How to Fix: Not a Valid Win32 Application Error

As you know, the Videos folder can be found under “This PC” by default on your Windows 10 computer. However, as per the reports of some users, there are a few occasions where it somehow gets replaced by the Documents folder. In other words, the Videos folders are replaced by a duplicated copy of the Documents folder. Out of the two Documents folder, one Document folder will contain all the usual files and subfolders while the second one is empty. Although when you click the Documents icon on your Desktop (if you have a shortcut), it will still take you to the right Documents folder. To fix this particular issue and get the Videos folder back in the File Explorer, here are some potential fixes that should help.

Option 1 – Run System Restore

The first thing you can try to do to resolve the problem is to run System Restore. This can help you go back to the previous state of your computer before the issue with the Videos and Documents folder.

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• After that, type in “sysdm.cpl” in the field and tap Enter.
• Next, go to the System Protection tab then click the System Restore button. This will open a new window where you have to select your preferred System Restore point.
• After that, follow the on-screen instructions to finish the process and then restart your computer and check if the problem is fixed or not.

Option 2 – Try to restore Defaults

The next thing you can do is to restore Defaults. How? Refer to these steps:

• Open File Explorer and then right-click on any of the two Documents folders.
• After that, select the Properties option from the context menu and switch to the Location tab and click on Find target.
• Next, copy the address and paste it in the field above the “Find target” option, and then click the “Restore Default” button.

Option 3 – Try to change the Registry Path

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Then type “Regedit” in the field and tap Enter to open the Registry Editor.
• Next, navigate to this registry path: HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerUser Shell Folders
• After that, edit the path for {35286A68-3C57-41A1-BBB1-0EAE73d76C95} under the “User Shell Folders” key to match the path shown for My Videos: %USERPROFILE%Videos.
• Once you’re done, open the folder under “This PC” that has the Documents icon and tap Shift + right-click in the folder background, and then select the “Open PowerShell window here” option to fix the naming of the Documents folder. The path should read: “C:users<UserName>Documents.
• Next, execute this command: ri desktop.ini –force
• The command you entered will delete the files and folders and so when added for Documents, it will get rid of the empty Documents folder.
• Now all you that’s left to do is to find where the target location is going to be for both folders and check if anyone foes to the user name location.
• Then delete the one which goes to the incorrect location.

This post will guide you in what to do if the DisplayLink in Windows 10 is not working. There are several users who reported that their DisplayLink device has stopped working with the Windows 20 Anniversary or the Creators update all of a sudden. According to users, this issue occurs right after they finish installing a big Windows Update like the Anniversary Update or the Creators Update or right when the DisplayLink driver is updated using Windows Update. DisplayLink is a graphics transport technology that allows users to connect to any computer that supports USB or Wi-Fi. Aside from that, it is also an excellent universal docking solution to any platform which makes it a great solution for enabling multiple displays. Thus, it can be quite annoying when DisplayLink suddenly stops working. There really is no actual error message when it happens. The only telltale sign is that all the devices that use the DisplayLink technology will also stop functioning. There could be tons of reasons why DisplayLink stopped working. It could be due to an incompatible driver, or the DisplayLink driver itself is corrupted or is connected to a USB 2.0 port. In addition, the problem could also be due to the Nvidia Share (ShadowPlay) that conflicts with DisplayLink or that the Universal Serial Bus is broken. To resolve the issue, refer to the following options laid out below.

Option 1 – Run the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter

As you know, Windows comes with a built-in tool that you can use to troubleshoot the problem with DisplayLink. You can find it in Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot. For further instructions, follow these steps:

• The first thing you need to do is click on Start and then on the gear-like icon to pull up the window for Settings.
• After opening Settings, look for the Update and Security option and select it.
• From there, go to the Troubleshoot option located on the left-hand side of the list.
• Next, select Hardware and Devices from the list and open the Troubleshooter and run it. Once it is doing its job, wait for it to complete the process and then restart the system.
• After the system restarts, check if the problem’s now fixed. If not, refer to the next option given below.

