Fix Windows was unable to repair the drive

When your computer boots up or when it just woke up from sleep but it suddenly encounters a Blue Screen of Death error, saying, “HAL INITIALIZATION FAILED error with STOP CODE 0x0000005C”, then read on as this post will give you some fixes that might help in resolving the problem. You will see the following error message on your computer’s screen when this error pops up:

“Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart. We’re just collecting some error info, and then we’ll restart for you. If you’d like to know more, you can search online later for this error: HAL_INITIALIZATION_FAILED HAL INITIALIZATION FAILED 0x0000005C”

This kind of Blue Screen error indicates that there is a hardware or device driver problem in your PC. Aside from that, it also signifies that the initialization of the Hardware Abstraction Layer or HAL has failed. This happens only during the relatively short period that the Windows operating system is being initialized, specifically during phase 4 of Windows startup. What’s worse about this kind of Stop error is that it does not just go away after a computer reboot. You may have to boot your computer into Safe mode with Networking using the Advanced startup options which you can access by tapping the F2 or F8 key. Once you’ve accessed the Advanced startup options, follow the fixes prepared below.

Option 1 – Run CHKDSK command to repair hard disk errors

Running the Chkdsk utility could help you resolve the HAL INITIALIZATION FAILED error with STOP CODE 0x0000005C. If your hard drive has issues with integrity, the update will really fail as the system will think that it’s not healthy and that’s where the Chkdsk utility comes in. The Chkdsk utility repairs hard drive errors that might be causing the problem.

• After you access the Advanced Startup options, select Command Prompt by using the arrow keys on your keyboard.
• After opening Command Prompt, execute the following command and hit Enter:

chkdsk /f /r

• The command you entered will scan the hard disk for any errors and will automatically fix it if it finds some issues. Wait for the process to be completed and then restart your computer.

Option 2 – Run the DISM tool

If the first option didn’t work, then running the Deployment Imaging and Servicing Management tool can help you resolve the HAL INITIALIZATION FAILED error as it will repair the Windows System Image as well as the Windows Component Store in Windows 10.

• After you access the Advanced Startup options, select Command Prompt by using the arrow keys on your keyboard.
• Next, type in this command: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
• Do not close the window if the process takes a while as it will probably take a few minutes to finish.

Option 3 – Update the Device drivers

• Tap the Win + R keys to launch Run.
• Type in msc into the box and tap Enter or click OK to open the Device Manager.
• After that, a list of device drivers will be displayed. 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 4 – Try removing any external hardware

You might also want to remove any connected devices and external hardware in your computer as it might help in fixing the BSOD error.

Option 5 – Disable Fast Start-up

If you want your computer to boot faster, then you might have enabled Fast Start-up. This feature is ideal for computers that are using a hard disk drive. However, turning on this feature also means that when the computer boots, it might lag some drivers that are loaded when it initially boots up. Thus, it might be the potential cause of the UNEXPECTED STORE EXCEPTION BSOD error. Thus, you need to disable Fast Start-up. To do that, follow these steps:

• Boot your PC into Safe Mode.
• Then tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Next, type in “control” to open Control Panel.
• After that, select Hardware and Sound and click on Power Options.
• Select “Choose what the power buttons do” from the left side menu pane and click on Change settings that are currently unavailable.
• Afterward, uncheck the “Turn on fast startup (Recommended)” entry and click on Save Changes.
• Now restart your PC for the changes to take effect and then check if the problem’s fixed afterward.

Option 6 – Disable your antivirus program

There are times when the antivirus program installed in your computer blocks file access and even disk access. Thus, disabling the antivirus program or any security software installed in your computer is always a good idea you can try when the Windows Update process does not go smoothly. So before you try updating your computer again, make sure to disable the antivirus or security program and once the Windows Update is done, don’t forget to enable the antivirus program back again.

Option 7 – Perform a Clean Boot

There are some instances that some conflicting programs installed in your computer might be the one that’s causing the HAL INITIALIZATION FAILED error. To identify which program is causing the problem, you need to put your computer in a Clean Boot State. To do so, follow the steps below.

• Log onto your PC as an administrator.
• Type in MSConfig in the Start Search to open the System Configuration utility.
• From there, go to the General tab and click “Selective startup”.
• Clear the “Load Startup items” check box and make sure that the “Load System Services” and “Use Original boot configuration” options are checked.
• Next, click the Services tab and select the “Hide All Microsoft Services” check box.
• Click Disable all.
• Click on Apply/OK and restart your PC. (This will put your PC into a Clean Boot State. And configure Windows to use the usual startup, just simply undo the changes.)
• From there, start to isolate the problem by checking which one of the programs you installed recently is the root cause of the problem.

Daily Bible Guide is a browser extension developed by Mindspark Inc. for Google Chrome Browser. This extension offers users a fast and easy way to find Bible passages, view daily verses, study the Bible and view the current weather. When installed, this extension changes your default search engine and your home page to MyWay.

