If you suddenly see a system icon or an application icon that has a blue and yellow shield or icon overlay at the corner, this indicates that the application has to run with admin privileges and each time you run these kinds of applications, a UAC or User Account Control prompt will appear to confirm if you really want to run the application. Although this kind of behavior is for security reasons, it can get quite annoying especially if you use the application on a daily basis. To make it convenient for you, this post will walk you through how you can remove the blue and yellow shield icon from an application on your Windows 10 computer.
The User Account Control or UAC setting is the one that ensures no program can run with administrative privileges unless it is allowed by the user. This stops any program that could be potentially harmful to the computer from making any changes which are why keeping this setting to its default state is for the best and making any changes in its setting is not recommended unless it is really needed.
So if you really have to remove the icon overlay in an application, there are several ways you can do that. You can try reinstalling the program and set Compatibility or change the UAC level. For more information, refer to every option given below.
Option 1 – Try to reinstall the application and set Compatibility
As you know, the application icons where you can see the shields are shortcuts mostly and they signify that the User Account Control will appear each time you launch the app. Thus, if you have an app that you use regularly and you’re certain that the app can be trusted, you can try to reinstall the app and set its compatibility by following these steps:
You need to uninstall the app first and then install its latest version. You must not run or open the app after you reinstall it, not until you’ve completed the steps.
Next, you have to right-click on the shortcut icon of the app, and from the menu, select Properties.
Afterward, go to the Compatibility tab and look for the checkbox labeled “Run this program as an administrator” and uncheck it.
Now click on the Apply and OK buttons to save the changes made. This should remove the shield icon from the app.
Option 2 – Try changing the UAC level
Tap the Win + Q to open the search bar and type UAC to see the User Account Control setting.
From the UAC setting, lower the UAC level by selecting the settings that say, “Notify only when apps try to make changes to my computer”.
After selecting that option, you shouldn’t be getting any warning now when you run the app with the shield icon. But keep in mind that this is not a temporary setting which can be risky especially if the app can’t be trusted.
Internal Error 2771 is an internal error code associated with Kaspersky Internet Security and Antivirus software. This error pops up when Kaspersky Internet Security software fails to install on your PC successfully.
Installation of the software is interrupted and therefore it ends prematurely. This happens mostly when you try to install a new build on an existing installation.
Internal Error 2771 is displayed in one of the following formats:
This error may result on your computer screen due to several reasons. Some of the most common underlying causes include:
A leftover Registry Key
Bad entries from previous Security Package
INFCACHE.1 file corrupted
Conflicts with other security software installed on your system
Further Information and Manual Repair
To successfully overcome this problem and ensure the successful installation of Kaspersky Internet Security software on your system, try the methods given below.
Method 1- Remove the Leftover Registry Key
Sometimes Internal error code 2771 may appear during installation due to the leftover registry key from the previous Kaspersky software removal.
A registry key is often created when uninstalling the previous Kaspersky version from the PC. This key is left behind even after you reboot your system.
This key is called AVP**_post_ uninstall, you need to delete it to ensure the new version of the Kaspersky program is installed successfully on your PC. For this, simply go to the start menu and type Regedit in the search bar.
Now navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun and then look here for the registry key called AVP**_post_ uninstall. In order to delete this file, right-click it and then select delete.
Once uninstalled, reboot your PC and then try installing the Kaspersky Internet Security program again.
Hopefully, this will resolve the issue. If the software installs smoothly, then the error is fixed, in case it still persists, then try other methods illustrated below.
Method 2 - Remove the INFCAHCE.1 Corrupt File
Another reason for the error pop-up may be INFCAHCHE.1 corruption.
This file is basically used to store driver information and inf file locations. However, if it contains corrupted information, then you must remove it.
To do this, go to the start menu and type cmd into the search bar. This will open a command prompt. Here type del C:\Windows\infinfcache.1. Now reboot your PC and try installing Kaspersky software on again.
