Fix Windows Update Error 0x8007025D-0x2000C

Microsoft Designer, a new application developed by Microsoft will bring design backed with DALL-E 2, an AI image creation open-source software. The new app is shown as a dedicated graphic design tool that will help you in the creation of stunning social media posts, invitations, digital postcards, graphics, and more, all in a flash.

Use of the application will be by typing headings and then typing text into the prompt to generate a background image. Since Microsoft uses DALL-E 2 for image creation output should be fairly good but if you wish you will be able to use your own images instead of using AI to generate one.

The designer will be a free application once it is ready and it already has a web preview version, also free but with a waitlist. There will be premium features inside the app once it is released that will be available to Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscribers. Microsoft also wants to add a version of a designer directly to the Edge browser as well.

Error 0146 - What is it?

Dell laptop is a great choice for laptop users who like to have the best configuration, fast working platform, and long warranty period. But this does not mean that your errors can’t pop up on Dell laptops. Users can experience a variety of hardware and software-related issues on Dell laptops. And one such error is the error code 0146. This is a typical Dell laptop hard drive-related error code. It can cause your Dell laptop to freeze and system applications to stop responding for a long period of time. Therefore, it is recommended to fix the error immediately.

Solution

Error Causes

Error 0146 may be triggered due to several reasons on your system. These include:

• Program corruption
• Viral infection
• Hard drive issues

Further Information and Manual Repair

The good news is that error 0146 is easy to fix. Here are some of the easy do it yourself methods that you can try to resolve error 0146 on your system:

Method 1 - Run a Virus Scan

Malware and viruses can corrupt and damage the hard drive and trigger error 0146. In such an event, it is recommended that you open your antivirus, update it and run a full virus scan on your PC. Once the scan is complete, remove all the viruses. This will hopefully resolve the error 0146.

Method 2 - Run Your Laptop in Safe Mode and Clean Boot

Another alternative is to run your Dell laptop in safe mode and clean boot. To do this, simply disconnect all the attached devices like wireless printers, routers, and USB keys and turn off your laptop. Turn it on again and then press and hold the F8 key. Make sure you do it quickly before the Windows logo comes up. Now select ‘Safe mode with networking’ and press enter. After that, open System Configuration Utility by going to the start menu and typing ‘msconfig’ in RUN, and then click OK. In the System Configuration Utility click General then selective startup. Now uncheck the load startup items box ad select services and then check the hide all Microsoft services box and disable all. To apply these changes, click ‘Apply’ and then OK.  Now restart your laptop.

Method 3 - Change to SATA Drive

Sometimes error 0146 may pop up due to hard drive configuration changes. If this is the reason for error occurrence, then simply go to Dell Laptop BIOS. Check whether the hard drive configuration has been changed to AHCI SATA from SATA Drive. If it has changed, then it is advisable to change it back to SATA Drive. When you are done back up all your data, and then format your hard drive. It is important to create a backup because formatting will make you lose all your data. Once you format the hard drive, reinstall Windows from scratch.

Method 4 - Run a Registry Scan

If the error 0146 results due to program corruption then there is a possibility that the underlying reason might be registry damage. Therefore it is advisable to run a registry scan and repair it. To do so, download Restoro. This is a cutting-edge and user-friendly PC Fixer integrated with a registry cleaner. Run it to scan for registry issues. It removes all obsolete files corrupting and damaging the registry, repairs important and damaged system files and cleans the registry in the shortest time. Click here to download Restoro and resolve error 0146.

mixGames is an Extension for Google Chrome that adds “Games:” functions to Google Chrome. In our testing, this function did not work and only redirects you back to the extension page. There are two variations of mixGames: mixGames Search, which changes the Chrome homepage to one managed by their own advertising-driven search; and mixGames Start, which changes the homepage in Chrome. These extensions utilize Searchalo to change search engine functions from the default or user-set preferences to Yahoo, injecting additional advertising. Due to the browser function modifications, mixGames is classified as potentially unwanted and is flagged for detection and optional removal by some Antivirus programs.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijacking is a common type of online fraud where your web browser configuration settings are altered to allow it to do things you do not intend. They are created to disrupt web browser programs for a variety of reasons. These are typically used to force hits to predetermined sites, manipulating web traffic to generate ad revenue. Nevertheless, it isn’t that innocent. Your internet safety is jeopardized and it is also extremely annoying. What’s more, hijackers can make the entire infected system fragile – other dangerous malware and viruses would use these opportunities to get into your system very easily.

