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Fix HAL INITIALIZATION FAILED Error 0x0000005C

When your computer boots up or when it just woke up from sleep but it suddenly encounters a Blue Screen of Death error, saying, “HAL INITIALIZATION FAILED error with STOP CODE 0x0000005C”, then read on as this post will give you some fixes that might help in resolving the problem. You will see the following error message on your computer’s screen when this error pops up:

“Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart. We’re just collecting some error info, and then we’ll restart for you. If you’d like to know more, you can search online later for this error: HAL_INITIALIZATION_FAILED

HAL INITIALIZATION FAILED 0x0000005C”

This kind of Blue Screen error indicates that there is a hardware or device driver problem in your PC. Aside from that, it also signifies that the initialization of the Hardware Abstraction Layer or HAL has failed. This happens only during the relatively short period that the Windows operating system is being initialized, specifically during phase 4 of Windows startup. What’s worse about this kind of Stop error is that it does not just go away after a computer reboot.

You may have to boot your computer into Safe mode with Networking using the Advanced startup options which you can access by tapping the F2 or F8 key. Once you’ve accessed the Advanced startup options, follow the fixes prepared below.

Option 1 – Run CHKDSK command to repair hard disk errors

Running the Chkdsk utility could help you resolve the HAL INITIALIZATION FAILED error with STOP CODE 0x0000005C. 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.

  • After you access the Advanced Startup options, select Command Prompt by using the arrow keys on your keyboard.
  • After opening Command Prompt, execute the following command and hit Enter:

chkdsk /f /r

  • The command you entered will scan the hard disk for any errors and will automatically fix it if it finds some issues. Wait for the process to be completed and then restart your computer.

Option 2 – Run the DISM tool

If the first option didn’t work, then running the Deployment Imaging and Servicing Management tool can help you resolve the HAL INITIALIZATION FAILED error as it will repair the Windows System Image as well as the Windows Component Store in Windows 10.

  • After you access the Advanced Startup options, select Command Prompt by using the arrow keys on your keyboard.
  • Next, type in this command: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
  • Do not close the window if the process takes a while as it will probably take a few minutes to finish.

Option 3 – Update the Device drivers

  • 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 the device driver you and then select either “Update driver” or “Uninstall device”. And if you find any “Unknown device”, you need to update it as well.
  • Select the “Search automatically for updated driver software” option and then follow the instructions to complete the process.
  • If you have chosen to uninstall the driver, follow the screen options to complete the process and then restart your PC.
  • Connect the device and Scan for hardware changes – you can see this option under Device Manager > Action.

Option 4 – Try removing any external hardware

You might also want to remove any connected devices and external hardware in your computer as it might help in fixing the BSOD error.

Option 5 – Disable Fast Start-up

If you want your computer to boot faster, then you might have enabled Fast Start-up. This feature is ideal for computers that are using a hard disk drive. However, turning on this feature also means that when the computer boots, it might lag some drivers that are loaded when it initially boots up. Thus, it might be the potential cause of the UNEXPECTED STORE EXCEPTION BSOD error. Thus, you need to disable Fast Start-up. To do that, follow these steps:

  • Boot your PC into Safe Mode.
  • Then tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
  • Next, type in “control” to open Control Panel.
  • After that, select Hardware and Sound and click on Power Options.
  • Select “Choose what the power buttons do” from the left side menu pane and click on Change settings that are currently unavailable.
  • Afterward, uncheck the “Turn on fast startup (Recommended)” entry and click on Save Changes.
  • Now restart your PC for the changes to take effect and then check if the problem’s fixed afterward.

Option 6 – Disable your antivirus program

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 7 – Perform a Clean Boot

There are some instances that some conflicting programs installed in your computer might be the one that’s causing the HAL INITIALIZATION FAILED error. 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.)
  • From there, start to isolate the problem by checking which one of the programs you installed recently is the root cause of the problem.

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Best TV streaming services 2021
We live in a world that is in a pandemic, our lives, both social and work are turned upside down. Most of our free time is spent indoors now, maybe with some close relatives or friends, no large gathering, no party. In this world keeping yourself busy and entertained is very important so we do not lose our minds and try to function as well as we can. Keep up the positive spirit, the pandemic will be over soon but in meantime, let's see some premium streaming services for tv and film so we can kill time faster with some quality entertainment.
  1. Netflix

    If you're a connoisseur of movies and/or TV, there's only one must-have player in town and that's Netflix. It is, unequivocally, the biggest and best streaming service, despite not always stocking its digital shelves with must-have new movies and TV; that said, this is the staple streamer you need to own if you ever plan on cutting the cord and surviving without it. These days, most smart TVs have Netflix apps, and finding a streaming box without it is the equivalent of finding a needle in a haystack. The quality of the movies and TV we tried – mostly streamed in Ultra HD – on both TV and on tablets is exquisite.
  2. Amazon Prime Video

    Like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video has its own set of original series The Expanse, Hunters, and The Boys among others – but, generally speaking, they don't receive the same fanfare as their Netflix-bred brethren. Although Netflix is as guilty for dud programming as the rest of them, it's worth mentioning Amazon Prime does get some pretty terrible new additions from time to time. So always check out the guide to the best Amazon Prime TV shows before you dive in head-first. The two big differentiators between the services are the fact that access to Amazon's streaming service comes standard with a subscription to Amazon Prime – meaning access to Amazon Music and premium delivery services.
  3. Hulu

