Fix FAULTY_HARDWARE_CORRUPTED_PAGE

If you encounter an error code of 0xa0000400 while trying to upgrade your Windows 10 computer using the Windows 10 Upgrade Assistant or the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool, then you might find this post useful as it will guide you in resolving this problem. When you get this error, you will see the following error message:

“Something went wrong You can contact Microsoft support for help with this error. Here is the error code 0xa0000400.”

As you know, keeping your computer up to date with all the Windows Updates is important and is imperative especially if you are experiencing a couple of issues like the Windows Upgrade error 0xa0000400. At the time of writing, there is no specific cause that has been found for this error. However, there are some potential fixes that might help you. You can try to recreate the Windows 10 installation USB and get the ISO files or you could also get a newer version of the Windows Media Creation Tool, or turn off your internet connection at a specific time or run the Windows Update troubleshooter. For more details, refer to the options given below.

Option 1 – Try to recreate the Windows 10 installation USB

Recreating the Windows 10 installation USB might help in fixing the problem. You can use a USB drive to do so but make sure that it has a great read-write speed. Follow the steps below to recreate Windows 10 installation USB”

• 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 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 2 – Try turning off the Internet connection at a specific time

You might want to turn off your internet connection at a specific time. This option can be quite tricky so what you need to do is to disconnect the internet connection when the update is downloaded using the Windows Upgrade tool. It’s actually okay since all the files you need would be downloaded safely and the Windows Upgrade tool will be the one to install the newer updates using those files.

Option 3 – Try to get a newer version of the Windows Media Creation tool

You can also fix the Windows Upgrade error 0xa0000400 by using the latest version of the Windows Media Creation tool. And so if what you have is an older version, you need to update it in order to resolve the error and upgrade your Windows 10 computer.

Option 4 – Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter

Running the built-in Windows Update troubleshooter is one of the things you can first check out as it is known to automatically resolve any Windows Update or upgrade errors like error code 0x800701E3. 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 5 – 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 in 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.

If you encounter an error message that states, “Your computer has lost the lease to its IP Address <IP ADDRESS> on the Network Card with network address <NETWORK ADDRESS>”, then this post might be of help to you. This kind of error due to the timeout caused by the DHCPv6 address which is used to connect the client to the user network as an independent client or a part of a domain. There are a lot of potential fixes you can try to fix this error and we will be discussing each one of them below. You can try to reboot your router, flush the DNS cache, reset the Network adapter, toggle the DHCPv6 Lease time or disable IPv6 in the Network Center. For more details, refer to the following options.

Option 1 – Try rebooting your router

The first thing you can try to do to fix the error is to simply restart your router. All you need to do is reboot the router from its Admin panel or you can also turn it off manually and turn it back on after a couple of seconds so that it can completely reboot. Once you’re done, try accessing your server again and see if the error is now fixed.

Option 2 – Try to flush the DNS configuration

You could also try to flush the DNS configuration in your computer to fix the error. How? Refer to these steps:

• Tap the Win + X key combination and click on the Command Prompt (Admin) option or you could also search “cmd” in the Cortana search box and right-click on Command Prompt from the search results and select the “Run as administrator” option.
• After opening Command Prompt with admin privileges, enter each one of the commands given below sequentially in order to flush the DNS cache.
  • ipconfig/release
  • ipconfig/renew
  • ipconfig/flushdns
• Now type the exit command to close Command Prompt and then restart your computer and see if the problem is fixed.

One the other hand, you could also try to reset Winsock as well as the TCP/IP. Once done, just exit the Command Prompt and check if that fixes your issue. You may want to reset Winsock & reset TCP/IP as well.

Option 3 – Try to toggle the DHCPv6 Lease time

• First, you need to log in to the Admin panel of your router.
• Next, navigate to the DHCPv6 settings inside it and look for a field for Lease Time.
• After you’ve found it, increase the Lease Time value to something greater than what is already entered depending on your preference.
• Now apply the configuration and reboot your router to apply the modified settings. Just remember that if things didn’t work out, you can just change back the Lease Time value to what it was before.

