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Fix Operating System Loader has no signature

Booting up your Windows 10 computer does not always go smoothly as it is a complex process and you may encounter some issues along the way. There are various files that get loaded and executed while the Windows 10 operating system is loaded. You might encounter a page that displays the following error message:

“Operating System Loader has no signature. Incompatible with SecureBoot. All bootable devices failed Secure Boot verification.”

There are two main causes for this error – it could be that your computer is using a bad unauthentic Boot Image File or the Windows operating system is installed in the BIOS Mode. To fix this error, you can try performing a “cold” boot or reset the BIOS or reset your Windows 10 computer.

Option 1 – Try to perform a Cold Boot

To perform a cold boot, all you have to do is press and hold the power button of your CPU until it goes off. Once it’s off, boot your computer normally and then check if the problem is now fixed.

Option 2 – Try resetting the BIOS

If performing a cold boot did nothing to fix the problem, you can try to reset the BIOS instead.

  • Start your computer and tap the F10 key during the booting process to enter the BIOS. If it does not work, you can try tapping the F1 or F2 key as well as the Del key.
  • Once you’re already in the BIOS, tap the F9 key to get the prompt to RestoreLoad default configuration now for the BIOS.
  • Next, click on Yes and then follow the next on-screen instructions that appear to set the BIOS back to its default settings.
  • Once you’re done restoring the default settings of the BIOS, restart your computer and then check if it now boots properly.

Option 3 – Try to change the Boot Sequence

You could also try to change the Boot Sequence to fix the error. To change the Boot Sequence, follow these steps:

  • Open Windows Settings and then go to Update & Security > Recovery Advanced Startup and then click on Restart Now.
  • Once your computer has restarted, you should see the Advanced Options.
  • Next, select Troubleshoot > Advanced Options. This will offer another set of options and from there, select the UEFI Firmware Settings and it will let your restart your computer.
  • After the restart, it will take you to the Firmware settings and from there, switch to the Boot tab where you’ll see the “Boot Priority” which contains the list of the connected hard drive, CD/DVD, ROM, and USB drive.
  • Use the arrow keys on your keyboard to change the boot sequence.
  • Once you’re done, save and exit.

Option 4 – Reset your computer

  • Tap the Win key or click on the Start button located in the Taskbar.
  • Then click on the Power button at the bottom right portion of the screen.
  • Next, press and hold the Shift key on your keyboard and then click on Restart. This will restart your Pc into the Advanced Startup options.

Note: Once you have access to the Advanced Startup options, you have to go to the setting which allows you to Reset your Windows 10 PC. All you have to do is select Troubleshoot > Reset this PC to reach the following screen

  • Afterward, select either the “Keep my files” option and then proceed to the next on-screen instructions that follow to reset your Windows 10 computer without losing your files.

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Google docs crush with repeating a word

A newfound bug in Google docs is causing it to crush and upon reopening it will crush again making it very difficult to re-access your document. The bug is manifested when a series of the same word is typed into a document and Show grammar suggestion is turned on.

google doc bug

How was it found

A Google Docs user, Pat Needham brought up the issue on Google Docs Editors Help forum.

"I've only tried in Google Chrome, with documents from three separate Google accounts (personal, G Suite Basic, and work one which might be enterprise). All three experience this same issue".

"It's case-sensitive. So trying with 'and. and. And. and. And.' doesn't cause it to crash."

While Needham publicly reported the bug, it appears that the issue was discovered by Eliza Callahan who was writing a poem novel for her novel using Google Docs.

Needham's findings have also been confirmed by other users running Firefox 99.0.1

Another user, Sergii Dymchenko, said strings like "But. But. But. But. But." triggered the same response. Some also noticed putting any of the terms like "Also, Therefore, And, Anyway, But, Who, Why, Besides, However," in the same format achieved the outcome.

A YCombinator HackerNews reader suspected the cause to be the "Show grammar suggestion" option in Google Docs.

A Google spokesperson confirmed the presence of the issue adding, "we're aware of this issue and the team is working on a fix."

How to recover your document

First thing first, turn off Show grammar suggestions so you do not run into issue by accident. In order to turn it off go to Tools and then into Spelling and grammar and untick Show grammar suggestions.

Now, if you already have a document that has been crushed, fear not because there is a workaround to access it. For some strange reason this bug does not manifest on Google Docs mobile app, so you can open the crushed document in the mobile app, delete words that have caused the bug and reopen the document on your desktop.

Until Google comes up with the solution this is currently the only way to address the issue.

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Firefox shows wrong or no bookmark favicon
If you have just updated your Mozilla Firefox browser as of late and you noticed that it’s showing wrong or no bookmark favicon at all, then read on as this post will provide you with potential solutions that can help you resolve the problem. The basic thing you can do to fix it is to either refresh or reset the cache for favicon and then force restart the favicon service. However, if you’ve already tried this and it didn’t work, then there are still other options you can try. You can try to rebuild the configuration file for the favicon or restart the favicon service. You could also try disabling all the add-ons on your browser or scan your computer for adware. For more details, refer to each one of the options laid out below.

Option 1 – Try to rebuild the favicon configuration file

Mozilla Firefox actually creates a file each time you bookmark a webpage and this is called “favicons.SQLite”. This file is located on your computer and for you to fix the issue in Firefox, you need to rebuild this file and in order to do that, follow these steps:
  • First, you need to unhide the hidden files in your computer by enabling the “Show hidden files” option so that you’ll be able to see the hidden files in your computer.
  • After that, navigate to this path: C:Usersyour_usernameAppDataLocalMozillaFirefoxProfilesyour_profile_name
  • From there, you need to find the “favicons.SQLite” file and once you found it, delete it.
  • Next, you have to open the Firefox browser and create the same favicon configuration file which should be automatically created.
  • Now check if you can now see bookmark favicons on your Firefox browser or not.