    Video streaming service Hulu offers big-name titles like The Simpsons, Saturday Night Live, and South Park alongside a huge number of titles from NBC, FOX, and Comedy Central. It's also the only streaming service app on the Nintendo Switch. Hulu comes in two flavors: the standard on-demand streaming service you've always known and loved, and the new Hulu with Live TV
  4. Disney Plus

    Disney Plus doesn't feel like it's trying to be the main TV streaming offering in your life. Instead, it's a family-friendly option that feels like it lives alongside a Netflix or Amazon Prime Video subscription. It has a very specific selection of content: Disney animated movies, Star Wars, Pixar, Marvel, and National Geographic. Essentially, if Disney owns it and kids can watch it, it's on here, and often streaming in 4K for no additional price. The real reason to sign up are big originals across those different subject areas – WandaVision, The Mandalorian, and Pixar's Soul, for example, all demonstrate an intention to invest big in blockbuster content for the platform.
  5. YouTube TV

    Ask someone what they think was the biggest internet revolution of the 21st century and they'll probably say it was YouTube. And with good reason – the user-generated video-blogging site has changed the online landscape forever. It lets anyone, however well known they are (or not), whatever the quality of their content and wherever they hail from, upload their weird and wonderful videos for anyone around the world to watch at their convenience. The beauty of YouTube is that in the blink of an eye it's taken the broadcasting power from the bigwigs and placed it right in our hands. OK, so it might not have stopped people wanting to watch a high-quality, professionally made production in their living room TVs, but it's an insight into how TV might be produced in the future. After all, with YouTube you don't need a big budget or indeed any budget at all to produce your own TV series and establish a massive following. While the free portion of YouTube will always remain the most popular (the latest statistic says that a whopping eight years' worth of content is uploaded each and every day to the site), but if you're looking for quality content, YouTube TV is also an excellent option worth considering.
  6. HBO Max

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  7. Sling TV

    Sling TV is a kind of cure-all for the cord-cutting generation, something that we knew we needed but no company stepped up to make. That said, it's everything cable's not. It's affordable. It's no-obligation. And there are absolutely zero sales reps trying to stop you from canceling your contract. Best of all, you won't have to give up some of the perks cable provided in the last few years like the ability to pause live TV or watch something that aired up to 72 hours ago.
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    Crunchyroll is the best streaming service any anime, manga, or East-Asian cinema fan in your life has always wanted and never knew about. Founded by Berkeley graduates back in 2006, Crunchyroll started as a bootleg website of sorts where users uploaded their favorite shows without the permission of the original owners. Not the humblest of beginnings. But now it's an essential offering for anime fans. While you won't find genre staples like Dragon Ball Z, Digimon or Pokémon around, most of the site's 200-plus series are available to watch for free in SD
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    Apple's newest streaming service has money bags and talent on its side. Launching back in 2019 with The Morning Show, an expensive drama starring Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon and Steve Carrell, as well as See with Jason Momoa, Apple is flexing its muscles to get the best talent. Unfortunately, it doesn't have a deep content library, which is what the platform would need to be the best streaming service in 2021
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If you would like to read more helpful articles and tips about various software and hardware visit errortools.com daily.
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How to Fix Tcpip.sys Blue Screen Error in Windows 10
If you have received a BSOD error message that says, “Tcpip.sys”, read on as this post will show you how you can fix the problem. The “Tcpip.sys” means Transmission Control Protocol over Internet Protocol. It is a library of a set of rules that are used to interconnect different devices all over the internet. The Tcpip.sys file is a driver and if a BSOD error message includes this one, it could only mean that the driver file is corrupted or incompatible with your system or there are some conflicting programs installed in your computer. To fix this error, you can try the following workarounds. Make sure to carefully follow each one of them.

Option 1 – Check for conflicting or incompatible programs by putting your PC in a Clean Boot state

As mentioned, the “tcpip.sys” BSOD error might be caused by some problematic programs that clash with your existing operating system. Several users reported that numerous programs that are supposedly designed to enhance computer performance are causing conflict in the system instead. 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” checkbox and make sure that the “Load System Services” and “Use Original boot configuration” options are checked.
  • Next, click the Services tab and select the “Hide All Microsoft Services” checkbox.
  • Click Disable all.
  • Click on Apply/OK and restart your PC. (This will put your PC into a Clean Boot State. And configure Windows to use the usual startup, just simply undo the changes.)
After putting your PC in a Clean Boot State, try creating a system restore point and see if the problem still occurs. Clean Boot troubleshooting is designed to help you isolate the problem. For you to execute a clean boot troubleshooting, you must do a couple of actions (the steps are given above) and then restart your PC after every action. You might have to disable one third-party app after the other to really isolate the issue. And once you’ve narrowed down the problem, you can either disable the third-party app that’s causing the problem or remove it. Note that you must switch your PC back into the Normal Startup mode after you’re done troubleshooting the problem. Here’s how you can do it:
  • From the “Start” menu, go to System Configuration.
  • After that, switch to the General tab and click the option for “Normal Startup”.
  • Next, go to the Services tab and clear the checkbox for “Hide all Microsoft services”.
  • Then find and click “Enable all” and if prompted, you have to confirm.
  • Afterward, go to the Task Manager and enable all the Startup programs and confirm the action.
  • Restart your PC when prompted.

