Fix Windows Updates and MS Store, 0x80240438

One of the most important components of a computer in the network. The network, with the help of network devices, makes it possible for all kinds of devices to exchange information. One of the files associated with the network driver is the netio.sys file. It is a system file used by third-party programs to interact with the devices on the network. If you encounter a Blue Screen of Death error that’s related to the netio.sys file then you’ve come to the right place as this post will guide you in fixing it. Here are some of the Blue Screen errors related to the netio.sys file:

• KMODE EXCEPTION NOT HANDLED
• PAGE FAULT IN A NONPAGED AREA
• IRQL NOT LESS EQUAL
• SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION
• DRIVER IRQL NOT LESS OR EQUAL
• SYSTEM THREAD EXCEPTION NOT HANDLED

To fix the netio.sys Blue Screen errors on your Windows 10 computer, you can check out each one of the following suggestions.

Option 1 – Try to use the System File Checker

One of the built-in tools in Windows that you can use to fix Blue Screen errors is the System File Checker. This built-in command utility can help you restore corrupted or missing files as well as replace bad and corrupted system files. Chances are, the netio.sys file might be corrupted so to fix it, use System File Checker.

• First, right-click on the Start button and click on the “Command Prompt (Admin) option.
• Next, type in the sfc /scannow command and hit Enter to execute it.

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.

• Finally, restart your computer.

Option 2 – Try checking the Memory for any errors

The first thing you can do to check the memory for errors is to run the CHKDSK utility. The CHKDSK utility repairs hard drive errors that might be causing the problem.

• You need to open “This PC” first.
• And then right-click on your operating system partition for Windows.
• Next, click on Properties and navigate to the Tools tab.
• After that, click on the Check button under the Error Checking section.
• A new mini window will appear and from there, click on Scan drive.
• Now let it scan your disk drive partition to check for errors and then restart your computer.

After running the CHKDSK utility, it’s now time to fix issues with your RAM by running the Memory Diagnostic tool. This tool in windows can help resolve the Blue Screen errors related to the netio.sys file by checking and automatically fixing any memory-based issues. To run it, refer to these steps:

• Tap the Win + R keys to open Run and type mdsched.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 your preferred option, your computer 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 3 – Try to update or rollback or disable Network drivers

You might also want to update, roll back or disable your Network drivers to resolve the netio.sys Blue Screen errors.

• Tap the Win + R keys to launch the Run window and then type in the “mdsched.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 Network Adapters and expand it.
• Then right-click on each one of the Network drivers and depending on your preference, you can either select “Update driver”, “Disable device” or “Uninstall device”.
• After that, restart your PC and see if it helped in fixing the netio.sys Blue Screen error.

Option 4 – Perform System Restore

Performing System Restore can also help fix BSOD errors, including the ones related to the netio.sys file. To run System Restore, follow the steps below.

• First, 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 5 – Run the Blue Screen Troubleshooter

Troubleshooting Blue Screen of Death errors wouldn’t be complete without the Blue Screen troubleshooter. As you know, it is a built-in tool in Windows 10 that helps users in fixing BSOD errors like Storport.sys. 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.

What is Error code 8007002c?

Users when upgrading to Windows 10 operating system from Windows 8/8.1 or Windows 7, often encounter error code 8007002c. This error occurs when there’s an attempt made in performing an overall clean boot procedure. During the installation process, it will reach a certain maximum limit, for instance, 75%, and then reverts to its original state. Sometimes, after installation, users will encounter a black screen issue and there is no cursor visible.

Solution

Error Causes

Misconfigured system files that create registry errors within your operating system normally cause error code 8007002c in Windows 10. This registry error happens when there are new programs being installed over old ones without the old programs uninstalled entirely. Another possible cause could be from some malicious software like spyware, adware, and viruses.

Further Information and Manual Repair

Caution: The following steps are complicated. The risk of being in a no-boot situation or data loss might be encountered. It would be best to be supervised by an experienced user, especially in using the command line.

In order to fix Error code 8007002c occurring in Windows 10 upgrade, you can follow this step-by-step manual repair method. Once the repair method is correctly executed, users will most likely quickly resolve issues such as the Error code 8007002c and be able to upgrade to Windows 10 operating system smoothly.

However, in such cases where there are complex instructions and thus need an expert, seek help from a Windows professional. You may also want to consider making use of an automated tool whenever needed.

