Fix Invalid Product Key or Version mismatch

Booting Windows 10 in safe mode can solve many issues with your computer since Windows will boot just in its basic core and you can safely maintain it, find a solution for issues, etc. Before, entering safe mode was easy and pretty straightforward, during Windows evolution, entering safe mode was somewhat complicated and not being made so directly like once it was but do not worry. Starting Windows in safe mode today is even maybe easier than it was before, it is just not so obvious as it once was. In this article, we will go through several ways how you can boot up Windows in safe mode in order to solve whatever issue is troubling you.

1. Start safe mode from settings

   Open Settings by pressing the ⊞ WINDOWS + I or by just clicking on the Start button and clicking Settings. Go to Update & Security, then Recovery. In Advanced startup, click Restart now. Once your PC reboots, click Troubleshoot, then Advanced options. Select Startup Settings then Restart.

2. Go to safe screen from Sign-in screen

   Click the Shift on your keyboard while clicking on the Power button on the bottom right corner of the screen. Once your PC restarts, click on Troubleshoot, then Advanced options. Select Startup Settings then Restart. After the reboot, select 4 or the F4 on your keyboard to run in Safe Mode. If you choose to use Safe Mode with Networking, select 5 or F5.

3. Start Windows recovery Environment

   Go to the Windows Recovery Environment by doing the following steps: Press on the power button to turn off your device. Press on the button again to turn it on. Once Windows starts, press the power button again for 10 seconds to turn it off. Then press it on again. Upon the reboot, hold on to the power button for 10 seconds to turn it off, then turn it on again. Because you've repeatedly turned on and off your PC, you will be redirected to Windows Recovery Environment. On the pop-up window, click on Troubleshoot, then Advanced options. Select Startup Settings, then Restart. After the reboot, select 4 or the F4 on your keyboard to run in Safe Mode. If you choose to use Safe Mode with Networking, select 5 or F5.

4. Hold SHIFT while pressing RESTART on the start menu

   On the Windows 10 sign-in screen, hold on the SHIFT on your keyboard. While pressing on the key, click on the Power button, then choose Restart on the pop-up menu. Once your PC restarts, click on Troubleshoot, then Advanced options. Select Startup Settings then Restart. After the reboot, select 4 or the F4 on your keyboard to run in Safe Mode. If you choose to use Safe Mode with Networking, select 5 or F5

5. Boot from installation media and choose it in the command prompt

   Create a Windows 10 bootable installation media on any external storage media. Once you do this step, wait for the installation to load. Select your preferred language and click on Next. Click on Repair your computer at the bottom left of the menu. Click on Troubleshoot, then Advanced options. Select Command Prompt - Use the Command Prompt for advanced troubleshooting options. Type in the following command on the prompt: bcdedit /set {default} safeboot minimal Hit Enter and wait for it to tell you that "The operation completed successfully". Exit Command Prompt and click on Continue.

6. Use system configuration tool

   In the Search bar, type in msconfig. Select the Boot tab and under the Boot options, put a check beside Safe boot. Click OK. Reboot PC

7. Press SHIFT + F8

   Press SHIFT + F8 when turning on Windows. This redirects you to Advanced Boot Options Window, then choose to run Windows on Safe Mode

There you have it, 7 different ways to enter safe mode in Windows 10, we hope that any of these tips proved helpful and that you managed to enter the safe mode and fix your Windows issues.

Having the latest applications is often preferred for most users but sometimes we have some old applications which have not been updated or simply we just want to run oldie on our computer because it does everything we need and we do not want to upgrade in order to save some money. The issue is presented sometimes when we try to run an old application in Windows 10 and some components are missing in Windows itself or the application is simply coded in a way to work on older Windows versions. If by any chance you have this issue then this guide is for you since we are going to show you how to run old applications in Windows 10. This guide is made in a way to takes into account that the application itself is completely installed on your Windows 10 machine if you can not even install the application you will need to search solution for that particular application since that can not really be generalized and pinpointed issue, every application is different.

