Custom” and “Recommended” Installations – never ever click Next, Next, Next thoughtlessly.• Use a good anti-malware application. Try Safebytes Anti-malware which can find PUPs and treat them as malware by flagging them for deletion.• Be alert if you download and install freeware, open-source applications, or shareware. Do not ever install software applications that seem shady or malicious.• Always download applications from the original website. The majority of PUPs find their way onto your laptop or computer is via download portals, so steer clear of it altogether.
Remember the fact that even though PUPs could potentially cause damage and hinder the proper functioning of the PC, they can’t enter into your system without your consent, so be alert not to provide them with it.
How One Can Get rid of Malware that is Blocking Websites or Preventing Downloads
Malware could potentially cause many kinds of damage to PCs, networks, and data. Some malware goes to great lengths to stop you from downloading or installing anything on your computer, especially antivirus software. If you’re reading this article, odds are you’re stuck with a malware infection that is preventing you to download or install the Safebytes Anti-Malware program on your PC. Even though this sort of problem can be tougher to circumvent, there are some steps you can take.
Make use of Safe Mode to resolve the issue
If the malware is set to run automatically when Microsoft Windows starts, stepping into safe mode could block the attempt. Just minimal required programs and services are loaded when you boot your computer 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 repeatedly as soon as your PC boots, however, before the big Windows logo or black screen with white texts come up. This would invoke the Advanced Boot Options menu.2) Choose Safe Mode with Networking with arrow keys and hit ENTER.3) When this mode loads, you should have the internet. Now, obtain the malware removal program you want by utilizing the web browser. To install the program, follow the guidelines in the installation wizard.4) Right after installation, do a full scan and allow the software program to get rid of the threats it detects.
Switch to an alternate internet browser
Some malware mainly targets certain browsers. If this is your situation, employ another internet browser as it might circumvent the computer virus. When you suspect that your Internet Explorer has been hijacked by a trojan or otherwise compromised by online hackers, the best thing to do is to switch over to an alternate internet browser such as Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, or Apple Safari to download your chosen security program – Safebytes Anti-Malware.
Create a portable USB antivirus for eliminating viruses
Another technique is to download and transfer an antivirus application from a clean computer to run a scan on the infected computer. Follow these steps to run the anti-malware on the affected computer.
1) Download the anti-malware on a virus-free PC.2) Connect the flash drive to a USB slot on the clean computer.3) Double click on the exe file to run the installation wizard.4) Choose the USB stick as the location for saving the file. Follow the instructions on the screen to finish off the installation process.5) Now, transfer the flash drive to the infected computer.6) Run the Safebytes Anti-malware directly from the USB drive by double-clicking the icon.7) Click the “Scan Now” button to start the virus scan.
Protect your PC from Malware With SafeBytes Security Suite
If you are looking to install an anti-malware program for your PC, there are lots of tools in the market to consider nonetheless, you just cannot trust blindly anyone, regardless of whether it is a paid or free program. A few of them are great but there are several scamware applications that pretend as authentic anti-malware programs waiting around to wreak havoc on your PC. You have to pick a company that develops industry-best anti-malware and it has earned a reputation as reliable. One of the highly recommended applications by industry analysts is SafeBytes Anti-Malware, the safest program for Microsoft Windows.
SafeBytes can be described as a highly effective, real-time antivirus application that is made to assist the average computer user in protecting their PC from malicious internet threats. Through its cutting-edge technology, this software will help you protect your computer against infections brought on by various kinds of malware and other internet threats, including spyware, adware, trojans, worms, computer viruses, keyloggers, ransomware, and potentially unwanted program (PUPs).
There are many wonderful features you’ll get with this particular security product. Listed below are some of the features you will like in SafeBytes.
Active Protection: SafeBytes offers a completely hands-free active protection and is set to observe, block, and kill all computer threats at its very first encounter. It will check your PC for suspicious activity at all times and its unrivaled firewall shields your computer from illegal entry by the outside world.
Robust, Anti-malware Protection: Using a critically acclaimed malware engine, SafeBytes offers multilayered protection which is made to catch and remove threats that are concealed deep inside your PC.
Web Security: Safebytes allots all sites a unique safety ranking that helps you to get an idea of whether the webpage you’re just about to visit is safe to view or known to be a phishing site.
Extremely Speed Scanning: SafeBytes’s virus scan engine is among the fastest and most efficient in the industry. It's targeted scanning significantly increases the catch rate for viruses which is embedded in various computer files.
Lightweight: SafeBytes is really lightweight software. It consumes an extremely small amount of processing power as it runs in the background which means you will not observe any computer performance difficulties.
24/7 Support: For any technical concerns or product assistance, you may get 24/7 expert assistance via chat and email.
To sum it up, SafeBytes Anti-Malware offers outstanding protection combined with an acceptable low system resources usage with both great malware detection and prevention. You now may realize that this particular tool does more than just scan and remove threats from your computer. You will get the best all-around protection for the money you pay on SafeBytes AntiMalware subscription, there’s no question about it.
Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)
If you wish to do the removal of ChatZum manually rather than using an automated software tool, you can follow these simple steps: Navigate to the Windows Control Panel, click the “Add/Remove Programs” and there, choose the offending application to remove. In case of suspicious versions of web browser plug-ins, you can easily get rid of it through your web browser’s extension manager. You might also want to reset your home page and search providers, as well as delete browsing history, temporary files, and cookies.
If you choose to manually remove the system files and Windows registry entries, use the following list to make sure you know exactly what files to remove before undertaking any actions. Please note that only advanced users should try to manually edit the system files mainly because removing any single vital registry entry results in a serious problem or even a PC crash. In addition, certain malware is capable of replicating itself or preventing its removal. Doing this malware-removal process in Safe Mode is recommended.
iWin is a self-published games platform that offers users to download and play free games. It is classified as potentially unwanted, primarily because it often comes bundled with the iWin Toolbar, which is an adware supported browser extension by Conduit. The iWin Toolbar is heavily flagged as malware or unwanted by numerous Antiviruses. iWin Games is not malicious in itself, though due to its bundling and common inclusion of the toolbar, many users wish to remove it.
About Browser Hijackers
Browser hijack is a very common type of online fraud where your web browser configurations are altered to allow it to do things you never intend. Basically, most browser hijackers are made for marketing or advertising purposes. It redirects you to the sponsored sites and injects advertisements on the browser that helps its creator generate income. Most people assume that these kinds of websites are legitimate and harmless but that is incorrect. Nearly every browser hijacker poses an actual threat to your online safety and it is necessary to categorize them under privacy risks. When the program attacks your computer or laptop, it starts to mess things up a whole lot that slows your computer down to a crawl. In the worst-case scenario, you may be pushed to deal with serious malware threats as well.
How one can know whether the web browser is hijacked?
There are plenty of signs that indicate your internet browser has been highjacked: the browser’s homepage is changed; you find new unwanted bookmarks or favorites added, usually directed to ad-filled or pornography sites; The default search page of web browser is altered; you’ll see many toolbars on the web browser; your internet browser displays constant pop-up ads; your web browser starts running slowly or presents frequent glitches; You can’t access certain sites, particularly anti-virus websites.
How they invade computers
Browser hijackers infect PCs in numerous ways, including via a drive-by download, a file-share, or an infected e-mail. Many browser hijackings originate from add-on programs, i.e., browser helper objects (BHO), toolbars, or plug-ins added to web browsers to provide them extra capabilities. Also, some shareware and freeware can put the hijacker in your computer through the “bundling” technique. A good example of some popular browser hijackers includes Anyprotect, Conduit, Babylon, SweetPage, DefaultTab, Delta Search, and RocketTab, but the names are constantly changing.
Browser hijackers could record user keystrokes to collect potentially important information that leads to privacy concerns, cause instability on systems, severely disrupt the user experience, and ultimately slow down the computer to a point where it becomes unusable.
How to repair a browser hijack
Some hijackers can be easily removed by uninstalling the free software they were included with or by deleting any extension you have recently added to your computer system. However, most browser hijackers are hard to get rid of manually. Irrespective of how much you try to eliminate it, it may return over and over. And there’s no denying the very fact that manual repairs and removal can be quite a difficult job for a beginner computer user. Furthermore, there are many risks associated with tinkering around with the pc registry files.
What To Do If You Cannot Install Any Antivirus?
Malware could cause many different types of damage to computer systems, networks, and data. Some malware variants modify internet browser settings by including a proxy server or modify the computer’s DNS settings. In these cases, you’ll be unable to visit some or all of the sites, and thus not able to download or install the required security software to remove the computer virus. If you’re reading this article right now, you may have perhaps recognized that virus infection is the cause of your blocked net connectivity. So what to do when you want to install an anti-virus application like Safebytes? Refer to the instructions below to remove malware through alternative ways.
Make use of Safe Mode to fix the issue
In the event the malware is set to load at Windows startup, then booting in safe mode should avoid it. Only minimal required applications and services are loaded whenever you boot your laptop or computer in Safe Mode. Here are the steps you should follow to boot into the Safe Mode of your Windows XP, Vista, or 7 computers (visit Microsoft website for instructions on Windows 8 and 10 computers).
1) Press the F8 key continuously as soon as your system boots, but before the large windows logo comes up. This will bring up the Advanced Boot Options menu.2) Use the arrow keys to choose Safe Mode with Networking and press ENTER.3) Once you get into this mode, you will have an internet connection once again. Now, use your browser to download and install an anti-malware application.4) Right after the software program is installed, let the scan run to remove viruses and other threats automatically.
Obtain the antivirus software using an alternate internet browser
Certain malware might target vulnerabilities of a specific web browser that obstruct the downloading process. The ideal way to overcome this issue is to go with an internet browser that is well known for its security measures. Firefox has built-in Malware and Phishing Protection to help keep you safe online.
