Stop showing browser tabs when alt+tab, Win11

RebateInformer is a browser extension for Google Chrome. This extension monitors the web pages the user is visiting and checks against an affiliate database for various rebates and coupons related to the context of the products being shown in the browser.

This extension analyzes websites your browser visits and attempts to find deals associated with the merchant’s product offerings. If an offer is found, it is injected into the deals page even if it's sold by a different merchant at a higher price. Several anti-virus scanners have marked this extension as Potentially Unwanted, and due to its data mining behavior, it is not recommended to keep it on your computer.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijacking is regarded as the web’s constant problem that targets web browsers. It is a type of malicious software that alters your web browser’s settings and redirects you to sites or webpages that you had no intention of visiting. Browser hijacker malware is created for numerous reasons. It redirects you to the sponsored sites and injects adverts on your internet browser that helps its creator generate ad revenue. It could seem naive, but the majority of these websites are not legitimate and may pose a serious threat to your online safety. Additionally, hijackers can make the whole infected system fragile – other dangerous malware and viruses will use these opportunities to intrude into your computer system effortlessly.

Browser hijacking symptoms

There are many different symptoms that indicate the web browser has been highjacked: your browser’s home page is suddenly different; new bookmarks pointing to porn websites are added to your bookmarks; the default internet search engine and the default browser settings are modified; unsolicited new toolbars are added to your browser; numerous pop-up adverts show up and/or your browser pop-up blocker is disabled; your web browser starts running slowly or displays frequent errors; you’re blocked to access the websites of computer security solution providers.

How browser hijacker infects computers

There are several ways your PC could become infected with a browser hijacker. They usually arrive through spam e-mail, via file-sharing networks, or by a drive-by-download. They also come from add-on applications, also called browser helper objects (BHO), browser extensions or toolbars. Sometimes you may have inadvertently accepted a browser hijacker as part of an application package (generally freeware or shareware). An example of some notorious browser hijacker includes Conduit, Anyprotect, Babylon, DefaultTab, SweetPage, Delta Search, and RocketTab, however, the names are continually changing. Browser hijackers could record user keystrokes to collect potentially valuable information that leads to privacy concerns, cause instability on systems, drastically disrupt the user experience, and eventually slow down the computer to a point where it becomes unusable.

Browser hijacker removal

Some browser hijacking can be simply stopped by finding and removing the corresponding malware software through your control panel. Unfortunately, many of the software packages utilized to hijack a web browser are deliberately built to be hard to detect or remove. Furthermore, manual removals require in-depth system knowledge and thus could be a very difficult job for novice computer users. Professionals always suggest users remove any malicious software including browser hijacker by using an automatic malware removal tool, which is better, safer, and quicker than the manual removal technique. Safebytes Anti-Malware features a state-of-the-art anti-malware engine to help you prevent browser hijacker infection in the first place, and mop up any existing problems. And employ a PC optimizer to erase all associated files in the registry and fix browser problems.

Can’t Install Safebytes Anti-malware due to the presence of a Virus? Try This!

Malware can cause all sorts of damage once they invade your system, from stealing your personal information to deleting data files on your computer. Some malware sits in between the computer and the net connection and blocks a few or all internet sites that you would like to visit. It could also block you from the installation of anything on your system, especially the anti-malware program. If you’re reading this right now, you’ve perhaps recognized that a malware infection is the real cause of your blocked web traffic. So how to proceed when you want to install an anti-virus application such as Safebytes? Refer to the instructions below to eliminate malware by alternate methods.

Download the software in Safe Mode with Networking

In Safe Mode, you can actually modify Windows settings, uninstall or install some applications, and get rid of hard-to-delete viruses. If the malware is set to load automatically when the computer boots, shifting into this mode may prevent it from doing so. In order to enter into Safe Mode or Safe Mode with Networking, press F8 while the computer is booting up or run MSConfig and find the “Safe Boot” options under the “Boot” tab. As soon as you reboot into Safe Mode with Networking, you could download, install, and update the anti-malware program from there. After installation, run the malware scanner to remove standard infections.

Obtain the anti-malware software using an alternate web browser

Web-based malware can be environment-specific, targeting a particular web browser or attacking specific versions of the web browser. The ideal solution to avoid this issue is to choose a browser that is renowned for its security measures. Firefox contains built-in Malware and Phishing Protection to keep you secure online.

Install anti-malware on a thumb drive

Here’s another solution which is using a portable USB antivirus software that can check your system for malicious software without needing installation. Do these simple steps to clean up your infected PC by using a portable antivirus. 1) Download Safebytes Anti-Malware or MS Windows Defender Offline onto a virus-free computer. 2) Connect the USB flash drive to a USB port on the clean computer. 3) Double-click the Setup icon of the anti-malware program to run the Installation Wizard. 4) Choose the drive letter of the flash drive as the place when the wizard asks you where you want to install the antivirus. Follow activation instructions. 5) Transfer the USB drive from the uninfected computer to the infected PC. 6) Double-click the anti-malware program EXE file on the USB flash drive. 7) Hit the “Scan Now” button to begin the virus scan.

