New toys in new PowerToys for Windows

What is Search.schooldozer.com? And how does it function?

Search.schooldozer.com is a browser extension that functions as a search engine. It is developed and maintained by “Schooldozer”. It claims to improve users’ browsing experience by providing them with improved search results. However, it does not really do the things it claims to do. In fact, they’re quite the opposite ones – instead of improving the browsing experience, it makes users’ browsing experience unsafe and full of sponsored content. This is in contrast to what it states in its Privacy Policy:

“Install applications the easy way and without the hassle, using the Schooldozer downloader. The Schooldozer platform stems from years of experience with installing applications, resulting in a highly optimized process, yielding faster downloads, better user experience, and more successful installations.”

In addition, once installed Search.schooldozer.com is installed, it will change the default settings of a browser such as the default search engine, homepage, and new tab page. This is why security experts regard this browser extension as a browser hijacker and a potentially unwanted program. The modification of the browser's settings allows it to control users’ browsing by redirecting them to sponsored sites as well as deliver sponsored content from its affiliated sites in order to gain profit via pay-per-click marketing. And if you think that the ads it displays are harmless, think again for some of these ads can redirect you to suspicious websites that might contain harmful content. What’s more is that this browser hijacker can also keep track and monitor all your browsing activities in order to obtain your browsing data like search queries, what sites you always visit, browsing history, browser type, OS version, and so on. The information collected is then used and may even be shared with its affiliated third parties to deliver more customized and personalized advertisements.

How is Search.schooldozer.com distributed over the web?

Like a typical browser hijacker, Search.schooldozer.com is distributed using the software bundling method where several unknown and unwanted programs are bundled in a software package. Thus when you install any software bundle, make sure to always opt for the Custom or Advanced installation setup rather than the quick setup to avoid installing unwanted programs like Search.schooldozer.com. To remove Search.schooldozer.com from your computer, follow the removal guide below carefully. Step 1: Start the removal process by closing all the browsers infected with Search.schooldozer.com. If you’re having a hard time closing them, you can close them using the Task Manager just tap on Ctrl + Shift + Esc. Step 2: After you open the Task Manager, go to the Processes tab and look for the infected browser’s process and end it. Step 3: Then close the Task Manager and tap the Win + R keys to open Run and then type in appwiz.cpl to open Programs & Features in Control Panel. Step 4: From there, look for Search.schooldozer.com or any unfamiliar program that could be related to it under the list of installed programs and once you’ve found it, uninstall it. Step 5: Edit your Hosts File.

• Tap the Win + R keys to open then type in %WinDir% and then click OK.
• Go to System32/drivers/etc.
• Open the host file using Notepad.
• Delete all the entries that contain Search.schooldozer.com.
• After that, save the changes you’ve made and close the file.

Step 6: Reset all your browsers to default to their default state.

Google Chrome

1. Launch Google Chrome, press Alt + F, move to More tools, and click Extensions.
2. Look for Search.schooldozer.com or any other unwanted add-ons, click the Recycle Bin button, and choose Remove.
3. Restart Google Chrome, then tap Alt + F, and select Settings.
4. Navigate to the On Startup section at the bottom.
5. Select “Open a specific page or set of pages”.
6. Click the More actions button next to the hijacker and click Remove.

Mozilla Firefox

1. Open the browser and tap Ctrl + Shift + A to access the Add-ons Manager.
2. In the Extensions, menu Remove the unwanted extension.
3. Restart the browser and tap keys Alt + T.
4. Select Options and then move to the General menu.
5. Overwrite the URL in the Home Page section and then restart the browser.

Internet Explorer

1. Launch Internet Explorer.
2. Tap Alt + T and select Internet options.
3. Click the General tab and then overwrite the URL under the homepage section.
4. Click OK to save the changes.

Step 7: Hold down Windows + E keys simultaneously to open File Explorer. Step 8: Navigate to the following directories and look for suspicious files associated to the browser hijacker such as the software bundle it came with and delete it/them.

• %USERPROFILE%Downloads
• %USERPROFILE%Desktop
• %TEMP%

Step 9: Close the File Explorer. Step 10: Empty the contents of Recycle Bin.

What is Error Code 31?

Device Manager Error Code 31 pops up when Windows prevents the driver for a particular hardware device from loading. The error code 31 is almost always presented in the following format:

“This device is not working properly because Windows cannot load the drivers required for this device.” Code 31

This error can occur with any hardware device; however, in most cases, it occurs with Ethernet cards. The good news is that it belongs in the easy-to-resolve category. So repairing it should not be difficult.