Option 2 – Disabling Antivirus Software

There are cases when the “tcpip.sys” BSOD error is caused by the antivirus program installed in your computer that’s blocking some essential operations. Because of this, the operating system fails which throws up the BSOD error. As you know, the antivirus program is designed to protect the computer and monitor every action in the system. However, there are instances when the antivirus program gives false positives and shuts down some modules even if it’s harmless. So this could be the case for the “tcpip.sys” error. To verify if the problem is indeed caused by the antivirus program in your computer, you need to temporarily disable it. After you’ve disabled it, restart your PC and then check if the problem’s fixed or not.

Option 3 – Try to update all your Drivers

From time to time, drivers get corrupted or outdated so it’s no surprise that they conflict with the operating system and cause errors like the “tcpip.sys” BSOD error. To fix the problem, you need to update all your drivers especially the network driver since the “tcpip.sys” error is closely related to this driver. Follow the steps below to update your drivers.
  • Tap the Win + R keys to launch Run.
  • Type in devmgmt.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. If you see a red or yellow sign that shows up against the driver, right-click on the driver’s name and select “Update Driver Software” or “Uninstall”. And if you find any “Unknown device”, you need to update it as well.
  • Select the “Search automatically for updated driver software” option and then follow the instructions to complete the process.
  • Restart your PC.
Note: You also have the option to go directly to the website of your graphics card manufacturer and check if there’s a new update – if there is, download it. After that, you could also check if there’s a new update of the game you’re getting the issue of the black bar.
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100sOfRecepies Removal Tutorial

100sOfRecepies is a Browser Extension developed by MindSpark Inc. that provides users with hundreds of recopies for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert. This extension may appear very handy at the start, however, it may monitor your browser activity, and send it back to the developer to better serve ads. This extension injects itself into the System Registry allowing it to run each time your computer is restarted.

While browsing the internet with this extension installed you may see additional ads, sponsored links, and pop-up ads displayed in your browser. Many anti-virus scanners have detected this extension as a Browser Hijacker and are therefore not recommended to keep on your computer.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijacking is actually a form of an unwanted program, often a web browser add-on or extension, which causes modifications in browser settings. They are made to disrupt web browser programs for various reasons. Usually, it’ll force users to predetermined sites which are aiming to increase their advertisement income. Nevertheless, it’s not that harmless. Your internet safety is compromised and it is also very annoying. In a much worst case, your browser could be hi-jacked to download malware that may do a great deal of damage to your laptop or computer.

Major symptoms that your web browser has been highjacked

The typical symptoms that indicate having this malware on your computer are: 1. the browser’s home page is changed 2. bookmark and the new tab are also modified 3. the default search engine is changed and the browser security settings have been lowered without your knowledge 4. find new toolbars which you did not add 5. unstoppable flurries of pop-up ads show up on your personal computer screen 6. your web browser gets slow, buggy crashes often 7. Inability to navigate to certain websites, particularly anti-malware and also other security software webpages.

How does a browser hijacker infect a computer?

There are several ways your computer can become infected with a browser hijacker. They generally arrive by way of spam e-mail, via file sharing websites, or by a drive-by-download. They could also come from add-on software, also known as browser helper objects (BHO), web browser plug-ins, or toolbars. Some browser hijackers spread in user’s computer systems using a deceptive software distribution technique known as “bundling” (generally through freeware and shareware). An example of some well-known browser hijacker includes Babylon, Anyprotect, Conduit, DefaultTab, SweetPage, RocketTab, and Delta Search, but the names are continually changing. Browser hijackers could record user keystrokes to gather potentially valuable information that leads to privacy issues, cause instability on computers, drastically disrupt the user experience, and eventually slow down the PC to a point where it will become unusable.

Browser Hijacker Malware – Removal

Some browser hijacking could be quite easily stopped by discovering and eliminating the corresponding malware program from your control panel. But, most hijackers are hard to get rid of manually. No matter how much you try to remove it, it can come back over and over. Moreover, browser hijackers could modify the Computer registry so that it could be very tough to restore all of the values manually, particularly when you are not a very tech-savvy person.

Can't Install Safebytes Anti-malware due to the presence of Malware? Try This!

All malware is bad, but certain kinds of malicious software do a lot more damage to your PC than others. Some malware sits in between your computer and the internet connection and blocks some or all sites which you want to check out. It would also block you from adding anything to your machine, especially anti-virus programs. So what to do when malicious software keeps you from downloading or installing Anti-Malware? Do as instructed below to eliminate malware through alternate ways.

Eliminate malware in Safe Mode

In the event the malware is set to load at Windows start-up, then booting in safe mode should avoid it. Just the minimum required applications and services are loaded when you boot your computer in Safe Mode. Listed below are the steps you need to follow to start your computer into the Safe Mode of your Windows XP, Vista, or 7 computers (go to Microsoft website for instructions on Windows 8 and 10 computers). 1) At power-on/startup, press the F8 key in 1-second intervals. This will invoke the “Advanced Boot Options” menu. 2) Choose Safe Mode with Networking with arrow keys and hit Enter. 3) When this mode loads, you should have an internet connection. Now, use your internet browser to download and install Safebytes. 4) As soon as the software program is installed, allow the scan run to remove viruses and other threats automatically.