When installed this extension gathers user browsing information such as visited websites, search queries, clicked links, and other information. This information is later used to better target ads.

While active, you may encounter additional unwanted ads and sponsored links throughout your browsing sessions. Daily Bible Guide was marked as a Browser Hijacker by several anti-virus scanners, and due to its information mining behavior, it is considered a security risk and it is not recommended to keep on your computer; being flagged for optional removal.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijackers (sometimes known as hijackware) are a kind of malware that alters internet browser settings without the computer owner’s knowledge or approval. These kinds of hijacks are rising at a worrying rate around the globe, and it could be actually nefarious and sometimes dangerous too. There are plenty of reasons why you might experience an internet browser hijack; but commercial, advertising, and marketing are definitely the key reasons for their creation. Generally, the idea would be to force users to visit particular sites which are looking to improve their site visitor traffic and produce higher advertisement revenue. While it might seem harmless, these tools were created by malicious individuals who always attempt to take full advantage of you, so that they could make money from your naivety and distraction. Furthermore, hijackers can make the entire infected system vulnerable – other destructive malware and viruses will grab these opportunities to intrude into your computer effortlessly.

Signs of browser hijacker infection

The typical symptoms that signify having this malware on your computer are: home page is modified; you find new unwanted favorites or bookmarks added, typically directed to ad-filled or porn websites; the default search engine is modified; discover new toolbars which you did not add; you may see random pop-ups start occurring frequently; your internet browser has instability issues or exhibits frequent errors; you cannot visit specific websites like home pages of antivirus software.

So how does a PC get infected with a browser hijacker?

Browser hijackers attack computer systems via malicious email attachments, downloaded infected files, or by visiting infected sites. They sometimes are included with toolbars, add-ons, BHO, plugins, or browser extensions. A browser hijacker can also come bundled up with some free application that you inadvertently download to your computer, compromising your internet security. A good example of a popular browser hijacker is the most recent Chinese malware named “Fireball”, which has infected 250 million PCs throughout the world. It works as a hijacker but could be changed into a fully functioning malware downloader afterward. Browser hijackers will interrupt the user’s browsing experience significantly, keep track of the websites frequented by users and steal private information, cause difficulty in connecting to the net, and ultimately create stability problems, causing software programs and computers to crash.

Browser Hijacker Malware – Removal

Certain browser hijacking can be quite easily reversed by identifying and removing the corresponding malware program through your control panel. However, the majority of hijackers are extremely tenacious and need specialized tools to eradicate them. Additionally, manual removals require deep system knowledge and thus can be quite a difficult task for inexperienced computer users. Installing and running anti-malware programs on the affected computer could automatically delete browser hijackers and other malicious programs. Safebytes Anti-Malware features a cutting-edge anti-malware engine that will help you prevent browser hijacking in the first place, and clean up any pre-existing issues. In addition to anti-malware, a PC optimizer software, for example, Total System Care, will help you fix Windows registry errors, remove unwanted toolbars, secure online privacy, and stabilize software programs installed on the computer.

Malware Blocking Internet And All Antivirus Software? Do This!

Malware can cause a lot of damage to your PC. Some malware variants modify internet browser settings by including a proxy server or change the PC’s DNS settings. When this happens, you will be unable to visit some or all of the websites, and therefore not able to download or install the necessary security software to clear out the infection. If you’re reading this right now, you’ve perhaps recognized that virus infection is a reason behind your blocked internet connectivity. So how to proceed when you want to download and install an anti-malware program like Safebytes? Although this sort of issue will be difficult to get around, there are some steps you can take.

Install in Safe Mode

If the malware is set to run at Windows startup, then booting in safe mode should avoid it. Only minimal required programs and services are loaded when you start your PC into Safe Mode. You will have to do the following to remove malware in Safe mode. 1) At power-on/startup, press the F8 key in 1-second intervals. This will invoke the Advanced Boot Options menu. 2) Choose Safe Mode with Networking with arrow keys and press Enter. 3) As soon as this mode loads, you should have an internet connection. Now, obtain the malware removal program you want by using the browser. To install the software, follow the directions within the installation wizard. 4) Once the software is installed, let the scan run to eliminate viruses and other malware automatically.

Switch over to some other web browser

Web-based viruses could be environment-specific, aiming for a specific web browser or attacking particular versions of the web browser. If you are not able to download the security software using Internet Explorer, it means the virus may be targeting IE’s vulnerabilities. Here, you should switch to an alternate internet browser such as Chrome or Firefox to download the Safebytes application.

