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.
As you probably know, uTorrent is one of the best software you can use to download torrents over the web. It has been around for many years now and is trusted by lots of users despite having competition here and there.
Over the years, uTorrent has changed as it is now packed with tons of features. What’s more, is that this program is no longer the smallest client when it comes to file size. However, just like other software, it is not always working smoothly as there are instances when it’s not responding even when it’s already running. The first thing you can do is to close all the processes of uTorrent and then try opening it again.
There are various reasons why your uTorrent program fails to respond. However, it is most likely caused by some virus that was brought on by the file you’ve just downloaded. On the other hand, it could also be caused by other factors as well but whichever the case is, here are some fixes you can check out to resolve the uTorrent issue.
Option 1 – Delete the file you’ve downloaded
As pointed out earlier, uTorrent might have failed to respond due to some file you’ve just downloaded which is why you have to delete it since there really is no point in keeping a file that’s causing this kind of issue. After deleting the file, try opening uTorrent again and see if it now works or not.
Option 2 – Allow uTorrent to run via Windows Defender Firewall
Click on the Cortana or the Start button and type “firewall” in the field.
From the search results that appear, click on the “Allow an app through Windows firewall”.
After that, a new window will pop up and from there, you will see a list of apps that can be allowed or disallowed using a Windows firewall. From this list, you have to search for uTorrent and once you find it, set it to Publick if you are on a public network or Private if you’re in a private network.
Option 3 – Uninstall or reinstall uTorrent software
You can also try to completely uninstall uTorrent from your computer and then reinstall it right back. to do so, follow the steps below.
In the search box, type in “control” and then click on Control Panel (desktop app) among the search results.
After that, select Programs and Features from the list which will give you a list of all the programs installed on your computer.
From there, look for uTorrent and select it and then uninstall it.
Once uTorrent is uninstalled, go to uTorrent’s official website and download its latest version.
Option 4 – Try scanning your computer using Windows Defender
Tap the Win + I keys to open Update & Security.
Then click on the Windows Security option and open Windows Defender Security Center.
Next, click on Virus & threat protection > Run a new advanced scan.
Now make sure that Full Scan is selected from the menu and then click the Scan Now button to get started.
Universal Windows Platform (UWP) applications are the modern application in the windows store that can be used in all the Window devices like Xbox, Hololens, Tablet, PC or Phone. Basically, UWP provides a common platform for every device that runs Windows 10. When attempting to login into these applications and receive this error:
Can’t sign in with a Microsoft accountThis program is blocked by group policy. For more information, contact your system administrator.0x8000704ec
Then this post is for you. We will guide you on how to easily resolve issues, please follow the steps provided.
Local group policy editor solution
Press ⊞ WINDOWS + R to open the Run dialog.
In the Run dialog box type gpedit.msc and press ENTER to open Group Policy Editor.
Inside the Local Group Policy Editor, navigate to the path below:
Computer Configuration > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Local Polices > Security Options
On the right pane, double-click on Accounts: Block Microsoft accounts to edit its properties.
Under Local Security Setting tab, click on the drop-down and select This policy is disabled.
Click Apply > OK to save the changes.
Exit Group Policy Editor.
Registry editor solution
As always, it is highly recommended to make a backup of the registry editor just in case that something goes wrong.
Press ⊞ WINDOWS + R to open the Run dialog.
In the Run dialog box, type regedit and hit ENTER to open Registry Editor.
Error code 0x8007007e often occurs when users attempt to use Windows Update but are unable to access updates or webpages. To resolve this issue, you will need to use tools that detect and correct corrupted files as this is usually the main reason for the error.
Solution
Error Causes
Once this error code is encountered, it's a clear indication that your Operating System has malfunctioned. This could be a consequence of an incorrect or failed installation of software. The software might leave invalid entries in the Windows registry. Improper shut down of your system and a malware attack are also causes of error code 0x8007007e. Additionally, someone with little or no technical knowledge might have deleted a system file by accident. Missing system files can also equate to other error codes such as registry error code 19.