There are several ways to fix Error code 8007002c, but here are the most effective and efficient methods:

Method One: Force Windows Update

 To be able to download and install the necessary updates, you may use the force Windows Update tool. See below for the steps:

1. Browse to C:\Windows\Software\Distribution\Download. Afterward, delete all the files found in that folder.
2. Press Windows key + X then click on the Command Prompt (Admin). Type exe /updatenow once the Command Prompt window appears then press Enter.
3. Open the Control Panel. Select Windows Update. At this point, Windows 10 should now start downloading.
4. Press again on Windows key + X to open the Command Prompt window. In the Command Prompt, Type or Copy and Paste the following commands one at a time:

NOTE: Don’t forget to hit Enter after every command.

 Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

5. Input a machine name for your computer. Make sure to use a simple name, having at least 8 characters.

Here’s how you can input a machine name:

• Click on Start and then right-click on Computer. Afterward, select For users with Windows 8 operating system, press on Windows key + X then click on System.
• Click on Change settings under the Computer name, domain, and workgroup settings.

Method Two: Diagnose RAM Issues

Another reason why Error code 8007002c occurs is when there’s a defective and wrongly installed memory chip. Try using the Windows Memory Diagnostic to diagnose if there are RAM Issues.

1. Press on the Windows Key + X then select
2. Type
3. Select Windows Memory Diagnostic, from that window, select Restart now, and check for problems

Method Three: Use Selective Startup

One more possible cause why Error code 8007002c occurs is due to third-party software. To fix this error, you can try booting up your device with Selective Startup -- a boot type where you can load a limited set of startups and services.

1. Open the System Configuration tool. On your Taskbar, type MSCONFIG in the Search Box then hit Enter.
2. Select the General
3. Select Selective startup option then tick on the Load system services
4. Ensure that Load startup items check box is unchecked.
5. Click Apply and

Can’t seem to put up with the long and technical manual repair process? You can still fix this error by downloading and installing a powerful automated tool that will surely get the job done in a jiffy!

Mac OS

A solid reason to switch to Mac from Windows PC is Mac OS. Based on Linux, offers more stability and better security than Windows but you will not be able to find a vast array of applications on it.

Even when Mac OS X (the first big one) was first introduced, it looked and felt like ages beyond Windows (Microsoft just recently made a slick and modern design with Windows 11). Under the hood, it turned out that the operating system itself is stable and incredibly fast & responsive. If you value stability and easiness of use, Mac OS is the Operating system for you.

Apple ecosystem

This one is easy, if you are already invested in apple devices like iPhone and iPad, having an apple computer is one step forward into the apple ecosystem and one more step into easy sharing of documents and data between devices.

Calendars, emails, photos, videos, documents, and many more can easily be shared and synched between devices with a single apple ID making workflows much easier than on other operating systems.

Development

Developers all around the world say that developing on Mac is much better and smoother than on PC, this has probably to do something with OS being based on Linux but whatever the case is, it is much smoother and it just feels better. Apple laptops are often the go-to choice of developers for a reason.

Also if you are in the development business for applications and services aimed at iPhone or iPod then there is no really another way than to be into the apple ecosystem and own apple hardware.

Professional software

A lot of professional-grade software exists for both the Windows platform and Mac OS but there is some software that exists exclusively for Apple hardware like Final Cut Pro or Logic Pro. Both applications are used by professionals and are industry-standard software.

Logic pro is used by industrial audio specialists all around the world and is used in professional studios. Final Cut Pro is also used worldwide by video editors and if you are specializing in any of these two fields Mac seems like a very reasonable platform since the software can not be found on Windows. These two are examples, there are other similar applications that are only available on Mac OS

Longevity

Apple hardware is made of high-quality materials and components and it is proven over time that it lasts longer than usual. There are iPhones out there that have 13 years and they are still working, G3 and G4 Macs that are still functional.

When buying Apple products they will outlive other ones if treated properly so in the end you could be saving money by purchasing them.

You might have experienced a situation where your Windows computer was interrupted due to some battery issues or power failure. It could be that the upgrade process was interrupted because you’ve signed out of your computer or you restarted it by accident. In this case, you will most likely get a Windows Update or Upgrade error 0x80200056. If you are getting this error, read on as this post will guide you in fixing it. This kind of error pops up when the upgrade process was interrupted and could be caused by anything but the baseline here is that your computer was restarted accidentally or someone could have signed out your PC. To resolve the problem, here are some fixes you ought to try:

Option 1 – Try updating or upgrading your computer again

This is the basic thing to do since the process was suddenly interrupted. Just log in to your account and restart the Windows Update or Upgrade process but make sure that your internet connection is stable and that you don’t touch anything so as not to interrupt the upgrade/update process again.