Indications of browser hijack

There are various symptoms that could indicate a browser hijacking: 1. the browser’s home page is modified 2. new bookmarks pointing to pornographic websites are added to your favorite pages 3. the main web browser settings are modified and unwanted or unsafe resources are added to the trusted websites listing 4. you’re getting new toolbars you have never noticed before 5. your browser will display constant pop-up windows 6. your internet browser starts running sluggishly or exhibits frequent errors 7. you cannot go to certain sites like home pages of antivirus software.

Exactly how browser hijacker finds its way onto your computer

Browser hijackers infect computers by numerous means, including through a file-share, a drive-by download, or an infected e-mail attachment. Many internet browser hijackings come from add-on programs, i.e., browser helper objects (BHO), toolbars, or plug-ins added to web browsers to give them extra capabilities. A browser hijacker can be installed as a part of freeware, demoware, shareware, and fake programs. A good example of a well-known browser hijacker is the latest Chinese malicious software known as “Fireball”, which has infected 250 million computer systems globally. It works as a hijacker but can be turned into a full-functioning malware downloader later on. Browser hijacking can cause severe privacy problems and even identity theft, disrupt your web browsing experience by taking command over outbound traffic, substantially slows down your personal computer by depleting a lot of resources, and result in system instability at the same time.

How you can fix a browser hijack

Some hijackers can be easily removed by uninstalling the free software they were included with or by eliminating any extension you’ve recently added to your browser. But, the majority of hijacking codes aren’t easy to remove manually, since they go deeper into your operating system. Besides, browser hijackers can modify the Windows registry therefore it can be quite hard to restore all of the values manually, especially if you’re not a very tech-savvy individual.

How To Install Safebytes Anti-Malware On An Infected PC

All malware is bad and the consequences of the damage will vary according to the specific kind of malware. Certain malware types modify web browser settings by including a proxy server or change the computer’s DNS settings. In such cases, you will be unable to visit certain or all internet sites, and therefore unable to download or install the required security software to remove the infection. If you are reading this, you may have affected by a virus that stops you from downloading a computer security application like Safebytes Anti-Malware. Do as instructed below to remove malware by alternate methods.

Get rid of viruses in Safe Mode

In Safe Mode, you could modify Windows settings, uninstall or install some applications, and remove hard-to-delete viruses. In the event the malware is blocking internet access and affecting your computer, running it in Safe Mode allows you to download anti-malware and run a diagnostic scan while limiting possible damage. To get into Safe Mode or Safe Mode with Networking, press the F8 key while the PC is starting up or run MSConfig and find the “Safe Boot” options in the “Boot” tab. Once you are in Safe Mode, you can try to download and install your antivirus software program without the hindrance of the malware. Following installation, run the malware scanner to get rid of standard infections.

Switch over to an alternative browser

Some malware only targets specific internet browsers. If this sounds like your situation, make use of another internet browser as it could circumvent the computer virus. The ideal way to avoid this issue is to pick a web browser that is well known for its security features. Firefox contains built-in Malware and Phishing Protection to keep you secure online.

Create a portable USB antivirus for removing malware

Another option would be to make a portable antivirus program on your USB flash drive. Do these simple steps to clean up your affected computer using a portable antivirus. 1) On a clean computer, download and install Safebytes Anti-Malware. 2) Plug the USB drive into the uninfected computer. 3) Double-click the executable file to open the installation wizard. 4) Choose the drive letter of the pen drive as the location when the wizard asks you where you want to install the antivirus. Follow activation instructions. 5) Transfer the flash drive from the clean PC to the infected PC. 6) Double-click the EXE file to run the Safebytes program from the pen drive. 7) Run Full System Scan to detect and get rid of all types of malware.