Running old applications using the compatibility option

All of that being said, let's start that old app you have. First thing is to locate an executable file or shortcut of the desired application. Once it is located, right-click on it to bring up the menu, and all the way to the bottom you will find properties. Left-click on properties. The application settings screen will open, in upper tabs locate Compatibility and left-click on it. After the click, you will find yourself in application compatibility settings. In this window, you will face different options to run the chosen application in various modes in order to make it run. How settings are self-explanatory and different applications will need different settings sadly we can not cover them all but your safest bet is to run them in an environment where they have worked. For example, if the application was working fine in Windows XP and required administrator privileges, check Run this program as an administrator and Run this program in compatibility mode for Windows XP.

Error Code 0x8000222 - What is it?

Error Code 0x8000222 is an error that occurs during the installation process for Windows 10. It is also present in past versions of the software, going all the way back to Windows 7 and even affecting Windows software products, including Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and other items in the Microsoft Office Suite.

Common symptoms include:

• Inability to complete the installation process for new versions of the operating system, Microsoft Office programs, or other Windows-based software

While there are several factors that can contribute to the appearance of Error Code 0x8000222 during the installation process, most of these factors can be addressed using a few high-level methods. These methods do require some advanced knowledge and computing skills, so if you are unable to complete the steps below successfully or do not have confidence in your ability to undertake these methods on your own, contact a qualified computer repair service that is familiar with the Windows 10 installation process.

Solution

Error Causes

There are a few different issues that can cause Error Code 0x8000222 to arise during the installation process on your Windows operating system. The first is a corrupted file in your system library or dynamic link library, also called the DLL. The second is interference by your proxy, firewall, or antivirus software that inhibits the machine from being able to access the files that it needs to successfully complete the installation of your Windows operating system or software.

Further Information and Manual Repair

To address and resolve Error Code 0x8000222 on your Windows operating system, regardless of the version of the software that you are using, there are a few steps that you can take. Keep in mind that these steps do require some advanced skills and knowledge about your computer, so if you don’t believe that you can undertake these steps on your own or if the following methods do not fully resolve the issue on your device, talk to a qualified computer repair technician for assistance.

Here are the best ways to address Error Code 0x8000222 on your Windows machine:

Method One:  Fix Your DLL Dependencies Registry

Before implementing this method, make sure that a proxy is not active on your computer. To check to see if there is an active proxy, simply press the Windows key together with the “R” key and type in the command “cmd”, then when the prompt opens up, type in the following command:  “netsh winhttp import proxy source=ie”. From the box that follows, if you see a message saying that there has been an error writing in the proxy settings and that access has been denied, it means that you can turn off the proxy setting in your Internet Explorer and the error will go away on its own.

If you do not have an active proxy, it is time to check and see whether your DLL dependencies are properly set up. To do so, open up the command prompt again by pressing the Windows key and “R” key at the same time and typing in “cmd”. Once the command prompt is active, simply typing in “regsvr32 Officevalidator.dll”, then attempt to resume your installation once it has been complete.

In some cases, you may need to restart your computer before attempting the Windows installation process.

Method Two:  Turn Off Firewalls and Antivirus Software Before Installing

If the above method did not successfully resolve the problem, you can go into your control panel and turn off any firewalls or antivirus programs that may be interfering with your ability to complete the Windows installation process. Depending on the programs that you use for your antivirus needs, you may need to restart your computer before you reattempt to do the installation process.

You should be able to turn your firewall and antivirus programs back on once the installation process has run through to completion.

In most cases, taking the steps above will fully resolve the appearance of Error Code 0x8000222 on your Windows 10 machine.

Method Three: Use An Automated Tool

If you wish to always have at your disposal a utility tool to fix these Windows 10 and other related issues when they do arise, download and install a powerful automated tool.

Seeing a yellow triangle with an exclamation mark on the battery symbol on the System Tray of your Windows 10 laptop is not really uncommon especially if your battery is about to run out of power. However, if you just purchased your laptop recently and the first thing you’ve noticed when you first opened it is the yellow triangle with an exclamation mark in the battery, read on as this post will help you resolve this issue. Seeing this kind of icon on your computer does not necessarily mean that you have to replace your battery as there are still several potential fixes you can try to resolve the problem. So if you notice this icon, you can try running the Power troubleshooter as it will help you resolve any potential issues with the battery. Aside from that, you can also restore the default settings of the power plan manually or uninstall and reinstall the battery driver. For more information, refer to the given options below.