Method 3 - Fix Software Conflict
Security software conflict can also result in internal error 2771 code display. And when this happens, the installation of Kaspersky prematurely ends.
Security software conflict may occur if you have Comodo Firewall installed on your PC. A firewall is known to cause issues with Kaspersky software programs.
The best way to resolve this issue is to uninstall all security software programs on your PC. Once all security software is removed, then install Kaspersky on your system. If the installation is successfully completed, then reinstall the other software again.
Method 4 - Download Restoro
Error 2771 can also result on your computer screen if traces of the previously installed Kaspersky software still remain in the registry despite the program removal. In such an event it is advisable to download Restoro.
This is a cutting-edge and user-friendly PC Repair Tool deployed with an intuitive interface and a powerful registry cleaner. The registry cleaner scans your entire PC in seconds and detects all registry-related problems.
It removes all the bad entries, invalid registry keys, traces of previously uninstalled programs, junk files, and cookies that are known for registry corruption. It takes just a few clicks to perform this process.
Once all traces are removed, you can install the new version of the Kaspersky Internet Security program on your PC without interruption.
Click here to download Restoro and be on your way to resolve Internal Error 2771 on your computer!
As you know, the Windows Firewall is designed not just to protect your computer from viruses and malware, and other security threats but it’s also designed to block any program from accessing the internet. Users are given the option to block both inbound and outbound traffic for any apps on their computers. However, this kind of option can often lead to not being able to access the internet.
In such cases, when you try to run the Windows Firewall Troubleshooter or the Windows Network Diagnostic troubleshooter, it will throw an error message that says, “Windows Firewall is preventing connections to your computer. The Windows Firewall rule HSS DNS Leak Rule may be blocking your connection”. If you are in this kind of scenario, then you’ve come to the right place as this post will guide you on how exactly you can fix this error.
When you encounter this kind of error, there are several options you can check out to fix it. You can try to allow an app or feature through the Windows Firewall or uncheck the HSS DNS leak rule in both private and public. For more details, refer to the suggestions provided below.
Option 1 – Try to allow an app or feature through Windows Firewall
The first thing you can do to get rid of the error is to allow a feature or app through the Windows Firewall. To do this, follow these steps:
Open the Windows Defender Security Center.
From there, select the Firewall and Network Protection option.
Next, click on the “Allow an app through firewall” option and then click on the “Change Settings” button and make sure that you have administrative privileges.
After that, select the app or feature you want to allow through the Firewall from the menu. You also have the option to manually add the app by using the “Add an App” option.
Then select the between the type of network an app can access such as:
Private Network will allow the app to connect to the internet only at home or work.
Public Network will allow the app to connect to the internet from anywhere, including Public WiFi hotspots.
Once done, restart your computer and see if it fixed the error or not.
Option 2 – Try to uncheck the HSS DNS leak rule in both private and public
The next thing you can do to fix the error is to uncheck the HSS DNS leak rule in both private and public. You can do this by following these steps:
Open the Windows Defender Security Center.
From there, select the Firewall and Network Protection option.
After that, click on the “Allow an app through firewall” option and then click on the “Change Settings” button and make sure that you have administrative privileges.
Next, scroll down until you see the HSS DNS leak rule in both private and public option and then uncheck it.
Now restart your computer and check if the error is now gone.
This post will guide you in fixing the “Communication with service process failed” error in Windows 10. This error is related to the Intel Driver and Support Assistant application. Although this error does not reportedly cause any loss of functionality in the computer, however, it still indicates that there is something wrong with some of your driver modules.
Intel has taken a bold step and combined its older modules into this new application (Intel Driver and Support Assistant) recently. This application enables users to scan their computers for any available updates from Intel. This is the main application of Intel and provides users a way to update their driver software automatically instead of manually updating it. However, with the recent reports submitted by some users, it seems that something is wrong with this application, and users to have to deal with the “Communication with service process failed” error. This error might be caused by several reasons, for one, it could be that the application is corrupted or incomplete in its nature which is possible since this is still a developing and newly released app. It could also be that there are other utilities or modules that conflict with the Intel software. Whichever the reason may be, you can try out the options given below to resolve the problem but before you proceed, make sure that you have an administrator account as well as an active and stable internet connection.