Protect Your Computer & Privacy With SafeBytes Anti-Malware

These days, an anti-malware tool can protect your computer from different kinds of online threats. But how do choose the best one among several malware protection software that’s available on the market? You may be aware, there are lots of anti-malware companies and tools for you to consider. Some are well worth your money, but most aren’t. You have to be very careful not to choose the wrong application, especially if you purchase a paid software. Among few good applications, SafeBytes Anti-Malware is the highly recommended program for the security-conscious user. SafeBytes anti-malware is a powerful, very effective protection software intended to assist users of all levels of IT literacy in identifying and removing harmful threats out of their personal computers. Using its outstanding protection system, this software will quickly detect and remove the majority of the security threats, which include browser hijackers, viruses, adware, ransomware, PUPs, and trojans. SafeBytes anti-malware takes PC protection to a whole new level with its enhanced features. The following are some of the best ones: World-class AntiMalware Protection: Using its enhanced and sophisticated algorithm, this malware removal tool can identify and eliminate the malware threats hiding in your computer effectively. Active Protection: SafeBytes delivers complete and real-time security for your PC. It’ll constantly monitor your pc for hacker activity and also provides users with superior firewall protection. Website Filtering: Through its unique safety rating, SafeBytes alerts you whether a site is safe or not to visit it. This will assure that you’re always certain of your online safety when browsing the web. Faster Scan: This tool has one of the fastest and most efficient virus scanning engines in the industry. The scans are very accurate and take a short amount of time to complete. Low Memory/CPU Usage: SafeBytes is really lightweight software. It consumes an extremely small amount of processing power as it works in the background therefore you will not see any computer performance problems. 24/7 Assistance: You can get totally free 24/7 technical support from their computer experts on any product queries or computer security issues.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you do not wish to use malware removal software and like to remove mixGames manually, you may accomplish this by going to the Windows Add/Remove Programs menu in the control panel and removing the offending program; in cases of browser extensions, you could uninstall it by going to the browser’s Add-on/Extension manager. It is also suggested to factory reset your browser settings to their default state. Lastly, examine your hard disk for all of the following and clean your Windows registry manually to remove leftover application entries following an uninstallation. But bear in mind, this is a complicated task and only computer experts can perform it safely. In addition, certain malware is capable of replicating or preventing deletion. Completing this task in Safe Mode is recommended.

What is Error Code 0x80070715?

Seeing obscure error codes like 0x80070715 on the screen again and again can be annoying simply because you have no idea why it keeps popping up? What does it mean? Well, for beginners you don’t have to decode it, we’ll make it simple for you. This error code indicates missing .dll files in the system or a corrupt registry. Due to this, you get locked from accessing and running applications on your system.

Solution

Error Causes

This error occurs largely because of two reasons:

1. Disk damage due to cluttered registry
2. The system gets infected by malware or a virus(es)

The error code 0x80070715 creates hurdles in the functioning of the applications. If this error is not repaired immediately it can result in serious damages like system crash and failure.

Further Information and Manual Repair

Many people pay hundreds of dollars to technicians to resolve this issue on their systems. Is it worth it? Not exactly!

How about we tell you a time and a money-saving way to fix the error code 0x80070715 on your PC?

