Setup Voice control in Windows11

Many of us are taking the google search engine for granted and it is no true that it has crawled in almost every spore of our digital lives but if we wanted a little more privacy? Do we have options or we are destined to use google and send our information to this company. What if we really wanted that our searches are well safe, secure, and private? We could try other search engines like BING but since BING belongs to Microsoft we would exchange only one company for another without making any progress in the privacy battle. Enter DuckDuckGo. DuckDuckGo is a privacy-focused search engine that’s been online since 2008. Find websites, maps, videos, news, and more without tracking your searches and serving you targetted ads. It took DUckDuckGo as you can tell sometimes to gain ground and to be recognized but finally, it got the attention it deserves. Its big breakthrough happened in September of 2014 when Apple offered it as a default search engine in Safari and since it has gained more and more ground. It seems people care about their privacy after all. Since then DuckDuckGo has been gaining ground and all the major browsers have integrated it as an option for a default search engine. In this article, we will show you how to switch to DuckDuckGo and set it as your preferred search engine in all major browsers.

1. Google Chrome

   Launch Chrome and click on the three dots in the upper right. Choose settings. Choose Search engine in the list on the left of the screen. Click on the drop-down box next to Search engine used in the address bar and choose DuckDuckGo.

2. Mozilla Firefox

   Launch Firefox, click on the three lines hamburger menu icon in the top-right corner of the window. Click on Preferences. Click on Search in the menu to the left of the screen. Under Default Search Engine, click the drop-down box and choose DuckDuckGo.

3. Microsoft Edge

   Click on the three dots menu button in the top-right corner of the window Then select Settings. Click on Privacy, Search and Services in the menu that appears on the left Scroll down to the Services menu and choose Address bar and search. Click the dropdown menu next to Search engine used in the address bar and choose DuckDuckGo.

4. Apple Safari

   Click Safari in the menu bar at the top of the screen Then click Preferences. You can also use the Command+, shortcut to quickly bring up Safari’s Preferences. Click on the Search tab, then choose DuckDuckGo under the Search engine drop-down box.

5. Opera

   Click on the Settings cog button in the sidebar on the left of the screen. Under Basic settings scroll down until you see Search engine and a drop-down box. Select DuckDuckGo from the list.

Error 1713 - What is it?

If you use Microsoft-developed programs, then you might experience this error code on your PC. It indicates programming limitations. This error, Error 1713 may pop up during the installation of 2007 or 2010 Microsoft Office Suite. The error message appears in the format stated below:

“Error 1713: Microsoft Office has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience.”

Common symptoms for error 1713 include system crashes, system freeze and sometimes you may feel your Windows running sluggishly.

Solution

Error Causes

Error 1713 may be triggered due to many reasons. However, common causes for this error occurrence include:

• Corrupt Microsoft Office Software
• Corrupt Windows Registry
• Malware
• Deleted Microsoft Office Related Files

Further Information and Manual Repair

No matter, what the cause of this error is, it is advisable to resolve it immediately without any delays. This error may pose serious threats to your PC is not repaired timely and also cause you a great deal of inconvenience limiting you from using Microsoft software programs. Here are some of the best and easy DIY methods that you can try to resolve this issue. To work around these methods you don’t have to be a technical whiz or a computer programmer. Let’s get started:

Method 1 - Use System Restore to Undo Changes Made Recently

During any program deletion, you may have accidentally deleted Microsoft related files because of which you may be experiencing error 1713 on your PC. In such an event, the best way to resolve is to undo recent system changes. To do this, use Windows System Restore Utility. This is inbuilt in Windows. To access System Restore Utility, simply press start and type System Restore in the search box and press enter. Now follow the steps in the Wizard to choose a restore point. Once you select, reboot your PC to activate changes.

Method 2 - Update Drivers

One of the many causes of error 1713 is hardware failure. Hardware failure indicates driver issues. To resolve the problem it is advisable to delete the outdated drivers and update new versions on your PC.

Method 3 - Scan for Malware

Malware can also trigger such error codes on your system and corrupt important files. Therefore remove malware immediately from your PC by running an antivirus. Antivirus will detect and delete all malicious programs in no time.

Method 4 - Repair the Registry

Broken entries, junk files, and invalid registry keys corrupt the registry thereby generating error codes. To resolve you first need to clean the registry and repair it. For this download Restoro. It is a PC Fixer deployed with a registry cleaner. The registry cleaner removes all bad entries stored in the registry, cleans it and repairs the damaged files in just a few clicks. Click here to download Restoro.