Option 1 – Disable DSATray in Startup
If you receive this error message every time you start your computer then this means that the application is not able to launch properly. Like pointed out, it could be that it is still incomplete in nature or it conflicts with other applications. Thus, you can try to disable the service from the startup and check if it fixes the problem.
Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
Then type “taskmgr” in the field and hit Enter to open the Task Manager.
After that, go to the Startup tab and look for the Intel Driver and Support Assistant app.
Right-click on the app and select Disable.
Restart your PC and check if the error is now fixed or not
Option 2 – Reinstall the Intel Driver and Support Assistant
If the first option did not work, you can try reinstalling the Intel Driver and Support Assistant app. To do so, follow these steps:
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 Intel Driver and Support Assistant and select it and then uninstall it.
After you have the app uninstalled, open your browser and go to Intel’s official website. From there, download the driver utility manually.
Once the download is finished, right-click on it and select “Run as administrator” and install the app on your PC with elevated access.
Restart your PC and then check if the error is now fixed.
As you know, Windows has a built-in Automatic Maintenance feature that takes care of important tasks such as security scanning and updating, Windows software updates, Disk Defragmentation, System Diagnostics, Disk Volume Errors, and many more. So if you receive an error message saying, “Windows is unable to run automatic maintenance, The maintenance schedule is unavailable”, then this post will guide you in what you can do to resolve this issue.
Here are some suggestions you can try if the Automatic Maintenance in your Windows 10 PC is not able to run.
Option 1 – Enable Automatic Maintenance
It is possible that Automatic Maintenance has been disabled so you can try enabling Automatic Maintenance on your Windows 10 PC. To do so, follow these steps:
Go to Control Panel.
From there, select System and Security > Security and Maintenance > Automatic Maintenance.
After that, set the time you want to run the Automatic Maintenance and then check the checkbox saying, “Allow scheduled maintenance to wake up my computer at the scheduled time”.
Click OK to save the changes.
On the other hand, you can also enable Automatic Maintenance via the Registry Editor. But before you proceed, you need to create a System Restore Point first.
Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
After that, type “Regedit” in the field and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor.
Next, look for the “MaintenanceDisabled” key and then double click on it to open it and then set its value to “0”.
Click OK and exit the Registry Editor.
Restart your computer.
Option 2 – Check the Task Scheduler Services status
Majority of the tasks in Windows 10 run via services. So it is most likely that either the Service has been stopped or is set to the manual which is why Windows is unable to run Automatic Maintenance. Thus, you need to change it to automatic mode.
Tap the Win + R keys to open Run.
Type “services.msc” in the field and hit Enter to open Services.
Next, look for the Task Scheduler service and tap the T key on your keyboard which should take you to the services that start with T.
Double click on the Task Scheduler service and select the Automatic option under the Startup Type.
If it is not started yet, click on the Start button.
Then click Apply and OK to save the changes.
Option 3 – Check the Status in Task Scheduler
You can also try checking the status in the Task Scheduler. Just open the Task Scheduler > Task Scheduler Library > Microsoft > Windows > TaskScheduler. From there, make sure that Idle Maintenance, Maintenance Configurator, and Regular Maintenance are enabled.
Option 4 – Run the System File Checker
The SFC or System File Checker scan could detect and automatically repair damaged system files that could be causing the Automatic Maintenance issue. 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:
Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.
Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them.
Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them.
Option 5 – Run the DISM tool
The DISM tool is another command-line tool in the Windows operating system that could help users fix various corrupted system files. To use it, follow these steps:
Open the Command Prompt as admin.
Then type in this command: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
The DISM command you entered will repair the corrupted system image. Do not close the window if the process takes a while as it will probably take a few minutes to finish.
