Protect Your PC With These 6 Reliable Security Products
What software are you using to keep your information and all your files and memories safe?
None? Yikes. Let’s hope no damage has been done to your data yet then. Because with how the digital world has evolved, your data might be getting leaked and you have no idea.
Why do you need to invest in security software?
There’s really no good excuse not to purchase a quality platform for PC protection. Especially since top security solutions are available at such affordable prices nowadays, your wallet would barely even notice it.
At this point, only people who barely use their PCs and have zero sensitive information on them can get away with simply using the built-in Windows 10/11 security software. But we guarantee that those people are extremely hard to find and that you’re not one of them, and here’s why.
Even if you don’t use your computer for things that are very obviously sensitive, such as internet banking, you still have some personal data at risk of being stolen. How so? Well, think about the data you enter into your social media profiles, for example. How devastating would it be if somebody got a hold of any of it? Yep, that’s what we thought.
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In the hands of a skilled cybercriminal, your phone number alone could put you at risk of scams, ransomware, identity theft and more. Also think about the stuff you share in texts and social media chats. Think about the websites you visit and how many times you may have accidentally clicked on an ad, which could very well contain malicious software. Those all seem harmless until someone’s actually used them against you.
Now imagine the dangers involved when you actually store truly confidential data on your PC and browsers. Sends shivers down your spine, doesn’t it?
In the case of a successful cyberattack of whatever type (virus, phishing, worms, etc.), there’s so much that is at stake. Businesses/legal persons will suffer from financial loss and damaged reputation, at the very least. Natural persons may be threatened or exploited, get their banking or medical information and even their identity stolen, etc. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
These are our biggest reasons for investing in Windows PC protection software:
Cyberthreats are constantly evolving to the point where built-in or free software won’t cut it anymore.
Those working remotely can have peace of mind knowing both personal and business data is completely secure.
Businesses using top security solutions ensure their customers trust them.
Data breaches are a pain in the you-know-what to handle. Fighting a cyberattack and going back to normal is a demanding process, and not to mention the stress it’ll cause. We’d rather prevent all that by using trustworthy security products!
It helps parents worry a little less about their children’s safety in the online world.
Added bonus: with most products, you get an ad-free browsing experience!
Obviously, there are a lot more reasons to get your PC secured. But we think you get it. So let’s cut to the chase and take a look at our 6 favorite protection solutions and the wonders they can do for you.
*Note that in this article we’re looking at products primarily suited for households and home offices, some for small businesses. No enterprise solutions will make the list today, but stay tuned for a future article on those.
Top 6 best PC protection solutions
1. Bitdefender Total & Internet Security\
One of the biggest security product vendors out there, Bitdefender offers several awesome solutions. We want to introduce two of our favorites, Bitdefender Total Security and Bitdefender Internet Security.
Bitdefender Total Security is great for both households and smaller offices. You can choose to protect 5 or 10 devices, and not necessarily just Windows devices. It also works for macOS, Android and iOS. It offers a range of powerful features, such as:
Real-time data protection
Webcam and microphone protection
Device optimization options
Anti-phishing/-fraud/-spam technology
Ransomware protection
Anti-loss and anti-theft tools
VPN and privacy firewall
Anti-tracking technology
Parental controls
24/7 support
Bitdefender Internet Security shares almost all of these features, but there are a few important differences to note. Unlike Total Security, Internet Security has more options in terms of the number of protected devices: 1, 3, 5 or 10. However it’s only compatible with the Windows platform and it doesn’t offer device optimization tools or anti-theft options. Whether or not this is a deal-breaker depends on your needs alone - we still find it a great security tool.
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2. ESET Internet Security
An award-winning Windows security product, ESET Internet Security is essential on this list. It has an outstanding protection rate of 99.9% and a range of amazing options you’ll definitely want to make use of. It can be installed on up to 10 devices, making it an awesome tool for your household, home office or a small business. It’s also compatible with macOS and Android.
These are ESET Internet Security’s best features:
Protection against ransomware and spyware
Protection against malware specifically designed to avoid detection
In-depth scans when the computer is not in use
Firewall to prevent unauthorized access to your PC
Anti-spam tool
Anti-phishing and botnet protection technologies
Tool to scan your router and smart devices for vulnerabilities
Special browser for secure internet banking
Parental controls
Prevention of unauthorized webcam access
If you ask us, ESET has it all!