From the various report, it is now clear that no one is prone to Ransomware attacks. Cyber-criminals never target any specific field of the user workgroup for this Ransomware attack. But in past few years, it has hugely affected home users, businesses, organizations. We can say, Ransomware victims come in all shapes & sizes. Many business owners think that they will never be attacked by Ransomware crooks because their business is not so big. But that’s not true. A huge proportion of Ransomware attacks happened in small sector businesses because of their weak security resistances.

Some leading negative consequences of Ransomware attacks faced by almost every victim are:

1. Permanent or temporary loss of proprietary or sensitive information.
2. Lots of trouble in performing regular operations.
3. Huge financial losses sustain for restoring up your files and systems.
4. Latent harm to the reputation of an organization.
5. Even making the Ransom payment doesn’t guarantee the safe releasing of your encrypted files.
6. Attackers get the victim’s money along with their banking details.
7. Getting the decrypting files doesn’t mean malware infection has completely been removed.

Ransomware put a tremendous impact on disturbing business operations and in the end, leads to data loss situations.

Here are some huge impacts of Ransomware attacks on business are:

1. Damage or loss of all the crucial information
2. In the Ransomware post-attack period Business disrupts a lot.
3. Destruction of hostage data, file, and system.
4. Business downtime
5. Victimized company’s reputation dropdown
6. Productivity loss

Apart from the ransom, the cost of downtime because of restricted system access will bring major concerns. It’s a fact that due to downtime victims may has to pay a cost of ten thousand dollars daily. As, Ransomware is becoming more and more widespread, so all companies require to brush up on their annual cyber-security goals. Moreover, approach for some appropriate implementations of Ransomware recovery plans and commit sufficient funds in their IT budgets for cyber-security resources. Among the most effective impact of Ransomware, “data encryption” is very hard to deal with. Meanwhile, this victim is completely restricted to access any of their encrypted data. The only way for unlocking these encrypted files is through the decryption key which only belongs to hackers. Many times, the decryption key is given to the organization, after the payment of the ransom. But there are also some cases when data is not handover to the victim, even after the ransom payment. The main risk that generates with “operational impact of Ransomware” is on the businesses. Can you just imagine, what will happen if all of a sudden entire services or processes of your business halt down?

Well, this dreadful Ransomware threat is so impactful that it can:

1. Close down the entire plant
2. Freeze manufacturing control system
3. Make other backlogs

All the damages that occur due to downtime can be a major one and can have so many consequences. A well-organized strategy of backup and recovery will not certainly make the Ransomware attack painless. As this takes an extensive amount of money and time for data restoration.

Apart from that, the decision of recovering your system using the backup moreover depends on three things:

1. First the amount of data loss that is considered acceptable by your business or organization.
2. Up to how extent, the impact of Ransomware has spread
3. How fast the Ransomware attack was spotted.

However, in many cases, data gets so encrypted that you can’t revert back to the restore point. At that time external backup is considered the best option. Among the wide-reaching impact of Ransomware “Data loss” is the most effective one.  As it starts from little disruption and leads to permanent business failure. Sometimes data loss in a Ransomware attack leads to disclosure of all your confidential information which ends up in fines and lawsuits. Attackers always look for backup files and folders after encrypting your system data. So that user can’t retrieve their corrupted file from the backup. Such dreadful activities make this Ransomware threat so profitable and effective. Victims don’t have any choice left either they have to pay the ransom or they have to face their risk of data loss.

Computer crashes are one of the most annoying things that can happen to users. It often loses your data and work, you must spend extra time if you were in the middle of something and can even break Windows itself. Before we move to the article I just want to say that technically there are no random crashes, there is always a reason why the system hangs up, why you received blue screen, annoying restarts out of nowhere and many more PC crashes. In this article, we will explore many possible reasons why something may occur and offer you straight forward solution on how to escape the situation and prevent it from happening again. Without further delay, let's begin:

1. Check switch connectors and power outlets

   Yes, sometimes the most basic approach provides the best results, check to see if your power outlet is stable and providing you with constant voltage, if not, maybe you want to invest in a UPS system so you do not face random shutdowns and restarts during work, also while you are at it, check to see if that reset and power switch are connected properly and that they are not dirty or loose.