Switch over to an alternate web browser

Malicious program code could exploit vulnerabilities on a particular web browser and block access to all anti-virus software sites. The best way to overcome this problem is to choose a browser that is known for its security measures. Firefox contains built-in Malware and Phishing Protection to keep you secure online.

Install and run anti-malware from the Thumb drive

To effectively get rid of the malware, you might want to approach the issue of running an anti-virus program on the affected PC from a different perspective. Do these simple measures to clear up your infected computer by using a portable antivirus. 1) On a virus-free PC, download and install Safebytes Anti-Malware. 2) Insert the pen drive on the same PC. 3) Run the setup program by double-clicking the executable file of the downloaded software, with a .exe file format. 4) When asked, select the location of the USB drive as the place where you want to put the software files. Follow the instructions on the screen to finish off the installation process. 5) Now, transfer the USB drive to the infected computer system. 6) Double-click the EXE file to open the Safebytes program right from the thumb drive. 7) Simply click “Scan Now” to run a scan on the affected computer for viruses.

Protect Your Computer and Privacy With SafeBytes Anti-Malware

To help protect your computer or laptop from a variety of internet-based threats, it’s important to install an anti-malware application on your personal computer. However, with countless numbers of antimalware companies in the marketplace, nowadays it’s tough to decide which one you should buy for your laptop. Some of them are excellent, some are ok types, while some will affect your PC themselves! You need to be careful not to pick the wrong product, particularly if you purchase a premium application. Amongst few good applications, SafeBytes Anti-Malware is the strongly recommended software for security-conscious people. Safebytes is one of the well-established computer solutions firms, which provide this complete anti-malware software program. Through its cutting-edge technology, this software protects your personal computer against infections caused by different types of malware and similar internet threats, including adware, spyware, trojans horses, worms, computer viruses, keyloggers, potentially unwanted programs (PUPs), and ransomware. SafeBytes carries a plethora of wonderful features which can help you protect your computer from malware attack and damage. Here are some of the good ones: Robust Anti-malware Protection: By using a critically acclaimed anti-malware engine, SafeBytes provides multi-layered protection which is made to catch and remove threats that are concealed deep in your PC. Active Protection: SafeBytes offers complete and real-time security for your PC. It’ll check your PC for suspicious activity at all times and shields your PC from unauthorized access. Website Filtering: Through its unique safety rating, SafeBytes informs you whether a website is safe or not to visit it. This will assure that you’re always certain of your safety when browsing the online world. Lightweight Utility: SafeBytes is really a lightweight application. It consumes an extremely small amount of processing power as it runs in the background therefore you will not observe any computer performance issues. 24/7 Premium Support: Skilled technicians are at your disposal 24/7! They will immediately fix any technical issues you may be experiencing with your security software.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you’d like to carry out the removal of 100sOfRecepies manually rather than using an automated software tool, you may follow these simple steps: Navigate to the Windows Control Panel, click on the “Add or Remove Programs” and there, select the offending program to uninstall. In cases of suspicious versions of web browser extensions, you can easily remove them through your browser’s extension manager. You may also want to reset your web browser settings, as well as delete browsing history, temporary files, and internet cookies. To ensure the complete removal, find the following Windows registry entries on your system and delete them or reset the values appropriately. Please keep in mind that only advanced users should try to manually edit the registry because incorrect file removal leads to a major problem or even a PC crash. In addition, certain malware is capable of replicating itself or preventing deletion. It is recommended that you carry out the removal procedure in Safe Mode.
Files: %Documents and Settings%\All Users\Application Data0sOfRecipes Toolbar virus %program files %\internet explorer\ 100sOfRecipes Toolbar\[random].mof %program files (x86)%0sOfRecipes Toolbar \ %programData%\suspicious folders\ %windows%\system32\driver0sOfRecipes Toolbar %app data%\ 100sOfRecipes Toolbar virus\ Registry: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MATS\WindowsInstaller\EAF386F0-7205-40F2-8DA6-1BABEEFCBE8914.07.30.07.52.18]ProductName=100sOfRecipes Toolbar [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Tracing\Muvic_RASAPI32] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Tracing\Muvic_RASMANCS] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\EAF386F0-7205-40F2-8DA6-1BABEEFCBE89] DisplayName=100sOfRecipes Toolbar [HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-3825580999-3780825030-779906692-1001\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\50f25211-852e-4d10-b6f5-50b1338a9271] DisplayName=100sOfRecipes Toolbar
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How to Fix the Error 103

Error 103 - What is it?

The error 103 may occur either due to issues in your Google Chrome browser or system issues. If error 103 occurs when using Chrome, this means there is a conflict between Google Chrome and the antivirus program running on your PC. It is displayed in either of the following formats: ‘Chrome error 103 connection aborted’, ‘Chrome error 103 err_connection_aborted’ or ‘Error 103 (net: ERR_CONNECTION_ABORTED): Unknown error. However, if this is a system error code, it may be displayed in the following format ‘The semaphore cannot be set again’ or as ‘ERROR_TOO_MANY_SEM_REQUESTS’ or as the value 0x67.

