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How to Fix Explorer.exe System call failed

One of the most critical processes in the Windows 10 operating system is the Explorer.exe. And there are times when you might encounter an error that says, “System call failed”. You can encounter this error when you try to launch File Explorer, and in such case when the File Explorer does not work, it could cause issues in accessing folders and files on your computer.

This kind of error pops up when the explorer.exe system file has become corrupted or if there is some process that interferes with its smooth functioning. To fix this error, you can try to restart the explorer.exe process, run both the System File Checker scan and DISM tool. You could also put your computer in a Clean Boot State or uninstall any programs you’ve installed recently. For more details, follow each one of the given suggestions below.

Option 1 – Try to restart the Explorer.exe process

The first thing you can do is try to restart the Explorer.exe process. To do so, refer to these steps:

  • First, right-click on the Taskbar and select the Task Manager.
  • Next, expand the Task Manager window to see all the active processes.
  • From there, look for the Windows Explorer process, right-click on it and select Restart.
  • After that, check if the error is now fixed.

Option 2 – Run System File Checker scan

If restarting the explorer.exe process didn’t work, you can also try running the System File Checker or SFC scan to fix the error. System File Checker is a command utility built into your computer that helps restore corrupted files and missing files. Refer to the following steps to run it:

  • Hit the Win + R keys to launch Run.
  • Type in cmd in the field and tap Enter.
  • After opening Command Prompt, type in this command: sfc /SCANFILE=c:windowsexplorer.exe

Note: If you are using a 64-bit Windows operating system, enter the “sfc /SCANFILE=C:WindowsSysWow64explorer.exe” command instead.

  • Wait until the process is completed and then restart your computer.

Option 3 – Run the DISM tool

You might also want to run the DISM tool. This tool is known to repair potentially corrupted files in your system as having them could also system issues like the “System call failed” error. To repair these corrupted system files, you can run the DISM commands:

  • Tap the Win + X keys and click on the “Command Prompt (Admin)” option.
  • After that, input each one of the commands listed below sequentially to execute them:
    • Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
    • Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
    • Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
  • Once you’ve executed the commands given above, restart your computer and check if the problem is now fixed.

Option 4 – Try running the Check Disk utility

  • In the Windows Search box, type “command prompt” and from the search results, right-click on Command Prompt and select “Run as administrator”.
  • After opening Command Prompt, type this command and tap Enter: chkdsk c: /f /r
  • The command you entered will start to check for errors and fix them automatically. Else, it will throw an error message saying, “Chkdsk cannot run because the volume is in use by another process. Would you like the schedule this volume to be checked the next time the system restarts? (Y/N)”.
  • Tap the Y key to schedule Disk Check the next time your computer restarts.

Option 5 – Put your computer in a Clean Boot State

As pointed out, there are some instances that some conflicting programs installed in your computer might be the one that triggers the “System call failed” error to appear when you try to open File Explorer. To identify which program is causing the problem, you need to put your computer in a Clean Boot State. To do so, follow the steps below.

  • Log onto your PC as an administrator.
  • Type in MSConfig in the Start Search to open the System Configuration utility.
  • From there, go to the General tab and click “Selective startup”.
  • Clear the “Load Startup items” check box and make sure that the “Load System Services” and “Use Original boot configuration” options are checked.
  • Next, click the Services tab and select the “Hide All Microsoft Services” check box.
  • Click Disable all.
  • Click on Apply/OK and restart your PC. (This will put your PC into a Clean Boot State. And configure Windows to use the usual startup, just simply undo the changes.)
  • Once your computer has restarted in a Clean Boot State, perform your scan again and see if it now works, and then start to isolate the problem by checking which one of the programs you installed recently is the root cause of the problem.

Option 6 – Try to uninstall the programs you’ve installed recently

In case you don’t know, freeware software packages aren’t always free as some of them could contain malicious software that can cause serious damage to your computer. Thus, if you have installed a program recently prior to getting the “System call failed” error, then you have to uninstall that program.

  • Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
  • Then type “appwiz.cpl” in the field and tap Enter to open the Programs and Features in Control Panel.
  • Next, arrange the list of installed programs in the order of the installation date.
  • After that, look for the problematic program and right-click on it, and then select Uninstall.
  • Once the process is done, restart your computer and see if the error is fixed.

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How to Fix Stop 0x0000000A Error Code

Stop 0x0000000A - What is it?

