Fix fatal device hardware error on Windows

One of the most critical processes in the Windows 10 operating system is the Explorer.exe. And there are times when you might encounter an error that says, “System call failed”. You can encounter this error when you try to launch File Explorer, and in such case when the File Explorer does not work, it could cause issues in accessing folders and files on your computer. This kind of error pops up when the explorer.exe system file has become corrupted or if there is some process that interferes with its smooth functioning. To fix this error, you can try to restart the explorer.exe process, run both the System File Checker scan and DISM tool. You could also put your computer in a Clean Boot State or uninstall any programs you’ve installed recently. For more details, follow each one of the given suggestions below.

Option 1 – Try to restart the Explorer.exe process

The first thing you can do is try to restart the Explorer.exe process. To do so, refer to these steps:

• First, right-click on the Taskbar and select the Task Manager.
• Next, expand the Task Manager window to see all the active processes.
• From there, look for the Windows Explorer process, right-click on it and select Restart.
• After that, check if the error is now fixed.

Option 2 – Run System File Checker scan

If restarting the explorer.exe process didn’t work, you can also try running the System File Checker or SFC scan to fix the error. System File Checker is a command utility built into your computer that helps restore corrupted files and missing files. Refer to the following steps to run it:

• Hit the Win + R keys to launch Run.
• Type in cmd in the field and tap Enter.
• After opening Command Prompt, type in this command: sfc /SCANFILE=c:windowsexplorer.exe

Note: If you are using a 64-bit Windows operating system, enter the “sfc /SCANFILE=C:WindowsSysWow64explorer.exe” command instead.

• Wait until the process is completed and then restart your computer.

Option 3 – Run the DISM tool

You might also want to run the DISM tool. This tool is known to repair potentially corrupted files in your system as having them could also system issues like the “System call failed” error. To repair these corrupted system files, you can run the DISM commands:

• Tap the Win + X keys and click on the “Command Prompt (Admin)” option.
• After that, input each one of the commands listed below sequentially to execute them:
  • Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
  • Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
  • Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

• Once you’ve executed the commands given above, restart your computer and check if the problem is now fixed.

Option 4 – Try running the Check Disk utility

• In the Windows Search box, type “command prompt” and from the search results, right-click on Command Prompt and select “Run as administrator”.
• After opening Command Prompt, type this command and tap Enter: chkdsk c: /f /r
• The command you entered will start to check for errors and fix them automatically. Else, it will throw an error message saying, “Chkdsk cannot run because the volume is in use by another process. Would you like the schedule this volume to be checked the next time the system restarts? (Y/N)”.
• Tap the Y key to schedule Disk Check the next time your computer restarts.

Option 5 – Put your computer in a Clean Boot State

As pointed out, there are some instances that some conflicting programs installed in your computer might be the one that triggers the “System call failed” error to appear when you try to open File Explorer. 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.)
• Once your computer has restarted in a Clean Boot State, perform your scan again and see if it now works, and then start to isolate the problem by checking which one of the programs you installed recently is the root cause of the problem.

Option 6 – Try to uninstall the programs you’ve installed recently

In case you don’t know, freeware software packages aren’t always free as some of them could contain malicious software that can cause serious damage to your computer. Thus, if you have installed a program recently prior to getting the “System call failed” error, then you have to uninstall that program.

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Then type “appwiz.cpl” in the field and tap Enter to open the Programs and Features in Control Panel.
• Next, arrange the list of installed programs in the order of the installation date.
• After that, look for the problematic program and right-click on it, and then select Uninstall.
• Once the process is done, restart your computer and see if the error is fixed.

Have you ever deleted a file by mistake? Do not feel bad, we all have, but what if you deleted the file by mistake and then you went to Recycle bin to restore it only to find out that the bin is empty? If you experienced this kind of issue then you know how unpleasant and frustrating it is but do not worry, we are here to help and provide you with solutions to this problem and hopefully get your file back. Follow the next steps from first to last since they are organized in a way to minimalize the permanent deletion of lost files.

