How to Set up and Use a Ram Drive in Windows

There are a lot of users who use their Windows 10 PCs to create and access data on their servers using their network. However, some of them reported getting an error saying that the server is not accessible. Here’s the full content of the error message:

“\server is not accessible. You might not have permission to use this network resource. Contact the administrator of this server to find out if you have access permissions. Logon Failure: The target account name is incorrect.”

If you are among the users who experience the same issue, read on as this post will help you resolve this error when accessing your server. But before you start troubleshooting the problem, you might want to perform System Restore, especially if tend to create one. To use System Restore, here’s what you have to do:

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• After that, type in “sysdm.cpl” in the field and tap Enter.
• Next, go to the System Protection tab then click the System Restore button. This will open a new window where you have to select your preferred System Restore point.
• After that, follow the on-screen instructions to finish the process and then restart your computer and check if the problem is fixed or not.

If System Restore didn’t help in fixing the ACPI.sys Blue Screen error now’s the time for you to make use of the potential fixes laid out below.

Option 1 – Try rebooting your router

The first thing you can try to do to fix the error is to simply restart your router. All you need to do is reboot the router from its Admin panel or you can also turn it off manually and turn it back on after a couple of seconds so that it can completely reboot. Once you’re done, try accessing your server again and see if the error is now fixed.

Option 2 – Try checking the status of the Workstation Service

You might want to check the status of the Workstation Service as the error might have something to do with it.

• Tap the Win + R keys on your keyboard to launch the Run utility.
• Then type “services.msc” in the field and click OK or hit Enter to open the Windows Services Manager.
• After opening the Services Manager, you will see a list of all the services on your computer and from there, locate the Workstation Service.
• Double click on the Workstation Service to open its Properties.
• Next, Stop the Service and Start it again or you can also right-click on it and select Restart and then make sure that its Startup type is set to Automatic.
• Now restart your computer and check if the error is fixed.

Option 3 – Try to change the File Sharing Connections setting

You can also try to change the File Sharing connections setting. All you have to do is go to Control Panel > Network and sharing center > Advanced sharing settings > File sharing connections. From there, you need to select “Enable file sharing for devices that use 40 or 56-bit encryption and check if it helps in fixing the problem. If not, undo the changes you’ve made and proceed to the next given option.

Option 4 – Try checking the Network Configuration

Checking the Network Configuration can also help you fix the error. Refer to the steps below to do so:

• Right-click on the Wi-Fi connection or on the Ethernet connection icon located in the system tray.
• Then select open Network and Internet Settings and then click on the “Change Adapter Options”.
• After that, a new window will appear and from there, select the network connection that connects your computer to your network – this can either be a Wi-Fi connection or Ethernet connection.
• Right-click on that connection and select Properties where you will see a list of items.
• Select the Internet Protocol Version 4 or Internet Protocol Version 6 from those items according to your system requirement.
• Then click on the Properties button.
• Check if everything is now configured as to how it is supposed to be and then check if the error is resolved.

Option 5 – Try to reset Winsock, TCP/IP & Flush DNS

You might also want to try resetting Winsock, TCP/IP, and flushing DNS might help you resolve errors. To do so, follow these steps:

• Right-click on the Start button and click on Command Prompt (administrator) so you can pull up an elevated Command Prompt.
• After that, execute each one of the commands listed below. And after you typed in one after the other, you have to hit Enter.

1. netsh winsock reset – type in this command to reset Winsock
2. netsh int ip reset resettcpip.txt – type in this command to reset TCP/IP
3. ipconfig /flushdns – type in this command to flush the DNS cache

• Next, restart your PC and check if the problem’s fixed.

Option 6 – Run the Network Adapter Troubleshooter

• Open the Search bar on your computer and type in “troubleshoot” to open the Troubleshoot settings.
• Next, scroll down and select the “Network Adapter” option from the right pane.
• Then click on the Run Troubleshooter” button.
• After that, your computer will check for any possible errors and will pinpoint the root cause of the problem if possible.

Error Code 0xc1900106  – What is it?

One of the most common errors encountered by Microsoft users upgrading from Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 to Windows 10 is the Error Code 0xc1900106. Microsoft users experience a failure in the installation process. Either they will be notified that the installation process was ended but failed or that Windows is not able to install the update.

Solution

Error Causes

More and more Windows users are having trouble upgrading their operating system to Windows 10. There are a lot of errors being encountered by users and one of them is the Error Code 0xc1900106. This error is normally due to the misconfigured system files. If a Windows user encounters this error, most likely their device has some registry problems.

