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Removing old drivers from Windows 10

So you have just got home from that new computer store with your fancy and all-new mouse, screen, keyboard, etc. You plugged in your new component, Windows detected it, installed drivers for it and it is working like a charm. A few months later down the road and the computer starts little by little to slow down.

Plug and play is a great concept, and automatic detection is even greater but how time passes old unused stuff piles in your hard drive and in Windows itself thus slowing down your computer and taxing it more and more as new components and software are added. Old drivers from old components sadly are not removed from Windows itself and over some larger period of time they can pile up and slow down your daily operations on the computer or even cause some problems in it.

This guide will teach you how to manually remove old unused device drivers from your Windows so it is fresh and like new again.

Making old devices visible

In order for us to remove old drivers, the first thing we must do is make them visible in our device manager, old drivers are hidden and will not show up, we must make this happen. We do this by pressing WINDOWS + X keys on your keyboard to bring up a hidden menu in Windows.

keyboard with windows and x markedOnce the menu appears, click on Command Prompt (admin)

Windows menu command prompt adminOnce the command prompt with administrator privileges comes on-screen type in it following string:

The device manager will open, go to view > snow hidden devices in order to show unused devices.

device manager show hidden devices

Removing old device

Open any category and if there is a device that was once used and still has its drivers in the system it will be shown as faded out.

device manager hidden device shownRight-click on the device and click on uninstall device to remove it completely from your system.

device manager uninstall device driverPlease always be careful when removing devices so you do not remove the device which is being used by mistake and always double-check that you are removing something that you used to have on your system. This method will show all hidden devices even ones that are hidden but crucial to the system working properly.

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Remove or join a Domain from Windows
As you know, networks that are domain-based are common in organizations and companies. These domain-based networks require multiple computers to be controlled through a single node known as a server. And the one that sets certain policies and restrictions on every system that is joined to the domain is the server administrator. So if you want to add your computer to a domain, you need to have the following information available:
  • The domain name
  • A user account name that’s registered in the active directory associated with the server
  • Windows Enterprise, Pro, or education version
In this post, you will be guided on how you can join or remove a domain. To get started, follow the given instructions below.

Option 1 – Joining a domain

  • First, you need to connect your computer to the network associated with the server since your computer and the server have to be on the same network.
  • Next, click the Start button and then click on the gear-like icon for Settings to open it.
  • After that, navigate to this path: Accounts > Access work or school.
  • Then click on Connect. This will open a new dialog box and from there, select the “Join this device to a local Active Directory domain” option.
  • Afterward, you will be asked to enter the username and password of your domain account.
  • Now select your Account type and when you proceed, you have to restart your computer. Your domain account should now be created.

Option 2 – Removing a domain

  • You need to open the Windows 10 Settings app.
  • And from there, go to this path: Accounts > Access work and school.
  • Next, select the account you want to remove from the domain and then click on Disconnect.
  • A prompt will then appear that says, “Are you sure you want to remove this account? This will remove your access to resources like email, apps, network, and all content associated with it. Your organization might also remove some data stored on this device”. Just click on Yes.
  • This will give you a Disconnect from the organization prompt.
  • Now click on Disconnect and select Restart now to restart your computer. This will complete the removal process of the domain.
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Desktop widgets in Windows 10
Windows 7 was an operating system that had one thing which no other Windows had, even today. Official Microsoft desktop widgets. With an attractive design, users loved to exploit the adequacy and neatness of these gadgets. However, Microsoft had to discontinue these gadgets as they posed a serious security threat to the Operating System. It was believed that a potential attacker could even use a gadget to take complete control of your PC. With Windows 10, things have changed big time. You have all the fantastic apps and live tiles at your disposal providing a more native experience. Despite all this, if you still have a fondness for fancy gadgets, we have just the right tool for you to get started with similar “Widgets” on Windows 10. Win10 Widgets is a tool that places the most important information right in front of you, on your desktop.

Win10 Widgets

Win10 Widgets is a desktop app package provided by Rainmeter which is an effective system customization engine for Windows. It brings some informative widgets to Windows 10 which look almost native with their intuitive and sleek design. You can pin them on your desktop to keep an eye on various system figures like CPU usage, data storage, battery usage, detailed computer performance, etc.

Native looking Widgets for Windows 10

These widgets are designed in such a way that it looks totally indigenous to the Windows 10 UI. With a similar design language, visual style, accent color, and even font settings, these widgets almost look like an inseparable system component. You can choose between different size variants to pin on your desktop and arrange them in an orderly fashion to make the most of it.