1. Refresh Recycle bin view

   If you spend any amount of time on this site reading through articles, you know I am a big fan of simple and effective solutions and there is nothing simpler than a single press of a button. Open your recycle bin and press F5 to refresh view or right-click anywhere inside and choose refresh. If your file does not appear with this method go to the next step.

2. Set Windows to show hidden system files

   In order for this to work first, you will need to open File Explorer by pressing ⊞ WINDOWS + E When File Explorer opens go to VIEW > OPTIONS. Inside options select “Show hidden files, folders, and drives”, uncheck “Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)”, and click APPLY > OK Go to the recycle bin and check to see if files have managed to show up.

3. Check if Don't move the file to the recycle bin is enabled

   Right-click on recycle bin and choose properties, under properties, there is the option that says Don’t move files to the Recycle Bin, Remove files immediately when deleted. This option is not selected by default, but it could be turned on by someone else or by mistake. If you see that this option is enabled sadly your file is gone and you will have to get the file back by using some third-party undelete application, uncheck this option to prevent future deletion of files by mistake.

4. Increase recycle bin size

   This will not help you to get your file back sadly but it will help you in storing more files in recycle bin. This is helpful since if you reach your recycle bin limit all further files will be permanently deleted and not been able to get them back. So by increasing bin size you will have more space for deleted files to be saved. To do that, right-click on Recycle Bin, select Properties. Now, increase the Maximum size from the Custom size option, and click Apply and OK.

5. Reset recycle bin

   To reset and fix corrupted recycle bin do the following: Press ⊞ WINDOWS + X to open the secret Windows menu and click on command prompt (admin) In the command prompt type in the following: rd /s /q C:\$Recycle.bin Reboot your system

If your Windows 10 computer is downloading or installing updates but suddenly an error pops up saying, “GWXUX has stopped working”, read on as this post will show you what you can do to resolve the problem. GWXUX is a process responsible for downloading and installing Windows updates and is installed on your computer via Windows Updates. That particular update is known as “KB3035583”. Through this process, the “Get Windows 10” pop-ups are installed and initiated by Microsoft. This process is also capable of checking the compatibility of your PC to run Windows 10 as well as preparing it for installation. However, this process might also result in excessive usage of Disk and sometimes, CPU. So in this post, you will be guided on how you can fix the issue with the GWXUX. Follow the instructions given below carefully.

Option 1 – Disable GWXUX in the Task Scheduler

You will have to disable the gwxux.exe process to run from the Task Scheduler. Thus, you need to follow the steps below to do so.

• Open the Cortana Search box and then type “task scheduler” in the field.
• Then click on Task Scheduler from the related search results that appear to open it.
• After opening the Task Scheduler, navigate to Microsoft > Windows > Setup > gwx on the left panel from the Task Scheduler Library.
• Once you select the GWX folder, you will see two tasks that are listed under that folder. Select both of these tasks and permanently disable them.
• Restart your computer to apply the changes made and check if the issue is now fixed or not.

Option 2 – Uninstall the KB3035583 Windows Update

• To uninstall the KB3035583 Windows Update, you need to go to Control Panel, and for you to do that, type “control panel” in the Cortana Search box.
• After that, click on Control Panel from the related search results given.
• Once Control Panel is pulled up, search for “View Installed Updates” in the search field from the top right part of the window.
• Next, click on a link labeled, “View Installed Updates” under the Programs and Features menu.
• After clicking the link, you will see the list of all the installed updates in your computer from the Windows Updates.
• Now look for an update named “KB3035583” and select it.
• You should notice the Uninstall button located at the top portion of the sub-menu ribbon as you can see on the snippet below. Click on that button to uninstall the KB3035583 Windows Update.
• After uninstalling the update, make sure to restart your computer to apply the changes made.

Option 3 – Try using the System File Checker

System File Checker or SFC is a built-in command utility that helps in restoring corrupted files as well as missing files. It replaces bad and corrupted system files with good system files that might be causing the error 0x80200056. 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

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.

After running the System File Checker, restart your computer and check if the error with the GWXUX.exe file is now fixed or not.

