Recent Windows updates have been slowly but surely moved a lot of control panel features into settings. This indicates that in the long term goal is probably to get rid of the control panel altogether. No matter how the setting app is easy to use and good there are still things in the control panel that we need and we will still need until they are all moved in the setting application.
There are several ways to open and get to the control panel from run dialog to shortcut keys but one perhaps more convenient and easiest way is to just simply have in file explorer right beside hard drives double click away.
In order to place the control panel icon inside file explorer, we will need the help of our old friend: the registry editor. As always playing with the registry editor can cause some instability and it is always a smart thing to back up it first before attempting any kind of edits.
Registry editor adding a key
To open registry editor press ⊞ WINDOWS + R to open the run dialog and inside type in REGEDIT followed by ENTER
Once the registry editor is opened locate the following key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MyComputer
Right-click on the NameSpace folder on the left navigation pane and then select New > Key
Rename the key with {21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D} (This CLSID code will add access to the Category view of the Windows 10 Control Panel) or with {26EE0668-A00A-44D7-9371-BEB064C98683} (This CLSID code will add access to the large icons view of the Windows 10 Control Panel)
Save and exit the registry editor
Now when opened, file explorer will show a control panel icon for easy access.
If you are running the Windows Update service but decided to stop it but you encountered an error message instead that says, “The Windows Update service could not be stopped”, read on as this post will help you fix the problem.
This kind of error appears when you use the Command Prompt to stop the Windows Update service, especially if you are using cmd without admin privileges. A lot of users reported that they were not able to disable the automatic Windows Update in Windows 10 using Command Prompt. The command used to stop the Windows Update service is the “net stop wuauserv” command. However, when some users executed this command, they got the error message. So if you are one of these users that can’t stop the Windows Update Service via Command Prompt, you can try to fix that using PID as well as checking the Service dependencies. For more details, follow the given options below.
Option 1 – Try to stop the Windows Update service via PID
In case you don’t know, each running service or process has its own unique ID or PID and you can find it in the Task Manager. You can use it to stop the Windows Update service. How? Refer to these steps:
Tap the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys to open the Task Manager.
Next, go to the Services tab and look for the service named “wuauserv” and get its PID.
After that, type “cmd” in the Windows Start search and right-click on Command Prompt from the search results and then select the “Run as administrator” option.
After opening Command Prompt with admin privileges, execute this command: taskkill /f /pid <PID>
Note: You need to replace “<PID>” with the PID of the “wuauserv” service. For instance, the PID is 6676, then this is how the command should be “taskkill /f /pid 6676”.
After you execute the command, you will this message on your screen, “SUCCESS: The process with PID 6676 has been terminated” which indicates that you have stopped the Windows Update service successfully.
Option 2 – Try to check the Service dependencies
Dependencies of a Windows Service in Windows 10 are when windows services depend on other services. Such is the case with the Windows Update service – it also depends on three different services such as the Remote Procedure Call or RPC service, DCOM Server Process Launcher, and the RPC Endpoint Mapper. Meaning to say, if two of these services are not working as expected, then the dependant service will also be affected. This could be the reason why the Windows Update service could not start.
Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
Next, type “services.msc” in the field and hit Enter to open Windows Services.
From the list of Services, look for the following services:
Remote Procedure Call (RPC) Service
DCOM Server Process Launcher
RPC Endpoint Mapper
After you find these services, double click on each one of them and check whether the Startup type for all is set to Automatic and the Service status is set to Running or not.
If the service status is not running, then click the Start button. Afterward, check if you can now run the Windows Update service.
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.
Centralized Taskbar and Start menu
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.
Snap Layouts
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.
Xbox Game Bar
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!
Error Code 0x800F0922 refers to an issue with downloading the newest version of Microsoft Windows, Windows 10. It could mean that your PC doesn't have enough free space in the System Reserved partition, or that it couldn't connect to the Windows Update servers. This issue is not very common, most users will never see this error code. Some, however, will need to follow the below fixes in order to download and upgrade their systems properly.Common symptoms include:
Dialog box appears with the Error Code 0x800F0922
Microsoft Windows 10 upgrade is unsuccessful and/or incomplete
Users are unable to open applications after attempting the Microsoft Windows 10 upgrade
Solution
Error Causes
There are two standard reasons why this error occurs during the Microsoft Windows 10 upgrade.