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3. Kaspersky Total & Internet Security
Having a deja vu? Didn’t you just read Total Security and Internet Security somewhere? Oh, that’s right - the first entry on our list! But here we’re talking about Kaspersky, a vendor you’ve also definitely heard about before.
Just like Bitdefender, Kaspersky is another one of those renowned names in the cybersecurity world that always make it to every ‘best of’ list. And for good reason - its products really fulfill their purpose. So let’s take a closer look at the two we chose.
These are the features both Kaspersky Total Security and Kaspersky Internet Security have in common:
Real-time virus and spyware blocking
Webcam protection
Wi-Fi security notifications
Advanced identity theft protection
Free technical support on several channels
Remote security management
Multiple devices (up to 10)
The main difference between Kaspersky Total Security and Internet Security is that the former offers more capabilities. These are the features KTS offers that KIS does not:
System cleanup
File shredding
Password management
Data backup and encryption
Both are excellent security tools, though we do prefer KTS a little more because of these additional options.
4. Norton 360 Deluxe
Of course one of the industry-leading solutions makes the list. Norton 360 Deluxe can protect up to 5 devices, be it Windows, iOS, macOS or Android. It’s worth noting that its features are best developed for Windows. Here’s what you get with Norton 360 Deluxe:
Protection against viruses, hackers, malware
100% virus protection promise
VPN included for all devices
Unlimited VPN on Windows
Password manager
Parental controls
So is there anything aside from these standard protection features that makes it such a favorite among us techies? Let us tell you! Norton added a little bit of spice here with two really powerful capabilities. The Deluxe product offers 50GB of cloud backup and dark web monitoring. The latter means the software notifies you if any of your personal information is found on the dark web, which helps protect you against identity theft.
Credit Luke Peters on Unsplash
5. McAfee Antivirus
Don’t be misled by the name of this product. Antivirus software may have started as protection against viruses only, but it’s developed quite a lot. The name simply stuck. All that to say that McAfee Antivirus - another award-winning security solution - protects you against several different threats.
The basic and essential plan allow 1 and 5 devices respectively, while McAfee+ Premium and Advanced work on an unlimited number of devices. The latter two also offer more capabilities, as you can imagine. Here’s what you can expect from all of them:
Secure unlimited VPN
File shredder to delete sensitive files completely
Ultimate safety while browsing
Protection against hackers
100% virus protection promise
Advanced firewall to block dangerous traffic
Online support from specialists
Protection score (shows how safe you are and detects vulnerabilities)
Identity monitoring (notifies you if any of your information is on the dark web)
Password management
Unlike the previous products, McAfee Antivirus does not offer parental controls. Otherwise it’s a pretty strong and comprehensive protection tool and might just be the right choice for you!
6. Trend Micro Maximum Security
Last but definitely not least, we’ve got Maximum Security by Trend Micro. And yes, you guessed it, Trend Micro is also an award winner in terms of cybersecurity. Its products have been recognized as industry-leading security solutions by AV-Test since 2003. Among all its fantastic solutions, our favorite for households or small offices is Maximum Security.
You can use Trend Micro Maximum Security to protect 3-5 devices for a year or two years before needing to renew your license. Aside from Windows, it’s compatible with iOS, Android, Mac and Chromebook devices. Here’s what you can expect from this protection software:
Powerful malware protection
Phishing detection and prevention (email)
Password management and protection
Maximum security for online banking and shopping
System optimization
Social media privacy protection
Parental controls
24/7 technical support
No notifications during gaming
It’s truly one of the most effective platforms out there dedicated to protecting your digital life. Using this product, ransomware, identity thieves and malicious websites don’t stand a chance.
The bottom line
If you’ve made it all the way here, congratulations, you’ve made the right choice: to invest in securing your valuable data! Now the question is: which one of these 6 awesome antivirus/antimalware products to select?
The paradox of choice is a very real thing - we feel you. As mentioned, it comes down to what your specific needs are. So before you go ahead and purchase your security software, make sure to explore all options.
And if you really can’t handle the decision-making anxiety, feel free to reach out. We’ll happily assist you in finding the right product to keep your digital life secure!