The best way to resolve this issue on your system in seconds and also for free is to install Restoro. This is an advanced, powerful, and multi-functional system repair and a PC optimizer tool. It is smoothly integrated with numerous performance-driven utilities like registry cleaner, privacy error detector (anti-virus), Active X and Class error, and system stability detector. With this helper, you can resolve not only the error code 0x80070715 but also other types of PC-related errors. Whether the cause of the error code 0x80070715 on your PC is malware or cluttering cluttered disk, Restoro can be used to resolve them all. Its powerful and intuitive registry cleaner scans the registry and repairs it successfully. It removes junk files, internet history, temporary internet files, invalid entries, and also the files from the uninstalled programs still saved in the system’s registry. It wipes out all the clutter on your hard disk and cleans it in seconds freeing up plenty of space. It repairs the registry resolving the error 0x80070715 quickly. Nonetheless, if the error 0x80070715 is triggered due to viral infection or malware it removes them too. By downloading unknown files, accessing malicious websites, and opening phishing emails viruses can enter your PC. You may not be aware of these until error code 0x80070715 pops on your screen. It is wise to remove viruses right away because these give hackers access to your system which often results in data breaches and exposes users to system security threats. Restoro also works as a powerful antivirus. All malware, spyware, and viruses affecting your PC are scanned with the help of the advanced built-in privacy error detector utility. This utility embedded in the system detects viruses and malware in your system and removes them from your system successfully. Restoro is an easy-to-use repair tool. It has a simple layout and a user-friendly interface. It is easy to navigate through the repair tool, scan for errors and repair them without any hassle. Users of all levels, novice and experienced can use this tool with ease. You don’t need to be technically sound to work around this tool. Here's how to Install and run Restoro PC Fixer: In addition to this, you can run it on any Windows version. It is compatible with practically all versions. No matter what the cause for error code 0x80070715 maybe, you don’t need to get into the nitty-gritty of it and find a specific tool to resolve the issue. All you have to do is install this multi-functional Restoro on your system. Here are the 3 simple steps that you need to follow for successful repair:

1. Click here to install Restoro.
2. Scan your PC
3. Press the Repair Tab to fix the issue right away

To ensure your PC is error-free, registry clean and your system runs at its optimum speed, scan your PC with Restoro regularly.

Error Code 0x801901F7 – What is it?

Error code 0x801901F7, also known as “The Server Stumbled” error because it shows a message saying “The Server Stumbled. We all have bad days” is associated with Windows Store. Server Stumbled Error 0x801901F7 is an error related to the MS server. The error occurs due to damaged registry files, malware, virus, and corrupted data. You should fix this error to prevent a system crash or a BSOD error. There are some things you can do to fix it. These are not so complex. So, anyone can try these methods to fix error 0x801901F7. Common Symptoms for error 0x801901F7:

• Problems with Windows startup
• System becomes very slow or the system freezes
• Blue screen of death appears
• Windows fails to start some process due to Stop error code 0x801901f7

Solution

Error Causes

• This error is generally caused by corrupt registry files.
• Virus infection can cause this problem.
• Outdated driver, missing .DLL files may also cause this error.
• Microsoft server overload may cause this problem as well.
• Incorrect configuration may cause this problem.

Further Information and Manual Repair

To fix error 0x801901f7, there are four methods listed below. Some might work for you and some might not. Please try all of them to fix this error.

Method 1:

Basic method to fix error code 0x801901F7: Resetting Windows Store Cache Most of the time clearing or resetting the cache helps. It doesn't always work, but you should try this first before moving on to some advanced methods which are mentioned below. To reset the Windows Store cache please follow the simple steps below

• Open RUN by searching or pressing "Windows Key + R"
• Type "wsreset.exe" and press Enter or click on OK.
• Windows Store will open automatically along with a command prompt.
• This will reset Windows Store and you might see it loading as it should.

This method might work but if it fails to solve Error 0x801901F7 then follow the method below.

Method 2:

Advanced method of fixing error code 0x801901F7: Deleting Windows Store database file. By using this method, you will be deleting the database file for Windows Store. This file is located on your C drive or the drive where you installed your Operating System. Follow the steps below.

1. Navigate to C:WindowsSoftwareDistributionDataStoreDataStore.edb.
2. Delete DataStore.edb file from there.
3. Now Open Windows Store and see if you still get error code 0x801901F7.

The Datastore.edb file that you deleted will be automatically created once you perform Step 3 which is launching Windows Store. If you still cannot get this error away then Close Windows Store and Reboot your PC then Launch Windows Store Again.

Method 3:

Modifying Windows update properties: Perform the steps below only if the above-mentioned methods fail. You will be tweaking a few things in the Windows update to see if it helps.