As you know, Bluetooth headphones allow users to connect to their mobile devices wirelessly. This allows you to talk on your mobile device or listen to music without having to connect any cords or wires. Additionally, it even allows you to adjust the volume of a left or right speaker. However, Bluetooth headphones in Windows 10 are another story as their scope is limited. For instance, the left and right pieces can’t have different volume levels. But if you still want to change the dual control of the volume of headphones separately in Windows 10. And in this post, you will be guided on how exactly you can do that.
In addition, in this post, you will also be guided on what you can do if the Windows Update messed with the Bluetooth volume control and what you can do to disable the absolute volume in Windows 10. In case you don’t know, the Absolute Volume feature is actually incompatible with a number of Bluetooth devices which can result in the inability of the Bluetooth device to adjust its volume.
Thus, if you experience this kind of issue, you’ll notice that the volume slider in the taskbar and the device volume control neither have any effect in adjusting the volume. And each time you try to adjust the volume level for one speaker, the volume of another speaker also automatically changes. In such a case, it would be difficult for you to separately change the dual volume control headphones. Worry not for there is an easy registry tweak you can try to make this possible to do. But before you proceed with the instructions provided below, make sure that you create a System Restore first. Once you have that covered, follow the steps below carefully.
Step_1: Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box and type “Regedit” in the field and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor.
Step_2: Next, navigate to this registry path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMControlSet001ControlBluetoothAudioAVRCPCT
Step_3: After that, look for the entry named “DisableAbsoluteVolume” which should be located in the right pane. But if you’re unable to find this entry, you can just create it by right-clicking on the CT key and selecting New > DWORD (32-bit) value, and then assign “DisableAbsoluteVolume” as its name.
Step_4: Once done, double click on the “DisableAbsoluteVolume” DWORD and set its value from 0 to 1.
Step_5: Now exit the Registry Editor and restart your computer.
On the other hand, you can also disable or enable the Absolute Volume feature by executing a command in the Command Prompt.
If you want to disable the Absolute Volume feature, just execute this command: reg add HKLMSYSTEMControlSet001ControlBluetoothAudioAVRCPCT /v DisableAbsoluteVolume /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
If you want to enable the Absolute Volume feature, just execute this command: reg add HKLMSYSTEMControlSet001ControlBluetoothAudioAVRCPCT /v DisableAbsoluteVolume /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
After you execute the command, just restart your computer.
After your computer restarts.
Once you’re done executing the given instructions above, you have to right-click on the speaker icon located in the system tray and select Open Sound Settings and click on Manage device settings – the same controls will be visible to you like earlier. Now when you change the volume level for one speaker, the other speaker should now remain as it is and won’t change alongside the speaker.
The Windows 10 system allows users to change the default location of the User folders to another drive. This is probably to make sure that the files stay safe in case the system suddenly crashes. However, in some cases, while changing the path to another drive, for instance, the D drive or any folder, the Windows system recognized it as a hard drive as well so even though the files will be saved on that folder, it will appear as a hard drive in the Windows Explorer or look merged with another folder. It could also be that you had dragged and dropped a user folder to another user folder by accident. So if you’re wondering how you can unmerge the User folders, read on as this post will guide you on how exactly you can do that.
Take note that even if you try to use the File History to restore the User folders, it still won’t work and you won’t be able to move them back to their previous locations nor restore the folders back to their previous versions and it would only state that they are not available. In the instructions given below, we are using the Downloads folder as an example.
Step 1: Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
Step 2: Next, type “Regedit” in the field and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor.
Step 3: After opening the Registry Editor, navigate to the following registry key:
Step 4: Then double-click on the multi-string value {374DE290-123F-4565-9164-39C4925E467B} located in the right hand pane. And in the Value Data, copy and paste the following value:
%USERPROFILE%Downloads
Step 5: Now click OK and close the Registry Editor.
Note: Look close enough and you’ll see that the multi-string values belong to each one of the folders. From there, you have a Desktop, Favorites, Skydrive, Music, Pictures, and many more.