Create a portable USB antivirus for removing viruses

To effectively remove the malware, you should approach the issue of running an anti-malware program on the affected computer from a different perspective. To run anti-malware using a USB flash drive, follow these simple steps: 1) Download the anti-malware on a virus-free PC. 2) Mount the USB drive onto the same system. 3) Double-click the Setup icon of the anti-malware program to run the Installation Wizard. 4) Choose the drive letter of the USB drive as the location when the wizard asks you exactly where you would like to install the anti-virus. Do as instructed on the screen to finish off the installation process. 5) Now, transfer the flash drive to the infected PC. 6) Double click the Safebytes Anti-malware icon on the USB drive to run the application. 7) Run Full System Scan to detect and clean-up up all types of malware.

SafeBytes Anti-Malware - More Protection For You Personally

These days, an anti-malware tool can protect your computer from different kinds of online threats. But exactly how to select the best one among plenty of malware protection software that’s available on the market? You may be aware, there are many anti-malware companies and tools for you to consider. Some are worth your money, but many aren’t. You must be careful not to choose the wrong application, especially if you purchase a paid program. While thinking about the highly regarded software programs, Safebytes AntiMalware is undoubtedly the strongly recommended one. SafeBytes anti-malware is a powerful, very effective protection application designed to assist users of all levels of computer literacy in detecting and eliminating harmful threats out of their PC. Once you’ve got installed this tool, SafeByte's state-of-the-art protection system will make sure that absolutely no viruses or malware can seep through your computer.

SafeBytes anti-malware takes computer protection to a whole new level with its advanced features. Listed below are some of the great ones:

Anti-Malware Protection: This deep-cleaning anti-malware software goes much deeper than most antivirus tools to clean out your personal computer. Its critically acclaimed virus engine finds and disables hard to remove malware that hides deep inside your computer. Real-time Threat Response: Malware programs attempting to get into the computer are identified and stopped as and when detected by the SafeBytes real-time protection shields. It’ll inspect your personal computer for suspicious activity regularly and its unparalleled firewall shields your PC from illegal access by the outside world. “Fast Scan” Features: SafeBytes’s virus scan engine is among the fastest and most efficient in the industry. It's targeted scanning highly increases the catch rate for viruses which is embedded in various PC files. Web Protection: SafeBytes gives an instant safety rating to the web pages you are going to visit, automatically blocking dangerous sites and ensuring that you are certain of your safety while browsing the world wide web. Light-weight: SafeBytes is a lightweight and user-friendly antivirus and antimalware solution. As it uses very little computer resources, this tool leaves the computer’s power exactly where it belongs to: with you. 24/7 Guidance: SafeBytes provides 24/7 technical support, automatic maintenance, and software upgrades for the best user experience. To sum it up all, SafeBytes Anti-Malware offers great protection combined with very low system resource usage with both great malware prevention and detection. Malware trouble will become a thing of the past when you put this application to use. If you’re looking for the very best malware removal application out there, and when you don’t mind shelling out some money for it, opt for SafeBytes Anti-Malware.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you’d like to manually remove Daily Bible Guide without using an automated tool, it might be possible to do so by deleting the program from the Windows Add/Remove Programs menu, or in cases of browser extensions, going to the browsers AddOn/Extension manager and uninstalling it. You will probably also want to reset your internet browser. If you choose to manually remove the system files and Windows registry entries, utilize the following list to ensure that you know exactly what files to remove before performing any actions. Please remember that only experienced users should try to manually edit the system files simply because removing any single critical registry entry results in a major problem or even a PC crash. In addition, certain malicious programs have the capability to defend against its removal. It is advisable that you carry out the removal process in Safe Mode.

What is Error 0x00000024?

Error 0x00000024 can be seen when you start up and a screen comes up asking which mode you would startup in. Regardless of the mode you select, it leads up to the Windows screen with the loading bar and your computer crashes from there onwards. When you press F8 in order to select the “Disable Automatic Restart On System Failure” option, that is when this error shows up:

ST0P 0X00000024 (x00190203, 0x82700550, 0xc000012, 0x00000000)

Due to this error, both Safe and Normal modes become inaccessible.

Solution

Error Causes

If you’re having this error then it is the indication of an issue with the file NTFS.sys. Further, there might also be problems with the IRP (Interrupt Request Packet) or the disk may have been corrupted. There are multiple other causes of this error, including heavy fragmentation of your hard drive or problems caused by your antivirus software.

Further Information and Manual Repair

First and foremost, you are suggested to run Chkdsk. In order to do this, you have to enter your BIOS and select CDROM as your primary booting device. Now follow the below-mentioned steps:

1. Insert your Windows XP installation CD into the CDROM and reboot your PC.
2. Press any key to proceed with the boot from CD when you are prompted to do so.
3. When the Windows XP setup menu shows up, hit the “R” key to proceed with repairing Windows.
4. If there is only one Windows installed on your computer then hit the “1” key and proceed by pressing enter. If there are more than two Windows then hit the number which is associated (according to the screen you are viewing) to the Windows you want to repair. Usually, this is C:/Windows and associated with “1” but if that is not the case then you should simply press the number that corresponds with the windows you want to repair and proceed.
5. Now, you will see a screen that prompts you to enter your administrator password. Most people don’t have an admin password and in that case, you should simply hit enter and you’d be good to go. If you do have an administrator password, however, then you should type it in, hit enter, and proceed.
6. When the DOS prompt shows up, type in chkdsk/f and hit return.