1. Open Task Manager by right-clicking on Taskbar, then click on Task Manager.
2. Go to Services Tab. Click on Open Services at the very bottom of the Window.
3. Now a new window will pop up. Scroll down & find "Windows Update" from the list.
4. Double click on Windows update to open up its Properties.
5. Now from the Startup Type drop-down list, select Automatic. Click on Apply, Start, and then Ok.

Now you need to perform just one more step. Reset Windows Store again (Refer to method 1 for Steps). This should fix your Windows Store error that shows The Server Stumbled with 0x801901F7 Error Code.

Method 4: 

If the error is due to a problem with a driver, then follow the method below to uninstall the current driver:

1. Open the Run command and type “sysdm.cpl” in the text box.
2. Click Enter.
3. Open the Hardware tab on the system properties dialog box.
4. Then press on Device Manager.
5. Double press on Device type and then press on the hardware device that is reporting error code 0x801901F7.
6. Go to the Driver tab and press on Uninstall button to uninstall the device driver completely.
7. Now, install the new driver on your computer.
8. Restart your computer.
9. Run virus scan of your PC
10. Try using a different USB port.

If you do not possess the technical expertise required to accomplish this yourself or do not feel comfortable doing so, download and install a powerful automated tool to get the job done.

The Error Code 0x80070057 is rather typical with Win7. Customers of Win7 maintain reporting that each moment they strive to install this Operating system, it shows this problem error. Often, the total information that comes with this specific error is:

"Error Code 0x80070057: The parameter is wrong"

When this problem happens, you will end up struggling to move private documents from one person to another.

Solution

Error Causes

You could get the error message when you attempt installing Win7,

"An Internal Error has occurred. Incorrect parameters".

If this happens to you, realize that you are dealing with malfunction code 0x80070057. This error occurs mostly when you are trying to build a full backup of your Windows 7 OS.

The primary source of Error 0x80070057 is huge registry values.

Extensive registry values usually occur when you are trying to back up your Windows 7 OS. This means that you need to immediately create a bigger virtual memory space to avert the occurrence of the error.

Error Code 0x80070057 can be a result of incompatibility between the motherboard and some drivers.

Check whether the computer's motherboard and the installed drivers are compatible. If you can't do this effectively on your own, it might be a good idea to enlist the services of a qualified technician.

The Problem Signal 0x80070057 has a close Connection with RAID Installations

RAID installations have a tendency of sparking off the Error Code 0x80070057. If you experience this error while using RAID, first turn off the RAID setup and check whether that resolves the problem.

Further Information and Manual Repair

Error Code 0x80070057 is repairable. Thus, there's absolutely no cause for alarm when you see it with respect to your own Windows 7 Operating System. So what can you do to resolve it? a) Increase Virtual Memory: This is perhaps the most common solution to Error Code 0x80070057. In most cases, simply raising the virtual memory especially on Windows 7 Operating-System completely eliminates the error. Moreover, you don't have to be technically advanced to effect the change. Simply follow these steps:-

• Click the Start Button and visit Control Panel
• Click System Security, and proceed to System.
• Click the Advanced System Settings, subsequently proceed to the Advanced Level Tab.
• Click Change, which can be under the Virtual Memory
• Change the virtual memory value. For instance, you can customize entirely from 2000MB to 6000MB.
• Click Set, then Ok. You are done

As with each additional change you make with respect to your Computer, you will have to conclude by re-booting it. This way you make certain that they'll stay as you've established them and apply the necessary modifications. If the error still persists after attempting the preceding fix, download a registry-cleaning software. The software will clean up your disk and free up memory thus increasing the available virtual memory for your computer. This should solve your persistent Error Code 0x80070057.