Option 4 – Try disabling the IPv6 in the Network Center

• Tap the Win + X key combination and click on Network Connections.
• This will open the Settings app on a specific page. Now on the right-side panel, click on the Network and Sharing Center link.
• After that, it will open the Control Panel and from there, click on the network that your computer is connected to and then click on Properties.
• Next, uncheck the entry that says, “Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6)” in the list that populates.
• Now click on OK and close all other windows and see if the error is fixed.

Option 5 – Run the Network Adapter troubleshooter

To run the Network Troubleshooter, refer to these steps:

• Open the Search bar on your computer and type in “troubleshoot” to open the Troubleshoot settings.
• Next, scroll down and select the “Network Adapter” option from the right pane.
• Then click on the Run Troubleshooter” button.
• After that, your computer will check for any possible errors and will pinpoint the root cause of the problem if possible.
• Restart your computer.

Option 6 – Try to perform Network Reset

You can also try to perform a Network Reset to resolve the problem. This will reset the entire network configuration including your IP address. To perform Network Reset, follow these steps:

• Tap the Win + I keys to open Settings.
• From there, go to the Network and Internet section.
• Next, scroll down and look for “Network Reset” under the status pane.
• After that, click on Network Reset and then on Reset now to start resetting the network configuration. Once done, check if it is able to fix the error or not.

What is Error Code 0xC004C003?

Error code 0xC004C003 has to do with activating Windows 10 after a clean install. This problem has been a frequent nuisance to users trying to update from Windows 7 or 8.1 following the invite path they got from Microsoft.

Solution

Error Causes

There are several problems that may have caused error code 0xC004C003. The most common of them are:

• The product key entered was invalid, and cannot be used to activate the new OS.
• The user followed the proper installation procedure, but the Windows update servers were too busy to handle the activation at that moment.
• The free upgrade invitation was followed but after the reinstallation, the copy of Windows 10 was still not activated.
• The user tried to perform a full clean install of Windows 10 instead of upgrading from Windows to Windows 10

Further Information and Manual Repair

A lot of solving error code 0xC004C003 has to do with the method in which the user has tried to update the system. If one decided to try and update the program before being invited to do so by the update manager, he must wait. Unfortunately, if one chooses to do it on his own and download a clean install, he was never given a product code to authenticate the process. There are two options to address error code 0xC004C003 — either restore to the previous Windows Operating System or call Microsoft (or visit their Website) and purchase a product key. The Windows update servers are very busy. There are lots of Microsoft users around the world, and the servers are doing their best to get to each and every one of the users as fast as possible, but they can only move at a certain speed. Your best bet is to sit back and wait a while. But what if you were invited, and properly downloaded Windows 10, then decided to do a clean install? It is advised that one do not try to enter Windows 7 or 8.1 serial code as this will not work. However, unlike the problem above, these users will NOT need to purchase a product key. According to Microsoft Support Staff, the installation servers are also very jammed because of the high numbers of installations going on right now. No matter what posts you may read, the key IS genuine, and it is NOT blocked, broken, or invalid. To check if Windows has been properly activated, open the Command Window. Make sure you are logged into an administrator profile; otherwise this check will not work. Type in “slmgr.vbs/ato” and click Enter and then wait. While waiting, the command will check on the status of the activation. Windows Script Host will open and show whether or not it is activated. A lot of users have reported that the activation did not work for the first few times. However they later reported after some more attempts, no issue was found in the way the operating system updated and that the activation process went smoothly. This is most likely due to the overload on the Windows Update servers, so bear with Microsoft. Users have reported that when trying to correct error code 0xC004C003, they have followed the upgrade path and then been told by Microsoft that the key was invalid and they had to purchase a new one. If the upgrade path provided by Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 is correctly followed then there is nothing to worry about Just wait a while and try it again. If there are prolonged issues, speak with a technician by visiting the Microsoft website and contacting the help center by calling the number provided. Give them all relevant information and they will be sure to help accordingly. The best solution to fix error code 0xC004C003 is to wait. In essence, the user will be waiting to reenter the same product key. According to Microsoft, and many user posts found online, it is recommended to wait a while and then try to activate again. This seemed to be an answer to most users' problems, and seem to work just fine. If the problem persists, take it to a windows repair technician to have it sorted out. If that does not work, use a powerful automated tool to fix the problem.