2. Clean your PC and check connectors

   Dirt can cause many issues with computers, from overheating to shutdowns to blue screens and memory dumps, check to see if your computer is clean enough and that all connectors are connected tight into their respective sockets.

3. Check the temperature of your CPU

   CPU overheating can cause so-called random freezes and blue screens, the computer might shut down or restart also without any visible reason. Check to see if your fan on the CPU is working properly and change the thermal paste if needed.

4. Check the health of your hard drive

   If your hard drive is beginning to go down the path of dying out, many issues can come from this condition. There are many tools on the internet and in Windows itself to check if your hard drive is working properly.

5. Run antivirus and firewall

   Random lock-ups or similar issues can also occur if by any chance you have some malware on your system, run protection software, and keep it updated to make sure the issue does not come from the computer being infected with malicious applications.

6. Keep system clean

   Have a habit to clean regularly system files and registries, keep removing unnecessary files from your computer and regularly update your Windows and applications along with drivers.

7. Run memory test

   Bad RAM bank can cause many issues during the work, check it out to be sure the problem is not RAM itself.

8. Do not run applications that are too demanding for your system

   Some applications require stronger hardware, and some require the latest hardware, if your computer is a little outdated, running a demanding application can cause issues like freezing, restarts, etc.

9. Remove applications you do not use

   This does not seem like anything important but if you are not using a specific application just remove it from the system, why? Sometimes an application has some ties to certain services and if it is outdated can cause issues for newer ones.

10. Stop installing everything you find on the internet

    Yes, that extension for chrome looks cool, yes, that fancy new player seems sick but if it is from an unverified source and from the unknown publisher without any reviews maybe you are better off with it. You can never tell what you might be placing into your system from the internet.

And that's it, 10 reasons and solutions on what to do on random computer freezes, crashes, etc.

Error Code 0x8007007e – What is it?

Error code 0x8007007e often occurs when users attempt to use Windows Update but are unable to access updates or webpages. To resolve this issue, you will need to use tools that detect and correct corrupted files as this is usually the main reason for the error.

Solution

Error Causes

Once this error code is encountered, it's a clear indication that your Operating System has malfunctioned. This could be a consequence of an incorrect or failed installation of software. The software might leave invalid entries in the Windows registry. Improper shut down of your system and a malware attack are also causes of error code 0x8007007e. Additionally, someone with little or no technical knowledge might have deleted a system file by accident. Missing system files can also equate to other error codes such as registry error code 19.

You may not always be able to prevent issues from affecting your computer, but proper measures can be taken to limit your risk of experiencing problems like error code 0x8007007e. See the following suggestions below:

• Ensure proper system maintenance by regularly using your automated tool. This will ensure your system is in good shape and error-free. It will also clean your system regularly leading to a boost in PC performance
• Keep antivirus software up-to-date. Antivirus software if crucial for the proper functioning of your computer. Keeping your antivirus updated is one of the best ways you can avoid problems with your PC.

Further Information and Manual Repair

Method One: System File Checker

System File Checker is a Windows tool that allows users to check their system for corrupt or bad system files. The utility scans for corrupt files and repairs them as well as files that may have gone missing.

Depending on the type of Windows operating system on your computer, you may need to follow varying instructions. However, note that Windows operating systems including Windows 10 and Windows 8 or 8.1 and Windows Vista all provide access to System File Checker via Command Prompt.

Once you run System File Checker, the tool should be able to repair and replace corrupted files. However, in cases where the repair process does not take place, you can attempt a manual repair by replacing the corrupt file the tool identifies with a good file. The process may require technical knowledge of Command Prompt so consider help from a Windows repair technician or consider contacting Windows for instructions based on your computer’s operating system.

Method Two: Run System Restore Tool

The System Recovery Options menu in Windows contains many tools which can enable users to resolve serious errors. In the case of Error Code 0x8007007e, one of the best tools in this menu is System Restore.

When an error occurs which inhibits users from accessing key functions on their system, System Restore enables the user to restores the computer to an earlier period without causing harm to files, photos, or documents.

However, once you run this tool, you will only be able to access files available within the period to which your computer is restored. For this reason, carefully consider which period is best suited to your purposes. Also, ensure you restore the system to a time when error code 0x8007007e was not present on your machine.

If System Restore does not resolve the error, you may undo the restoration changes. Ensure you have sufficient free space on your machine hard disk before you proceed (300 MB at least for hard drives above 500MB or at least 50 MB for smaller sized disks).