Option 2 – Try to restart the favicon service

If the first option didn’t work, you can try to restart the favicon service instead. Restarting the favicon service can help if you do not see the correct bookmark favicon on your Firefox browser. To restart this service, follow the steps below.
  • You need to first open the Firefox browser and in the address bar, type “about:config” and tap Enter.
  • After that, you will see a page that displays a warning message. On that page, you need to click the “I accept the risk!” button to proceed.
  • Next, using the search box on the page, look for the “devtools.chrome.enabled” option. The value for this option should be set to “False” by default.
  • Double click on this option to set its value to “True”.
  • Once done, go to Menu > Web Developer > Browser Console or you could also tap the Ctrl + Shift + J keys, alternatively.
  • Afterwards, paste this command in the pop-up window that appears and then tap the Enter button: var fS = Components.classes["@mozilla.org/browser/favicon-service;1"] .getService(Components.interfaces.nsIFaviconService); fS.expireAllFavicons();
  • Once you’re done, restart your Firefox browser to check if it fixes the problem or not.

Option 3 – Try to disable all the add-ons in Firefox

The next option you can try to fix the problem is to disable all the installed add-ons in Firefox. More often than not, add-ons can cause issues in the browser so it is possible that one of the add-ons in Firefox is causing it to show incorrect or no bookmark favicon. To resolve this problem, you have to disable all the add-ons by opening Firefox and then going to Menu > Add-ons or you could also tap the Ctrl + Shift + A keys. After that, go to the Extensions section and click on the respective Disable buttons for each one of the add-ons. Once done, restart your computer and check if you can now see the bookmark favicons or not.

Option 4 – Try scanning your computer using Windows Defender

It is possible that the bookmark favicon problem is caused by some adware in the Firefox browser so you have to scan your computer to check by using security programs like Windows Defender.
  • Tap the Win + I keys to open Update & Security.
  • Then click on the Windows Security option and open Windows Defender Security Center.
  • Next, click on Virus & threat protection > Run a new advanced scan.
  • Now make sure that Full Scan is selected from the menu and then click the Scan Now button to get started.
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How to Fix Windows 10 Error 0x8007000b

Error Code 0x8007000b - What is it?

Error Code 0x8007000b has appeared on Windows operating systems from Windows 10 all the way back to Windows XP. In most cases, it occurs when there is a problem within the transaction log for the filing system within Windows.

Common symptoms include:

  • Inability to install one or more updates
  • Message regarding Windows Update having an unknown error

There are several different ways that you can attempt to resolve the problems that cause Error Code 0x800700b to appear on your operating system. Several of these methods are pretty easy for basic users, but others require some comfort and knowledge in working with advanced tools on your operating system.

If the methods below do not completely resolve the appearance of Error Code 0x800700b on your Windows operating system or if you are not confident in your ability to undertake these steps on your own, you may need to get in touch with a qualified computer repair professional to assist you with the error resolution process. If this error message is not resolved, you could expose your computer to other error codes such as error code 80070103.

Solution

Restoro box imageError Causes

The primary cause for Error Code 0x800700b is that there is an issue or corrupt entry in the transaction log for the file system within Windows. This makes it impossible for Windows to complete the Windows Update process. Although the error message states that an unknown error has been encountered, it is usually fairly simple to resolve the appearance of faulty or corrupt entries in the transaction log if you follow the steps below to complete.

Further Information and Manual Repair

There are several ways that you can attempt to resolve Error Code 0x800700b manually on your Windows operating system. At least one of these methods requires some advanced knowledge or skill in using the command prompt, so if you aren’t confident in your ability to follow these steps through to completion, be sure to get in touch with a qualified computer repair technician who can help you to resolve the error.

Here are the top three methods that can be used to resolve Error Code 0x800700b on your machine:

Method One:  Reset Your Transaction Log for the File System in Windows

To clear and reset the entries in your transaction log, there are a few simple steps that you should follow:

  • Step One: Open up the Start menu and go into the search bar. When it opens up, type in “cmd”.
  • Step Two: Right-click on the icon for the Command Prompt that opens up and selects the option to run it as an administrator.
  • Step Three: In the menu that appears, enter in this command:  “fsutil resource setautoreset true C:/
  • Step Four: Reboot your computer before re-attempting the download and install of the necessary update.

Method Two:  Run the System Update Readiness Tool

An alternative method to resolving Error Code 0x800700b is to open and run the System Update Readiness Tool on your machine. This program runs a scan on your Windows operating system to determine whether it is ready for updates, attempting to resolve any errors it encounters along the way.

After you have scanned and run this tool, you should always take the time to restart your computer before attempting to perform the update process, so that any changes made can be successfully applied to your computer.

Method Three:  Run the System File Checker Tool on Your Computer

The System File Checker is a tool for Windows that runs a basic scan for problem files and attempts to resolve them. To run this tool, follow these steps:

  • Step One: From the Start menu, open up the search box, and type in “cmd,” selecting the option to run the command prompt as an administrator.
  • Step Two: Type in this command and run it:  “sfc /scannow

This tool should tell you what the specific issues are so that you can resolve them. It may give you a message that the action couldn’t be performed, that corrupt files were fixed, or that corrupt files were encountered, but could not be fixed automatically.