Further Information and Manual Repair

Fixing error code-related issues could be best resolved to do manual repair methods. Applying repair methods manually can help Windows users address the root causes of the errors they encounter, as well as apply definite solutions to rectify the issue.

Most Windows users can be able to implement manual repair methods themselves but there are some cases where help from a Windows professional is needed. If you’re not a very tech-savvy person and not confident performing the manual repair methods yourself, it would be advisable to seek help from a professional Windows technician who is knowledgeable enough to address the errors or problems you are encountering. However, if you don’t want to resort to seeking help from a professional, you can also consider using a powerful automated tool.

In trying to fix Error Code 0xc1900106, here are the following manual repair methods you can take:

Method One: Custom Installation

1. Make a backup of your personal files
2. Users of Windows 8/8.1 should Refresh first then proceed to upgrade.
3. If the Refresh process does not work, reset your device then try again.
4. If resetting your device still does not work, you can proceed with a custom installation.
5. When your Windows installation media is ready, you need to choose to boot from CD, DVD, or USB drive to begin setup. (For example purposes, this article will discuss booting from DVD).
6. When your device is all set to boot from DVD, you will be prompted to Press any key to boot from CD or DVD…
7. Once you’ve pressed any key, the screen will show the Windows logo which might take a while. No need to worry though, as long as you can see the indicator, you’re good.
8. Choose your Language, Time, and Keyboard method from the drop-down menu then hit Next.
9. Click on the Install Now button then wait until Setup begins.
10. Tick on the I accept the license terms check box then select Next.
11. Choose Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)
12. Choose the Primary partition then select Next. You will be prompted by the following warning: The partition you selected might contain files from a previous Windows Installation. If it does, these files and folders will be moved to a folder named Windows.old. You will be able to access the information in Windows.old, but you will be able to use your previous version of Windows. Just click the OK button then wait as the Windows continue to install. Windows will restart once this phase of the setup completes and will reboot into setup once again.
13. At this point, Windows will detect and install your hardware. Once this finishes, Windows will restart again.

Method Two: Reset Windows Update Components

1. From your device’s desktop, hit Windows key + X to open the command prompt as admin.
2. Once the command prompt window appears, you can type or copy and paste the following commands (all at once):

net stop wuauserv net stop cryptSvc net stop bits net stop msiserver ren C:WindowsSoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old ren C:WindowsSystem32catroot2 catroot2.old net start wuauserv net start cryptSvc net start bits net start msiserver pause

3. Exit the command prompt.
4. After you reset the Windows Update components, see if you receive Windows Updates which includes the firmware updates for your computer.

Method Three: Ensure Windows is Updated

1. If you have an antivirus, make sure to disable it during the upgrade process.
2. Run Windows Update to check if the system is updated.
3. Ensure that the latest firmware and drivers are installed. To be able to do this, go to the computer manufacturer’s website or you can also try contacting company support.

Google Chrome 94 is here and it has introduced a controversial idle detection API. For those people that do not know what idle detection API is, well basically Chrome can be asked by a website to report when a user of the site has a site open and is idle on the device. The issue that people have with this is that this particular feature can be used to report when the user is not using a computer at all. Good thing is that website or web application will prompt you to allow it to use this feature like when a site/application wants to use your microphone or web camera. Developers are on board with this feature since it can provide them with more telemetric data on how users are interacting with their website/application but there are some that are strongly voicing against this. Tantek Çelik, Mozilla Standards Lead, commented on GitHub, saying:

As it is currently specified, I consider the Idle Detection API too tempting of an opportunity for surveillance capitalism motivated websites to invade an aspect of the user’s physical privacy, keep long-term records of physical user behaviors, discerning daily rhythms (e.g. lunchtime), and using that for proactive psychological manipulation (e.g. hunger, emotion, choice)… Thus I propose labeling this API harmful and encourage further incubation, perhaps reconsidering simpler, less-invasive alternative approaches to solve the motivating use-cases.

Others who have spoken against this feature are people from the WebKit development team inside Apple. Ryosuke Niwa, an Apple software engineer who works on WebKit said:

That doesn’t seem like a strong enough use case for this API. For starters, there is no guarantee that the user won’t immediately come back to the device. Also, who is such a service supposed to know what another device user might be using at any given point? We’re definitely not going to let a website know all the devices a given user might be using at any given point. That’s a very serious breach of the said user’s privacy. It seems to me that such a suppression/distribution mechanism is best left for the underlying operating systems/web browsers to handle.

Of course, technology itself as always can be used for good or for bad and time will tell if this feature has brought good stuff or it has paved another brick in surveillance and privacy manipulation. As said for now option will prompt for agreement and let's hope that it will be used for good causes from this day into the future.

