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.
System restore is usually the go-to tool when something goes bad in Windows, we fire it up and roll back Windows in the state when everything was working fine. But what if Windows does not want to boot? Can we use system restore in that case?
The answer to that question would be yes, yes we can.
Boot interrupt Windows 10 by starting your PC and as soon as you see the Windows logo; press and hold the power button to force a shutdown.
Repeat this 2-4 times and Windows will open up the Advanced Startup Options menu for you.
At the Advanced Startup Options screen, select Advanced Options.
Select Troubleshoot.
Under the Advanced options screen, select System Restore.
or if you prefer, use Windows USB installation.
Boot the faulty PC using the Windows 10 installation media.
The Windows Setup dialog box will appear.
Set the Time and currency format, Keyboard or input method, and the language to install.
Click Next.
Click on Repair your computer from the lower-left corner.
From the Choose an option screen, click on Troubleshoot.
Click Advanced Options in the Troubleshoot screen.
In the Advanced Options screen, click System Restore.
Windows will take some time to prepare System Restore. It may even restart your computer or device.
When System Restore is ready, you will be prompted to choose a user account to continue.
Select an account that is set as administrator on your Windows 10 computer or device.
At the next screen, change the keyboard layout if you want and then input the password for that account.
When we initiate the copy or move files command we get a dialog that shows us the progress of the current operation, under that bar we can click on the little arrow to expand the bar into so-called more details view where we get more information like which file is being copied, more detailed graph, etc.
Windows will remember the last option we had and next time when we start the same process it will open the last view.
But what if we want to only have one view always open as default, even if we change it? Let's say that we always want to have a detailed view opened always as our default even if we switch to a minimal one? Well with some tweaks in the registry of Windows we can.
Note that this guide will require changing things in the registry of Windows itself, it is always smart and recommended to make a safe backup of your registry, just in case.
FOR ALWAYS SHOW MORE DETAILS FOLLOW THIS GUIDE:
open notepad and paste the following code inside:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\OperationStatusManager]"EnthusiastMode"=dword:00000001
Go to File > Save as... and once the file save dialog opens choose at the bottom all files under file type. Save the file with extension .REG naming it whatever you want.
Right-click on file and choose Merge, confirm with YES and you are done, now each time when you start copy or move operation details view will be open.
FOR ALWAYS SHOW FEWER DETAILS FOLLOW THIS GUIDE:
open notepad and paste the following code inside:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\OperationStatusManager]"EnthusiastMode"=dword:00000000
Go to File > Save as... and once the file save dialog opens choose at the bottom all files under file type. Save the file with extension .REG naming it whatever you want.
Right-click on file and choose Merge, confirm with YES and you are done, now each time when you start copy or move operation minimal details view will be open.
When you encounter an error message that says, Chassis Intruded…Fatal Error…System Halted on your monitor then it indicates that the Chassis or the cabinet that holds the CPU, GPU, motherboard, and many more is open. It is a security feature offered by OEMs wherein a connector that is found in the motherboard can detect if the chassis component has been replaced or removed. There are a few OEMs that offer onboard speaker or PC chassis speaker which goes off in this kind of situation.
Obviously, the problem has something to do with the hardware and in most cases, you have to put the jumper back on the motherboard with the pin-labeled chassis signal and ground. There are times when some OEMs offer a simple switch that is armed automatically when you properly close the chassis. Thus, you need to check if this switch has something to do with the error. If there is no switch or if it doesn’t resolve the issue, although you may be able to get into Windows with a warm boot, the normal Windows boot won’t really work unless you fix the problem. It is rather false positive and has something to do with the RTC RAM state or the BIOS. You might need to completely disable the Chassis intrusion feature to fix the error.
Refer to the suggestions given below to try and fix the “Chassis Intruded, Fatal Error … System Halted” error.
Option 1 – Try to clear CMOS
You can easily clear CMOS by shorting two pins which can be found side by side on the motherboard. Keep in mind that it may vary from OEM to OEM although the basics are still the same to clear CMOS. In addition, you might also have to download the manual from the OEM’s website so that you’ll know its exact location.