Method Four: 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.
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Reddit released the application in MS store
Reddit appReddit is one of the most popular websites in the world and how Microsoft is opening doors to everyone in its new store Reddit took a logical step and made a Progressive web application and placed it in it. Being a Progressive web app makes it more familiar and feels like a home experience using it for a lot of Reddit users. Reddit itself has a large community and active topics discussions all the time about anything. Bringing it to Windows as an application is, in my opinion, a great move since as an application it is independent, more light-weighted, and offering some other advantages specifically tied to being a standalone windows application. Everyone familiar with and using the Reddit website will feel right at home in this app and you can start using it right away.
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DigiSmirkz Removal Tutorial For Windows

DigiSmirkz is a Browser Extension by Mindspark Inc. This extension offers users the ability to enrich their emails or chats with tons of new emojis. When installed it will replace your default new tab page with a variety of search.myway.com, hosted at hp.myway.com. This search engine uses information about you, collected by the extension to display unwanted targeted ads by Mindspark Partners and Ad Networks.

While surfing the internet with this extension installed and enabled, you will see additional pop-up ads, inserted ads into search results and sponsored content on web pages.

Several anti-virus applications have marked this extension as a Browser Hijacker and is therefore recommended to be removed from the Computer.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijackers (sometimes referred to as hijackware) are a kind of malicious software that modifies web browser settings without the computer owner’s knowledge or consent. These hijacks appear to be rising at an alarming rate worldwide, and it could be really nefarious and often harmful too. Browser hijacker malware is created for a variety of reasons. Typically, hijackers will force hits to sites of their choice either to get more traffic generating higher ad earnings or to obtain a commission for every user visiting there. Although it may seem harmless, these tools were created by vicious people who always look to take advantage of you, so that they can easily make money from your naive and distraction. They not only ruin your internet browsers, but browser hijackers can even modify the computer registry, making your PC vulnerable to other types of attacks.

Major signs that an internet browser has been hijacked

There are many symptoms that indicate your browser is highjacked: 1. your homepage is reset to some unfamiliar webpage 2. your internet browser is constantly being redirected to porn websites 3. the default web engine and/or the default browser settings are modified 4. unsolicited new toolbars are added to your web browser 5. your internet browser will display constant pop-up windows 6. your web browser starts running slowly or presents frequent errors 7. you can’t navigate to particular webpages, like security software-related websites.

How they get into your PC

Browser hijackers can enter a PC by some means or other, for example via file sharing, downloads, and e-mail too. They may also come from any BHO, extension, add-on, toolbar or plug-in with malicious purpose. A browser hijacker could also be installed as a part of freeware, shareware, demoware and fake programs. Some of the most popular hijackers are DigiSmirkz, Conduit Search, Babylon Toolbar, Sweet Page, OneWebSearch, and CoolWebSearch. Browser hijackers can interrupt the user’s web surfing experience severely, track the websites frequented by users and steal private information, cause difficulty in connecting to the web, and eventually create stability issues, causing applications and system to crash.

How you can fix a browser hijack

Certain hijackers could be removed simply by uninstalling the related freeware or add-ons through the Add or Remove Programs in the Windows control panel. But, many browser hijackers are hard to get rid of manually. Irrespective of how much you attempt to get rid of it, it may keep returning over and over again. You should think of undertaking manual repairs only if you are a tech-savvy person, as there are possible risks associated with tinkering around with the computer registry and HOSTS file. Industry experts always suggest users remove any malicious software including browser hijacker by using an automatic malware removal tool, which is better, safer, and faster than the manual removal method. To remove any type of browser hijacker from your system, you can download this particular top-notch malware removal software – SafeBytes Anti-Malware.

Virus Blocking Internet And All Antivirus Software? Do This!

Practically all malware is bad and the degree of the damage will vary greatly with regards to the type of infection. Certain malware types alter internet browser settings by adding a proxy server or change the PC’s DNS configurations. When this happens, you will be unable to visit some or all sites, and thus not able to download or install the necessary security software to clear out the computer virus. If you are reading this article, chances are you’re stuck with a malware infection which is preventing you to download and/or install Safebytes Anti-Malware program on your system. Follow the instructions below to get rid of malware by alternate ways.

Make use of Safe Mode to resolve the issue

If any malware is set to load immediately when Windows starts, stepping into safe mode may block this attempt. Since only the bare minimum programs and services start-up in Safe Mode, there are rarely any reasons for issues to happen. Below are the steps you should follow to take out viruses in Safemode. 1) Tap the F8 key repeatedly as soon as your system boots, however, before the big Windows logo or black screen with white texts appears. This should bring up the Advanced Boot Options menu. 2) Use the arrow keys to choose Safe Mode with Networking and press ENTER. 3) When you are into this mode, you will have an internet connection once again. Now, get the malware removal software you want by utilizing the browser. To install the software, follow the guidelines in the installation wizard. 4) Once the software is installed, let the scan run to eliminate viruses and other malware automatically.

Switch to an alternative browser

Malicious program code might exploit vulnerabilities in a specific internet browser and block access to all anti-virus software sites. The most effective solution to avoid this problem is to choose a web browser that is renowned for their security measures. Firefox has built-in Malware and Phishing Protection to keep you safe online.

Run anti-virus from a pen drive

Another solution is to create a portable anti-malware program on your USB stick. Adopt these measures to run the anti-malware on the affected computer. 1) Use another virus-free PC to download Safebytes Anti-Malware. 2) Mount the USB drive on the same system. 3) Run the setup program by double-clicking the executable file of the downloaded software, which has an .exe file format. 4) Select USB flash drive as the location when the wizard asks you where you want to install the application. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation process. 5) Transfer the USB drive from the clean PC to the infected computer. 6) Run the Safebytes Anti-malware directly from the USB drive by double-clicking the icon. 7) Click the “Scan” button to run a full system scan and remove viruses automatically.