Option 2 – Check if your PC is plugged in or if the battery is full

It is always best to update your computer always when you’re really sure that the power won’t fail. If you’re using a desktop computer, make sure that everything is plugged in. And if you’re using a laptop when this error occurred, make sure that its battery is at 100% but it’s better if you just plug it into power just in case as there are times when the Windows update or upgrade gets stuck for too long like for hours so it will really help if your device is connected to power.

Option 3 – Try running the Windows Update Troubleshooter

Running the built-in Windows Update troubleshooter could also help you resolve the Windows Update errors as well as the error 0x80200056. 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.

Option 4 – Delete the 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 wuauserv net stop bits

• After entering these commands, it will stop the Windows Update Service and the Background Intelligent Transfer Service.
• Next, got to the C:\Windows\Software\Distribution 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 wuauserv net 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 5 – Try running the System File Checker scan

System File Checker or SFC is a built-in command utility that helps in restoring corrupted files as well as missing files. It replaces bad and corrupted system files to good system files that might be causing the error 0x80200056. To run the SFC command, follow the steps given below.

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

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

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

Option 6 – Run the Chkdsk utility to repair hard disk errors

You can also run the Chkdsk utility to resolve the Windows Update error 0x80200056. 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 commands listed below, and don’t forget to hit Enter right after you type in each one of them and if you have installed Windows to some different directory, you must replace “C” with the name of the drive you’ve installed Windows with.
• chkdsk C: /r /x
• chkdsk C: /f

Option 7 – Run the DISM tool to repair the Windows Update client

The Windows update/upgrade error 0x80200056 might be caused by some issues in the Windows Update client so you need to run the DISM tool to repair it. Note that you have to use another computer or another Windows from a shared network to fix it.

There are times when you may find it hard to kill a particular process in the Windows Task Manager and every time you try to do so, you will only get an error message saying, “Unable to terminate the process, The operation could not be completed, Access is denied”. If you are one of the users who is constantly getting this error, read on as this post will provide you with a couple of options you can try to resolve the problem. Refer to the given instructions below if you are unable to terminate a process in the Task Manager but before you proceed you need to restart your PC and then try killing the process again, if you’re still not able to do it, you need to follow the options laid out below.

Option 1 – Try using Taskkill

• Open the Command Prompt as admin from the WinX Menu.
• After opening Command Prompt, type in the following command and tap Enter to execute it:

taskkill /IM "processname" /T /F processname – it is the name of the process which you can see on the Details tab of the Windows Task Manager. /IM – it is the one that specifies the image name of the process, which follows, that is to be terminated. /T – it is the one that kills not just the main process but also the child process. /F – it is the one that terminates the process forcefully.

Option 2 – Try using the WMIC

• Open Command Prompt as admin from the WinX Menu.
• From the Command Prompt window that opens, type in the following command and hit Enter to execute it:

wmic process where name='processname.exe' delete

Note: In the given command, you need to replace “processname.exe” with the name of the particular process you want to terminate which is found in the Details tab of the Windows Task Manager.

Option 3 – Try using PowerShell

• The first thing you have to do is open an elevated PowerShell prompt.
• From there, type in the following command and hit Enter to execute it:

kill -id pid

Note: In the given command above, “pid” is the Process ID number of the process you want to terminate. And for you to identify this number, you need to open the Details tab of the Windows Task Manager once again and take note of the number against the process you want to get rid of. Alternatively, you can also run the following command in the PowerShell prompt that you’ve pulled up to get the process ID number:

Get-Process

For example, “5364” is the process ID number for the DimScreen.exe process which is the process you want to terminate. In order for you to kill this process, you need to type in this command:

kill -id 5364

Windows Update Error 0x80071a91, what it is? As you know, Windows Updates are very essential to the operating system since they push with them the important security updates that are crucial to the system. And if a Windows Update is delayed, it can the system vulnerable to potential threats. Thus, this kind of issue must be resolved right away. One of the errors that you can encounter while updating your computer is the Windows Update Error 0x80071a91. The error code 0x80071a91 occurs when the “Transaction support within the specified file system resource manager is not started or was shut down due to an error”. This happens when a service called “File System Resource Manager” or FSRM does not function due to some reason. To fix the Windows Update Error 0x80071a91, here are some suggestions that could help.