Option 2 – Try to uninstall DisplayLink and reconnect the docking station

If the Hardware and Device troubleshooter is of no help, you can try uninstalling DisplayLink and reconnecting the docking station. To do so, follow these steps:

• Disconnect the docking station or any other device that uses DisplayLink.
• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Then type “cpl” and hit Enter to open Programs and Features.
• From there, look for DisplayLink, right-click on it and click Uninstall.
• After that, follow the next on-screen instructions that appear on your screen to completely remove DisplayLink from your computer.
• Once you’ve uninstalled DisplayLink, click this link to download and install DisplayLink again.
• Now reconnect the docking station as well as other devices that use DisplayLink and follow the next on-screen instructions to reinstall the required drivers in your computer.
• Restart your computer and then check if DisplayLink is now working fine or not.

Option 3 – Try using a USB 3.0 port

If you are experiencing this issue with DisplayLink with a monitor that you’re trying to connect using DisplayLink, then you have to make sure that you are using a USB 3.0 port. Based on some reports, there are certain monitors that will not work with DisplayLink while connected to a USB 2.0 port since they have insufficient power to run the monitor. Like pointed out earlier, the problem with DisplayLink might have something to do with the Nvidia ShadowPlay. This streaming feature was often reported to crash the DisplayLink monitors which is why you might want to try disabling it for a while to check if it’s really true. Once you’ve disabled Nvidia ShadowPlay, restart your computer and check if your DisplayLink monitor now works.

Option 5 – Reinstall the Universal Serial Bus controller

You can also reinstall the Universal Serial Bus controller to fix DisplayLink since a malfunctioning USB port can sometimes cause issues with DisplayLink.

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Then type “msc” in the field and hit Enter to open the Device Manager.
• From there, look for the Universal Serial Bus controllers and expand its drop-down menu.
• Next, right-click on every Host Controller and then click on Uninstall Device.
• After uninstalling every entry, restart your computer to force your system to reinstall the drivers you’ve just uninstalled.
• Once your computer has rebooted, wait until the drivers are reinstalled and then try opening DisplayLink again.

Option 5 – Reinstall the Universal Serial Bus controller

You can also try to perform a System Restore as it can also help you fix DisplayLink. You can do this option either by booting into Safe Mode or in System Restore. If you are already in the Advanced Startup Options, just directly select System Restore and proceed with the next steps. And if you have just booted your PC into Safe Mode, refer to the steps below.

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• After that, type in “sysdm.cpl” in the field and tap Enter.
• Next, go to the System Protection tab then click the System Restore button. This will open a new window where you have to select your preferred System Restore point.
• After that, follow the on-screen instructions to finish the process and then restart your computer and check if the problem is fixed or not.

Why combining hard drives with storage spaces? Ok, I will admit it, I am a modern digital hamster when it comes to digital goods. I like to collect stuff and more than anything else I like to have all of that at the tip of my fingers. And how digital goods grow in size themselves (movies on Blu-ray are like 50GB each) and the collection grows in size single hard drive is starting to be completely obsolete when it comes to storage. Sometimes we will need large storage for these kinds of personal collections, sometimes we will need it for work reasons. Whatever your reason might be Windows 10 is offering us a solution via Storage spaces. Storage spaces is an integral part of Windows and it is meant as a tool to provide you with a RAID environment without a RAID controller. Of course, combining multiple hard drives via storage paces instead of RAID will not be so fast or stable but for home use of storing a large quantity of data is perfectly enough. With Storage Spaces you will also have an option to reduce some space for increased security of data loss if by any chance one of your HDD fails.