Review of SafeBytes Anti-Malware

These days, an anti-malware program can protect your computer or laptop from different types of internet threats. But how to select the right one amongst various malware protection application that’s available in the market? You may be aware, there are numerous anti-malware companies and tools for you to consider. A few are very good ones, some are ok types, and some are simply just bogus anti-malware programs that can damage your PC themselves! You need to be very careful not to pick the wrong application, particularly if you purchase a premium application. With regards to commercial antimalware tool options, many people go with popular brands, such as SafeBytes, and are quite happy with it. SafeBytes anti-malware is a reliable tool that not only protects your PC permanently but is also quite user-friendly for people of all skill levels. With its most advanced virus detection and repair technology, this software will help you protect your personal computer against infections brought on by different types of malware and other internet threats, including spyware, adware, trojans, worms, computer viruses, keyloggers, potentially unwanted program (PUPs), and ransomware. SafeBytes has got a plethora of features that can help you protect your computer from malware attacks and damage. Here are some typical features found in this application: Real-time Protection: SafeBytes provides round-the-clock protection for your computer restricting malware intrusions instantly. It will check your PC for suspicious activity regularly and its unparalleled firewall guards your PC against illegal entry by the outside world. Robust, Anti-malware Protection: This deep-cleaning anti-malware software goes much deeper than most antivirus tools to clean your personal computer. Its critically acclaimed virus engine detects and disables hard-to-remove malware that conceals deep inside your PC. Safe Web Browsing: Safebytes assigns all sites a unique safety rating that helps you to get an idea of whether the webpage you’re just about to visit is safe to view or known to be a phishing site. Low CPU Usage: SafeBytes is really a lightweight tool. It consumes a very small amount of processing power as it runs in the background so you won’t notice any system performance issues. 24/7 Online Support: Expert technicians are at your disposal 24/7! They will quickly fix any technical issues you may be experiencing with your security software. To sum it up, SafeBytes Anti-Malware offers superb protection combined with an acceptable low system resources usage with great malware detection and prevention. You now may know that this particular tool does more than just scan and delete threats on your computer. So if you are looking for the best anti-malware subscription for your Windows-based PC, we strongly recommend the SafeBytes Anti-Malware tool.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you do not wish to use malware removal software and prefer to get rid of RebateInformer manually, you may do so by going to the Add/Remove Programs menu in the Control Panel and removing the offending software; in cases of browser plug-ins, you can uninstall it by visiting the browsers Add-on/Extension manager. You will definitely also want to reset your browser. Lastly, check your hard drive for all of the following and clean your registry manually to get rid of leftover application entries following an uninstallation. However, this can be a difficult task and only computer professionals could perform it safely. Also, some malware is capable of replicating itself or preventing deletion. It is highly recommended that you carry out the removal process in Windows Safe Mode.

One of the most important User Interface elements in a Windows 10 operating system is the Start Menu. Not too long ago, Microsoft has added some new features and redesigned the Start Menu a couple of times as well. Thus, it is not uncommon for Windows 10 users to use several monitors. That’s why in this post, you will be guided on how you can move the Start Menu to your second monitor in Windows 10. There are a lot of advantages in using more than one monitor like a better and widescreen as well as help in improving and increasing productivity. Usually, the Start Menu and the taskbar is present in the original monitor only. In most cases, it helps users in moving the Start Menu to the second monitor and helps users in segregating tasks, and uses separate monitors for each kind of task. There are two simple steps to move the Start Menu to the second monitor. You have the option to unlock and drag the taskbar, as well as make adjustments in the settings. To get started, refer to each one of the following options to move the Start Menu to the second monitor.

Option 1 – Move the second monitor by unlocking and dragging the taskbar

The first option you can try to move the Start Menu to the second display is to simply unlock and then drag the taskbar. To do so, follow these steps:

• First, click on the Taskbar and unlock it.
• Next, uncheck the Lock the taskbar feature in the menu of the Taskbar Settings. This will free the taskbar so you can move or drag it around.
• After that, push the Start Menu to the furthermost corner of the screen and then transfer it to the second monitor.

Option 2 – Move the second monitor using the keyboard

• The first thing you have to do is to tap the Windows key to open the Start Menu.
• Next, close the Start Menu by tapping the Esc key.
• After that, the controls will shift back to the taskbar.
• Now open the context menu of the taskbar by tapping the Alt + space bar together. This will move the Start Menu to the second monitor.

Option 3 – Move the Start Menu to the second monitor via Settings

If you find that the Taskbar is moving to the wrong monitor automatically or if the program does not start on the same monitor as the taskbar, then you can try this option.

