How to run old applications in Windows 10

If you receive an error message saying, “The proxy server is refusing connections” while trying to open a website on your Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox browser in Windows 10, then read on as this post will guide you in fixing this error. This kind of error occurs when you have a wrong or dead proxy configuration or when you are using some VPN service. However, this kind of error could also mean that your computer might be infected by malware which caused some changes in the internal settings. Whatever triggered the error, here are some suggestions that could help in fixing it.

Option 1 – Check the proxy settings in your browser

Like other browsers, Firefox allows users to set up proxy in several ways. However, if you’ve made any changes recently which might have caused the error, the first thing you can do is to check the proxy settings in your Firefox browser. Follow the steps below to do so.

• • Open the browser and go to Menu and then click Options.
  • After that, go to the General tab and scroll down and click the Settings button under Network Settings.

• From there, make sure that the Use system proxy settings option is set. If not, you have to enable No proxy and then save the changes made.
• Now check if the “The proxy server is refusing connections” error is fixed or not.

Note: If you want to use a proxy in Firefox, you have to select the Manual proxy configuration and set it up properly. And if your network has a proxy setting and you want to grab that, you have to opt for the Auto-detect proxy settings for this network option.

Option 2 – Try disabling the proxy server for your LAN

If your PC was just attacked by some adware or malware as of late, it is possible that it has changed the network settings in the system and might display spam advertisements. Thus, you have to disable the proxy server for your LAN. To do that, refer to these steps:

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Then type “inetcpl.cpl” in the field and hit Enter to pull up the Internet Properties.
• After that, go to the Connections tab and select the LAN settings.
• From there. Uncheck the “Use a Proxy Server” option for your LAN and then make sure that the “Automatically detect settings” option is checked.
• Now click the OK and the Apply buttons.
• Restart your PC.

Note: If you are using a third-party proxy service, you have to disable it.

Option 3 – Try disabling the manual proxy setup from Settings

In case you miss it, there is actually an option in the Settings panel that you can use to set up a proxy in your Windows 10 computer. So if you encounter the “The proxy server is refusing connections” error, you should disable manual proxy for the meantime and check if it fixed the error or not.

• Tap the Win + I keys to open the Windows Settings.
• Then go to Network & Internet > Proxy.
• And on your right-hand side, ensure that the Automatically detect settings are enabled and that the Use a proxy server option under the Manual proxy setup is disabled.
• Now try to open any website again and see if the problem’s fixed.

Option 4 – Check your VPN

If you are using a VPN application, there are times when it causes some issues like this error. If that’s the case, you can try to disable your VPN temporarily and see if the error is resolved or not and if turns out that your VPN is the culprit, you have to uninstall it and install a new one or its latest version. To uninstall it, follow the steps below.

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box
• Then type “appwiz.cpl” in the field and hit Enter to open the Programs and Features in Control Panel.
• From there, look for the VPN service you are using, select it and then click on Uninstall to remove it.
• After that, restart your computer and try to install the latest version of the program again. It should work now. If not, proceed to the next available option below.

Option 5 – Clear your browser’s internet cache

You actually have the option to Hard Refresh in order to clear the cache of your browser either pressing key combination Ctrl +F5.

Option 6 – Try scanning your computer using Windows Defender

As mentioned, the “The proxy server is refusing connections” might be caused by some malware in the system and so to eliminate the malware, you have to scan your computer using security programs like Windows Defender.

• Tap the Win + I keys to open Update & Security.
• Then click on the Windows Security option and open Windows Defender Security Center.
• Next, click on Virus & threat protection > Run a new advanced scan.
• Now make sure that Full Scan is selected from the menu and then click the Scan Now button to get started.

The new thing from Mozilla is not a browser, it is a VPN!

Besides Firefox, Mozilla offers now Firefox Relay, an app helping you to mask your email and phone number, and a new Mozilla VPN.

Mozilla has recently announced a new subscription model that will let you use all products together for $6.99 per month. Although this is a little more expensive than the competition that goes around for $5 per month note that with this subscription you are having access to all services, not just VPN.