Stop 0x000000A is a type of blue screen of death error associated with Windows XP. It occurs either during or after the installation of Windows XP. In other cases, the stop 0x000000A error may occur when the device driver uses an incorrect memory address, causing an IRQ conflict. The Stop 0x000000A error message means that a process or a driver attempted to access a memory section without permission.  The stop error message is displayed in the following format:

Stop: 0x0000000A (parameter1, parameter2, parameter3, parameter4) IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL *** Address x has base at x - filename

Solution

Restoro box imageError Causes

The stop 0x000000A error is triggered due to multiple reasons. These include:
  • Faulty hardware
  • The poor device driver installation
  • Incompatible device driver
  • Viruses and malware attack
  • Disk fragmentation
Blue screen of death errors like the stop 0x000000A error code is critical. These errors may pose serious PC threats. When this error occurs the computer screen turns blue, the program running on the system stops and if the error is not fixed in time it may also result in a system crash and failure.

Further Information and Manual Repair

To resolve the Stop 0x000000A error on your PC, here are some solutions that you can try:

1. Roll Back Drivers

To do this, click on the start button and go to the control panel. Then double click the system icon and locate the ‘System Properties’ window. After that click on the ‘hardware’ tab and then click the ‘Device Manager’ button. Here locate the device that you recently updated which could be causing the IRQ conflict. Now double click the device recently updated and click the driver tab. Then click on the ‘Roll Back Driver' button. Wait for the process to finish and then simply reboot your system.

2. Specify the Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL)

Another method to resolve the Stop 0x000000A error on your system is to specify the hardware abstraction layer (HAL). This can be done during Windows XP installation startup. Simply press the F5 button on your keyboard while the “Setup is inspecting your computer’s hardware configuration’. When prompted, make sure that you specify the correct computer type and HAL (the Hardware Abstraction Layer). Most computers use a single processor, if your computer also has a single processor then simply select ‘Standard PC HAL’ computer type from the menu. Now reboot your PC and then reinstall the Windows XP operating system. If the error is still not resolved then try turning off features in CMOS settings

3. Turn off Features in CMOS Settings

Turn off all the following features in the CMOS settings:
  • All caching, including L2, BIOS, internal/external, and write back caching on disk controllers
  • Plug and Play
  • All shadowing
  • Any BIOS-based virus protection feature
After turning off these features, try reinstalling Windows XP again. If this works, then that’s great! However, if it doesn’t, then try method 4; maybe the cause of the stop 0x000000A is associated with incompatible drivers.

4. Install Windows XP compatible Drivers

Sometimes device driver compatibility can also shoot up the stop 0x000000A error message. First, remove the drivers that are incompatible with Windows XP. Now obtain and install new Windows XP compatible drivers. To do this, go to the start menu and the control panel. Now double click on Add or Remove Programs icon. Select the drivers that are incompatible with Windows XP and click on the remove button. After that restart PC and install Windows XP, compatible drivers, for the hardware devices on your system.

5. Scan for Viruses and Repair the Registry

If all the methods discussed above do not resolve the stop 0x000000A error on your PC, then it means either your computer is affected by an infection virus or the problem is associated with the registry like disk fragmentation and invalid entries. To scan for both viruses and registry issues simultaneously in seconds, it is advisable to download Restoro. Restoro is an advanced and multi-functional PC repair tool integrated with powerful utilities including a registry cleaner, antivirus, and a system optimizer. It also scans for Active X controls and class ID errors. The registry cleaning utility scans your entire PC for all possible registry issues triggering different error codes including the stop 0x000000A error. It wipes out all the unnecessary files cluttering and damaging the registry including cookies, temporary files, junk files, and invalid entries. It repairs the fragmented disk and the registry thereby resolving the stop 0x000000A error on your system. The privacy error utility functions like an antivirus. It detects all kinds of malicious software on your system including malware, adware, spyware, and viruses. These are removed immediately thus making your PC error-free. Restoro is safe, efficient, and user-friendly. It is compatible with all Windows versions including XP.  It has a sophisticated interface and a neat layout which makes it quite easy to operate and workaround. Click here to download Restoro and repair your PC and resolve the stop 0x000000A error code now!
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Fix Setup has failed Error in Windows
If you encounter the “Setup has failed to determine supported install choices” error when trying to downgrade or upgrade your Windows 10 computer, this signifies that there are some compatibility issues with the installation process and that Windows was not able to either downgrade or upgrade to another version. Usually, this error occurs when you are using the built-in options in Windows 10 upgrade or downgrade to another version of Windows. This option is mostly used as it keeps the user settings as well as data intact. Thus, you need to keep in mind a lot of parameters before you proceed with the installation because if there is any conflict in the process, you certainly won’t be able to downgrade or upgrade your Windows computer. To resolve the issue, here are some suggestions that might help.