Method Three: Download Automated Software

When it comes to resolving error codes, it can often be a frustrating and tricky venture, especially when you are attempting to fix the problem manually. The Internet is awash with bits and pieces of instruction, some misleading at best with uncertain success rates.

But what if there was a one-stop-shop or better yet a tool that offered solutions for error codes including 0x8007007e?  Download a powerful automated tool that offers easy and effective, user-friendly solutions for users with varying error code problems.

When it comes to computer peripherals first thing that comes to people's minds is probably Mouse and Keyboard. Also when discussing peripherals brands, Razer is not a stranger and over the years it has built its name and cult following. Razer’s mechanical keyboards have been always in the upper field of quality and trust from users and Huntsman is no different.

Tech specifics of Huntsman keyboard

1. Mechanical optical switches Razer has introduced their new optical technology switch with this keyboard. These switches are faster and more accurate than typical mechanical switches and if tests are to be believed this is the fastest keyboard currently on the market.
2. Multi-functional digital dial A multi-function digital dial with three tactile media keys gives you instant access to everything from brightness to volume in seconds. All programmable and customizable through Synapse 3, so you can set your preferred configurations right at your fingertips.
3. 10-key rollover Anti-ghosting technology that enables 10-key simultaneous presses at the same time
4. 4-side underglow with Razer chroma Go crazy and personalize lighting effects any way you want with a full 4-side underglow and 38 customization zones. Powered by Razer Chroma

Feel and noise

In the department of noise, well it is the mechanical keyboard so naturally, it will be louder than membrane ones but in terms of comparing it to other mechanical keyboards it is within the same noise range, maybe just a tiny bit silenced. The keyboard comes with 2 different types of switches, purple clicky ones that are louder and have that *click* sound for sound feedback, and red ones, that are not equipped with clicky sound but are linear providing slightly faster performance. If you choose the Huntsman elite model of the keyboard it will come with a nice hand resting mat that is very comfortable and feels right. Using a keyboard feels like using a Razer keyboard, it is responsive and gives that superior mechanical feeling.

Conclusion

Razer Huntsman mechanical keyboard is not the cheapest nor the best on the market but it is the fastest one out. It is in the top tier of keyboards and worth the investment.

Device drivers are needed in order for the hardware and software to communicate in an operating system. Some of these drivers are digitally signed. These kinds of drivers are drivers that are signed by their issuing authority in a way that the end-user or any third party won’t be able to modify them. And there are times when you encounter an error that says, “Windows requires a digitally signed driver” when you try to install or update device drivers. Driver Signing is the process of associating a digital signature with a driver package. Digital signatures are used in Windows device installations to verify the identity of the vendor providing the driver packages as well as to verify the integrity of the driver packages. All the drivers you usually install on your PC from Windows Update, Original Equipment Manufacturers, or some other third-party driver download software and so on must be verified digitally by Microsoft through the digital signature. A digital signature is an electronic security mark that verifies the publisher for the driver and all the relevant information related to it. That’s why Windows won’t run a driver if it isn’t certified by Microsoft, be it a 32-bit or 64-bit system – this is called the Driver Signature Enforcement. The only Kernel-mode drivers that Windows 10 will load are the ones that are digitally signed by the Dev Portal. However, the changes only affect the new installations of the operating system with Secure Boot on while the non-upgraded fresh installations would require drivers that are signed by Microsoft. The “Windows requires a digitally signed driver” error indicates that the driver you are trying to update or install hasn’t been signed digitally by the issuing authority, preventing you from installing or updating it. To resolve this issue, you can try to update the drivers directly from the manufacturer’s site. You could also disable driver signing via Group Policy Editor.

Option 1 – Update the device drivers directly from the manufacturer’s site

The reason why you’re getting the “Windows requires a digitally signed driver” error in the first place is that you might have downloaded the drivers from external media. It could also be that the drivers didn’t update for some time now and the issuing authority changed its policies. Thus, you can try to update the drivers straight from the manufacturer’s website and install them. If this option didn’t work, then you’ll have to disable the driver signing or its recognition in Windows 10. Keep in mind that doing so is not advisable if you have to use the concerned driver.

