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Fix This device is currently in use, USB Error

USB storage devices, peripherals, and other devices are almost used on a daily basis. And as you know, when removing the USB storage devices, it is recommended to always use the “Safely remove the USB storage device” option in order to prevent data corruption in the USB storage device. However, there are times when you may see the following error message after you use the “Safely remove the USB storage device” option:

“Problem ejecting USB Mass Storage – This device is currently in use, close any programs or windows that might be using this device, and then try again.”

This kind of error message occurs when the device is still interacting with the operating system in the background. There are several ways you can fix this error but before you check them out below, you need to close all the open windows and programs that may be using the USB storage device and then wait for a couple of seconds and then try safely removing it again. However, if you are still getting the same error message, then here are some tips you should try:

Option 1 – Try to use the Task Manager

  • Tap the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys on your keyboard to open the Task Manager.
  • After that, look for the running processes and programs hogging on your USB Storage device. The error could be due to a program or process that’s using the USB device. This program or process will hog onto some Disk or CPU while transferring data and interacting with the device.
  • Once you find the culprits, right-click on each one of them and select End Process or End Task. You could also try to restart the process for “Explorer.exe” and see if it fixes the problem.

Option 2 – Try using DISKPART

The next thing you can try to resolve the issue is to use DISKPART. Refer to the given steps below to do so.

  • Tap the Win + R keys to launch Run and then type “cmd” in the field and tap Enter or click OK to open an elevated Command Prompt.
  • Next, type and enter this command to execute it: diskpart
  • The command you entered will initiate the DISKPART utility. After that, type and enter this second command: list disk
  • Next, type and enter this third command: list volume
  • The commands you just executed will help you in either listing all the Disk connects or all the partitions on those disks formed and from there, you need to select one command depending on the “list” command you entered. You can execute either of the two following commands:
    • select disk #
    • select volume #
  • After that, it will select the Disk or Partition you want to select.
  • Now type either one of the following commands:
    • offline disk #offline volume #
  • The command you entered will mark the selected disk is Offline. Afterward, try to safely remove your USB Storage device. Just remember that when you plug it back in again, you have to carry out the same method except for the last given command as this time you will have to enter either of these commands in order to get your USB storage device back online:
    • online disk #
    • online volume #

Option 3– Try using the Disk Management utility

  • Tap the Win + R keys to open Run.
  • Then type “diskmgmt.msc” in the field and hit Enter to open the Disk Management utility.
  • Next, look for the entry for your USB Storage device and once you’ve found it, right-click on it and select Offline.
  • After that, try to safely remove your USB Storage device again and see if the error is fixed. Note that you need to go over the same steps again if you want to plug your USB Storage device back in but make sure to select the Online option instead of Offline to get your device back online.

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How to remove ConvertDocsOnline from Your PC

ConvertDocsOnline is a Browser Extension for Google Chrome developed by Mindspark Inc. This extension offers users a quick and easy way to convert documents without any additional applications installed on their computer, it also has quick access links to popular websites that the average user might find interesting. While all this may look appealing and nice, this extension injects itself into your browser.

While installed, ConvertDocsOnline will monitor your browsing activity and record visited websites, clicked links, downloads, and even viewed products. All this information is later used/sold to Mindsparks Ad network to better serve user-targeted ads.

Browsing the internet with this extension installed will result in ad placement throughout your browsing sessions. These ads might appear as normal links (sponsored content), ad links, or even pop-up ads.

ConvertDocsOnline has been marked as a Browser Hijacker by several Anti-Virus scanners and is therefore recommended for optional removal from your PC.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijackers (sometimes referred to as hijackware) are a type of malware that changes web browser settings without the user’s knowledge or permission. These types of hijacks are increasing at an alarming rate around the globe, and they can be truly nefarious and sometimes dangerous too. There are plenty of reasons why you may have a browser hijack; however commercial, marketing, and advertising are definitely the primary reasons for their creation. In most cases, browser hijacking is used for earning advertising revenue that comes from forced ad mouse clicks and site visits. It might appear naive, but the majority of these sites are not legitimate and may pose a significant threat to your online safety. In a much worst case, your internet browser could be hijacked to download malicious software that can do a lot of damage to your PC.

Symptoms of browser hijacker malware

Symptoms that a web browser is a hi-jacked include: 1. the browser’s homepage is modified 2. your internet browser is constantly being redirected to adult websites 3. the default online search engine and/or the default browser settings are altered 4. you see many toolbars in your internet browser 5. you might find endless pop-up adverts on your computer screen 6. your web browser gets slow, buggy crashes very often 7. you can’t navigate to certain web pages, such as computer security software-related websites.

How they infect computer systems

Browser hijackers can enter a PC in some way or other, for example via downloads, file sharing, and e-mail also. Many browser hijackings come from add-on software, i.e., toolbars, browser helper objects (BHO), or plug-ins added to browsers to give them extra functionality. Browser hijackers sneak to your computer in addition to free software downloads also that you unwittingly install alongside the original. Examples of popular browser hijackers are Fireball, CoolWebSearch. GoSave, Ask Toolbar, RocketTab, and Babylon Toolbar. The existence of any browser hijacker on your computer could drastically diminish the web browsing experience, record your internet activities that lead to critical privacy issues, degrade overall computer efficiency, and result in application instability also.