Microsoft store is ready and prepared for Windows 11 official release on October 5^th and it is coming with some surprises. It has officially confirmed that many open source and free applications will be in it like Opera, VLC, discord, Libre office, etc. It seems that Microsoft wants to place its store as one place to go for all of your software needs. Another great surprise is the coming of Epic games store implementation. It was officially confirmed but not explained in detail, will we have Epic store opened in Windows store or we will only get installer as a package we will see but this is some great news. As for how it states now, it seems that the Windows store aims to eliminate searching the web for applications and bring them all into one environment with reviews and ratings so you know which one to install and use. It also features a great search engine to find proper applications for your needs. The new store will come to Windows 10 as well but after all Windows 11 has been mostly released and adopted. So expect it via update in two or three months' time. It would be great if some larger companies decide to join MS stores like Autodesk, Adobe, the Foundry, etc so you can install everything you need from it but one can only hope.

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 0x80070422 - What is it?

Error Code 0x80070422 can be found on many versions of the Windows operating system including Windows 7, Windows 8, and 8.1, and Windows 10. The reason for its occurrence may vary, however, depending on the version of the operating system that you use.

In the case of error code 0x80070422 in Windows 8, it often occurs when users attempt to update their firewall or download apps from the Windows store. When this error occurs the user is unable to complete the updates and will need to apply different solutions to correct the issue.

Solution

Error Causes

Whenever error code 0x80070422 is encountered on Windows 8 or 8.1, it might be a result of various factors. These error codes include:

• Registry errors – This occurs when new programs are installed over old ones
• Malicious software such as adware, spyware, and or viruses

Further Information and Manual Repair

You do not need to be a Windows expert to attempt to solve errors like the 0x80070422 Windows 8 error code. Simply try the solutions below. If however, you feel you need a professional’s help, contact a certified Windows technician.

• Check for any viruses or malicious software

Viruses and other malicious software are often the cause of various issues within the PC. For this reason, be sure to check your machine for a possible virus infestation. If you are unable to use your anti-virus software or if none is present you might need to download an automated tool that offers overall repair and other solutions.

• Disable third-party security apps

Another step you can take is to disable third-party security apps. When these apps are downloaded onto your device, it can lead to the disabling of your Firewall and the inability of your device to download other apps. If this is the source of the 0x80070422 error code on your machine, the issue will be resolved after you disable the third-party apps and reboot your computer.

• Disable Firewall

If error code 0x80070422 in Windows 8 or 8.1 occurred while you attempted to update Windows firewall, one of the best solutions you can try is to disable the firewall. Note however that disabling your firewall should be temporary as it protects your computer from worms as well as hackers that might infect or compromise your PC. Access the firewall by swiping right on the screen then searching for “firewall”. Click “Windows firewall” then select “Turn off Windows firewall”.

• Performs a clean boot

Another option is for you to perform a clean boot. This simply refers to a reboot in Windows where only a minimum set of drivers and programs are used. A clean boot can help resolve issues related to software conflict which can occur when Windows users install programs or updates or simply run a program. Note that you must log on to the computer as an administrator. Otherwise, you will not be able to perform the clean boot.

• Clean registry

The source of many errors related to Windows can lie within the registry. This is because the registry is involved in every aspect of a Windows computer’s operation. If there is an issue in the files of the registry or if it has been hacked, your computer will not function. For this reason, begin by cleaning the registry regularly. To clean our registry, use a powerful tool that is both reputable and user-friendly. Research your option before you make a selection as choosing the wrong tool could lead to even more errors or computer malfunctions.

• Set Windows Update to Automatic

Another important method to solve issues related to error code 0x80070422 in Windows 8 or 8.1 is your Windows Update service. Though you may have never noticed this feature before now, the Windows Update services allow PC owners to access updates to their operating system automatically. This leads to a properly functioning PC as your machine will always have the latest features and tools available. However, if the setting is not correct, your computer may end up experiencing error code 0x80070422. Check if this is the source of your problems by verifying if your Windows Update settings are automatic. Once the settings are on automatic, reboot your machine to ensure your computer responds to the changes.

