How to Fix: Not a Valid Win32 Application Error

Can’t sign in with a Microsoft account This program is blocked by group policy. For more information, contact your system administrator. 0x8000704ec

1. Local group policy editor solution

   • Press ⊞ WINDOWS + R to open the Run dialog.
   • In the Run dialog box type gpedit.msc and press ENTER to open Group Policy Editor.
   • Inside the Local Group Policy Editor, navigate to the path below:
   Computer Configuration > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Local Polices > Security Options
   • On the right pane, double-click on Accounts: Block Microsoft accounts to edit its properties.
   • Under Local Security Setting tab, click on the drop-down and select This policy is disabled.
   • Click Apply > OK to save the changes.
   • Exit Group Policy Editor.

2. Registry editor solution

   As always, it is highly recommended to make a backup of the registry editor just in case that something goes wrong.
   • Press ⊞ WINDOWS + R to open the Run dialog.
   • In the Run dialog box, type regedit and hit ENTER to open Registry Editor.
   • Navigate to the registry key path below:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
   • At the location, on the right pane, identify the NoConnectedUser key. The key value might be set to either 1 or 3.
   • Now, double-click the NoConnectedUser entry to edit its properties.
   • Input 0 in the Value data field and hit Enter to save the change.

Faraday bag is a new take on security and privacy for people using a lot of electronic devices and credit cards. So what is exactly a Faraday bag?

Faraday bag explained

Faraday bag is designed in the same manner as the Faraday cage which was invented by Michael Faraday, who was an English scientist who contributed to the study of electromagnetism and electrochemistry. His main discoveries include the principles underlying electromagnetic induction, diamagnetism, and electrolysis.

The idea of the Faraday cage is that anything inside a cage that is made of specific grid size is completely isolated from outside current and magnetic fields since the cage itself will pick up everything upon itself. This means that for example, a human could be inside a cage that is struck by lightning and be perfectly safe and fine.

This idea led to the Faraday bag design, which takes this concept and places a wiring pattern inside clothing in order to isolate all magnetic fields from the outside so your devices and cards are completely cut off from any kind of influence and electromagnetic waves. If the pattern and quality of material for the bag are good, you have a fully safe placeholder for your stuff.

Advantages of Faraday bag

The main advantages, of course, are the privacy and safety of mobile phones and credit cards from outside influences and this is why this bag has been designed in the first place. If the bag is designed properly your phone would not be able to be hacked nor accessed from any outside source, GPS tracking will also be disabled and your phone location will not be visible. Credit cards will also be completely safe from any malicious attack via wi-fi signals.

Disadvantages of bag

Well, the disadvantage of using this bag is a very simple one, since your phone is isolated from outside influence that will also mean that you will not be able to take messages or calls on it while it is in the bag. Notifications from the internet would also be disabled so it is security vs usability deal.

1. Disable antivirus and firewall

   90% of the time this is the issue why Minecraft is not working, your antivirus or firewall has detected it as a false positive, and access to system internet, etc has been cut. Try disabling it and if everything is working fine add it to the antivirus or the firewall exception list.

2. Run Minecraft as admin

   Minecraft will sometimes refuse to run if it does not has administrator privileges. To make sure this is the case locate the Minecraft executable, right-click on it and choose properties. Go to the compatibility tab and check Run as Administrator box.

3. End Minecraft process

   It came to knowledge that even if Minecraft is not running it can have its processes active in the background. Press CTRL + SHIFT + ESC to open task manager Locate if Minecraft has a process running If you find the Minecraft process right-click on it and choose End Task

4. Run Minecraft in compatibility mode

   If Minecraft still refuses to start try running it in compatibility mode in the previous Windows version Locate Minecraft executable file in its install location Right-click on it and choose properties In the properties, windows go to the compatibility tab Check run this program in compatibility mode for: Select previous version of the operating system, try Windows 8 or Windows 7

5. Update graphic card driver

   The best bet is to go to your GPU manufacturer's website and download the latest version of the driver of your GPU.