Option 1 – Try to run the Power troubleshooter

As pointed out, the Power troubleshooter can help you resolve any issues your battery might have automatically. It plans and detects system settings that can affect power usages like timeout and sleep settings, display settings, and screensavers and restores them to their default settings. To run this troubleshooter, follow these steps:

• Open the Windows Settings and go to the Update and Security option.
• Next, click on the Troubleshoot option under Update and Security and then scroll down until you see the “Power” option.
• Under Power, click on the “Run the troubleshooter” button to start running the Power troubleshooter.
• Wait for a couple of seconds until the Power troubleshooter is done scanning your computer for issues. Once it’s done, follow the next on-screen instructions that appear on the screen.
• If needed, restart your computer and see if it has fixed the problem.

Option 2 – Restore the default settings of the Power plan manually

• Open the Windows Settings again and select System.
• Next, scroll down until you see the “Power & sleep” option.
• After that, click on the “Additional power settings” option located in the right pane to open the Power Options.
• Now click on the link that says, “Change Plan Settings” and select the “Restore default settings for this plan” option.

Option 3 – Try to uninstall or reinstall the Battery driver

You might also want to uninstall or reinstall the battery driver as it can also resolve the problem. But before you start, you have to shut down your computer and remove the power chord as well as the battery. Once you’re done, follow these steps:

• Plug the power chord and restart your computer.
• Once your computer has restarted, tap the Win + R keys to open the Run utility and type “devmgmt.msc” in the field and tap Enter to open the Device Manager.
• After that, look for the “Batteries” driver from the list of drivers and expand it.
• Then right-click on the “Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System” driver and click on the “Uninstall device” option.
• Once it’s done, restart shut down your computer and remove the power chord and then attach the battery.
• Now attach the power chord again and restart your computer to automatically install the driver.

Windows 11 has arrived and it is being adopted all around the globe as we are writing this article. People are adapting it daily and today we will take a look at some advanced security features of the new Windows and do you really need an antivirus in it. It is not a secret that Windows 11 is the most secure Windows ever created, well at least up until now. It is packed with advanced security features like S-mode, Secure Boot, and Trusted Platform Module (TMP 2.0). All these new security features that Microsoft has advertised made people question are enough for security or do you still need third-party Antivirus software. In order to get an answer to this question, let us first take a detailed look at what each one of them does, and then we will give you our opinion on a given subject.

Windows S mode

For everyday home use, Windows 11 S mode is the most secure feature to have on your PC. This is a safety protocol where only apps from Microsoft Store are allowed to be installed. This eliminates the risk of installing third-party apps that may contain viruses or malware. Furthermore, S-mode protects your web browsing activity through the Microsoft Edge browser. S-mode does not allow you to use other browsers for security reasons. If you are using Windows 11 in S-mode, your PC and data will be secure in most parts. You need not buy antivirus when using Windows 11 in S-mode.

Windows Defender

The inbuilt security suite, Windows Defender was launched for the first time in 2006. Earlier to that it had existed and was known as Microsoft AntiSpyWare. Windows Defender has undergone significant improvements over the years. In its latest version available with Windows 11, Windows Defender offers a comprehensive range of security features. It is available under the Windows Security system. Some key security features include real-time virus and threat protection, account protection, firewall & network protection, app and browser control, parental controls, and device (hardware) security. This is comparable to security features offered by third-party antivirus programs.

Microsoft Account

In Windows 11, it is necessary to use a Microsoft account that will be linked to your device. This ensures the security of your data in case your device is lost or stolen. You just need to make sure that you have set a strong password for your device. Windows 11 also has Bitlocker that keeps your data in encrypted form.