VPN will not only hide your IP address but will also make sure websites cannot access your real location and it encrypts all of your network activity. Relay will give you protection against spam, serving as a shield for your email and limiting spammers from access to your real email address and phone number. With Mozilla subscription will let you use both services.

If you are getting this error even if STEAM.EXE is present on your system then follow the easy guide to solve the issue.

1. Scan your system for malware

   Scan your complete system for viruses and other malware. If all the scans come negative then move to the next step.

2. Disable your anti-virus software

   Some anti-virus and anti-malware software can detect steam as a potential threat and block it. Turn off your protection software and try to run Steam once all your protection is disabled. If this works you will need to either place Steam in the applications exception list or to move to another protection software.

3. Remove administrator privileges from steam client

   Right-click on steam.exe and choose properties, go to the compatibility tab, and uncheck run this program as administrator. Try to run Steam again.

4. Delete Steam registry value

   If everything else failed try deleting the registry value for steam. Open registry editor and locate key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options Double click on Image File Execution, find steam on left, right-click on it, and choose delete. Save and exit the registry editor.

Hello and welcome to our Reasons to Defrag Hard Drive. You ought to defrag your hard drive, in case your PC is slow. This could enhance the efficiency and pace of your PC too as its hardware longevity. It places them where there is space, whenever your PC saves files. Often files are separated into bits. For example, whenever you remember a file and focus on it, it frequently doesn't fit back in exactly the same physical place. Where it can your PC divides up the file, occasionally into several parts, and saves it.

Why defrag?

Fragmentation causes difficulties that doing a defrag can correct. Fragmented files because it requires more resources and time to locate and remember these files slow down your pc. Applications may also take longer to load. Defragging can prolong the life span of the components. A defragged hard disk too can raise your likelihood of recovering lost information. Once fragmentation starts, it can propagate fast -- demanding defragging. It's like the pages of a publication are divided and hidden in several locations around a house, if a file is fragmented. It's like the pages of the book being brought back together, should you defrag. Defragging discovers all the bits of the file and places them in contiguous, actual places.

How will you defrag?

To defrag your hard drive, you must utilize software or utility. There are lots of defragging tools available. SpeedyPC Pro, a whole package of cleaning and optimization tools, can defragment your PC. Before you defrag, it's best to assess your hard drive. This evaluation finds if a defrag is needed and how much of the disc is fragmented. You simply allow the application do the work if it's determined that you must defrag your PC to enhance performance. To be able to defrag a drive, free disk space will be required by your PC. Defragging can take a while. How long depends on several variables, such as the system resources accessible, the disc volume, the number of files, and how fragmented the files are. It's a great idea to defrag when you don't have to use your pc or it isn't doing other jobs. For example, the night could become a great time to defrag. Be certain to close out of resource-intensive applications, like your antivirus scanner, before you defrag.

Razer is a well-known brand among PC gamers and users, it started as a peripheral manufacturer focused on keyboards and mouse but after years passed Razer expanded its inventory offerings. It soon started offering headphones and lately has branched into wider product lines like gaming chairs and protection masks. It is not a big surprise that Razer is expanding into other branches of the PC industry. This time, however, it has revealed not one but three new hardware for your PC. Case fans, all in one liquid cooler and power supply. There are not many details about the products themselves but one thing is one hundred percent confirmed, they come with Razer Chroma, all of them, even the fans.

Katana Chroma ATX PSU

Most interesting for me personally is Razers Katana, the power supply unit. It is a modular power supply ranging from 750W to 1200W with the additional option of Titanium rated one with an impressive 1600W of power. Power supply will start shipping in early 2022 and at the time of writing this article no price range has been released.

Razer Hanbo AIO

Hanbo liquid cooler will feature an optimized intake design so it can ensure greater heat transfer and fluid dynamic for improved reliability and silent operation. Radiator comes in 240mm size with two fans and a larger one of 360mm with three fans. The pump will be able to rotate in any direction of full 360 degrees so it can fit in any case. Hanbo will be released in November this year but no pricing has been released so far.