• Click on Start first and click Run.
• Then type “desk.cpl” in the field and click OK.
• Alternatively, you could also right-click on the desktop and select the Screen Resolution option from the drop-down menu.
• After that, click on the monitor that you want to use as the primary monitor and select the checkbox labeled “Make this my main display”.
• Once done, you have to choose the “Show desktop” on only 1 from the drop-down menu of Multiple displays.
• Now click the Keep Changes option and select the Extend these displays from the Multiple displays drop-down menu and then click on the Apply button to save the changes made.
• Afterward, click the Keep changes option once the dialog box pops up.

Microsoft has started building a unified store with Windows 8 and later with Windows 10 in order to make it easier for users to get safer and more modern applications for their Windows 10 devices. This unified store is called the Microsoft Store which is tied up with the Windows Update. The delivery for them both are quite similar which is why they also have some common errors as well as fixes for them. So in this post, you will be guided on how you can fix error 0x80246019 for both Microsoft Store and Windows Update in your Windows 10 computer. The error 0x80246019 might be caused by corrupted system files or missing ones or be due to some glitch in the component services and other possible causes but whatever the cause is, you can fix it with the help of the following fixes, make sure to follow each one of them carefully.

Option 1 – Reset Windows Update components

• Open Command Prompt with admin privileges.
• After that, type each one of the following commands and hit Enter after you key in one after the other.
  • net stop wuauserv
  • net stop cryptsvc
  • net stop bits
  • net stop msiserver

Note: The commands you entered will stop the Windows Update components such as Windows Update service, Cryptographic services, BITS, and MSI Installer.

• After disabling WU components, you need to rename both the SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2 folders. To do that, type each one of the following commands below, and don’t forget to hit Enter after you type one command after the other.
  • ren C:WindowsSoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
  • ren C:WindowsSystem32catroot2 Catroot2.old
• Next, restart the services you’ve stopped by entering another series of commands. Don’t forget to hit Enter after you key in one command after the other.
  • net start wuauserv
  • net start cryptsvc
  • net start bits
  • net start msiserver
• Close Command Prompt and reboot your PC.

Option 2 – Toggle the Windows Insider Program settings

This option is only applicable to you if you are a part of the Windows Insider Program. If you are, then follow the steps below.

• First, you have to open Settings and go to the Update & Security section.
• From there select the Windows Insider Program.
• After that, select the “Stop Insider Preview builds” option and then restart your computer.
• Now open the Windows Insider Program again and check if it fixes error 0x80246019 or not.

Option 3 – Run the System File Checker Scan

System File Checker or SFC is a built-in command utility that helps in restoring corrupted files as well as missing files. It replaces bad and corrupted system files with good system files that might be the cause why you’re getting error 0x80246019. To run the SFC command, follow the steps given below.

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

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

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

 Reboot your computer.

Option 4 – Run the DISM tool

You can also run the DISM Tool as it helps in repairing the Windows System Image as well as the Windows Component Store in Windows 10. Using this built-in tool, you have various options such as the “/ScanHealth”, “/CheckHealth”, and “/RestoreHealth” which could help in fixing error 0x80246019.

• Open the Command Prompt with admin privileges.
• Then type in the following commands and make sure to hit Enter right after you type each one of them:
  • Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
  • Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
  • exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
• Do not close the window if the process takes a while as it will probably take a few minutes to finish.

Option 5 – Try to reset the Microsoft Store cache

Just like browsers, Microsoft Store also caches as you view apps and games so it is most likely that the cache is no longer valid and must be removed. To do so, follow the steps below.

• Right-click on the start button and click on Command Prompt (administrator).
• Next, type in the command, “wsreset.exe” and tap Enter. Once you do, the command will clear the cache for the Windows Store app.
• Now restart your PC and afterward, try opening Microsoft Store again and then try to install your app or update your computer again.

Option 6 – Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter

You might also want to run the Windows Update Troubleshooter as it could also help in fixing error 0x80246019. To run it, go to Settings and then select Troubleshoot from the options. From there, click on Windows Update and then click the “Run the troubleshooter” button. After that, follow the next on-screen instructions and you should be good to go.

A lot of programs in Windows utilize the helper processes to ensure that they can get the job done as early as possible. And one of the programs that use these processes is Microsoft Edge. This built-in browser uses a process called the Edge Content process. The moment you start your computer, these system processes are loaded which makes the Edge browser load faster. To be specific, these are the three processes that are related to Microsoft Edge:

• MicrosoftEdge.exe
• MicrosoftEdgeCP.exe
• MicrosoftEdgeSH.exe

The process that ends with the “CP.exe” is the content process in Edge. However, when this process stopped working, this can affect the Edge browser. In such cases, when you check the Reliability Monitor, you will see that the state of the “Microsoft Edge Content Process” is “Stopped working” which keeps on appearing. To resolve this issue, you can try to clear the browsing data of Microsoft Edge or repair or reset it. You can also try re-registering Edge via Windows PowerShell as well as check your security programs that might be causing interference with the process.