Step 6: Restart your computer. After that, the operating system will pick up the new folder location during the startup. Here are the values for the other folders:
Step 7: Now all you have to do is to change the location correctly. Start by tapping the Win + E keys to open the Windows File Explorer.
Step 8: After that, right-click on the Downloads folder located in the right-hand pane.
Step 9: Then click on Properties and go to the Location tab then type “D:\Downloads” in the location box.
Step 10: Click the Apply button and then the OK button to save the changes made. Doing so would ensure that not only the Downloads folder is restored but also that it does not stay merged to another folder or appear as a drive.
A lot of users complain about low storage space each time a Windows Feature update is released as well as to complain about not being able to download the updates, slow update experience, and many other complaints. The main issue is that many users do not have enough storage space available on their PCs. And now to make sure that none of the updates gets stuck because of low storage space, Microsoft presented the Reserved Storage feature which comes preinstalled with v1903 or those where v1903 was clean installed. This guide will be showing you how you can enable or disable the Reserved Storage in your Windows 10 computer.
As you know, the Windows Update process should have enough space so that it can download, extract and apply the update on the computer. Usually, the size of the Reserved Storage is around 7GB which gives enough space for the update, temporary files, system caches, apps, and many more. And according to Microsoft, the size of the Reserved Storage space will vary from time to time and will depend on how you use your computer.
Explanation
The Reserved Storage space feature is enabled by default on devices that come preinstalled with the May 2019 update or after performing a clean installation of the Windows 10 OS. To check if your computer has this feature, you need to go to Settings > System > Storage and from there click on the “Show more categories” link and then click on the “System & reserved” option. However, if you can’t find the Reserved Storage from the list, then it’s probably because your computer has limited space on the hard disk or it is not a fresh or new install. On the other hand, if you have this feature but have no use for it and want to disable it instead, then read on as this post will also show you how it’s done.
Solution
Keep in mind that when you disable the Reserved Storage feature, chances are, you might be unable to enable it back so you need to make sure that it’s really what you want to do before you disable it permanently. So if you really want to disable Reserved Storage, you can do so using the Registry Editor. Before you proceed, you have to create a System Restore point first and then carry out the following steps.
Tap the Win + R keys to launch the Run utility and type “Regedit” in the field and then tap Enter to open the Registry Editor.
Next, navigate to this registry path: ComputerHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionReserveManager
From there, double click on the DWORD named “ShippedWithReserves” and set its value to “1”.
Once you’re done, restart your computer and see if the Reserved Storage feature is now gone.
On the other hand, if you want to reduce the Reserved Storage space, there are two ways you can do that. First, you can go to Settings > Apps > Apps & features > Manage optional features and from there, uninstall the optional features that you do not use. The second one is you have to go to Settings > Time & Language > Language and then uninstall the languages and their add-on which you don’t use.
Note: The Reserved Storage feature is also used by system processes and apps to create temporary files and once the Reserved Storage space fills up, Windows 10 will delete them automatically. It is undeniable a useful feature so disabling it is not recommended but if you are running on low storage space and don’t have much choice, then you may disable it at your own risk.
Lately, some users reported getting an error that says, “System doesn’t have any USB boot option, Please select other boot option in Boot Manager Menu” when they tried to reinstall the Windows 10 operating system on their PCs or boot from an installation media. If you have the same problem, then this post should help.
This kind of error is applicable to multiple devices by various OEMs and is mostly due to the Secure boot being enabled, or the Legacy or CSM support being disabled. It could also be that the bootable USB device was not correctly made and so on. Whatever the cause may be, here are some suggestions you need to check out to resolve the “System doesn’t have any USB boot option, Please select other boot option in Boot Manager Menu” error and reinstall Windows 10 successfully.
Option 1 – Disable the Secure Boot in the BIOS
Disabling the Secure Boot in the BIOS settings is definitely recommended to resolve the error. To disable Secure Boot, here’s what you have to do:
First, boot your computer into Windows 10.
Next, go to Settings > Windows Update. From there, check if there is anything that you have to download and install if you see any available updates. Usually, OEMs send and update the list of trusted hardware, drivers, and operating systems for your computer.