Ransomware protection

In view of rising cases of ransomware, Microsoft has introduced dedicated ransomware protection in Windows 11. It works by stopping apps from carrying out unauthorized changes to files and folders. Users can choose their important files and folders that they want to be protected from ransomware.

Conclusion

As we went through Windows 11 security features, we can clearly see that it is packed heavily with many security features that aim to protect your data and your identity. Looking at them, one can clearly come to the conclusion that you do not really need any third-party software and that Windows itself can catch and protect most of the issues, and they would be right. If you use Windows 11 carefully, meaning that you go only to trusted websites, do not open suspicious emails, and click on suspicious links, if you do not use extensively external USB devices or mass media you really do not need any kind of third party protection, Windows built-in tools will do well and keep you protected. However, if you do come in contact with other people's USB devices if you surf over the net, and overall if you really want to be at peace of mind that you are protected you will still need a well-established third-party software protection solution. Windows 11 has great security features, best so far in any Windows but it is still far from being a solution that does not require dedicated protection solution. So do yourself a favor and grab one. We recently had a top antivirus software review, find the article here and pick one that is best for you. https://errortools.com/viruses/the-best-antivirus-software-of-2021/

If the Sleep option is missing from the Power Menu then this could be caused by the power settings, local group policy configuration, etc. in your computer. Based on the reports of users who experience the same problem, the issue occurred after they’ve updated or upgraded their Windows 10 computers. As you know, the sleep mode is quite useful in certain cases and is utilized by most users. If you put your computer in sleep mode, it actually minimizes the power usage of your computer while at the same time keeps your current session running. So if sleep mode is suddenly missing, then that could be a problem but worry not for this post will give you possible fixes to resolve the issue. Make sure to follow each one of them carefully to achieve good results.

Option 1 – Check the Power settings

As mentioned, one of the reasons why the Sleep option is missing could be the power settings in your computer. To check this possibility, make sure that you’ve enabled the sleep mode in the Power options setting window. How? Refer to these steps:

• First, go to the Start menu, and from there open Control Panel.
• Next, set the View by Large icons and select the Power Options.
• After that, click on the “Choose what the power buttons do” option on the left-hand side.
• Then click on the “Change settings that are currently unavailable” option and make sure that Sleep is checked under the Shutdown settings.
• Afterward, click on Save changes.

Option 2 – Modify the Local Group Policy

If the Power setting isn’t the cause of the problem, then you might want to check the Local Group Policy and modify it. There is a dedicated policy for showing the sleep option in the power menu and if this policy is disabled, then it’s no wonder why you don’t see the sleep option in the power menu. To change this policy, refer to the steps below.

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Then type “gpedit.msc” in the field and hit Enter to open the Group Policy Editor.
• Next, navigate to this path: Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> File Explorer
• Look for the “Show sleep in the power options menu” option from the right-hand side pane and double click on it.
• Now change it to Enabled and click on the Apply and OK buttons to save the changes made and restart your computer.

Option 3 – Try to turn on Standby

Standby, also known as InstantGo, is a feature in Windows 8 and 10 that allows users to maintain network connectivity after a computer has been put into sleep mode. Thus, if this feature is disabled, it can cause the Sleep option to disappear from the power menu. To turn it on, follow these steps:

• Tap the Win + R keys to open Run.
• And type “Regedit” in the field and tap Enter to open the Registry Editor.
• Next, navigate to this path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlPower
• From this path, look for the “CsEnabled” key on the right-hand side of the pane and double-click on it.
• Set its value to “1” and click OK to save the changes made.
• Now reboot your PC.

Note: If you were not able to find the CsEnabled key, then this indicates that your computer does not support the Standby feature. And if that’s the case, proceed to the next given option below.

Option 4 – Try to install a Video Card driver

On the other hand, some users reported that the problem was caused by the video card driver. And if your computer lacks the video adapter driver, it can also cause the same problem. Windows 10 typically install the video card driver on its own, however, there are rare cases when it doesn’t which is why you have to do it yourself manually. All you have to do is go to your manufacturer’s website and look for the video card driver, download it and then install it. Once you’ve installed the video card driver, reboot your computer and check if it has fixed the problem.

