Truth about private and incognito browsing

Enumerating user sessions to generate ...

There are times when the Windows Search doesn’t work and you wouldn’t have a clue as to why it happened since it does not give any error codes. In such cases, you have to check the error logs in the Event Viewer to find out more about the problem. From there, look for an error with the Event ID 3104 in the Windows error logs and if you see an error message that says, “Enumerating user sessions to generate filter pools failed”, read on as this post will guide you in fixing the problem. Apart from the error message, you might also see more information in the details section of the log that says, “(HRESULT: 0x80040210) (0x80040210)”. This kind of error is most likely caused by something that prohibits the search function from initializing. A lot of users assumed that it could be due to Cortana but it’s actually not. While some users also reported that they encounter the issue after they restarted their computers. This error was also reported with the same event ID 3104 on the Windows Server. According to security researchers, this error could be caused by problems in the Registry entry of Windows search. It could also be due to an issue with the SYSTEM account where it hasn’t been added to the DCOM Security. It is also possible that the Windows Search function has not been initialized. To fix this error, you can try to rebuild the Search Index manually or run the Search and Indexing troubleshooter. You can also check the startup type of the Windows Search service or try some registry tweak.

Option 1 – Try to rebuild the Search Index manually

The first thing you can do to fix the problem is to manually rebuild the Search Index. You can do that by going to Control Panel > Indexing Options and from there, click on Advanced. After that, go to the Index Settings tab and then click on Rebuild > OK. Once you’re done, check if it fixed the problem.

Option 2 – Try running the Search and Indexing troubleshooter

You could also run the Search and Indexing troubleshooter in Windows 10 as it checks whether the settings are in place and automatically corrects any issues with the Windows 10 search function. To run this troubleshooter, just click on the Start button and select Settings > Updates and Security > Troubleshoot. From there, select the Search and Indexing Troubleshooter. Once the troubleshooter is done, restart your computer and see if it fixed the error.

Option 3 – Try checking the startup type of the Windows Search Service

In this option, you have to check the startup type of the Windows Search service since the service won’t start. To do so, refer to these steps:

Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run utility and type “services.msc” in the field and then tap Enter to open the Services Manager.
Next, from the list of services, look for the Windows Search Service or WSearch. Once you find it, right-click on it and select Properties.
After that, change the Startup type to Automatic and click on the Start button if the service is in the Stop state.
Now click on the Apply and OK buttons to save the changes made and then restart your computer.

Option 4 – Try changing the Registry entry for Windows Search

Before you apply some registry tweak, you need to create a System Restore point first. Once you have that covered, follow these steps:

Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run utility and type “Regedit” in the field and tap Enter to open the Registry Editor.
If a User Account Control prompt appears, just click Yes to proceed.
After opening the Registry Editor, navigate to this registry path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows Search
From there, click on Windows Search and look for the key named “SetupCompletedSuccessfully” and change its value to “0”. Just right-click on it and select Modify.
Then input “0” as its value data and click on OK to save the changes made.
Exit the Registry Editor and restart your computer.
Now check if the Enumerating user sessions to generate filter pools failed is fixed or not.

Fix Screen Aspect Ratio issues in Windows

There are times when you upgrade or install Windows 10 on an old computer and the Aspect Ratio of the screen is in a mess. This issue occurs when a new Windows version does not support the GPU or the driver does not work in Windows 10. And in such cases, Windows uses a generic driver which does not support all the resolution as well as the correct aspect ratio. So in this post, you will be guided on how you can fix the issues with the screen aspect ratio in Windows 10. It could be that your screen has an aspect ratio of 16:9 but after the upgrade, you changed to screen resolution, and is now set to 16:!0. And later on, you found that you are unable to go back to the previous aspect ratio. Thus, you will notice that everything on the screen might look stretched. You might be wondering if it’s possible to change the aspect ratio in Windows 10 directly even if the GPU does not have the compatible driver, well it really isn’t. However there is another way to resolve the problem. Refer to the options given below to get started.

Option 1 – Try using the Compatibility Mode

The first thing you can do is to run the driver in a Compatibility Mode. Follow the steps below to do so:

You need to download the driver and place it on your desktop.
After that, right-click on it and select Properties.
Next, switch to the Compatibility tab where you should see two options:
- Compatibility troubleshooter, and let Windows figure out what works best for you. If it fails, follow the next.
- Manually choose the version of Windows it was correctly working.
You also have the option to change the DPI settings and see if that helps. Then click the Apply and OK buttons.
Now right-click on the file and select the “Run as administrator” option to install. After that, you should now be able to change your screen aspect ratio to what you were using early on.