Protect Your Computer Against Malware and Viruses With SafeBytes Anti-Malware

If you are looking to purchase anti-malware for your computer system, there are lots of brands and packages for you to consider. Some of them are great while some are scamware applications that pretend as legitimate anti-malware software waiting around to wreak havoc on the computer. You need to select a company that creates industry-best anti-malware and it has got a reputation as reliable. On the list of highly recommended software programs is SafeBytes Anti-Malware. SafeBytes has a good track record of excellent service, and clients are very happy with it. SafeBytes anti-malware is a trustworthy software that not only secures your computer system completely but is also very user-friendly for people of all ability levels. Through its cutting-edge technology, this software protects your PC against infections brought on by various kinds of malware and similar internet threats, including spyware, adware, trojans, worms, computer viruses, keyloggers, potentially unwanted program (PUPs), and ransomware.

There are many wonderful features you will get with this particular security product. These are some of the highlighted features included in the product.

World-class AntiMalware Protection: This deep-cleaning antimalware application goes much deeper than most antivirus tools to clean out your personal computer. Its critically acclaimed virus engine detects and disables hard to remove malware that conceals deep inside your personal computer. Live Protection: SafeBytes provides real-time active checking and protection against all of known viruses and malware. This utility will always monitor your PC for any suspicious activity and updates itself regularly to keep current with the latest threats. Web Protection: Safebytes allots all sites a unique safety rating that helps you to have an idea of whether the webpage you are going to visit is safe to view or known to be a phishing site. Faster Scanning: SafeBytes’s very fast malware scanning engine reduces scan times and extends battery life. Simultaneously, it will effectively detect and remove infected files or any online threat. Low CPU and RAM Usage: SafeBytes gives you total protection from internet threats at a fraction of the CPU load because of its advanced detection engine and algorithms. Fantastic Tech Support Team: You can obtain absolutely free 24/7 technical assistance from their computer experts on any product queries or PC security issues. SafeBytes will keep your computer safe from latest malware threats automatically with hardly any input needed from you again. You now may realize that this particular tool does more than just scan and eliminate threats from your PC. You will get the very best all-around protection for the money you spend on SafeBytes Anti-Malware subscription, there is no doubt about it.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you want to do the removal of DigiSmirkz manually rather than employing an automated software tool, you can follow these simple steps: Go to the Windows Control Panel, click on the “Add or Remove Programs” and there, select the offending program to remove. In case of suspicious versions of web browser extensions, you can actually remove it through your browser’s extension manager. You may also want to reset your home page and search engine providers, and also clear your web browser cache and cookies. In order to ensure complete removal, manually examine your hard drive and registry for all of the following and remove or reset the values accordingly. Please note that only advanced computer users should try to manually edit the registry because removing any single critical system file leads to a serious problem or perhaps a computer crash. Moreover, certain malware keeps replicating which makes it tough to remove. Doing this malware-removal process in Safe Mode is suggested.
Files: %UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\fhibenoomgnppdhbjaephephkddnokof %LOCALAPPDATA%\DigiSmirkzTooltab Registry: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\DigiSmirkz HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\DigiSmirkz HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\LowRegistry\DOMStorage\digismirkz.dl.myway.com HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\DOMStorage\digismirkz.dl.myway.com HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\[APPLICATION]\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall..Uninstaller DigiSmirkzTooltab Uninstall Internet Explorer
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How to Fix Error 0x8024a206 in Windows
When you upgrade or update your Windows 10 computer but you suddenly got Error 0x8024a206 while trying to install the updates, it is due to a rouge update that was downloaded or because of some corrupted component in Windows. In case you don’t know, any file downloaded by Windows is verified for its integrity and if the files don’t pass the integrity test, then Error 0x8024a206 will most likely pop up during the Windows update or upgrade.

Option 1 – Reset the Windows Update components to the default

You have to stop a couple of services such as BITS, Cryptographic, MSI Installer, and Windows Update Services. And to do that, you need to flush the contents in the SoftwareDistribution folder. The Software Distribution folder in the Windows operating system is a folder that can be found in the Windows directory and is used to store files temporarily which might be required to install the Windows Update on your PC. Thus, it is required by the Windows Update and maintained by WUAgent. Aside from that, it also contains all the Windows Update History files and once you delete them, you will most likely lose the Update history. As a result, the next time you run the Windows Update, it may result in a longer detection time.
  • Open the WinX Menu.
  • From there, open Command Prompt as admin.
  • Then type in the following command – don’t forget to hit Enter right after typing each one of them.
net stop wuauserv net start cryptSvc net start bits net start msiserver
  • After entering these commands, it will stop the Windows Update Service, Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS), Cryptographic, and the MSI Installer
  • Next, go to the C:/Windows/SoftwareDistribution folder and get rid of all the folders and files thereby tapping the Ctrl + A keys to select them all and then click on Delete. Note that if the files are in use, you won’t be able to delete them.
After resetting the SoftwareDistribution folder, you need to reset the Catroot2 folder to restart the services you just stopped. To do that, follow these steps:
  • Type each one of the following commands.
net start wuauserv net start cryptSvc net start bits net start msiserver
  • After that, exit Command Prompt and restart your computer, and then try to run Windows Update once more.