Xinput1_3.dll - What is it?

Xinput1_3.dll is a type of dynamic link library. It is an essential component of Microsoft DirectX. This is a technology that makes Windows OS compatible with programs rich in multimedia elements It helps your graphic card in creating a detailed virtual and stimulus environment. Games and programs with high graphics and sounds require DirectX to form a consonance with Windows PC to run successfully. The Xinput1_3.dll error occurs when games supported by DirectX are unable to run smoothly. This error is common on Windows 7. The error message is displayed in the following format:

• "The file xinput1_3.dll is missing"
• "File xinput1_3.dll not found"
• "Xinput1_3.dll not found. Reinstalling might help fix this."
• "Xinput1_3.DLL Not Found"

Solution

Error Causes

The causes of Xinput1_3.dll error include:

• Damaged and Corrupt Xinput1_3.dll files
• Missing Microsoft DirectX file
• Viruses and malware on your system
• Driver issues
• Registry overloaded with invalid entries

If you come across this error, make sure you fix it timely. It is recommended to do so because it not only stops you from accessing and playing your desired games and using high graphic applications but also can lead to system failure and crash if the underlying cause of the error is related to the registry.

Further Information and Manual Repair

To resolve this error code, here are some of the best do it yourself methods:

Restart Your PC

Sometimes due to minor concurrence, PC is unable to load the file Xinput1_3.dll from the directory. If this is the cause, then you are lucky. All you have to do to resolve it and restart your computer. Once the computer restarts, re-launch the program.

Install the Latest DirectX Version

Search for the latest versions of the DirectX utility version. Try extracting the Xinput1_3.dll files individually from the DirectX downloadable package on your PC. Once downloading is complete, try running your desired application again and see if the error code pops up or not.

Update the Graphics Card

Being an element of Microsoft DirectX, Xinput1_3.dll is directly related to the video/graphics card assimilated. There can be a possibility of a mismatch between the Xinput1_3.dll file and graphic card drivers. If this is the case, then the best way to resolve the error is to update the graphic drivers by installing the latest version drivers of your video/graphics card. Nonetheless, after trying all the solutions discussed above if the error still persists, then this triggers two things either the error is triggered by a viral infection that you are unaware of or the problem is related to the registry.

Install Restoro

Whichever might be the cause, in such as scenario the best quick fix to it is to download Restoro. This is an advanced, cutting edge, and multi functional PC repair that is deployed with several utilities including a registry cleaner, an antivirus, Active X controls, and class detector, and a system optimizer. The registry cleaner utility removes all the unnecessary files from the registry that could be damaging the dll files and the registry. It clears the disk space, repairs dll files, and restores the registry back to normal. Simultaneously the antivirus module scans your system for all possible malicious software. It removes viruses, Trojans, malware, spyware, and adware thereby resolving the Xinput1_3.dll error right away. Total System Care is safe, bug-free, and has a user-friendly interface with easy navigation. It is compatible with all Windows versions. Click here to download Restoro and resolve the Xinput1_3.dll error right away!

Windows 10 is has a lot of features that help a user in optimizing a computer. So when the operating system encounters a problem, it is able to provide users with proper resources to get the problem fixed. There are even times when a user is not notified and an issue is either being repaired or dodged in the background. This kind of feature is known as the Diagnosis of the Automatic Repair feature that starts when your computer is booting. In such times, you will either see the “Diagnosing your PC” or “Preparing Automatic Repair” message on your screen. Although this feature is useful and has proven to be effective, some users reported that the process gets stuck. If you experience the same problem, read on as this post will guide you on what to do to fix it but before you start troubleshooting the problem, you might want to perform a Hard Boot first. All you have to do is to power down your computer, remove the battery and the AC adapter and then reconnect them. After that, tap and hold the power button for about 20 seconds and see if your computer boots up properly. If it doesn’t, follow the given fixes below.