If you see no improvement in solving Error 0x00000024, and the problem keeps persisting, then you should start over. But this time you should type sfc/scannow instead of chkdsk/f and hit return. There are a few other complex methods that you can try as well but this is the most recommended procedure as it is easier, quicker, and most likely to fix the error.

Windows 11 has brought us a new and revamped settings application that will cover most personalization and overall settings for your operating system. But as much as the new settings app is tweaked and modified there are still some things that can be modified only inside Control Panel. Since the Control Panel icon itself is somewhat not right away once clicked on the start button we are presenting you a couple of ways to open it so you can change each detail you want.

Via Start menu

The most straightforward and easiest way to reach and open the control panel is via the Start menu. In order to do it just click on the Start menu and type in the control panel. Then click on Control Panel Icon in the results.

Pin Control panel icon to the taskbar

In order to actually pin the control panel to Taskbar, you will need to open it first. Use the previous simple and fast steps in order to quickly open it then in the taskbar right-click on its icon. Choose Pin to Taskbar and close control panel. Now you can open the control panel quickly just by clicking it on its icon in the Taskbar.

Add Desktop icon

If you liked the idea to have an icon that you can click in order to fast open the control panel but you are not very fond of the icon being located in your Taskbar then let's place it on Desktop instead. In order to place a special control panel icon on the desktop, we will use Windows setting app. Open settings app with ⊞ WINDOWS + I and go to Personalization tab. Inside the personalization tab, go to Themes and click on Desktop Icon Settings. Check the box beside Control Panel and click on OK. The Control Panel icon will appear now on your Desktop and you can double click on it to launch it.

Run Control Panel from the Run dialog box

Same as in the previous version of Windows you can also open the Control Panel via Windows built-in run menu. This is mostly the preferred way to gain access to it by system administrators. Press ⊞ WINDOWS + R to open the run dialog. Inside dialog type in control and press ENTER. Control Panel will open right away.

March 2021 – 21 million records breached full list of incidents:

Cyber attacks March 2021

• Hackers obtain sensitive data on UK aid projects overseas
• University of the Highlands and Islands working to recover from cyber attack
• Pupils’ data destroyed after attack on Redborne Upper School and Community College
• Chinese hackers target Indian vaccine makers SII, Bharat Biotech
• City of Kingman, AZ, hit by cyber attack
• Italian manufacturer Caffitaly impacted by attack on a supplier
• Malaysia Airlines tells its frequent flyer members that their data may have been compromised
• Social network platform Gab hacked after rookie coding error
• Cyber attack affecting Hanover Area School District
• Security breach prompts lockdown of some Manitoba student databases
• PA-based Millersville University confirms external cyber attack
• Elite cyber crime forum “Maza” breached
• Texas-based ProPath notifies patients of employee email breach
• Elara Caring notifies patients after corporate email accounts hacked
• St. Agnes Medical Center patient data compromised in email breach at St. Alphonsus
• American Armed Forces Mutual Aid Association hacked
• Website of the attorney representing one of NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s accusers hacked
• Czech officials in Prague ‘hit by massive cyber attack’
• Brazil’s CPTrans website and the Educa em Casa platform hacked
• Houston-area school district investigates troubling messages sent during breach
• Hackers breach security cameras from start-up Verkada
• Two charged for copying and deleting data from an unnamed New York company
• PEI-Genesis says employee email account was compromised
• New Jersey employment portal hit by cyber criminals
• Treasure Valley residents receiving letters from Saint Alphonsus saying they are dead
• Unauthorised access occurred in Japanese retailer Urban Research
• Walmart discloses unauthorised access
• Norway’s parliament hit by new hack attack
• Fastway Couriers notifies Irish Data Protection Commission of a hack
• Overseas Service Corporation caught out by phishing scam
• The city administration of Ebeleben hit by cyber criminals
• Florida law firm Sachs Sax Caplan notifies individuals of email hack
• The Canada Revenue Agency locks accounts amid suspected phishing attack
• South African insurance firm PPS hit by cyber attack
• EDAG Engineering Group AG affected by cyber attack
• Michigan’s Troy School District website down after hacking from outside US
• The Coleman Group of Companies caught cyber criminals in the act
• Hackers broke into the system of three Prague polyclinics
• Nikkei’s Hong Kong affiliate hit by unauthorized access
• Eastern Health cyber ‘incident’ cancels some surgeries across Melbourne
• New Zealand’s Lumino dental firm suffers email hack
• Police are investigating a cyber attack on paint manufacturer Remmers
• Washington state’s Douglas County targeted in cyber attack
• Brazil’s Celg Geração e Transmissão suffers cyber attack
• Mendelson Kornblum Orthopedic and Spine Specialists notifies patients of breach
• Eyemart Express notifies patients of breach
• Maricopa County Community College District cancels classes after attack
• Kentucky Wesleyan College notice of data security incident
• Missouri’s Park Hill schools closed Monday due to malware attack
• MangaDex website taken offline following cyber attack
• DeCotiis, FitzPatrick, Cole & Giblin says employee email was hacked
• Texas’s Sewell Family of Companies discloses breach
• Czech Republic’s railway administration attacked by hackers
• Threat actors leak files with protected health information from U. Miami
• Heart of Texas Community Health Center notifies some patients of email-related breach
• Solairus Aviation notice regarding Avianis data security incident
• Polk County School District reveals third-party breach from 2019
• Haven Behavioral Hospital provides notice of data incident
• Mott Community College, Michigan, reports cyber attack
• Cyber security insurance firm CAN systems offline amid ongoing attack
• Dutch car company RDC.nl hit by cyber criminals
• Artificial snow manufacturer MND suffers malware attack
• Guns.com hacked, spilling gun owner info over the dark web
• Jefit data incident public announcement
• Lexington Medical Center discloses vendor’s patient records data breach
• Online food delivery chain Yemeksepeti hit by cyber attack
• Channel Nine cyber attack disrupts live broadcasts in Australia
• Singaporean retailer Vhive alerts consumers to cyber attack