• Download an Automate Tool

Always be prepared for the possibility of other errors. You can do this by downloading powerful software. This enables users to regularly check for issues that may cause errors on their Windows device.

Any modifications in a computer, either big ones or small ones can definitely trigger some errors which is why you have to be careful when you modify the system setting. One of the errors you might encounter when you’ve modified your computer is the WHEA_UNCORRECTABLE_ERROR 0x00000124 Blue Screen Error. According to the error data provided by the Windows Hardware Error Architecture or WHEA, aside from system modifications, you could also encounter this error if your computer has a hardware failure which could be due to a hard drive, RAM, or any other hardware component. In most cases, it is related to physical hardware failures which might have something to do with defective hardware, heat-related, memory as well as a processor that is starting to fail or has already failed. To fix the WHEA_UNCORRECTABLE_ERROR 0x00000124 Blue Screen error, here are some suggestions you have to check out.

Option 1 – Try to perform System Restore

Before you further troubleshoot the problem, you might want to perform System Restore first as the BSOD error might be caused by system modifications. Thus, to undo them, you can use System Restore. Run it using these steps:

• First, 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 disabling Overclocking

If overclocking is enabled, you might have to disable it as some users reported that the WHEA_UNCORRECTABLE_ERROR 0x00000124 error started to appear right after overclocking. To disable it, follow the steps below.

• 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 WHEA_UNCORRECTABLE_ERROR 0x00000124 error is now fixed.

Option 3 – Check your computer’s cooling components and make sure that they are working

It is a known fact that an overheated PC causes system slowdowns and even Blue Screen errors like WHEA_UNCORRECTABLE_ERROR 0x00000124. To fix it, you need to check your computer’s cooling components to see whether they’re properly working or not. Then make sure that you clean them up including the fan and other hardware from dust and other debris.

Option 4 – Use the Windows Memory Diagnostics

Since the problem has something to do with the physical RAM, you need to use Windows Memory Diagnostics. To run it, refer to these steps:

• Tap the Win + R keys to open Run and type 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.

Note: After you select the option, your PC will restart and check for memory-based issues. If it finds any issues, it will automatically fix them.

Option 5 – Update or rollback or disable concerned device drivers

To fix the WHEA_UNCORRECTABLE_ERROR 0x00000124 error, you can also try to roll back, or update, or disable the concerned device drivers.

• Open the Devices Manager from the Win X Menu.
• Then locate the device drivers particularly the ones that are under the sections of Keyboard, Mouse, USB, and HID Drivers.
• Next, 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. On the other hand, if you have just updated your device drivers then you need to roll back the drivers to their previous versions or disable them.

Option 6 – Try running System File Checker or SFC scan

You could also run System File Checker or SFC scan to fix the BSOD error. It is a built-in command utility that helps in restoring corrupted files as well as missing files. It replaces bad and corrupted system files with good system files. To run the SFC command, follow the steps given below.

• Tap Win + R to launch Run.
• Type in cmd in the field and tap Enter.
• After opening Command Prompt, type in sfc /scannow

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.

• Reboot your PC.

Option 7 – Try to disable the Digital Driver Signature Enforcement

• Reboot your computer from the Start menu.
• Then select the option while pressing the Shift key. This will open the Advanced Boot menu.
• From there, click on Troubleshoot and select Startup Settings.
• Now select the “Disable driver signature enforcement” option using the arrow keys on your keyboard and then restart your computer normally.

Dsound.dll Error Code - What is it?

Dsound.dll is a type of Dynamic Link Library. This is one of the many files that are associated with DirectX software. And DirectX software is used by most Windows-based games. Dsound.dll contains small programs that help run and load Windows-based games on your system. The Dsound.dll error pops when Windows-based games are unable to load and run on the computer. The error code appears on the screen in one of the following formats:

• "The file dsound.dll is missing"
• "File dsound.dll not found"
• "Dsound.dll not found. Reinstalling might help fix this."
• "Dsound.DLL Not Found"

Solution

Error Causes

Dsound.dll error is generated due to multiple reasons. These include:

• Corrupt, damaged, or missing Dsound.dll file
• Malware infection
• Outdated drivers

To play the games on your computer, it is important to fix the Dsound.dll error immediately.