Option 1 – Try disabling the automatic Startup Repair

The Automatic Startup Repair window will automatically open during boot when you have some system driver-related problem. So if you think that this is where the problem lies, you can try to disable the automatic Startup Repair.

• Click on Troubleshoot and go to the Advanced options.
• After that, select Command Prompt and execute the following command:

bcdedit /set recoveryenabled NO

• Restart your computer after that and then check.

Option 2 – Run the System File Checker

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 the cause why you’re facing this problem. To run the SFC command, follow the steps given below.

• Type “cmd” in the Start search and then right-click on the appropriate search result.
• Next, select “Run as administrator” to open Command Prompt with admin privileges.
• 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.

• Now restart your computer and see if the problem is fixed or not.

Option 3 – Run CHKDSK to check your disk for errors

When it comes to some issues concerning the hard drive or removable devices, there is a utility in Windows that might help which is called “chkdsk”. This error check utility can help with several issues in the system.

• Tap the Win + S keys to open the Search box.
• Then type “command prompt” in the field and from the search results that appear, right-click on Command Prompt and select “Run as administrator”.
• After opening an elevated command prompt, copy and paste the following command and hit Enter:

chkdsk /r /f

• Now if you are prompted to run CHKDSK after your reboot your computer, just tap Y and reboot your PC.
• If CHKDSK is not able to find any errors, tap the Win + E keys and navigate the access window. From there, right-click on the concerned drive and click on Properties.
• After opening Properties, click on the tab Tools and then click on the “Check” button under the Error-checking section.
• Wait until the process is completed and then restart your computer.
• Once your computer has restarted, try accessing the file and check if the error persists.

Option 4 – Run the DISM tool

The next thing you can do is run the DISM tool. This tool is known to repair potentially corrupted files in your system as having them could also system issues like your computer getting stuck in the “Diagnosing your PC” or “Preparing Automatic Repair” screen.

• 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 5 – Try to use installation media to boot and repair your computer

Another thing you can try to resolve the issue is to use the Windows installation bootable media so you can boot and repair the operating system. To use it, follow these steps:

• You need to first create an installation media which has the dame version of the operating system installed in your computer.
• After that, once you reach the Install Windows screen, click on the “Repair your computer” link.
• Wait until the repair is completed and then shut down your computer
• Now once your computer has restarted, check if it can now boot properly.

Nectar Toolbar is a Browser addon for Internet Explorer developed by AIMIA Coalition Loyalty. This addon changed your default search provider to Yahoo UK. While installed, you might see additional unwanted ads and sponsored links injected in the search results.

From the Author: We all search the web every day for information from handy how-to’s, must know news about shopping. So wouldn’t it be great if you could collect extra Nectar points just for doing something you do already? Like to shop online? Nectar Search will also tell you when you’re on a shopping website (like Argos, Debenhams, Next, Play.com, and Apple) where you can collect points too.

Several anti-virus scanners have marked this addon as a Browser Hijacker and are therefore not recommended to keep on your computer.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijacking means a malicious program code has power over and modified the settings of your browser, without your permission. Browser hijackers could do more than just changing home pages. In general, hijackers are developed for the benefit of online hackers often through income generation that comes from forced ad mouse clicks and website visits. Nonetheless, it isn’t that harmless. Your web safety is compromised and it is also really annoying. In a much worst case, your browser could be hijacked to download malicious software that will do a great deal of damage to your computer.

Key symptoms that your browser has been hijacked

When your browser is hi-jacked, the following can happen: you notice unauthorized changes to your internet browser’s homepage; you observe new unwanted favorites or bookmarks added, usually directed to advertisement-filled or porn websites; the default browser configurations have been changed and/or your default web engine is altered; unwanted new toolbars are added to your internet browser; you might notice numerous pop-up adverts on your computer screen; your browser has instability issues or exhibits frequent errors; You can’t access particular websites, especially anti-malware websites.