There may not be enough free space in the “System Reserved” partition of your hard drive.
Error Code 0x800F0922 could also mean that your PC was not able to successfully connect to the Microsoft Windows update servers due to a VPN (virtual private network) connection in your home or office network.
The .Net framework installation portion of the Windows 10 upgrade fails.
Further Information and Manual Repair
Error Code 0x800F0922 as stated is somewhat rare, but it does occur occasionally. Users who have experienced this error while attempting to upgrade their system to Microsoft Windows 10 have the following options for do-it-yourself fixes.
Method 1:
Use this method if you are operating on a network that uses a VPN connection.
Disconnect from your office or home network.
Turn off your VPN software.
Run the Microsoft Windows 10 upgrade.
Restart your PC.
Reconnect to your home or office network.
Turn your VPN software back on.
Method 2:
This will run the Windows 10 Update troubleshooter that is built into your PC.
Click on the Windows icon on the lower-left corner of your desktop.
Press the “w” key to open the SEARCH function.
Type “troubleshooting” in the search field and press ENTER
When the troubleshooting window opens, select the “view all” option from the left window pane.
Select “Windows update”.
Select “advanced” and then choose the “run as administrator” option.
Click the NEXT button and follow the on-screen prompts.
This troubleshooter will walk you through the steps needed for your specific situation.
Method 3:
This method will run the DISM (deployment image servicing and management) tool built into your PC.
Press the “windows key” on your keyboard followed by the “x” key.
Select the “command prompt admin” option.
Type the command “exe /online /cleanup-image /scanhealth” into the command prompt field and press ENTER.
Wait for the scan to run completely.
When the scan is complete, a message will appear telling you that “the operation completed successfully”.
Type the command “dism.exe /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth” into the command prompt field and press ENTER.
This will take a while to run completely, but it will restore any missing or corrupted files necessary for the Microsoft Windows 10 update.
Restart your computer.
Attempt the Windows 10 upgrade again.
Method 4: Use this option if you believe the issue is a result of the .NET framework being disabled.
Press the “windows” key followed by the “x” key.
Select the “control panel” option.
When the control panel window opens, click your cursor in the search field on the upper right hand corner.
Search for the phrase “windows features”, then select the link “turn Windows features on or off”.
Select the check box (add a check) to the box next to “.Net framework”.
Click the OK button.
Proceed with your Microsoft Windows 10 upgrade.
To resolve this, all you need is third-party software to increase the size of the System Reserved partition.One of the four methods listed above should fix your Error Code 0x800F0922 issue and allow for a successful Windows 10 upgrade. On an occasion where there isn't enough space, use third-party software to increase the size of the System Reserved partition. 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.
Windows Updates are checked for their validity every time they are downloaded from Microsoft servers just like how browsers check websites for a valid certificate. And so if you got an error message saying, “ Some update files aren’t signed correctly, error code 0x800b0109 ” while trying to update your computer, it indicates that the Windows service was unable to verify the validity of the Windows Update. To fix this error, you can try out the options prepared in this post.
Option 1 – Reboot your computer and try again
Save your work and reboot your computer and then try checking for updates again. In some cases, all you need is a restart to fix errors like error code 0x800b0109.
Option 2 – Try to update Windows after an hour or so
There are times when the issue is from Microsoft’s end. It could be that there’s some issue with Microsoft’s server so it would be better if you give it an hour or so before trying to run Windows Update again.
Option 3 – Try running the Windows Update Troubleshooter
Running the built-in Windows Update troubleshooter is one of the things you can first check out as it is known to automatically resolve any Windows Update errors like Error 0x8007001E. To run it, go to Settings and then select Troubleshoot from the options. From there, click on Windows Update and then click the “Run the troubleshooter” button. After that, follow the next on-screen instructions and you should be good to go.
Option 4 – Delete the contents in the Temporary folder
You can also try deleting the contents in the Temporary folder – all the downloaded, pending, or failed Windows 10 updates. You can do that using the simple and easy steps below.
Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
Then type “%temp%” in the field and press Enter to open the Temporary folder.
After that, select all the folders and files within the Temp folder and delete all of them.
Option 5 – Clear the contents in the Software distribution and Catroot2 folders
Open the WinX Menu.