Option 1 – Clear the browsing data of Microsoft Edge

• Open Microsoft Edge.
• Then click on the three horizontal dots to open the menu.
• From there, click on Settings. And under Settings, click the “Choose what to clear” button under the Clear browsing data section.
• Next, check all the checkboxes and then click the Clear button to clear the browsing data in the Edge browser.
• Restart Edge.

Option 2 – Try to reset, repair or reinstall Edge via Settings

You can reset, repair or reinstall the Edge browser through Settings. If none of it helped, you can try the following:

• Open File Explorer and then go to this path – C:/Users/YourUsername/AppData/Local/Packages

Note: Before you type in the path in the Address bar, make sure that you put your user account name in place with the “YourUsername”.

• Tap Enter to proceed.
• Next, look for the folder named “MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe” then right-click on it.
• Click on Properties and uncheck the option “Read-only” under the General tab in the Properties window.
• Click on Apply and then OK to save the changes made.
• After that, look for the MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe folder again and delete it. And if a prompt stating “Folder Access Denied” appears on your screen, just click on the Continue button to proceed – doing so will delete most of the content inside the folder except for the folder named “AC”.
• Restart your computer

Option 3 – Re-register Edge via Windows PowerShell

• In the Start Menu, search “Windows PowerShell”.
• Right-click on Windows PowerShell from the search results and select the “Run as administrator” option.
• Type in this command in the PowerShell windows and tap Enter – Cd C:/Users/YourUsername
• After that, type in this command and tap Enter – Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers -Name Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)AppXManifest.xml" -Verbose}
• Restart your PC.

Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers -Name Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)AppXManifest.xml” -Verbose}

Option 4 – Try to check your security program

It is possible that a security program installed in your computer is the one that’s causing the problem which is why you have to check it. According to security experts, there are some security programs that could be detecting the Edge’s content process as suspicious, blocking or terminating it as a result. Thus, you need to modify your security program’s settings to fix the problem.

Hello and welcome to our software series review. Weel this time we could say this is more of a service review since the application we are going through today is online and you can use it freely without ever needing to install it.

When we choose software that we are going to review and recommend we really try to recommend something that is worth your time and money, Cartoonize fits in both categories in my opinion.

First of all basic plan of this graphic software is completely free and as mentioned it is working online, also as one more feature basic plan does not even require you to have an account of any kind, all you need to do is go to the website of the application and you can start using it right away. There is also paid plan for extra features if you need them billed monthly or annually.

Features

First things first, this is not Photoshop or GIMP and it does not aim nor want to be. This is something else, directed and pointed at the different types of users. This application is aimed at people that want to make some quick graphics and post them on social media and it does that very well. Even without knowledge to use graphic software this one is so well designed and straightforward that even a complete newcomer can do something right away.

So as the application that wants to be used by people that want to place some cool pictures or ads on their social media what it offers. For starters simplicity and ease of use, every option that you can use is on the left side of the screen nicely packed into the vertical toolbox. Inside the toolbox, you have access to various tools, effects, and filters that you can apply to your image.

Tools explained

Image manager

The first section on the tool panel is the image manager, here you can upload your images, delete them, search stock images, and so forth. nothing more to say about this one as it is only a basic file manager.

Edit

In this tool panel, there are a lot of basic settings for your image manipulations divided into 3 sections: Basics, Enhance, and Creative. In the basic section, you can crop, resize and rotate your image. Enhance panel will let you set exposure, color, vibrance, tint, and details (sharpen). Finally, the Creative part will let you remove the background with AI in a single click, replace colors in the image, and add a vignette and round image.

Effects

In the effects panel, you will be given 4 options to choose from Cartoonizer, Digital art, Sketcher, and painting. Each option once clicked will open another set of options tied to chosen preset where you will be able to choose a different style from chosen template. Once you click on the desired template it will be applied to your image and in the upright corner, you will have edit options to tweak it to your liking. You can play around as much as you want because only once you click on the apply button, the effect will be applied to your image.

Filters

Same as in the effects tool panel here you will also get a series of different filters that you can apply to your image. As in the previous tool once clicked on the chosen filter, you will be given options for its variations and details edits. How there is really plenty of filters options and combined with its own presets I will not focus on explaining what each one is doing since picture thumbnails are pretty accurate and just one look at them will explain to you everything you need to know.

Overlays

In the overlays panel, you can as the name says overlay different kinds of effects on your image. You can add snow, fog, sun flares rain, and many more. Presets work identically to previous effects and filters.