You may not always be able to prevent issues from affecting your computer, but proper measures can be taken to limit your risk of experiencing problems like error code 0x8007007e. See the following suggestions below:
Ensure proper system maintenance by regularly using your automated tool. This will ensure your system is in good shape and error-free. It will also clean your system regularly leading to a boost in PC performance
Keep antivirus software up-to-date. Antivirus software if crucial for the proper functioning of your computer. Keeping your antivirus updated is one of the best ways you can avoid problems with your PC.
Further Information and Manual Repair
Method One: System File Checker
System File Checker is a Windows tool that allows users to check their system for corrupt or bad system files. The utility scans for corrupt files and repairs them as well as files that may have gone missing.
Depending on the type of Windows operating system on your computer, you may need to follow varying instructions. However, note that Windows operating systems including Windows 10 and Windows 8 or 8.1 and Windows Vista all provide access to System File Checker via Command Prompt.
Once you run System File Checker, the tool should be able to repair and replace corrupted files. However, in cases where the repair process does not take place, you can attempt a manual repair by replacing the corrupt file the tool identifies with a good file. The process may require technical knowledge of Command Prompt so consider help from a Windows repair technician or consider contacting Windows for instructions based on your computer’s operating system.
Method Two: Run System Restore Tool
The System Recovery Options menu in Windows contains many tools which can enable users to resolve serious errors. In the case of Error Code 0x8007007e, one of the best tools in this menu is System Restore.
When an error occurs which inhibits users from accessing key functions on their system, System Restore enables the user to restores the computer to an earlier period without causing harm to files, photos, or documents.
However, once you run this tool, you will only be able to access files available within the period to which your computer is restored. For this reason, carefully consider which period is best suited to your purposes. Also, ensure you restore the system to a time when error code 0x8007007e was not present on your machine.
If System Restore does not resolve the error, you may undo the restoration changes. Ensure you have sufficient free space on your machine hard disk before you proceed (300 MB at least for hard drives above 500MB or at least 50 MB for smaller sized disks).
Method Three: Download Automated Software
When it comes to resolving error codes, it can often be a frustrating and tricky venture, especially when you are attempting to fix the problem manually. The Internet is awash with bits and pieces of instruction, some misleading at best with uncertain success rates.
But what if there was a one-stop-shop or better yet a tool that offered solutions for error codes including 0x8007007e? Download a powerful automated tool that offers easy and effective, user-friendly solutions for users with varying error code problems.
Security on your PC and on your accounts is the important thing. Security on your phone device is also very very important. That is why we are bringing you a list of 8 applications that are marked by the cybersecurity team as ones that could be used to steal data from you. If you have by any chance any of these applications installed, uninstall them immediately.
List is as follows:
Cake VPN (com.lazycoder.cakevpns)
Pacific VPN (com.protectvpn.freeapp)
eVPN (com.abcd.evpnfree)
BeatPlayer (com.crrl.beatplayers)
QR/Barcode Scanner MAX (com.bezrukd.qrcodebarcode)
FindWide is a browser add-on for Internet Explorer. This addon Hijacks your home page and internet search provider changing it to search.findwide.com. Alternate versions change the homepage to search.us.com.
This addon monitors your user activity while you are surfing the web. It collects user and browsing data, that it uses to better display targeted ads. While browsing with this addon enabled you will see additional ads, sponsored links, and even sometimes pop-up ads displaying throughout your browsing sessions.
Several anti-virus programs have marked this addon as a Browser Hijacker and is therefore not recommended to keep on your computer.
From the Author: Each search engine has its own method of searching and each will return different results. Findwide.com looks at all of them, decides which are most relevant to your search, eliminates duplicates, and reveals them to you. In the end, you get a list of results more complete than using any one search engine alone.
Help! Malware Blocking Antivirus Installation And Access To The Internet
Viruses could cause plenty of damage to your computer. Some malware is meant to restrict or block things that you wish to do on your personal computer. It may well not permit you to download anything from the net or it will stop you from accessing some or all websites, especially the anti-malware websites. If you’re reading this, you probably have got infected by a virus that prevents you from installing a computer security program like Safebytes Antimalware on your PC. Even though this kind of problem can be tougher to get around, there are some steps you can take.