Further Information and Manual Repair

To resolve Dsound.dll error at home on your own without hiring a professional and spending hundreds of dollars in repair, here are some methods you can try:

Method 1 - Restart Your PC to Resolve

Sometimes the error may be a fluke and can be resolved by simply restarting your PC. So, before you try other methods, it is recommended that you restart your system first. If it resolves the issue, then that’s great. If it doesn’t, then try other methods given below!

Method 2 - Reinstall the Deleted Dsound.dll File

Since DLL files are shared files, there is a possibility that while uninstalling a game on your PC, you might have accidentally deleted this file too. If so, check your recycle bin and search for the deleted file. If you locate it, simply restore it. But if you can’t, then download the Dsound.dll file from a reliable DLL website. Make sure that the site is authentic because the last thing you want is to download malware instead of a DLL file.

Method 3 - Update Driver for Your Video Card

If Dsound.dll error occurs because of outdated drivers, then update them to resolve. You can do this by using a driver update wizard from within Device Manager. The wizard will guide you through the process, making updates simple.

Method 4 - Remove Malware

Download a powerful antivirus to scan and remove malware from your system. A malware infection can trigger a Dsound.dll error too.

Method 5 - Uninstall the Game and then reinstall it again

Try uninstalling the game during which you experienced this error. Sometimes the error may pop because of improper game installation. Uninstall it and then reinstall it. Once you’ve reinstalled it, try accessing it again. If it is accessible, the error is resolved.

Method 6 - Repair the Registry

DLL errors are also related to the registry. These files can get damaged if the registry gets loaded with junk files and cookies. In such as situation clean and repair the registry. You can do this manually but it can be time-consuming and tricky if you are not technically sound. Therefore download Restoro. It is a powerful and user-friendly PC Fixer embedded with a registry cleaner. The registry cleaner scans and removes all junk files clean the registry and repairs damaged DLL files immediately. Click here to download Restoro and resolve error Dsound.dll today!

The Photos app in Windows 10 is the default photo viewer. However, there are times when it might encounter some problems while you use it. One of these problems in the Photos app reported recently is where users try to export or share the images and videos from the app but weren’t successful in doing so. This can be really quite a hassle in opening images on your computer, especially since the Photos app is the default photo viewer in Windows 10 and if you don’t have any other photo viewer app installed. This kind of problem in the Photos app can be noticed when you try to use the “Remix” function for both photos and videos. In other words, this problem can occur with just pictures, videos, as well as a combination of both. So if you are trying to watch a video using this app, then you wouldn’t be able to play it. In such a case, the only thing you can hear is the audio but you wouldn’t see anything except for a hazy purple screen that has not export or share option. There are several possible causes for this problem and it could be fixed by updating the display driver/graphics driver or disabling the hardware-accelerated video encoding. You could also try updating or resetting or reinstalling the Photos app. For more details, follow each one of the suggestions provided below.

Option 1 – Try to update the Graphics driver

You can try to update your Graphics card driver using the Device Manager in your computer to resolve the blank dialog boxes problem or you can also go directly to the website of your graphics card manufacturers like NVIDIA, Intel, or AMD and go to the section called Drivers then check if there’s a new available update – if there is, download and install it. To update your Graphics driver via Device Manager, refer to these steps:

• First, boot your computer into Safe Mode.
• After that, 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. From there, look for the Display Adapters and click on them.
• After that, right-click on each entry under the Display Adapters and select the “Uninstall Device” option from the menu.
• Now restart your computer.
• After restarting your computer, go to the Settings app and Check for Updates in the Windows Update section.