Windows 10 has displayed one of the most efficient and user-friendly interfaces. However there have been many issues on the backend of this commonly praised operating system: For example, Windows Update is still a wonky and error-laded system application. One example of this error is Windows Update Error 0x80073712 which stands in the way of users just wanting to keep their PCs updated hassle-free.
The error code 0x80073712 signifies that a file needed by Windows Update to function is either damaged, missing, or corrupted. However, this does not mean that your Windows version will forever stay as-is with no mode to update it. Windows Update Error 0x80073712 is perfectly fixable with the set of provided steps below and some of Windows’ built-in troubleshooting steps:
Solution 1: Open Windows Update Troubleshooter
Open the Windows Update Troubleshooter by pressing the Windows and S keys simultaneously.
Enter the word “Troubleshoot” in the search box and select the Troubleshoot result
On the new window, select “Windows Update” to troubleshoot.
Run the troubleshooter, then open Windows Update and try to install the update again.
Solution 2: Run the DISM tool
Open the command prompt by pressing Windows and S keys simultaneously
Enter “cmd” in the search box. Right Click command prompt among the results and select “Run as administrator”
In the Command Prompt window type the following and press the Enter key after every command
To close the Administrator: Command prompt window, type Exit, and then press Enter.
Run Windows Update again.
Solution 3: Rename the Software Distribution folder
Open the command prompt as previously mentioned
Input the following command pressing Enter after every linenet stop wuauservnet stop cryptSvcnet stop bitsnet stop msiserverrename c:/windows/SoftwareDistribution/softwaredistribution.oldnet start wuauservnet start cryptSvcnet start bitsnet start msiserverexit
Restart the PC and run the updater if it works again.
Solution 4: Restart Windows Update Services
Press the Windows logo key and R together to open Run -> Input services.msc -> and press Enter
Search for the Windows Update service -> Check its status
If it is not indicated, right-click on the service and select Start to force start your Windows Update
If you see an error, locate the Startup Type option and set it to Automatic
Now you should reboot your computer and see if your Windows Update is OK
Solution 5: Fix Registry Issues
If after all the aforementioned solutions, you still experience problems with Windows Update, the problem may lie in the registry that is either damaged or corrupted. You may choose to do manual editing of your Windows registry by opening your Windows registry editor. But doing so is risky as one wrong letter may do incalculable damage to your system. To do so safely for more inexperienced users we recommend using a third-party registry cleaner/tools, many of which can be found online.
Error Code 1627 is a type of HP printer installation error. It usually occurs when you try to install an HP printer on your PC. The error code 1627 pop-up hampers your ability to install an HP printer successfully.
This error code is usually displayed in the following format:
Installation Error: Call to Driver Package Install returned error 1627 for package C:ProgramFilersHPHP deskjet 2510 seriesDriver storePipelinehpvplog.inf
Solution
Error Causes
Like every device installed on your PC, printers also need software called drivers to function on Windows Operating System.
Although Windows supports several computer devices since many drivers are already installed in Windows but there are some devices that do need additional software to get started and operate smoothly on Windows such as Hewlett-Packard HP printers.
Installing a Hewlett-Packard printer driver is slightly more time-consuming and complex than any other driver. Causes for HP printer installation usually include:
Driver issues
Bad Registry Keys
Though this is not a fatal error, it is still advisable to fix it right away to avoid inconvenience.
Further Information and Manual Repair
To resolve this error on your PC, you don’t necessarily have to hire a professional and spend hundreds of dollars in repair. The good news is that HP Installation error code 1627 is quite easy to fix. Here are some of the best and proven DIY methods to resolve error code 1627:
Method 1 - Uninstall and then Reinstall HP Printer Driver
HP printer installation errors can occur due to driver issues. If the driver is not installed properly or is outdated, you will never be able to install an HP printer on your PC successfully.
Therefore to solve this issue, first, make sure the driver used for printer installation is up to date. If it is outdated, then update it. On the other hand, if the printer driver is up to date but not installed properly then reinstall it. In both situations, first, you must uninstall the driver.
Uninstalling the previous installation will help you clean the system. Once the system is clean you can reinstall the HP drivers again.
To uninstall, go to the start menu and then the control panel. Now go to the Add/Remove program option and uninstall the driver. To activate changes, reboot your PC. Now install the updated version again.