After that, go to the BIOS of your computer.
Then go to Settings > Update & Security > Advanced Startup options. If you click on Restart Now, it will restart your computer and give you all the advanced options.
Next, select Troubleshoot > Advanced Options. As you can see, this screen offers you further options including System restore, Startup repair, Go back to the previous version, Command Prompt, System Image Recovery, and UEFI Firmware Settings.
Select the UEFI Firmware Settings which will take you to the BIOS.
From there, go to the Security > Boot > Authentication tab where you should see Secure Boot. Note that every OEM has its own way of implementing the options so it varies.
Next, set Secure Boot to Disabled and set Legacy Support to On or Enabled.
Save the changes made and exit. Afterward, your computer will reboot.
Option 2 – Try to reset the BIOS or the UEFI Settings
If updating the BIOS didn’t help in fixing Error 0199, you can try to reset the BIOS instead.
Start your computer and tap the F10 key during the booting process to enter the BIOS. If it does not work, you can try tapping the F1 or F2 key as well as the Del key.
Once you’re already in the BIOS, tap the F9 key to get the prompt to RestoreLoad default configuration now for the BIOS.
Next, click on Yes and then follow the next on-screen instructions that appear to set the BIOS back to its default settings.
Once you’re done restoring the default settings of the BIOS, restart your computer and then check if it now boots properly.
Option 3 – Make a proper bootable USB Drive/Stick
To make a proper bootable USB drive, you need to use the Windows Media Creation tool. The Media Creation tool in Windows allows you to use the ISO installation file to make a bootable device that you can use to install Windows on your PC. Note that this is kind of different from the usual installation process as it could erase your computer’s current settings and data on the primary drive. Thus, before you proceed, you need to backup all your data into some removable drive and then use the Media Creation Tool to make a bootable drive.
After making the bootable drive, you need to plug it into your computer and then reboot.
Next, tap the F10 or Esc key to open the boot options.
Now set the boot priority of the removable drive the highest. Once the setup comes forth, follow the next onscreen instructions and install Windows without any problems.
Option 4 – Try enabling Legacy or CSM boot support
If the Legacy or CSM boot support is disabled, then it’s no wonder why you’re getting an error. Thus, you need to enable it by following these steps:
Open Settings and go to Update & Security > Advanced Startup options.
Next, click on Restart Now to reboot your computer.
After that, select Troubleshoot > Advanced Options where, you will see more options such as System Restore, Startup Repair, Go back to the previous version, Command Prompt, System Image Recovery, and UEFI Firmware Settings.
From there, enable Legacy Support and then save the changes and exit. This will restart the computer.
Once your computer has restarted, check if the error is now fixed.
Disk partitioning is a concept that’s been around for so long, but is still only familiar to few. If done right, it can help get your computer in perfect order.
Today we bring you a simple definition of disk partitioning, its pros and cons, and a quick tip on how to do it properly to reap its full benefit!
Definition and purpose
The simplest way to define disk partitioning would be: it’s exactly what it sounds like. It means taking a hard disk drive and separating it into different segments. These segments are called partitions. You can visualize it as cutting a cake into smaller pieces - not necessarily of the same size, though.
So what is the purpose of these pieces?
Well, when you first get a hard drive, it’s basically just a bunch of unallocated storage space. Until there’s at least one partition, this space is unusable to your operating system. Once you create a partition, your OS will recognize it as usable storage space.
You can choose to create a single partition and use it for all your files, from program files to personal data. A lot of off-the-shelf computers come with one primary partition like this and a small secondary one reserved for recovery purposes.
Whether or not you want to split your disk into more than one segment is up to you. We would generally recommend it, though. The whole point of partitioning is for each segment to have its own purpose.
So treating all your storage space as a single unit containing different file types would be like constructing an office building with only one massive room for everything - day-to-day work, conferences, interviews, etc. And all of this for different departments of the company. You can see how this might get a little messy.