Ransomware March 2021

• Fifteen schools in Nottinghamshire crippled by cyber attack
• South and City College Birmingham closed for a week after ransomware attack
• South Gloucestershire schools hit by ransomware attack
• MBA Group held to ransom by cyber attackers
• Dutch e-Ticketing platform Ticketcounter has suffered a security incident
• Lot-et-Garonne firefighters victims of a cyber attack
• Israeli car financing company KLS Capital hacked
• Tri County Sheriff Dispatch hit with ransomware attack
• Hackers hit Indians with ransomware supporting farmers
• Crypto firm Tether says it won’t pay $24 million ransom
• The Accellion breach also impacted Qualys; threat actors start dumping files
• Southern Illinois University School of Medicine impacted by Accellion breach
• Payroll giant PrismHR outage likely caused by ransomware attack
• Atlanta Allergy & Asthma hit by Nefilim threat actors
• Navajo Nation hospital targeted by large-scale ransomware hack
• AllyAlign notifies members and providers of ransomware attack
• Woodcreek Provider Services notifies patients of ransomware incident
• Spirit Airlines hit by Nefilim ransomware
• Arizona Complete Health notifies plan members of Accellion breach
• Sandhills Medical Foundation notifies patients of vendor breach
• Texas Medicaid subcontractor dumped after data breach in ransomware attack
• Japanese consulting firm hit with ransomware
• Arillium Community Health Plan in Oregon affected by Acceliion breach
• Nova Scotia health-care workers may have been compromised by Accellion breach
• French hospital Centre Hospitalier Général d’Oloron falls victim to ransomware
• Spain’s public employment system was attacked by ransomware
• Transport NSW documents posted on dark web after Accellion hack
• Flagstar Bank loses customers’ social security numbers after Accellion attack
• Outage at Molson Coors suggests ransomware attack
• City of Covington, Louisiana hit by ransomware
• Preferred Home Care of New York notifies those affected by ransomware attack
• Buffalo Public Schools hit by ransomware
• Total Life Healthcare data breached in ransomware attack
• Newberry County Memorial Hospital experienced ransomware attack
• The Metropolitan Area of ​​Barcelona hit by ransomware
• Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation Smart City suffers ransomware attack
• Tech manufacturer Acer hit by ransomware
• Stratus Technologies hit suffers ransomware attack
• Canada’s Sierra Wireless announces ransomware attack
• City of Frankfort, Kentucky, held to ransom
• Military supplier PDI Group hit by ransomware
• Alton, IL, hit by suspected ransomware attack
• Personal Touch Holding Corp. hit by ransomware attack at MSP
• Broward County Public Schools suffers ransomware attack
• Hackers demand ransom from Town of Didsbury in cyber attack
• Hackers hit Harris Foundation in latest ‘highly sophisticated’ cyber attack
• Gene therapy firm YposKesi targeted by ransomware
• Ransomware gang is threatening to release data stolen from shipping firm ECU Worldwide