Exactly how they invade computers

A browser hijacker can be installed on your computer or laptop when you go to an infected site, click on an e-mail attachment, or download something from a file-sharing site. Many internet browser hijackings originate from add-on programs, i.e., browser helper objects (BHO), toolbars, or plug-ins added to browsers to provide them additional features. Other times you might have accidentally accepted a browser hijacker as part of a software bundle (generally freeware or shareware). Popular examples of browser hijackers include CoolWebSearch, Conduit, OneWebSearch, Coupon Server, RocketTab, Delta Search, Searchult.com, and Snap.do. Browser hijacking can bring about serious privacy problems and even identity theft, affect your web browsing experience by taking control over outgoing traffic, drastically slows down your computer or laptop by depleting lots of resources, and lead to system instability also.

Browser hijacker removal methods

Some browser hijacking can be easily stopped by identifying and eliminating the corresponding malware software from your control panel. However, most hijackers are quite tenacious and require specialized applications to get rid of them. Moreover, browser hijackers could modify the Windows registry so it can be extremely tough to fix manually, particularly when you are not a tech-savvy person. Browser hijackers can be effectively removed by installing and running an anti-malware application on the affected computer. To get rid of any browser hijacker out of your computer, you could download this particular top-notch malware removal application – SafeBytes Anti-Malware. Together with anti-malware, a PC optimizer software, similar to Total System Care, could help you correct Windows registry errors, remove unwanted toolbars, secure your internet privacy, and stabilize programs installed on your computer.

Find Out How To Install Safebytes Anti-Malware On An Infected Computer system

All malware is bad and the consequences of the damage will vary based on the specific type of malicious software. Certain malware goes to great lengths to stop you from downloading or installing anything on your computer system, particularly anti-virus programs. If you are reading this, you probably have infected by a virus that stops you from installing a security program like Safebytes Anti-Malware. Follow the instructions below to remove malware through alternative methods.

Install in Safe Mode with Networking

Safe Mode is a unique, simplified version of Windows where just essential services are loaded to counteract malware and other problematic programs from loading. In case the malicious software is set to load immediately when the PC boots, switching to this mode could prevent it from doing so. To boot into Safe Mode, hit “F8” key on the keyboard right before Windows logo screen appears; Or right after normal Windows boot up, run MSCONFIG, look over Safe Boot under Boot tab, and then click Apply. Once you are in Safe Mode, you can try to install your anti-malware application without the hindrance of the malware. After installation, run the malware scanner to eliminate standard infections.

Download the anti-malware program in a different internet browser

Some malware only targets particular internet browsers. If this is your case, employ another browser as it might circumvent the computer virus. In case you suspect that your Internet Explorer happens to be hijacked by a computer virus or otherwise compromised by online hackers, the most effective course of action is to switch over to a different web browser such as Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, or Apple Safari to download your favorite security application – Safebytes Anti-Malware.

Make a bootable USB anti-virus drive

Another solution is to save and run an anti-malware software program entirely from a Thumb drive. To run antivirus from a thumb drive, follow these simple steps: 1) On a clean computer, install Safebytes Anti-Malware. 2) Plug the USB drive into the clean computer. 3) Double-click the Setup icon of the anti-malware software to run the Installation Wizard. 4) Select the drive letter of the pen drive as the location when the wizard asks you where you would like to install the anti-virus. Follow the onscreen instructions to finish the installation. 5) Now, insert the USB drive into the corrupted PC. 6) Run the Safebytes Anti-malware directly from the pen drive by double-clicking the icon. 7) Simply click “Scan Now” to run a complete scan on the affected computer for malware.

SafeBytes Anti-Malware Features

To protect your laptop or computer from various internet-based threats, it’s important to install anti-malware software on your personal computer. However, with countless numbers antimalware companies out there, these days it is hard to decide which one you should buy for your laptop. Some of them do a great job in eliminating malware threats while some will damage your PC by themselves. You must be careful not to pick the wrong product, especially if you buy a paid application. On the list of strongly recommended software by industry leaders is SafeBytes Anti-Malware, the most dependable program for Microsoft Windows. SafeBytes anti-malware is a trustworthy tool that not only secures your PC permanently but is also quite user-friendly for people of all skill levels. Once you’ve got installed this application, SafeByte's sophisticated protection system will ensure that no viruses or malware can seep through your PC.