Marine Aquarium Lite is a Browser Extension for Google Chrome. This extension changed your default search ending and home page to MyWebSearch.com. It is published by Mindspark Interactive and is considered a browser hijacking extension. While installed, users will see additional ads and sponsored links in their search results. This extension also collects user website data, which allows it to better target ads. Several anti-virus scanners have marked Marine Aquarium Lite as a Browser Hijacker and are marked for removal. From the Author: MyWebSearch is an incredibly popular toolbar (over 20 million active users each month!), that gives you access to the web’s leading search engine Google; includes some of the most popular products on the web for making communication easier, more expressive, and more entertaining. The MyWebSearch toolbar platform allows you to take advantage of more than a dozen interactive features and websites.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijacking is a very common type of online fraud where your web browser configuration settings are altered to make it carry out things you never intend. They’re created to interfere with web browser functions for a variety of reasons. Typically, hijackers will force hits to websites of their choice either to increase traffic generating higher ad earnings, or to obtain a commission for each and every user visiting there. Even though it may seem naive, all browser hijackers are damaging and thus always classified as security risks. Once the malware attacks your PC, it begins to mess things up a whole that slows your system down to a crawl. In the worse case, you will be pushed to deal with serious malware threats too.

Major signs that your browser has been hijacked

There are many signs of browser hijacking: home-page is changed; you observe new unwanted bookmarks or favorites added, typically directed to ad-filled or porn websites; The default search page of web browser is altered; you find multiple toolbars in your browser; you’ll notice random pop-ups start showing on a regular basis; your web browser starts running slowly or displays frequent glitches; you have prohibited entry to specific web pages, for example, the site of an anti-malware software developer like SafeBytes.

How they get into your computer or laptop

Browser hijackers infect PCs by numerous means, including through a file-share, a drive-by download, or an infected e-mail. They also come from add-on software, also referred to as browser helper objects (BHO), web browser plug-ins, or toolbars. Also, some shareware and freeware can put the hijacker inside your PC through “bundling”. An example of some notorious browser hijacker includes Conduit, Anyprotect, Babylon, DefaultTab, SweetPage, RocketTab, and Delta Search, but the names are constantly changing. Browser hijacking could lead to serious privacy issues and also identity theft, affect your web browsing experience by taking control over outbound traffic, drastically slows down your PC by deleting lots of resources, and result in system instability as well.

How you can fix a browser hijack

Some hijackers can be simply removed by uninstalling the free software they were included with or by eliminating any extension you have recently added to your computer system. But, the majority of hijacking codes are certainly not easy to get rid of manually, as they go deeper into the operating system. And there is no denying the very fact that manual fixes and removal could be a difficult job for an amateur computer user. Besides, there are several risks connected with fiddling around with the system registry files. You can choose automatic browser hijacker removal by simply installing and running efficient anti-malware software. SafeBytes Anti-Malware discovers all types of hijackers – including Marine Aquarium Lite – and eliminates every trace quickly and efficiently. Utilize a system optimizer (such as Total System Care) together with your anti-malware software to fix various computer registry issues, eliminate computer vulnerabilities, and enhance your computer performance.

Can't Install Safebytes Anti-malware because of Malware? Try This!

Malware may cause several different types of damage to computer systems, networks, and data. Some malware sits in between your PC and the net connection and blocks a few or all websites that you want to visit. It will also prevent you from installing anything on your PC, particularly antivirus applications. If you are reading this right now, you have probably realized that virus infection is the reason behind your blocked net traffic. So what to do when you want to install an anti-malware program such as Safebytes? Even though this sort of issue will be tougher to circumvent, there are some actions you can take.

Boot your system in Safe Mode

In Safe Mode, you could adjust Windows settings, uninstall or install some programs, and eradicate hard-to-delete viruses and malware. In the event the malware is blocking access to the internet and affecting your PC, running it in Safe Mode allows you to download anti-virus and run a diagnostic scan whilst limiting potential damage. To enter into Safe Mode or Safe Mode with Networking, press the F8 key while the system is booting up or run MSConfig and find the “Safe Boot” options in the “Boot” tab. As soon as you restart the PC into Safe Mode with Networking, you may download, install, as well as update the anti-malware program from there. At this point, you could run the anti-virus scan to get rid of viruses and malware without interference from another application.

Switch over to some other internet browser

Some malware mainly targets certain web browsers. If this is your situation, use another browser as it may circumvent the computer virus. When you suspect that your Internet Explorer happens to be hijacked by a virus or otherwise compromised by cybercriminals, the best thing to do would be to switch to a different web browser such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Apple Safari to download your chosen security software – Safebytes Anti-Malware.