Option 1 – Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter

Running the built-in Windows Update troubleshooter could also help you resolve the Windows Update Error 0x80071a91. 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 2 – Disable the antivirus program temporarily

There are times when the antivirus program installed in your computer blocks file access and even disk access. Thus, disabling the antivirus program or any security software installed in your computer is always a good idea you can try when the Windows Update process does not go smoothly. So before you try updating your computer again, make sure to disable the antivirus or security program and once the Windows Update is done, don’t forget to enable the antivirus program back again.

Option 3 – Try resetting the File System Resource Manager

As pointed out earlier, the error 0x80071a91 pops up when the FSRM service suddenly stops working and so resetting this service via Command Prompt might resolve the problem. To do so, follow the steps below.

• In the Windows Search box, type “command prompt” and hit Enter.
• Then right-click on Command Prompt from the related search results and click the “Run as administrator” option.
• After opening Command Prompt as admin, type the following command and hit Enter:

resource setautoreset true C:

• After that, exit Command Prompt and restart your computer and then check if the problem’s fixed by running Windows Update again.

Option 4 – Flush the contents of the SoftwareDistribution folder

You have to stop a couple of services such as BITS, Cryptographic, MSI Installer, and Windows Update Services. And to do that, you need to flush the 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. Aside from that, it also contains all the Windows Update History files and once you delete them, you will most likely lose the Update history. As a result, the next time you run the Windows Update, it may result in a longer detection time.

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

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

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

Option 5 – Delete the Common Log File System transaction logs

You might also want to delete the Common Log File System or CLFS transaction logs to fix the Windows Update Error 0x80071a91.

• Open an elevated Command Prompt.
• Then type each of the commands listed below and press Enter after you type each one of them.
  • cd /d %SystemRoot%System32SMIStoreMachine
  • attrib -s -h *
  • del *.blf
  • del *.regtrans-ms
• After you’ve executed the commands given above, restart your computer and try to update Windows 10 again.

A very serious data breach has happened to the unfortunate GoDaddy hosting service placing a little over 1.2 million accounts affected. Security breaches sadly are not a rare occurrence but this time it is a little different. Each time when the company is breached data is stolen and that places the company in a bad light usually because its user database has been compromised and people are concerned about their data being misused. This is very rational fear and concern but this time things are a little bit different than usual, why is that, you might ask? Well, as before mentioned GoDaddy is a hosting company and the vector of attack was aimed at the part where it is hosting WordPress. Attackers were able to get their hands on the sFTP credentials of customers on that server meaning that all of the websites are also been relieved of their user base as well. This potentially means that there is a high chance that all of the hosted web site's content is also compromised, meaning that your data could also be compromised even if you were not a GoDaddy customer, all you needed to do is to be a member of any site hosted on their platform. GoDaddy has reset WordPress passwords and private keys, so it’s already taken the steps required to stock the attacker from exploiting anything with the passwords obtained. The company is in the process of generating new SSL certificates for customers. Bad thing is that the attack used a compromised password to get into systems all the way back around September 6^th, 2021, the breach was discovered on November 17^th, 2021, which is more than a 2-month active time where the attacker could harvest tons of data. The outcome of this attack will be seen in the upcoming time, until then be safe, and Just in case change your passwords.

What is Mscomctl.ocx?

Mscomctl.ocx is a Microsoft library Windows Common Controls file. The Mscomctl.ocx error occurs when this file is either lost or gets corrupt. The error is displayed on the screen when the user tries to run a program that is dependent on this file. It appears as:

“Component 'MSCOMCTL.OCX' or one of its dependencies not correctly registered: a file is missing or invalid”

Solution

Download Available to Completely Repair the Error Mscomctl.ocx

Error Causes

Installing and then uninstalling a large number of applications on the Windows operating system often corrupts or unregisters the Mscomctl.ocx library. This message will continue to appear on the screen until you re-register the library file again on your system.