Note: If you have other programs that won’t work on the existing version of Windows, then make sure to run the program in a Compatibility mode.

Option 2 – Try to run the Program Compatibility Troubleshooter

You might also want to run the Program Compatibility Troubleshooter. This built-in troubleshooter is available in the Windows Update & Security section. From there, select Troubleshoot. This will find a list of programs for you and since you have already downloaded the driver files, just click on Not Listed located at the top of the program list. After that, browse and select the driver files and then let the program do its job.

Option 3 – Update or rollback your device drivers

If the first option didn’t work for you, then it’s time to either update or roll back the device drivers. It is most likely that after you updated your Windows computer that your driver also needs a refresh. On the other hand, if you have just updated your device drivers then you need to roll back the drivers to their previous versions. Whichever applies to you, refer to the steps below.

Open the Devices Manager from the Win X Menu.
Then locate the device drivers and right-click on them to open the Properties.
After that, switch to the Driver tab and click on the Uninstall Device button.
Follow the screen option to completely uninstall it.
Finally, restart your computer. It will just reinstall the device drivers automatically.

Note: You can install a dedicated driver on your computer in case you have it or you could also look for it directly from the website of the manufacturer.

Cortana is Not Connecting to the Internet

Recently, a number of Windows 10 users reported that they were not able to use Cortana properly because it wasn’t able to connect to the internet. According to these users, Cortana won’t connect to the internet even when their internet connection is stable. According to security experts, this issue is confirmed to occur only with Microsoft accounts. This problem might have something to do with a proxy server that interferes with Cortana. There were reports that this issue was caused by a proxy that was filtering the network connection which also happens to interfere with Cortana’s ability to adapt search results and queries based on the user’s location. It could also be caused by some glitch in the home network or your Microsoft account information is inconsistent or your Microsoft account has to be verified. Here are some suggestions that could help fix the connection issue in Cortana, just start with the first one and work your way down until you encounter an option that fixes the problem.

Option 1 – Restart or reset your modem or router

The first thing you can try is restarting or resetting your modem or router. All you have to do is unplug the power cable of the modem and then plug it back in after a few seconds. You could also use the reset button of the modem at the back if it is one. But before you press the reset button, keep in mind that it will erase all the connection credentials and it will be set back to its default settings. After rebooting the network, you can restart your computer to force your modem or router to reassign an IP address to your computer.

Option 2 – Restart Cortana

Restarting Cortana can help you resolve the issue.

To restart Cortana, open the Task Manager, right-click on Cortana and select the “End process” option.
Then go to the File tab and select “Run new task”.
After that, type in “cortana.exe” and press Enter to restart the process.

Option 3 – Try to remove Proxy

Removing the Proxy might also help you in fixing the connection issue in Cortana. Here’s how you can do it:

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

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

Option 4 – Open another app that uses a Microsoft account

This might seem like an odd fix, however, a couple of users tried doing this and it worked for them as it allowed Cortana to connect to the internet again. In this option, you just have to launch another app that uses your Microsoft account information in the same way as Cortana, for instance, the Store app. Once you open the app, a prompt should appear along with a dialog box that allows you to update your Microsoft account with the information required. After that, restart your computer and check if Cortana is now able to connect to the internet or not.

Option 5 – Verify your Microsoft account

In some cases, Cortana might not be able to connect to the internet because your Microsoft account is no longer verified. This usually happens when you use a two-step authentication system with your Microsoft account. To verify it, just open Settings and click on Accounts. After that, check if you have a Verify hyperlink under your Microsoft account or not then click on Verify. Afterward, follow the next on-screen prompts to verify your Microsoft account. Once your account is verified, restart your computer.

Option 6 – Reset Cortana settings

Open Cortana and go to the Settings section where you’ll see the “Turning off Cortana clears what Cortana knows on this device, but won’t delete anything from the Notebook. After Cortana is off, you can decide what you’d like to do with anything still stored in the cloud” option. Turn this option off.
Restart your PC.
After your computer boots, launch Cortana again and check.