6. Remove mods, plugins, texture packs

   Mods, plugins, texture packs are all great but sometimes they can cause GPU overloads and other issues to see if this is the case try running Minecraft in Vannila mode without anything installed, just pure and clean Minecraft as it was just downloaded and installed.

7. Reinstall Minecraft

   If everything else failed, reinstall Minecraft. There might be a chance that some DLL file was deleted or corrupted by mistake or that some crucial files are missing. Clean reinstallation will fix all of these issues.

Option 1 – Try to clear browser cache and try downloading again

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

Option 2 – Try disabling Chrome virus scan

Option 3 – Whitelist the file you’re downloading in your antivirus program

• Open the Windows Defender Security Center from the system tray area.
• Next, click the “Virus & threat protection” option and then open the “Virus and threat protection settings”.
• After that, scroll down until you find the “Exclusions” and click on the “Add or remove exclusions” option.
• Then click the plus button and select the type of exclusion you want to add and from the drop-down list, select Folder.
• Next, navigate to this path and select the WinSxS folder: C:/Windows/WinSxS
• When a User Account Control or UAC prompt, just click on Yes to proceed.

Option 4 – Try downloading the file in Incognito mode

Option 5 – Reset Chrome

• Open Google Chrome, then tap the Alt + F keys.
• After that, click on Settings.
• Next, scroll down until you see the Advanced option, once you see it, click on it.
• After clicking the Advanced option, go to the “Restore and clean up option and click on the “Restore settings to their original defaults” option to reset Google Chrome.
• Now restart Google Chrome.

Option 6 – Try to clean reinstall Chrome

• Hit the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Next, type “%LOCALAPPDATA%GoogleChromeUser Data” in the field and hit Enter to open the User Data folder.
• From there, rename the default folder and name it something else, e.g. “Default.old”.
• After that, install Google Chrome again and check if the issue is now fixed.

Option 1 – Disable the Blurred background in the login screen via Registry Editor

• First, tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box and type “Regedit” in the field, and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor.
• After that, navigate to this registry path: KEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindowsSystem
• Next, right-click on any empty space in the right pane and create a new DWORD (32 bit) and name it as “DisableAcrylicBackgroundOnLogon”.
• Once you’ve created the DWORD, double click on it and set its value to 1 to disable it and 0 to enable it.
• After you make the necessary changes, restart your computer. You won’t now see the blurred background on the login screen.

Option 2 – Disable the Blurred background in the login screen via Group Policy Editor

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run utility and type “gpedit.msc” in the field and tap Enter to open the Group Policy Editor.
• After that, navigate to this policy setting: Computer ConfigurationAdministrative TemplatesSystemLogon
• From there, double click on the “Show clear logon background settings” and since its default value is “Not configured”, set it to “Disabled”. You will see the following description under this setting:
  • “This policy setting disables the acrylic blur effect on the logon background image.”
  • “If you enable this policy, the logon background image shows without blur.”

• Now click on OK and then check the login screen.

“This site can’t be reached, The webpage at [website URL] might be temporarily down or it may have moved permanently to a new web address, ERR_QUIC_PROTOCOL_ERROR”

Option 1 – Try to disable the QUIC Protocol

• Open your Google Chrome browser.
• Now type in “chrome://flags/” in the address bar and hit Enter.
• After that, look for the Experimental QUIC protocol which should be set by default.
• Then expand the drop-down menu and select Disable.
• Restart Google Chrome and see if the error is fixed or not.

Option 2 – Disable VPN

Option 3 – Disable the Proxy server

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

Error Code 0x80244019 - What is it?

Error Code 0x80244019 is a basic error that occurs during the Windows Update process in Windows 10 and previous versions of the software dating back to the release of Windows XP. It can cause updates to fail, which can often be frustrating for Windows users who are attempting to keep their devices up to speed.