Removing browser hijackers

Certain hijackers could be removed by simply uninstalling the related freeware or add-ons from the Add or Remove Programs in the Windows control panel. But, many hijacking codes are certainly not very easy to get rid of manually, since they go deeper into your operating system. Beginner PC users should not try for the manual form of removal methods, as it calls for thorough system knowledge to perform fixes on the system registry and HOSTS file. Browser hijackers can be effectively removed by installing and running anti-malware software on the affected PC. To get rid of any browser hijacker from your laptop or computer, you should download this particular certified malware removal application – SafeBytes Anti-Malware. Along with the antivirus tool, a system optimizer, like SafeBytes’s Total System Care, will help you in getting rid of all related files and modifications in the computer registry automatically.

Virus Blocking Access To Safebytes Website And Preventing Anti-Malware Downloads - What You Should Do?

All malware is bad and the level of the damage will vary greatly in accordance with the type of infection. Some malware types modify browser settings by including a proxy server or modify the PC’s DNS configuration settings. In such cases, you’ll be unable to visit some or all of the websites, and thus unable to download or install the necessary security software to remove the malware. If you are reading this now, you may have probably realized that a malware infection is the cause of your blocked net traffic. So how to proceed when you want to install antivirus software such as Safebytes? Do as instructed below to remove malware through alternate ways.

Get rid of viruses in Safe Mode

The Windows operating system includes a special mode known as “Safe Mode” where just the bare minimum required programs and services are loaded. If the malicious software is set to load immediately when PC boots, switching into this particular mode can prevent it from doing so. In order to enter into Safe Mode or Safe Mode with Networking, press the F8 key while the PC is starting up or run MSConfig and look for the “Safe Boot” options under the “Boot” tab. Once you are in safe mode, you can try to download and install your antivirus software application without the hindrance of the malware. Now, you can actually run the antivirus scan to eliminate computer viruses and malware without hindrance from another malicious application.

Switch to an alternate internet browser

Some malware only targets certain internet browsers. If this is your situation, make use of another internet browser as it can circumvent the malware. If you’re not able to download the anti-virus program using Internet Explorer, this means the virus could be targeting IE’s vulnerabilities. Here, you need to switch to a different internet browser like Firefox or Chrome to download the Safebytes Anti-malware program.

Install antivirus on a USB drive

Another option would be to make a portable anti-malware program on your USB stick. Adopt these measures to run the anti-malware on the infected PC. 1) On a clean PC, download and install Safebytes Anti-Malware. 2) Plug the pen drive into the clean PC. 3) Double click on the downloaded file to open the installation wizard. 4) When asked, choose the location of the pen drive as the place where you would like to store the software files. Follow the instructions on the computer screen to finish up the installation process. 5) Now, transfer the thumb drive to the infected PC. 6) Double-click the anti-malware program EXE file on the pen drive. 7) Run Full System Scan to detect and clean-up up all kinds of malware.

Review of SafeBytes Anti-Malware

If you are planning to purchase anti-malware for your desktop, there are plenty of brands and utilities for you to consider. Some are good ones, some are decent, while some are simply just bogus anti-malware applications that can ruin your personal computer themselves! You have to pick a tool that has got a good reputation and detects not only computer viruses but other sorts of malware also. When thinking about trustworthy programs, Safebytes Anti-Malware is certainly the strongly recommended one. Safebytes is one of the well-established PC solutions companies, which provide this all-inclusive anti-malware software. Using its cutting-edge technology, this application will assist you to get rid of multiples types of malware including computer viruses, trojans, PUPs, worms, ransomware, adware, and browser hijackers.

SafeBytes anti-malware takes computer protection to a whole new level with its advanced features. These are some of the highlighted features included in the tool.

Real-time Active Protection: SafeBytes gives real-time active monitoring and protection against all known viruses and malware. It’ll monitor your PC for suspicious activity continuously and safeguards your PC from illegal access. Robust, Anti-malware Protection: Built upon a highly acclaimed anti-virus engine, this malware removal tool has the capacity to find and get rid of several stubborn malware threats such as browser hijackers, PUPs, and ransomware that other typical antivirus applications will miss. Extremely Speed Scanning: SafeBytes Anti-Malware has got a multi-thread scan algorithm that works up to 5 times faster than any other anti-malware software. Web Protection: Through its unique safety score, SafeBytes informs you whether a site is safe or not to access it. This will make sure that you’re always certain of your safety when browsing the world wide web. Light-weight: SafeBytes is really a lightweight tool. It uses up an extremely small amount of processing power as it operates in the background so you’re free to use your Windows-based PC the way you want. 24/7 Assistance: Support service is available 24 x 7 x 365 days through chat and email to answer your concerns. SafeBytes can keep your personal computer protected from most advanced malware threats automatically, thus keeping your online experience secure and safe. Malware issues will become a thing of the past once you put this software program to use. You’ll get the best all-around protection for the money you spend on SafeBytes AntiMalware subscription, there is no doubt about it.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