How to Create a Storage Space

To create storage space in Windows, press ⊞ WINDOWS + R to open the run dialog. In the run box type in Control Panel and press ENTER In Control Panel find Storage Spaces and left-click on it. Once storage spaces open, left-click on Create a new pool and storage space Once you click on create new, you will be greeted with a list of hard drives you can use for this operation. Please note that all hard drives you choose will be completely erased and formatted and then assign a single drive letter. Click on Create pool. You will find yourself in new storage options where you can assign a drive letter, give storage space a name, etc.

Storage spaces types

One thing I would like to focus on here is resiliency type, when you expand the resiliency type drop-down menu you will see 4 options inside. Simple, Two-way mirror, Three-way mirrors, and Parity. Simple: If you choose Simple as an option, you will have maximum hard drive space but no resiliency at all, meaning that if by any chance any of your hard drives malfunction, you are losing your data from that drive completely. Two-way mirror: This option will save your data if one of your drives fails but you need at least 2 drives and storage space will be limited since some of it will be a safe backup option for the case of a drive failure. However if one of your drives fails, you can replace it in a second and keep on working as nothing happened. Three-way mirror: This option similar to the previous one will offer you safe data-keeping from a hard drive failure. this option will save your data even if 2 hard drives malfunction but it will require having 5 of them connected in order to be able to choose this option. Parity: Maybe the most popular option among people who want to have 2 or 3 drives merged but do not want to lose too much space of the two-way mirror option. It offers some protection and it does not take so much space as two-way does, let us say it is a kind of win-win situation.

Conclusion

I personally go for simple and have an important backup on optical drives but only for reason I could use more space, know that this way is requiring from me to always have a backup in optical media and that I will need to restore all of it back if even one HDD fails which could take time. But if this way is ok with you, go for it, you will have more space to use.

Most scrollbars are hidden by default if they are not used in Windows 11. If you are not ok with this feature and want scrollbars to be always visible and available do not worry, turning them ON is very easy.

• Press ⊞ WINDOWS + I to open Windows settings
• Click on Accessibility in the sidebar
• Select Visual Effects
• Inside visual effects settings find Always show scrollbars and switch it ON

Windows 11 will save settings automatically and apply setting right away. Close settings and continue with work.

If an error suddenly pops up that states, “A problem prevented the document from being scanned” when you’re scanning a document in your computer, then you’ve come to the right place as this post will guide you on how exactly you can fix the problem. A lot of users have reported that they receive a two-layer error message when they try to scan their documents – the first screen throws an error message that says, “Error applying Settings to Driver” while the next error message states, “A problem prevented the document from being scanned”. As a result, the scanning won’t be completed which defeats the whole process of buying a printer with a scanner. As you can see the two error messages point to two different situations, while the other one is pointing at the driver, the second one points to the scanning problem. To resolve these issues, there are several suggestions you need to check such as follows:

Option 1 – Run the Printer Troubleshooter

One of the first basic troubleshooting you can perform to resolve the printer issue is running the Printer Troubleshooter. This built-in troubleshooter can detect and automatically fix the problem for you. To use it, follow these steps:

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Next, type “msdt.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 updating the Printer drivers

You might also want to try updating your printer drivers. All you have to do is locate the USB Composite Device. For complete details, follow the steps below.

• 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.

Note: You also have the option to download the latest version of your Printer from the manufacturer’s website.

Option 3 – Try to reset the settings of the Printer or reinstall it

If none of the two options given above worked, you can try to either reset the printer settings or reinstall the printer so that it can go back to its default state. However, if it doesn’t work, you can try to uninstall the printer as well as its related drivers. To do so, follow these steps:

• First, go to Settings > Devices > Printer and Scanners.
• After that, select the printer and select the Remove Device option.
• Once done, restart your computer and check again and see if the error is now fixed.

Option 4 – Try to modify the Registry settings for the Still Image devices

In case you don’t know, Windows has Registry settings for the Still Image devices like Scanners and Printers. And these devices have vendor-specific settings that if ended up getting corrupted or misconfigured then you will most likely encounter errors like “A problem prevented the document from being scanned”. Thus, to fix this error, you can try modifying the Still Image devices registry settings, and to do that, you need to follow the instructions below but before that, make sure that you create a System Restore Point first.