Option 1 – Try running in Compatibility mode

This is the first thing you can try to resolve the issue instead of going right ahead on making a bootable device. So if you are downgrading Windows, you can try to run the installer in the compatibility mode for that specific Windows version.
  • Look for the setup file.
  • Once you find it, right-click on it and select Properties from the context menu.
  • After that, go to the Compatibility tab and mark the checkbox for “Run this program in compatibility mode for:” and from the drop-down list, select either Windows 7 or Windows 8.
  • You also have to check the “Run as administrator” option.
  • Now click the Apply button and then click OK to save the changes made and check if it has resolved the issue or not.

Option 2 – Option 2 – Try troubleshooting compatibility

This option is almost the same as the first one except it is an alternative way of fixing the “Setup has failed to determine supported install choices” error in case the first one didn’t work. In this option, you will troubleshoot the compatibility issue.
  • Look for the setup file.
  • Then right-click on it and select the “Troubleshoot compatibility” from the context menu.
  • After that, click on the “Try recommended setting” option. Once the process is done, the error message should be gone.

Option 3 – Try to use the setup file instead of an image

If you are running the Windows ISO image for the installation, you can try running the setup file instead. This is because when you try to install Windows from an image file directly, it has to be loaded into a virtual CD drive first, and then from there, further operations are carried out. And so, you can just bypass this mechanism to avoid getting the “Setup has failed to determine supported install choices” error.
  • First, you need to extract the disk file to an accessible location.
  • After that, go to Sources > Setup.exe.
  • Now run the setup file to upgrade or downgrade the Windows version. Just make sure that you do run the setup file as an administrator.

Option 4 – Try to do the upgrade or downgrade in a Clean Boot state

Putting your PC in a Clean Boot state can also help when you want to upgrade or downgrade your version of Windows without any trouble because, during this state, you can start the system with a minimum number of drivers and startup programs that will surely help you in isolating the root cause of the issue.
  • Log onto your PC as an administrator.
  • Type in MSConfig in the Start Search to open the System Configuration utility.
  • From there, go to the General tab and click “Selective startup”.
  • Clear the “Load Startup items” checkbox and make sure that the “Load System Services” and “Use Original boot configuration” options are checked.
  • Next, click the Services tab and select the “Hide All Microsoft Services” checkbox.
  • Click Disable all.
  • Click on Apply/OK and restart your PC. (This will put your PC into a Clean Boot State. And configure Windows to use the usual startup, just simply undo the changes.)
  • After that, try to install the Windows Updates or upgrade again.

Option 5 – Try to use the Media Creation tool

The Media Creation tool in Windows allows you to use the ISO installation file to make a bootable device that you can use to install Windows on your PC. Note that this is kind of different from the usual installation process as it could erase your computer’s current settings and data on the primary drive. Thus, before you proceed, you need to backup all your data into some removable drive and then use the Media Creation Tool to make a bootable drive.
  • After making the bootable drive, you need to plug it into your computer and then reboot.
  • Next, tap the F10 or Esc key to open the boot options.
  • Now set the boot priority of the removable drive the highest. Once the setup comes forth, follow the next onscreen instructions and install Windows without any problems.
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Chrome does not save passwords
Recently, a number of users reported that their Google Chrome browser does not remember any accounts, login sessions, as well as passwords. So if you are one of the users who experience the same problem, then you’ve come to the right place as this post will guide you on what you can do your Chrome browser does not save passwords, remember accounts and login sessions in Windows 10. This issue in Chrome could be caused by a lot of factors. It is possible that there is a setting in Chrome that prevents the browser from saving any data. It is also possible that the Google Chrome profile or the Cache folder for Chrome has become corrupted. Moreover, a third-party antivirus program could also be blocking the browser’s functionality in saving data. Whatever the cause is here are some suggestions you could follow that will help you fix the problem but before you do that, you can try to update your Chrome browser to its latest version first. If it didn’t work, then proceed to the given options below.