From there, open Command Prompt as admin.
Then type in the following command – don’t forget to hit Enter right after typing each one of them.
net stop wuauservnet start cryptSvcnet start bitsnet start msiserver
After entering these commands, it will stop the Windows Update Service, Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS), Cryptographic, and the MSI Installer
Next, go to the C:/Windows/SoftwareDistribution folder and get rid of all the folders and files thereby tapping the Ctrl + A keys to select them all and then click on Delete. Note that if the files are in use, you won’t be able to delete them.
After resetting the SoftwareDistribution folder, you need to reset the Catroot2 folder to restart the services you just stopped. To do that, follow these steps:
Type each one of the following commands.
net start wuauservnet start cryptSvcnet start bitsnet start msiserver
After that, exit Command Prompt and restart your computer, and then try to run Windows Update once more.
Option 6 – Install the updates in a Clean Boot State
You might want to try putting your computer in a Clean Boot state and then install Windows Updates again without any trouble. During this state, you can start the system with a minimum number of drivers and startup programs that will surely help you in isolating the root cause of the issue.
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.)
After that, try to install the Windows Updates or upgrade again.
Portable small Bluetooth speakers are nothing new on the market, most of the time they have given the opportunity for music listening during picnics and walks in nature and also replaced some car speaker systems. The latest star in small portable speakers in JBL Clip 4, small in size, waterproof, and with an incredible high-quality sound.
Performance and quality
Out of the box and after first look speaker looks great, it has excellent design and is very intuitive to work with. Everything is laid out logically and you can start using it right away without reading instructions.
The sound quality is surprisingly very good and clear. I must say I have not expected this clarity and power from a speaker of this size. The volume range is also incredibly good and will fill most needs even on small picnics outdoors where you can hear it loud enough. One thing to mention is that even on their loudness levels sound is still clear without distortion which, to be honest, is to be expected from someone like JBL.
Where you can take JBL Clip 4
You can take it where ever you want, Its size and clip make it perfect for beach and pool trips. Speaker is waterproof and gas IP67 rating, meaning that sand and dirt will not affect it either. Do not take this speaker to your diving adventures since that will break it but a depth around 1 meter underwater should be safe. After your trip do not forget to wash Clip 4 with clean water so all dirt, salt, and other stuff are properly cleaned for longer life of the device.
How long it will play?
JBL claims that the battery will last 10 hours of continuous play. Note that this is meant probably on the largest volume setting so when you use it on lower settings battery is lasting longer. Playing of course on low volumes will extend playback time even longer but here we come at one feature that I do not like, there is no indication of any kind how much battery is left in the speaker, the only indication is a red light when the battery is almost empty which means you could be outside at that point and did not know that low battery was there in the first place when you were packing. Some battery indication would be a great addon.
More stability for JBL Clip 4
The clip itself has been improved from the previous Clip 3 model, it is wider, it goes all the way around the casing, and feels overall better and more stable. Since the clip is now all around casing this means a wider opening can be made making it fit around stuff Clip 3 was not able to.
Conclusion
All in all, Clip 4 is an incredible speaker and one that would highly recommend, the price goes around 79 USD but it can be found even as low as 50 USD on discounts and promotions and if you manage to get one at that price it is a great buy. Sound is good, portability is great, dirt and waterproof are excellent and battery life is really good.
As you know, the Taskbar is one of the integral parts of the Windows desktop and it has been there since the release of Windows 1.0 and up until now with Windows 10. Since then, Microsoft has been modifying the Taskbar with a new design which makes it a home for new features such as Windows Search, Task View, and many more. However, there are times when you may that the Taskbar has disappeared or has stopped responding. If you experience either one of these scenarios, read on as this post will walk you through what you can do to resolve the problem.
Here are some suggestions you can check out to resolve the issue with the Taskbar in Windows 10 but before you proceed, make sure that you create a System Restore point first. To do that, follow these steps:
In the Start search, type in “create a restore point” and click the entry “System Properties”.
Next, select the main system drive under Protection Settings and click on the Configure button.
After that, select the “Turn on system protection” option and then click on the Apply and OK buttons to save the changes made.
Once you’ve created a System Restore point, refer to the troubleshooting steps below to fix the Taskbar in Windows 10.