Create a bootable USB antivirus drive
Another way is to download and transfer an antivirus application from a clean PC to run a scan on the infected computer. To run anti-malware from a USB pen drive, follow these simple measures:
1) Use another virus-free computer system to download Safebytes Anti-Malware.2) Insert the pen drive onto the same computer.3) Double-click the Setup icon of the anti-malware software package to run the Installation Wizard.4) When asked, select the location of the pen drive as the place where you would like to store the software files. Follow the activation instructions.5) Now, transfer the pen drive to the infected PC.6) Run the Safebytes Anti-malware directly from the pen drive by double-clicking the icon.7) Click on “Scan Now” to run a scan on the infected computer for malware.
Protect Your Computer & Privacy With SafeBytes Anti-Malware
To help protect your PC from many different internet-based threats, it is important to install an anti-malware program on your laptop. But with countless numbers of anti-malware companies in the market, nowadays it is hard to decide which one you should buy for your computer. A few of them are good, some are decent, while some will harm your PC themselves! You need to purchase a product that has gained a strong reputation and detects not just viruses but other kinds of malware as well. When considering commercial anti-malware tool options, most people opt for well-known brands, such as SafeBytes, and they are quite happy with it.
SafeBytes anti-malware is a trustworthy tool that not only secures your PC permanently but is also extremely user-friendly for people of all ability levels. Through its cutting-edge technology, this software protects your personal computer against infections caused by various kinds of malware and similar threats, including adware, spyware, trojans, worms, computer viruses, keyloggers, potentially unwanted programs (PUPs), and ransomware.
SafeBytes has a plethora of great features that can help you protect your PC from malware attacks and damage. Listed below are some of the best ones:
Robust, Anti-malware Protection: Built upon a highly acclaimed antivirus engine, this malware removal application is able to identify and get rid of various stubborn malware threats like browser hijackers, potentially unwanted programs, and ransomware that other typical antivirus programs will miss.
Live Protection: Malware programs attempting to get into the system are discovered and stopped as and when detected by the SafeBytes active protection shields. This tool will always monitor your PC for any suspicious activity and updates itself regularly to keep abreast of the constantly changing threat scenarios.
Web Protection: Safebytes assigns all websites a unique safety rating that helps you to get an idea of whether the webpage you’re just about to visit is safe to browse or known to be a phishing site.
High-Speed Malware Scanning Engine: SafeBytes’s virus scan engine is among the fastest and most efficient in the industry. Its targeted scanning considerably increases the catch rate for viruses which is embedded in various computer files.
Lowest CPU and RAM Usage: SafeBytes is a lightweight and user-friendly anti-virus and antimalware solution. Since it uses very low computer resources, this program leaves the computer’s power exactly where it belongs to: with you actually.
24/7 Live Expert Support: For any technical concerns or product support, you may get 24/7 expert assistance through chat and email.
Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)
If you wish to manually get rid of iWin Games without the use of an automated tool, it might 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 uninstalling it. You may even want to reset your home page and search providers, and also delete browsing history, temporary files, and cookies.
Lastly, examine your hard drive for all of the following and clean your computer registry manually to get rid of leftover application entries after uninstalls. Please be aware that this is for advanced users only and could be difficult, with wrong file removal causing additional PC errors. Moreover, certain malware is capable of replicating or preventing removal. You’re suggested to do this process in Safe Mode.
Files:
C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1Tempnsu1.tmp
C:e8bfb44ebc51cebadf4410cb35e993837a67e31b69a243ebac9de76160c97ac6
C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1Tempnsu2.tmp
C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1Tempnsu2.tmpSystem.dll
C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1Tempnsu2.tmpftdownload.dat
C:e8bfb44ebc51cebadf4410cb35e993837a67e31b69a243ebac9de76160c97ac6
C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1Tempnsu2.tmpSystem.dll
C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1Tempnsu2.tmpftdownload.dat
C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1Tempnsu2.tmp
C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1Tempnsu1.tmp
C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1Tempnsu2.tmp
C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1Tempnsu2.tmpftdownload.dat
C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1Tempnsu2.tmpSystem.dll
Directory %COMMONAPPDATAiWin Games.
Directory %LOCALSETTINGSTempiWinGames.
Directory %PROGRAMFILESiWin Games.
Directory %PROGRAMSiWin Games.
Registry:
Key HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT named iWinGamesInstaller.CoInServ.1
Key HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT named iWinGamesInstaller.CoInServ
Key 495874FE-4A82-4AD1-9476-0B957E0B95EB at HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTTypeLib.
Key 4B55700F-DB51-4891-8B28-6136A48A0105 at HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppID.
Key 4B55700F-DB51-4891-8B28-6136A48A0105 at HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID.
Key CA5E2E62-8612-4942-84A0-A94090D166AA at HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTInterface.
Key E3ED53C5-7AD5-4DF5-9734-AFB6E7E5D9DB at HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTInterface.