Option 2 – Try booting into the BIOS
You can also try booting into the BIOS. All you have to do is tap either the DEL or F2 keys to get there. Note that everything will be set back to their default setting after you reset the CMOS.
Option 3 – Try disabling Chassis intrusion
In this option, you have to look for the Chassis intrusion feature in your BIOS. It might be located under security. From there, disable it and check if the problem’s fixed.
Option 4 – Try to reconfigure the BIOS
Once you have disabled the Chassis feature, you need to reconfigure the BIOS the way you expect it to be or to what it was before the reset.
One of the most common ways cybercriminals use to inject suspicious code into devices is by tricking users into installing a malicious program on a targeted device. Oblivious users are vulnerable to such tricks, which is why Microsoft has been working hard in the background to address this issue. Recently, Microsoft announced the availability of a sandboxed version of Windows 10 that runs inside Windows 10 in order to isolate suspected software to run inside it and protect the system from potential threats.
This Windows Sandbox feature is a new feature that keeps your computer secure. It is a virtual disposable environment that you can enable. So if suspect any software of being malicious, you can run this software in an environment and ensure that it won’t interfere with any normal processes and would not jeopardize files on your computer. To simply put it, “Windows Sandbox is a new lightweight desktop environment tailored for safely running applications in isolation”. So if the Sandbox is closed, all the residual files, software, and other data are deleted permanently. To enable Windows Sandbox, refer to the instructions provided below.
Step 1: You have to make sure that you are running either Windows 10 Enterprise Editions or Windows 10 Pro and that your computer is running build 18305 or newer.
Step 2: After that, you have to enable Virtualization to let another instance of Windows 10 running in Sandbox mode.
Step 3: Next, search for Windows Features on and off in the search box and then select the appropriate entry.
Step 4: From the list, go to the mini window and check the Windows Sandbox and then click on OK.
Step 5: Afterwards, in the Cortana Search box, search for “Windows Sandbox” and select the related entry to run it in an elevated window.
Step 6: Then from your main computer (host), copy the executable file and paste it inside the Windows Sandbox environment.
Step 7: Now run the executable file in the Sandbox environment and use it as you normally do.
Step 8: Once you’re done, close the Windows Sandbox application and as mentioned, every data regarding the executable file and the temporary environment will be deleted.
Step 9: And for the sake of safety, ensure that there are no modifications made to the host because of the executions in the Sandbox environment.
You have the option to contact Microsoft for feedback related to Windows Sandbox. You can use the traditional Feedback Hub if you have any suggestions or any issues. Just fill in the appropriate details and select Windows Sandbox for the feature category under the Security and Privacy section. And if you have any issues related to the execution of and within Windows Sandbox, simply choose “Recreate my problem” then select Start capture to reproduce the issue, and once you’re done, select Stop capture.
DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL will cause your computer to go to the blue screen of death but do not worry there are solutions around this and we are here to instruct you on how to solve this.
Uninstall and install network drivers
DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL is most commonly tied to bad network drivers, whatever that be a corruption of the driver files or their incompatibility. So first thing is to check if this is the case.
Press ⊞ WINDOWS + X to open the hidden menu in Windows and click on Device Manager.
In the Device Manager expand Network adapters, choose adapter, right-click on it and choose Uninstall.
Install latest driver or reboot so Windows will install the driver automatically
Update driver
If you do not want to reinstall the driver or you are unable to for whatever reason updating the driver might do the trick. To update driver:
Press ⊞ WINDOWS + X to open the hidden menu in Windows and click on Device Manager.
In the Device Manager expand Network adapters, choose adapter, right-click on it and choose Update Driver.
Fix via Command prompt
If both of the beforementioned solutions fail, try running the command prompt and fix the issue from there.
Press ⊞ WINDOWS + X to open the hidden menu in Windows and click on Command Prompt (administrator)
In command prompt type next line and press ENTERDEL /F /S /Q /A “C:\Windows\System32\drivers\mfewfpk.sys
Reboot the system
Scan your PC for malware
Sometimes corruption in the system is caused by malware, Scan your system for malware, viruses, etc.
Check connections or other hardware issues
If all methods fail, open your PC case and check to see if connections everywhere are properly connected and tight. Clean your PC and turn it back ON
Use system restore
If anything fails, use Windows system restore and bring back computer into a state where everything was working fine.