Option 1 – Try to clear browser cache

  • Open your Google Chrome browser.
  • After that, tap the Ctrl + H keys. Doing so will open a new panel that allows you to delete the browsing history and other data in your browser.
  • Now select every checkbox that you see and click on the Clear data button.
  • Then restart your Chrome browser and check if you can now complete the download again.

Option 2 – Try to delete the cache files for Google Chrome

The next thing you can do is to delete Chrome’s cache files or its store information which helps it in loading cached webpages faster when you pull them up. However, if it turns out that the cache files are corrupted, then it’s no wonder why Chrome is unable to save passwords. To fix this, you can try to delete the cache files for Google Chrome webpages and you can do it by following these steps:
  • First, open Google Chrome.
  • Next, open this address in Chrome – chrome://settings/clearBrowserData
  • After that, go to the Advanced tab and select all time as well as the first four options.
  • Now click on the Clear data option and then restart the Chrome browser once the cache has been cleared.

Option 3 – Try allowing Google Chrome to keep local data

If the option to keep local data is disabled in Google Chrome’s settings, it won’t be able to store local data in the browser. Thus, you need to enable it by following these steps:
  • Open Chrome and enter this address – chrome://settings/clearBrowserData
  • After that, drag the toggle button off for the “Keep local data only until you quit your browser” option.
  • Once done, restart Google Chrome and check it fixed the problem or not.

Option 4 – Try to enable the setting that offers to save password

As you know, a lot of websites offers users a choice to save a password and you can also do the same with the Chrome browser. You just have to enable this particular setting by going to the address, chrome://settings/passwords. From there, drag the toggle button for the setting Offer to save passwords, off.

Option 5 – Try to create a new profile for Chrome

If your user profile in Google Chrome ends up getting corrupted, it is most likely the reason why Chrome is unable to save passwords. Thus, you need to create a new user profile. How? Follow the steps below.
  • First, click on the account icon located at the top-right corner of the profile.
  • Next, go to the Manage People section and select Add Person > Add.
  • After that, enter the details to add the new account and then restart Chrome.

Option 6 – Reset Chrome

Resetting Chrome can also help you fix the problem. This means that you will be restoring its default settings, disabling all the extensions, add-ons and themes. Aside from that, the content settings will be reset as well and the cookies, cache, and site data will also be deleted. To reset Chrome, here’s what you have to do:
  • Open Google Chrome, then tap the Alt + F keys.
  • After that, click on Settings.
  • Next, scroll down until you see the Advanced option, once you see it, click on it.
  • After clicking the Advanced option, go to the “Restore and clean up option and click on the “Restore settings to their original defaults” option to reset Google Chrome.
  • Now restart Google Chrome.

Option 7 – Try to clean reinstall Chrome

There are instances when programs leave files behind after you’ve uninstalled them and the same thing can happen to Chrome so before you reinstall Chrome, you have to make sure that you have deleted the User Data folder. To do so, refer to the following steps:
  • Hit the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
  • Next, type “%LOCALAPPDATA%GoogleChromeUser Data” in the field and hit Enter to open the User Data folder.
  • From there, rename the default folder and name it something else, e.g. “Default.old”.
  • After that, install Google Chrome again and check if the issue is now fixed.
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Quick Fix For 0x80004005 Outlook Error

What Is 0x80004005 Outlook Error?

0x80004005 Outlook is an error that users commonly encounter while attempting to send or receive emails on Outlook.

The message that appears usually states “This message could not be sent. Try sending the message again or contact your network administrator."

The client operation failed. Error is [OX80004005- 0X0004B9-OXOO501].

Error Causes

This error is usually caused by a problem in the Local Area Network or LAN. What actually happens is that signals with the wireless LAN are lost or a connection problem occurs within the network cable.

As a result, the 0x80004005 Outlook error is triggered while sending or receiving an email. Sometimes the problem goes away on its own. However, if it recurs after a few hours, it shows that some problem exists within the network.

Also, it is important to understand that different factors can affect the quality of wireless connections in a network.

For instance, garage door openers, microwave ovens, and Bluetooth devices can easily become obstacles, disrupting the connection and causing the quality to degrade. Other causes are listed below as follows.

  • Missing, corrupt, or damaged registry keys
  • Existence of viruses
  • Outdated drivers

It is a must to fix this error otherwise potential risks associate with this error such as permanent damage and blue screens.

Further Information and Manual Repair

There are two ways to fix this error and both are listed below as follows.