Make a bootable USB anti-virus drive

To successfully get rid of the malware, you will need to approach the issue of running an antivirus software program on the infected computer system from a different angle. Do these simple measures to clean up your affected computer by using a portable antivirus. 1) Use another virus-free computer system to download Safebytes Anti-Malware. 2) Plug the pen drive into the clean PC. 3) Double-click on the downloaded file to run the installation wizard. 4) Select the drive letter of the pen drive as the place when the wizard asks you where you want to install the anti-virus. Follow the instructions on the computer screen to finish up the installation process. 5) Now, plug the thumb drive into the infected computer. 6) Run the Safebytes Anti-malware directly from the pen drive by double-clicking the icon. 7) Click on the “Scan” button to run a full computer scan and remove viruses automatically. SafeBytes Security Suite Benefits"]If you are looking to install an anti-malware program for your computer, there are various tools out there to consider but you just cannot trust blindly anyone, no matter whether it is a free or paid program. Some are good ones, some are decent, and some are simply just fake anti-malware programs that will harm your personal computer themselves! You must be careful not to choose the wrong product, particularly if you purchase premium software. One of the highly recommended software by industry analysts is SafeBytes Anti-Malware, a well-known security application for Microsoft Windows. SafeBytes anti-malware is a powerful, highly effective protection software intended to assist users of all levels of IT literacy in detecting and removing harmful threats from their PC. Through its cutting-edge technology, this software protects your personal computer against infections brought on by different kinds of malware and similar internet threats, including adware, spyware, trojans horses, worms, computer viruses, keyloggers, potentially unwanted program (PUPs), and ransomware.

SafeBytes anti-malware provides an array of advanced features that sets it aside from all others. Here are a few popular features present in this computer software:

Robust Anti-malware Protection: This deep-cleaning antimalware software program goes much deeper than most antivirus tools to clean your personal computer. Its critically acclaimed virus engine locates and disables hard to remove malware that conceals deep within your PC. Real-time Active Protection: SafeBytes offers an entirely hands-free active protection and is set to check, block, and get rid of all threats at its first encounter. This tool will constantly monitor your computer for any suspicious activity and updates itself regularly to keep abreast of the latest threats. Web protection: SafeBytes gives an instant safety rating on the web pages you’re going to visit, automatically blocking risky sites and making sure that you are certain of your safety while browsing the web. Lightweight Application: The program is lightweight and will work silently in the background, and will not have an effect on your computer efficiency. Fantastic Tech Support: For any technical questions or product guidance, you can get 24/7 professional assistance through chat and e-mail. SafeBytes has developed a fantastic anti-malware solution to help you conquer the latest malware threats and virus attacks. You can rest assured that your computer will be protected in real-time as soon as you put this software program to use. If you want sophisticated forms of protection features and threat detections, purchasing SafeBytes Anti-Malware could be worth the money!

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you’d like to manually remove Marine Aquarium Lite without the use of an automated tool, it might be possible to do so by removing the application from the Microsoft Windows Add/Remove Programs menu, or in cases of browser plug-ins, going to the browsers AddOn/Extension manager and removing it. You’ll likely also want to reset your browser to its default configuration settings. To be certain of complete removal, find the following Windows registry entries on your system and delete them or reset the values accordingly. Please be aware that this is for skilled users only and could be challenging, with wrong file removal resulting in additional PC errors. In addition, some malicious programs have the capability to defend against its deletion. Doing this in Safe Mode is suggested.

Each time when you press WINDOWS + PrtScn key on your keyboard a screenshot is taken and saved on your Hard drive, to be more precise, it is saved in a specific folder which is in c:\Users\Your user name\Pictures\Screenshots. Now, this specific location is not anything that's bad but it is a little deep and not so user-friendly for quick access.

Luckily this default location can be changed into any folder that you like.

Changing location

First thing is to open File Explorer and then navigate to your PC. Once you go to your PC, go to Pictures, and inside right-click on the Screenshots folder. If there is no screenshots folder inside, this means that since Windows was installed no screenshots were taken with WINDOWS + PrtScn key combination. Please note that just by pressing PrtScn you will create a screenshot but you will place it inside the clipboard ready to be pasted somewhere, with WINDOWS + PrtScn you are saving the screenshot directly in a file on your hard drive.

So once you clicked on the Screenshots folder, go to the bottom and click on properties. Inside properties go to the Location tab. In the location, tab clicks on MOVE and browse to your new location where you would like screenshots to be saved. Once you select the folder for screenshots, click on the Select Folder button and confirm with OK. After this, Windows will ask you would you like to move existing screenshots into the chosen folder. Click YES or NO, depending on your preference.