Data breaches March 2021

• Solicitor caught dumping client files in the street
• Ministry of Defence secrets exposed by people sending files to personal email accounts
• Details of ‘vulnerable kids’ uploaded to Birmingham City Council website in ‘serious’ data breach
• Intelligence company Polecat left 30TB server exposed
• Health and Welfare Department of West Bengal leaks COVID-19 data
• Singapore Airlines customers leaked in SITA security breach
• Right-wing militants furious after data leak exposes their involvement in paramilitary group
• Data leak at Dutch foreign credential assessment service
• A bug in a popular iPhone app exposed thousands of call recordings
• Personal information Premier Diagnostics customers exposed on unsecured server
• Victoria privacy breach of vulnerable youth data
• SEO-Küche left employee and customer data exposed online
• Emails of Walworth Co. COVID vaccination registrants accidentally shared
• West Coast health board in privacy blunder involving medical information
• Line app allowed Chinese firm to access personal user data
• New Zealand IRD sent details of baby to complete stranger and paid her $240
• Apperta Foundation employee censured after disclosing vulnerability
• New Zealand’s Canterbury District Health Board apologizes for software privacy breach

Financial information

• Midlands News Association exposed journalists’ personal data
• Fatface says customers’ card details were hacked, asked them to keep it secret
• Hollywood’s elite private schools hacked
• Delco School District says hackers stole millions of dollars
• Security Industry Specialists notifies those affected by malware attack
• WeLeakInfo leaked customer payment info
• Florida’s Leon County Schools website hacked during spring break

Malicious insiders and miscellaneous incidents

• IT technician jailed after installing software onto work computers to spy on colleagues
• Petersburg Medical Center reports malicious insider use
• Snooping employee showed interest in pregnant women’s medical records
• UPMC St. Margaret patients’ info shared with unauthorized organisation
• Spectrum Health post sensitive info in background of social media posts
• Atascadero State Hospital discloses insider misuse

If you would like to read more helpful articles and tips about various software and hardware visit errortools.com daily.

What is Drwtsn32.exe Application Error?

Drwtsn32.exe (DrWatson Postmortem Debugger) is a process file from Microsoft Corporation that runs on Microsoft Windows Operating System. This file is digitally signed from Microsoft Windows Component Publisher- Microsoft Timestamping Service. This file is a type of executable file. It is useful to debug and creates log files when an error occurs during running or program execution. The information logged by DrWatson is used by technical support personnel to diagnose a program error for a computer running Windows. It creates log files in the following location C:Documents and SettingsAll UsersApplication DataMicrosoftDr Watson. However, when using Internet Explorer, MS Outlook or any other application on Windows, you can experience drwtsn32.exe application error. This error occurs when the drwtsn32.exe file crashes. The error is displayed as:

“DrWatson Postmortem Debugger has encountered a problem and needs to close” "drwtsn32.exe - DLL Initialization Failed" when shutting down

Solution

Error Causes

The ultimate reason behind ‘drwtsn32.exe application error’ is malware and viral infection. Malicious software can enter your PC through downloaded files , browsing on unsafe websites and phishing emails. These viruses can disguise themselves as DrWatson utility. Plus theymay have the same name as this process. However, the best way to detect if it is a virus is to track its location. Malicious software will usually hide in some other location instead of its standard location. However, other reasons for this error also include incompatible software and damaged system files.

Further Information and Manual Repair

a) Scan PC with an Anti-Virus

It is advisable to repair this issue right away especially if the underlying cause is a viral infection typically because viruses can expose you to privacy errors and risks such as cybercrime, identity theft, and data security issues. To resolve it, download a powerful antivirus. Scan your PC with it and remove all the viruses immediately. However, when doing so, you may have to compromise PC performance and halt other PC activities. Anti-viruses are notorious for slowing down PC speed. In addition to this, sometimes you may have to stop other activities on your PC for the antivirus to scan for viruses.

b) Repair Registry Errors with Restoro

Nonetheless, if the drwtsn32.exe application error is related to system file corruption, then this indicates registry issues where all the system data is stored. Registry issues occur if you don’t maintain your PC properly and let invalid, wasted and obsolete files accumulate on your PC. This damages and corrupts the system files and generates such error messages. To repair it, download a registry cleaner. However, the best alternative to resolve drwtsn32.exe application error in seconds whether the error is linked to registry issues or viral infection is to download Restoro. This is a multi functional PC fixer embedded with multiple utilities including a powerful antivirus, a registry cleaner and a system optimizer. It wipes out all the unnecessary files stored in the registry, repairs the damaged and corrupt system files and restores the registry. With the help of the antivirus, all privacy errors and viruses are scanned on your PC and removed immediately. And to ensure your system’s speed is not compromised, it also functions as a system optimizer and increases your PC’s speed significantly. The software is safe and efficient. It has simple navigations and a user-friendly interface which makes it very easy for all levels of users to work around. It is compatible with all Windows versions. Click here to download Restoro and resolve drwtsn32.exe application error today!

Windows defender error 0x800700AA, service can not be started comes when the user is trying to run Windows defender scan on their system. This kind of behavior happens for two reasons mostly, third-party application conflict or corrupted system files. In this article, we will tackle both scenarios and provide you with solutions in both cases.