To eliminate ConvertDocsOnline manually, go to the Add/Remove programs list in the Control Panel and choose the program you want to get rid of. For internet browser extensions, go to your web browser’s Addon/Extension manager and select the add-on you intend to remove or disable. You might also want to reset your home page and search engine providers, as well as delete browsing history, temporary files, and internet cookies. In order to ensure the complete removal, manually check your hard drive and Windows registry for all of the following and remove or reset the values as needed. But bear in mind, this can be a tricky task and only computer professionals could carry it out safely. Furthermore, certain malicious programs are capable to defend against its removal. It is advised that you carry out the removal process in Safe Mode.
Files: %LOCALAPPDATA%\ConvertDocsOnlineTooltab %LOCALAPPDATA%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\pebplbnpogfdllkijjlabbjbbngdadjl %UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\pebplbnpogfdllkijjlabbjbbngdadjl %LOCALAPPDATA%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pebplbnpogfdllkijjlabbjbbngdadjl %UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pebplbnpogfdllkijjlabbjbbngdadjl Registry: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Google\Chrome\PreferenceMACs\Default\extensions.settings, value: pebplbnpogfdllkijjlabbjbbngdadjl HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\DOMStorage\convertdocsonline.dl.myway.com HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\DOMStorage\convertdocsonline.dl.tb.ask.com HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\ConvertDocsOnline HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\ConvertDocsOnline HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\[APPLICATION]\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall..Uninstaller ConvertDocsOnlineTooltab Uninstall Internet Explorer
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Guide for Removing FullTab From PC

FullTab is a Browser Extension for Google Chrome, Firefox, and Internet Explorer. When installed this extension hijacks your home page, and changes your default search engine to http://search.fulltabsearch.com. This extension usually comes bundled with other freeware software, and while installed it monitors your internet browsing activity, visited links, clicked pages, and other private information that it later uses to distribute targeted unwanted ads in your search results.

While this extension is installed, you will see modified search results, injected ads, sponsored links, web page redirects, and sometimes even pop-up ads. Several anti-virus scanners have detected this extension as a Browser Hijacker, and due to the information it is gathering from your computer it is not recommended to keep.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijackers (sometimes called hijackware) are a kind of malicious software that modifies web browser configuration settings without the user’s knowledge or consent. These hijacks appear to be increasing at an alarming rate globally, and they can be truly nefarious and sometimes harmful too. Browser hijackers are capable of doing more than just changing home pages. Usually, browser hijacking is utilized for earning advertising revenue that comes from forced ad clicks and website visits. Most people believe that such websites are legitimate and harmless but that is not the case. Almost every browser hijacker poses an actual threat to your online safety and it is necessary to categorize them under privacy risks. Browser hijackers can also let other vicious programs without your knowledge further damage your personal computer.

Browser hijacking signs and symptoms

There are numerous signs that indicate the web browser is hijacked: 1. your browser’s home page is suddenly different 2. you find redirected to internet sites you never meant to visit 3. the default web browser settings are modified and/or your default web engine is altered 4. you find unsolicited new toolbars added 5. unstoppable flurries of pop-up advertisements appear on your personal computer screen 6. webpages load slowly and sometimes incomplete 7. you can’t navigate to specific web pages, like computer security software-related sites.

Precisely how browser hijacker infects computers

There are many ways your PC can get infected with a browser hijacker. They usually arrive through spam e-mail, via file-sharing networks, or by a drive-by download. They are usually included with toolbars, BHO, add-ons, plug-ins, or browser extensions. Browser hijackers sneak to your pc in addition to free software application downloads also that you unintentionally install along with the original. Examples of popular browser hijackers include Fireball, GoSave, Ask Toolbar, CoolWebSearch, RocketTab, and Babylon Toolbar. The presence of any browser hijacker on your system can considerably diminish the web browsing experience, record your internet activities that lead to troublesome privacy concerns, diminish overall computer performance and cause application instability as well.

Removal

Some browser hijacking can be quite easily corrected by identifying and removing the corresponding malware software through your control panel. However, most hijackers are very tenacious and require specialized tools to remove them. And there’s no denying the very fact that the manual fixes and removal methods can certainly be a difficult job for a rookie PC user. Additionally, there are many risks associated with tinkering around with the pc registry files.

Virus Blocking Access To Safebytes Website And Anti-Malware Downloads - What You Should Do?

All malware is inherently dangerous, but certain types of malicious software do much more damage to your computer than others. Some malware is meant to interfere with or block things that you’d like to do on your computer. It may not allow you to download anything from the net or prevent you from accessing a few or all sites, especially antivirus websites. If you are reading this article now, you have probably recognized that a malware infection is a reason behind your blocked internet traffic. So how to proceed if you want to install an antivirus program such as Safebytes? There are some actions you can take to get around this problem.