After this easy setup, all of your new screenshots will be placed now inside the chosen folder.

Thank you for reading and I hope to see you tomorrow. Take care.

Compare Exchange128 error – What is it

Some Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users reported experiencing a Compare Exchange128 error when trying to upgrade to Windows 10. The error reads, “You can’t install Windows 10 because your processor doesn’t support CompareExchange128”. In order to upgrade to Windows 10 (64-bit), the CMPXCHG16B instruction must be present. If you receive this error, this mostly means that your CPU doesn’t have the CMPXCHG16B instruction.

Solution

Error Causes

The CompareExchange128 error normally occurs due to two possible reasons:

• CPU lacks CMPXCHG16b Instruction
• Old & Outdated BIOS – Even if your CPU has the CMPXCHG16b instruction, the CompareExchange128 issue can still occur if you have an older BIOS.

Further Information and Manual Repair

One main requirement to upgrade to Windows 10 is for your CPU to have the CMPXCHG16b instruction. You also need the right BIOS version to guarantee a smooth installation. See below on how to manually fix this issue.

NOTE: If you don’t feel confident using the manual methods listed below, it’s highly advisable to get help from an expert technician. If you don’t know someone, you can also use an automated tool to fix this.

Before performing any fixes, try to determine first if the cause of the error is due to your CPU lacking the CMPXCHG16b instruction. You can use a CPU Info tool that provides complete details about your processor, memory, and motherboard. If you’re looking for more in-depth information, you might also try command-line utilities. But, the safest and easiest way to check this is by simply searching online. Try using the search query: <CPU Model> CMPXCHG16b

Method 1 – Update your BIOS

This method will download the latest BIOS from your motherboard’s manufacturer. This makes sure your CPU has the CMPXCHG16b instruction needed to complete the Windows 10 64-bit installation. To update your computer’s BIOS, complete the following steps:

1. Determine first the current BIOS you have on your computer. Open System Information Windows app and type msinfo32 in the search bar. The BIOS version will appear under the processor speed. Record it somewhere.

2. Go to the support page of your motherboard’s manufacturer. Find if there’s any update on the BIOS that you’re currently using. If you find one, download the BIOS update file available. Make sure that you’re looking into the right model and you download all the necessary documentation. Otherwise, the BIOS update might not work.

3. Update your BIOS. Most BIOS update steps are straightforward. Just make sure to follow the steps provided.

Method 2 – Install Windows 10 32-bit version

If updating the BIOS doesn’t work, what you can do is install a 32-bit version of Windows 10 instead of the 64-bit version. Here’s how to do this:

1. Download and install the 32-bit version of Windows you currently have. If you have a Windows 7 64-bit version, get the 32-bit version of Windows 7. The same goes for Windows 8.1. When you do this, you might want to back up your files first. Remember that installing the 32-bit version works like other installations, and could delete some of your files.

2. After installing the 32-bit version, go to Updates and install all the necessary updates. This includes upgrading to Windows 10 if you’re asked to.

3. When you installed the Windows 10 upgrade, you’ll now have the Windows 10, 32-bit version installed. This will be the version activated on Microsoft servers. Despite this, the activated version stored is only applicable to your computer’s hardware, not the version of Windows 10.

4. Download Windows 10, 64-bit version.

5. Prepare an empty DVD or USB flash drive. Use Creation Media software then click the Create Installation Media for Another PC option.

6. Install the 64-bit Windows 10 version you downloaded from Step 4. Make sure not to put anything when you’re asked to input the serial number.

7. Once the installation is complete, you’ll have the 64-bit version of Windows 10.

Method 3 – Buy a new processor/motherboard

If the above two methods don’t work, there’s a great chance that this error occurs because of an outdated processor/motherboard. Your next possible solution is to buy an updated model that’s fully compatible with 64-bit Windows 10.

Method 4 – Download an automated tool

If all else fails, you might want to consider using this powerful automated tool to quickly fix the problem and any other computer-related issues.

DirectX function GetDeviceRemovedReason error is a DirectX error that comes up during playing games on Windows 11 operating system. Usually, the error occurs in gaming systems powered by AMD and very rarely if any times at all on Nvidia or intel platforms. If you are one of the gamers affected by this error, fear not because we have a solution for you. Follow provided fix guide in order to correct this error and get back to gaming asap.

1. Update drivers

The first thing of course is to update your graphic card driver, you can do this with your graphic cards panel software or directly in Windows itself but the best practice and one that I would recommend is to go to your graphic card manufacturer’s website and download the latest driver there, and then install it inside Windows 11.