Solution

Restoro box imageError Causes

The error 103 is triggered due to multiple reasons such as: The conflict between Google Chrome and anti-viruses arises because when the web browser attempts to update, the anti-virus programs on your PC may view the update as a threat. Due to this, the connection to the internet is terminated and the error 103 message is displayed on your computer screen. And besides, this keeps you from upgrading your Google Chrome browser too. Other causes include:
  • Viral infection
  • Missing Windows component called ‘expand.exe’
  • Registry overlaps
  • Incompatible drivers

Further Information and Manual Repair

Here are some of the easy and efficient ways to resolve error 103. Choose a method according to the error 103 messages displayed on your screen.

Method 1: Check for the ‘Expand.exe’ Windows component

This method is workable if the error 103 is triggered due to browser issues. To get started, follow these steps. First, go to the start menu, and in the search bar type ‘expand.exe’. If you are able to find it, move it to the following directory C:\Windows\system32. However, if you are unable to locate it, then copy the file from Windows installation CD. Once you copy the file to the directory, reinstall the updated version of Google Chrome.

Method 2: Change the Location of the Temporary File

If the error still persists, try method 2. Go to the start menu and open the Run window. Now type C: and press OK. Then go to File, then New, and then Folder. Now create a temporary folder and name it ‘test’. After that go back to the start menu and open the Run window again. Now enter the following text in the text field:cmd.exe then press OK. In the command prompt type set TMP=C:\test. After that try reinstalling Google Chrome by typing the following in the command prompt: start ChromeSetup.exe.

Method 3: Update Drivers

If the error message 103 is generated due to system issues, then try updating drivers. Sometimes the error may occur due to incompatible drivers.

Method 4: Perform an Entire PC Scan for Viruses

To resolve error 103, perform an entire PC Scan for viruses. Sometimes the error may occur due to viral infection. Removing viruses may fix the error.

Method 5: Clean and Restore the Registry

If the error is triggered due to registry issues, then it is advisable to download Restoro. This is a multi-functional PC repair tool integrated with powerful utilities including an anti-virus, a registry cleaner, Active X controls, and class scanner, and a system optimizer. The registry cleaner feature wipes out all the unnecessary files including cookies, junk files, and bad registry keys that corrupt the registry. It cleans and restores the registry instantly. The anti-feature removes all viruses and spyware while the system optimizer utility ensures your system works at its optimum speed. It can be downloaded on all Windows versions. It is safe and efficient. This software is a one-stop solution for all PC-related errors. Click here to download Restoro.
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NoteHomepage removal guide

NoteHomepage (by MyWay) is a browser extension that may be bundled with other free software that you download off of the Internet, or delivered via other advertising means. When installed NoteHomepage will set the homepage and search engine for your web browser to http://search.myway.com. While installing this extension will gather information from your browsing sessions, including website visits, clicked links, and sometimes even private information, that it later sends back to display unwanted ads into your browser. Several anti-virus scanners have marked this extension as a Browser Hijacker and are therefore not recommended to keep on your computer. It is considered potentially unwanted, and many users wish to remove it, so it is flagged for optional deletion.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijacking is a form of unwanted software program, usually a web browser add-on or extension, which then causes modifications in the web browser’s settings. Browser hijacker malware is developed for many different reasons. Generally, browser hijacking is utilized for earning advertising revenue from forced advert mouse clicks and site visits. Even though it might seem harmless, these tools are designed by malicious individuals who always look to take full advantage of you, so that they can earn money from your naivety and distraction. Some browser hijackers are programmed to make certain modifications beyond the browsers, like altering entries on the system registry and letting other malware further damage your machine.

Find out how to identify a browser hijack

Below are some signs and symptoms that suggest your browser has been hijacked: the home page of your browser is changed unexpectedly; your browser is constantly being redirected to adult websites; the default search engine is changed; you are getting browser toolbars you have never noticed before; never-ending pop-up advertisements show up and/or your web browser popup blocker is disabled; your web browser gets sluggish, buggy, crashes regularly; Inability to navigate to certain websites, particularly anti-malware and also other security software websites.

So how exactly does a browser hijacker infect a computer?

Browser hijackers might use drive-by downloads or file-sharing networks or an e-mail attachment in order to reach a targeted PC. They could also come from add-on programs, also called browser helper objects (BHO), web browser plug-ins, or toolbars. Browser hijackers sneak into your computer in addition to free software application downloads also that you unknowingly install alongside the original. A good example of some infamous browser hijackers includes Babylon, Anyprotect, Conduit, SweetPage, DefaultTab, Delta Search, and RocketTab, however, the names are regularly changing. Browser hijackers will affect the user’s web surfing experience severely, track the websites frequented by users and steal personal information, cause difficulty in connecting to the web, and eventually create stability problems, causing software programs and systems to crash.

Learn how to remove browser hijackers

Some hijackers can be removed by just uninstalling the corresponding freeware or add-ons through the Add or Remove Programs in the Windows control panel. But, many browser hijackers are difficult to get rid of manually. No matter how much you try to get rid of it, it might keep returning again and again. Additionally, manual removals demand in-depth system knowledge and thus can be a very difficult job for novices. Industry experts always suggest users remove any malicious software including browser hijacker with an automatic malware removal tool, which is easier, safer, and quicker than the manual removal method. Employ a PC optimizer along with your anti-malware software to solve various registry issues, remove computer vulnerabilities, and boost your computer performance.