As you know, any software needs sufficient CPU power when it downloads, updates and installs so if you encounter an error code 0x80200070 when you tried to install or update the Microsoft Edge browser on your Windows 10 computer, then read on as this post will guide you on how to fix it. This kind of error occurs when the Edge browser installation does not get enough CPU power to update or install and the only way to fix it is to kill programs that are consuming a lot of PC resources as well as stop or remove any unnecessary programs that are running in the background. This kind of error can also be encountered in the new Microsoft Edge Chromium. For more details, follow each one of the options provided below.

Option 1 – Try to kill applications that consume high resources

• Tap the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys to open the Task Manager.
• Go to the Performance tab and sort by CPU usage.
• Next, close a few additional programs that are consuming maximum CPU power.
• After that, try to update or install Microsoft Edge again and check if the error is fixed. If not, try to restart your computer and then start the installation or update again.

Option 2 – Try to remove or stop unnecessary programs and services

If the applications or processes that are consuming a lot of CPU resources reappear even after you kill them or end their processes, then you can try the following suggestions to remove or stop these unnecessary programs and processes.

• The first thing you can do is to stop the Service. If the program happens to be a service, then you have the option to disable the Windows Service. All you have to do is open the Services Manager and stop the service. How? Refer to these steps:
  • Tap the Win + R keys to launch the Run utility and type “services.msc” in the field and tap Enter to open the Services Manager.

• After that, identify which service is consuming a lot of power and then stop it temporarily.
• The next thing you can do is to uninstall the problematic program. If the one that consumes a lot of resources is not a service but a program, then you can try to uninstall the program for the meantime until you’ve updated or installed the Edge browser. Once you’ve uninstalled the program, try to update or install Edge again.
• You can also try booting your computer into Safe Mode and then update or install Microsoft Edge. This will make sure that all the unnecessary programs and services won’t consume a lot of CPU resources as well as memory.

If you encounter the “Diskpart failed to clear disk attributes” error when you try to change the read-only state of a storage device using the Diskpart application and the request is denied, worry not for this post will give you a couple of fixes to resolve the problem. As you know, Diskpart is used for resolving read-only storage devices by changing their attribute via the command line. So if it is not able to change the attribute of the storage device, then you will most likely encounter an error such as this one. This kind of error is not uncommon and as long as there are no damaged physical attributes, you can resolve it right away. There are tons of reasons why you’re getting this error while using Diskpart, it could be that the storage device has a physical write-protected switch or the disk is hidden or has bad sectors. It could also be because the storage drive might be in RAW format or that you are running the Diskpart application without admin privileges. Whatever the cause may be, here are some options you can try to fix the problem but before you proceed, make sure that you log on to your PC as an administrator.

Option 1 – Check if there is a physical switch on the storage device

There are some USB devices and SD card readers that have a write-protected physical switch that disables all the writable options on the storage device and so if it is turned on, Diskpart won’t be able to change the disk attribute to writable. To check, simply look for the physical switch on both sides of the device and once you found it, make sure that it is toggled off and then plug the storage device back in then try running Diskpart once again.

Option 2 – Modify the WriteProtected key in the Registry Editor

Before you proceed, you have to create a System Restore Point first.

• Tap the Win + R keys to open Run and type “Regedit” in the field and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor.
• Next, navigate to the following path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlStorageDevicePolicies

• After that, look for the “WriteProtect” registry entry which is located on the left side of the window, and then double click on it.
• Change its value to “0” and click OK to save the changes made and exit the Registry Editor.

Option 3 – Run CHKDSK to check the drive 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 including the “Diskpart failed to clear disk attributes” error.

• 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 [volume [[path] filename]] [/F] [/V] [/R] [/X] [/C] [: size]]

Note: In the command given above, “[/F]” will try to fix the system errors while “[/R]” will be the one to fix the bad sectors.

• Now if you are prompted to run CHKDSK after your reboot your PC, 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.