Highly customizable desktop gadgets

Apart from the default size variants, you can configure several other parameters pertaining to the look and appearance of any widget. As Rainmeter is an open-source program, you are provided with the .ini configuration files which you can customize as per your wish. You can make adjustments to the widget coordinates, position and transparency as well. You can even create your own skins (.rmskin package) using the built-in Skin Packager and publish them for general usage through Rainmeter.

Illustro Skins

Over and above the cool widgets, Rainmeter also contains Illustro, a simple collection of skins that shows the range of Rainmeter’s capabilities. You can load the skins on your desktop for a brief look at your system internals. You can also start editing these skins to make them yours by taking advantage of the Rainmeter manual and forum link provided on the Welcome screen. Win10 Widgets is a great tool if you like widgets or gadgets on your Desktop. It blends into the background and puts the important piece of information right on your desktop without you having to look somewhere else. If you already have the Rainmeter application, you can download the Win10 Widgets .rmskin file from here, else you can download the combined bundle for both Rainmeter and Win10 Widgets from here.
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Fix MEMORY_MANAGEMENT due to Chrome browser
When you try to open your Google Chrome browser and it starts to connect to the internet but suddenly, your Windows 10 computer crashes along with a Blue Screen error that says, “MEMORY_MANAGEMENT”, then read on as this post will guide you in fixing the problem. This kind of BSOD error occurs when Google Chrome requests more memory or when it tries to access the network and demand is raised for more memory, the memory management program fails. To fix the problem, here are some possible solutions you might want to try. Follow them thoroughly.

Option 1 – Use the Driver Verifier Manager

The Driver Verifier Manager is another tool in Windows that could help you fix driver-related issues. And since the MEMORY_MANAGEMENT Blue Screen error concerns Google Chrome and an internet connection, the root cause of the problem might have something to do with the Network driver and to verify that, you can use the Driver Verifier Manager:
  • Type in the keyword “Verifier” in the Cortana search box to search for Verifier in Windows 10.
  • After that, select the option “Create custom settings”.
  • Make sure that you have checked everything except the options “DDI compliance checking” and “Randomized low resources simulation”.
  • Next, select the option “Select driver names from a list” option.
  • Afterward, you have to select all the drivers from any unofficial or third-party provider. To simply put it, you have to select all the drivers that are not supplied by Microsoft.
  • Then click on the Finish button.
  • Open Command Prompt as administrator and execute this command – verifier /querysettings
  • The command you just executed will display the Driver Verifier settings so if you see any of the flags enabled boot your Windows 10 PC into Safe Mode.
  • Open the Command Prompt as admin again and run this command – verifier /reset
  • The command will reset the Driver Verifier. Once the process is done, restart your PC and check.

Option 2 – Try updating the Network drivers

  • Tap the Win + R keys to launch the Run window and then type in the “devmgmt.msc” command and hit Enter to open the Device Manager window.
  • Under the Device Manager, you will see a list of drivers. From there, look for the Network Adapters and expand it.
  • Then right-click on each one of the Network drivers and update them all.
  • Restart your PC and see if it helped in fixing the MEMORY_MANAGEMENT BSOD error.

Option 3 – Try disabling Hardware Acceleration

You might want to disable Hardware Acceleration system-wide or for a particular program like Google Chrome and see if it resolves the MEMORY_MANAGEMENT error

Option 4 – Run the Memory Diagnostic Tool to check for Memory leaks

  • Tap the Win + R keys to open Run and type exe and hit Enter to open the Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool.
  • After that, it will give two options such as:
    • Restart now and check for problems (Recommended)
    • Check for problems the next time I start my computer
  • Once your computer has restarted, perform a basic scan or you could also go for the “Advanced” options such as “Test mix” or “Pass count”. Simply tap the F10 key to start the test.
Note: After you select the option, your PC will restart and check for memory-based issues. If it finds any issues, it will automatically fix them and if there’s no issue found, then it’s most likely not a memory-based issue so you should try the other options given below.