SafeBytes anti-malware provides an array of enhanced features that sets it aside from all others. Some of them are listed as below:

Real-Time Protection: SafeBytes gives you round-the-clock protection for your PC limiting malware intrusions in real-time. This utility will constantly monitor your computer for suspicious activity and updates itself continuously to keep abreast of the constantly changing threat landscape. Most effective AntiMalware Protection: Built on a greatly acclaimed anti-virus engine, this malware removal application can find and get rid of numerous stubborn malware threats such as browser hijackers, potentially unwanted programs, and ransomware that other common anti-virus applications will miss. Website Filtering: Safebytes allots all websites a unique safety score that helps you to have an idea of whether the webpage you’re just about to visit is safe to browse or known to be a phishing site. Fast Multi-threaded Scanning: Safebytes Anti-Malware, with its advanced scanning engine, offers extremely fast scanning which can promptly target any active online threat. Low CPU/Memory Usage: SafeBytes is well known for its low influence on processing power and great detection rate of various threats. It operates silently and efficiently in the background so you’re free to utilize your PC at full power all of the time. 24/7 Customer Service: For any technical concerns or product assistance, you could get 24/7 professional assistance through chat and email. Put simply, SafeBytes has created a meaningful anti-malware solution that is aimed to protect you against all manner of malware. You now may understand that this particular software does more than just scan and eliminate threats from your PC. So if you’re searching for the absolute best malware removal application out there, and when you don’t mind shelling out a few bucks for it, opt for SafeBytes Anti-Malware.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

To eliminate Nectar Toolbar manually, go to the Add or Remove programs list in the Windows Control Panel and choose the program you want to remove. For browser extensions, go to your web browser’s Addon/Extension manager and select the add-on you want to remove or disable. You’ll probably also want to reset your internet browser to its default settings. Finally, check your hard disk for all of the following and clean your computer registry manually to get rid of leftover application entries after uninstallation. But bear in mind, this can be a tough task and only computer professionals can perform safely. In addition, certain malicious programs have the capability to defend against its removal. Completing this task in Safe Mode is suggested.

What is Windows 10X

Windows 10X is a new version of Windows that has been built from the ground up for new PCs and will begin shipping on hardware in 2021. It's built on top of a new modern version of Windows called 'Windows Core OS' that guts legacy components and features in favor of contemporary user experiences and enhanced security. This means everything from the Windows Shell to the underlying OS has been rebuilt with modern technologies.

As a result, Windows 10X does not support legacy Win32 applications at launch. Windows 10X PCs in 2021 will be able to run Microsoft Edge, UWP, and web apps. Legacy Win32 application support will arrive at a later date, however. When it does, Win32 applications will run in a secure container by default, meaning those legacy applications cannot affect system performance and battery life when closed. Windows 10X is a much more secure and stable OS as a result of this, as there's no opportunity for legacy apps to cause bitrot.

Windows 10X features a new shell of the user interface that has been built with modern technologies. It's an adaptive user experience that can adjust depending on the "posture" of your device. For example, with a foldable PC, the user might want to use it in several different ways; as a laptop, or tablet, or in tent mode for movies. Because of this, the user interface must adapt to provide the best experience no matter which way your device is being used. This also means that legacy shell elements, such as the Control Panel, File Explorer, and error dialogs and icons are gone on Windows 10X. As Microsoft has rebuilt the entire shell, it doesn't include any of the legacy things that make Windows 10 so inconsistent when it comes to UI. The Windows Shell on Windows 10X should be much more consistent. At launch, Windows 10X will only be available on traditional clamshell PCs aimed primarily at the education and enterprise markets. The platform will eventually ship on the new devices from factors such as foldable PCs, but that won't be happening in 2021.

Start menu

Microsoft is redesigning the Start menu experience on Windows 10X with a focus on productivity. It features a system-wide search bar along the top that can also search the web and a grid of installed apps below that in place of live tiles. It also has a "recent activities" area that dynamically updates with things the user might want to jump straight into, such as recent Office documents and visited websites. The apps list can be customized, with the ability for users to rearrange which apps show up in the first few rows.