Download the application in Safe Mode with Networking
If any virus is set to run automatically when Microsoft Windows starts, entering Safe Mode could block the attempt. Since only the bare minimum applications and services launch in safe mode, there are seldom any reasons for conflicts to take place. To launch your Windows XP, Vista, or 7 PCs in Safe Mode with Networking, follow the instructions below.
1) Press the F8 key continuously as soon as your computer boots, but before the big Windows logo comes up. This will bring up the Advanced Boot Options menu.2) Choose Safe Mode with Networking using arrow keys and press ENTER.3) When you are into this mode, you will have online access again. Now, utilize your browser to download and install Safebytes.4) Following installation, do a full scan and let the software get rid of the threats it discovers.
Switch over to an alternate web browser
Certain malware might target vulnerabilities of a specific web browser that obstruct the downloading process. In the event you suspect that your Internet Explorer has been hijacked by malware or otherwise compromised by hackers, the best course of action is to switch over to an alternate internet browser such as Chrome, Firefox, or Safari to download your chosen computer security application – Safebytes Anti-Malware.
Install antivirus on a USB drive
Here’s another solution which is using portable USB anti-malware software that can scan your computer for malicious software without needing installation. Follow these steps to run the anti-malware on the affected computer system.
1) Download Safebytes Anti-Malware or MS Windows Defender Offline onto a clean computer.2) Plug the Flash drive into the uninfected computer.3) Double-click the exe file to open the installation wizard.4) When asked, select the location of the pen drive as the place in which you want to put the software files. Follow the directions to complete the installation process.5) Transfer the USB drive from the clean PC to the infected PC.6) Double-click the anti-malware software EXE file on the thumb drive.7) Press the “Scan” button to run a full computer scan and remove malware automatically.
Protect Your PC & Privacy With SafeBytes Anti-Malware
To help protect your computer or laptop from various internet-based threats, it is very important to install anti-malware software on your computer system. However, with countless numbers of antimalware companies in the marketplace, nowadays it is actually challenging to decide which one you should obtain for your laptop. A few are good ones, some are decent, while some are simply just fake anti-malware software that will harm your PC themselves! You must be careful not to choose the wrong product, especially if you buy a premium program. Among few good applications, SafeBytes Anti-Malware is the highly recommended program for security-conscious people.
SafeBytes anti-malware is a trustworthy tool that not only protects your PC completely but is also very easy to use for people of all skill levels. With its cutting-edge technology, this application can help you eliminate multiples types of malware like computer viruses, trojans, PUPs, worms, ransomware, adware, and browser hijackers.
SafeBytes anti-malware offers an array of advanced features which sets it apart from all others. The following are some typical features present in this computer software:
Real-time Threat Response: Malware programs attempting to enter the system are discovered and stopped as and when detected by the SafeBytes active protection shields. This tool will always monitor your PC for any suspicious activity and updates itself continuously to keep current with the latest threats.
Robust Anti-malware Protection: By using a critically acclaimed anti-malware engine, SafeBytes offers multilayered protection that is made to catch and eliminate threats that are concealed deep inside your computer.
Web Filtering: Through its unique safety score, SafeBytes alerts you whether a website is safe or not to visit it. This will assure that you’re always certain of your safety when browsing the net.
Lowest CPU/Memory Usage: SafeBytes is well-known for its low effect on computer resources and great detection rate of countless threats. It runs quietly and efficiently in the background so you are free to use your computer at full power all the time.
Fantastic Technical Support: Support service is accessible 24 x 7 x 365 days via chat and email to answer your queries.
To conclude, SafeBytes Anti-Malware is really great for securing your computer against all sorts of malware threats. Once you’ve installed SafeBytes Anti-Malware, you will no longer have to bother about malware or other security concerns. If you’re searching for a comprehensive antivirus program that’s still easy to use, SafeBytes Anti-Malware is just what you need!
Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)
If you do not wish to use an automated tool and like to eliminate FindWide manually, you could possibly do so by going to the Windows Add/Remove Programs menu in the Control Panel and deleting the offending program; in cases of browser plug-ins, you can uninstall it by visiting the browser’s Add-on/Extension manager. You might also want to reset your home page and search engine providers and also clear your browser cache and cookies.