Further Information and Manual Repair

You don’t need to have the sound technical knowledge or call a professional to resolve Mscomctl.ocx error on your PC. The Mscomctl.ocx error is easy to repair and can be fixed in a couple of minutes. Here are 2 solutions to repair the Mscomctl ocx error code on your system:

Cause: Error occurs because the Mscomctl ocx file is unregistered

Solution:

1. Go to the start menu and type ‘Mscomctl.oxc and press enter
2. Copy the ‘Mscomctl.ocx’ file and paste it in "C:WindowsSystem32" folder
3. Now click the start menu again and type ‘CMD’ in the search box. This will open your computer's command prompt.
4. Once this opens, type either of the following commands and then press enter. If you have a 64-bit operating system, then type: Regsvr32 "C:WindowsSysWOW64MSCOMCTL.OCX” and if you have 32-bit operating system, then you should type ‘Regsvr32 "C:WindowsSystem32MSCOMCTL.OCX"

By doing this, you will be able to register the Mscomctl.ocx file on your PC and then you will no longer receive Mscomctl.ocx error code.

Cause: Error code occurs because the Mscomctl.ocx file is missing

Solution:

1. First search for MScomctl ocx on your local drive to see if it is missing.
2. If the file is missing, then download the MScomctl.exe file from a reliable website.
3. Now extract the file to your C:WINDOWSsystem32 directory
4. Then click start and run.
5. Now type ‘REGSVR32 MSCOMCTL.OCX’ and press enter

Please note to implement any of the two solutions stated above, you will need administrator rights. If you have the administrator rights then only can you make the above registry changes. Therefore to make the following changes you will have to access the PC using the Administrator account. Simply follow the instructions given above to repair this error code problem right away!

If you are using Google Chrome browser in surfing the web, you might have experienced a situation where you’re trying to connect to a website but were unable to since Chrome failed to fetch the website to the browser and throws an error that says, This webpage is not available – Err Connection Timed Out. Aside from an issue with the network connection, there are also other reasons why this error suddenly shows up, read on to fix it. There are times when the Windows computer is responsible for this kind of issue. And it can happen not just to Google Chrome but to other browsers as well. To resolve this issue, here are some suggestions that might be of help.

Option 1 – Try checking the network cables and then restart your router and reconnect

The first thing you can do is to check if all the network cables are properly connected be it to your computer or to the router. And if your computer is connected via Wi-Fi, you need to restart your router once. And of course, you can always opt to forget the Wi-Fi details and then reconnect again just make sure that you know the password.

Option 2 – Check the Windows Host file

You can also try to cross-check the Windows Hosts file to find out if the website you are trying to open has been blocked because if it is, then it’s no wonder why you’re getting the ERR CONNECTION TIMED OUT error in Chrome. There are instances when some third-party application modifies the file and adds some websites to the blocklists. So if the website is indeed blocked, you need to remove it from the list.

Option 3 – Try removing Proxy

Removing the Proxy might also help you in fixing the ERR CONNECTION TIMED OUT error. Here’s how you can do it:

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Then type “inetcpl.cpl” in the field and hit Enter to pull up the Internet Properties.
• After that, go to the Connections tab and select the LAN settings.
• From there. Uncheck the “Use a Proxy Server” option for your LAN and then make sure that the “Automatically detect settings” option is checked.
• Now click the OK and the Apply buttons.
• Restart your PC.

Note: If you are using a third-party proxy service, you have to disable it.

Option 4 – Try to clear the browsing data of Google Chrome

If your browsing data in Chrome hasn’t been cleared for some time now then that might be the reason why you’re suddenly getting the ERR CONNECTION TIMED OUT error when you browse the web. To fix this error, you need to clear your web browsing data. Refer to the following steps to do so.

• Tap the Ctrl + Shift + Delete buttons to go to the Clear browsing data section in Chrome.
• Next, set the time range to “All time” and tick all the boxes and then click on the Clear data button.
• After that, restart the Chrome browser and try to open the website you were trying to open earlier.

Option 5 – Flush the DNS and reset TCP/IP

You might also want to flush the DNS and reset TCP/IP as it could help in fixing the ERR CONNECTION TIMED OUT error. To do so, refer to these steps:

• Click the Start button and type in “command prompt” in the field.
• From the search results that appear, right-click on Command Prompt and select the “Run as administrator” option.
• After opening Command Prompt, you have to type each one of the commands listed below. Just make sure that after you type each command, you hit Enter
  • ipconfig /release
  • ipconfig /all
  • ipconfig /flushdns
  • ipconfig /renew
  • netsh int ip set dns
  • netsh winsock reset

After you key in the commands listed above, the DNS cache will be flushed and the Winsock, as well as the TCP/IP, will reset.

• Now restart your computer and open Google Chrome then try opening the website you were trying to open earlier.