If you encounter an error saying, “0x800f0982 – PSFX_E_MATCHING_COMPONENT_NOT_FOUND”, when you try to install a Windows 10 cumulative update, then you’ve come to the right place as this post will help you sort this problem out. According to the reports, computers with Asian language packs installed are the ones that are mostly affected by this error. In fact, the same error code was also found with two KB4493509, KB4495667 and KB4501835. These cumulative updates are released as part of Patch Tuesday. However, it appears that it brought on issues. Thus, to fix the error, you can try to uninstall and reinstall any language packs you’ve added recently. You can also try to uninstall older KB updates or delay Windows Update, as well as reset Windows 10.

Option 1 – Try to uninstall and reinstall the language packs you’ve recently added

If you have installed a language pack recently, you have to uninstall it, restart your computer, and then reinstall it.

• Go to the Settings app and select Time & Language.
• Next, click on the Language option and select the language you have to uninstall.
• After selecting the language, it will enable two-button namely the Options and Remove buttons.
• Click on the Remove button and then reboot your PC.
• Once your computer has restarted, install the language pack again.

Option 2 – Try to uninstall the KB updates

Microsoft has actually offered a solution, an odd one which is to install the April 2019 cumulative update. You have to uninstall the older KB4495667 and KB4501835 update from your Windows 10 computer. And after you’ve uninstalled them, click on the Update button and then install the April 2019 cumulative update.

• Go to Settings and select Update and Security > Windows Update.
• From there, click on the “View update history” option and then click on the “Uninstall Updates” option.
• This will open a new window that contains the list of installed Windows Updates.
• Now right click on the Windows Update you wish to uninstall and click Uninstall.
• Once you’ve uninstalled the update, click the Update button and install the April 2019 cumulative update.

Option 3 – Try to delay Windows Update

If you have not installed the Windows 10 cumulative update KB4493509 yet and the Asian language is a must for you, then you have to delay or pause the Windows Update for at least a couple of days.

Option 4 – Reset your computer

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

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

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

Hello and welcome everyone, today we will be talking about dreaded keyloggers, why they are dangerous, and how to know if you might have one in your system. Keylogger is a malicious application placed in your system and hidden with only one goal in mind, to get information about what are you typing and by that means for a person who infected you to get information about your credit card information or other sensitive data. They can be introduced into your systems in various ways and often can not be detected easily. Modern antivirus applications have ways of detecting them and removing but this tutorial aims to teach you how to spot them all by yourself since new keyloggers are produced daily and sometimes relying on antivirus alone is not enough. Unlike viruses and trojans, keyloggers are not heavy on system resources and you will not feel slow down on your computer if you have one which makes them harder to sport with regular work. Some of them can be even tracking you on the website and not even be physically present on your computer. Generally, we could categorize keylogger into 4 categories:

1. Web browser-based keylogger. Some websites would have CSS scripts, input web forms, or so-called man in the middle keylogger. Lucky for us even Windows defenders with the latest update can detect this type of keylogger and successfully deal with it and how keylogger itself is not present on our system we are safe.
2. General spyware keylogger. This keylogger is present in your system, usually, it infected it via email attachment, social media download, torrent download, some malicious so-called fixer application, etc. Most antivirus applications and windows defenders can detect these types as well and remove them successfully.
3. Kernel-level keylogger. This keylogger is a more dangerous type they tend to operate underneath Windows as a rootkit and can go undetected by antivirus and windows defenders.
4. Hypervisor-based keylogger. This is the most dangerous keylogger, they use virtualization techniques to hide and mask themselves as a replica of the operating system and they scan all keystrokes by the user. These are very rare keyloggers but they do exist.

If you suspect that you have a keylogger or just want to check your system for precaution reasons follow these tips and guides and luckily you will solve your issue in no time and your data will be safe.

1. Use Task Manager to find suspicious entries.

   Task manager is a great application implemented in Windows that is constantly monitoring and showing all services, applications, and processes currently running on your system and thus a great tool to monitor your system if you know how to use it. First, open task manager by pressing CTRL + SHIFT + ESC Then take a good look into it, try to find suspicious names, probably duplicate of running application, something like Windows logon application, or keylog or anything similar which seems out of ordinary. If you manage to find a suspicious running application right-click on it and close it. Also while you are in task manager jump into the startup tab and check to see are there some unusual applications starting with your Windows, if you find anything, disable it right away. This is the most simple and quickest way to get some information right away if you suspect to have some simpler keylogger in your system.