Key 4301AEBD288588A40833184CFEC0AF92 at HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTInstallerFeatures.
Key 4301AEBD288588A40833184CFEC0AF92 at HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTInstallerProducts.
Key 80F08842F9EA1BE4BA4922DA74CDB698 at HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTInstallerUpgradeCodes.
Key ForseRemove at HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppID.
Key iWinArcade at HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftware.
Key iWinArcade at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWARE.
Key iWinGamesInstaller.EXE at HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppID.
Key iWinGamesInstaller at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMControlSet001Services.
Key iWinGamesInstaller at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMControlSet002Services.
Key iWinGamesInstaller at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMControlSet003Services.
Value %PROGRAMFILESiWin GamesiWinGames.exe at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMControlSet001ServicesSharedAccessParametersFirewallPolicyStandardProfileAuthorizedApplicationsList.
Value %PROGRAMFILESiWin GamesWebUpdater.exe at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMControlSet001ServicesSharedAccessParametersFirewallPolicyStandardProfileAuthorizedApplicationsList.
DownSpeedTest is a Browser Toolbar Extension for Google Chrome that allows users to test their internet speed and convert files, however this speed test does not show proper values, nor even close.
Upon installation DownSpeedTest will replace your default New Tab page with its own Search Engine “MyWay.com” or “Search.MyWay.com”. This Search Engine camouflages itself as a “Enhanced Google Search Engine”, but all it does is allow more room for easier ad injection. In the background, this extension monitors user browsing behavior and records visited links, viewed products, clicked links and time spend on websites. This information is later used for Ad targeting.
While browsing the internet with this extension enabled you will experience additional ads, sponsored content, and even pop-up ads on some occasions. Due to its information mining behavior and aggressive ad placement, DownSpeedTest had been marked as a Browser Hijacker and it is recommended for removal.
About Browser Hijackers
Browser hijacking is a type of unwanted program, commonly a web browser add-on or extension, which causes modifications in the browser’s settings. There are lots of reasons why you may experience a browser hijack; but commercial, advertising and marketing are the major reasons for their creation. These are typically used to force hits to a specific site, manipulating web-traffic to generate ad-revenue. Even though it might appear naive, these tools are made by malicious people who always try to take full advantage of you, so that hackers could earn money from your naive and distraction. In a worst-case scenario, your browser could be hi-jacked to download malicious software that can do a lot of damage to your laptop or computer.
How one can know whether the browser is hijacked?
When your web browser is hijacked, the following might happen: your browser’s homepage has been reset to some unknown webpage; new bookmarks pointing to porn websites have been added to your bookmarks; the default browser configurations are modified and/or your default web engine is altered; you see unwanted new toolbars added; unstoppable flurries of pop-up ads show up on your computer screen; your browser gets slow, buggy, crashes regularly; you can’t navigate to specific internet pages, such as security software related websites.
How does a browser hijacker infect a computer?
Browser hijackers infect computers via malicious e-mail attachments, downloaded infected documents or by visiting infected internet sites. They can be included with toolbars, add-ons, BHO, plugins or browser extensions. Also, some freeware and shareware can put the hijacker in your PC through “bundling”.
Browser hijackers could record user keystrokes to collect potentially important information leading to privacy concerns, cause instability on computers, significantly disrupt user’s browsing experience, and ultimately slow down the system to a point where it becomes unusable.
How you can fix a browser hijack
One thing you could try to eradicate a browser hijacker is to find the malware in the “Add or Remove Programs” list of the Microsoft Windows Control Panel. It might or might not be there. When it is, uninstall it. However, most browser hijackers are difficult to eliminate manually. Regardless of how much you attempt to get rid of it, it might come back over and over. Amateur PC users should never try for the manual form of removal methods, since it demands in-depth system knowledge to perform fixes on the system registry and HOSTS file.
Anti-malware software is really effective when it comes to picking up and eliminating browser hijackers that regular anti-virus application has overlooked. If you’d like to get rid of persistent hijackers effectively, install the top-rated Anti-Malware software Safebytes Anti-Malware. Use a system optimizer (like Total System Care) along with your anti-malware software to fix various registry issues, remove system vulnerabilities, and improve your computer performance.
What To Do If You Cannot Install Any Anti-Malware?
Practically all malware is bad and the consequences of the damage could differ according to the specific kind of malicious software. Some malware is created to interfere with or block things that you’d like to do on your PC. It may not permit you to download anything from the web or prevent you from accessing a few or all of the internet sites, especially the anti-malware websites. So what you should do if malware prevents you from downloading or installing Anti-Malware? There are a few actions you can take to circumvent this problem.
Install the anti-virus in Safe Mode
Safe Mode is a unique, simplified version of Microsoft Windows in which only essential services are loaded to counteract viruses and also other problematic applications from loading. If the malware is set to load immediately when computer starts, switching into this mode may prevent it from doing so. To start the computer into Safe Mode, press the “F8” key on the keyboard just before the Windows logo screen shows up; Or after normal Windows boot up, run MSConfig, look over “Safe Boot” under the Boot tab, and then click Apply. Once you are in Safe Mode, you can try to install your antivirus application without the hindrance of the malicious software. Following installation, run the malware scanner to get rid of most standard infections.