Masks

If you want to place your image in a certain shape or in-text this is the section for you. You will be presented with sections as custom text, shapes, brushes, floral, animals, and patterns. Each section will once again lead to plenty of variations on the chosen subject where you can pick one that you like the most and tweak its options.

Text

As the name suggests, this section is to add text to your picture or design. If you are making some cool ad for Facebook, Instagram, or other social media I believe that you will spend most of your time in this section adding text and tweaking it so it looks best. You have all the tools that you will need to make a catchy title or smaller block of text and you can add multiple texts to your picture tweaking their own visual appearance, the font used, color, and some effects like a drop shadow.

Draw

In the draw section, you will be able to freely draw whatever you like with your mouse or pen if you have one. you have basic options for a brush and eraser so you can erase stuff. Pretty basic tool but it gives a nice touch to underline something, circle it, etc.

Graphics

This panel will let you place various already made graphic assets into a picture. You have hearts, hats, glasses, etc. There really are tons of premade graphics along with thematic ones like new year, st. Patric day and more.

Frames

As the name suggests this section will place a frame of your choice around your picture. You can choose the style of frame, position, color, and many more. There are various styles and each style has its own options.

Conclusion

Cartoonize is a great online application that will let you quickly and easily do cool and nice image edits. As mentioned you can also add various effects, text, and graphics and use this app to make some quick and nice ads for social media. You have the option to publish to your social media right from the app in the save dialog but you can also of course download your image or design to your local computer.

Please note that for this review we used the pro, paid version so all of the features were unlocked. We wanted to give you a full overview of the full potential of the app. In my opinion, the small monthly fee that they charge is well worth it when you see all things that you can do with it.

Go to the cartoonize website and check it out, basic option is completely free and it does not even require making an account. Have fun, be creative and take care, I hope to see you again tomorrow.

Compare Exchange128 error – What is it

Some Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users reported experiencing a Compare Exchange128 error when trying to upgrade to Windows 10. The error reads, “You can’t install Windows 10 because your processor doesn’t support CompareExchange128”. In order to upgrade to Windows 10 (64-bit), the CMPXCHG16B instruction must be present. If you receive this error, this mostly means that your CPU doesn’t have the CMPXCHG16B instruction.

Solution

Error Causes

The CompareExchange128 error normally occurs due to two possible reasons:

• CPU lacks CMPXCHG16b Instruction
• Old & Outdated BIOS – Even if your CPU has the CMPXCHG16b instruction, the CompareExchange128 issue can still occur if you have an older BIOS.

Further Information and Manual Repair

One main requirement to upgrade to Windows 10 is for your CPU to have the CMPXCHG16b instruction. You also need the right BIOS version to guarantee a smooth installation. See below on how to manually fix this issue.

NOTE: If you don’t feel confident using the manual methods listed below, it’s highly advisable to get help from an expert technician. If you don’t know someone, you can also use an automated tool to fix this.

Before performing any fixes, try to determine first if the cause of the error is due to your CPU lacking the CMPXCHG16b instruction. You can use a CPU Info tool that provides complete details about your processor, memory, and motherboard. If you’re looking for more in-depth information, you might also try command-line utilities. But, the safest and easiest way to check this is by simply searching online. Try using the search query: <CPU Model> CMPXCHG16b

Method 1 – Update your BIOS

This method will download the latest BIOS from your motherboard’s manufacturer. This makes sure your CPU has the CMPXCHG16b instruction needed to complete the Windows 10 64-bit installation. To update your computer’s BIOS, complete the following steps:

1. Determine first the current BIOS you have on your computer. Open System Information Windows app and type msinfo32 in the search bar. The BIOS version will appear under the processor speed. Record it somewhere.

2. Go to the support page of your motherboard’s manufacturer. Find if there’s any update on the BIOS that you’re currently using. If you find one, download the BIOS update file available. Make sure that you’re looking into the right model and you download all the necessary documentation. Otherwise, the BIOS update might not work.

3. Update your BIOS. Most BIOS update steps are straightforward. Just make sure to follow the steps provided.

Method 2 – Install Windows 10 32-bit version

If updating the BIOS doesn’t work, what you can do is install a 32-bit version of Windows 10 instead of the 64-bit version. Here’s how to do this:

1. Download and install the 32-bit version of Windows you currently have. If you have a Windows 7 64-bit version, get the 32-bit version of Windows 7. The same goes for Windows 8.1. When you do this, you might want to back up your files first. Remember that installing the 32-bit version works like other installations, and could delete some of your files.

2. After installing the 32-bit version, go to Updates and install all the necessary updates. This includes upgrading to Windows 10 if you’re asked to.

3. When you installed the Windows 10 upgrade, you’ll now have the Windows 10, 32-bit version installed. This will be the version activated on Microsoft servers. Despite this, the activated version stored is only applicable to your computer’s hardware, not the version of Windows 10.