Razer Kunai Chroma case fans

Kunai fans will boast high static pressure performance with lowered noise. They will go as far as 2200rpm for the 120mm version where the 140mm version will go up to 1600rpm. They will come with addressable LEDs and up to eight fans will be able to be connected to Razer’s PWM fan controller that will come with a magnet at the back for easy attachment to any steel part of PC casing. PWM will use Razer’s Synapse software to customize pulse width modulation in order to improve airflow and noise. PWM will be priced at $49.99 in the Razer Store and it is available for preorder. Fans are priced at $44.99 for one 120mm or $129.99 for a three-pack of 120mm. One 140mm will go for $49.99 and a three-pack will be $129.99.

Microsoft office has two major packages, an online one, and an offline version. The online version of the course is Office 365 that requires a monthly subscription and it is always regularly updated and maintained. Another version is more of a typical old school application, install it and use it, no constant internet connection is required and no monthly subscription is required, buy once and use it. The last version of buying it once and use it was Office 2019 and after two years we are going to receive a new version soon. Microsoft has set its release date for October 5^th of this year and as always it will feature the current latest version of office applications and one-time purchase. The new office will support dark mode and other improvements tied to the new Windows 11 and some specific features tied to Office itself.

If you were trying to open File Explorer but it suddenly stopped working and you encounter an error message that states, “An attempt was made to reference a token that does not exist”, read on as this post will guide you in fixing this problem. This problem was initially reported after the April Update and Microsoft was able to fix it right after correcting the build. However, this effort seems futile for some users as recently, some reported getting the same error when they try to open not just Windows File Explorer but also with utilities like Microsoft Management Console or MMC, Visual Studio, Task Manager, Printer, Recycle Bin, etc. Two of the most likely causes of this error are a troublesome Windows Update and corrupted system files. Whatever the cause is, here are some suggestions you can follow to fix the “An attempt was made to reference a token that does not exist” error.

Option 1 – Try to re-register the problematic DLL file

You may have to re-register the ntdll.dll file using the regsvr32.exe before you can successfully install the program and fix the ntdll.dll file crash error. The Regsvr32 tool is a command-line utility that can be used to register and unregister OLE controls like DLL and ActiveX (OCX) control in the Windows operating system. Follow the steps below to use it.

• Open Command Prompt as admin from the WinX menu.
• Next, type the following commands in the elevated Command Prompt and hit Enter to execute the command. This will re-register the affected DLL file using the Windows operating system tool, regsvr32.exe.
  • exe /[DLL file]
  • exe [DLL file]

Note: Replace “[DLL file]” with the name of the DLL file that was pointed out in the error.

• After you execute the given commands, you should see a message saying, “DllRegisterServer in vbscript.dll succeeded” if the Regsvr32 tool was able to run successfully. After that, try to install the program again and see if it now works.

Option 2 – Replace the DLL file from a trusted source

• First, you need to get the new DLL file from another computer with preferably the same file version number.
• After that, you need to boot your PC into Safe Mode and navigate to the paths listed below and then replace the file using a USB drive or other external storage devices.
  • x86: This PC > C:/Windows/System32
  • x64: This PC > C:/Windows/SysWOW64
• Next, type “cmd” in the Cortana search box and right-click on Command Prompt, and select “Run as administrator” to open it with administrator privileges.
• Now type the “regsvr32 ntdll.dll” command and hit Enter.
• Restart your PC and check if the error is now fixed.

Option 3 – Perform a System File Checker scan

The System File Checker or SFC scan could detect and automatically repair damaged system files that could be causing the “An attempt was made to reference a token that does not exist” error to pop up. SFC is a built-in command utility that helps in restoring corrupted files as well as missing files. It replaces bad and corrupted system files with good system files. To run the SFC command, follow the steps given below.

• Tap Win + R to launch Run.
• Type in cmd in the field and tap Enter.
• After opening Command Prompt, type in sfc /scannow and hit Enter.

The command will start a system scan which will take a few whiles before it finishes. Once it’s done, you could get the following results:

1. Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.
2. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them.
3. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them.