Option 2 – Disable driver signing via Group Policy Editor

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run utility and type “gpedit.msc” in the field and tap Enter to open the Group Policy Editor.
• After that, navigate to this policy setting: User configuration > Administrative templates > System > Driver installation
• Next, double click on the “Code signing for device drivers” entry located on the right pane to open its properties where you’ll see the following description:

“This setting determines how the system responds when a user tries to install device driver files that are not digitally signed. It establishes the least secure response permitted on the systems of users in the group. Users can use the System in Control Panel to select a more secure setting, but when this setting is enabled, the system does not implement any setting less secure than the one the setting established. When you enable this setting, use the drop-down box to specify the desired response. “Ignore” directs the system to proceed with the installation even if it includes unsigned files. “Warn” notifies the user that files are not digitally signed and lets the user decide whether to stop or to proceed with the installation and whether to permit unsigned files to be installed. “Warn” is the default. “Block” directs the system to refuse to install unsigned files. As a result, the installation stops, and none of the files in the driver package are installed. To change driver file security without specifying a setting, use System in Control Panel. Right-click My Computer, click Properties, click the Hardware tab, and then click the Driver Signing button.”

• Now select the radio button for “Enabled” and select Ignore from the drop-down menu under “When Windows detects a driver file without a digital signature”.
• Then click on the Apply and OK buttons to save the changes made. This will get rid of the “Windows requires a digitally signed driver” error but take note that this will also make your system less secure.

If you receive an error message that says, “Entry point not found, The procedure entry point could not be located in the dynamic link library” on your Windows 10 PC, then you will find this post useful for this will provide you some potential fixes to fix the error. This kind of error can occur if a program fails to locate the DLL library that it needs in order to run. It can also occur if the library is not in the specified directory in the path or if the DLL file has gone missing or has become corrupted. To fix the “The procedure entry point could not be located in the dynamic link library” error, check out the following options given below.

Option 1 – Try to reinstall the program

The first thing you can do to resolve the error is to uninstall the program that throws the error and download its latest version from its official site and then install it again.

Option 2 – Run System File Checker scan

If reinstalling the program didn’t work, you can also try running the System File Checker or SFC scan to fix the error. System File Checker is a command utility built into your computer that helps restore corrupted files and missing files. Refer to the following steps to run it:

• Hit the Win + R keys 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.

 Reboot your computer.

Option 3 – Try checking the details in the Event Viewer

The Event Viewer can also help you resolve the error as it contains detailed information about the error that could help you pinpoint its root cause and resolve it.

Option 4 – 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 error. The Regsvr32 tool is a command-line utility that can be used to register and unregister OLE controls like DLL and ActiveX (OCX) controls 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 5 – Try to replace the DLL file with 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 6– Try to scan your computer using Windows Defender

It is also possible that the DLL file might be infected with malware or virus which could explain why you’re getting the error. Thus, 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.

Error Code 80070103 –What is it?

Error code 80070103 affects Windows users who attempt to access the latest updates for hardware drivers using Windows Update. Windows 10 users who are affected by this error code will be unable to complete the upgrade process. This error code usually occurs due to the Windows Update attempts to download an incompatible version of a driver or a driver that is already downloaded on one’s device.

Solution

Error Causes

The cause of error code 80070103 in Windows 10 is usually easy to determine. This is due to the fact that the error code only affects users who attempt to access updates related to hardware drivers. In such cases, the error code will only occur if the Windows Update website or tool on your machine attempts to install a driver that is already present on one’s machine or the version of the driver is unsuitable for one’s machine due to lower compatibility.

Further Information and Manual Repair

Manual repair methods are very effective in helping Windows users fix problems related to error code 80070103 as well as other errors. These repair methods can usually be implemented by users with very limited technical skills. In some cases, however, you may need to contact a Windows repair technician, i.e. if you have problems following the manual repair method instructions provided or if the repair methods prove unsuccessful.

In the case of error code 80070103, the problem can be rectified by either hiding the update or reinstalling the hardware driver. Windows users can hide an update on the Windows Update website or via Windows Update within their machine’s Settings. However, users will need to contact their device manufacturer to reinstall hardware drivers in most instances. See below for further details regarding these manual repair methods.

Method One: Hide the Update

In the case where you are informed via an error message box that a driver, for instance, your graphics driver, is incompatible you may need to consider hiding the update to prevent error code 80070103 from reoccurring on your machine.

The incompatible issues will come about when the Windows Update website attempts to download a driver that is already on the device or one with a lower compatibility. When you hide the update, it is in essence, preventing Windows Update from offering this driver in the future. To complete this manual repair method, follow the steps below:

• Step one: Visit the Microsoft Update site 
• Step two: Select Custom on the Welcome page after completing the scan for the updates process
• Step three: Select Hardware, Optional.
• Step four: Open the second update for the graphics card, then select Don't show this update again check box.
• Step five: Review and install updates.