Start Windows in Safe Mode

Safe Mode is actually a special, basic version of Microsoft Windows where just minimal services are loaded to counteract viruses and other troublesome programs from loading. If the malware is blocking the internet connection and affecting your PC, running it in Safe Mode will let you download anti-malware and run a scan while limiting possible damage. In order to enter into Safe Mode or Safe Mode with Networking, press F8 while the computer is booting up or run MSCONFIG and look for the “Safe Boot” options under the “Boot” tab. After you restart into Safe Mode with Networking, you can download, install, as well as update the anti-malware program from there. Right after installation, run the malware scanner to eliminate most standard infections.

Utilize an alternate internet browser to download an antivirus program

Malicious program code could exploit vulnerabilities on a specific web browser and block access to all anti-virus software websites. If you appear to have a virus attached to Internet Explorer, then switch over to a different browser with built-in safety features, such as Firefox or Chrome, to download your preferred antivirus program – Safebytes.

Make a bootable USB anti-virus drive

Another solution is to store and run an antivirus program completely from a Thumb drive. Do these simple measures to clean up your affected computer using portable anti-malware. 1) On a virus-free computer, download and install Safebytes Anti-Malware. 2) Put the pen drive into the uninfected PC. 3) Double-click on the downloaded file to run the installation wizard. 4) When asked, select the location of the pen drive as the place where you would like to store the software files. Do as instructed on the screen to finish up the installation process. 5) Now, insert the USB drive into the corrupted PC. 6) Run the Safebytes Anti-malware directly from the pen drive by double-clicking the icon. 7) Hit the “Scan Now” button to start the virus scan.

Ensure the Safety of Your PC by Using SafeBytes Anti-Malware Software

Do you want to install the best anti-malware application for your laptop? There are many applications available in the market that comes in free and paid versions for Windows systems. Some of them are great, some are decent, and some will affect your PC themselves! You need to go with a tool that has obtained a good reputation and detects not only computer viruses but other types of malware too. While thinking about trustworthy applications, Safebytes Anti-Malware is certainly the highly recommended one. SafeBytes anti-malware is a powerful, very effective protection application designed to assist users of all levels of IT literacy in finding and removing malicious threats from their personal computers. After you have installed this program, SafeBytes sophisticated protection system will make sure that absolutely no viruses or malicious software can seep through your computer. SafeBytes has outstanding features when compared to various other anti-malware programs. A few of them are given as below: Real-time Threat Response: SafeBytes provides round-the-clock protection for your personal computer restricting malware intrusions instantly. They’re extremely effective in screening and eliminating different threats because they’re regularly improved with new updates and safety measures. World-class AntiMalware Protection: With its advanced and sophisticated algorithm, this malware removal tool can detect and get rid of the malware threats hiding within your PC effectively. Quick Multithreaded Scanning: SafeBytes’s high-speed malware scanning engine cuts down scanning times and extends battery life. Simultaneously, it will effectively detect and eliminate infected computer files or any internet threat. Web Security: Through its unique safety rating, SafeBytes alerts you whether a site is safe or not to access it. This will make sure that you’re always certain of your safety when browsing the world wide web. Lightweight: This tool is not “heavy” on the computer’s resources, so you’ll not see any overall performance difficulties when SafeBytes is operating in the background. 24/7 Live Professional Support: You can obtain high levels of support round the clock if you’re using their paid software.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

To eliminate FullTab manually, navigate to the Add/Remove programs list in the Windows Control Panel and select the program you want to get rid of. For internet browser extensions, go to your web browser’s Addon/Extension manager and select the add-on you want to disable or remove. You’ll probably also want to reset your browser. To ensure the complete removal, find the following Windows registry entries on your system and remove them or reset the values accordingly. However, this is a challenging task and only computer professionals could carry it out safely. Moreover, certain malware keeps replicating which makes it difficult to eliminate. You are advised to do this process in Safe Mode.
Files: %LOCALAPPDATA%GoogleChromeUser DataDefaultExtensionsdddjdbagaalmcfiaklngpcdefppkhpnf %UserProfile%Local SettingsApplication DataGoogleChromeUser DataDefaultExtensionsdddjdbagaalmcfiaklngpcdefppkhpnf %LOCALAPPDATA%GoogleChromeUser DataDefaultExtensionsdfobofkgfnlaibpdigilbhhnampnfphg %UserProfile%Local SettingsApplication DataGoogleChromeUser DataDefaultExtensionskikgikaaibdokmgbiocgoeepfphfllml %LOCALAPPDATA%GoogleChromeUser DataDefaultExtensionskikgikaaibdokmgbiocgoeepfphfllml %LOCALAPPDATA%GoogleChromeUser DataDefaultExtensionsekeidcohoadhbbfgbhppjihllchhdgea %UserProfile%Local SettingsApplication DataGoogleChromeUser DataDefaultExtensionsdokppbonbkemcpplmcghjemlodkjcoif %LOCALAPPDATA%GoogleChromeUser DataDefaultExtensionsdokppbonbkemcpplmcghjemlodkjcoif %UserProfile%Local SettingsApplication DataGoogleChromeUser DataDefaultExtensionsekeidcohoadhbbfgbhppjihllchhdgea Registry: HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerDOMStoragewww.search.fulltabsearch.com HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftInternet ExplorerDOMStoragesearch.fulltabsearch.com HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareGoogleChromePreferenceMACsDefaultextensions.settings, value: dfobofkgfnlaibpdigilbhhnampnfphg
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Fix Windows Activation Error Code 0x8007007B in Windows 10
If you recently upgraded your computer or if you’ve just switched to a new Windows 10 PC, the most common errors you might encounter are the Windows Activation errors. This issue boils down to the Windows Activation server which has either failed to validate or recognize the license tied to the digital account. In this post, you will be guided on how to fix an activation error in an organization with an error code 0x8007007B. It contains this exact error message: “We can’t activate Windows on this device as we can’t connect to your organization’s activation server. Make sure that you’re connected to your organization’s network and try again. If you continue having problems with activation, contact your organization’s support person. Error code 0x8007007B.” Various computers are activated via the KMS licensing (Key Management Server) in organizations. Computers that are activated using this process do not get a permanent activation and have to stay connected to the organization instead of for at least 7 months or 180 days. It is common in Pro and Enterprise versions that are deployed in bulk for at least hundreds or thousands of computers. So imagine a user with a personal computer in the office who decided to leave the organization but will still have an activated Windows key. And so to prevent that from happening, organizations use the KMS licensing. Another possible cause of the error is in case some user used an organization key and later on, the PC just got upgraded or downgraded to a version that is not compatible with that copy of Windows. To fix this Windows Activation error, here are some suggestions that might help.