Download the anti-malware program using a different browser
Web-based malware could be environment-specific, aiming for a particular web browser or attacking particular versions of the browser. If you’re not able to download the security program using Internet Explorer, it means virus is targeting IE’s vulnerabilities. Here, you should switch over to an alternative web browser such as Chrome or Firefox to download Safebytes Anti-malware software.
Install anti-malware on a thumb drive
Another solution is to save and operate antivirus software tool completely from a Pen drive. Follow these steps to use a USB flash drive to clean your infected PC.
1) Make use of another virus-free computer to download Safebytes Anti-Malware.2) Insert the USB drive on the same system.3) Double click on the downloaded file to run the installation wizard.4) Choose the USB flash drive as the location for saving the software file. Follow the instructions to complete the installation process.5) Now, plug the USB drive into the corrupted computer.6) Double-click the Safebytes Anti-malware icon on the pen drive to run the application.7) Run Full System Scan to identify and clean-up of all types of malware.
Protect Your Computer & Privacy With SafeBytes Anti-Malware
If you’re planning to purchase anti-malware for your computer, there are lots of brands and utilities for you to consider. A few of them do a good job in getting rid of threats while many will harm your PC by themselves. You need to select one that is trustworthy, practical and has a good reputation for its malware source protection. While thinking about the dependable programs, Safebytes Anti-Malware is certainly the strongly recommended one.
SafeBytes anti-malware is a reliable software that not only secures your system permanently but is also very user friendly for people of all skill levels. Through its cutting-edge technology, this software will help you protect your PC against infections brought on by different kinds of malware and other threats, including spyware, adware, viruses, worms, trojans, keyloggers, potentially unwanted program (PUPs), and ransomware.
SafeBytes has great features when compared with other anti-malware programs. The following are some of the features you might like in SafeBytes Anti-Malware.
Live Protection: SafeBytes provides complete and real-time security for your computer system. This tool will continuously monitor your PC for any suspicious activity and updates itself regularly to keep abreast of the latest threats.
World-class AntiMalware Protection: With a critically acclaimed anti-malware engine, SafeBytes offers multilayered protection which is made to find and remove threats which are hidden deep in your computer’s operating system.
Safe Browsing: Safebytes assigns all sites a unique safety ranking that helps you to have an idea of whether the webpage you’re just about to visit is safe to view or known to be a phishing site.
Lightweight: This program is light-weight and will work quietly in the background, and will not affect your computer efficiency.
24/7 Online Technical Support: Support service is available for 24 x 7 x 365 days via email and chats to answer your queries.
SafeBytes can keep your PC safe from latest malware threats automatically with very little input needed from you again. Once you have installed this software, you no longer have to worry about malware or any other security worries. You will get the very best all-around protection for the money you pay on SafeBytes anti-malware subscription, there’s no question about it.
Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)
To get rid of DownSpeedTest manually, go to the Add or Remove programs list in the Control Panel and select the offending program you want to get rid of. For internet browser extensions, go to your browser’s Addon/Extension manager and choose the plug-in you intend to disable or remove. You’ll likely also want to reset your web browser.
To ensure the complete removal, manually check your hard disk and computer registry for all the following and remove or reset the values as needed. Please be aware that this is for skilled users only and might be challenging, with incorrect file removal causing additional system errors. In addition, some malware is capable of replicating itself or preventing deletion. You’re suggested to do this procedure in Safe Mode.
As you know, each one of the Windows 10 versions is priced differently and one of the considered more expensive compared to the Windows 10 Home version is the Windows10 Pro. The good thing is, Microsoft allows its users to upgrade from the Windows 10 Home version to the Windows 10 Pro version at a reasonable cost instead of buying the entire license again.
However, upgrading your Windows 10 computer is not always that easy and you might encounter some errors along the way. One of the reported errors you could encounter is an error message that says, “Something happened, and we couldn’t start the upgrade”. This kind of problem is due to the problems with the Microsoft Store or the key authorization and to fix it, there are several options you can check out. You can try to run the built-in troubleshooters such as the Windows Update troubleshooter, Windows Store Apps troubleshooter, or Microsoft Accounts troubleshooter. You could also try to reset the Windows Store cache or re-register the Windows Store app. For more details, refer to each one of the given options below.
Option 1 – Try to run the Microsoft Accounts troubleshooter
Since the Microsoft Accounts troubleshooter is not built-in into the Windows operating system, you can download this troubleshooter by clicking on this link.
Option 2 – Try running the Windows Update Troubleshooter
Running the built-in Windows Update troubleshooter could also help you resolve the “Something happened, and we couldn’t start the upgrade” error. To run it, go to Settings and then select Troubleshoot from the options. From there, click on Windows Update and then click the “Run the troubleshooter” button. After that, follow the next on-screen instructions and you should be good to go.