Option 6 – Run the built-in Malware Scanner and Cleanup Tool in Chrome

In case you don’t know, there is actually a built-in malware scanner and cleanup tool in Chrome that helps you get rid of any unwanted ads, pop-ups, and even malware, as well as unusual startup pages, toolbars, and other things that could affect the performance of the browser.

Option 7 – Reset Chrome

Resetting Chrome can also help you get rid of the ERR CONNECTION TIMED OUT error. Resetting Chrome means 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 the option and click on the “Restore settings to their original defaults” option to reset Google Chrome.
• Now restart Google Chrome.

This post will guide you on what to do if your keyboard shortcuts or hotkeys are not working on your Windows 10 computer. A lot of users use hotkeys as they make things easier for them as they use their computer. However, there are instances when these hotkeys suddenly stop working. It’s actually one of the most common problems with keyboards. And so to resolve this problem, you can try out some suggestions prepared on this post.

Option 1 – Clean the keyboard keys physically

Your keyboard might not be working properly due to some dirt or other corrosion. First, you need to shut down your computer and then unplug the keyboard if you are using a desktop computer and then prepare it for cleaning. After that, use a small cotton ear cleaning tool to get between the creases and clean them. You can dip it slightly in alcohol to make it more efficient in cleaning dust and dirt. And if you can, you have the option to pull apart the keyboard completely and then wipe away all the corrosion from the inside. Once you’re done, put the keyboard back together and then plug it back into your PC. Now turn your PC on and check if the hotkeys are now working.

Option 2 – Try running the Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter

The first thing you can do to fix the problem is by running the Hardware Troubleshooter. Although it won’t make much of a difference, there’s still a possibility that it could automatically fix the problem with these function keys. To use it, refer to these steps:

• The first thing you need to do is click on Start and then on the gear-like icon to pull up the window for Settings.
• After opening Settings, look for the Update and Security option and select it.
• From there, go to the Troubleshoot option located on the left-hand side of the list.
• Next, select Hardware and Devices from the list and open the Troubleshooter and run it. Once it is doing its job, wait for it to complete the process and then restart the system.
• After the system restarts, check if the problem’s now fixed. If not, refer to the next option given below.

Option 3 – Try connecting the keyboard to a different USB port

The problem might have something to do with the USB port that’s currently in use by your keyboard. It could be that it’s not working so it makes sense to unplug it and attach it to another USB port. You can also clean the USB port on both ends to ensure that they are not affected by corrosion.

Option 4 – Uninstall previously installed keyboard software

If you have been previously using another keyboard, it might be better if you make sure that the software for the old device has been removed since there are instances when multiple software can cause problems due to similarities in actions.

Option 5 – Update the keyboard driver

You can also update the keyboard driver to fix the problem. There are cases when an outdated or corrupted driver can fix the problem. To do so, follow the steps below.

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Then type “devmgmt.msc” in the field and hit Enter to open the Device Manager.
• From there, look for the keyboard driver and click on it.
• Next, right-click on the keyboard driver and select the Update driver option.
• After that, click the “Search automatically for updated driver software” option to proceed.

Option 6 – Reinstall the keyboard driver

If updating the keyboard driver didn’t help, then you might want to reinstall it. How? Follow the steps below.

• Tap the Win + R keys to launch Run.
• Type in MSC into the box and tap Enter or click OK to open the Device Manager.
• After that, a list of device drivers will be displayed. Look for keyboard driver, right-click on it and then select “Uninstall device”.
• After that, unplug the device and restart your PC.
• Then plug your device back in. Assuming your device is connected to your PC, open the Device Manager again.
• Next, click on the Action button and click the Scan for hardware changes button. That should fix the problem.

Note: You could also completely uninstall the driver and go directly to the manufacturer’s website and download the latest driver for your hardware and then install it.

Option 7 – Enable Human Interface Device (HID) Service

Another thing to consider is the Human Interface Device Service. If this service is disabled, then no wonder why your hotkeys are not working. Thus, you need to enable this service. Refer to the following steps to do that:

• Tap the Win + R key to launch the Run dialog box.
• Then type “services.msc” in the field and hit Enter to open Services.
• After opening Services, scroll down until you see the Human Interface Device service.
• Double click on HID and make sure that its Startup Type is set to “Automatic” and then click OK.
• Restart your PC and check if the hotkeys are now working or not.

Option 8 – Try resetting the keyboard

You might also want to try resetting the keyboard as it can also help in fixing the problem. Setting it back to its default state will surely help.