Option 1 – Try to restart the Explorer process
This may sound really basic but it actually is a proven method to fix the Taskbar issue. So if anything gets stuck on the system tray or the Taskbar, you can always fix it by restarting the explorer.exe. How? Refer to these steps:
First, right-click on the Taskbar and select the Task Manager.
After opening the Task Manager, go to the Processes tab and look for the process named “Windows Explorer”.
Then right-click on that process and select the option to Restart. Afterward, you should now be seeing the Taskbar as this will reload the whole Windows Shell.
Option 2 – Unhide the Taskbar using the Settings app
It is possible that the Taskbar could be hidden so you can try to unhide it using the Settings app.
Tap the Win + I keys to open Settings.
After that, go to Personalization > Taskbar.
From the main section, make sure that the “Automatically hide the task in desktop mode” is toggled to the off position. However, if it’s already off then proceed to the next options below.
Option 3 – Make sure that you are not in Tablet Mode
Since Windows 10 is designed to work on both desktop and mobile devices, it could be that your computer has slipped into Tablet Mode which explains why you’re not seeing the Taskbar. To check if your computer is really in Tablet Mode, follow these steps:
Go to the Start menu and select Settings.
Next, select the System setting and from the left pane select the Tablet Mode.
From there, make sure that the buttons next to the options given below are set to the off position:
Hide app icons on the taskbar in tablet mode
Automatically hide the taskbar in tablet mode
Option 4 – Try to check the Projection Settings
You might also want to check the Projection settings as it could be the reason why Taskbar has disappeared.
Tap the Win + P keys to open the Windows Projection settings.
Next, make sure that you select the “PC screen only” option and then check if your Taskbar has now appeared or not.
Despite popular belief, there are a lot of users running Linux OS. Linux offers great security and working environment and 96.3% of the world's top 1 million servers run on Linux. 90% of all cloud infrastructure operates on Linux and practically all the best cloud hosts use it. But gaming on Linux is limited, enter Steam proton a Valve’s gaming solution.
What is Steam proton?
Proton is a WINE fork with some extra capabilities, to play games and run applications not native and not made to run natively under Linux OS. It is supposed to bridge the Gaming issues for PC users and let them more freedom in choosing an operating system to game on.
Find out if your game supports Proton
Although there are a lot of titles that nowadays run natively on Linux some will still need proton in order to run at all and sadly some of them will not be able to run on Linux even via proton but seeing how Valve is busy and it is trying to push its ideas and technology slowly this gap is closing.
In order to see how the game you want to play performs and behaves on Linux and proton environment visit https://www.protondb.com/ and find out. As soon as the site loads you will be greeted with statistics and a search option to find out the status of the desired game with one of the given statuses: Borked, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Native.
As you probably guessed native means that the game will work on Linux out of the box and borked will probably not work at all. Platinum and gold status means that game will run on proton without any input or tweaks from the user while silver and bronze means that it will work but might need some tweaks in order to make it work.
How to get Steam proton?
In order to run games under proton inside Linux, you will need firstly a Steam client which luckily works naturally on Linux. Unlocking/activating Steam Proton on your Linux-based system is easy. Just head over to Steam > Settings > Steam Play and toggle the option “Enable Steam Play for Supported Titles”.
Valve has tested and fixed some Steam titles and you will now be able to play those titles. However, if you wish to go even further beyond, and play titles that even Valve has not tested, toggle the option “Enable Steam Play for all titles”.
Conclusion
Even we are not there yet, native gaming on Linux is gaining a foothold each day. Will Steam’s OS with proton technology be one that will turn the tide from Windows or some other tech we cannot tell but one thing is for sure, more choices mean better products so I am hopeful for a bright future.
Users when upgrading to Windows 10 operating system from Windows 8/8.1 or Windows 7, often encounter error code 8007002c. This error occurs when there’s an attempt made in performing an overall clean boot procedure. During the installation process, it will reach a certain maximum limit, for instance, 75%, and then reverts to its original state. Sometimes, after installation, users will encounter a black screen issue and there is no cursor visible.
Solution
Error Causes
Misconfigured system files that create registry errors within your operating system normally cause error code 8007002c in Windows 10. This registry error happens when there are new programs being installed over old ones without the old programs uninstalled entirely. Another possible cause could be from some malicious software like spyware, adware, and viruses.