Method 2 - Clean the Registry
If the printer software installation fails while updating, then this means the removal of the failed software was not successful. It may not show up in the Control Panel program list.
This means the entries of the failed software are still present in the registry of your PC. In this scenario, you need to clean the registry and remove the bad entries from there to successfully install the HP printer driver on your system.
Though this can be done manually this can be both time-consuming and slightly challenging if you are not technically sound. Therefore, to remove bad entries from the registry in seconds in just a few clicks download Restoro.
This is a user-friendly PC Repair Tool deployed with a powerful registry cleaner. The registry cleaner scans your entire PC, detects and removes all bad entries and files corrupting the registry right away.
Once the registry is cleaned, you can try installing the printer driver again. This is most likely to resolve the issue.
Click here to download Restoro.
Method 3: Locate and Install the Driver
As was pointed out, you might need to reinstall the printer driver again. Using DriverFIX, you'll be able to automatically update your computer system and install the drivers your computer needs to operate smoothly.
The error code 28 is a driver error. This is one of the many device manager error codes. When this error occurs on your computer, the following message is displayed:
“The drivers for this device are not installed. (Code 28)”
Another driver device error message you might encounter is error code 41.
Error Causes
Error 28 occurs because of unsuccessful device driver installation. This usually happens when you try to update new drive versions on your system. It is advisable to repair this error right away as it can hamper your ability to use certain hardware.
For example, if error 28 occurs due to the unsuccessful installation of the USB driver, then it if not fixed and resolved it may prevent you from using hardware devices.
Unsuccessful driver installation means you either didn’t install it properly or your computer has registry issues. If it’s the registry then you must fix it without any delay because it can expose your PC to serious threats like system crash and failure.
To avoid such inconvenience, repair it.
Further Information and Manual Repair
When it comes to repairing the error code 28, here’s what you can do:
Simply go to the control panel and click on the Device Manager option:
In the details pane with the list of devices, locate the device for which you want to reinstall the driver software.
Double click on it to open the properties dialog box.
Now click on the driver tab and then click update driver.
After updating, try using that device again if it doesn’t work and shows the error code 28 on your computer screen then this means the underlying cause is the registry.
0x0000007c error inside Windows 11 is a printer error that is manifested when Windows users are trying to connect to a shared network remote printer. Error is displayed by the message:
Windows cannot connect to the printer. Operation failed with error 0x0000007c.
If you are experiencing this type of annoyance, fear now we are providing you with several solutions to this problem.
Update Windows 11
Open the Start menu, click on the settings app
Select Windows update tab
Click on Check for updates
Click on Advanced options
Inside select Optional updates
If there are optional updates click on Download & Install
Run the printer troubleshooter
Press ⊞ WINDOWS + I to open settings
Click on Troubleshoot navigation on the system tab
Select Other trouble-shooters
Click on the Run for printer troubleshooter
If the error is found click on Apply this fix
Restart the Print Spooler Service
Right-click on the Start button
Click on RUN
Type in services.msc and press OK
Right-click on Printer Spooler service and select Restart
Clear the Print Spooler
Open services like in the previous step
Right-click Print Spooler and select STOP
Open File explorer
Navigate to: C:\Windows\System32\spool\drivers\x64\3 (64-bit Platform)
C:\Windows\System32\spool\drivers\W32X86\3 (32-bit Platform)
Delete everything inside folders
Go back to services, right-click on Print Spooler and select RESTART
Reinstall Driver for printer
Right-click on Start and select device manager
Double click on the Print queues category
Right-click on the printer and select Uninstall device
Click on Uninstall on prompt
Right-click on the Print queues category and select Scan for hardware Changes
Error Code 46 is a device driver error that occurs when Windows fails to access the connected peripheral device to the computer as Windows is in a process of shutting down.
Users experience this error on any Windows 2000 and later operating system versions and usually see a pop-up with the following message:
“Windows cannot gain access to this hardware device because the operating system is in the process of shutting down. (Code 46)”
Solution
Error Causes
Error Code 46 is caused when there is a temporary problem with windows system files which prompts that the system is undergoing a shut down when in fact is it not.
This prevents access to the connected devices. This error may also be caused by a registry issue in which case it has either become corrupted or damaged.