Solution

Error Causes

Error code 31 is related to driver problems, and the most common causes include:

• Outdated drivers
• Missing drivers
• Mis-configured drivers
• Corrupt drivers

Further Information and Manual Repair

To resolve error code 31 on your system, try the methods given below. We have listed down some of the most effective and easy-to-perform DIY methods for fixing Device Manager code 31 on your PC.

Method 1 - Rollback the Driver to its Previous State

This simply means to return the driver back to its previous state - to the version last installed. Try this method to resolve error code 31. This is probably the easiest way to return your PC to its previous working state.

However, by doing so, you will not be able to update your drivers and run new driver versions on your system. In other words, this is a temporary method to fix this issue.

You may still want to try other methods given below to ensure you have the latest drivers installed on your system.

You can roll back the driver to its previous version by accessing the Driver Rollback feature located in the driver settings within the Device Manager. Or another way to perform a rollback is to use the Windows System Restore Utility.

It is a recovery tool built-in the new Windows versions. To access it, simply go to the start menu and type System Restore Utility in the search menu.

Access it and pick a point in the past, also referred to as the restore point, to return your PC to its previous state before the error code 31 occurred.

However, to resolve the problem permanently, try method 2.

Method 2 - Update the Driver

Error code 31, as discussed above, may occur due to outdated, misconfigured, or corrupted drivers. Whatever the reason may be, to ensure the proper functioning of your hardware device, it is important to update the drivers on your system frequently.

To start driver updates, first, it is important to find out and identify problematic drivers. You need to identify the drivers that are corrupt, misconfigured, and outdated. For this, go to the Device Manager and then look for devices with yellow exclamation marks.

The yellow exclamation marks next to the devices show that these device drivers are problematic. Once you’ve identified the problematic drivers, simply update them by finding the latest and compatible versions on the manufacturer’s website.

This process is time-consuming and can be frustrating at times, especially when doing it for the first time.

Also, once you’ve updated the drivers, you need to update them from time to time to ensure they don’t get outdated, or else you will have to encounter Device Manager error codes again.

Method 3 - Download DriverFIX to Update Drivers Automatically

To avoid the hassle and stress involved in updating drivers manually, it is advisable to download and install DriverFIX.

DriverFIX is a smart, innovative, and feature-filled software embedded with an intelligent algorithm that quickly detects problematic drivers, matches them with the latest and compatible versions, and updates them immediately and automatically in just a few seconds and a couple of clicks.

It’s as simple as it can be. Furthermore, with this software installed on your PC, you don’t have to stress and worry about when your drivers need to be updated again.

DriverFIX ensures all drivers are continuously and regularly updated before they become outdated.

Click here to download DriverFIX to repair Device Manager error code 31 and update drivers automatically and regularly.

Dxgkrnl.sys Error - What is it?

To understand Dxgkrnl.sys error code, it is important to develop an understanding about Dxgkrnl.sys file. Dxgkrnl.sys is a type of system file associated with Windows 8 Consumer Preview ISO images that are developed by Microsoft for the Windows OS. System files like Dxgkrnl.sys are third-party device drivers, critical system files. These files enable attached PC hardware such as a printer to communicate with 3rd party software programs like web browsers and Windows 8 Consumer Preview ISO images. Dxgkrnl.sys error code is a blue screen of death error. It occurs when the Dxgkrnl.sys files are unable to function properly. This is a critical error. It can cause system failure, crash, and data loss. Therefore, it must be resolved immediately before the damage is done. The error may pop up in any one of the following formats

"STOP 0×00000050: PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA – dxgkrnl.sys"

A problem has been detected and Windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer. The problem seems to be caused by the following file: Dxgkrnl.sys."

"STOP 0x0000000A: IRQL_NOT_LESS_EQUAL – dxgkrnl.sys"

"Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart. We’re just collecting some info, and then we’ll restart for you. If you would like to know more, you can search online later for this error: dxgkrnl.sys."