2. Change power mode

Changing power mode inside Windows 11 can solve this issue since sometimes Windows power manager if it is set to anything except best performance can interfere with the proper functioning of the graphic adapter, and because of this error. To change the power setting do the following:

1. Press ⊞ WINDOWS + I to open settings
2. Click on the System tab
3. Select power & battery on the right part
4. Click on the menu beside power mode
5. Select the best performance

3. Run SFC scan

Corrupted system files can also cause this error and if previous steps have not resolved it we will use Windows built-in tool SFC scan to find and repair all bad files in windows.

1. Press ⊞ WINDOWS + S to open the search menu
2. Type in Windows terminal and run it as administrator
3. If prompted click on YES on UAC
4. Press CTRL + SHIFT + 2 to run command prompt
5. Type in sfc /scannow and press ENTER
6. Wait for the whole process to finish and then reboot your system

4. Reinstall the problematic game

Sometimes game files can get corrupt and maybe even overwritten, try with game reinstallation if the problem still persists.

The Motitags toolbar browser add-on was created by Mindspark Inc. and is compatible with Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox. It claims to enhance users’ Internet browsing experience by enabling smileys within popular email clients such as Gmail, Yahoo!, AOL, and Outlook Live. While such added functionality may seem useful, Internet users should be aware that this browser plugin is categorized as a Browser Hijacker due to its behavior.

When installed this extension changes your default search engine, the home page, and new tab to MyWay.com, and while installed it gathers user browsing data and sends it back to Mindspark servers. This data is later used to inject additional unwanted ads into the user’s browser search results.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijacking is actually a type of unwanted software program, often a web browser add-on or extension, which then causes modifications in the web browser’s settings. Browser hijacker malware is developed for a number of reasons. These are generally used to force hits to a specific website, manipulating web traffic to generate ad revenue. It could seem harmless, but the majority of these websites aren’t legitimate and could pose a serious threat to your online safety. In a much worst case, your internet browser could be hi-jacked to open up your computer to a host of additional computer infections.

How one can identify a browser hijack

There are several signs of browser hijacking. Here are a few of them: the home page of your browser is changed unexpectedly; you get re-directed to websites you never intended to visit; the essential web browser settings are altered and unwanted or unsafe resources are added to the trusted websites list; discover new toolbars that you didn’t add; endless pop-up adverts show up and/or your web browser popup blocker is disabled; your browser gets sluggish, buggy, crashes frequently; you can’t navigate to certain internet pages, for example, security software related websites.

So how does a browser hijacker infect a computer?

Browser hijackers infect computers via malicious email attachments, downloaded infected files, or by going to infected sites. Many internet browser hijackings come from add-on software, i.e., toolbars, browser helper objects (BHO), or plug-ins added to browsers to provide them extra capabilities. Browser hijackers sneak into your pc in addition to free software application downloads that you unwittingly install along with the original. An example of some infamous browser hijacker includes Babylon, Anyprotect, Conduit, SweetPage, DefaultTab, RocketTab, and Delta Search, but the names are often changing. Browser hijacking can bring about severe privacy problems and also identity theft, affect your browsing experience by taking control over outgoing traffic, drastically slows down your PC by consuming lots of resources, and result in system instability also.

Getting rid of browser hijackers

Some browser hijacking could be easily stopped by discovering and eliminating the corresponding malware program through your control panel. But, most browser hijackers are difficult to eliminate manually. No matter how much you try to eliminate it, it can return over and over. Rookie PC users should not try for the manual form of removal, since it needs thorough computer knowledge to perform fixes on the system registry and HOSTS file. Professionals always recommend users to remove any malware including browser hijacker with an automatic removal tool, which is easier, safer, and quicker than the manual removal technique. Safebytes Anti-Malware has a state-of-the-art anti-malware engine that will help you stop browser hijacking in the first place, and clean up any existing issues.

What To Do If You Cannot Download Safebytes Anti-Malware?

Malware could potentially cause all sorts of damage once they invade your computer, starting from stealing your private details to erasing data files on your computer system. Some malware sits in between your computer and your internet connection and blocks some or all sites that you would like to visit. It might also prevent you from installing anything on your PC, particularly anti-virus programs. If you’re reading this, you probably have infected by malware that prevents you from downloading a computer security program such as Safebytes Antimalware on your PC. There are a few options you could try to get around with this particular obstacle.