Taskbar

Windows 10X also has a new adaptive Taskbar that features a centered design. The Start and Task View buttons appear in the center, with running and pinned apps appearing between the two. When you open an app, the Start and Task View buttons gently spread apart, giving the Taskbar a much more fluid appearance. There are some new animations; the Start and Task View buttons have their own animations when clicked on, and there's a subtle bounce to app icons when you minimize running apps to the Taskbar. In addition to the new design, there are also up to three different Taskbar sizes: Small, medium, and large. Large is great for tablets, while medium and small mimic the usual sizes we already have today on Windows 10. On tablets, users can now swipe up anywhere on the Taskbar to access the Start menu, making it easier for touch users to access their apps list. You no longer have to hit the specific Start button to access your Start menu.

Action center

In addition to the new Start and Taskbar experiences, there's also a new Action Center to compliment them. This new Action Center puts more emphasis on quick actions, with the ability to jump into specific quick actions for further control without leaving the Action Center at all. It's also designed in such a way that mimics a control center, with notifications housed above it in a separate box. This new Action Center includes things like volume controls, power options, and battery percentage. There's also a new music control UI that appears in the Action Center when music is playing from a supported app.

State separation feature

Unlike Windows 10, Windows 10X features something called "state separation" which is how the OS lays itself out on a drive. Windows 10 today installs everything into a single partition, which means the user can access system files, as can apps and potential attackers. On Windows 10X, everything goes into its own read-only partition. So OS files are locked away, as are app files, as are drivers, and the registry. The only thing the user and applications can access is the user partition. This means that malware or viruses can't get in and affect the system because those programs are only able to operate in a single partition, and that assumes they're able to get outside of the app container system Microsoft has built. All apps on Windows 10X run in a container and need explicit permissions to access things that are outside that container. This is already how UWP apps work on Windows 10, and Microsoft will be extending that to Win32 apps on Windows 10X when support for Win32 apps arrives.

Launch date and info

Windows 10X will launch this spring first for commercial markets. Commercial markets include education and enterprise industries looking for sub-$600 PCs for students in the classroom or first-line workers. Windows 10X won't be launching on consumer PCs in 2021, meaning you won't find it on a flagship Dell or HP device. It's also only for clamshell PCs, with foldable, tablets, and other form factor support coming in 2022 and beyond. Windows 10X will launch without an in-box Mail and Calendar app. It's been removed from the first version of Windows 10X because the platform is aimed at commercial markets that will likely use Outlook Web or stream Outlook via Windows Virtual Desktop. Users can opt to reinstall the Mail and Calendar apps from the Microsoft Store if they wish. Windows 10X for mainstream markets won't happen until 2022 when Win32 app support among other features comes to the OS as part of the Windows 10 "Nickel" release scheduled for the first half of 2022. Because Windows 10X is a new operating system, it will not be released as an update for existing Windows 10 PCs. Users won't be able to install Windows 10X on a device that didn't come with Windows 10X, to begin with. There won't be any official ISO media and you won't be able to buy Windows 10X on its own to install on your existing device. It's for new PCs only. If you would like to read more helpful articles and tips about various software and hardware visit errortools.com daily.

Mousepads are a common thing among computer users, everyone is using them and know what are they good for. Recently in the past few years, there are a lot of gaming mousepads on the rise, do you really need them, and do they back up their price? Short answer: YES, long answer: keep reading below.

Size advantage

One of the first things that one can see is the great difference in sizes between a regular mouse pad and a gaming one. Gaming pads have much more variety in size spawning all the way to really judge ones that you can use on your whole desk and place both keyboard and mouse on them. This will, of course, let you move your mouse more freely and have a much larger surface to use without the need to always lift the mouse up and center it on the regular pad.

Material advantage

Material on what are gaming pads built upon is extremely high in quality and usually even water phobic or water-resistant and it will allow great mouse movements on it. The backside is usually made of high-quality fabric that will stop slipping on the desk so the pad will stay at its pace during long sessions of work or gaming. Usually, standard mousepads are made with plastic or some other cheap material whereas gaming pads are made from fiber, high-quality fiber.