Option 3 – Run the Windows Store App troubleshooter
The Windows 10 Store Apps Troubleshooter will help you in fixing the problem in Microsoft Store. This is a great built-in tool from Microsoft that helps users fix any app issues. To use the Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter, follow the steps below.
Tap Win + I keys again to open the Windows Settings panel.
Go to Update & Security and then go to Troubleshoot.
Under the Troubleshoot section, on your left-hand side, scroll down to find Window Store Apps.
Then click on the Run the troubleshooter option and follow the on-screen instructions and then see if it fixes the problem.
Option 4 – Try to reset the Microsoft Store cache
As you know, like any other apps, Microsoft Store also caches as you view apps and games so it is most likely that the cache is no longer valid and must be removed. To do so, follow the steps below.
Right-click on the start button and click on Command Prompt (administrator).
Next, type in the command, “wsreset.exe” and tap Enter. Once you do, the command will clear the cache for the Windows Store app.
Now restart your PC and afterward, try opening Microsoft Store again and then try to install your app or update your computer again.
Option 5 – Try to re-register the Microsoft Store app via Windows PowerShell
Tap the Win + X key combination or right-click on the Start button and click on the Windows PowerShell (Admin) option.
If a User Account Control or UAC prompt appears, just click on Yes to proceed and open the Windows PowerShell window.
Next, type in or copy-paste the following command to re-register the Microsoft Store app and tap Enter:
If you are a Windows 7 user and you also have a Maxtor One Touch 4 external hard drive installed on your PC, then you may come across the error code 0x80070571.
The error code is displayed in the following format:
"The disk structure is corrupt and unreadable. Error 0×80070571"
Solution
Error Causes
Here are some of the common causes of the error 0×80070571:
Changed Windows files or settings
Maxtor 750G driver damaged or corrupt
Damaged or corrupt registry keys
System files are missing or broken
In short, the error code 0×80070571 indicates an unhealthy system and is a surefire sign of poor PC maintenance.
It is advisable to repair and resolve the error immediately especially if the underlying cause of the error is related to the registry. Such errors can expose your PC to serious threats like system failure, crashes, and valuable data loss. And retrieving data is often the hardest.
Further Information and Manual Repair
To resolve the error 0×80070571 on your system, you don’t need to be a computer programmer or hire a technician either.
We have listed down the best and simplest ways to fix this error on your system. These solutions are so easy to follow and execute that it requires no technical expertise whatsoever.
So, let’s get started:
Solution 1: Update The Maxtor 750G Driver
The best way to fix the error 0×80070571 on your system is to update the Maxtor 750G driver. This can be easily done by either contacting the manufacturer or downloading the updated version from Maxtor’s official website.
Solution 2: Update Windows
For the smooth running of the PC, it is crucial to keep Windows updated. Therefore, update Windows on your PC. To do this, go to the Windows Update option in the control panel. This will show your updated status. Turn it on and click on update.
Solution 3: Clean the Registry
The registry basically stores all the activities and information on your PC. This includes both important and unimportant data including the junk files, cookies, internet history, bad registry keys and invalid entries.
Such files if not removed, take up a lot of disk space. It corrupts the registry and damages the system files as well.
Furthermore, it also leads to disk fragmentation because of which new files are stored in fragments in different locations and this is exactly why it takes a long time to call system files. The registry damage and corruption then generates various errors on your PC and one of them is error 0×80070571.
The best way to clean and restore the registry is to download Restoro.
This is a highly functional and next-generation registry cleaner.
It is embedded with a smart algorithm that detects and scans all registry issues and errors on your system in seconds. It removes all the unnecessary and obsolete files accumulated and cluttering your PC. Furthermore, it fixes the damaged system files and restores the registry right away.
It has a sophisticated and an easy to use interface that enables users to work around it without any hassle or technical expertise. It is compatible with all Windows versions.
In addition to this, this tool is also deployed with several other value-added utilities such as an antivirus, a system optimizer and Active X controls, and a class ID scanner.
It is safe and efficient. Click here to download Restoro on your PC and repair error 0×80070571 today!
If you suddenly encountered a Windows Error Code 0x80070017 during an Update, Installation or System Restore then it’s probably due to some missing or corrupted system files. This kind of error code can occur during an update, installation, or system restore and the only way out of it is to download the file once again and re-run the installation from the top.
Before you start to troubleshoot the problem, you need to create a System Restore Point first. After you create a System Restore point, you can follow the troubleshooting options laid out below to fix the Windows Error Code 0x80070017. You just have to follow the troubleshooting option that applies to your situation and whether you got the error during an update, installation, or during System Restore.
Whether you got the error 0x80070017 while updating Windows 10 or installing it or during a system restore, the first thing you must do is run the System File Checker. As pointed out early on, the Windows Error Code 0x80070017 might be caused by corrupted or missing system files so the first thing you can try is to run the System File Checker scan.