Install in Safe Mode

If the malware is set to load automatically when Windows starts, entering Safe Mode could block this attempt. Only minimal required programs and services are loaded whenever you start your personal computer in Safe Mode. To start your Windows XP, Vista, or 7 computers in Safe Mode with Networking, please do as instructed below. 1) At power on/start-up, press the F8 key in 1-second intervals. This would conjure up the Advanced Boot Options menu. 2) Choose Safe Mode with Networking with arrow keys and press Enter. 3) When you are into this mode, you will have online access again. Now, get the virus removal application you want by using the web browser. To install the program, follow the directions within the setup wizard. 4) Right after the software is installed, allow the scan run to eliminate viruses and other threats automatically.

Use an alternate web browser to download security software

Malicious code could exploit vulnerabilities on a particular internet browser and block access to all anti-virus software sites. The most effective way to avoid this issue is to choose a web browser that is renowned for its security features. Firefox contains built-in Malware and Phishing Protection to keep you safe online.

Install security software on a USB drive

To effectively eliminate the malware, you need to approach the problem of installing an anti-virus software program on the infected PC from a different angle. Follow these steps to run the antivirus on the affected computer. 1) Download Safebytes Anti-Malware or Microsoft Windows Defender Offline onto a virus-free computer system. 2) Plug the pen drive into the uninfected computer. 3) Double click on the downloaded file to open the installation wizard. 4) Choose the USB stick as the destination for saving the software file. Follow the instructions on the screen to finish up the installation process. 5) Disconnect the flash drive. You may now use this portable anti-malware on the infected computer. 6) Double-click the anti-malware program EXE file on the USB flash drive. 7) Run Full System Scan to detect and get rid of all sorts of malware.

Benefits and Features of SafeBytes Security Suite

To protect your laptop or computer from many different internet-based threats, it is very important to install an anti-malware program on your PC. However, with so many anti-malware companies in the marketplace, nowadays it’s difficult to decide which one you should obtain for your laptop. A few are very good ones, some are ok types, and some are simply just fake anti-malware applications that could damage your computer themselves! When looking for an anti-malware program, pick one which gives reliable, efficient, and total protection against all known viruses and malware. One of the highly recommended software by industry analysts is SafeBytes Anti-Malware, a popular security application for Microsoft Windows. Safebytes is one of the well-established computer solutions companies, which provide this complete anti-malware software. Using its cutting-edge technology, this application can assist you to eliminate multiples types of malware such as viruses, PUPs, trojans, worms, ransomware, adware, and browser hijackers.

SafeBytes possesses a variety of wonderful features that can help you protect your laptop or computer from malware attack and damage. Below are some typical features found in this application:

World-class AntiMalware Protection: Built upon a greatly acclaimed anti-virus engine, this malware removal application can find and remove numerous stubborn malware threats like browser hijackers, PUPs, and ransomware that other typical anti-virus applications will miss. Real-time Threat Response: SafeBytes gives complete and real-time security for your computer. They’re extremely effective in screening and getting rid of numerous threats since they’re regularly improved with the latest updates and alerts. “Fast Scan” Features: Safebytes Anti-Malware, using its enhanced scanning engine, provides ultra-fast scanning which can quickly target any active online threat. Website Filtering: Through its unique safety ranking, SafeBytes notifies you whether a site is safe or not to visit it. This will ensure that you’re always certain of your online safety when browsing the internet. Light-weight: The program is lightweight and can run silently in the background, and will not have an effect on your PC efficiency. 24/7 Premium Support: SafeBytes provides you with 24/7 technical support, automatic maintenance, and software upgrades for the best user experience. Simply put, SafeBytes has developed a meaningful anti-malware solution that is aimed to protect you against various malware. Malware issues can become a thing of the past when you put this tool to use. So if you’re seeking the very best malware removal application out there, and when you don’t mind shelling out a few bucks for it, go for SafeBytes Anti-Malware.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you wish to manually remove Motitags without using an automated tool, it may be possible to do so by removing the application from the Windows Add/Remove Programs menu, or in cases of browser extensions, going to the browsers AddOn/Extension manager and removing it. Additionally, it is advised to factory reset your web browser to its default state to fix corrupt settings. Finally, check your hard drive for all of the following and clean your computer registry manually to get rid of leftover application entries after uninstalls. Please remember that only advanced users should try to manually edit the system files simply because removing any single vital registry entry leads to a serious issue or even a PC crash. Moreover, certain malicious programs have the capability to defend against its removal. Carrying out this in Safe Mode is recommended.