Changing color of START menu in Windows 10

The new Windows 10 update has brought some fixes, improvements, and little things to personalize our computer more. One of these personalization updates we have received is that we can now finally change the color of our START menu and taskbar and it is easy as 1,2,3. In order to change and personalize your START menu and/or title bars all you have to do is click on your windows icon to bring the start menu up and then click on settings.

Once you are in setting windows go to personalization settings.

Windows 10 settings menu with marked Personalization group

When the personalization setting opens go-to color tab on left and scroll down until you find 2 checkboxes under "show accent color on the following surfaces:" Windows 10 Color settings marked with options

Windows 10 Color settings marked with options

check ones you wish to apply the effect to and you are done. Now your START menu and/or title bars are using the color scheme of your choice.

Fix mfewfpk.sys, Epfwwfp.sys Errors in Windows

If you suddenly encounter a Blue Screen error that points out to either the mfewfpk.sys and epfwwfp.sys files, then this post might help. Both of these files are created by third-party software. The mfewfpk.sys file is created by the McAfee security software while the epfwwfp.sys is created by the ESET Antivirus. These files are residual files and sometimes it blocks upgrading Windows 10. Aside from blocking Windows 10 upgrade/update, these files can also cause a Blue Screen error after an upgrade which leaves your Windows 10 computer useless. When you get a Blue Screen error caused by any of these files, you will see an accompanying error message that states, “DRIVER IRQL NOT LESS OR EQUAL”. To fix this Blue Screen error, you can check out the suggestions laid out below but before you do that, you need to create a System Restore point first as it can help you undo any unwanted changes. In addition, make sure to also boot your computer into Safe Mode with Networking before you troubleshoot.

Option 1 – Try to remove the epfwwfp.sys file

You can try to remove the epfwwfp.sys file using Command Prompt. To do so, refer to the following steps:

Right-click on the Start button and click on Command Prompt (Admin) from the menu to open Command Prompt with admin privileges.
Next, type the following command and hit Enter to delete the epfwwfp.sys file:

DEL /F /S /Q /A “%systemroot%System32driversepfwwfp.sys”

After the scan is completed, restart your computer and see if it fixed the Blue Screen error.

Note: You can also use the ESET AV Remover tool to uninstall Eset security software to remove the epfwwfp.sys file.

Option 2 – Try to remove the mfewfpk.sys file

The same with the first option, you can remove the mfewfpk.sys file using CMD.

First, right-click on the Start button and click on Command Prompt (Admin) from the menu to open Command Prompt with admin privileges.
After, type the following command and hit Enter to delete the epfwwfp.sys file:

DEL /F /S /Q /A “%systemroot%System32driversmfewfpk.sys”

Once the scan is completed, restart your computer and see if it fixed the Stop error.

Note: You also have the option to remove the mfewfpk.sys file using McAfee Product Removal tool to uninstall the McAfee security software. All you have to do is download the McAfee Product Removal tool and run it and then follow the onscreen instructions to install it. Once it is installed, click on Next. After you select the radio button to agree to the terms of use, click on Next once again. Finally, restart your computer and check if it is able to resolve the problem or not.

Option 3 – Run the Blue Screen Troubleshooter

Troubleshooting Blue Screen of Death errors wouldn’t be complete without the Blue Screen troubleshooter. As you know, it is a built-in tool in Windows 10 that helps users in fixing BSOD errors. It can be found on 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.

Option 4 – Try running the DISM tool

You can try running the Deployment Imaging and Servicing Management or DISM tool to fix the Blue Screen error. Using this built-in tool, you have various options such as the “/ScanHealth”, “/CheckHealth”, and “/RestoreHealth”.

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.

Step by Step Guide for Removing MyFunCardsToolbar

MyFunCards Toolbar is a browser hijacking extension for Google Chrome made by Mindspark Interactive. This extension installs a toolbar for your browser, changes your default search engine, and lowers the general performance of your browser. This extension has access to your personal information, injects your search results with potentially dangerous ads, and possibly breaks some of the browser functions. Since this extension injects its code into too many files and has access to all your browser details, upon removing it you will lose all your browser settings, themes, and login information. MyFunCards is considered a potentially unwanted application, and as a result, is flagged for optional removal by many anti-malware programs.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijacking is amongst the web’s constant problems that target internet browsers. It is a type of malware program that alters your web browser’s settings so that you are redirected to internet sites or pages that you had no intention of checking out. There are many reasons why you may have a browser hijack; however commercial, marketing, and advertising are the main reasons for their creation. It redirects you to the sponsored sites and injects advertisements on the browser that assists its developer to generate revenue. Even though it may seem naive, these tools were created by vicious people who always look to take advantage of you, so that they can easily earn money from your naivety and distraction. They not only mess up your browsers, but browser hijackers can also modify the computer registry to make your PC susceptible to various other types of attacks.