Finally, examine your hard disk for all of the following and clean your Windows registry manually to remove leftover application entries following uninstalls. But bear in mind, this is often a complicated task and only computer professionals could perform it safely. In addition, some malware is capable of replicating or preventing removal. Carrying out this malware-removal process in Safe Mode is suggested.
Files:
C:\Documents and Settings\%USERNAME%\Local Settings\Application Data\TNT2.0.0.1599\Autorun.inf
C:\Documents and Settings\%USERNAME%\Local Settings\Application Data\TNT2.0.0.1599\crx.tar
C:\Documents and Settings\%USERNAME%\Local Settings\Application Data\TNT2.0.0.1599\ffassist.1.dll
C:\Documents and Settings\%USERNAME%\Local Settings\Application Data\TNT2.0.0.1599\GLOBALUNINSTALL.TNT
C:\Documents and Settings\%USERNAME%\Local Settings\Application Data\TNT2.0.0.1599\hmac.1.dll
C:\Documents and Settings\%USERNAME%\Local Settings\Application Data\TNT2.0.0.1599\iehpr.1.dll
C:\Documents and Settings\%USERNAME%\Local Settings\Application Data\TNT2.0.0.1599\iestage2.1.dll
C:\Documents and Settings\%USERNAME%\Local Settings\Application Data\TNT2.0.0.1599\IEToolbar.dll
C:\Documents and Settings\%USERNAME%\Local Settings\Application Data\TNT2.0.0.1599\IEToolbar64.dll
C:\Documents and Settings\%USERNAME%\Local Settings\Application Data\TNT2.0.0.1599\INSTALL.TNT
The Adaptive Brightness setting in Windows 10 is a useful setting you can use in adjusting your computer’s brightness. It helps you get the brightness automatically based on the light around your computer. However, there are times when it does not work or it doesn’t turn off when you want it to. If this issue happened right after you update or install Windows 10, then read on as this post will give you a couple of options you can try to resolve the problem.
Option 1 – Try to run the Power Troubleshooter
The first thing you can do to resolve the issue with Adaptive Brightness is to run the Power Troubleshooter as the problem could occur due to some conflicted power settings. To use it, refer to the following steps:
Open the Windows 10 Settings panel and go to Update & Security and then to Troubleshoot.
After that, scroll down to your left-hand side and click the Power option.
From there, you should see the “Run the troubleshooter” button. Click on it to fix the problem.
Afterward, follow the next on-screen instructions that follow.
Option 2 – Try disabling or turning off the corresponding options in GPU settings
The problem might be due to the Graphics card settings. If you are using either an AMD graphics card or the HD graphics of Intel, you may have to disable the power-related options in the GPU settings. To be specific, you have to disable the Vari-Bright in AMD graphics card settings or the Display Power Saving Technology under Intel’s Graphics panel.
AMD users:
Open the AMD Radeon settings panel.
Then go to Preferences. From there, select Radeon Additional Settings.
Next, go to the Power tab and click the PowerPlay option.
You should find an option called “Enable Vari-Bright” located on your right-hand side. Remove the mark from its checkbox and then save the changes you’ve made.
Intel users:
Open the Intel Graphics and Media Control Panel from your Desktop.
Then select the Basic mode and go to the Power tab.
From there, select “On battery” as Power Source and then you’ll get the Display Power Saving Technology option. It should be set to enabled by default.
Now remove the mark from the checkbox and then save the changes you’ve made.
Option 3 – Try resetting the Power Plan defaults
You might also want to use a command-line tool to resolve the problem. This command-line tool is known as PowerCfg. It is a command utility tool that will scan your computer for 60 seconds to know its power. This tool gives detailed results in the form of an HTML report that will help you in evaluating the real cause of the battery drain issues. You can also use this tool to reset the Power Plan defaults of your computer. To use it, follow the steps below.
Open the Command Prompt as administrator.
Then type in the following command and tap Enter to execute it:
powercfg –restoredefaultschemes
After the command has been executed, restart your computer.
Option 4 – Try updating your Graphics drivers
First, boot your computer into Safe Mode.