Option 4 – Try reverting back to the previous build of Windows

This kind of error might have something to do with a Feature Update so you can try to revert your computer to a previous build of Windows 10 as it could help you fix the problem. In this case, it would better if you refrain from updating your Windows 10 computer until this problem is completely resolved by Microsoft.

In today's IT world, if you want a computer for typical day-to-day actions and gaming, there are 3 primary ways you can go. An Apple computer with its proprietary hardware and operating system or a typical machine with Windows or Linux operating system.

Each system has both advantages and disadvantages and picking the right one might be difficult for some users. From hardware differences to specific software and operating system, each system is aimed at a different type of work, and in this article, we will explore each one and help you in choosing the right one for you.

Apple ecosystem

Apple has managed to create a unique ecosystem of its own devices, from its iMac desktop computers to more professional MAC studio and power MAC and all the way to tablet iPad and iPhone are powered by Apple's own operating system that connects all of these devices into one large system. So if you really need one singular ecosystem this is a huge advantage.

The ecosystem on the side, MAC computer systems are great, some would argue best for coding, design, video work, and sound editing. MAC M2 chip is optimized for all of these tasks and a specially tailored operating system is just the icing on the cake. Specific Apple-made software like a logic pro or final cut also helps a lot to position MAC systems on top of the line.

Reading all of this you might think hey this is the computer for me, it does everything! Sadly the truth is not like that. The first thing that is difficult on MAC systems and a maybe big reason that it is not so adopted outside professional working environment is lack of games. If you are a gamer or plan on using MAC for gaming, well I have some bad news. The second big turn-off is that MAC systems tend to be more expensive than PC systems, yes components are of higher quality but rest assured that you will pay for also for branding.

Get MAC as your workstation for serious work and for good tech support, if you need a plain home computer keep reading.

Windows PC machine

There is no better feeling than assembling your own computer, tweaking hardware to make a monster and despite haters hating, Windows is the best all-around operating system on the market. It is supporting the largest variety of hardware and the largest variety of software.

The best platform for serious gaming and streaming Windows machine has cemented itself as a multimedia powerhouse. But, this kind of computer is not alien to being also a professional machine, you can practically do everything that you can do on Apple or Linux machine inside Windows, yes some things might require extra steps or will be slightly slower but in the end, being able to do anything is the greatest strength of Windows machine.

Of course, every system has its flaws and Windows is not immune to that. One of the biggest is being the operating system for every hardware ever made and every software as well while keeping legacy support for old software and hardware, basically, its biggest strength is in the same time its biggest weakness leading to sometimes stability issues. Also being able to place any kind of hardware can also lead to the same stability issues. Executing something a little slower than other systems and having some extra steps can also be looked upon as weaknesses.

Linux system

First and perhaps for some people, the biggest advantage of the Linux operating system is its price, it is completely free! Other advantages include the great server and networking included in the OS itself, the large amount of customization, and unmatched stability. The ability to write scripts inside the OS terminal is also a great thing and coding is much more streamlined and friendlier than on other machines.

The power of Linux is the ability to change anything, even on the system layer, no other operating system will let you change the basic functionality of the OS itself while Linux will let you do this. It is also the only operating system you can fully use by booting it up from a USB stick and having the same experience as it was installed on a local hard drive. Among other OS mentioned earlier, Linux is by far the lightest one, taking the smallest amount of memory among the three.

The bad side of the Linux machine is the steep learning curve, among the three mentioned operating systems rest assured Linux is the most difficult to learn and be comfortable in it. The operating system will require you to know the hardware and how computers work in order to fully use its potential. Other things that place it behind are not so wide hardware support compared to Windows and the somewhat confusing distro model.

Linux versions come in form of different distro packages and first-time users will face many of them being left in awe of which one to choose. Also installing drivers and software via a package system can also be a tedious task as well, often being that some version of the driver will not work on the newer version of the Linux distro.

Get a Linux machine if you are well versed in computer technology, if you want great customization of the OS itself or if you do not want to spend money on OS and software since almost entire Linux software is open source.