Option 5 – Perform a System Restore

Performing System Restore might help you in fixing the SYNTP.SYS Blue Screen 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 6 – Run the Blue Screen Troubleshooter

The Blue Screen troubleshooter is a built-in tool in Windows 10 that helps users in fixing BSOD errors like MEMORY_MANAGEMENT. It can be found in the Settings Troubleshooters page. To use it, refer to these steps:
  • Tap the Win + I keys to open the Settings panel.
  • Then go to Update & Security > Troubleshoot.
  • From there, look for the option called “Blue Screen” on your right-hand side and then click the “Run the troubleshooter” button to run the Blue Screen Troubleshooter and then follow the next on-screen options. Note that you might have to boot your PC into Safe Mode.
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Fix Media Player – Server Execution Failed
You might be trying to play music files using the Windows Media Player, but were unable to do so since you encountered an error saying, “Windows Media Player Error – Server Execution Failed” error. If you encountered this error, worry not for this post will guide you on how to fix it using some potential fixes. In the error message, the “Server execution failed” indicates that the “wmplayer.exe” is still running or shutting down at that point and it is possible that it is stuck which is not able to close properly. To fix this error, there are several potential fixes you can try. The first one is to run the Video Playback troubleshooter. While you could also try to disable the WMP Network Sharing Service or register both the jscript.dll and vbscript.dll files. For more information, refer to the options provided below.

Option 1 – Try to run the Video Playback troubleshooter

The first thing you can do to fix the problem, you can try to run the Video Playback troubleshooter instead. To run it, simply go to Settings > Update & security > Troubleshoot. From there, scroll down until you see the Video Playback option and then click on the “Run the troubleshooter” button to get started. This troubleshooter will detect and automatically fix any problems related to video playback so it should help fix the error.

Option 2 – Try to disable the WMP Network Sharing Service

If the Video Playback troubleshooter didn’t work in fixing the problem, the next thing you need to do is disable the Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service. The WMP Network Sharing Service is used to share the libraries of the Windows Media Player to other users on the network as well as media devices using the Universal Plug and Play. And since you are not using any network here, then you can disable this service to fix the problem. How? Refer to the given steps below.
  • Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box and type “services.msc” in the field and tap Enter to open the Services Manager.
  • Next, look for the Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service from the list of Services and right-click on it.
  • After that, click on the Stop option and see if it fixes the Windows Media Player error.

Option 3 – Try to register the jscript.dll and vbscript.dll files

  • Tap the Win + X keys and from the menu select the Windows PowerShell (Admin) option to open an elevated Command Prompt.
  • Next, type this command to register the jscript.dll file and click on the confirmation box: regsvr32 jscript.dll
  • After that, execute the regsvr32 vbscript.dll command to register the vbscript.dll file.
  • Once you’re done, these DLL files will be re-registered and should fix the Windows Media Player error.
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Disable Windows 11 animations for fast work
windows 11 animationsWindows 11 has some cool animations including fading effects which make working in it feels nice and futuristic but the cost of this is that there is a slight delay to certain actions performed. If you want the snap fast feature in Windows 11 and do not care about this eye candy there is an easy way to turn animations off inside it.
  • First, open Windows Settings by pressing ⊞ Windows + I on your keyboard
  • Alternatively, click on Start, search for Settings, and then click its icon.
  • When Settings appears, look in the sidebar and select Accessibility.
  • In Accessibility settings, click on Visual Effects.
  • In Visual Effects, switch Animation Effects to Off.
That’s it, changes will be applied automatically, you can close settings and continue working inside Windows 11 without animations and fades. You can always switch animations back On via settings if you change your mind.
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4 Methods of Fixing Error Code 48

Error Code 48 – What is it?

Error Code 48 is a device driver error code that users can encounter on any Windows 2000 operating system and later versions.

It occurs when the connected peripheral device cannot be run as the Windows operating system’s driver required to install the programs for peripheral devices has either been corrupted or is incompatible with the system.

It prompts the user with the following message on the screen:

The software for this device has been blocked from starting because it is known to have problems with Windows. Contact the hardware vendor for a new driver. (Code 48)

Solution

driverfix boxError Causes

Like most other Windows error codes, error code 48 is triggered by the following factors.

  • Corrupted system registry files
  • Presence of viruses in the device
  • The device driver is out-of-date
If this error code is not rectified, it could give birth to other driver device errors such as error code 52.

Further Information and Manual Repair

Method 1 – Run a complete scan for malware and spyware

Identifying and removing the viruses in the system registry and in the connected devices is the easiest method to fix the corrupted registry files.

Viruses such as spyware and malware infect the registry entries and eat up the files that lead to incomplete or missing data. This creates problems for installing external devices as the driver required to install them is not complete.