Hello and welcome to our Reasons to Defrag Hard Drive. You ought to defrag your hard drive, in case your PC is slow. This could enhance the efficiency and pace of your PC too as its hardware longevity.
It places them where there is space, whenever your PC saves files. Often files are separated into bits. For example, whenever you remember a file and focus on it, it frequently doesn't fit back in exactly the same physical place. Where it can your PC divides up the file, occasionally into several parts, and saves it.
Why defrag?
Fragmentation causes difficulties that doing a defrag can correct. Fragmented files because it requires more resources and time to locate and remember these files slow down your pc. Applications may also take longer to load. Defragging can prolong the life span of the components. A defragged hard disk too can raise your likelihood of recovering lost information.
Once fragmentation starts, it can propagate fast -- demanding defragging.
It's like the pages of a publication are divided and hidden in several locations around a house, if a file is fragmented. It's like the pages of the book being brought back together, should you defrag. Defragging discovers all the bits of the file and places them in contiguous, actual places.
How will you defrag?
To defrag your hard drive, you must utilize software or utility. There are lots of defragging tools available. SpeedyPC Pro, a whole package of cleaning and optimization tools, can defragment your PC.
Before you defrag, it's best to assess your hard drive. This evaluation finds if a defrag is needed and how much of the disc is fragmented. You simply allow the application do the work if it's determined that you must defrag your PC to enhance performance.
To be able to defrag a drive, free disk space will be required by your PC.
Defragging can take a while. How long depends on several variables, such as the system resources accessible, the disc volume, the number of files, and how fragmented the files are. It's a great idea to defrag when you don't have to use your pc or it isn't doing other jobs. For example, the night could become a great time to defrag. Be certain to close out of resource-intensive applications, like your antivirus scanner, before you defrag.
Error 400 is a bad request error that displays in the internet browser like a web page. It pops up when the web page you’ve requested cannot be found. Error 400 may be displayed in one of the following formats on the computer screen:
‘400 Bad Request’
Bad Request - Invalid URL"
"HTTP Error 400 - Bad Request"
"Bad Request. Your browser sent a request that this server could not understand.”
"HTTP Error 400. The request hostname is invalid."
"400 - Bad request. The request could not be understood by the server due to malformed syntax. The client should not repeat the request without modifications."
Solution
Error Causes
Error 400 can be generated due to multiple reasons. These include:
Wrong URL
Browser cookies
Outdated DNS cache
Though this error code is not fatal like the blue screen of death and runtime errors nonetheless it is still advisable to fix it to access your desired website without any inconvenience.
Further Information and Manual Repair
Here are some of the best ways to fix error 400 on your PC without any professional help. Try these methods to resolve error 400:
Method 1
This might come to you by surprise that the most common cause for a 400 Bad Request error is because the URL of the website was typed wrong.
So, first things first make sure the URL you’ve inserted is correct. If the URL typed is correct, then try other methods illustrated below.
Method 2
Sometimes error 400 may pop up due to outdated DNS records. DNS cache stores the location (IP addresses) of web servers that contain pages that you’ve viewed recently.
You are unable to access the site if the location of the webserver changes before the entry in your DNS cache updates. If this is the error cause then simply clear your DNS cache to resolve.
Follow these steps to clear the DNS cache on Windows 8.
Press Win+X to open the WinX menu.
Now ‘right click’ on command prompt and select RUN as Administrator. Enter the following command:
ipconfig /flushdns
If the command was successful, you will see the following message:
Windows IP configuration successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache.
This method will hopefully repair error 400 on your computer screen.
Method 3
Another reason for error 400 can be browser cookies. Many sites report error 400 when a cookie it reads is corrupt or too old. In such a situation it is advisable to clear your browser cookies.
You can do it manually but it can be time-consuming virtually because the steps involved in deleting cookies differ considerably depending on what web browser you’re using.
So, to avoid the hassle it is advisable to download Reimage to remove browser cookies immediately. This is a user-friendly PC Fixer deployed with a powerful registry cleaner.
It removes all obsolete and unnecessary files from your PC including junk files, internet history, and cookies in seconds.
Click here to download Restoro.