Common symptoms include:

• Failure of updates for the Windows operating system to complete or download
• The appearance of an error message that references the number 0x80244019

While an error during the Update process can be frustrating to encounter, there are a few simple solutions that can be employed to try to address the problem at hand. At least one of the methods for resolution does require some familiarity with the command prompt and other advanced tools, so if you are not completely confident in your ability to follow the steps mentioned below, you may want to get in touch with a qualified repair technician who can assist you in resolving the error code.

Solution

Error Causes

In some cases, the error in the Update process can be caused by a conflict between the operating system and the antivirus software running on your computer. In other cases, there may be a portion of the file missing or corrupted that needs to be fixed before the Update process can be run through to completion.

Further Information and Manual Repair

For users who are experiencing the appearance of Error Code 0x80244019 on their devices, there are a few methods that can be used to attempt to resolve the issue. While at least one of these methods is fairly simple to complete, even for basic users, the other does require some comfort in using the command prompt to input a series of commands. If you do not feel comfortable in following the steps listed below, contact a computer repair professional who is familiar with Windows 10 to assist you.

Method One:  Use the Windows Update Troubleshooting Tool to Resolve the Issue

When an error arises during the Windows Update process on Windows 10, the best solution is often to use the built-in tool provided by Microsoft, the Windows Update Troubleshooter. An option to open this tool often appears when the error message itself appears.

By running this tool, your system will attempt to scan the files involved in the Update process to try to determine where the conflict or error may be occurring. If one of the system files needs to be repaired or downloaded again, this tool can often resolve the issue on its own.

If the Troubleshooter tool successfully fixes the error, be sure to restart your computer before attempting to run the Update process again so that you can fully apply any changes that have been made.

In some cases, however, the Troubleshooter tool will not be able to find the problem or will be able to identify what the issue is, but not able to fix it. If this happens, it may be time to turn to Method Two.

Method Two:  Manually Perform a Reset on Windows Update Assets

To manually reset the assets associated with the Windows Update tool, follow these steps:

• Step One: Open up the command prompt from the start menu and select the option to run it as an administrator.
• Step Two: Run the following commands, hitting the enter key after each is put in:
  • Net stop wuauserv
  • Net stop cryptSvc
  • Net stop bits
  • Net stop msiserver
  • Ren C:\Windows\Software\Distribution Software\Distribution.old
  • Ren c:\Windows\System32\catroot2\Catroot2.old
  • Net start wuauserv
  • Net start cryptSvc
  • Net start bits
  • Net start msiserver
• Step Three: Type in the word “exit” to quit out from the Command Prompt.

Once these steps are done, you can try to use the Windows Update tool again to see if the problem has successfully been resolved.

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.

Option 1 – Run the Printer Troubleshooter

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Next, type “exe /id PrinterDiagnostic” in the field and click OK or hit Enter to open the Printer Troubleshooter.
• Then click the Next button and follow the next on-screen instructions to fix the issue with the printer.

Option 2 – Try to use some Registry tweaks to add the Printer

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Next, type “Regedit” in the field and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor.
• When a UAC or User Account Control prompt appears, click Yes.
• Once you’ve opened the Registry Editor, go to the following key location:

HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionWindows

• From there, double click on the file named “Device on the right side pane under the Windows folder.
• Now add the name of your printer in the Value Data field as you can see below and then click the OK button.

• After that, you will get a message that says, “Cannot edit Device: Error writing the value’s new contents, simply click on OK again. You have to take note of the existing permissions before you proceed to the next step. Once you’ve added the Printer, make sure to reverse the changes you’ve made to the Permissions.
• Now right click on the Windows folder located on the left pane and click on Permission.
• Select Restricted under the Group or user names section.
• Then check the checkboxes for “Full Control”, “Read” and “Special Permissions” under the Permissions for RESTRICTED section.
• After that click the Apply button and then OK to save the changes made.
• Next, right-click on the file named “UserSelectdDefault” and select Rename to rename it to your printer’s name.
• Now restart your computer to successfully apply the changes made.
• After the printer is added, don’t forget to reverse the Permission changes you’ve made early on.