Option 2 – Re-register DLLs related to Windows Update

DLL files, also known as Dynamic Link Library, are parts of applications that are separated from the core program so that they can be used again as well as independently be updated. The DLL files are loaded into memory and then used. Note that they have to be registered with Windows so they can be loaded. So if they’re not, the main program will fail. And this is the same with the DLL files related to the Windows Update. Thus, you need to register them in order to resolve Error 0x8024a206.
  • In the Cortana search box, type “command prompt”.
  • From the search results that appear, right-click on Command Prompt and select the “Run as administrator” option.
  • After that execute the commands listed below one after the other and don’t forget to hit Enter right after you key in each one of them.
    • regsvr32 JSCRIPT.DLL
    • regsvr32 MSXML3.DLL
    • regsvr32 WUPS2.DLL
    • regsvr32 WUPS.DLL
    • regsvr32 WUAUENG.DLL
    • regsvr32 WUAPI.DLL
    • regsvr32 WUCLTUX.DLL
    • regsvr32 WUWEBV.DLL
Note: You also have the option to run the commands together via a batch file. Simply create a batch file by copying all the commands in a notepad and then save it as “WURegisterDLL.bat”. After that, run the batch file and it will execute the commands all at the same time. Then you have to restart your computer and see if it has fixed the Error 0x8024a206.

Option 3 – Run the System File Checker

The SFC or System File Checker scan could detect and automatically repair damaged system files that could be causing the Error 0x8024a206. SFC is a built-in command utility that helps in restoring corrupted files as well as missing files. It replaces bad and corrupted system files to good system files. To run the SFC command, follow the steps given below.
  • Tap Win + R to launch Run.
  • Type in cmd in the field and tap Enter.
  • After opening Command Prompt, type in sfc /scannow and hit Enter.
The command will start a system scan which will take a few whiles before it finishes. Once it’s done, you could get the following results:
  1. Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.
  2. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them.
  3. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them.

Option 4 – Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter

Running the built-in Windows Update troubleshooter could also help you resolve the Windows Update Error 0x8024a206. To run it, go to Settings and then select Troubleshoot from the options. From there, click on Windows Update and then click the “Run the troubleshooter” button. After that, follow the next on-screen instructions and you should be good to go.
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Drive letter missing in Windows File Explorer
There are times when you might notice that the Drive letter from the File Explorer is missing, right after you install an update in your Windows 10 computer. So if you are facing this issue right now, then you’ve come to the right place as this post will guide you on what to do to fix it. In case you don’t know, a drive letter represents a single alphabetic character which is through A-Z typically. This could be assigned to a physical disk partition, floppy disk drive or the removal device/ CD-ROM/ mapping network drive in your PC. In most cases, the drive letter “C:” is assigned to the first disk partition where the running Windows is installed. Thus, if the assigned letter is missing from either the Disk Management or the Windows File Explorer, it could result in inconveniences or will leave the partition inaccessible. To fix this problem, you can try to show the missing drive letters manually or make sure that the drive has a drive letter assigned in the Disk Management as well as assign the letter using a tweak in the Windows Registry. For more details, refer to the options provided below.

Option 1 – Try to show the missing drive letters manually

  • Open the Folder Options from the Start Search and go to the View tab,
  • Next, scroll down on the list of given options until you see the “Show drive letters” option and then check the box that’s marked against this option.
  • After that, click on the Apply and OK buttons and then go back to the “This PC” window. You should now see the drive letters

Option 2 – Make sure that the drive has a drive letter assigned in Disk Management

As you know, every drive is assigned a drive letter in Disk Management. However, if it goes missing, you can still get it back through Disk Management. To do so, follow the steps below.
  • Open Disk Management and from there, right-click on the menu of a partition or volume and you should see a function named “Change Drive Letter and Paths”.
Note: This function allows you to add the drive letter, remove the drive letter and change the drive letter. If the last option, namely, “Remove”, is selected and applied, the letter of the drive will be removed and won’t appear in Disk Management. Thus, this could be one of the reasons why a drive letter is missing.
  • You need to click on “Add” to assign a letter to the selected drive in order to reverse the change. Note that you must assign the drive with the original letter because if not, the programs that rely on the original letter might not work as expected.
  • If the original letter is already taken by a new drive, you need to change the letter of that new drive to another available letter.
  • Then allocate the released letter of the targeted drive.

Option 3 – Try assigning the letter using a Registry tweak

The next thing you can do to fix the problem is to assign the letter using a tweak in the Windows Registry but before you do that, make sure that you create a System Restore point first, after that, follow these steps:
  • Tap the Win + R keys to open Run and type “Regedit” in the field and then tap Enter to open the Registry Editor.
  • Next, navigate to this registry path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMMountedDevices
  • From there, check if a device is shown as being mounted at the specific drive letter and then right-click on that drive letter.
  • Select the “Rename” option from the right-click menu to change the letter to any other available letter.
  • Exit the Registry Editor and restart your computer.