"STOP 0x0000001E: KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED – dxgkrnl.sys"

Some of the common symptoms of this error code include

• Blue screen
• System freeze
• And sudden shutdown

Solution

Error Causes

Dxgkrnl.sys error code may be triggered due to several reasons. These include:

• Incorrectly configured or corrupted Windows 8 Consumer Preview ISO images device drivers
• Windows registry issues
• Malware infection
• Hardware conflict
• Damaged hard disk

Further Information and Manual Repair

To resolve Dxgkrnl.sys error code on your PC, here are some effective and easy DIY methods that you can try:

Method 1 - Scan and Remove Viruses

Dxgkrnl.sys error may occur due to malware and viral infection. If this is the cause, then it is advisable to download a powerful antivirus and scan your entire PC. Remove all viruses from your system to resolve the error.

Method 2 - Utilize Windows System Restore to Undo Recent System Changes

Windows System Restore is an in-built powerful tool that enables Windows Operating System users to restore previous your PC to its former state. To repair Dxgkrnl.sys error, use this tool. It can help you avoid hours of troubleshooting headaches associated with SYS errors. To get started, simply go to the start menu, type System Restore in the search box and press Enter. Now click on System Restore to proceed. If you are prompted for an administrator password, insert it to move to the next step. Now to bring your computer to its former state, simply choose a restore point. To activate these changes, reboot the PC. This is most likely to resolve the issue.

Method 3 - Clean the Registry

The registry is a collection of databases. It stores much of the information and activities you perform on your system including unnecessary and obsolete files like junk files, cookies, internet history, bad and invalid registry entries. These files accumulate in the registry and damages and corrupt the registry itself. Due to this runtime and BSoD errors are triggered. To repair and clean the registry manually can be time consuming and technical, therefore it is advisable to download Restoro. This is a user-friendly PC Fixer embedded with a powerful registry cleaner. The registry cleaner scans your entire PC, wipes out all bad entries, cookies and unnecessary files, cleans the registry and repairs the damaged system files in seconds. Click here to download Restoro and resolve Dxgkrnl.sys error today!

Each year Steam makes a couple of large sales, and each year there are speculations and leaks on the date when the sale is going to happen and when it is starting. It seemed that Steam has become aware that these leaks will not stop and that store really cannot hide that kind of important date from the public so in the latest news Steam Purley has just given the date of this year's big winter sale. Probably tired of even trying to hide it, Steam has released that this year's big Steam Winter sale is officially starting on December 22nd, 2021, and closing on January 5th, 2022. So if you have someone to buy a gift or just want to drop a few great games in your library at a low price this is the time when you should do it.

The Microsoft Store error 0x80073d12 occurs when you try to download software from the store. In order to solve the issue follow the presented guide step by step in the order presented.

1. Check do you have enough hard drive space for installation

   Store locates and assigned space on the hard drive before it installs the application, if there is not enough space available it will return the given error. Go to file explorer and check is there enough space available.

2. Check that game is not expansion

   If you are trying to install expansion for the game without owning the required base game, you will receive the mentioned error. Check the store page to see if there are some prerequisites for the game like other games or packs.

3. Install the game from my library

   Press Start. Open the Microsoft Store App. Click the See more … button at the top right of the MS Store app’s window. Click Download and updates on the menu. Click Downloads on the left to open My library. Then click Ready to install to open a list of apps. Click the Install button for the game app that you need to install.

4. Install on another partition

   It was reported that an error vanishes if installation is placed on another partition instead of the default C drive.

Referenced Memory at - What is it?

0x Referenced Memory at 0x is an error code that occurs when the random memory addresses conflict. This error causes running programs or browsers to crash. Referenced memory at error code is considered as a service violation error. It is displayed as the following:

“The instruction at 0xf77041d24 referenced memory at 0×00000000. The memory could not be read.”

Solution

Error Causes

The ‘referenced memory at’ errors is either triggered by:

• Hardware failure
• Problems with the RAM and the registry

Hardware failure may result if the driver is not installed properly. The problems in the RAM indicate registry issues that occur due to data overload in the hard disk and poor PC maintenance. The registry saves all the information and activities you perform on your system on the hard disk. This includes the junk files, temporary files, invalid registry entries, and files of both installed and uninstalled programs.  These files accumulate and take over a lot of RAM space. Also, the referenced memory at error can be considered to be a form of memory leak where unknown third-party software can take up the memory space that has been reserved for a particular program. For example, if you have toolbars and add-ons installed in your browser, it can also lead to invalid registry storage in the registry. If you don’t clean the registry, these unnecessary files can overload your data and lead to hard disk/RAM damage and corruption triggering obscure error messages like referenced memory at error.