Further Information and Manual Repair
Unlike all other Windows error codes, code 46 is relatively easy to fix with the right knowledge and does not pose any serious threat to the well-being of your PC. Here is how you can do it.
Method 1 – Restart your PC
The simplest method to resolve Error Code 46 is to run a restart of your computer.
The error is most commonly a temporary registry glitch that prevents you from accessing the device connected to your computer. Upon restarting your computer, it will resume working properly as before.
There is no need to run a troubleshooting wizard, use system restore, or run anti-virus software to scan and remove malware or spyware. A simple restart is all that is needed.
Method 2 – Install DriverFIX
Although the error code can be resolved upon restarting the computer, there’s a possibility of damaged or corrupted Windows registry files. This can be fixed by using a program like DriverFIX.
DriverFIX, with its user-friendly approach to help you fix your PC issues, comes with an integrated database that detects which drivers you need to reconfigure within just a few seconds and downloads it automatically.
It further ensures that your drivers are installed in their entirety leaving no room for any corrupted or damaged registry.
Error Code 46 may not be much of an issue, however, to prevent any risk of a Windows system corruption can be disastrous for your computer.
DriverFIX helps you fix your PC registry and device driver problems with user-friendly software and an integrated database. The database which consists of detailed information on what device driver needs to be installed will automatically download the required device driver without you need to refer to your hardware instruction manual.
Registry problems resulting from incomplete program installations and viruses such as malware and spyware damaged registry files. This affects your PC in serious ways.
DriverFIX further has an automatic backup and restoration system that helps create system ‘checkpoints’ which allow you to roll back to a healthier state and resume operations. This can help you avert any Windows error codes in the future.
If you encounter a Recovery Error code 0xc000000e, “Your PC needs to be repaired” error on your Windows 10 computer, then it means that there is some hardware failure or an incorrect drive configuration. Apart from the error, it may be accompanied by different error message such as:
A required device is inaccessible
The selected entry could not be loaded
A required device isn’t connected or cannot be accessed
The selected entry could not be loaded because the application is missing or corrupt
The boot selection failed because a required device is inaccessible.
As mentioned, the error code 0xc000000e or STATUS_NO_SUCH_DEVICE error indicates that there is a hardware failure or an incorrect drive configuration and to fix it, you have to check your cables as well as check the drive with the diagnostic utility available from the manufacturer of the drive. And if you are using older PATA (IDE) drives, then this kind of error also indicates an incorrect master/subordinate drive configuration.
There could be different causes for this error. It could be that the winload.exe file is not accessible or is corrupted or that the boot location for the operating system cannot be found. Thus, for you to boot into and access the operating system, you can try the suggestions given below.
Option 1 – Try rebuilding the Boot Configuration Data (BCD) file
Once you get to the Welcome Screen part, click on Next.
Afterward, click on the Repair your computer option located on the bottom-left part of the window.
Then click on Troubleshoot.
Next, select the Advanced Options and then Command Prompt.
Once Command Prompt has been pulled up, the following command to rebuild BCD files.
bootrec /rebuildbcd
Once the command line is successful in finding out a Windows installation, hit Y to let it boot from the list which will successfully rebuild BCD.
Now type “exit” to close Command Prompt and then restart your computer to successfully apply the changes made.
Option 2 – Try to run the Automatic Repair Utility
You might also want to use Automatic Repair in fixing the error code 0xC000000E. To do so, follow the steps below.
You can start by creating and booting from a bootable Windows 10 USB Stick.
After that, click on Repair your computer located in the bottom left corner when you are on the initial Windows Startup screen.
Next, click on Troubleshoot, and then on the other screen, click the Startup Repair option.
Now select the operating system you want to repair. Once you do that, it will start to repair your operating system. Wait until the process is completed and then check if the problem’s now fixed.
Option 3 – Try checking the physical device connections
You might also want to try checking if there are other devices that are connected to your PC. This is because of the configuration of the BIOS or UEFI might be configured in a way that any external device connected to the computer has a higher boot priority compared to the hard disk. And if it’s really the case, the externally attached disk might be the drive your computer is trying to boot into and not the hard disk. In such cases, Pen Drives, USB storage devices, CDs, DVDs, and so on, are included in this category of physical device connections.