Option 2 – Try disabling the hardware-accelerated video encoding

The next thing you can do to fix the problem is to disable the hardware-accelerated video encoding in your computer. To do that, follow these steps:

• Open the Photos app and click on the visible three dots located in the upper right corner of the app and then select Settings.
• From there, you should see the version number of the app in the “About this app” section. So if your app is version 2018.18071.****0.0 or greater, you should see the Video section which has a toggle button.
• Turn that toggle button off to disable hardware-accelerated video encoding in the Photos app. This should fix the problem, if not, simply follow the next given options below.

Option 3 – Try to update the Microsoft Photos app

• Open the Microsoft Store and click on the three horizontal dots for the menu located on the top right portion of the window to see the options.
• Next, select Downloads and updates and then click the Get updates button in the top right. This will install any pending updates for all the apps including the Microsoft Photos app using the Microsoft Store.

Option 4 – Try resetting the Photos app

• To get started in resetting the Photos app, open the Windows 10 Settings.
• Then go to Apps > Apps & features.
• After that, scroll down until you see the Photos app option – click on it and open its Advanced options.
• From there, you will see the Reset button, click on it and click and then click on it once more to confirm.

Note: The process may take a couple of minutes to complete. Once it’s done, open the pictures again using the Photos app.

Option 5 – Try reinstalling the Photos app

If none of the options given above worked, then you might want to consider reinstalling the Photos app. Unlike what most users think, it isn’t really that hard reinstalling preinstalled apps as you have the Windows PowerShell for that. To use this program in reinstalling the Photos app, follow these steps:

• Open the Windows PowerShell program with admin privileges and key in the following command:

Set-ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted

• After that, execute this second command to re-register and reinstall the Microsoft Photos app.

Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)AppXManifest.xml"}

Note: In the command given, do not forget to replace the “PackageFullName” with the actual package name for the Photos app. After executing the command, it will uninstall the Photos app from your computer so you need to install it again from the Windows Store by simply looking for it. Once you found it, just click on install to start the installation process.

Portable small Bluetooth speakers are nothing new on the market, most of the time they have given the opportunity for music listening during picnics and walks in nature and also replaced some car speaker systems. The latest star in small portable speakers in JBL Clip 4, small in size, waterproof, and with an incredible high-quality sound.

Performance and quality

Out of the box and after first look speaker looks great, it has excellent design and is very intuitive to work with. Everything is laid out logically and you can start using it right away without reading instructions.

The sound quality is surprisingly very good and clear. I must say I have not expected this clarity and power from a speaker of this size. The volume range is also incredibly good and will fill most needs even on small picnics outdoors where you can hear it loud enough. One thing to mention is that even on their loudness levels sound is still clear without distortion which, to be honest, is to be expected from someone like JBL.

Where you can take JBL Clip 4

You can take it where ever you want, Its size and clip make it perfect for beach and pool trips. Speaker is waterproof and gas IP67 rating, meaning that sand and dirt will not affect it either. Do not take this speaker to your diving adventures since that will break it but a depth around 1 meter underwater should be safe. After your trip do not forget to wash Clip 4 with clean water so all dirt, salt, and other stuff are properly cleaned for longer life of the device.

How long it will play?

JBL claims that the battery will last 10 hours of continuous play. Note that this is meant probably on the largest volume setting so when you use it on lower settings battery is lasting longer. Playing of course on low volumes will extend playback time even longer but here we come at one feature that I do not like, there is no indication of any kind how much battery is left in the speaker, the only indication is a red light when the battery is almost empty which means you could be outside at that point and did not know that low battery was there in the first place when you were packing. Some battery indication would be a great addon.

More stability for JBL Clip 4

The clip itself has been improved from the previous Clip 3 model, it is wider, it goes all the way around the casing, and feels overall better and more stable. Since the clip is now all around casing this means a wider opening can be made making it fit around stuff Clip 3 was not able to.

Conclusion

All in all, Clip 4 is an incredible speaker and one that would highly recommend, the price goes around 79 USD but it can be found even as low as 50 USD on discounts and promotions and if you manage to get one at that price it is a great buy. Sound is good, portability is great, dirt and waterproof are excellent and battery life is really good.