Option 3 – Try updating the Printer drivers

• First, click the Start button and type “device manager”.
• Then click on the “Device Manager” from the search results to open it.
• From there, look for the USB Composite Device option and right-click on it, and select the Update Driver from the options.
• Restart your PC and then click the “Search automatically for updated driver software” option.

Error Code 0x800705b4 - What is it?

Error Code 0x800705b4 is an error that will appear when the computer is not stable, and very critical system files will fail to respond or they will start going missing. This will happen when the computer is not being maintained properly. The problem should be solved immediately to avoid any further damage or loss of data. This error code may be regarded as one of the most severe computer problems that can present itself.

Common symptoms include:

• There will be a failure to install updates and a display of the error message.
• The Error Code 0x800705b4 will display itself.
• After a system update, the computer will not be able to install new drivers.

Solution

Error Causes

Windows 10 update error 0x800705b4 can be caused when the user wants to update their windows system when important dll registries or files are missing or are corrupt. This will also happen when the user is trying to install or uninstall programs in a way that is wrong, or it may be infected with a Trojan virus. Additionally, this error code will be displayed when a PC's drivers are either outdated or installed the wrong way. There could be a registry error, a failure to update by the operating system, or even a device failure to update automatically.

Further Information and Manual Repair

There are several ways to resolve the appearance of error code 0x800705b4 on Windows devices. If you are not familiar with fixing error codes on a computer or are having trouble fixing this one, consider contacting a Windows technician to help with fixing the error. The computer must be run on administrator mode no matter which steps you are taking or which methods you are using. Depending on which version of Windows you are using, the steps for each method may differ slightly, but the basic process will remain the same.

Method One: Fixing it with updates

Start the computer in safe mode to begin troubleshooting for error code 0x800705b4. When the computer is starting up, press F8—this will enter the computer into safe mode.

You will now need to manually update your computer's outdated drivers. To do this, click on Start. Then, type in Device Manager into the search box to see if there are any outdated or corrupt issues with the drivers.

Method Two: Run an SFC scan

This will allow users to find files in Windows that are corrupt, damaged, or lost.

• Start the Command Prompt. To do this, click Start and then type in cmd inside of the search box to see the icon.  Right-click and choose to Run as administrator. If asked, enter the password for the administrator.
• When viewing the command prompt, type in “sfc/scannnow” and then press enter. This will be scanning all of the protected system files and will fix the corrupt files. Do not close the command prompt before it is done.

Method Three: System Restore

This is the most efficient way to fix any problem or system status. System backup is vital when performing this.

Click on the Start button, and then type in “system restore” inside of the search box. Right click on System Restore, and then choose Run as Administrator. This could also be found in the Control Panel. Now you will choose the time point in which to restore the system. You will be able to choose the recommended or specific restore based on the situation. Now you can review the restore point and then click Finish.

Method Four: For Windows 10

• You may need to update the Windows Defender in the security center. To locate this, click Start, Settings, Update and Security, Windows Defender.
• Go to the Windows Updates and click on Advanced Options. Click on the option that will get updates for more Microsoft products.
• Restart the computer, and then check for updates again. This update process will be able to be done without a problem. When a message comes up that says “Your device is up to date” you will need to click Advanced Options once again and check for update options.
• Check for updates one more time and now the proper updates should be able to be downloaded and installed properly.

Method Five: 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.

Free Ride Games is a desktop casual game program and potentially unwanted application. It sets its player to run in startup boot with Windows and installs additional files outside of its designated installation folders. The software reads PC information to display targeted advertising and runs a background process that cannot be shut down even by exiting the FreeRide Player. The player runs in full screen with no visible window controls to exit or minimize, and contains unskippable advertising in its function. While not malicious, the FreeRide Player possesses many traits that as of publication time have caused some AntiVirus programs to designate it as potentially unwanted adware. It has also been associated with adware distribution toolbars such as GameVance.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijacking signs

How it infects your computer

How to remove a browser hijacker

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

Install the anti-virus in Safe Mode

Download the antivirus program in an alternate browser

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

The following files, folders, and registry entries are created or modified by FreeRideGames.