Option 4 – Clear the attributes on RAW

• Tap the Win + S keys then type “diskpart” in the field.
• Click the Diskpart application and if a User Account Control dialog box pops up, click Yes to proceed.
• After opening an elevated Command Prompt, type in the commands listed below and make sure to tap Enter right after you key in one command after the other.
  • list volume
  • select volume ‘n’ (In this command, you have to replace ‘n’ with the volume number of the drive)
  • format fs=fat32 quick (In this command you also have the flexibility to change the format to ‘ntfs’ or ‘exfat’)
• After executing the commands given, unplug the removable storage device and wait for a couple of seconds and then plug it back in.
• Now try any normal write operations and see if the error no longer appears.

Option 5 – Try checking the hardware components

On the other hand, it is also possible that the issue has something to do with a hardware problem and so you need to check the hardware components on your computer to determine that.

Next-generation of RAM, DDR5 supposed to hit shelves around late summer or fall in 2021if everything goes as planned. Its goal is to increase speed and efficiency, wants to pack more memory in a single stick, and have better power management.

Hardware requirements for DDR5

Using the latest memory technology will require other hardware to follow certain standards and the first ones that will need to follow are CPUs and Motherboards. Intel is already prepared with its Alder Lake CPUs that suppose to come out also later this year. AMD on other hand has not stated anything at the time of this writing but it is a bet that their next generation that will come in 2022 will have full support. It is speculated that bot companies and their respective CPUs will have both support for DDR4 and DDR5. A story about motherboards is a little different. Motherboards will support DDR4 or DDR5 memory banks, not both, so make sure that your motherboard will support the memory you plan on getting.

Capacity of memory

The goal and aim for the DDR5 memory stick are to reach a whopping 126GB per stack. This will be done by using a dual in-line module or DIMM enabling larger capacity. That being said, the first modules that we will see are more likely to be 16GB as standard and 8GB as low entry ones.

Power consumption of DDR5 memory

The standard voltage that DDR4 operates under is 1.2V. DDR5 wants to lower this to 1.1V without sacrificing speed. Voltage regulation on modules themselves will be now integrated on memory banks instead of leaving that to motherboards which will help to detect memory errors directly on the memory bank.

Speed of memory

The most common speed of DD4 memory banks is 2,666MHz, more expansive ones go from 3,600 to 4,000MHz. DD5 aims to raise this bar to 4,800MHz and offers greater speed.

Should you get it right away?

Hardware is ever-evolving, we have PCIe 3.0 to PCIe 4.0, and taking into account that sometimes the newest tech can cause some unexpected behavior it is always the best strategy to wait for a little. Price for the newest tech has also been in its heist just when it is released and seeing how DDR5 will benefit mostly servers mostly since even today memory, processors, and other available equipment can tackle all daily tasks.

So you have just got home from that new computer store with your fancy and all-new mouse, screen, keyboard, etc. You plugged in your new component, Windows detected it, installed drivers for it and it is working like a charm. A few months later down the road and the computer starts little by little to slow down. Plug and play is a great concept, and automatic detection is even greater but how time passes old unused stuff piles in your hard drive and in Windows itself thus slowing down your computer and taxing it more and more as new components and software are added. Old drivers from old components sadly are not removed from Windows itself and over some larger period of time they can pile up and slow down your daily operations on the computer or even cause some problems in it. This guide will teach you how to manually remove old unused device drivers from your Windows so it is fresh and like new again.

Making old devices visible

In order for us to remove old drivers, the first thing we must do is make them visible in our device manager, old drivers are hidden and will not show up, we must make this happen. We do this by pressing WINDOWS + X keys on your keyboard to bring up a hidden menu in Windows. Once the menu appears, click on Command Prompt (admin) Once the command prompt with administrator privileges comes on-screen type in it following string: The device manager will open, go to view > snow hidden devices in order to show unused devices.

Removing old device

Open any category and if there is a device that was once used and still has its drivers in the system it will be shown as faded out. Right-click on the device and click on uninstall device to remove it completely from your system. Please always be careful when removing devices so you do not remove the device which is being used by mistake and always double-check that you are removing something that you used to have on your system. This method will show all hidden devices even ones that are hidden but crucial to the system working properly.