Third-party application conflict

In this rare scenario when Windows defender can not start scan due to conflict with installed service or application in the system solution is quite simple. Restart your PC into safe mode and run the scan from there. In a safe mode environment, minimum drivers and services are only loaded eliminating any conflicts that might occur when everything is booted. If Windows defender can not run the scan in safe mode and you get the same 0x800700AA error then you can eliminate application conflict as a reason and move to the next solution which will tackle corrupted system files. If you, however, managed to run a scan then you have a rare third-party application conflict, you can boot normally into windows and try to eliminate one by one to see which one is causing the issue. The safest bet would be to start with security software because most of the time that is what causes conflicts in running services and applications.

Corrupted system files

If the previous solution has not provided you with results then you have system file corruption that needs to be fixed. Move from one solution to another as presented below:

1. Run SFC scan

   SFC scan is a built-in Windows tool for solving corrupted system files issues, it is fully automated and does not require from the user any kind of knowledge or information. To run it and scan the system do the following: Press ⊞ WINDOWS + X to open the secret menu Left-click on the command prompt (admin) In command prompt type SFC /SCANNOW and press ENTER Wait for the process to finish, do not interrupt it and once it is done, restart your computer

2. Run DISM scan

   DISM scan is similar to SFC scan but it tackles different types of system file corruption and it is recommended to run it also after SFC has been completed. Please note that for DISM scan to be successful you will need a stable internet connection since DISM will replace corrupted files with new ones downloaded from Microsoft. To run it do the following: Press ⊞ WINDOWS + X to open the secret menu Left-click on the command prompt (admin) inside command prompt type: exe /online /cleanup-image /scanhealth followed by ENTER, then type: Dism.exe /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth also followed with ENTER. Leave scan to finish and reboot your PC

Strange and anxious message no internet, secured can happen even during when everything is ok and you do indeed have internet. So in order to fix this issue please keep on reading.

Reset Router

Most a simple and most straightforward solution and 80% of the time it works like a charm. Before trying other solutions, try this simple one.

---

Run the Networking Troubleshooter

1. Run the build-in Windows 10 troubleshooter for networking.
2. To do this, right-click Start then select Settings
3. In the Settings window, click Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters > Internet Connections > Run the troubleshooter then follow the instructions

---

Device Manager solution

The Windows device manager is the place where you can update, disable and re-enable, and reinstall your devices, including the network adapter which is most likely the cause of this issue. In Device Manager, click Network adapters then locate your network adapter and right-click on it Do the following things in order presented:

1. Update driver.
2. Disable device, enable Flight mode in the taskbar, reboot PC, then Enable device and turn off Flight mode.
3. Uninstall device, reboot PC, reinstall the device if it was not installed automatically

---

Refresh IP Configuration

Refreshing your IP configuration reassigns your IP address, which will fix the problem if it was down to your IP allocation issues Open the Command Prompt, then enter the following commands:

---

Reset Winsock

There are a couple of other things you can try in the command prompt. The Winsock protocol controls a big chunk of your computer’s communication with network services and resetting it will reset many of those under-the-hood elements to their default settings. Enter the following into the command prompt:

---

Fix Connection’s Properties

Click the Wi-Fi (or Ethernet) connection icon in the taskbar, then Network & Internet Settings. In the new window, click Change adapter options then right-click the affected connection and click Properties. In the Properties window, make sure all the following boxes are ticked:

• Client for Microsoft Networks
• File and Printer Sharing
• Internet Protocol Version 4
• Internet Protocol Version 6
• Link-layer Topology Discovery Responder

Click OK and restart PC.

---

Disable iPv6

IPv6 is the relatively new Internet protocol that more and more PCs are using due to the fact that the number of available IPv4 addresses is simply running out. Not all networking equipment and ISPs play nice with iPv6, however, so if you have this switched on, then it could be interfering with your connection. If you suspect this might be the issue, uncheck the IPv6 box under your connection’s Properties.

There are instances when you might encounter an error that says, “Something went wrong, We couldn’t start your program” when you open any Office program. This could be due to an issue with the Office file and any Office app you open throws the same error message. This applies to Office 2019/2016, Office 365 Home, Office for Business as well as Business editions. In this post, you will be guided in what you can do to resolve this error. There are several potential fixes for this error, you might only have to restart your computer or you may have to repair Office from Apps and Features or you could also uninstall and install it back again. For more details, follow each one of the provided options below.

Option 1 – Restart your computer

You might be unable to launch any Office app due to some background process that got stuck or there might be some glitch in the system. Thus, the first thing you can do to resolve the error is simply restarting your computer. Once you’ve restarted your computer, open the Office app again or you could also try to sign in back with your Microsoft account that’s connected to Office. If you’re not quite sure which account you were using, you can follow these steps:

• Open any Office app.
• Then click on File and look for your name located in the top-right portion.
• Now click on it. This will display the email or Microsoft account that’s related to Office.