Other advantages

Among other great stuff that gaming pads have are wrist gel for hand resting and RBG light that looks cool, although RGB light is just a vanity that looks good gel for the wrist is a really good feature that will place less stress on your hands during long sessions of time spent in front of the computer.

During Windows 10 installation, you will see all the beautiful user interfaces, however, what’s more, important are the drivers, your processor, and free storage disk in order for the installation to be successfully completed. So if you are getting the CompareExchange128 error during the installation of Windows 10, this means that the CPU lacks a very important instruction known as “CMPXCHG16B”. Thus, if you don’t have CMPXCHG16B, then it will result in the CompareExchange128 error when you install Windows 10. In fact, CMPXCHG16B, PrefetchW as well as LAHF/SAHF is a criterion for you to be able to use Windows 10 64-bit version when upgrading from an earlier version of Windows. So what exactly is the CMPXCHG16B instruction? The CMPXCHG16B instruction is the one that performs an atomic compare-and-exchange on 16-byte values. This instruction can also be referred to as “CompareExchange128”. The atomic compare-and-exchange means that the CPU compares the contents of a memory location with a given value. So if the values are the same, it modifies the contents of that memory location to a new given value. Note that this kind of issue only happens to the 64-bit Windows 10 version and the only way to resolve it is by getting an update on the hardware level from the OEM. On the other hand, if nothing really works, it’s maybe time for you to get a new CPU but before you resort to that, in the meantime, you can try following the options given below to fix the CompareExchange128 error during the installation of Windows 10.

Option 1 – Try to update the BIOS and Chipset Drivers

One of the best things you can do to fix the CompareExchange128 error is by updating the BIOS and chipset drivers which is why you need to check if your OEM has an update available for your computer’s BIOS as well as the related chipset drivers. But before that, you need to first check the BIOS version. To do so, follow these steps:

• Type “msinfo32” in the search bar and hit Enter to open the System Information Tools.
• After opening the System Information Tools, check the BIOS version.
• Then take note of that BIOS version. You also need to use the BIOS utility that came with your computer and use it for the upgrade. Note that it is different for every computer and if you don’t have it, you can just go to the OEM website and see if there is an option to download it there.

Option 2 – Try to downgrade to the 32-bit Windows 10 version

If option 1 didn’t work as the BIOS update is not available, you can also try downgrading to the 32-bit version of Windows 10. Keep in mind that this will bring restrictions on the amount of RAM installed and other places but that won’t be a problem as you can still switch.

Option 3 – Try buying a new hardware

If none of the first two options didn’t work for some reason then maybe it’s time for you to purchase new hardware especially if your computer is way too old. In such cases, it’s better to buy new hardware or better yet, a new computer that can keep up for the next couple of years.

Krita Desktop is a free and open-source painting application. Krita is a full-featured free digital painting studio for artists who want to create professional work from start to end. Krita is used by comic book artists, illustrators, concept artists, matte and texture painters, and in the digital VFX industry. Krita has been in development for over 10 years and has had an explosion in growth recently. It offers many common and innovative features to help the amateur and professional alike. Krita has a user-friendly interface. The dockers and panels can be moved and customized for your specific workflow. Once you have your setup, you can save it as your own workspace. You can also create your own shortcuts for commonly used tools. In addition to painting, Krita comes with vector, filter, group, and file layers. Combine, order, and flatten layers to help your artwork stay organized. There are also three different views on how to see the layers. Krita supports full color management through LCMS for ICC and OpenColor IO for EXR, allowing you to incorporate Krita into your existing color management pipeline. Open PSD files that even Photoshop cannot open. Load and save to PSD when you need to take your artwork across different programs. Krita is the only dedicated painting application that lets you open, save, edit and author HDR and scene-referred images. Furthermore, with OCIO and OpenEXR support, you can manipulate the view to examine HDR images, and use it in the most cutting-edge workflows from the film and visual effects industries.