Method 2 – Use System Restore

You can also use system restore to eliminate the problem. Here is how you can use it:

  • Log in using an Administrator account
  • Click ‘Start’ button and select All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore
  • Click ‘Restore my computer to an earlier time’ and click ‘Next’
  • Select the last Windows to restore point from the ‘On this list, click a restore point’ list, and click ‘Next’
  • Click ‘Next’ on the confirmation window to proceed
  • Restart your PC after restoration is complete

By restoring the system via the last saved system checkpoint, you can obtain undamaged Windows system registry files that can help resolve the error code.

Method 3 – Manually uninstall and reinstall the device driver

Since Error Code 48 is due to a missing or an out-of-date device driver, uninstalling and then reinstalling the device driver can help solve the error.

You can do this by firstly logging in as Administrator and opening Device Manager. Select the device that is causing the problem and double click it; make sure that the peripheral is connected properly to the PC.

Upon opening, click on the ‘Driver’ tab and then select ‘Update Driver’. Make sure to refer to the system documentation that you received with your PC or computer to check for the motherboard details and driver specifics.

Method 4 – Use software to automatically download the driver

Manually uninstalling and reinstalling the driver will do the trick; however, it may be time-consuming especially when you would have to resort to your hardware user manual. Therefore, using a program such as DriverFIX can save you a lot of time and frustration in having your device work properly on your computer. 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 incomplete files to remain that create Error Code 48. It also has the added advantage of being able to backup and restores your files should there be the slightest possibility of system file damage. DriverFIX is the answer to fixing your PC error codes accurately and quickly. Click here to download DriverFIX to fix Error Code 48 quickly and effectively!
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How to block websites in Windows
There are a lot of reasons to ban or block different websites in your Windows. From wanting to limit yourself from distraction to block certain sites for sake of kids not going into them. Whatever your reason might be, keep reading in order to find out how you can block any website inside Windows for all browsers. The technique I am going to share with you is universal and not tied to Windows versions, they will work in any Windows from XP onward. Also, the technique will block desired websites on any browser, already installed or even ones that will be installed after doing the trick. And we will also be looking at applications that can help you in this task if you do not wish to do it manually.

Block websites using dedicated software

A small free application called Focal Filter which can be found here: https://www.focalfilter.com/ is a software solution for your needs. It is a pretty straightforward and easy-to-understand application and not really much can be said here about it. You simply download and install it, set your websites, and you are done, the app does rest.

Blocking manually via host file

Another method besides mentioned one using the dedicating application is to manually set site addresses inside the Windows host file. The first thing, of course, is to open the host file, run a notepad with administrator privileges, go to file open, and navigate to c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts. Once the file is opened go all the way down and add: 127.0.0.1 SITENAME For example: 127.0.0.1 www.youtube.com or 127.0.0.1 www.facebook.com This way each time user on a PC tries to access a listed website computer will reroute it to the given address which is your PC's local address and asked website will not be able to load.
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The server did not register with DCOM
There are times when after you upgrade your Windows operating system, the System Logs under the Event Viewer will display an error message saying, “Event ID 10010 error – The server did not register with DCOM within the required timeout”. What is DCOM? DCOM stands for “Distributed Component Object Model”. It is a proprietary Microsoft technology that allows the Component Object Model or COM software to communicate across a network. You can consider it as an extension of COM which is equipped with the capability of solving a couple of inherent problems related to the COM model to the better use over a network. COM is a tool that’s used for advanced configuration and troubleshooting in Windows 10. Developers usually use it to configure routine components and application behavior like participation in transactions and object pooling and so on. The Component Services needs the DCOM wire protocol in order to communicate with the Component Object Model components on other computers. By default, in a Windows-based system, the network computers are configured initially to enable DCOM. There are also some components in Windows that might require registering themselves with DCOM. However, if they fail to do so, you will encounter the “The server did not register with DCOM within the required timeout” error. To fix this, here are some suggestions you can check out.

Option 1 – Try to use the Component Services

  • Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
  • Then type “dcomcnfg” in the field and tap Enter to pull up Component Services.
  • Next, double click on the Computers folder located in the right pane and right-click on My Computer, and select the Properties option.
  • After that, switch to the COM Security tab under My Computer Properties and then go to the Access Permissions section.
  • From there, click the Edit Default button and in the new window that appears, apply the correct permission to objects under the Group or user names section.
  • Once you’re done, click OK and exit. This should fix the error.