After that, 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. 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 5 – Try disabling adaptive brightness via Registry Editor
Since you will be dealing with Registry files in this post, you need to create a System Restore point first. Once you have that covered, proceed to the following steps:
Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
Next, type “regedit” in the field and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor.
After that, navigate to this path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREIntelDisplayigfxcuiprofilesMediaBrighten Movie
Now double click on the “ProcAmpBrightness” and set its value to “0”.
Now go to this path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREIntelDisplayigfxcuiprofilesMediaDarken Movie
From there, double click on “ProcAmpBrightness” and set the value to “0”.
Then close the Registry Editor and restart your PC and then see if the problem’s fixed or not.
Upgrading your computer from Windows 7 or Windows 8 to Windows 10 or even upgrading Windows 10 to a new version is not that simple. The setup initially checks for all the drivers and other software utilities installed on your computer and verifies and blockages or upgrade or upgrade blocks with respect to any of those drivers or any of those software utilities regardless if you use the Windows 10 ISO or the Windows 10 Upgrade Assistant. One of these common errors, when you upgrade or update your computer, is the “The Display is not compatible with Windows 10” error. This kind of Windows Upgrade error is related to the compatibility of the Graphics Driver installed in your computer. But worry not for this post will guide you in fixing this problem.
The “The display is not compatible with Windows 10” error has the same workarounds as the following errors:
These devices aren’t fully compatible with Windows 10.
The display is not compatible with Windows 10. Check with the manufacturer for support.
The display manufacturer hasn’t made your display compatible with Windows 10. Check with the manufacturer for support.
To resolve this Windows Upgrade error, here are some suggestions that could help:
Option 1 – Check for incompatible drivers in your computer
Open the Device Manager from the WinX Menu.
Then expand the list for Display Adapters.
Next, right-click on the NVIDIA Graphics Card list and select Enable.
After that, right-click on it again and click on the “Update Driver Software…” option.
After doing so, a new window will appear and from there, click on the “Search automatically for updated driver software” option.
Then check if Windows is now able to detect your Graphics Card as well as the latest driver for it. If not, proceed to the next step.
Right-click on the driver again and click on the “Update Driver Software…” option.
Now click on the Browse my computer for driver software option and then click on Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer.
Afterward, select a compatible driver for your computer named NVIDIA Graphics Card and then proceed.
Wait for the whole process to be completed and restart your computer to successfully apply the changes made.
Option 2 – Get the latest version of Graphics drivers from the manufacturer’s website
In case you don’t know the manufacturer of the Graphics Processing Unit or GPU of your computer, you need to check first. They’re usually NVIDIA, Intel, or AMD. So if your computer’s Graphics Processing Unit is manufactured by NVIDIA, you need to get the latest version from their official website.
Option 3 – Try to install the latest Graphics driver in Compatibility Mode
If you’re not able to install the Graphics drivers you’ve downloaded, you can try installing them again but this time using Compatibility mode. Follow the steps below to do so:
You need to download the driver and place it on your desktop.
After that, right-click on it and select Properties.
Next, switch to the Compatibility tab where you should see two options:
Compatibility troubleshooter, and let Windows figure out what works best for you. If it fails, follow the next.
Manually choose the version of Windows it was correctly working.
You also have the option to change the DPI settings and see if that helps. Then click the Apply and OK buttons.
Now right-click on the file and select the “Run as administrator” option to install. After that, you should now be able to change your screen aspect ratio to what you were using early on.
Note: If you have other programs that won’t work on the existing version of Windows, then make sure to run the program in a Compatibility mode.
Option 4 – Try to run the Program Compatibility Troubleshooter
You might also want to run the Program Compatibility Troubleshooter. This built-in troubleshooter is available in the Windows Update & Security section. From there, select Troubleshoot. This will find a list of programs for you and since you have already downloaded the driver files, just click on Not Listed located at the top of the program list. After that, browse and select the driver files and then let the program do its job.
Still sitting on the fence about upgrading to Windows 11 because you don’t know what to expect? Interestingly, the new edition somehow manages to be both a total revamp and still very similar to its predecessor in many ways. It’s really something to experience for yourself.
We do want to give you a sneak peek, though. So here’s an overview of the biggest changes Windows 11 brings to the table.