Creating multiple partitions eliminates the task of running several different types of files from the same place. This takes a heavy load off the entire process of accessing data.
Disk partitioning also brings a ton of other benefits to the table. An important disclaimer, though: there are disadvantages too. We will walk you through both sides to help you get an objective idea and make an informed decision.
Source: Kina on Unsplash
What are the benefits of disk partitioning?
1. Better file organization
This is the most obvious and perhaps the biggest advantage of partitioning your hard drive.
As we already mentioned, partitioning allows you to create separate segments for different file and data types. You wouldn’t want to use the same partition for your system files and for games, would you?
If organization and time management are important to you, then multiple partitions are the right solution. Searching for specific files will be much easier overall. Say you have one hard drive, but three partitions: C for the system files alone, D for multimedia files and documents, and E for games and apps. Your computer loads the system from C without interference from the other two, and you know exactly where to look when searching for a file.
2. Easy reinstallation
File management isn’t the only thing made faster and simpler thanks to partitioning. If you opt for creating multiple segments on your drive, reinstalling Windows will be easy peasy.
That’s because all you need to do is format the partition your system is on. Then you reinstall the OS on it, and there you go. Now you have a clean installation, with all your files saved on other partitions intact. You can even make a copy of your system partition, so you can revisit the exact same installation in the future if you want. And the whole time your pictures, music, documents stay exactly where you left them.
Source: Andrew M on Unsplash
3. Possibility of using multiple file systems
By now you’ve understood that partitions function completely separately. This means that, if for some reason you need multiple file system capabilities, partitioning will allow that.
One segment could be used for, say, an NTFS file system, while another could run ext or APFS.
4. Running different OSes
You’re an avid Windows user but need to use Linux on the side? No problem. You don’t need to buy a separate computer or anything. The possibility of running different file systems also means you can use partitioning to run multiple operating systems.
Doesn’t that sound enticing? One machine for multiple totally different uses!
5. Backup and recovery made simple
Data loss can happen on any disk, partitioned or not. However, it’s much easier to get it back on a partitioned one. You know where you stored what, and each partition can be backed up exactly as it is. It’s also a lot faster to back up single partitions than entire hard drives.
Ultimately this also means a faster path to recovery. If you lose or accidentally delete important files and data, you might want to use a recovery tool like Recuva to scan for them and get them back. Recuva is even powerful enough to recover data from damaged hard drives. But no matter how powerful, scanning a whole drive is strenuous for any recovery tool. Scanning independent partitions is a lot more convenient than that, and will get you to your goal more efficiently.
6. Optimized performance
Now, let’s keep in mind that computer performance is influenced by a number of factors. Partitioning alone isn’t what makes it better or worse. However, it can contribute to optimization. It’s easier for your computer to scan, say, a 40 GB partition to fetch the system file it needs than scanning the entire capacity of your drive.
7. Improved security (possibly*)
Separate partitions can help make your system more secure. Firstly, they minimize file corruption. If one partition gets corrupted, the others should remain unaffected. And keeping in mind the previous point about backup and recovery, ‘fixing’ the damaged partition would be much easier than fixing the entire hard drive.
Partitioning also improves security in terms of malware protection. A malicious attack on one partition is easier to deal with than malware on the whole drive. If your system partition gets infected, you can simply reinstall your OS and that should do the trick.
*Do keep in mind that partitioning can’t defend you against more advanced attacks. So make sure not to give in to a false sense of security.
What are the disadvantages of partitioning?
1. Data is still vulnerable
Yes, it’s easier to back up and recover data from independent partitions. And yes, partitioning may help protect separated files and data to a higher degree. But remember: everything is still on a single physical drive. So while digital errors and issues may be easier to deal with on partitioned drives, physical damage obviously won’t be.
If your hard drive is destroyed in some way, all data on it will be gone. That’s why, if you have crucial files on your PC, it’s important to give them the proper backup treatment before it’s too late.