Option 4 – Try updating the BIOS
As you know, the BIOS is a sensitive part of a computer. Even though it is a software component, the functioning of the hardware depends on it largely. Thus, you must be careful when modifying something in the BIOS. So if you don’t know much about it, it’s best if you skip on this option and try the other ones instead. However, if you are well-versed in navigating the BIOS, then follow the steps below.
Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
Next, type “msinfo32” in the field and press Enter to open System Information.
From there, you should find a search field on the bottom where you have to search for the BIOS version and then press Enter.
After that, you should see the developer and version of the BIOS installed on your PC.
Go to your manufacturer’s website and then download the latest version of BIOS on your computer.
If you are using a laptop, make sure that you keep it plugged in until you have updated the BIOS.
Now double click on the downloaded file and install the new BIOS version on your computer.
Now restart your computer to apply the changes made.
Option 5 – Try resetting the BIOS/UEFI configuration
You might also want to reset the BIOS configuration which will lead to arranging the boot configuration since it is intended by the manufacturer. Note that this will get rid of any blockage in the boot process.
Option 6 – Try marking your Disk as Online
Marking your Disk as Online can also help in resolving the error code 0xC000000E. To do so, follow the steps below.
You need to first create a bootable Windows 10 Media and then boot from it.
After that, click on Repair your computer on the first window of the Windows 10 installation setup.
Now, choose the operating system partition from the options and click on Next.
Then select Command Prompt from the System Recovery Options box.
Next, type in “diskpart” and hit Enter to initiate the Diskpart utility inside the Command Prompt.
Now type in either “list disk” or “list volume” and hit Enter. Either of these commands will help you in listing all the Disk connects or all the partitions on those disks formed. So you have to select one command depending on the list command you entered.
Afterward, type in “select disk #” or “select volume #” and hit Enter to select the Disk or Partition you want to select.
Now type in “online disk #” or “online volume #” and press Enter to mark the disk you selected as Online.
If you’re suddenly unable to launch or open Google Chrome or unable to load web pages, then it’s most likely that the files in Chrome have been corrupted or some plugin is taking up a lot of resources which is why you encounter an error message saying, “Google Chrome has stopped working”. And when you try to check the Task Manager, you’ll see that Chrome is really taking up lots of resources, however, when you check the Taskbar, strangely, you will see nothing. If you are currently facing this issue in Chrome on your Windows 10 PC, follow the given options below.
Option 1 – Kill Google Chrome’s process in the Task Manager
If you aren’t able to open Chrome, then maybe its process is running in the background and you don’t see the browser windows. If that’s the case, you may have to force quit the browser and then try to open it again.
First, right-click on the Taskbar then select the Task Manager. And if the Task Manager is not responding, you can just use the Alt + Ctrl + Del keys and then select the Task Manager.
After opening the Task Manager, under Processes, look for Google Chrome’s process which would most likely be named “chrome.exe”.
Right-click on Google Chrome’s process and then select the End task option.
Now try to open Google Chrome again.
Option 2 – Try checking if your antivirus program is blocking Google Chrome
There are instances when due to false-positive, a security or antivirus program might block Chrome which is why it failed to open properly. Thus, you can just disable the security program temporarily and then check if you can now open Chrome or not.
Option 3 – Delete the User Profile in Chrome
You can also try deleting the User Profile folder in Chrome. To do so, follow these steps:
Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
Then copy and paste “%USERPROFILE%AppDataLocalGoogleChromeUser Data” and hit Enter.
From there, look for a folder named “Default folder” and then copy the folder to another drive as a backup.
After creating a copy of the folder, delete the Default folder.
Next, open Google Chrome again and go to Settings > Advanced > Reset.
Option 4 – Disable the Extensions in Chrome
There are instances when issues on a browser are triggered or caused by some problematic extension. To find out which one of your extensions is causing the problem, disable them all first and then enable them back one by one.
Click on the three-dotted icon for the menu located at the top-right corner of your screen.
Then click on the More tools option and go to Extensions.
From there, you will see a list of all the installed extensions in Chrome.
Disable all these extensions and restart the browser.
Now enable them back one by one to figure out which one of them is the culprit. You could also remove extensions that you no longer use.