• Once you’ve created a System Restore point, tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box and type “Regedit” in the field, and then hit Enter to open the Registry Editor.
• Next, navigate to this registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlStillImage
• From there, right-click on the “StillImage” registry key and delete it.
• After that, exit the Registry Editor and restart your computer.
• Once your computer has restarted, Windows will recreate the settings of the Still Image devices back to their default settings.

If you have encountered the “YOU ARE NOT AUTHORIZED TO ACCESS THIS WEB PAGE AS PER THE DOT COMPLIANCE” error while trying to visit a website using either Firefox or Chrome browser, then read on as this post will guide you on how you can fix this error. Apart from this error message, you might also see an alternative message that says, “Web Page Blocked! The page you have requested has been blocked because the URL is banned as per the Government Rules”. When you get any of the aforementioned error messages when visiting a website, this means that it has been marked. It is mostly recommended to not access the site as it might be blocked for some illegal reason. However, if you are certain that the website is legitimate and safe and you believe that it has been blocked by accident, then you can check out the given methods in this post to unblock and access the blocked or restricted website. There isn’t actually a straightforward way to remove the restriction on the website or the DOT compliance. And it won’t matter what browser you use as you will still get the same error. Thus, the best way to go about this issue is for you to bypass the ISP restriction. But before you proceed, keep in mind that the ISPs (Internet Service Providers) can block any website when a request goes through their servers.

Option 1 – Try changing the DNS

If the request to access the website does not go through the ISP’s DNS server, you might have a chance in accessing it by changing your DNS settings. You can try using the Google Public DNS.

• 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.

Note: If you are using a third-party proxy service, you have to disable it.

Option 2 – Try to install a Proxy Extension

You could also try installing a Proxy extension or Proxy software as it could also help you access the website you are trying to open as it allows you to access the blocked websites by routing the request through their server. Aside from that, it can also hide it from ISPs to make them look like the content is coming from the proxy servers.

Option 3 – Try using a VPN connection

There are instances when the network that your computer is logged on might have blocked your access to the website you are trying to open and so to fix it, you can try to use a VPN connection. There is a lot of free VPN software out there but just make sure that you install a trusted one. Once you’ve connected using VPN, try to open the website again and see if you can now access it.

Option 4 – Check the Windows Host file

You can also try to cross check the Windows Hosts file to find out if the website you are trying to open has been blocked because if it is, then it’s no wonder why you’re getting the ERR CONNECTION TIMED OUT error in Chrome. There are instances when some third party application modifies the file and add some websites to the block lists. So if the website is indeed blocked, you need to remove it from the list.

Option 5 – Try to contact your ISP

If none of the options given above worked, then you can try to contact your ISP as there are times when DOT clears a website, the ISPs are still blocking it. Thus, it’s probably better if you reach out to them and ask them to unblock the website from their end.

Open Source Software is developed, tested, or improved through public collaboration and distributed with the idea that the must be shared with others, ensuring an open future collaboration. In other words, it is free software developed and maintained by public contribution. Many open-source projects have reached performance and usability like their paid alternatives, some have even surpassed them. Here we will explore open source alternatives to paid applications, you will find alternatives to paid ones that aim to do the same task.

1. LINUX - alternative to Windows or macOS

   When it comes to the operating system, Windows and macOS mostly dominate the home market, but if you go a little deeper into the OS world you will hear this talk about LINUX and its distributions. LINUX is an open-source operating system, it has many various distributions aimed at different types of users and they are also open source as well. Its security and account privileges, as well as complete control over it, make it one of the best-operating systems in the world, many servers that run websites today use LINUX as their choice of operating system mostly due to its superior security features. If LINUX is good enough for big web companies, I am sure it will be at least satisfactory to you as well. Get your LINUX distribution here.