Download the software in Safe Mode with Networking

If the malware is set to run immediately when Windows starts, stepping into safe mode may block the attempt. Just minimal required applications and services are loaded whenever you start your laptop or computer in Safe Mode. To launch your Windows XP, Vista, or 7 PCs in Safe Mode with Networking, follow the instructions below. 1) At power on, hit the F8 key before the Windows splash screen begins to load. This would invoke the “Advanced Boot Options” menu. 2) Select Safe Mode with Networking with arrow keys and press ENTER. 3) As soon as this mode loads, you should have an internet connection. Now, get the malware removal software you want by utilizing the web browser. To install the program, follow the directions in the installation wizard. 4) Immediately after installation, run a full scan and let the software remove the threats it discovers.

Switch over to an alternate browser

Some viruses may target vulnerabilities of a particular web browser that obstruct the downloading process. If you’re not able to download the anti-virus software program using Internet Explorer, this means malware is targeting IE’s vulnerabilities. Here, you need to switch to a different internet browser such as Firefox or Chrome to download the antivirus program.

Run anti-virus from a pen drive

To successfully get rid of the malware, you have to approach the problem of installing anti-malware software on the affected computer system from a different perspective. Adopt these measures to run the anti-virus on the affected computer system. 1) Download the anti-malware software on a virus-free computer. 2) Plug the USB drive into the clean computer. 3) Double click on the downloaded file to open the installation wizard. 4) Select flash drive as the location when the wizard asks you exactly where you wish to install the application. Follow the on-screen instructions to finish the installation process. 5) Remove the flash drive. Now you can utilize this portable anti-malware on the affected computer. 6) Double-click the anti-malware software EXE file on the USB drive. 7) Press the “Scan” button to run a full computer scan and remove viruses automatically.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

To eliminate NoteHomepage manually, navigate to the Add or Remove programs list in the Windows Control Panel and select the program you want to get rid of. For web browser plug-ins, go to your web browser’s Addon/Extension manager and choose the add-on you want to disable or remove. You might also want to reset your home page and search providers, as well as clear your web browser cache and cookies. Finally, check your hard disk for all of the following and clean your Windows registry manually to remove leftover application entries after uninstalls. Please be aware that this is for professional users only and could be challenging, with incorrect file removal resulting in additional PC errors. In addition to that, certain malware is capable of replicating or preventing deletion. You’re advised to do this procedure in Windows Safe Mode.
Files: C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\lamecoaceiheggdhlnjnmciaonfdamlg.600.11.14900_0 C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\lamecoaceiheggdhlnjnmciaonfdamlg C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\lamecoaceiheggdhlnjnmciaonfdamlg C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\NoteHomepageTooltab C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\profile\extensions\[email protected] C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\profile\extensions\[email protected]\chrome C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\profile\extensions\[email protected]\META-INF C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\profile\notehomepage_j Registry: HKLM\SOFTWARE\Classes\AppID\NoteHomepage Toolbar.exe HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Extensions HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Browser Helper Objects HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Google\Chrome\Extensions HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Mozilla\Firefox\Extensions HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Opera Software\Explorer\Main\Start Page Redirect=http://random.com HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\NoteHomepage HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon Shell = %AppData%\IDP.ARES.Generic.exe HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run Random HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Random. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\NoteHomepageTooltab Uninstall Internet Explorer HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\NoteHomepage
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Windows is unable to run Automatic Maintenance
As you know, Windows has a built-in Automatic Maintenance feature that takes care of important tasks such as security scanning and updating, Windows software updates, Disk Defragmentation, System Diagnostics, Disk Volume Errors, and many more. So if you receive an error message saying, “Windows is unable to run automatic maintenance, The maintenance schedule is unavailable”, then this post will guide you in what you can do to resolve this issue. Here are some suggestions you can try if the Automatic Maintenance in your Windows 10 PC is not able to run.

Option 1 – Enable Automatic Maintenance

It is possible that Automatic Maintenance has been disabled so you can try enabling Automatic Maintenance on your Windows 10 PC. To do so, follow these steps:
  • Go to Control Panel.
  • From there, select System and Security > Security and Maintenance > Automatic Maintenance.
  • After that, set the time you want to run the Automatic Maintenance and then check the checkbox saying, “Allow scheduled maintenance to wake up my computer at the scheduled time”.
  • Click OK to save the changes.
On the other hand, you can also enable Automatic Maintenance via the Registry Editor. But before you proceed, you need to create a System Restore Point first.
  • Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
  • After that, type “Regedit” in the field and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor.
  • Navigate to the following path:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionScheduleMaintenance
  • Next, look for the “MaintenanceDisabled” key and then double click on it to open it and then set its value to “0”.
  • Click OK and exit the Registry Editor.
  • Restart your computer.

Option 2 – Check the Task Scheduler Services status

Majority of the tasks in Windows 10 run via services. So it is most likely that either the Service has been stopped or is set to the manual which is why Windows is unable to run Automatic Maintenance. Thus, you need to change it to automatic mode.
  • Tap the Win + R keys to open Run.
  • Type “services.msc” in the field and hit Enter to open Services.
  • Next, look for the Task Scheduler service and tap the T key on your keyboard which should take you to the services that start with T.
  • Double click on the Task Scheduler service and select the Automatic option under the Startup Type.
  • If it is not started yet, click on the Start button.
  • Then click Apply and OK to save the changes.