4. Download Windows 10, 64-bit version.

5. Prepare an empty DVD or USB flash drive. Use Creation Media software then click the Create Installation Media for Another PC option.

6. Install the 64-bit Windows 10 version you downloaded from Step 4. Make sure not to put anything when you’re asked to input the serial number.

7. Once the installation is complete, you’ll have the 64-bit version of Windows 10.

Method 3 – Buy a new processor/motherboard

If the above two methods don’t work, there’s a great chance that this error occurs because of an outdated processor/motherboard. Your next possible solution is to buy an updated model that’s fully compatible with 64-bit Windows 10.

Method 4 – Download an automated tool

If all else fails, you might want to consider using this powerful automated tool to quickly fix the problem and any other computer-related issues.

Blizzard is one of the most beloved game company which brought some of the most and greatest titles in PC gaming. Blizzard has released its own launcher in which you can launch games, sadly sometimes launcher does not want to work and fails to connect. If this happens to you be sure to:

1. Reset your network devices to make sure your router hasn't become flooded with data.

   Power cycling your modem and router allows them to reset and re-establish a connection to your ISP. Follow these steps to completely power cycle the devices in your network connection:Note: If your modem has a battery backup, you will need to take the battery out or use the reset button on the modem.

   1. Shut down all computers connected to the modem/router.
   2. Power down and unplug the modem and the router if you're using one.
   3. Allow to sit for 60 seconds unplugged.
   4. Plug in and turn on the modem and router, and allow them to completely boot up until the front panel connection lights on the modem show a steady connection.
   5. Start the computer and allow it to completely boot up.

2. If you're using a wireless connection, optimize your internet connection to rule out a connection issue.

   If you're experiencing issues with your low-speed or wireless internet connection, follow the steps below to troubleshoot the problem.

   1. Try plugging your computer directly into your modem.
   2. Shut down other programs that access the internet, such as other games or download programs.
   3. Satellite, mobile phone, and WiMax internet connections are not stable connections and may cause further connection issues when playing Blizzard games. If possible, consider switching to a more stable connection.

3. Update your drivers and operating system to resolve any compatibility issues.

   Out-of-date drivers and operating systems can cause a variety of issues and are one of the first things to check when a game is having problems. The instructions below will help you check and update your drivers.

   • Even new computers can have out-of-date drivers and operating systems because updates are released routinely.
   • Some games and programs might run fine on a system with old drivers, but outdated drivers can still create technical issues with specific games or programs.
   • Check our supported video cards articles to make sure your hardware is compatible:
     • World of Warcraft
     • Hearthstone
     • StarCraft II
     • Diablo III
     • Heroes of the Storm
     • Overwatch

   Refer to the steps below to update drivers and software for your operating system.

4. Release and renew your IP and flush your DNS to resolve any network conflicts.

   1. While on the desktop, press Windows Key and type CMD.
   2. Right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.
   3. Type ipconfig /release in the command prompt.
   4. Wait a few seconds for a reply that the IP address has been released.
   5. Type ipconfig /renew in the command prompt.
   6. Wait a few seconds for a reply that the IP address has been re-established.
   7. Type ipconfig /flushdns in the command prompt.
   8. Close the command prompt and attempt to make a connection.

5. Close all other applications to resolve software conflicts and free up resources.

   Before trying the steps below, close unnecessary programs and restart your computer. Identify Problematic Startup Items

   1. Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open the Task Manager.
   2. Click More Details.
   3. Select the Startup tab.
   4. Right-click on each item and select Disable.
   5. Restart the computer.

   If this resolves the issue, enable the startup application one at a time to determine which one is causing the problem. You will need to restart between each application you enable. Note: To re-enable startup applications, follow steps 1-4 and select Enable.

6. Delete the Battle.net Tools folder to automatically rebuild outdated or corrupt files.

   1. Close Blizzard processes.
      1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to bring up the Task Manager.
      2. Click the Processes tab.
      3. Select all Agent, Blizzard Battle.net desktop app, and game processes, and click End Process.
   2. Navigate to the folder containing the Battle.net directory:
      1. Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialogue.
      2. Type C:\ProgramData\ into the Open field and press Enter.
   3. Delete the Battle.net folder.
   4. Run Battle.net and update the game to see if the issue persists.

   If the error persists after you try these steps, another program may be causing the problem. Restart your computer and delete the Battle.net folder one more time.

   Note: The above steps may cause the Blizzard Battle.net desktop app to forget game install locations. If your games can’t be found, you will see Install on the Blizzard Battle.net desktop app game tab instead of Play. To find your installation, click Locate this game or run the game launcher.