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2. Thunderbird - alternative to outlook

   A great alternative to any mail client actually, connect all of your emails into thunderbird and use it as the centralized email client for all of your email needs. Thunderbird does not lack any features that its paid counterparts have and overall it is a great application worth installing. Grab it from here.

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3. VLC media player - media player able to play almost anything

   Are you looking for a great media player alternative to Windows media player or iTunes? Look no further, VLC is a lightweight media player that can play almost any file type, it is customizable and packed with features even its paid counterparts would envy. Its playback features are unmatched by other applications and once you try it, I am sure you will hardly go back from it. Give it a go and grab it from here.

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4. KeePass - password manager

   Keepass is a simple, user-friendly lightweight password generator and manager, it uses industry-standard AES encryption and two-factor authentication to keep the details of your accounts safe and secure. you can store him and the database on a USB stick for safekeeping making it a great one to use on a go, wherever you need it. Get it from this link.

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5. FileZilla - FTP client

   A lightweight and future-rich FTP solution. It supports remote file editing and resuming of lost transfers, overall great application which anyone who needs this type of software should not overlook. Download it from its official website.

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6. Audacity - alternative to Audition, Fl, apple logic pro,...

   Digital audio editor and recording computer software with some great features like recording audio from multiple sources, post-processing of all types of audio, including podcasts by adding effects such as normalization, trimming, and fading in and out. Audacity has a great following and it is well documented, easy to learn and use. Grab it from here.

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7. Shortcut - alternative to adobe premiere, avid media composer, DaVinci resolve

   The shortcut is a video editor application that demonstrates how long an open-source project can go if enough dedication and work are put into it, started as not so great and not so feature-packed in beginning, today it can easily contend with its paid counterparts with its non-destructive editing, color gradation, keyframing, etc. It is running and using FFmpeg, an open-source video framework that lets it open and works with virtually any video or audio format. Download it from here.

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8. Gimp - alternative to adobe photoshop

   This one has been around since 1996 and it is one of the best maintained open source applications. With its features like built-in support for layers, filters, and automatic photo enhancement. It also makes it easy to create new graphic design elements and you can really take things to the next level by downloading plug-ins created by the broader GIMP open source community. Gimp is the best pixel manipulation-free tool on the market and with the right skills, it can go side by side with adobe's flagship product. Check it out here.

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9. Inkscape - alternative to adobe illustrator, Corel draw

   What is Gimp for photoshop that is Inkscape for illustrator. This free open-source vector graphic tool does not fall behind with its tools in comparison to its paid counterparts and I would highly recommend it for anyone. Features like alpha blending, cloning on-point path manipulations can assure that you can create anything you want inside it. get your copy from here.

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10. Libre office - alternative to MS office

    Libre office is one of the most quality office suite there, it has spreadsheets, word processor, presentation app, calculation applications, database application, and diagrams. All these applications create and make one great suite that can open Microsoft Office files and even work with them naturally. Completely free and active in development there is no reason, not t use it in your daily routine. Go to its official website and download it for a test run.

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11. Amarok - alternative to iTunes

    Amarok is an audio player with a broad range of features like integration with multiple Web audio services, dynamic playlists, bookmarks, scripting, context view, and more. get it from here.

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12. PDF Creator - alternative to adobe acrobat

    As its paid counterpart PDF Creator lets you make PDF files from any application that could print. It works the same way as adobe acrobat and supports encryption and digital signature, it lacks in PDF forms a little but if that is not something that you need, it is a great alternative to acrobat and completely free. Download it from here.

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13. Blender - Alternative to Autodesk Maya, Autodesk 3dmax, foundry Modo, cinema4d,...