Option 1 – You can try connecting to the organization’s network and activate the computer. But before that, you need to first check if the computer actually belongs to an organization or not.

  • Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
  • Type “cmd” and hit Enter to open an elevated Command Prompt.
  • After that type the vbs /dlv command and hit Enter to execute it.
  • Next, check if the Product Key Channel says “GVLK”. If it does, then it means that your computer was activated using volume licensing.

Option 2 – Change Licence Key

If you’ve recently left an organization then it’s best if you buy another copy of Windows 10 and then change the license key. This time, make sure that the license key is for the same version of Windows. However, if it’s different, you need to format your computer.

Option 3 – You can try activating Windows 10 using a mobile phone

Activating Windows 10 can also be done using your phone. Just note that you have to call Microsoft to do so.
  • In the Start Search box, type in “Slui 4” and tap Enter.
  • Next, select your country and click on Next.
  • Keep the window open and call the toll-free number of the country you’re from.
  • Afterward, a confirmation ID should be given by the automated system which you must take a note of.
  • Finally, in the box on the window, type in the confirmation ID and click on the Activate button. That should do it.

Option 4 – If you think that the issue is caused by some hardware changes, you can try using the Activation Troubleshooter.

There are times when users already have the license keys and were able to activate Windows. However, it doesn’t last long and only works for a while and it’s suddenly throwing up an activation error like this one. To use the Windows Activation Troubleshooter, just go to Settings and to Activation and then run the troubleshooter from there. If you've made some modifications to your hardware, you have to click the “I changed hardware on this device recently” option for further suggestions.
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Close non responsive application in Windows
We have all been there, unfortunately, the application freezes, and sometimes it can even freeze whole windows. Well if the whole Windows freezes because of the application there is not much we can do except hard reset but if only the application freezes we can still kill it and return the PC in working condition. The first thing you can try is to press ALT + F4, this shortcut is for closing the program, if the application is frozen Windows will try to close it when using this shortcut, and if it succeeds you will find yourself on the desktop environment in Windows with non-responsive application taken care of. If however, this fails and the application is not closed, try ending it in the task manager. To open task manager press CTRL + SHIFT + ESC, locate unresponsive application select it, and click on the end task button on the bottom right.
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Change Font Size in Sticky Notes in Windows
Sticky Notes is one of the useful programs and in the early days, the option is available for users to change the font size of the text a lot easier. However, for some unknown reason, Microsoft decided to get rid of this feature in the latest Windows Update. One would expect that the feature will be replaced by an even more useful feature but it’s not which makes the Sticky Notes app worse than before. Worry not though for it doesn’t have to stay that way as there is another thing you can try to change the font size in your Sticky Notes app and that’s what we’re going to cover in this post. As mentioned, Microsoft removing this font feature is quite strange and in the past, users asked for this feature and since it’s no longer available, you can try following the steps given below to bring it back. And for that, you need to go to the Ease of Access section in the Settings app. Refer to the steps given below for more instructions. Step 1: First, tap the Win + I keys to open Settings and then go to the Ease of Access section. Step 2: After going to the Ease of Access menu and select Display from the list of options. Step 3: From there, you should see an option that says “Make text bigger”. And then use your mouse to navigate to the slider to change the size of the font. Note: Take note that after doing all the steps above, it will change not just the Sticky Notes app but also everything in Windows 10. This method is actually the best since it only changes the size of the apps rather than a wholesale change in your Windows 10 computer. Step 4: Next, scroll under Display until you see the “Change the size of apps and text on the main display” option where you’ll see that the option is 100% but you’ll want to change that to 125%. Step 5: After that, click on the drop-down menu and select 125% and then restart your Windows 10 computer. Step 6: Now open the Sticky Notes app and check if you can now change the font size in the Sticky Notes app.
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Hard drive shows wrong free space
If you are using your computer and you notice that Hard drive shows high space utilization even if you only have a few applications installed on your computer, then you’ve come to the right place as this post will guide you on what you can do to sort this problem. Upon noticing the odd state of your hard drive and you check the actual volume that’s occupied by the apps in your drive and you see that they are not really occupying a lot of space. This kind of issue could indicate that your hard drive is not showing the correct value for the free storage space of the drive-in your Windows 10 computer. This kind of problem could be passed off as a system bug, however, it could also be a serious problem. In fact, as you are aware, there are hidden folders and files in your computer that could be occupying space and since most of them are associated with system applications, you might not realize it unless you thoroughly check the folders.