What’s different in Windows 11?
1. Visual changes
The first thing anyone will notice after switching to Windows 11 is the striking visual difference. The entire interface is smoother, cleaner and more minimalistic than on Windows 10, even resembling the macOS in some instances. Perhaps the most obvious change in appearance is the Start menu and Taskbar location, which is now at the bottom center. It’s actually very neat, but if you’re someone who loves familiarity, don’t worry, you can move it back to the left.
Moreover, you’ll notice that the Taskbar includes a Microsoft Teams icon by default (which you can, of course, remove) and that Live Tiles are gone. The News and Interests section has also been removed - or, shall we say, replaced. As opposed to Windows 10, news, weather forecasts and other information are now displayed as widgets.
To add to the cleanliness of the UI, Microsoft also enhanced the ‘Snap Layouts’ feature to help you better organize your windows and maximize screen real estate. It’s similar to app grouping on your smartphone. In Windows 10 this feature is slightly restricted, as it requires some manual resizing and dragging. In Windows 11, you can just hover over the minimize/maximize option on a window, select a layout and throw the windows in there.
2. New accessibility features
Microsoft has certainly paid attention to accessibility with Windows 10, but Windows 11 takes this to a whole new level.
One of the ways Windows 11 has taken things up a notch is by adding the long-awaited ‘Live Captions’ feature and advanced Narrator options.
Live Captions apply both to media played on your PC as well as your own speech when you’re using the microphone. Keep in mind that, as with almost all kinds of subtitles, you have to be prepared for a potential delay. However, it’s barely noticeable and doesn’t take away from the usefulness of this awesome new feature whatsoever.
As for the Narrator, there are three new voice packs to choose from. Microsoft has tried to put emphasis on a more natural voice than we are used to. So, now you can choose between Aria, Jenny and Guy, who will read pretty much anything off your screen out loud. Aside from this, Microsoft has also expanded the list of braille displays supported by the Narrator feature. For users with anxiety or trouble concentrating, a welcomed addition is the Focus app, which is no longer part of the Clock app. It’s now separate and called ‘Focus Sessions’, automatically triggering the Do Not Disturb mode when activated. It blocks all pop-ups and flashes and lets you work in peace until you’re ready to switch it off.
3. Android apps
Android users may rejoice! Windows 11 supports the use of your favorite applications now.
Microsoft has done this by integrating the Amazon Appstore to the Windows 11 Microsoft Store. From there, you can download your favorite Android apps and use them on your PC in a smartphone-like window.
Unfortunately not too many apps are supported at this time, but Microsoft is working on making the emulation possible for many more. Also, the option is only available in specific regions at this moment - check out if you’re one of the lucky ones.
4. Improved gaming performance
Avid gamers will be happy to hear that Microsoft has put some effort into streamlining Windows 11 for their gaming needs.
To give gamers a supreme visual experience, Windows 11 offers the ‘Auto HDR’ feature. As long as your monitor is HDR-compatible, this feature will automatically adjust the colors, brightness and contrast of games without any input from you.
Another update is DirectStorage, which we were introduced to in Windows 10 already. In Windows 11, it’s been improved to tweak loading times and overall gaming performance efficiency even better. The predisposition for it to work optimally is that your device has an NVMe SSD.
The Xbox Game Bar also helps gamers towards a smoother experience. It allows in-game screenshots, viewing processes that are running (similar to the Task Manager), monitoring the CPU and GPU performance and frame rate, integrating the Xbox App and more. There’s also a number of widgets you can now use with the Game Bar, for example the Spotify widget.
Another cool addition is the Xbox Game Pass, which unlocks hundreds of games to play on your Xbox App, with new additions coming in every month.
5. Smart App Control
Aside from a sleek new look and better accessibility for all users, Windows 11 also comes with a security power-up. Bear in mind that this feature is only available on clean Windows 11 installs.
Smart App Control (SAC) is an AI-powered new feature designed to protect your PC from potential threats. It blocks untrustworthy apps and adware and helps detect potentially unwanted apps, maintaining your PC’s performance and keeping your system safe.