Option 3 – Check the Status in Task Scheduler

You can also try checking the status in the Task Scheduler. Just open the Task Scheduler > Task Scheduler Library > Microsoft > Windows > TaskScheduler. From there, make sure that Idle Maintenance, Maintenance Configurator, and Regular Maintenance are enabled.

Option 4 – Run the System File Checker

The SFC or System File Checker scan could detect and automatically repair damaged system files that could be causing the Automatic Maintenance issue. 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 with 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 and hit Enter.
The command will start a system scan which will take a few whiles before it finishes. Once it’s done, you could get the following results:
  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 5 – Run the DISM tool

The DISM tool is another command-line tool in the Windows operating system that could help users fix various corrupted system files. To use it, follow these steps:
  • Open the Command Prompt as admin.
  • Then type in this command: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
  • The DISM command you entered will repair the corrupted system image. Do not close the window if the process takes a while as it will probably take a few minutes to finish.
  • Restart your PC.
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Your Windows license will expire soon
If you suddenly get a message telling you that “Your Windows license will expire soon, You need to activate Windows in Settings” on your Windows 10 computer but you know that your Windows 10 is already activated. Worry not for this post will help you get rid of that error message right away. Before you get started, make sure that you have the Windows product key with you. If you don’t, you can get it by running the following command in an elevated Command Prompt:
wmic path SoftwareLicensingService get OA3xOriginalProductKey
Take note of the product key and then proceed to the options given below.

Option 1 – Try activating Windows 10 again or use another product key

  • If you’re sure that you have the correct product key, click the Go to the Settings button.
  • After that, click the Activate button once again.
  • If you have another license key, you can also use that as well, just simply click on the Change product key.
  • Then enter the new product key and click on Activate. That should fix the problem, if it doesn’t, refer to the next option below.

Option 2 – Try to reset the licensing status

  • Click the Start button and then type “cmd” in the Search box and then tap Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open an elevated Command Prompt.
  • Next, type the “slmgr –rearm” and hit Enter to reset the licensing status.
  • Restart your computer and check if the error is now gone or not.

Option 3 – Try uninstalling the product key and re-enter it once more.

  • The first thing you have to do to uninstall the product key is to know the Activation ID of your Windows installation. To do so, open an elevated Command Prompt and type this command, and hit Enter – vbs /dlv
  • After you enter the command, you should see the licensing status and Activation ID. And to get all the Activation IDs of all the installed Windows versions, key in this command and hit Enter – vbs /dlv all
Note: The “/dlv” parameter will give you the license information for the installed operating system.
  • After you enter the second command, you should see a Windows Script Host window with all the Windows licensing and activation status. Take note of the Activation ID.
  • Next, in the same elevated Command Prompt, type this command – slmgr /upk <Activation ID>
Note: In the third given command, “/upk” stands for “uninstall product key”. This parameter uninstalls the product key of the current Windows edition.
  • Restart your PC. After that, your computer will be in an unlicensed state so you need to re-enter the product key again.

Option 4 – Try rebuilding the Tokens.dat file.

The issue might be caused by a corrupted Tokens.dat file. The Tokens.dat file is a digitally signed file that stores most of the Windows Activation files so if it is corrupted then no wonder you’re having activation issues. To rebuild the Tokens.dat file, refer to these steps:
  • From the WinX Menu, open an elevated Command Prompt.
  • After opening Command Prompt, you need to type each one of the following commands and after you type each command, hit Enter.
    • net stop sppsvc
    • cd %windir%ServiceProfilesLocalServiceAppDataLocalMicrosoftWSLicense
    • ren tokens.dat tokens.bar
    • net start sppsvc
    • exe %windir%system32slmgr.vbs /rilc
  • Now restart your computer.

Option 5 – Try running the Windows 10 Activation Troubleshooter

  • Go to Settings and then select Activation.
  • After that, click on the Windows Activation and then troubleshoot. This will help you address most of the commonly found activation issues in Windows devices.

Option 6 – Try activating Windows 10 via mobile phone

Activating Windows 10 can also be done using your phone. Just note that you have to call Microsoft to do so.
  • In the Start Search box, type in “Slui 4” and tap Enter.
  • Next, select your country and click on Next.
  • Keep the window open and call the toll-free number of the country you’re from.
  • Afterward, a confirmation ID should be given by the automated system which you must take a note of.
  • Finally, in the box on the window, type in the confirmation ID and click on the Activate button. That should do it.
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Run File Explorer with admin privileges in W11
Typical use of file explorer will probably not need any kind of elevated privileges, but from time to time you might encounter some tasks that will require administrator rights in order to perform them. If this is the case you will need to run file explorer with these rights but inside Windows 11 that is somewhat hidden and not 1 click away. File Explorer W11How this is the case we have decided to put a little tutorial on how to accomplish this very task and run file explorer with administrator privileges.

Open File Explorer via EXE file

  1. Open File Explorer typically
  2. Navigate to This PC > Windows (C:) > Windows
  3. Locate file explorer application
  4. Right-click on it and select Run as Administrator
  5. Run File Explorer
A new instance of file explorer will pop with elevated administrator privileges.