BSOD or Blue Screen of Death errors are one of the toughest issues you can encounter in Windows 10 as well as the hardest ones to resolve as they simply shut the system down or restart it abruptly and claims that it isn’t possible to boot Windows again. One of the difficult BSOD errors is the Machine Check Exception BSOD error. The reason why it is hard to fix is that in most cases, it occurs soon after Windows loads which gives users little to no time in resolving it. To make things worse, the system also freezes right before it displays the blue screen error and shuts the system down.
Usually, the Machine Check Exception Stop error occurs due to the failure or overstressing of the hardware components. And in the case of almost all Blue Screen of Death errors, the issue usually has something to do with the drivers. So if you frequently see this BSOD error from time to time, now’s the time to act on it by following the solutions given in this post.
Option 1 – Update the Device drivers
Tap the Win + R keys to launch Run.
Type in devmgmt.msc into the box and tap Enter or click OK to open the Device Manager.
After that, a list of device drivers will be displayed. Look for the device driver you and then select either “Update driver” or “Uninstall device”. And if you find any “Unknown device”, you need to update it as well.
Select the “Search automatically for updated driver software” option and then follow the instructions to complete the process.
If you have chosen to uninstall the driver, follow the screen options to complete the process and then restart your PC.
Connect the device and Scan for hardware changes – you can see this option under Device Manager > Action.
Option 2 – Try running the Blue Screen Troubleshooter
The Blue Screen troubleshooter is a built-in tool in Windows 10 that can be found on the Settings Troubleshooters page. To use it, refer to these steps:
Tap the Win + I keys to open the Settings panel.
Then go to Update & Security > Troubleshoot.
From there, look for the option called “Blue Screen” on your right-hand side and then click the “Run the troubleshooter” button to run the Blue Screen Troubleshooter and then follow the next on-screen options. Note that you might have to boot your PC into Safe Mode.
Option 3 – Try running 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 Machine Check Exception BSOD error. 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:
Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.
Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them.
Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them.
Option 4 – Run the Startup Repair
In the Blue Screen where the Machine Check Exception error is displayed, tap the F8 key to go to the Startup Settings where you can find Startup Repair and then run it. Note that this is a must-try option especially if you are unable to start your computer and if you can use your computer for a few moments.
Option 5 – Run the DISM tool
There are cases when the Machine Check Exception error is caused by the Windows System Image so you need to repair it using the DISM or Deployment Imaging and Servicing Management tool. The DISM tool is another command-line tool in the Windows operating system that could help users fix various corrupted system files. To use it, follow these steps:
Open the Command Prompt as admin.
Then type in this command: Dism /Online /CheckHealth
Do not close the window if the process takes a while as it will probably take a few minutes to finish.
Option 6 – Try resetting the BIOS
If you have made some modifications in the BIOS that might have caused this error, you have to revert those changes to resolve the issue. On the other hand, if you have made a couple of changes and you do not remember which is which, you might have to reset the BIOS.
Option 7 – Try resetting Windows 10
To fix this BSOD error, you can try resetting Windows 10. Doing so won’t get rid of any file in your system – instead of erasing all your media files and documents, this reset option resets all the system settings and files.
Wondering if upgrading to Windows 11 will boost your gaming experience? We can’t give you a straightforward answer, sadly. But we can take you through the tweaks you can expect if you have all the right requirements and help you make a final decision.
Is Windows 11 good for gaming?
Essentially, the answer to this question is yes. Microsoft has definitely added a bunch of enhancements and features to its latest OS to give gamers the best possible experience. However, you have to keep in mind that this may not work out smoothly for every single user.
Whether you’ll be able to fully take advantage of the Windows 11 gaming features really depends on your setup. As expected, Windows 11 has more demanding system requirements than its predecessor.
So, unless your hardware can run the new OS comfortably, you might not be able to make the most of all these gaming perks. In that case, we recommend you first upgrade your hardware and then make the switch. Be prepared to be a little surprised by a few other interesting changes in comparison to Windows 10, though!
For some of the new gaming features to work, it’ll also be necessary for you to have an NVMe SSD and an HDR-compatible monitor. So let’s take a look at 4 big improvements you can expect if your setup is compatible.