Further Information and Manual Repair
Caution: The following steps are complicated. The risk of being in a no-boot situation or data loss might be encountered. It would be best to be supervised by an experienced user, especially in using the command line.
In order to fix Error code 8007002c occurring in Windows 10 upgrade, you can follow this step-by-step manual repair method. Once the repair method is correctly executed, users will most likely quickly resolve issues such as the Error code 8007002c and be able to upgrade to Windows 10 operating system smoothly.
However, in such cases where there are complex instructions and thus need an expert, seek help from a Windows professional. You may also want to consider making use of an automated tool whenever needed.
There are several ways to fix Error code 8007002c, but here are the most effective and efficient methods:
Method One: Force Windows Update
To be able to download and install the necessary updates, you may use the force Windows Update tool. See below for the steps:
Browse to C:\Windows\Software\Distribution\Download. Afterward, delete all the files found in that folder.
Press Windows key + X then click on the Command Prompt (Admin). Type exe /updatenow once the Command Prompt window appears then press Enter.
Open the Control Panel. Select Windows Update. At this point, Windows 10 should now start downloading.
Press again on Windows key + X to open the Command Prompt window. In the Command Prompt, Type or Copy and Paste the following commands one at a time:
NOTE: Don’t forget to hit Enter after every command.
Input a machine name for your computer. Make sure to use a simple name, having at least 8 characters.
Here’s how you can input a machine name:
Click on Start and then right-click on Computer. Afterward, select For users with Windows 8 operating system, press on Windows key + X then click on System.
Click on Change settings under the Computer name, domain, and workgroup settings.
Method Two: Diagnose RAM Issues
Another reason why Error code 8007002c occurs is when there’s a defective and wrongly installed memory chip. Try using the Windows Memory Diagnostic to diagnose if there are RAM Issues.
Press on the Windows Key + X then select
Type
Select Windows Memory Diagnostic, from that window, select Restart now, and check for problems
Method Three: Use Selective Startup
One more possible cause why Error code 8007002c occurs is due to third-party software. To fix this error, you can try booting up your device with Selective Startup -- a boot type where you can load a limited set of startups and services.
Open the System Configuration tool. On your Taskbar, type MSCONFIG in the Search Box then hit Enter.
Select the General
Select Selective startup option then tick on the Load system services
Ensure that Load startup items check box is unchecked.
Click Apply and
Can’t seem to put up with the long and technical manual repair process? You can still fix this error by downloading and installing a powerful automated tool that will surely get the job done in a jiffy!
So you have just got home from that new computer store with your fancy and all-new mouse, screen, keyboard, etc. You plugged in your new component, Windows detected it, installed drivers for it and it is working like a charm. A few months later down the road and the computer starts little by little to slow down.
Plug and play is a great concept, and automatic detection is even greater but how time passes old unused stuff piles in your hard drive and in Windows itself thus slowing down your computer and taxing it more and more as new components and software are added. Old drivers from old components sadly are not removed from Windows itself and over some larger period of time they can pile up and slow down your daily operations on the computer or even cause some problems in it.
This guide will teach you how to manually remove old unused device drivers from your Windows so it is fresh and like new again.
Making old devices visible
In order for us to remove old drivers, the first thing we must do is make them visible in our device manager, old drivers are hidden and will not show up, we must make this happen. We do this by pressing WINDOWS + X keys on your keyboard to bring up a hidden menu in Windows.
Once the menu appears, click on Command Prompt (admin)Once the command prompt with administrator privileges comes on-screen type in it following string:
SET DEVMGR_SHOW_NONPRESENT_DEVICES=1
This command will force Windows to show all devices in the device manager including old ones that are not used anymore, but since their drivers are still installed, devices will show up.
When you type command press ENTER.
Once again press WINDOWS + X to show the hidden menu but this time choose the device manager
The device manager will open, go to view > snow hidden devices in order to show unused devices.
Removing old device
Open any category and if there is a device that was once used and still has its drivers in the system it will be shown as faded out.
Right-click on the device and click on uninstall device to remove it completely from your system.
Please always be careful when removing devices so you do not remove the device which is being used by mistake and always double-check that you are removing something that you used to have on your system. This method will show all hidden devices even ones that are hidden but crucial to the system working properly.
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.