Option 5 – Run the Chrome Cleanup tool
You might also want to try running the Malware Scanner & Cleanup tool in Chrome. This is a built-in tool that can help you get rid of any unwanted pop-ups, banners, ads, unusual startup pages, toolbars, and malware. Thus, it can help you to resolve the issue in Chrome.
Option 6 – Try to reinstall Chrome
If running the Malware Scanner & Cleanup tool in Chrome didn’t work out for you, you can try reinstalling it. To do so, follow these steps:
Open the Settings app and go to System > Apps & features.
From there, look for Chrome and uninstall it from your PC.
Then go to the official website of Google Chrome and download its latest version and install it.
Error 126 is a very commonly occurring error that is often the result of damaged system files of Windows. They usually occur during the installation of some Windows program or application. When Error 126 is generated, it terminates the installation process almost instantly.
It is important to take corrective measures immediately to ensure that no such problems are encountered again in the future.
Solution
Error Causes
There are a variety of conditions that may trigger Error 126. These conditions are listed below as follows.
Corrupt or incorrect registry entries in the system files
When any of the above-listed conditions occur, the corrupt system files will go to the improper links or missing information.
Eventually, the problems with the files will keep the applications or programs from responding in the usual manner. Whatever are the reasons for error generation, it is of utmost importance that the error is removed to ensure smooth functioning of the system.
Further Information and Manual Repair
There are many different ways this error can be rectified. However, the two most effective solutions are listed below as follows.
This solution is for the advanced user. Turn on the system and log on to it as the Administrator. Now click on the Start button. Now click on All programs -> Accessories -> System Tools. Here you will come across the option for System Restore. Click on it. A new window will appear. Select 'restore my computer to an earlier time' point. Now clock on Next. A list of restore points will now appear in front of you. Choose the latest restore point you come across from this list and click on ‘Next’. In the next window that opens, click on ‘Next’ again. This is the confirmation window. Once the restoration finishes, restart your computer.
This solution is for novice users. Download an Error 126 repair utility program. Install it on your system. Now use it to scan your system for errors. Find out if there is an option to fix/repair error. When you come across it, click on it as soon as the scan is complete. Restart your computer. Your system is now free of Error 126.
A PC that turns on by itself every so often can get quite annoying. Many users have faced this problem countless times. There are lots of possible reasons why your Windows 10 PC turns on by itself, wakes up from sleep, standby, or even when it’s shut down.
To find out what exactly woke your computer, simply open Command Prompt as admin and type the following command:
powercfg –lastwake
Once you enter the command given above, it will show you the last device that woke your PC up. After that, you need to type in the next command:
powercfg –devicequery wake_armed
After entering the command, it will show you a list of all the devices that could wake your PC up. The goal in running these commands is to understand the reason what’s really causing your PC to turn on and see the reason is on the hardware level or not. Here are a couple of options you can try if your Windows 10 PC turns on by itself.
Option 1 – Try disabling Fast Startup
As you know, Windows 10 comes with a mode called Fast Startup which does not turn off the computer in the usual manner. This mode keeps your computer in a mixed state so that when you turn it on again, it will be a lot faster. However, as useful as this feature appear to be, some security experts find this an issue, for numerous reasons – for one, it can turn on your Windows 10 PC by itself. Thus, you need to disable this feature to fix the problem.
Option 2 – You need to stop the Task Scheduler from waking up your computer
There are times when the issue has something more to do with the software than hardware. It could be that you are using a Scheduled Task to get some work done on your computer at a particular time of the day or many times a day. That’s why if you really are using Task Scheduler, you need to change the Power settings of Windows to make sure that it ignores those tasks rather than deleting them instead when your computer is either on Hybrid or Standby mode.
Open the Power Options and then click on “Change Plan Settings”.
After that, make sure to choose the correct power plan and then select the “Change advanced power settings” option.
Next, look for the Sleep tree and expand it to view the “Allow Wake Timers” option and then disable it. Disabling this option will make sure that none of the program that could wake your PC up when it’s either on shutdown or sleep mode. However, this only applies to laptops.
Option 3 – Try to disable Automatic Restart
There are instances when the computer crashes and the system restarts itself. This is actually by design – when your computer has been left on standby, the computer will restart and if the program repeats, it will keep on waking your PC up.