Further Information and Manual Repair

Referenced memory is a critical error; if not resolved it can lead to serious PC damages like a system failure. To avoid this, it is advisable to fix it right away. Here are a couple of ways to repair this issue on your system:

Cause: Hardware Failure

Solution: If the referenced memory at error is generated due to hardware failure then to resolve this error you must reinstall the driver that has caused the error to appear. Let’s say if the error pops up because of the printer driver, reinstall it. For re-installation of the driver, simply go to the control panel and click on the Device Manager option. Once you click it you will see a detailed page with a list of devices. Now click on the printer (the problematic driver in this situation) to reinstall the driver software. Double click on it to open the properties dialog box and then click the driver tab and update the driver. Once you have updated the driver, try using the printer. Check if it works. If it works and the referenced memory at the error code does not appear on the screen, this means the problem was with the hardware. However, if the error still pops up then this means the problem is deeper. It’s related to the registry.

Cause: Problems with the RAM and the registry

Solution: If the problem is with the RAM and the registry, then it is advisable to download Restoro. Restoro is a new, next-generation, and highly functional registry cleaner. It detects and removes all the registry issues, unnecessary and obsolete files saved in the hard disk taking up a lot of RAM space. It clears the RAM and cleans up the disk. Furthermore, it repairs the damaged files, fragmented disk, and the corrupt registry in seconds enabling you to resume the program that you were running before the error occurred. Restoro has a user-friendly interface and easy navigation. To run and operate this system you don’t need any kind of technical expertise. In just a few clicks you can resolve the critical referenced memory at error on your PC. It is compatible with all Windows versions Click here to download and install Restoro on your PC and fix the referenced memory error code now.

Error Code 0x80072ee7 - What is it?

Error Code 0x80072ee7 is an error code that is most commonly associated with Windows 10 and the use of the Windows Store. Several things can cause this error, which has been present as an error message in Windows 10 and all the way back through Windows 8.

Common symptoms include:

• An error message when you attempt to connect to the Windows Store.
• Inability to download or install purchases from the Windows Store.

Fortunately, there are several simple methods that can be used to attempt to resolve Error Code 0x80072ee7 on your Windows machine. These methods don’t require advanced computer knowledge or familiarity with high-level tools, so the average user should be able to complete them without help. However, if you feel like you need assistance in resolving Error Code 0x80072ee7, always contact a qualified Windows repair technician who can assist you.

Solution

Error Causes

There are four basic things that can cause Error Code 0x80072ee7 to appear on a Windows device. The first is that the connection to the Internet is limited in some manner, either due to a system or equipment error. Secondly, some parts of the update components could be missing. Next, an error within the DNS can be a cause. Finally, having any kind of compatibility errors on the machine (for example, between the antivirus software that you run and the Windows Update tool) can lead to the appearance of Error Code 0x80072ee7.

Further Information and Manual Repair

There are a few different methods that you can try in order to resolve the appearance of Error Code 0x80072ee7 on your Windows machine. These are fairly simple to complete, but if you do not feel confident in your ability to carry them out successfully, you may want to get in touch with a qualified computer repair technician to help you.

Here are the best methods to employ as you seek to resolve Error Code 0x80072ee7 on your Windows device:

Method One: Check Your Connection

Make sure that you are able to connect to the Internet by visiting several common sites like Google in order to ensure that your issue is not related to your Internet service provider or the equipment that you are using to access the Internet.

Method Two: Use an Alternative DNS

If you believe that your DNS connection may be the problem, you can change the specific DNS that you are using to one that is provided by Google. This can resolve any conflicts that may occur because of the IP address detected on your device. In order to do this, simply follow these steps:

• Step One: Go into your control panel and click on the option for “Network and Internet,” then select “Network and Sharing Center.” You’ll want to find the option to “change adapter settings,” which is normally located on the left bar of the navigation panel.
• Step Two: Find the connection method that you are employing (i.e. Wi-Fi network).
• Step Three: Right-click and find the connection properties menu. Under the TCP/IPV4 menu, click on the option to change your DNS numbers to manual entry and set your preferred DNS server to “8.8.8.8” and your alternate server to “8.8.4.4”.

Once these steps are complete, you can reattempt to connect to the Windows Store. You may need to restart your computer before connecting.

Method Three: Run the Fix It Tool from Windows

Microsoft has created a great tool that can automatically scan your computer for a number of common errors and attempt to fix them as they are encountered. This can be downloaded directly from the Windows site and can be used to try to fix not only Error Code 0x80072ee7 but also many other error messages that may pop up on your computer.