The most common causes of the issue are as follows:

  1. The system information folder might be utilizing a lot of space. If you wonder where the information for the system restore points is stored, they are stored in the system information folder which in turn is stored in the drive as a hidden file.
  2. An issue with system maintenance could cause the problem.
  3. Malware or some other software might have created an undetectable hidden file.
  4. Space could be occupied by the trashbin folder.
  5. These hidden files could occupy significant space in the folder, thus slowing down the system and impacting its performance. If you face this issue, try our suggestions and see if they help you.
  6. Run ChkDsk
  7. Clear all Junk files
  8. Reduce the space occupied by the system restore points
  9. Run the System Maintenance troubleshooter

Option 1 – Run CHKDSK utility to check the drive for errors

When it comes to some issues concerning the hard drive or removable devices, there is a utility in Windows that might help which is called “chkdsk”. To use it, follow the steps below.
  • Tap the Win + S keys to open the Search box.
  • Then type “command prompt” in the field and from the search results that appear, right-click on Command Prompt and select “Run as administrator”.
  • After opening an elevated command prompt, copy and paste the following command and hit Enter:
CHKDSK [volume [[path] filename]] [/F] [/V] [/R] [/X] [/C] [: size]]
Note: In the command given above, “[/F]” will try to fix the system errors while “[/R]” will be the one to fix the bad sectors.
  • Now if you are prompted to run CHKDSK after your reboot your PC, just tap Y and reboot your PC.
  • If CHKDSK is not able to find any errors, tap the Win + E keys and navigate the access window. From there, right-click on the concerned drive and click on Properties.
  • After opening Properties, click on the tab Tools and then click on the “Check” button under the Error-checking section.
  • Wait until the process is completed and then restart your computer.

Option 2 – Try to delete the temporary files

The error could be caused by some temporary or junk files in your computer and so you need to clear them up to fix the problem. You can achieve that using the Storage Sense feature.
  • Open Setting > System > Storage from the WinX Menu.
  • From there, you will see a list of all the local and connected storage devices along with the details on the free space. Make sure that Storage Sense is on.
  • Next, find a link that says “Free Up Space” and click it to open.
  • After that, a screen which is the built-in program in Windows 10 will appear and will scan your computer for the following junk files so you can free up disk space: 
    • Windows Upgrade Log Files
    • The system created Windows Error Reporting Files
    • Thumbnails
    • Temporary Internet Files
    • Previous Windows Installation Files
    • Delivery Optimisation Files
    • DirectX Shader Cache
  • Choose the files you want to get rid of and then click on the remove files option. Note that you’ll have an idea of the total size as you select any of the junk files listed above.
  • Now go to the “Free Up Space Now” section and click the Clean Now button. This will get rid of all the temporary or junk files in your computer and should hopefully fix the error.

Option 3 – Try to reduce the space occupied by the system restore points

In case you don’t know, system restore points actually occupy a significant space in your computer which is stored in the System Information folder. Thus, you need to check the size of this folder and unhide the folders and files and then click on the folder. The size of the folder should be displayed in the right pane of the window. To fix the storage space problem, you could delete all the old System Restore Points as well as Previous versions of files or you could also restrict the disk usage of the System Restore points.

Option 4 – Try to run the System Maintenance troubleshooter

The problem could also be caused by the System Maintenance and to fix it, you have to run the System Maintenance troubleshooter by following these steps:
  • In the Windows Search bar, type “control panel” and double click on Control Panel from the search results.
  • Next, go to this path: Control PanelAll Control Panel ItemsTroubleshootingSystem and Security.
  • After that, click on the System Maintenance troubleshooter to run it.
  • Once the process is completed, restart your computer.
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Problem running preinstall.cmd scripts
Setting up the Windows operating system in a computer can be quite a complicated task since there are a couple of things that take place in the background to ensure a full and protected setup of the operating system which includes a number of programs, scripts, and so on. They work together in the background to guarantee the integrity of the Windows operating system. However, there are times when this piece of code could also go wrong. As a result, you might encounter errors like the “There was a problem running preinstall.cmd scripts” error. “Preinstall.cmd” is a type of CMD file associated with Applications & Drivers developed by Gateway for the Windows OS. To fix the “There was a problem running preinstall.cmd scripts” error, there are several things you can try. You can try to download a new Windows installation image or create a new bootable drive as well as uninstall conflicting or incompatible programs. In addition, you can also run the Windows Update troubleshooter or reset Windows 10.