Option 2 – Make sure that Function Discovery Resource Publication Properties Services is running

  • In the Cortana search box, type “services” and click on the Services icon to open the Services Manager. Alternatively, you can also tap the Win + R keys to launch the Run prompt and then type “services.msc” in the field and hit Enter to open the Services Manager.
  • Next, scroll down and look for the “Function Discovery Resource Publication” entry and double click on it.
  • Then switch to the General tab and from there, make sure that the Startup Type is set to “Manual (Triggered).
  • You also have to make sure that the service is running so if it’s not, just click on the Start button to start the service.
  • Now click on Apply to save the changes made.

Option 3 – Try resetting the default DCOM permissions

  • Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
  • Then type “dcomcnfg” in the field and tap Enter to pull up Component Services.
  • After that, expand Component Services > Computers and right-click on My Computer, and then select Properties.
  • Next, go to the Default Properties tab, and in the Default Distributed COM Communication Properties section, make sure that:
    • Default Authentication Level is set to Connect
    • Default Impersonation Level is set to Identify.
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All wallpapers of Windows 11
We have gathered and want to share with you all of the Windows 11 wallpapers if you would like to place them on your desktop now and now wait for the official W11 release. Hope that you will like some of them and I hope to see you again on errortools.com Download Windows 11 Wallpapers here!

And here is the preview of them

W11_32W11_31W11_30W11_29W11_28W11_27W11_26W11_25W11_24W11_23W11_22W11_21W11_20W11_19W11_18W11_17W11_16W11_15W11_14W11_13W11_12W11_11W11_10W11_09W11_08W11_07W11_06W11_05W11_04W11_03W11_02W11_01
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How to Fix Windows 10 Error Code 0x80070570

Error Code 0x80070570 - What is it?

Error Code 0x80070570 is a common Windows 10 error code that generally is seen by users who are attempting to install a new version of the operating system. While it is most often associated with Windows 10, variations on this same error code have been present in previous versions of the operating system, going all the way back to Windows 7.

Common symptoms include:

  • Inability to run through the installation process to completion when attempting to install a new version of the operating system
  • Error message regarding corrupt or missing files
While it is frustrating to encounter an error like Error Code 0x80070570 as you try to install a new operating system version on your device, there are several methods that can be used to try to resolve the issue. If you do not feel like you have the skill or knowledge necessary to successfully apply the steps below, be sure to get in touch with a trusted computer repair technician that is competent in the repair of Windows 10 errors.

Solution

Restoro box imageError Causes

In some cases, Error Code 0x80070570 arises erroneously when the system isn’t able to find a particular file that it needs. Other times, it happens when there is a conflict with the antivirus software that you are running and the installation software. Finally, there may be a faulty source of RAM in your computer that needs to be removed before the installation can be completed.

Regardless of what you believe to be the cause behind the error code, there are at least two different methods that you can use to try to resolve Error Code 0x80070570 on your device. The first is fairly simple and easy to follow, while the second requires a little bit more knowledge of your hardware in order to complete it successfully.

Further Information and Manual Repair

There are two common ways that users can attempt to get around Error Code 0x80070570 on their devices. Each requires a little more skill and technical knowledge than the last. If you don’t feel like you have the skill, time, or ability to invest in the methods below, be sure to get in touch with a Windows repair technician who can help you to complete the necessary steps in the right ways.

Here are the best ways to attempt to resolve Error Code 0x80070570 on your Windows device:

Method One:  Reattempt Installation

In some cases, when Error Code 0x80070570 appears on your computer, you can simply click on the OK button and then go back to the screen immediately proceeding where your installation has left off, choosing to restart the process of installation. For some users, repeating this method at least four times has allowed them to bypass the error without undertaking more serious and time-consuming methods to resolve the issue at hand.

Method Two:  Check Your Various Sources of RAM

If you have more than one source of RAM in your computer, first remove one of the sources, then re-attempt installation. If you are still encountering Error Code 0x80070570 after removing one of the sources, continue to remove each until you are down to a single source, then trade that last source for one of the ones that have been pulled.

If you have a bad source of RAM, this can help you to figure out which input is causing the error to appear and to address the problem appropriately. Once you have determined which specific source is causing the problem, you can reboot your computer and attempt to run the installation process one more time.

If your RAM sources are not specifically causing the issue, you may still need to run diagnostics tests on your hardware to identify the source of the problem at hand.

Method Three: Use An Automated Tool

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

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