  • One solution is to disable script blocking in Norton Antivirus. Most users encountering this problem have Norton Antivirus installed on their PCs. To correct this problem, simply turn off the ‘Enable Script Blocking’ feature. However, there is a downside associated with this solution. Enabling script blocking will make your network or computer vulnerable to viruses and malware. That’s why it is not advised to implement this solution.
  • The alternative solution is to simply disable the new-mail notification feature offered in Outlook. To disable notifications of any new emails, the steps go as follows. Open Outlook and go to the Tools menu. Here you will come across ‘Options’.Click on it and then select the ‘Preferences’ tab. Here you will find the ‘Email Options’. Click on it and then uncheck the checkbox against the option, ‘Display a notification message when new mail arrives’. Click Ok two times.

Both these workarounds will work. Therefore, it is advised that you employ any one of them as per your needs.

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Edge Content Process has stopped working
A lot of programs in Windows utilize the helper processes to ensure that they can get the job done as early as possible. And one of the programs that use these processes is Microsoft Edge. This built-in browser uses a process called the Edge Content process. The moment you start your computer, these system processes are loaded which makes the Edge browser load faster. To be specific, these are the three processes that are related to Microsoft Edge:
  • MicrosoftEdge.exe
  • MicrosoftEdgeCP.exe
  • MicrosoftEdgeSH.exe
The process that ends with the “CP.exe” is the content process in Edge. However, when this process stopped working, this can affect the Edge browser. In such cases, when you check the Reliability Monitor, you will see that the state of the “Microsoft Edge Content Process” is “Stopped working” which keeps on appearing. To resolve this issue, you can try to clear the browsing data of Microsoft Edge or repair or reset it. You can also try re-registering Edge via Windows PowerShell as well as check your security programs that might be causing interference with the process.

Option 1 – Clear the browsing data of Microsoft Edge

  • Open Microsoft Edge.
  • Then click on the three horizontal dots to open the menu.
  • From there, click on Settings. And under Settings, click the “Choose what to clear” button under the Clear browsing data section.
  • Next, check all the checkboxes and then click the Clear button to clear the browsing data in the Edge browser.
  • Restart Edge.

Option 2 – Try to reset, repair or reinstall Edge via Settings

You can reset, repair or reinstall the Edge browser through Settings. If none of it helped, you can try the following:
  • Open File Explorer and then go to this path – C:/Users/YourUsername/AppData/Local/Packages
Note: Before you type in the path in the Address bar, make sure that you put your user account name in place with the “YourUsername”.
  • Tap Enter to proceed.
  • Next, look for the folder named “MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe” then right-click on it.
  • Click on Properties and uncheck the option “Read-only” under the General tab in the Properties window.
  • Click on Apply and then OK to save the changes made.
  • After that, look for the MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe folder again and delete it. And if a prompt stating “Folder Access Denied” appears on your screen, just click on the Continue button to proceed – doing so will delete most of the content inside the folder except for the folder named “AC”.
  • Restart your computer

Option 3 – Re-register Edge via Windows PowerShell

  • In the Start Menu, search “Windows PowerShell”.
  • Right-click on Windows PowerShell from the search results and select the “Run as administrator” option.
  • Type in this command in the PowerShell windows and tap Enter – Cd C:/Users/YourUsername
  • After that, type in this command and tap Enter – Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers -Name Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)AppXManifest.xml" -Verbose}
  • Restart your PC.
Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers -Name Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)AppXManifest.xml” -Verbose}

Option 4 – Try to check your security program

It is possible that a security program installed in your computer is the one that’s causing the problem which is why you have to check it. According to security experts, there are some security programs that could be detecting the Edge’s content process as suspicious, blocking or terminating it as a result. Thus, you need to modify your security program’s settings to fix the problem.
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Fix cannot load the Device Driver Code 38
Each you connect time external devices like scanners, printers, and the likes to a Windows 10 computer, the device either pushes the drivers through the USB or any other port, or you are expected to install the drivers through external media. In both cases, the driver will be loaded into the system, allowing you to use the device. However, it doesn’t always go smoothly as you could encounter some errors like the “Windows cannot load the Device Driver for this hardware because a previous instance of the Device Driver is still in memory ( Code 38 )”. If you encounter such an error in the Device Manager, then this means that a previous version of the device driver is still in memory and that each time the device is used, that previous version is loaded into memory and then unloaded which triggers the “Windows cannot load the Device Driver for this hardware because a previous instance of the Device Driver is still in memory (Code 38)” error. This kind of error occurs if the operating system loads the unwanted driver or if it fails to unload the driver. It could be that there is an obsolete version of the driver that’s still installed in the system or it could also be that you need to update your USB drivers as they could be outdated or the problem could also be due to some third party program that is interfering with the installation. Whatever the cause is, here are some suggestions you can check out to resolve the problem.