Tap Win + R to launch Run.
Type in cmd in the field and tap Enter.
After opening Command Prompt, type in sfc /scannow and hit Enter.
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:
Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.
Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them.
Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them.
If you have encountered Windows Error Code 0x80070017 during an Update, then here are some options you need to try:
Option 1 – Delete the files/contents in the SoftwareDistribution Folder
The Software Distribution folder in the Windows operating system is a folder that can be found in the Windows directory and is used to store files temporarily which might be required to install the Windows Update on your PC. Thus, it is required by the Windows Update and maintained by WUAgent. A lot of users tried deleting the files in this folder to fix the problem and so far it has worked. Like them, you can try clearing the Windows Update cache by simply deleting the contents of the folder named “SoftwareDistribution” since Windows apparently can’t clear and re-download the update contents once they are corrupted. Thus, deleting the contents of this folder will make Windows download the contents again which will fix the problem. To do that, follow the steps below.
Open the WinX Menu.
From there, open Command Prompt as admin.
Then type in the following command – don’t forget to hit Enter right after typing each one of them.
net stop wuauservnet stop bits
After entering these commands, it will stop the Windows Update Service and the Background Intelligent Transfer Service.
Next, go to the C:/Windows/SoftwareDistribution folder and get rid of all the folders and files thereby tapping the Ctrl + A keys to select them all and then click on Delete. Note that if the files are in use, you won’t be able to delete them.
Once all the contents in the Software Distribution folder are deleted, restart your PC and then go back to Command Prompt and input the following commands again.
net start wuauservnet start bits
Since the folder has already been flushed, it will be populated afresh the instant your restart your computer and open Windows Update.
Option 2 – Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter
Running the built-in Windows Update troubleshooter could also help you resolve the Windows Update Error Code 0x80070017. To run it, go to Settings and then select Troubleshoot from the options. From there, click on Windows Update and then click the “Run the troubleshooter” button. After that, follow the next on-screen instructions and you should be good to go.
On the other hand, if you got the error code 0x80070017 during a Windows 10 installation, then it’s because of bad media or corruption in ISO. Here are some troubleshooting steps for this kind of situation:
Option a – Try to create Windows 10 ISO media again
In this option, you will have to create a Windows 10 bootable media and use it to install the latest Windows 10 version. Most users reported that this option works and the reason why it does have something to do with the Windows Update client since the Windows Updates downloaded from the regular Windows Update client seem to create issues such as the error 0x80070017. However, issues like this one don’t occur when the very same Windows Updates are downloaded and installed via an ISO file.
Take note that when using a Windows ISO file, you will be asked to choose what you want to do with the previous settings and apps. A lot of users opted for the “Not to keep the old Windows settings” option which has resolved the issue. So if you want to keep the previous settings then you must try to update Windows first while keeping the old settings. However, if it doesn’t work, you have to try installing the latest version of Windows without keeping the previous settings.
Click this link and then click the Download Tool Now button.
Next, click the “Use the tool to create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file)…” option and follow the next given instructions on the screen.
Now select the ISO file option in step 5.
After that, you should now have an ISO file.
Next, go to the location where you’ve downloaded the ISO file.
Then right-click on the Windows 10 ISO file and select the Open with the option and then select File Explorer.
Now click on “setup.exe” and follow the next instructions that appear on the screen. When asked, you have to select either Nothing (clean install) or Keep personal files only option. Take note that you must not select the “Keep personal files, apps, and Windows settings since it doesn’t really work.
Option b – Run Microsoft’s online troubleshooter
Running Microsoft’s online troubleshooter might also help you fix the Windows update error 0x80070017. This online troubleshooter is known to help in fixing Windows Update errors, it scans your computer for issues that might be causing the problem and then fixes them automatically.
If you got the error during System Restore then this means that the files that are being copied from the disk are not making it to the hard drive. To resolve it, here’s what you can do:
Option 1 – Run System Restore in Safe Mode
You might want to run System Restore in Safe Mode and see if it works. Just reboot your PC into Safe Mode and then run System Restore.
Option 2 – Reset Repository
Boot your PC into Safe Mode.
Then open Command Prompt as admin.
Next, type the “net stop winmgmt” command and hit Enter to stop the Windows Management Instrumentation Service.
After that, go to C:/Windows/System32/wbem. From there, rename the repository folder to “repository-old”.
Restart your computer.
After your computer has restarted, open Command Prompt as admin again and then type the “net stop winmgmt” command and hit Enter.
Next, type the “winmgmt /resetRepository” and hit Enter to reset Repository.
Restart PC and check if System Restore now works.
Option 3 – Try resetting Windows 10
To fix the error 0x80070017, you can try resetting Windows 10. Doing so won’t get rid of any file in your system – instead of erasing all your media files and documents, it only resets all the system settings and files. Simply go to Settings > Recovery. From there click the Get started button under the Reset This PC section.