2. Use the command prompt to monitor your network.

   In order to check connections to your computer and find potential suspicious ones start the command prompt in administrator mode, press ⊞ Win + X, and choose command prompt (administrator). type in netstat -b and press ENTER. All website and application connections to your computer are now visible. ignore svchost, edge browser, windows store, etc ad check the IP of the remaining ones using the internet.

3. Use keystroke encryption.

   Install encrypting software and even if you have a keylogger, the application will encrypt each stroke and all that attacker will get is gibberish

Please remember to always download files from trusted sources, do not open unknown emails, and do not share your information publicly. Take common protection steps in order to protect yourself in the digital world.

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.

California's Department of Fair Employment & Housing has widened its anti-discrimination lawsuit against Activision Blizzard and claims the publisher has been shredding vital documents relevant to the ongoing investigation. A recent report from Kotaku described the department as offering poorly paid, highly insecure positions, with a culture of hostility towards LGBTQ+ testers. The DFEH's rewording of "employees" to "workers" now hopes to take these contractors' experiences into account. "As a contract employee, I feel there's a lot of pressure to excel, impress, and move through the ranks as fast as you can before your contract ends and you're forced to go 3 months without income or find another job," Axios reports one worker saying. "I take pride in what I do, but it feels like it's never enough." Activision's contentious hiring of union-busting third-party law firm WilmerHale "directly interferes" with its own investigation, it says. By going to WilmerHale, Activision appears to be claiming that all work related to the investigation is privileged and can't be shared with DFEH. The suit also claims that Activision HR shredded documents related to "investigations and complaints", against its legal obligation to retain them during the investigation. The relevant parts of the updated lawsuit were shared by Axios reporters Stephen Totilo and Megan Farokhmanesh, the former also noting that the DFEH "fixed their misspelling of Bill Cosby's name". "DFEH is also informed and aware that documents and records have not been maintained as required by law or by the DFEH's Document Retention Notice," the complaint reads, "including but not limited to documents related to investigations and complaints were shredded by human resource personnel and emails are deleted thirty days after an employees separation."

Speculation and answer from Activision Blizzard

Blizzard employee Jessica Gonzalez suspects that the costs of fines associated with destroying these documents may have been an easier blow for Blizzard to take than any penalties drawn from their existence in helping the lawsuit go through. In an email to Kotaku, Activision denied the shredding allegations and issued a statement outlining steps it had taken to improve company culture—including the ousting of high-level executives like Blizzard president J. Allen Brack. The full statement reads: "Throughout our engagement with the DFEH, we have complied with every proper request in support of its review even as we had been implementing reforms to ensure our workplaces are welcoming and safe for every employee. Those changes continue today, and include:

•     Several high-level personnel changes
•     Revamped hiring and recruiting practices requiring diverse interview panels
•     Greater transparency on pay equity
•     Expanded and improved training and investigative capabilities for human resource and compliance staff
•     Created investigation teams outside of business units to support greater independence
•     Restructured divisions to support greater accountability
•     Enhanced review processes to include evaluation of managers by employees
•     Clear boundaries on workplace behavior with a zero-tolerance approach to harassment and other actions that diminish or marginalize.

"We strive to be a company that recognizes and celebrates the diverse talents and perspectives that lead to the creation of great, globally appealing entertainment. We have provided the DFEH with clear evidence that we do not have gender pay or promotion disparities. Our senior leadership is increasingly diverse, with a growing number of women in key leadership roles across the company. "We share DFEH’s goal of a safe, inclusive workplace that rewards employees equitably and is committed to setting an example that others can follow."

California and RIOT

Beyond Activision Blizzard, California's DFEH has also probed into League of Legends creator Riot Games, accusing the studio of dragging its heels over sexual harassment allegations dating back to 2019. Riot denied the allegations, telling us that it "will never retaliate against anyone for talking to any government agency".