Option 1 – Try to download a new Windows installation image

Your first option to fix the “There was a problem running preinstall.cmd scripts” error is to download a new Windows installation image. You can get the official ISO files for the latest release of Windows 10. After you’ve downloaded the ISO files, you can use them to upgrade to the latest Windows 10 version.

Option 2 – Try creating a new bootable drive

  • Insert your USB drive into your PC.
  • Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box and type in “cmd” and tap Enter to open the Command Prompt. Alternatively, you can also search for “cmd” in the Cortana search box to open Command Prompt.
  • Once you’ve opened CMD, type in this command to open the DISPART utility – diskpart
  • After that, you should see a new black and white window that would say, “DISKPART>”.
  • Next, type in “list disk” in the command line and tap Enter to see the list of all the Storage devices as well as your hard disk connected to your PC. Here, you have to identify your disk’s number.
  • Type in this command where “X” is the disk number you have identified and then tap Enter – disk X
  • Type in this command and hit Enter to clear the table records and all the visible data on the drive – clean
  • Now you have to recreate a new primary partition of the drive so you’ll have to type in this command and tap Enter right after – create part pri
  • A new primary partition has been created so you have to select it by typing this command and tapping Enter – select part 1
  • Now you have to format it to make it visible to normal users by typing – format fs=ntfs quick
Note: If your platform supports the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface or UEFI, replace the “NTFS” with “FAT32” in the command on Step 10.
  • After that, type in this command and tap Enter after – active
  • Finally, type this command and hit Enter to exit the utility – exit
  • After you prepare the image for the operating system, save it to the root of your USB Storage device.

Option 3 – Try to uninstall conflicting programs

If you are using a computer made by Dell and got Windows 10 preinstalled in it, then you can try to uninstall the programs listed below and see if it fixes the problem.
  • Dell Encryption Management service
  • Dell Digital Library service

Option 4 – Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter

You might also want to run the built-in Windows Update Troubleshooter in Windows that could help you in resolving the “There was a problem running preinstall.cmd scripts” error. All you have to do is go to Settings > Update& security > Troubleshoot > Windows Update. From there, click on the Run the troubleshooter button and follow the next one-screen instructions that appear. After that, restart your computer and check if the error is now fixed or not by trying to install the update once again.

Option 5 – Run Microsoft’s online troubleshooter

Running Microsoft’s online troubleshooter might also help you fix the error. This online troubleshooter is known to help in fixing Windows Update errors, it scans your computer for issues that might be causing the problem and then fixes them automatically.

Option 6 – Try to reset Windows 10

  • 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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How to Add Safe Mode to Windows 10 Boot Menu Options
In any Windows operating system, Safe Mode is definitely a special environment used for troubleshooting issues as well as system diagnostics. Safe Mode allows you to remove any malware in your computer and troubleshoot issues that can’t be fixed when you’re in desktop mode. This is why Microsoft made sure that the Safe Mode option is not available directly and can only be accessed by pressing function keys such as F2, F8 (depends on what PC you are using) or via MSConfig. To make it easier for you to access Safe Mode, this post will guide you on how you can add Safe Mode to the Boot Menu options in Windows 10. As you know, Windows 10 now has Advanced Startup options that allow you to boot directly into Safe Mode without having to restart your PC and then tapping the special key a couple of times. However, if you really have to always use Safe Mode, it’s best to add it in the Boot Menu options. To do that, simply follow the steps below.
  • Select Command Prompt (Admin) option from the WinX menu to open Command Prompt with administrator privileges.
  • After opening Command Prompt, type the bcdedit /copy {current} /d "Safe Mode" command and hit Enter.
  • Once the command is executed, you will see a message saying, “The entry was successfully copied to {74a93982-9486-11e8-99df-00270e0f0e59}”. This message indicates that Safe Mode was successfully added in the Boot menu option which means that you can now directly access it and boot your Windows 10 PC in that mode.
To check if Safe Mode was really added in the Boot menu options, you have to open Msconfig. From there, you will also have to use it to configure the boot settings for the Safe Mode entry. To do so, follow the given steps below.
  • Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
  • Then type “MSConfig” in the field and click OK.
  • Next, go to the Boot tab and find the Safe Mode option which should be located under the default Windows 10 mode.
  • Afterward, you need to select the Sage boot option and Minimal. You also have to select the Make all boot settings permanent option.
  • Make sure to increase the timeout to at least 10 seconds which will ensure that the menu does not disappear right away.
Note: In similar steps as above, you can add the Safe Mode with Networking and Safe Mode with Command Prompt entries as well. Just simply select “Network” for Safe Mode with Networking and “Alternate Shell” for Safe Mode with Command Prompt. Once you’re done adding any of them, click on Apply and restart your PC. In addition, if you wish to remove the entry, you just have to open MSConfig again and select the entry you want to remove, and then click Delete.
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Fixing TV screen resolution on PC
When you connect your TV via HDMI cable Windows will recognize it as another monitor and will control the display settings for your HDMI connection. In most cases using it as the extended desktop will work fine, issues will arise when you play video on it. Video playing applications can override Windows settings which can lead to strange results on the screen. Here in this guide, we will tackle with reasons and solutions to this particular issue. Solutions provided are not meant to be followed in the way they are presented but as a silent rule, they go from most common one to most rare so it is advisable to try them in the order presented.