Option 4 – Try to format the destination drive

Formatting the drive can also help you resolve the error. To format it, follow these steps:
  • To get started formatting your drive, tap the Win + E keys and then go to the access page of the drive.
  • Next, right-click on the drive and select Format.
  • After that, uncheck the “Quick Format” option and then format your drive properly.
  • Now once the formatting process is finished, unplug the drive and plug it back in afterward.
  • Check if the error is already fixed. If the drive is not initialized, tap the Win + R keys and hit Enter.
  • After opening the Run dialog box, type “diskmgmt.msc” and hit Enter to open Disk Management.
  • From there, right-click on the drive volume and select initialize disk.
  • Next, select the correct partition type and proceed.
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Best free & paid eMail clients in 2021
Having an eMail in today's modern world is no longer a privilege or being geeky, it has surely become a necessity. From Facebook to LinkedIn or Steam many services today require you to have an account in order to use them, and in order to create an account, you need working eMail. That being said many people today have several eMail accounts, one for social media, one for work, maybe even one for very close friends and family. How creating eMail today is completely free we might end up with several eMail accounts. eMail clients have also evolved much since their first days and became more than just applications for receiving eMails, today they can take various different tasks having additional features built into them like calendar, batch eMail processing, etc. Taking all of said into account I am presenting to you within my personal opinion some of the best eMail clients starting with free ones.

Best free eMail clients

Google Gmail

https://gmail.com gmail eMail clientIt would be very difficult to even start a free eMail list without mentioning Google's Gmail. Introduced all the way back in 2004 as an invite-only service it became over time the most popular email platform largely due to the fact Google is offering free eMail accounts. There are a lot of good things to be said about Gmail itself, most of the area is clutter-free and the largest space is reserved for eMail itself letting users focus on what is important. WEB client itself means that you do not need to have any application installed on your device, altho via Google chrome, you can use Gmail offline offering you flexibility if needed. The ability to connect and manage other accounts like Outlook, Yahoo, etc is just making Gmail even more attractive, and the snooze feature is a really neat little detail that will pause eMail notifications if you need to focus on other things. Lack of organizing messages into folders is a little confusing since Gmail offers its own unique label system but sometimes I need to have old reliable save eMail to folder. All in all, Gmail is a great service and it offers a great eMail on the go experience.

Mail eMail client

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/mail-and-calendar/ mail eMail appFree Windows eMail client simply called Mail is what was once outlook express. Mail itself has the ability to work with other popular accounts like Google Gmail account, Yahoo, iCloud etc. How it comes with Windows OS and it integrates very well with Microsoft Calendar, this eMail client is for many the first choice. On the negative side, I might say this is a strip-down version of Outlook which is paid solution so some features are missing if we would compare the two. Overall, a simple and nice eMail client worth your time, especially if you are on the Windows platform.

Mozilla Thunderbird

https://www.thunderbird.net mozilla thunderbird eMailGreat eMail client matching in functions against paid and premium solutions of big tech companies. Fueled with plenty of customization options and reskinning ones this eMail client offers a lot for its free price tag. It is also fueled by Mozilla community focusing on privacy and security. It can work with any mail service and it is lightweight with a clean look, altho the look itself can be heavily customized. The bad side is that client itself relies on email services to provide cloud-based emails, so if you are receiving your email via a service that does not have a cloud-based service in itself all of your received emails will be locked to the computer where you have received them. Also customizing it can be sometimes a little too technical for the average computer user. All in all, Thunderbird is one great eMail client and it would be a shame not to use it because of its technical side, if you need a reliable and secure eMail client on a single machine, look no further than Thunderbird.

Paid eMail clients

Microsoft Outlook

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/ microsoft outlookOutlook comes as a part of the Microsoft Office suite and as one of the oldest eMail clients, it is still widely popular and adopted through many users and businesses. It has tight integration with all Microsoft services and full integration with Calendar making it one of the if not the best eMail client out there. Outlook also has a free online service completely free for personal use as well. The downside is that you can not get it as a separate product if you want a business version other than as a part of the Office suite. The final verdict would be that this is perhaps the best eMail client out but the big downside is that there is no desktop version outside the Office suite.

eM Client

https://www.emclient.com/ em clienteM Client offers a wide array of features, including a calendar, contacts, and chat. Support is provided for all the major email services including Gmail, Yahoo, iCloud, and Outlook.com. The latest version also offers PGP encryption, live backup, basic image editing capabilities, and auto-replies for Gmail. Its automatic system makes it very easy to get emails from other services since there is no manual setting, all that is needed is to type in your email and eM Client will do everything else automatically. A one-time purchase is not pricy and it could offer some features that some free clients are missing. Go check it out with a free trial and see if it is for you.

Mailbird

https://www.getmailbird.com mailbirdThis eMail client's main focus is the simplicity of use with visual appeal while tackling multiple eMail accounts. It has many built-in apps along with a customizable interface. Unlike some more Microsoft-centric email clients, Mailbird Business supports a diverse range of integrated apps, including WhatsApp, Google Docs, Google Calendar, Facebook, Twitter, Dropbox, and Slack, all making for a better-streamlined workflow. The downside of this client is the yearly subscription plan. I think people, in general, want to get away from software subscription plans so I will include this as a downside but bear in mind it is downside just in terms of a business plan not in the client itself.

Inky

https://www.inky.com/ inky eMail clientInky is eMail client if you are looking for security. It uses AI along with machine learning in order to block all types of phishing attacks that can get through to other clients. The proprietary machine learning technology can literally read an email to determine if it has phishing content, and then is able to quarantine the email or deliver it with the malicious links disabled. It also takes things a step further and offers an analytics dashboard, which allows an administrator to see patterns of attacks based on dates, or targeted users. The downside is that client itself is so much focused on security that sometimes some nonsecurity features get overlooked and provide a poor experience but if you need a good and greatly secured eMail client Inky is one to check out.
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Fix CLOCK_WATCHDOG_TIMEOUT in Windows
If you encounter the CLOCK_WATCHDOG_TIMEOUT Blue Screen of Death error while using your Windows 10 computer then it is most likely caused by a specified processor which is not processing interrupts. This occurs when the processor is deadlocked or nonresponsive. Specifically, this kind of Stop error occurs when the processor is having a hard time with the cooperation of its threads and cores. The threads are the tasks performed by cores and some cores can have many threads at the same time. And this is where the problem begins – one thread is waiting for an adequate response from another thread or one kernel is waiting for a response from another kernel and those responses are not coming. In other words, when the processor is unable to continue the processing of tasks since its resources are occupied and are interdependent to get free, such a state is called Deadlock. The CLOCK WATCHDOG TIMEOUT bug check has a value of 0x00000101 which means that an expected clock interrupt on a secondary processor, in a multiprocessor system, was not received within the allocated interval. To troubleshoot the problem, you can check out the possible fixes provided below but before you proceed, make sure that you boot your computer into Safe Mode with Networking only.