    3D modeling and animation software is very expensive. From the point of home user long it has been lost dream to have industry quality 3D modeling, animation, and rendering application for an affordable price. Blender has made that dream a possibility, completely free and open-source this package offers everything that its paid counterparts offer, some could even argue that since its open-source nature and availability of full code it offers even more. Why you are still here? Go get it here.

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14. Bluefish - alternative to Adobe Dreamweaver

    When it comes to web editing and code editing applications, notepad ++ seems like a person go-to application, but if you prefer a more professional suited IDE for web development check out Bluefish, auto-filling, code syntax, and constant development make sure that this application will not go away soon and it is worth investing your time in it. Get it from here.

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15. ClamWin - alternative to Kaspersky, BItdefender, Norton

    This antivirus has over 600000 users and active database updates also feature a full email scanner, scanning scheduler, and File Explorer integration. It is far better than other freeware alternatives and if you are looking for a free antivirus option look no further, ClamWin is here to stay. Grab it from here.

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16. Natron - alternative to adobe aftereffects, foundry nuke

    Full-featured node-based composition and effects suite. Natron is a powerful Digital Compositor that can handle all of your 2D/2.5D needs. Its robust OIIO file formats and OpenFX architecture is what makes Natron the most flexible open-source compositor for the visual effects community. Its interface and functionally are the same across all platforms such as macOS, Linux, and Windows. Natron has a powerful keying, roto/roto paint, 2D tracking tools that are staple for all current film production project that requires visual effects. Get natron from here.

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17. Clonezilla - alternative to Norton Ghost

    When it comes to cloning hard drives usually there is only one application, Norton ghost. Clonezilla tends to change that by offering the same usability as the ghost. Grab your copy from here.

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18. FreeCAD - alternative to Autodesk AutoCAD

    Autodesk AutoCAD has years of development and dedication of its team behind it to keep it as the best CAD application on the market and it shows. However, if you are not really a hardcore professional who needs all of AutoCAD features and can live without some automation inside it FreeCAD is one of the best free open source options, it will certainly get the job done and with its dynamic simulation and analysis, it is guaranteed that you can achieve same results as in AutoCAD with little more time investment. Get if here.

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19. Octave - alternative to MATLAB

    Octave is the best open-source educational tool used for numerical computation with an interactive environment. The tool features powerful mathematics-oriented syntax with built-in plotting and visualization tools and also Octave syntax is largely compatible with Matlab. Get your copy from here.

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20. Godot - alternative to Unity3D, Unreal

    Godot is a lightweight feature-packed node-based game development engine, completely open-source and free to use for commercial projects. The engine has reached 3.2 version and it is more and more adopted by various independent game makers across the globe, recently there are to of video tutorials and documentation to get you up and running and its open-source nature lets you modify the engine itself in any way that suits and benefits you. Also, any project made with Godot is completely yours, there are no hidden fees or anything similar. Download it from here.

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Conclusion

That's it, my pick for 20 open source alternatives which I believe you should at least try and if you end up with at least one, you have saved some hard-earned money. And always remember:

1. Open-source programs give you complete freedom without any shady terms and conditions.
2. Open-source software code is readily available for anyone who wants it, so anyone can use it, share it, modify it for their own needs, and study it.
3. No spying eyes, no tracking, and no telemetry
4. In some cases, open-source tools offer features or performance benefits that surpass their commercial counterparts.
5. No hidden charges, completely free.

If you would like to read more helpful articles and tips about various software and hardware visit errortools.com daily.

Error Code 0xc004fc03 – What is it?

Error code 0xc004fc03 occurs when Windows users fail to activate their Windows operating system due to a networking problem. The error code’s common symptoms include the following:

• Inability to activate Windows 10 operating system
• Message box with error code 0xc004fc03

Solution

Error Causes

Error code 0xc004fc03 in Windows 10 usually occurs due to issues related to a Windows user’s network. Your computer may be having problems connecting to the Internet or your firewall may be blocking or interrupting your device’s ability to activate Windows 10. In some cases, users may simply need to wait a day or two to reattempt to activate their system using a valid product key, as there may be an issue with the Windows activation servers.  Failure to promptly fix this error code might result in other Windows 10 error messages, such as error code 0xc004f034.