It comes with an ‘Evaluation’ mode, which you should definitely select when running SAC for the first time. That way, the app monitors your usage and assesses whether you’re a candidate for SAC. Some users need it to be on all the time, for others it might be too distracting. Evaluation mode will turn SAC on or off based on your usage.
Don’t disable SAC again unless you’re absolutely sure you don’t need it, since reenabling it will require a fresh install. We recommend you don’t turn it off, as it is a neat feature protecting your data and files from malware at all times.
Summary
Have we piqued your interest in trying Microsoft’s latest OS? It’s a pretty exciting new iteration, but we’ll let you find out for yourself. We hope you like it!
There are times when you might notice that the Drive letter from the File Explorer is missing, right after you install an update in your Windows 10 computer. So if you are facing this issue right now, then you’ve come to the right place as this post will guide you on what to do to fix it.
In case you don’t know, a drive letter represents a single alphabetic character which is through A-Z typically. This could be assigned to a physical disk partition, floppy disk drive or the removal device/ CD-ROM/ mapping network drive in your PC.
In most cases, the drive letter “C:” is assigned to the first disk partition where the running Windows is installed. Thus, if the assigned letter is missing from either the Disk Management or the Windows File Explorer, it could result in inconveniences or will leave the partition inaccessible. To fix this problem, you can try to show the missing drive letters manually or make sure that the drive has a drive letter assigned in the Disk Management as well as assign the letter using a tweak in the Windows Registry. For more details, refer to the options provided below.
Option 1 – Try to show the missing drive letters manually
Open the Folder Options from the Start Search and go to the View tab,
Next, scroll down on the list of given options until you see the “Show drive letters” option and then check the box that’s marked against this option.
After that, click on the Apply and OK buttons and then go back to the “This PC” window. You should now see the drive letters
Option 2 – Make sure that the drive has a drive letter assigned in Disk Management
As you know, every drive is assigned a drive letter in Disk Management. However, if it goes missing, you can still get it back through Disk Management. To do so, follow the steps below.
Open Disk Management and from there, right-click on the menu of a partition or volume and you should see a function named “Change Drive Letter and Paths”.
Note: This function allows you to add the drive letter, remove the drive letter and change the drive letter. If the last option, namely, “Remove”, is selected and applied, the letter of the drive will be removed and won’t appear in Disk Management. Thus, this could be one of the reasons why a drive letter is missing.
You need to click on “Add” to assign a letter to the selected drive in order to reverse the change. Note that you must assign the drive with the original letter because if not, the programs that rely on the original letter might not work as expected.
If the original letter is already taken by a new drive, you need to change the letter of that new drive to another available letter.
Then allocate the released letter of the targeted drive.
Option 3 – Try assigning the letter using a Registry tweak
The next thing you can do to fix the problem is to assign the letter using a tweak in the Windows Registry but before you do that, make sure that you create a System Restore point first, after that, follow these steps:
Tap the Win + R keys to open Run and type “Regedit” in the field and then tap Enter to open the Registry Editor.
Next, navigate to this registry path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMMountedDevices
From there, check if a device is shown as being mounted at the specific drive letter and then right-click on that drive letter.
Select the “Rename” option from the right-click menu to change the letter to any other available letter.
Exit the Registry Editor and restart your computer.
Option 4 – Try to format the destination drive
Formatting the drive can also help you resolve the error. To format it, follow these steps:
To get started formatting your drive, tap the Win + E keys and then go to the access page of the drive.
Next, right-click on the drive and select Format.
After that, uncheck the “Quick Format” option and then format your drive properly.
Now once the formatting process is finished, unplug the drive and plug it back in afterward.
Check if the error is already fixed. If the drive is not initialized, tap the Win + R keys and hit Enter.
After opening the Run dialog box, type “diskmgmt.msc” and hit Enter to open Disk Management.
From there, right-click on the drive volume and select initialize disk.
Next, select the correct partition type and proceed.
It is no longer a secret that websites, social media, and other various places on WEB are tracking you and your messages and emails for keywords that they will later use to promote and serve your specific ads linked to those keywords. Altho the process is fully automated it does feel a little forced and uneasy.
That is why we are bringing you this article in which we will show you how to stop website tracking in the most popular and used browsers.