When it comes to booting an operating system on a computer, one of the most essential pieces of software you can use is the UEFI. In fact, a lot of users now prefer to use UEFI instead of BIOS. It also depends on whether the UEFI or the BIOS is supported on the motherboard. Recently, a number of users reported an issue with UEFI where they were unable to find it under the Advanced Options screen where it’s supposed to be located. The missing UEFI Firmware settings in the Advanced Options could be caused by several reasons. It is possible that the access to the UEFI menu is blocked or it could also be due to the Extra Fast Startup feature being enabled. It is also possible that the operating system is installed in Legacy mode. There are several options to try to fix this issue. You need to check if your computer supports UEFI or you could also try to disable Fast Startup or bypass the Extra Fast Startup feature. You can also use a boot to UEFI shortcut as well as check the CMOS battery.

Option 1 – Try checking if your computer supports UEFI

The first thing you have to do is to verify if your computer supports UEFI. If your computer does not support UEFI, then it’s no wonder why you don’t see the UEFI Firmware settings in the Advanced Options.

Option 2 – Try turning off Fast Startup

• First, boot your computer in Safe Mode.
• Once your computer is booted in Safe Mode, tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box and type in “control” to open the Control Panel.
• Next, click on the Hardware and Sound section and click on Power Options.
• Afterward, select the “Choose what the power buttons do” option from the left side menu pane.
• Now click on Change settings that are currently unavailable and uncheck the entry that says, “Turn on fast startup (Recommended)”.
• Then click on Save Changes and restart your computer and see if it has fixed the problem or not.

Option 3 – Try bypassing the Extra Fast Startup feature

As mentioned, the missing UEFI Firmware settings could be due to the Extra Fast Startup feature. To fix it, you have to disable this feature. All you have to do is tap and hold the Shift key and click on the Shutdown button from the Start button. This will boot your PC with the UEFI booting from the beginning and then use the hotkey for your motherboard to boot into the UEFI setup.

Option 4 – Try using a boot to UEFI shortcut

• Right-click on any empty space on your Desktop and select New > Shortcut.
• This will open a new mini window. And here, you have to type this in the text field: shutdown /r /fw
• After that, click on Next and name the desktop shortcut and then click on Finish.
• Next, right-click on the newly created shortcut and select Properties.
• Click on the Advanced button and select the “Run as administrator” option.
• Now click OK to save the changes made. Each time you execute this shortcut, your computer will automatically be booted to the UEFI Firmware Settings.

Option 5 – Try to check the CMOS battery

Another thing you can do is check the CMOS battery physically on the motherboard and see if it has to be replaced since a damaged CMOS battery can also cause the issue with the missing UEFI Firmware settings.

Option 6 – Set your computer from Legacy to UEFI

If applicable, you can try to set your computer from Legacy to UEFI to resolve the problem.

• In the Windows Search box, type “command prompt” and from the search results that appear, right-click on Command Prompt and select the “Run as administrator” option.
• After that, execute this command: mbr2gpt.exe /convert /allowfullOS
• Now, wait until the process is completed since you can track its process on your screen.
• Once it’s done, go to Settings > Update & Security > Advanced Startup options and from there, click on Restart Now. This will restart your computer and give you advanced options.
• Next, select Troubleshoot > Advanced Options where you will see further options including System Restore, Startup Repair, Go back to the previous version, Command Prompt, System Image Recovery, and UEFI Firmware Settings.
• Now select the UEFI Firmware Settings. This will take you to the BIOS. Boot Mode is typically available under Boot > Boot Configuration. Once you’re there, set it to UEFI and then save the changes you’ve made. After that, your computer will restart.

One of the most common and bothersome issues with a printer is when it refuses to get configured or set up on your computer. Thus when your printer has some configuration issues, you will most likely encounter the error 0x00000709. This occurs if there is already a default printer set and configured or Windows does not want to configure the new printer at all. The operation could not be completed (error 0x00000709), Double check the printer name and make sure that the printer is connected to the network. Today, we will try two fixes that may help you get rid of this error.

Option 1 – Run the Printer Troubleshooter

One of the first basic troubleshooting you can perform to resolve the printer issue is running the Printer Troubleshooter. This built-in troubleshooter can detect and automatically fix the problem for you. To use it, follow these steps:

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Next, type “exe /id PrinterDiagnostic” in the field and click OK or hit Enter to open the Printer Troubleshooter.
• Then click the Next button and follow the next on-screen instructions to fix the issue with the printer.

Option 2 – Try to use some Registry tweaks to add the Printer

You might want to use some tweaks to add the Printer but before you proceed, make sure to create a System Restore Point so that if anything goes out of hand, you can always undo the changes you’ve made.

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Next, type “Regedit” in the field and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor.
• When a UAC or User Account Control prompt appears, click Yes.
• Once you’ve opened the Registry Editor, go to the following key location:

HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionWindows

• From there, double click on the file named “Device on the right side pane under the Windows folder.
• Now add the name of your printer in the Value Data field as you can see below and then click the OK button.