After you have run the Fix It tool, it is always a good idea to restart your computer to allow any changes that have been made to fully take effect.

Method Four: Use An Automated Tool

If you wish to always have at your disposal a utility tool to fix these Windows 10 and other related issues when they do arise, download and install a powerful automated tool.

USB Kill, a USB device is able to fry and damage your computer, mobile phone, router, etc. This device is quite dangerous and can kill electronics the moment it is inserted into an available port. By now people should know that they should not put unknown USB sticks into their devices because of potential virus and malware threats but this raises using unknown sticks to a whole new level.

Kill kits are not really new to the market, they have existed before but lately, technology really progressed and the latest USB sticks are really good, their success rate is around 95% which is pretty high and should not be taken lightly.

The second thing that you really should not play with strange USB sticks is that they dropped in price really hard, although top Kill kits will still go as high as around 300 USD, there are really cheap ones lurking in Ali Express that are just 6 USD!!! that makes them affordable devices for the mass market.

The device is made to take energy and current from the port it is plugged in, multiply it and release its charge back into the device, successfully frying some components immediately. Some more professional Kill sticks can even fry devices even when the device itself is not powered and can be even started remotely.

The point of this article is to make you aware that you should not in any kind of circumstances use and plug-in USB sticks into your devices that you do not know where they come from, especially from the mail!!

If you have a dual monitor setup on your Windows 10 computer and you mostly use the second screen when you are presenting something, this makes the Taskbar completely unnecessary and is not really required. So if you are using your computer generally and do not want the taskbar on your second screen, read on as this post will guide you in disabling Taskbar on your second display. The good thing is, Windows comes with a built-in feature to disable Taskbar on your second screen or projector connected to your computer. In this post, you will be guided on how you can hide or disable the Taskbar from the second monitor in Windows 10. This post is coming in handy especially if you are using projectors or multiple displays. Refer to the steps given below to disable Taskbar on the second display in Windows 10. Step 1: Go to Settings and click on Taskbar from the left menu. Step 2: After that, scroll down to lo look for Multiple Displays. Step 3: Next, turn off the toggle labeled, “Show taskbar on all displays”. Note: After completing the steps given above, it will disable the Taskbar on all the secondary displays. Bear in mind that these settings will work only if you are running a second screen in Extended mode. Contrariwise, if you are in the Duplicate mode, this setting will not work but you can always set your Taskbar to Autohide so that it won’t be displayed.

On the other hand, if you are facing some issues in finding which screen is primary and which one is secondary, refer to these steps:

Step 1: Go to Settings and select System. Step 2: Next, from the left menu open Display. Step 3: From there, select the desired display and make it the primary one as required by your setup.

A command is not recognized Error, what it is? If you are constantly using programs like CMD or DISM directly from the Run prompt, you might have wondered how they launched instantly and how is it that the Windows operating system is able to find them right away. For instance, when you create a shortcut of a program, the shortcut knows where exactly the program is located and launches it quickly. The Windows operating system keeps a list of paths where the most common system programs are located so when you use the Run prompt, it opens easily. The list kept by Windows is called the Windows Environment Variables. If something goes wrong with this list, the programs won’t work. So in this guide, you will be guided on how you can troubleshoot the problem where any command you use is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program, or batch file. Before you start troubleshooting the problem, you need to make sure that the program you are trying to run really exists. In fact, this can also happen to the Run program which is pulled up using the Win + R shortcut. To check, go to C:\Windows\System32 and there, check if the program exists or not or you can also try searching for the EXE in the System 32 folder. After making sure that the program exists, refer to the instructions given below.

Modify the Windows Environment Variables:

• Step 1: Tap the Win + X keys and then select System. After that, it will open the section where you can see all the properties on your computer.
• Step 2: Next, select the Advanced system setting located on the left pane and click on the Environment Variables.
• Step 3: After that, locate Path under the System Variables and select EDIT.
• Step 4: Before you edit, you need to copy the entire string and paste it into the Notepad app so that in case something went wrong, you can paste it back.
• Step 5: Next, look for the directory path, “C:\Windows\System32”. If you can’t find it, try adding a semi-colon at the end.
• Step 6: Afterwards, click OK to save the changes made and then exit.
• Step 7: Now restart your computer as all the paths are picked up when your computer restarts.

Note: Now all you have to do is to try executing the programs once again – the ones where you got the error, “ is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file” every time you open them and then see if you can now open these programs or not.