SAFARI
Apple’s Safari browser gives you the option to block cross-site tracking. It also has a Privacy Report that displays all the sites and agencies that are gathering information about you.
Before blocking these trackers, you may want to review exactly which sites are tracking you online and gathering information about you. Armed with this information, you may decide that cross-site tracking isn’t a huge issue for your particular browsing habits, or you may decide to avoid certain websites entirely.
To access Safari’s Privacy Report:
Launch the Safari web browser.
In the toolbar, select Safari > Privacy Report.
Select the Websites tab. This will display information about all the websites that are profiling you.
Select the Trackers tab. This displays a list of all the trackers that are gathering information about you. This includes the companies that created these trackers and the number of times Safari detected these trackers during your browsing sessions.
You can also check how intrusive a particular website is by navigating to the website in question and then selecting the shield icon that appears alongside Safari’s address bar. You can then select Trackers on This Web Page, and Safari will display a list of all the trackers that are active on this particular webpage.
Once you’ve seen all the websites and agencies who are tracking you, if you want to block these trackers:
In the Safari toolbar, select Safari > Preferences …
Select the Privacy tab.
Select the following checkbox: Prevent Cross-Site Tracking.
Safari will now prevent these trackers from following you across the World Wide Web.
CHROME
As you’re browsing the web, Chrome can send a request for websites not to collect or track your browsing data.
It’s important to note that this is a request, so there’s no guarantee that every website will honor the request. Frustratingly, Chrome doesn’t provide information about the websites that are tracking you online. However, we still recommend enabling this feature, as it can help minimize the number of websites that are tracking your online movements:
In Chrome’s upper-right corner, select the three-dot menu icon, then Settings.
In the menu on the left, select Privacy and security.
Click Cookies and other site data.
Find the Do not track slider and push it into the On position.
Now Chrome will send a Do Not Track request to every website you visit. Since this is only a request, you may want to take additional steps to protect your online privacy.
Ghostery is a Chrome extension that enables you to view and block online trackers. After installing Ghostery, you can view all the trackers that are active on a particular website:
Head to the site in question.
Click the Extensions icon in the Chrome toolbar.
Select Ghostery to see a list of all the trackers this extension has detected.
You can block all of these trackers by selecting the Detailed tab and then clicking Restrict site.
Repeat this process for every site you visit.
MOZILLA FIREFOX
Firefox has an Enhanced Tracking Protection feature that can block all the cross-site trackers identified by Disconnect. This feature can also preserve your online privacy by blocking social media trackers, fingerprints, and crypto miners, making this a great all-arounder for the security-conscious Internet user.
Enhanced Tracking Protection should be enabled by default. However, you can verify whether it’s active for your particular Firefox installation by navigating to any website. Next, click the little shield icon that appears alongside Firefox’s address bar and you should see a message confirming that Enhanced Tracking Protection is enabled.
If Enhanced Tracking Protection isn’t enabled, we recommend activating it:
In Firefox’s upper-right corner, select the three-line icon, then Preferences.
In the menu on the left, select Privacy & Security.
You can now select either Standard or Strict. Note that Strict may affect the functionality of certain websites, so it’s recommended you opt for Standard unless you specifically require a greater level of protection.
Similar to Chrome, Firefox can send a Do Not Track request. While you’re in the Privacy & Security menu, you may want to consider activating Mozilla’s Do Not Track feature.
OPERA
When you first installed Opera, it gave you the option to block trackers. If you didn’t take Opera up on the offer then, you can start blocking trackers now:
Along the left side of the Opera browser, click the cog icon. This opens Opera’s settings.
In the menu on the left, select Basic.
Find the Block Trackers slider and push it into the On position.
Blocking trackers can impact the functionality of certain websites. If you start noticing strange behavior on a particular website, you may want to add that site to your Exceptions list. By allowing this site to use trackers, you should be able to resolve any issues you’re experiencing.
To make an exception for one or more websites:
Launch Opera’s settings by clicking the little cog icon.
Navigate to Basic > Manage Exceptions.
Click Add and then type the address of the site where you want to permit trackers.
Repeat for all the sites that you want to add to your exceptions list.