FIXING RESOLUTION ISSUES

The first thing when experiencing resolution issues on your TV connected to a PC is to check TV settings. There is very likely a chance that you will need to manually adjust picture settings on the TV itself using TV controls. On older models of TV, there is an overscan option which can lead to different resolutions and screen sizes. Overscan is a technology that was used in order to help content creators to deliver consistent pictures on different screen sizes and aspect ratios but how technology has advanced and everything including aspect ratio was standardized overscan itself has become a relic of the past. If you are unable to access or see edges of your desktop on the TV screen it is very likely that overscan is the issue. In order to fix this be sure to select HDTV's aspect ratio to fit the screen setting in the picture setting. Sadly finding this option on your TV will be different from manufacturer to manufacturer and even from model to model of the same manufacturer so we can not cover all models but in most cases option is located under picture settings or advanced options. Sometimes you will face even different overscan settings instead of classic ft to screen options, in this case, experiment with the setting until you find one which will work. If you have it, find settings in the user manual of your TV. Luckily you have managed to find the proper option on your TV set and have chosen the right aspect ratio for display. If everything works ok there is no need for the next step but if you experience a different resolution than desired on your TV follow this next guide on how to change the resolution of the TV on your PC.
  1. Press the ⊞ Windows and type Change Display Settings. Click on the top result.
  2. Once the Display Settings App opens, you’ll see two screens (or more if you’ve got multiple HDMI outputs connected). Make sure you select the right display for the HDMI TV before making any changes. You can do this by clicking on Identify.
  3. You’ll see the number from the screenshot above displayed on the monitors for a brief period. Depending on which screen is set to your primary display, make sure you change the settings for the HDMI monitor.
  4. Select the HDMI monitor from the available displays.
  5. Scroll down until you see the current resolution settings for your HDMI monitor.
  6. You can change the resolution settings and test different values that match your HDMI TV’s configuration.
  7. Once you change the setting, Windows will apply the new resolution for a limited time and revert if you don’t accept the new setting.
  8. Once you’ve found the best resolution for your TV, select Keep Changes to keep the new resolution.
You are all set now, make sure that you have the latest drivers on your system and enjoy using your TV as a second monitor.
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Fix Failed to create a graphics device Error
As you know, the Windows 10 operating system has support for a dedicated high-end graphics processor that brings in capabilities inside to support Graphics Cards from NVIDIA or AMD. This helps the operating system to function in a much better way by segregating the graphics-intensive operations from the CPU to a dedicated processor. However, there are times when it also experiences some issues that lead to some errors like the “Failed to create a graphics device” error. It is possible that your computer has more than one screen or graphics card which is why you’re getting this error. To fix it, you need to try reinstalling DirectX or reinstall the Graphics Card driver. You could also try to manually check the hardware or power cycle of your computer. To start troubleshooting the “Failed to create a graphics device” error, follow the given suggestions below.

Option 1 – Try running the DirectX Diagnostic Tool

Since the error has something to do with the DirectX Graphics APIs, you can run the DirectX Diagnostic tool to resolve the problem.

Option 2 – Try updating or re-installing DirectX

If the DirectX Diagnostic tool didn’t work, you can try to update or reinstall DirectX instead. This can help in fixing the problem because when you reinstall or update DirectX, it will replace the incompatible or corrupted components of DirectX from your computer.

Option 3 – Update or reinstall the Graphics card drivers

  • 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.
Note: You also have the option to 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.

Option 4 – Try to physically check the hardware of your computer

You might also want to check the physical status of the hardware in your computer. You can clean the dust off the hardware components like the Graphics Card of the computer. In doing so, you have to use a small blower or you could also use a soft cloth and run the components gently. Make sure that you don’t damage any parts with moisture or cause harm to any circuits while you carry out this task.

Option 5 – Try to power cycle your computer

You could also try to power cycle your computer to fix the error. To do that, you have to turn off your computer in a way that the power is completely cut off and all the fresh configurations of files are loaded when your computer is booted up. The first thing you have to do is to shut down your computer and if you are using a laptop with a removable battery, you must remove the battery for a couple of minutes before you plug it back in and boot your laptop. On the other hand, if you are using a desktop computer, press and hold the power button until the CPU goes off and take out the power cable for a minute or so and then plug it back in. Boot your computer and see if the error has been resolved.
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