Option 1 – Undo or disable overclocking if you have overclocked your system

  • Go to the Start Menu and open Settings.
  • Next, select Update and Security and go to the Recover tab.
  • From there, click on Restart now in Advanced startup. This will restart your computer.
  • Once you’re in the Advanced startup, go to Troubleshoot and then select the Advanced Options.
  • From there, select the UEFU Firmware Settings.
  • Now click on Restart. Once your computer has restarted, it will automatically open BIOS.
  • From the BIOS, go to the Advanced tab and navigate to Performance and then look for Overclocking.
  • Once you’ve found Overclocking, make sure that it is disabled. If it’s not, then disable it and then save the changes made by tapping the F10 key.
  • Start your computer normally and check if the CLOCK_WATCHDOG_TIMEOUT 0x00000101 error is now fixed.

Option 2 – Try running the Memory Diagnostic Tool

The Memory Diagnostic tool in windows can help resolve the CLOCK_WATCHDOG_TIMEOUT 0x00000101 Blue Screen error by checking and automatically fixing any memory-based issues. To run it, refer to these steps:
  • Tap the Win + R keys to open Run and type mdsched.exe and hit Enter to open the Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool.
  • After that, it will give two options such as:
    • Restart now and check for problems (Recommended)
    • Check for problems the next time I start my computer
  • Once your computer has restarted, perform a basic scan or you could also go for the “Advanced” options such as “Test mix” or “Pass count”. Simply tap the F10 key to start the test.

Option 3 – Try to rollback, update or disable drivers

The next thing you can do to fix the CLOCK_WATCHDOG_TIMEOUT 0x00000101 Stop error is to roll back, or update, or disable device drivers. It is most likely that after you updated your Windows computer that your driver also needs a refresh. On the other hand, if you have just updated your device drivers then you need to roll back the drivers to their previous versions. Whichever applies to you, refer to the steps below.
  • Open the Devices Manager from the Win X Menu.
  • Then locate the device drivers and right-click on them to open the Properties.
  • After that, switch to the Driver tab and click on the Uninstall Device button.
  • Follow the screen option to completely uninstall it.
  • Finally, restart your computer. It will just reinstall the device drivers automatically.
Note: You can install a dedicated driver on your computer in case you have it or you could also look for it directly from the website of the manufacturer.

Option 4 – Try running the Blue Screen Troubleshooter

The Blue Screen troubleshooter is a built-in tool in Windows 10 that helps users in fixing BSOD errors like CLOCK_WATCHDOG_TIMEOUT 0x00000101. It can be found on the Settings Troubleshooters page. To use it, refer to these steps:
  • Tap the Win + I keys to open the Settings panel.
  • Then go to Update & Security > Troubleshoot.
  • From there, look for the option called “Blue Screen” on your right-hand side and then click the “Run the troubleshooter” button to run the Blue Screen Troubleshooter and then follow the next on-screen options. Note that you might have to boot your PC into Safe Mode.

Option 5 – Try to disconnect or disable newly installed hardware

In this option, you will have to disable or remove the hardware you’ve just installed recently since external devices could be the one that’s causing the Blue Screen of Death error to appear. To do that, just disconnect any external device that’s connected to your computer physically and then check if it fixes the CLOCK_WATCHDOG_TIMEOUT Blue Screen error.

Option 6 – Troubleshoot the BSOD error in Clean Boot State

You can also troubleshoot the Blue Screen error in a Clean Boot state. There are times when third-party applications cause BSOD errors. Putting your computer in this state can help you identify which program is the culprit and thus isolates the problem. In a Clean Boot state, your computer will start using only the pre-selected minimal set of drivers and startup programs. Note that you have to disable and enable one process at a time.
  • Log onto your PC as an administrator.
  • Type in MSConfig in the Start Search to open the System Configuration utility.
  • From there, go to the General tab and click “Selective startup”.
  • Clear the “Load Startup items” check box and make sure that the “Load System Services” and “Use Original boot configuration” options are checked.
  • Next, click the Services tab and select the “Hide All Microsoft Services” check box.
  • Click Disable all.
  • Click on Apply/OK and restart your PC. (This will put your PC into a Clean Boot State. And to configure Windows to use the usual startup, just simply undo the changes.)
  • From there, start to isolate the problem by checking which one of the programs you installed recently is the root cause of the problem.