Further Information and Manual Repair

To rectify the error code, Windows 10 users will need to perform manual repair procedures that fix the underlying problems causing error code 0xc004fc03. These procedures may include reconnecting to one’s network, checking your firewall settings, or activating your Windows operating system via phone. The manual repair methods are simple and do not require technical knowledge of the Windows operating system. If your attempts at manually repairing this error code fail, however, you may need to try a few other procedures.

Method One: Verify Internet Connection

To check your Internet connection, you’ll need to access the Network & Internet tab in Windows 10. Follow the instructions below to access this tab and fix Internet connectivity issues if they are preventing you from activating Windows on your machine.

• Step one: Click the Start button and select Settings
• Step two: Select Network & Internet
• Step three: Click the Status section of the Network & Internet tab

If your status shows that you are not connected to a network, you will need to fix your connection. Simply use the Network Troubleshooter to troubleshoot your connection. You will be able to activate your copy of Windows once your connectivity issues are resolved.

If, however, the problem persists and error code 0xc004fc03 occurs during the activation process, this simply means that the existence of the error code is not due to connectivity or networking problems. In such a case, move to the next manual repair method listed below and follow the exact instructions given.

Method Two: Check Firewall Settings

Windows Firewall protects your PC from hackers, worms, and other malicious programs. However, in some cases, it may result in error codes like error code 0xc004fc03. If your firewall is interfering with the Windows 10 activation, you’ll be able to rectify the problem by simply adjusting your settings. Follow the steps below to check – and adjust if necessary – your Windows Firewall settings.

• Step one: Click search bar and type firewall
• Step two: Select Windows Firewall
• Step three: Select Turn Windows Firewall on or off

In some cases, Windows users may not be able to adjust settings within the Windows Firewall tab, as your firewall settings may be controlled by a third party antivirus software. If this is the case, open the antivirus software and turn off the firewall if the software does not prevent you from making such changes to its settings.

Note, however, that you will need to readjust the settings as soon as you activate your version of Windows 10. This is due to the fact that turning off your firewall settings permanently may lead to exposure to worms and other malicious programs.

Method Three: Activate Windows by Phone

Activation of Windows via phone is another option for individuals experiencing error code 0xc004fc03. The activate by phone option in the Update & Security tab will be available once you fail to activate Windows 10. To complete this manual repair method, follow the steps below.

• Step one: Select Settings
• Step two: Click Update & security
• Step three: Select Activate by phone
• Step four: Follow the instructions provided thereafter.

This is one of the most effective ways to fix error code 0xc004fc03. If the issue persists, however, you can proceed to the last resort.

Method Four: Download an Automated Tool

If you wish to always have at your disposal a utility tool to fix these Windows 8 and other related issues when they do arise, download and install a powerful automated tool.

New Apple's upscaling technology called MetalFX will place iOS and macOS devices back into the gaming world. Apple had great games back in the old days and some all-time hits like the prince of Persia have been made first for apple but along the way, it just lost it.

Same as NVIDIA's DLSS and Intel's XeSS systems, Apple MetalFX also uses AI algorithms to upscale the resolution of output game frames. So, for example, the GPU inside your MAC might render the game at 1080p, but through MetalFX and AI upscaling it will look like a 4K image but have a good frame rate since it is rendered in base resolution.

The ability to make AI strike a good balance between performance and image quality is a key to technology in today's modern gaming and having this technology will help developers a ton to be able to achieve great results on Apple hardware.

The First MetalFX Games

So far three official games that will use this technology and be released natively for Appl hardware are Resident Evil 8 Village, GRID legends, and No Man's Sky. All three games have been confirmed and Resident Evil 8 Village is already sent for review people are impressed since the game can run smoothly on all Apple devices, even ones with an M1 CPU.