You may also complete this process by opening Windows Update within your computer’s settings, then selecting the Optional update or available link. Once you’ve done this, you may then select the updates you would like to install and hide the update that has resulted in the occurrence of error code 80070103.

Method Two: Reinstall Hardware Driver

In the case where you need to install a hardware driver, you will need to contact the manufacturer of your device. Once you’ve contacted the manufacturer or visit the manufacturer’s official website, you can then install the latest device drivers manually. Read the instructions for the installation of the latest drivers carefully. This will ensure you avoid any problems and improve your chances of successfully fixing error code 80070103.

After you’ve contacted your device manufacturer and completed the process of reinstalling the hardware driver, check Windows Update to see whether or not error code 80070103 has been rectified. If the problem was related to your hardware driver and you successfully reinstalled the driver, the error code will not reoccur when you attempt to download the latest updates for your hardware drivers.

However, you may need to take another approach if this manual repair method fails to fix error code 80070103. For instance, consider getting help from a Windows repair technician who is equipped with the skills and expertise necessary to offer a detailed inspection of your machine. Though the error code is related to one’s drivers, the fact that a Windows error code occurred may mean that your system needs a thorough evaluation as other issues may be present.

Method Three: Download 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.

Error Code 0xC004C020 (Code 0xC004C020) – What is it?

Error code 0xC004C020 (Code 0xC004C020) is an error that occurs when you attempt to activate a copy of Windows 7 with a key, but the key has already been activated multiple times. When receiving this error code, it means that you are trying to exceed the number of times that the Windows 7 key is allowed to be activated. Common symptoms include:

• Attempting to install Windows 7 with a key and a dialog box with the code 0xC004C020 is displayed.
• The computer is unable to install Windows 7 with the key.
• Certain features will refrain from working until the correct key has been entered.

Solution

Error Causes

Error Code 0xC004C020 occurs when you are not able to install Windows 7 using a previously purchased key code that has been installed numerous times previously on the same computer.

• You are not able to use your previously used key to install Windows 7.
• You have used the Windows 7 key the maximum number of times allowed.

Error code 0xC004C020 simply means that the Windows 7 code that you are trying to use to install Windows 7 has already been used the maximum number of times allowed, even when installing it on the same computer that it was previously used on. This would indicate that the key is what is known as a volume key- meaning that there is a cap on the number of uses.

Further Information and Manual Repair

Many people encounter this problem when they are doing software development or testing and need to reinstall Windows 7. Some people might also encounter this error code when installing Windows 7 with a key that was used too many times previously. It should be noted that there are several ways to fix this problem, but if nothing is working, you should contact a computer repair technician.

Method One

Activate by phone- the long method.

1. Click the start button, right-click Computer, click Properties, and then click Activate Windows.  This will open Windows Activation.
2. Click on “Show me other ways to activate”.
3. Find and enter the Windows 7 key, then click Next.
4. Click on “Use the automated phone system”. If you are prompted for an administrator password or a confirmation, confirm or type the password now.
5. Select the location nearest to you and then click the Next button.
6. There will be a list of available phone numbers, choose one and call it. There will be an automated system that will guide the activation process.
7. Enter the installation ID when prompted, it will be listed on your computer screen.
8. The phone system will give you a confirmation ID, write this down.
9. Type this confirmation ID into the space that is provided by step 3. This will be in the activation dialogue. Then, click NEXT and follow the instruction.
10. If this is not successful, stay on the line and be transferred to a customer service representative that will assist you.

Method Two

Activate by phone- this is a much simpler method.

1. Click on Start, type: slui.exe 4 into the Search box
2. Press Enter on the keyboard.
3. Pick your country.
4. Choose the Phone Activation option; stay on hold to speak with a customer service representative.

Method Three

Error code 0xC004C020 occurs if you have used your Windows 7 activation key on multiple computers, or multiple times on the same computer. You are not allowed to exceed the uses of the key—you should consider purchasing a new key if this is the case. A Windows 7 key is available for purchase online through the Microsoft website, in the shop section. The new product key must then be activated within 30 days, or it becomes no longer valid. It can be activated online or through the telephone. If it is not activated on time, features will stop working until the new key has been activated. This should be the last resort method, as you should not have to purchase a new Windows 7 key code if it is not necessary. 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.