Note: As you can see on the image above, you must not change the “.winspool.Ne02:” part and only the first one which is the name of your printer.

• After that, you will get a message that says, “Cannot edit Device: Error writing the value’s new contents, simply click on OK again. You have to take note of the existing permissions before you proceed to the next step. Once you’ve added the Printer, make sure to reverse the changes you’ve made to the Permissions.
• Now right click on the Windows folder located on the left pane and click on Permission.
• Select Restricted under the Group or user names section.
• Then check the checkboxes for “Full Control”, “Read” and “Special Permissions” under the Permissions for RESTRICTED section.
• After that click the Apply button and then OK to save the changes made.
• Next, right-click on the file named “UserSelectdDefault” and select Rename to rename it to your printer’s name.
• Now restart your computer to successfully apply the changes made.
• After the printer is added, don’t forget to reverse the Permission changes you’ve made early on.

Option 3 – Try updating the Printer drivers

You might also want to try updating your printer drivers. All you have to do is locate the USB Composite Device. For complete details, follow the steps below.

• First, click the Start button and type “device manager”.
• Then click on the “Device Manager” from the search results to open it.
• From there, look for the USB Composite Device option and right-click on it, and select the Update Driver from the options.
• Restart your PC and then click the “Search automatically for updated driver software” option.

Note: You also have the option to download the latest version of your Printer from the manufacturer’s website.

There are cases when your Windows 10 PC can encounter an issue where it gets stuck and will display a message that says, “Preparing Security Options”. If this is happening to your Windows 10 PC, you won’t be able to use your keyboard or even mouse and your screen will only be stuck on the screen as mentioned above. As your computer is still stuck, you will be left with no choice but to shut it down and restart it. Tap the F11 key as soon as your PC powers on. This will take you to the Advanced Startup options where you can carry out some steps. If it still didn’t work, you have to boot your Windows 10 PC into Safe Mode and then try out the troubleshooting options below.

Option 1 – Try using System Restore

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 2 – Uninstall the Windows Updates you’ve installed recently

The issue could be caused by Windows Updates so you need to check if it’s indeed the case. The best way you can do so is via Safe Mode.

• Boot your PC into Safe Mode and then tap the Win + I keys to open Settings.
• After that, click on Update and Security and then select Windows Update from the left side menu column.
• Next, select the “View installed update history” option on the right-side column and click on Uninstall Updates which will open a window that will show the list of all the installed updates on your PC.
• From there, select the update you want to uninstall and click the Uninstall button located in the lower right corner of the window.

Option 3 – Try disabling the Fast Startup

• Boot your PC into Safe Mode.
• Then tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Next, type in “control” to open Control Panel.
• After that, select Hardware and Sound and click on Power Options.
• Select “Choose what the power buttons do” from the left side menu pane and click on Change settings that are currently unavailable.
• Afterward, uncheck the “Turn on fast startup (Recommended)” entry and click on Save Changes.
• Now restart your PC and check if the problem’s fixed.

Option 4 – Try running both the SFC scan and CHKDSK utility

You can do both SFC and CHKDSK using Safe Mode and Advanced Startup options. For Advanced Startup options, click on the Command Prompt option and proceed with the steps. And if you have booted your computer into Safe Mode, follow these steps:

• Tap the Win + X keys or right-click on the Start button and click Command Prompt (admin).
• After that, type in this command and tap Enter to run the System File Checker or SFC – “Sfc /scannow”.
• Alternatively, you can use this command instead if the previous command didn’t work – “sfc /scannow /offbootdir=c: /offwindir=c:windows”.
• Wait until the SFC scan is done with the process and then restart your PC.
• Next, run the CHKDSK utility and once it’s done checking your disk for errors and then reboot your PC to save the changes made.

Option 5 – Try resetting Windows 10

You can reset your Windows 10 PC using either the Advanced Startup Options or by booting into Safe Mode.

• Tap the Win + I keys and go to Update and Security > Recovery.
• Then click on Get Started under the Reset this PC section.
• After that, follow the on-screen instructions with how you want to reset your PC and what files and settings you want to revert.
• Then it will reset your PC by reinstalling it

Option 6 – Try to rename the SoftwareDistribution folder

In this option, the Command Prompt is supposed to be like the one in option 4. You can use both ways there to open the Command Prompt.

• Open an elevated Command Prompt as admin and type in the commands below and tap Enter right after you typed in each one of them
• net stop wuauserv
• net stop bits
• rename c:windowsSoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.bak
• net start wuauserv
• net start bits

Note: You can also rename the SoftwareDistribution folder to “SoftwareDistribution.bak” or “SoftwareDistribution.old” after you boot your PC into Safe Mode.

Option 7 – Try rebuilding BCD

Rebuilding the BCD can help you in fixing the stuck Windows 10.

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