Setting up the Windows operating system in a computer can be quite a complicated task since there are a couple of things that take place in the background to ensure a full and protected setup of the operating system which includes a number of programs, scripts, and so on. They work together in the background to guarantee the integrity of the Windows operating system. However, there are times when this piece of code could also go wrong. As a result, you might encounter errors like the “There was a problem running preinstall.cmd scripts” error. “Preinstall.cmd” is a type of CMD file associated with Applications & Drivers developed by Gateway for the Windows OS. To fix the “There was a problem running preinstall.cmd scripts” error, there are several things you can try. You can try to download a new Windows installation image or create a new bootable drive as well as uninstall conflicting or incompatible programs. In addition, you can also run the Windows Update troubleshooter or reset Windows 10.

Option 1 – Try to download a new Windows installation image

Your first option to fix the “There was a problem running preinstall.cmd scripts” error is to download a new Windows installation image. You can get the official ISO files for the latest release of Windows 10. After you’ve downloaded the ISO files, you can use them to upgrade to the latest Windows 10 version.

Option 2 – Try creating a new bootable drive

• Insert your USB drive into your PC.
• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box and type in “cmd” and tap Enter to open the Command Prompt. Alternatively, you can also search for “cmd” in the Cortana search box to open Command Prompt.
• Once you’ve opened CMD, type in this command to open the DISPART utility – diskpart
• After that, you should see a new black and white window that would say, “DISKPART>”.
• Next, type in “list disk” in the command line and tap Enter to see the list of all the Storage devices as well as your hard disk connected to your PC. Here, you have to identify your disk’s number.
• Type in this command where “X” is the disk number you have identified and then tap Enter – disk X
• Type in this command and hit Enter to clear the table records and all the visible data on the drive – clean
• Now you have to recreate a new primary partition of the drive so you’ll have to type in this command and tap Enter right after – create part pri
• A new primary partition has been created so you have to select it by typing this command and tapping Enter – select part 1
• Now you have to format it to make it visible to normal users by typing – format fs=ntfs quick

Note: If your platform supports the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface or UEFI, replace the “NTFS” with “FAT32” in the command on Step 10.

• After that, type in this command and tap Enter after – active
• Finally, type this command and hit Enter to exit the utility – exit
• After you prepare the image for the operating system, save it to the root of your USB Storage device.

Option 3 – Try to uninstall conflicting programs

If you are using a computer made by Dell and got Windows 10 preinstalled in it, then you can try to uninstall the programs listed below and see if it fixes the problem.

• Dell Encryption Management service
• Dell Digital Library service

Option 4 – Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter

You might also want to run the built-in Windows Update Troubleshooter in Windows that could help you in resolving the “There was a problem running preinstall.cmd scripts” error. All you have to do is go to Settings > Update& security > Troubleshoot > Windows Update. From there, click on the Run the troubleshooter button and follow the next one-screen instructions that appear. After that, restart your computer and check if the error is now fixed or not by trying to install the update once again.

Option 5 – Run Microsoft’s online troubleshooter

Running Microsoft’s online troubleshooter might also help you fix the error. This online troubleshooter is known to help in fixing Windows Update errors, it scans your computer for issues that might be causing the problem and then fixes them automatically.

Option 6 – Try to reset Windows 10

• 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.

When we get ourselves a new USB stick, new hard drive, or any storage device not including optical drives they are usually preformatted and ready to be used out of the box. However, reformating them has several benefits and while we are reformatting we can choose in which file system format we want the memory to be formatted. In this article, we will compare and explore 3 typical and standard format options you can get while formating a new media in Windows 10.

FAT32

The oldest one on the list, coming all the way from DOS days. Great for devices that need to be plugged in different operating systems and for USB flash drives. Its advantages are compatibility with all major operating systems and little memory usage comparing to other ones. However, the file system is limited to file sizes of the maximum capacity of 4GB and partitions can not exceed more than 32GB.

NTFS

First introduced in Windows NT this file system offered slower performance than FAT32 and somewhat limited usability but the main advantages were more stability and fewer errors. Its main advantages are support for files larger than 4GB and partitions larger than 32GB along with the ability for on the file encryption, main disadvantage would be limited operating system usage, NTFS can not be used on systems that work on FAT32 like MS-DOS for example or older versions of Windows. The best usage for this file system is in internal hard disk drives and system drives.

exFAT

New kid on the block, well at least from the perspective of the previous 2. exFAT offers unlimited file sizes and unlimited partition sizes but at a price that is even more limiting than NTFS. Some Linux distributions will require a driver to be installed in order to see the exFAT partition. The best use is in storage, in external hard drives. That's it, 3 major file systems, we hope that you have managed to learn something new today, and remember to drop by tomorrow for more articles about advice, tips, tricks, and troubleshooting.