Upgrading your Windows computer may not always go as expected as you could end up getting some error messages along the way. One of the error messages you can encounter is the “STOP 0XC000021A or STATUS_SYSTEM_PROCESS_TERMINATED” error. This error indicates that is some security issue within the Windows operating system. It could be that the system files have an issue and they have been modified incorrectly. Although this does not necessarily mean that malware is behind the modification, one of the applications you installed recently might have something to do with the problem. The application might have modified or corrupted some of the core system files. When you encounter this error, you will see a blue screen along with the following error message:

“Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart. We’re just collecting some error info, and then we’ll restart for you. (0% complete) If you’d like to know more, you can search online later for this error: 0xc000021a”

This error pops up when a user-mode subsystem like the WinLogon or the Client Server Run-Time Subsystem or CSRSS has been compromised fatally and security can no longer be guaranteed in the system. Thus, the operating system switches to kernel mode, and Windows won’t be able to run without the WinLogon or the Client Server Run-Time Subsystem. This is why it’s one of the few cases where the failure of a user-mode service can shut down the system. To resolve the issue, here are some fixes that might help.

Option 1 – Uninstall programs you installed lately

• In the search box, type in “control” and then click on Control Panel (desktop app) among the search results.
• After that, select Programs and Features from the list which will give you a list of all the programs installed on your computer.
• From there, look for the concerned program and select it and then uninstall it.

Note: If you have downloaded the app from the Windows Store, you can simply right-click on it from the application list and then uninstall it.

Option 2 – Perform System Restore

Performing System Restore can also help you fix the “STOP 0XC000021A or STATUS_SYSTEM_PROCESS_TERMINATED” error. You can do this option either by booting into Safe Mode or in System Restore. If you are already in the Advanced Startup Options, just directly select System Restore and proceed with the next steps. And if you have just booted your PC into Safe Mode, refer to the steps below.

• 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.

Option 3 – Run the System File Checker or SFC scan

System File Checker or SFC is a built-in command utility that helps in restoring corrupted files as well as missing files. It replaces bad and corrupted system files to good system files that might be the cause why you’re getting the “STOP 0XC000021A or STATUS_SYSTEM_PROCESS_TERMINATED” error. To run the SFC command, follow the steps given below.

• Tap Win + R to launch Run.
• Type in cmd in the field and tap Enter.
• After opening Command Prompt, type in sfc /scannow

The command will start a system scan which will take a few whiles before it finishes. Once it’s done, you could get the following results:

1. Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.
2. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them.
3. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them.

Option 4 – Rebuild the BCD and fix MBR

Rebuilding the BCD can help you in fixing the “STOP 0XC000021A or STATUS_SYSTEM_PROCESS_TERMINATED” error.

• You can start by booting into the installation environment for Windows 10 from an installation media.
• After that, click on Repair your computer and on the blue screen, select Troubleshoot and then select the Advanced options menu.
• Next, select Command Prompt and type in the commands below one by one, and tap Enter right after you do so.
• exe /FixMbr
• exe /FixBoot
  • exe /RebuildBcd

The commands you entered should rebuild the BCD and repair MBR.

Option 5 – Run the CHKDSK utility

You can also run the Chkdsk utility to resolve the problem. If your hard drive has issues with integrity, the update will really fail as the system will think that it’s not healthy and that’s where the Chkdsk utility comes in. The Chkdsk utility repairs hard drive errors that might be causing the problem.

• Open Command Prompt with admin privileges.
• After opening Command Prompt, execute the commands listed below, and don’t forget to hit Enter right after you type in each one of them.
• chkntfs /t
• chkntfs /t:10

The latest update from Panos Panay on Twitter is including New and redesigned Snipping tool inside Windows 11. From the shared video, we can see that it includes modern Windows 11 UI redesign and it looks and feels like a part of Windows 11. More things that can be seen from the shared video is that it looks like the new snipping tool is a merged version of the old with snip & sketch. It is good to see that it is still possible to capture screen with easier way natively inside Windows 11 but some more functionality would be more welcome I guess. Users were asking for added functions for a long time like adding simple text for example but from shared video, no new features were presented so for some users 3^rd party solutions will still be the way to go. The new and redesigned Snipping tool will roll out with the next update and we will see then about all new features inside it firsthand. Until then, take care.