Apple is back into gaming

When you say Apple gaming is probably the last thing that comes to your mind but truth be told Apple makes more money from games than Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony combined. Also, Apple itself was a big player once regarding computer games as well, Myst and Prince of Persia are games that were made and have been released for Apple first. Bungie was also founded by Apple developers and Halo was originally announced as a Mac game.

Apple has been trying and pushing gaming on its platform since it kind of died down. Today all Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft controllers work without any issues with all Apple products. Apple also has its own gaming subscription service, Apple Arcade, and its Apple TV is packed with GPU that can rival Xbox ones.

MetalFX API ties and brings it all together, it is designed to get the most performance from the hardware by minimizing overhead.

Now, computers and laptops do not hold any large numbers if we look at the user base, and that could deter developers but if we look at iPad and iPhone things are different there, much different. How same CPU power these devices and how MetalFX is available across all products it is clear that there is a market for games there. No Man's Sky is coming to iPad using these technologies and bringing full computer experience to tablets.

One of the most useful utilities on a Windows 10 computer is the Windows File Explorer. It is undeniably one of the File Managers out there full of features on all the platforms. However, it is not without its issues and one of the most common ones most users encounter is when you are trying to open a folder or a location on File Explorer and it displays a message saying, “Working on it…” as it tries to load the content of that location or folder. This kind of issue mainly occurs to computers that run on an HDD although that doesn’t mean that it can’t happen to other computers that run an SDD. And so if the File Explorer on your Windows 10 computer keeps getting stuck on the “Working on it…” message along with a green animation bar moving very slowly while loading the contents of the folder, then it’s best if you follow the options given below to resolve this problem.

Option 1 – Try deleting the contents of the Automatic Destinations folder

• Tap the Win + R keys on your keyboard to open the Run utility.
• And then type “%AppData%MicrosoftWindowsRecentAutomaticDestinations” and hit Enter to open this location.
• From there, select all the files and tap the Shift + Delete key combination.
• After that, you will get a prompt that will ask you if you want to delete all the files permanently, just click on Yes. This will delete all the Quick Access cache.
• Now check if you can now open a folder or a location without the “Working on it…” message.

Option 2 – Try to rebuild the Search Index

• First, open the Indexing Options using the Search bar.
• Next, click on the appropriate listing, e.g. Users folder.
• After that, click on the Advanced button. This will open a mini-sized window and from there, go to the Index Settings tab.
• Then click on the “Rebuild” option under the Troubleshooting section.
• Now click on OK after the rebuilding is completed. This should rebuild the search index for all the files and thus, fix the File Explorer stuck on the “Working on it…” message.

Option 3 – Try to optimize the folder for General Items

You might also want to try optimizing the folder for General Items as it can help the File Explorer to load the contents faster.

• Just right click on the folder that takes time to load the contents in it and is showing the “Working on it…” message.
• After that, click on Properties to open the Properties mini window.
• From there, go to the Customize tab and click on the drop-down menu to “Optimize this folder for” under the “What kind of folder do you want?” section and then select General Items.
• Then check the checkbox with a label that says, “Also apply this template to all subfolders” and click on the OK button to save the changes.
• Restart File Explorer and check if the problem is now fixed or not.

Option 4 – Try performing a System Restore

Running System Restore can also help you resolve whatever issue that’s causing the “Working on it…” message. You can do this option either by booting into Safe Mode or in System Restore. If you are already in the Advanced Startup Options, just directly select System Restore and proceed with the next steps. And if you have just booted your PC into Safe Mode, refer to the steps below.

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• After that, type in “sysdm.cpl” in the field and tap Enter.
• Next, go to the System Protection tab then click the System Restore button. This will open a new window where you have to select your preferred System Restore point.
• After that, follow the on-screen instructions to finish the process and then restart your computer and check if the problem is fixed or not.