2. Disbalance of space
Allocating storage space on separate partitions may be a little more tricky than you think. You may fill up one partition a lot faster than another. So on one side you’re struggling with space, and on another you have too much of it to spare. Imagine nearly filling up your system partition and then it turns out you need a lot more space for its updates than you thought.
That’s why you really have to be sure you actually have enough files of different types that you need help managing efficiently. Otherwise you’ll just create a struggle and disbalance in terms of storage.
3. Increased risk of error
If done incorrectly, partitioning can lead to more harm than good. Aside from space disbalance, there is an increased risk of incorrect partition sizes and formatting. Plus, human error is also a factor: in a moment of distraction, you may erase one partition when you meant another. Undoing such mistakes will definitely be tedious and time-consuming.
4. SSDs eliminate the need of partitioning
SSDs (solid-state drives) don’t function in the same way that HDDs do. They have faster read times and can organize files on their own. This quite literally eliminates the need for organization on your part.
Partitioning: yes or no?
The bottom line is that multiple partitions might not be necessary for the average user. But if you’re planning on storing many file types or different file and operating systems on the same PC, then you should give it a shot. It’s also an excellent solution for businesses, of course.
And if our pros and cons list isn’t enough to help you decide, you can always send us a message and we’ll help you make the right choice.
Decided to partition your hard drive?
If you’ve decided to give it a go, you definitely should make sure to do it right.
The two most effective and reliable ways to partition are using the built-in options on Windows or investing in a dedicated partitioning tool, like the EaseUS Partition Master. Which one you'll opt for depends on your specific needs.
Option 1 may be more suitable for users with at least some level of experience. In this case, you’d have to know exactly which steps to take without making errors. This is done in Disk Management on Windows 10/11. From there, you can select the partitions you’d like to split into different volumes of selected sizes.
If this is your first time partitioning, we highly suggest you either consult professionals for this or move on to option 2. The EaseUS partitioning software is specifically designed for beginners, with an intuitive interface helping you succeed in the process. All you need to do is pick the Partition Master package tailored to your needs and follow their guide.
Each package offers technical support as well, and even free upgrades (to varying degrees based on your subscription). Plus, all of this is valid for not one, but two PCs.
It’s the perfect solution for a smooth and error-free partitioning process. If you want to organize your hard drives efficiently and make the most of all your space without doing irreparable damage, it’s definitely worth the investment.
In 27 European countries for some time it has been considered for introducing a law that would force phones, tablets, laptops, and other mobile devices to use a single USB Type-C connector.
The European Parlament announced that a provisional agreement has been reached and that it was voted that a single charging solution is USB Type-C. The current agreement applies and covers the next devices: phones, tablets, Readers, earbuds, digital cameras, headphones, headsets, handheld consoles, and portable speakers. All currently existing devices can still be sold without issues but starting in the fall of 2024 all-new products must support USB Type-C charging.
The agreement will also hit Laptops but not on the same date, How is USB Type-C currently not enough for charging laptops, all new laptops that will have to use it are scheduled for fall of 2025.
Although the agreement is reached the EU Parliament and Council still have to formally approve everything.
Apple targeted the most
Apple has been targeted as the main target for rules since their iPhones are still using Apple's proprietary Lightning charging port. Apple sells a lot of iPhones in Europe and even though iPad Pro and iPad Air along with all MacBooks have moved to USB Type-C, iPhones are still struggling with the Lightning port.
Apple criticized the EU’s charger rules when they were first proposed in 2021, telling the BBC, “We remain concerned that strict regulation mandating just one type of connector stifles innovation rather than encouraging it, which in turn will harm consumers in Europe and around the world.” The European Union has said in response that it will update its rules as new technology arrives.
Why was this proposed?
The main problem in Europe that led to this proposition was electronic waste which reached 11 000 metric tons in 2018. European union is afraid that this will keep rising as chargers become larger and heavier in order to accommodate faster-charging speeds. More electronic waste means more hardware slowly decomposing in landfills that will contribute to climate change affecting everyone on the planet, not just the people living in Europe.
Error Causes