Option 2 – Try repairing Office from Apps and Features

Since Windows 10 offers some repair features that could replace some of the core files with the original files, you can take advantage of such a feature to fix the “Something went wrong, We couldn’t start your program” error when opening any Office app.

• Open Windows settings and click the Apps and Features option.
• Next, scroll down until you see the Microsoft Office installation option. Select it and click on Modify.
• This will open a window and from there, select Quick Repair or Online Repair and click on the Repair button.

Note: When you choose to repair, you might be given two options which depend on how Microsoft Office was installed. For instance, it was installed via Web Installer or Offline Installer (MSI-based). In Web Installer, select Online Repair > Repair when you’re prompted on how you would like to repair Office. While in MSI-based, you have to select Repair under “Change your installation” and then click on Continue. The repair process makes sure that the app data remains untouched.

Option 3 – Try to uninstall and reinstall Office

If neither of the two given options above worked, then you might want to uninstall Office and reinstall it. All you have to do is download the Microsoft Office Uninstall tool from the official site of Microsoft and run it. This will remove any incomplete Office installation as well as unwanted files. It will also get rid of all the Office apps and settings on your computer.

If you are familiar with the Dynamic Lock feature in Windows 10, then it has probably made it easier for you to lock your computer the instant you move away from it. This interesting feature does not need any special software like IR Cameras to use this feature as long as your Windows 10 computer supports Bluetooth which it most likely does. However there are times when the Dynamic lock feature is either missing or not working. When that happens, here are some suggestions that could help you. But before anything else, you need to create a System Restore point first since you will be modifying some critical system settings as well as registry files. After you’ve created a System Restore point, refer to the following options below to fix the issue with Dynamic Lock.

Option 1 – Try using the Settings app

• Tap the Win + I keys to open the Settings app and then navigate to Accounts > Sing-in options.
• After that, scroll down until you see the Dynamic Lock section.
• Next, make sure that the checkbox for “Allow Windows to automatically lock your device when you are away” is checked.
• Now that you’re all set, exit the Settings app.

Note: If for some reason the above-given solution didn’t work, you can try the next options below.

Option 2 – Try to pair your Bluetooth Device

If you get a message saying, “Allow Windows to automatically lock your device when you are away” in the Notifications Center or in the Settings app, then you need to pair your Bluetooth device. To do so, follow the steps below.

• Go to Settings > Devices > Bluetooth & other devices.
• From there, make sure that Bluetooth is turned On and then pair your Bluetooth device.
• And if you open the Windows Defender Security Center, you will see the following message as well.
• Simply click on the Add Bluetooth device button and it will open the Bluetooth settings where you can also pair the device.

Option 3 – Try to reinstall or update the Bluetooth driver

The issue might have something to do with the Bluetooth drivers. It could be that it is outdated and needs to be updated or that you recently updated it and since then you have trouble removing the Bluetooth device and so to fix the issue, you can update, roll back or uninstall the Bluetooth drivers. How? Follow the steps below.

• Tap the Win + X keys to open the Device Manager.
• Next, look for the Bluetooth device and right-click on it.
• Select the option “Update driver”.
• After that, a new popup window will appear. In there, select the option, “Search automatically for updated driver software”.

Note: Checking the update may take a few minutes so you’ll have to wait until it finishes. If it is able to find an update, you must install it. And if you want to reinstall the Bluetooth driver, just select the “Uninstall driver” option and follow the next on-screen instructions that follow.

Option 4 – Try to use the Registry Editor

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box and then type “Regedit” in the field and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor.
• If a User Account Control or UAC prompt appears, just click on Yes to proceed.
• After that, navigate to the following registry key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionWinlogon

• Next, look for a DWORD named “EnableGoodbye” located on the right-side panel and then make sure that its value is set to 1 which means that it is enabled while 0 indicates disabled.
• Now close the Registry Editor and restart your computer to apply the changes made successfully.

Option 5 – Try checking the Group Policy setting

If your Windows 10 version has the Group Policy Editor, you can use it to fix the Dynamic Lock issue as well. Simply follow the steps below to use it.

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Then type “gpedit.msc” in the field and hit Enter to open the Group Policy Editor.
• Next, navigate to the following path:

Computer ConfigurationAdministrative TemplatesWindows ComponentsWindows Hello for Business

• After that, look for an entry named “Configure dynamic lock factors” and double click on it to open a new window.
• Once you enable this Group Policy setting, the signal rules will be evaluated to detect the absence of a user and will lock the device automatically. On the other hand, if you disable or don’t configure this setting, you can continue locking your computer with existing locking options. Take note that it may be Not configured or Enabled but shouldn’t be set to Disabled.
• Now select the radio button for Enabled and set the Signal rules then click OK.
• Then exit the Group Policy Editor and restart your computer.