Option 1 – Uninstall previously installed drivers and reinstall their latest working version from the manufacturer’s website

The first thing you can do is to uninstall the drivers that are currently installed on your computer and then reinstall their latest working versions from their official sites. This kind of error is commonly encountered while loading drivers for scanners and printers. This is due to the fact that their drivers and software come along with a package which is usually in external media like CD or DVD. So when you install the software package, there’s a possibility that a newer version has been launched by its manufacturer. When that happens, you have to uninstall the previously installed driver package and then download the drivers from the manufacturer’s website and install them.

Option 2 – Run the Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter

  • 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 – Update or reinstall the Universal Serial Bus Controller driver

Since it could be a driver issue, you can try to update or reinstall the Universal Serial Bus Controller drivers using the Device Manager. Refer to the following steps:
  • First, click the Start button and type “device manager”.
  • Then click on the “Device Manager” from the search results to open it.
  • From there, look for the “Universal Serial Bus controllers” option and then right-click on each one of the USB drivers and select the Update Driver from the menu.
Note: If it is a regular USB drive, then it will be listed as a USB Mass Storage Device but if you have a USB 3.0 device, then look for a USB 3.0 Extensible Host Controller.
  • Restart your PC and then click the “Search automatically for updated driver software” option.
Note: If updating the USB Controller drivers didn’t work, you can try to reinstall them instead.

Option 4 – Restart your computer in a Clean Boot State

If the first three given options didn’t work and you still see the error when you connect external devices, you can try putting your computer in a Clean Boot State and then try connecting them again.
  • Log onto your PC as an administrator.
  • Type in MSConfig in the Start Search to open the System Configuration utility.
  • From there, go to the General tab and click “Selective startup”.
  • Clear the “Load Startup items” check box and make sure that the “Load System Services” and “Use Original boot configuration” options are checked.
  • Next, click the Services tab and select the “Hide All Microsoft Services” check box.
  • Click Disable all.
  • Click on Apply/OK and restart your PC. (This will put your PC into a Clean Boot State. And configure Windows to use the usual startup, just simply undo the changes.)
  • Now try to connect the external devices and check if the error is now gone.
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Makecab.exe is running & consuming CPU
The Makecab.exe process that’s running on your Windows 10 computer is a program that compresses the Component-Based Servicing log or CBS log files and they can get really huge if they’re not compressed. As a result, it would utilize important space on your operating system although makecab.exe does not consume high CPU resources in doing so. However, there are times when it recreates thousands of instances of itself and could cause overconsumption of system resources which slows down your computer. So when the makecab.exe process causes high CPU usage in your system, this could mean that there is a failed Windows Update. In addition, the high CPU usage of the makecab.exe process could also mean that your computer is infected with a virus or malware. Whichever the case is, you can check out several possible solutions that are given in this post to resolve the problem.

Option 1 – Try to delete log file using File Explorer

The CBS log files could reach up to 20GB size and so if you delete them, it would help in saving space in your computer and since they’re not much of use, deleting them won’t negatively affect the system at all. To delete the CBS log files, all you have to do is open the File Explorer and then go to C:/Windows/Logs/CBS and from there, open the CBS log files and delete them all. Doing so should ease the load in the makecab.exe process since it no longer has to compress the CBS log files. As a result, the process would be more relaxed. After that, you can restart your computer and check if the problem’s now fixed.

Option 2 – Try deleting the log file via Command Prompt

You can also try to delete the log files using an elevated Command Prompt. Refer to these steps to do so:
  • Type “command prompt” in the Windows Search bar and then right-click on the related search result and select the “Run as administrator” option.
  • Next, type the following command and hit Enter to execute it:
del /f %windir%logscbs*.log
  • Restart your computer afterward once the command has been executed. This should end the high disk usage by makecab.exe, if not, proceed to the next given options below.

Option 3 – Uninstall any suspicious programs you’ve installed recently

If you have recently installed some programs on your Windows 10 computer, and since then you’ve experienced high CPU usage brought on by makecab.exe, then you might want to uninstall those programs.
  • Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box
  • Then type “appwiz.cpl” in the field and hit Enter to open the Programs and Features in Control Panel.
  • From there, look for the suspicious programs you’ve installed, select them and then click on Uninstall to remove them.
  • After that, restart your computer and try to install the latest version of the program again. It should work now. If not, proceed to the next available option below.