In the Search bar, type in “system”.
Once it appears from the search results, click on it.
Next, select Advanced system settings on the left side and then go to the Advanced tab.
From there, click on Settings under Startup and Recovery.
Then unmark “Automatically Restart” and click on OK.
Option 4 – Adjust the Power Management option of both the Keyboard and Mouse
As you know, two of the culprits in waking your PC up are the keyboard and the mouse. If they’re slightly moved or hit, your PC turns on. To prevent these two from waking your computer up, you need to make some adjustments to their power management option since they have one. You can disable this option to ensure that they won’t wake your PC up unless you really want it to.
Tap the Win + X keys and then tap M to open the Device Manager and list all the hardware on your computer. From there, select your keyboard or mouse.
Next, right-click and then go to Properties and go to the Power Management tab.
In this tab, uncheck the “Allow this device to wake the computer” box.
Note: Aside from the keyboard and mouse, if you are also using any gaming rig to play games on your computer, then you might have to disable their power options as well as they could also wake your computer. Just make sure that either the keyboard or the mouse has the ability to wake your computer up at the very least as it can be quite inconvenient to tap the Power button every time you want to turn on your computer.
Option 5 – Modify Wake On Lan
The Wake On Lan feature can bring back your computer online if it is connected to a network. This feature is useful especially when a computer wants to communicate or to send data or files to a network computer which should come online only when it’s requested. Wake On Lan is built into the hardware, i.e. network adapter so it is one of the possible reasons why your PC turns on by itself.
Tap the Win + x keys then hit M to open the Device Manager and then under the Network adapters, look for the one that was listed above. Take note that you must not change anything with the ones that are listed as Miniport.
Next, right-click and select Properties and then go to Power management and from there, uncheck the “Allow this device to wake up the computer” option. This will ensure that no PC on the network can ever wake your computer up.
Option 6 – Prevent any scheduled Windows Update and Automatic maintenance
It is also possible that the Windows Update has restarted your PC to complete the update. This depends on your active hours or a predefined schedule. AS you know Windows has a built-in Automatic Maintenance mode which wakes the computer up at the scheduled time and performs the system update. This could be one of the possible reasons why your computer turns on by itself. so to prevent any scheduled updates and maintenance, you can simply change the time for Automatic maintenance. How? Follow these steps:
Open Settings then go to Windows Update and Security >Windows Update and select Active Hours.
After that, type in “Automatic maintenance” in the search bar to change the time for Automatic maintenance.
From there, you can adjust the timing or just uncheck the “Allow scheduled maintenance to wake up my computer at the scheduled time” box.
If you encounter an error saying, “Invalid file handle” when you try to rename, copy, delete a file or other operations in your Windows 10 computer, then read on as this post will guide you in what you can do to fix it. This kind of error pops up when the operating system tries to carry out an operation on a folder or file using the following words:
When you rename or create a folder or file using the reserved words given above, you could encounter an error that says, “The specified device name is invalid”. This occurs since these words are Windows system reserved words that you can’t use, unlike any other words. Thus, if you have a folder or file which contains any of the reserved words on another computer that runs a non-Windows operating system and you try to copy or rename it Windows, then it’s no wonder why you’re getting this error message.
In such cases, you can always click on the Skip button to stop the operation. However, if there are various folders or files, you can just use the Command Prompt to carry out the task. All it takes is a simple command that will get rid of the folder as well as the files in it. How? Refer to the instructions given below.
Step 1: Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run utility.
Step 2: Next, type “cmd” in the field and then tap Enter to open Command Prompt.
Step 3: After opening Command Prompt, execute the following command:
rd \.file-folder-path /S /Q
Note: The “rd” command will remove the directory or the folder while the “\.” command will select the current computer. The “/S” command, on the other hand, helps you in removing all the sub-directories and the files that are in the CON folder. The “/Q” command is not really mandatory since it helps you remove everything silently without any confirmation message. For example, if you have a folder named “CON” located on your Desktop, the path will be like this “C:/Users/<username>/Desktop/CON”. In this case, the command should be like this:
rd \.C:Users<username>DesktopCON /S /Q
However, if the error pops up for a whole different reason, you could use the following command instead to remove the reparse point extended functionality. Once you’ve entered the given command below, you should now be able to delete the file.