Option 7 – Try to update the BIOS

Updating the BIOS can help you fix the CLOCK_WATCHDOG_TIMEOUT BSOD error but as you know, BIOS is a sensitive part of a computer. Even though it is a software component, the functioning of the hardware depends on it largely. Thus, you must be careful when modifying something in the BIOS. So if you don’t know much about it, it’s best if you skip on this option and try the other ones instead. However, if you are well-versed in navigating the BIOS, then follow the steps below.
  • Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
  • Next, type “msinfo32” in the field and press Enter to open System Information.
  • From there, you should find a search field on the bottom where you have to search for the BIOS version and then press Enter.
  • After that, you should see the developer and version of the BIOS installed on your PC.
  • Go to your manufacturer’s website and then download the latest version of BIOS on your computer.
  • If you are using a laptop, make sure that you keep it plugged in until you have updated the BIOS.
  • Now double click on the downloaded file and install the new BIOS version on your computer.
  • Now restart your computer to apply the changes made.
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Fix HAL INITIALIZATION FAILED Error 0x0000005C
When your computer boots up or when it just woke up from sleep but it suddenly encounters a Blue Screen of Death error, saying, “HAL INITIALIZATION FAILED error with STOP CODE 0x0000005C”, then read on as this post will give you some fixes that might help in resolving the problem. You will see the following error message on your computer’s screen when this error pops up:
“Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart. We’re just collecting some error info, and then we’ll restart for you. If you’d like to know more, you can search online later for this error: HAL_INITIALIZATION_FAILED HAL INITIALIZATION FAILED 0x0000005C”
This kind of Blue Screen error indicates that there is a hardware or device driver problem in your PC. Aside from that, it also signifies that the initialization of the Hardware Abstraction Layer or HAL has failed. This happens only during the relatively short period that the Windows operating system is being initialized, specifically during phase 4 of Windows startup. What’s worse about this kind of Stop error is that it does not just go away after a computer reboot. You may have to boot your computer into Safe mode with Networking using the Advanced startup options which you can access by tapping the F2 or F8 key. Once you’ve accessed the Advanced startup options, follow the fixes prepared below.

Option 1 – Run CHKDSK command to repair hard disk errors

Running the Chkdsk utility could help you resolve the HAL INITIALIZATION FAILED error with STOP CODE 0x0000005C. If your hard drive has issues with integrity, the update will really fail as the system will think that it’s not healthy and that’s where the Chkdsk utility comes in. The Chkdsk utility repairs hard drive errors that might be causing the problem.
  • After you access the Advanced Startup options, select Command Prompt by using the arrow keys on your keyboard.
  • After opening Command Prompt, execute the following command and hit Enter:
chkdsk /f /r
  • The command you entered will scan the hard disk for any errors and will automatically fix it if it finds some issues. Wait for the process to be completed and then restart your computer.

Option 2 – Run the DISM tool

If the first option didn’t work, then running the Deployment Imaging and Servicing Management tool can help you resolve the HAL INITIALIZATION FAILED error as it will repair the Windows System Image as well as the Windows Component Store in Windows 10.
  • After you access the Advanced Startup options, select Command Prompt by using the arrow keys on your keyboard.
  • Next, type in this command: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
  • Do not close the window if the process takes a while as it will probably take a few minutes to finish.

Option 3 – Update the Device drivers

  • Tap the Win + R keys to launch Run.
  • Type in msc into the box and tap Enter or click OK to open the Device Manager.
  • After that, a list of device drivers will be displayed. Look for the device driver you and then select either “Update driver” or “Uninstall device”. And if you find any “Unknown device”, you need to update it as well.
  • Select the “Search automatically for updated driver software” option and then follow the instructions to complete the process.
  • If you have chosen to uninstall the driver, follow the screen options to complete the process and then restart your PC.
  • Connect the device and Scan for hardware changes – you can see this option under Device Manager > Action.

Option 4 – Try removing any external hardware

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

Option 5 – Disable Fast Start-up

If you want your computer to boot faster, then you might have enabled Fast Start-up. This feature is ideal for computers that are using a hard disk drive. However, turning on this feature also means that when the computer boots, it might lag some drivers that are loaded when it initially boots up. Thus, it might be the potential cause of the UNEXPECTED STORE EXCEPTION BSOD error. Thus, you need to disable Fast Start-up. To do that, follow these steps:
  • Boot your PC into Safe Mode.
  • Then tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
  • Next, type in “control” to open Control Panel.
  • After that, select Hardware and Sound and click on Power Options.
  • Select “Choose what the power buttons do” from the left side menu pane and click on Change settings that are currently unavailable.
  • Afterward, uncheck the “Turn on fast startup (Recommended)” entry and click on Save Changes.
  • Now restart your PC for the changes to take effect and then check if the problem’s fixed afterward.

Option 6 – Disable your antivirus program

There are times when the antivirus program installed in your computer blocks file access and even disk access. Thus, disabling the antivirus program or any security software installed in your computer is always a good idea you can try when the Windows Update process does not go smoothly. So before you try updating your computer again, make sure to disable the antivirus or security program and once the Windows Update is done, don’t forget to enable the antivirus program back again.

Option 7 – Perform a Clean Boot

There are some instances that some conflicting programs installed in your computer might be the one that’s causing the HAL INITIALIZATION FAILED error. To identify which program is causing the problem, you need to put your computer in a Clean Boot State. To do so, follow the steps below.
  • Log onto your PC as an administrator.
  • Type in MSConfig in the Start Search to open the System Configuration utility.
  • From there, go to the General tab and click “Selective startup”.
  • Clear the “Load Startup items” check box and make sure that the “Load System Services” and “Use Original boot configuration” options are checked.
  • Next, click the Services tab and select the “Hide All Microsoft Services” check box.
  • Click Disable all.
  • Click on Apply/OK and restart your PC. (This will put your PC into a Clean Boot State. And configure Windows to use the usual startup, just simply undo the changes.)
  • From there, start to isolate the problem by checking which one of the programs you installed recently is the root cause of the problem.
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