Option 4 – Try running Disk Cleanup

You might want to run the Disk Cleanup utility as it is a useful tool that could delete temporary and useless files on your computer.
  • Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box and then type “cleanmgr” in the field and hit Enter to open the Disk Cleanup window.
  • After that, select the drive you want to clean.
  • Now click OK to clean the disk and restart your computer.

Option 5 – Try to run System File Checker scan

System File Checker or SFC is a built-in command utility that helps in restoring corrupted files and missing files. It replaces bad and corrupted system files to good system files. 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.
  • Restart your PC.

Option 6 – Try scanning your computer using Windows Defender

As mentioned, the high CPU usage of makecab.exe might be caused by some malware or virus in the system and so to eliminate it, you have to scan your computer using security programs like Windows Defender.
  • Tap the Win + I keys to open Update & Security.
  • Then click on the Windows Security option and open Windows Defender Security Center.
  • Next, click on Virus & threat protection > Run a new advanced scan.
  • Now make sure that Full Scan is selected from the menu and then click the Scan Now button to get started.
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Breath new life in your laptop

If you have a laptop that is slowing down and some usual tasks are sluggish you probably mean that it is time to change it and get a new one. Altho it is a good solution and it will guarantee that you will be able to do your tasks with more speed and comfort, straight purchasing is not always the best thing to do.

laptop

There are things you can do and some upgrades that are cheaper and will bring your laptop back into the game and extend its usage for a few more years.

1. Clean it

The most common issue for slowing down of computer is dust and dirt that accumulates over time and usage. If the laptop has not been properly cleaned in a while, cleaning it and placing new thermal paste on the CPU can do wonders. If you are not keen on doing this yourself or do not possess the required skillset take it to your local IT center for cleaning.

2. Uninstall software that you are not using

Various software can have speeding effects on computers, it can have some services running in the background and thus take precious resources slowing the whole system. If you are not using software, uninstall it.

3. Do not install the latest software

If you are using your computer for basic tasks there is no really need to install the latest and best. A lot of new software will require new hardware and things that offer are not so much better nor even required to justify the upgrade. Let us take office, for example, if you are using it to just write some text and not using any advanced options there is really no need to switch to a newer version, the old one will do just fine tasks that you are in need of.

4. Replace HD

Now this fits in the domain of upgrading your hardware but still it is much cheaper than replacing the whole laptop. Windows 10 works much better with SSD and SSD itself is faster than your standard HD, especially if it is slower model spinning in only 5400RPM. Operation of HD replacement is simple and straightforward and anyone can do it but the benefits of replacement will be visible right away. With a new SSD instead of an old mechanical one, you will have the feeling that you actually bought a new laptop.

5. Add more RAM

This is basically the last thing you can do in order to speed up your old laptop that will not break your bank account. Upgrading RAM was always the thing that can push your computer to have more power and to behave better while you are doing tasks. One important thing here is to first see how much RAM you have in your computer. If you are packing already 8GB then upgrading will not do much but if you have only 4GB, raising it to 6GB or 8GB will be beneficial. Also, check if the model of the laptop supports more RAM in the first place.

Conclusion

We have covered here a vast array of options in order to get your laptop back into the game with variability between hardware upgrades to taking care of your software. Whatever option you choose to do it will speed up your computer but among all of them, replacing the hard drive will do the most.

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How to fix windows 10 error code 0x80073712
Windows 10 has displayed one of the most efficient and user-friendly interfaces. However there have been many issues on the backend of this commonly praised operating system: For example, Windows Update is still a wonky and error-laded system application. One example of this error is Windows Update Error 0x80073712 which stands in the way of users just wanting to keep their PCs updated hassle-free. The error code 0x80073712 signifies that a file needed by Windows Update to function is either damaged, missing, or corrupted. However, this does not mean that your Windows version will forever stay as-is with no mode to update it. Windows Update Error 0x80073712 is perfectly fixable with the set of provided steps below and some of Windows’ built-in troubleshooting steps:

Solution 1: Open Windows Update Troubleshooter

  1. Open the Windows Update Troubleshooter by pressing the Windows and S keys simultaneously.
  2. Enter the word “Troubleshoot” in the search box and select the Troubleshoot result
  3. On the new window, select “Windows Update” to troubleshoot.
  4. Run the troubleshooter, then open Windows Update and try to install the update again.