Gaming enhancements on Windows 11
1. Enjoy faster loading speed with DirectStorage
For this powerful feature to work, you need a compatible graphics card and, as stated before, an NVMe SSD. It’s also important for your GPU to support the DirectX 12 graphics API at least. And since we’re on that subject, you’ll be happy to know that Windows 11 has also introduced a new version of the API called DirectX 12 Ultimate.
Now, what does DirectStorage do? It’s a new feature designed to make full use of the speedy storage of NVMe SSDs. It also transfers game data directly onto the graphics card, lightening the load on your CPU. Normally the CPU would have to decompress the data first, but DirectStorage helps bypass this. That’s how loading times are reduced and games run more smoothly.
2. Fully immerse yourself through Game Mode
Windows 11’s Game Mode is certainly a welcomed addition. When you turn on Game Mode, usage of background apps that aren’t essential to your game is reduced. This results in the game you’re running becoming a priority process. This way, it uses your hardware and system resources to the max. Ultimately, the Game Mode means less lag and higher frame rates so you can play undisturbed and fully enjoy your gaming session.
3. Vibrant visual experience thanks to AutoHDR
For this one you’ll absolutely need an HDR-compatible monitor. Basically, HDR (High Dynamic Range) means a wider range of contrasts and colors that can be displayed on a monitor.
Windows 10 has an HDR feature, but you have to turn it on and off manually (“Use HDR”). Plus, users have reported that, if left on, it results in an unappealing appearance of content other than movies and games.
Windows 11 fixes that problem with its AutoHDR feature. Toggling it results in the system automatically adjusting the color contrast, balance and brightness based on what you’re currently looking at. For gamers, this means vivid imagery in every single game, resulting in a supreme visual experience. You can check out Microsoft’s own video showcasing the power of AutoHDR.
Aside from AutoHDR, another way Windows 11 improves the visual aspect is through its support for refresh rates of up to 360Hz.
4. Xbox Game Pass & Game Bar
It’s no secret that Microsoft wants to integrate Windows and Xbox. We’ve seen some attempts with Windows 10, but they’re pretty wonky compared to the new OS.
Windows 11’s built-in Xbox Game Bar enables quite a few options all gamers desire. You can take screenshots and videos of your game and send them, for starters. Furthermore, you can use it to see audio settings and monitor your PC’s performance without having to leave the game or open the Task Manager.
Widgets are also a really cool part of the Game Bar. You can choose from a wide variety of widgets, such as Xbox Achievements, Spotify, Gallery, Xbox Social and more.
Moreover, the Xbox Game Pass has been streamlined on Windows 11. Game Pass is a subscription service that unlocks hundreds of awesome games and supports cloud streaming. Do keep in mind that the games are only unlocked for a certain period of time, as the selection rotates once in a while.
What can you do for a better gaming experience?
Windows 11 does offer tweaks that require zero input from you. However, there are a few things you can do manually to get even more out of your new OS while gaming.
Turn off enhanced pointer precision. Most games enhance precision by default, so having this feature on might interfere with that.
Make sure to select your high performance graphics card for each game. Go to Settings > Gaming > Game Mode and tap ‘Graphics’ from the ‘Related settings’ menu. Find the game you want to adjust, click on ‘Options’ and choose your high performance graphics card to be the default setting. While there, you can also turn on ‘Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling’ at the top.
Disable unnecessary apps and programs. As long as they aren’t essential to running your game, they might take up valuable system resources, so disable them to make space for your gaming requirements.
Check for pending updates and install them. It’s well-known that out-of-date software causes bugs, latency and crashes. The same goes for your GPU drivers.
Use the High-performance power plan (Control Panel > Power Options > Additional plans) to maximize the use of resources for the best possible performance.
Summary
Windows 11 has done quite a bit for avid gamers. We hope your setup is compatible with all these new features and you can experience these enhancements ASAP!
It seems that Microsoft is going to offer subscription and sales of individual office applications in the Windows Store. The office package will still be available as a package but for the first time, we will get single applications as standalone ones available for purchase.
This is a very interesting decision by Microsoft and I fully support it, this time users will be able to pay less and to choose only applications that they need instead of paying for the whole package and not using it.