Run it as an administrator using the Task Manager

  1. Open the Task Manager ( CTRL + SHIFT + ESC )
  2. Click on More details (at the bottom)
  3. After the task manager expands click on the File tab
  4. Click on Run New Task
  5. Type in explorer.exe and check the box next to it that says Create this task with administrative privileges
  6. Click on OK
File Explorer will now run as administrator.
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Chrome won’t open or launch on Windows
If you’re suddenly unable to launch or open Google Chrome or unable to load web pages, then it’s most likely that the files in Chrome have been corrupted or some plugin is taking up a lot of resources which is why you encounter an error message saying, “Google Chrome has stopped working”. And when you try to check the Task Manager, you’ll see that Chrome is really taking up lots of resources, however, when you check the Taskbar, strangely, you will see nothing. If you are currently facing this issue in Chrome on your Windows 10 PC, follow the given options below.

Option 1 – Kill Google Chrome’s process in the Task Manager

If you aren’t able to open Chrome, then maybe its process is running in the background and you don’t see the browser windows. If that’s the case, you may have to force quit the browser and then try to open it again.
  • First, right-click on the Taskbar then select the Task Manager. And if the Task Manager is not responding, you can just use the Alt + Ctrl + Del keys and then select the Task Manager.
  • After opening the Task Manager, under Processes, look for Google Chrome’s process which would most likely be named “chrome.exe”.
  • Right-click on Google Chrome’s process and then select the End task option.
  • Now try to open Google Chrome again.

Option 2 – Try checking if your antivirus program is blocking Google Chrome

There are instances when due to false-positive, a security or antivirus program might block Chrome which is why it failed to open properly. Thus, you can just disable the security program temporarily and then check if you can now open Chrome or not.

Option 3 – Delete the User Profile in Chrome

You can also try deleting the User Profile folder in Chrome. To do so, follow these steps:
  • Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
  • Then copy and paste “%USERPROFILE%AppDataLocalGoogleChromeUser Data” and hit Enter.
  • From there, look for a folder named “Default folder” and then copy the folder to another drive as a backup.
  • After creating a copy of the folder, delete the Default folder.
  • Next, open Google Chrome again and go to Settings > Advanced > Reset.

Option 4 – Disable the Extensions in Chrome

There are instances when issues on a browser are triggered or caused by some problematic extension. To find out which one of your extensions is causing the problem, disable them all first and then enable them back one by one.
  • Click on the three-dotted icon for the menu located at the top-right corner of your screen.
  • Then click on the More tools option and go to Extensions.
  • From there, you will see a list of all the installed extensions in Chrome.
  • Disable all these extensions and restart the browser.
  • Now enable them back one by one to figure out which one of them is the culprit. You could also remove extensions that you no longer use.

Option 5 – Run the Chrome Cleanup tool

You might also want to try running the Malware Scanner & Cleanup tool in Chrome. This is a built-in tool that can help you get rid of any unwanted pop-ups, banners, ads, unusual startup pages, toolbars, and malware. Thus, it can help you to resolve the issue in Chrome.

Option 6 – Try to reinstall Chrome

If running the Malware Scanner & Cleanup tool in Chrome didn’t work out for you, you can try reinstalling it. To do so, follow these steps:
  • Open the Settings app and go to System > Apps & features.
  • From there, look for Chrome and uninstall it from your PC.
  • Then go to the official website of Google Chrome and download its latest version and install it.
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Disable the Notifications for any Apps
Since Windows 10 introduced the concept of notifications, almost any application installed on your computer sends you one. However, there are times when too many notifications can be quite annoying. Although some of them are important, most of them are not and are only getting in the way of your tasks. So if you don’t like to be flooded with tons of notifications on your Windows 10 computer, say no more as this post will help you out in disabling notifications for any apps installed. And now with the new feature in Windows 10 called Focus Assist, you will be able to manage the level of notifications that you receive. This new feature also allows you to disable all notifications except for the ones from important or priority apps. You will just have to maintain a list of priority applications or you could also disable all the notifications except for the important ones like alarms. In addition, you could also set up some automatic rules such as the Focus Assist timings which means that you can make Focus Assist enabled for a certain period of time during the day or when you are duplicating your display or playing a game and whatnot. So if there is an application that keeps on spamming you with notifications, you can just disable the notifications for that application.

To get started on disabling notifications, refer to the steps given below.

  • Step 1: Go to Settings > System.
  • Step 2: From there, open Notifications and actions and then scroll down to the “Get notifications from these apps” section.
  • Step 3: After that, look for the application that you want to disable notifications for and click on the toggle button that corresponds to disabling notifications for that application. You could also click open to explore additional settings for that particular application.
Note: You can disable notifications or just the notification banners, your choice. Aside from that, you can also control the notification sound as well as its behavior when the computer screen is locked. What’s more, is that you can also adjust the number of notifications displayed in the Action Center or select the priority applications. As stated earlier, Windows 10 gives you control that allows you to customize every nook and cranny of the notification on your Windows 10 computer. Apart from applications, there are also other notifications-related settings that you can control including disabling notifications about tips, tricks, and suggestions as well as summary notifications from Windows Defender that you get every time you use or scan your computer.
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