It really sucks when you can’t fully enjoy the newest version of your favorite OS.
Windows 11 is still relatively fresh and consequently has some annoying little bugs that really ruin our experience. The good news is that you’re not alone and most of them are easy to fix.
Here are 5 commonly reported Windows 11 issues and what you can do to get rid of them.
1. Windows 11 audio problems
One of the absolute most irritating things in the world is struggling with the sound on your computer. Windows 11 users have reported facing the issue of low or no sound. If you’re currently experiencing the same frustration, you can be relieved. Chances are fixing it will only take a few minutes.
The first thing to check would be whether you accidentally muted your device by pressing the mute button on your keyboard. Yes, we know it sounds a lot like the old “have you tried turning it off and on again?” But it’s important to leave no stone unturned, and the most obvious things are usually the ones we easily overlook.
Moreover, if you have several audio output sources, check whether the right one is selected. You can do this via the Action Center or through Settings. If you want to use the same source every time, we also recommend you set it as the default one.
It’s also important to have a good, up-to-date audio driver. More often than not, this will be the true cause of your audio struggles. Make sure to update your driver, and if that doesn’t work out, you can always un- and reinstall it or install a different one.
Lastly, if all attempts remain unsuccessful, run the audio troubleshooter to figure out what’s actually going wrong.
2. Unable to find files
Such a powerful new operating system, yet it can’t seem to do the simplest thing imaginable? The File Explorer not responding on Windows 11 is one of the most frustrating and most common problems with Microsoft’s newest iteration of its awesome OS.
However, 9/10 times it can be fixed by simply restarting your PC. You could also try killing the Windows Explorer process in the Task Manager and then rerunning it.
If these don’t help, check whether there are any pending Windows 11 updates. A single missing update can compromise your PC’s functionality, so always make sure to install them all on time.
Should none of that work, then there are other ways to solve the File Explorer problem. However, then the issue is probably a bit deeper and it’s no longer in the ‘easy fix’ territory.
3. Start menu not working
Just like the File Explorer, the Start menu is a fundamental element of your OS. So, it’s only natural that its malfunction grinds your gears. It may be more customizable than on previous Windows versions, but it doesn’t always work smoothly.
If you’re facing the so-called Start menu critical error, there are a few things this could be caused by. Usually it means you turned off your system while an important update was still being installed, there is a corrupt file on your PC, or Windows forcefully stopped a program.
Whatever the reason, the solution should be pretty simple. Try the basic steps: restarting your File Explorer (like we explained above) and signing out and back into your account. If that doesn’t do anything, you may want to try uninstalling third-party start menu apps (if you have any), since they can interfere with your default programs’ functionality.
Now, those are the easy fixes. If you get nowhere with them, you might need to identify the root cause and search for more complex solutions than that.
4. Snipping tool not working
Our beloved screenshot tool was introduced with Windows 10 and Microsoft decided to keep it. However, you were probably just as disappointed as us when you tried to run it and failed.
Normally, this can be fixed by installing the latest Out-of-band (OOB) update, or even pending updates in general. Even if your system appears to be up-to-date, run the checker just in case.
Another cool thing Windows 11 lets you do is ‘Repair’ and ‘Reset’, which is the easiest way to troubleshoot your Snipping tool. If this fails, you can also try the good old un- and reinstall method. Simply uninstall the tool through the Control Panel and reinstall it from the Microsoft Store.
Furthermore, in the case of an upgrade from Windows 10 to 11, it may be that the old Snipping tool version is interfering with the launch of the new one. If you don’t care that much about the additional options available with the enhanced screenshot tool, you can use the old version instead.
Simply go to your C Drive, find the Windows.old folder, search for the tool and open it from there. Make sure to pin it to your taskbar as well, if you know you’re going to use it often.
5. Can’t install the latest update
The latest Windows 11 version, 22H2, has brought tons of enhancements to our dearest operating system. Unfortunately, a lot of users still haven’t had the opportunity to experience it. A mere update of your OS version should be the one thing that goes smoothly, but sometimes that’s not the case.
Failure to install 22H2 can be caused by a few things. Most commonly, the issue is caused by lack of storage space or corrupted files, but there could be other culprits.
There are a couple of things you could try. For example, it’s crucial that your drivers be up-to-date and some important services be enabled. These are: Windows Modules Installer, Background Intelligent Transfer Service, Cryptographic Service, Windows Update services.
To enable them, search ‘Services’, find the service you need and right-click on it. Open ‘Properties’ and select the startup type ‘Automatic’.
It may also be necessary to unplug all peripherals that aren’t crucial and disable third-party antivirus tools until after the update is finished.
Ultimately, you can run the Windows Update troubleshooter to detect and fix other possible issues.
Summary
Tiny bugs like these are nothing out of the ordinary. That said, we still all hate when they happen.
Hopefully some of our solutions have helped you to a smoother Windows 11 experience. But if you’re still struggling, feel free to reach out to us. We’d be happy to help!