Solution 2: Run the DISM tool

  1. Open the command prompt by pressing Windows and S keys simultaneously
  2. Enter “cmd” in the search box. Right Click command prompt among the results and select “Run as administrator”
  3. In the Command Prompt window type the following and press the Enter key after every command
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Scanhealth DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
  1. To close the Administrator: Command prompt window, type Exit, and then press Enter.
  2. Run Windows Update again.

Solution 3: Rename the Software Distribution folder

  1. Open the command prompt as previously mentioned
  2. Input the following command pressing Enter after every line net stop wuauserv net stop cryptSvc net stop bits net stop msiserver rename c:/windows/SoftwareDistribution/softwaredistribution.old net start wuauserv net start cryptSvc net start bits net start msiserver exit
  3. Restart the PC and run the updater if it works again.

Solution 4: Restart Windows Update Services

  1. Press the Windows logo key and R together to open Run -> Input services.msc -> and press Enter
  2. Search for the Windows Update service -> Check its status
  3. If it is not indicated, right-click on the service and select Start to force start your Windows Update
  4. If you see an error, locate the Startup Type option and set it to Automatic
  5. Now you should reboot your computer and see if your Windows Update is OK

Solution 5: Fix Registry Issues

If after all the aforementioned solutions, you still experience problems with Windows Update, the problem may lie in the registry that is either damaged or corrupted. You may choose to do manual editing of your Windows registry by opening your Windows registry editor. But doing so is risky as one wrong letter may do incalculable damage to your system. To do so safely for more inexperienced users we recommend using a third-party registry cleaner/tools, many of which can be found online.
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Fixing errors, manually vs automatic

Encountering errors is never a pleasant experience and fixing errors can sometimes take a large amount of time. Also depending on your expertise and knowledge about computers and the operating systems themselves could be determining factor would you try to wrestle with error.

error fixing on computer

We will explore and analyze the advantages of both methods so you can choose and know when to apply one and when to reach for the other.

Advantages of manual method

Full control is the main advantage of manually solving errors, when you go deep dive into manually fixing problematic issues you are one that has control. Complete freedom is also another, sometimes fixing things can be done in several different ways and when you are the man behind the wheel, you are the one that can choose how to approach and what solution to apply in order to solve the issue.

Disadvantages of using manual method

The main disadvantage that some users might encounter is that they will need to know ins and outs of computer and operating systems' workings. Of course, the more complicated errors, the more knowledge it will require in order to apply the proper fix. There is also a risk to break something else if the person that is doing the fixing is not fully competent so this is also something to think about.

Another thing that goes against manual fixing is the time it will require in order to actually fix it, some more complex stuff will probably depend on searching for some external resources like searching for compatible drivers for example, or navigating complex registry keys inside Windows.

Advantages of automatic solutions

If you are a user that has no knowledge about how the operating system works, if you do not know what is a registry or how to properly navigate through the Windows folder then the automated solution is for you. The main advantage of automated systems is that you can easily fix errors without any kind of technical knowledge and usually with just one click of a button.

Saving time is also one of the advantages of fully automated solutions because they will work much faster than manually locating the problem and then fixing it. Also, most of these systems will have in place active monitoring that will check always if your system is in top form and alert you when something is not right.

Disadvantages of one-click solutions

Automated solutions are great, they can solve various issues and errors without any knowledge from the user, but they are not perfect. Like security suites sometimes an automated system can misinterpret something as an error when in fact it is not and fixing it could mean some apps not working anymore, luckily you can choose would you like to apply the suggested solution. So if you are using one do not just click fix without looking at what it is trying to fix and maintain.

Another problem with this is the price it is carrying, manually solving your computer error will cost you your time and knowledge but good automated software will come with a price tag. Some people might not be too happy to pay for this kind of application but at the end of the day, it will still be cheaper than a professional technician. The last thing that you should be aware of is that in order for the app to do its work properly it will need to be active all the time, now for modern computers, this is not the issue but for some older ones with a small amount of memory might lead to some slowing them down. This is a price to be paid in order to have your system always errors free.

Should you use an automated solution at all?

This depends on your knowledge and time available, professional IT technicians will not need this type of solution nor will power users but for most common people this will offer computers free of errors for an affordable price.

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