Key symptoms that an internet browser has been hijacked

When your web browser is hijacked, the following might happen: 1. the home page of the browser is changed all of a sudden 2. your internet browser is constantly being redirected to adult sites 3. the default search engine has been changed and the web browser security settings have been cut down without your knowledge 4. unwanted new toolbars are added to your browser 5. your browser will display endless pop-up ads 6. your internet browser has become unstable or starts running slowly 7. You cannot access certain websites, in particular anti-malware sites.

How browser hijacker finds its way onto your computer system

A browser hijacker could be installed on your PC if you visit an infected site, click an e-mail attachment, or download something from a file-sharing website. They could also be deployed via the installation of a web browser toolbar, add-on, or extension. A browser hijacker can be installed as a part of freeware, demoware, shareware, and fake programs. Common examples of browser hijackers include Conduit, CoolWebSearch, Coupon Server, OneWebSearch, RocketTab, Snap.do, Delta Search, and Searchult.com. Browser hijacking can cause severe privacy issues and even identity theft, disrupt your web browsing experience by taking control of outgoing traffic, significantly slows down your personal computer by depleting lots of resources and result in system instability as well.

Browser hijacker removal methods

Certain hijackers can be removed by just uninstalling the corresponding freeware or add-ons through the Add or Remove Programs in the Windows control panel. Having said that, the majority of hijackers are quite tenacious and require specialized applications to eradicate them. Moreover, browser hijackers can modify the Computer registry therefore it can be quite hard to repair manually, especially when you’re not a tech-savvy individual.

Malware Blocking Internet And All Antivirus Software? Do This!

All malware is inherently dangerous, but certain kinds of malicious software do more damage to your computer than others. Some malware goes to great lengths to prevent you from installing anything on your computer system, especially anti-virus software programs. If you’re reading this article, you may have got affected by malware that prevents you from downloading a security program such as Safebytes Antimalware on your PC. There are a few options you can try to get around with this particular obstacle.

Install the anti-virus in Safe Mode

If any malware is set to load immediately when Windows starts, stepping into Safe Mode could block the attempt. Just bare minimum required applications and services are loaded when you start your personal computer in Safe Mode. You will have to do the following to eliminate malware in Safe mode. 1) After switching on the computer, press the F8 key before the Windows splash screen begins to load. This should bring up the Advanced Boot Options menu. 2) Use the arrow keys to select Safe Mode with Networking and hit ENTER. 3) As soon as this mode loads, you will have an internet connection. Now, make use of your browser normally and go to https://safebytes.com/products/anti-malware/ to download and install Safebytes Anti-Malware. 4) As soon as the software is installed, allow the scan run to eliminate viruses and other threats automatically.

Use an alternate web browser to download security application

Malicious program code might exploit vulnerabilities on a specific web browser and block access to all antivirus software websites. If you are not able to download the anti-malware application using Internet Explorer, it means malware could be targeting IE’s vulnerabilities. Here, you need to switch over to a different web browser like Firefox or Chrome to download Safebytes software.

Make a bootable USB antivirus drive

Another option is to create a portable antivirus program on your USB stick. Adopt these measures to employ a USB flash drive to clean your corrupted computer system. 1) Download Safebytes Anti-Malware or MS Windows Defender Offline onto a clean computer system. 2) Plug the Flash drive into the clean computer. 3) Run the setup program by double-clicking the executable file of the downloaded software, with an .exe file format. 4) Select the USB flash drive as the location for saving the software file. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation. 5) Now, plug the USB drive into the corrupted system. 6) Run the Safebytes Anti-malware directly from the thumb drive by double-clicking the icon. 7) Run Full System Scan to detect and get rid of all kinds of malware.

SafeBytes Anti-Malware: Lightweight Malware Protection for Windows Computer

Nowadays, anti-malware software can protect your computer from various forms of online threats. But exactly how to select the best one among numerous malware protection application that is available in the market? You may be aware, there are lots of anti-malware companies and tools for you to consider. Some of them are great and some are scamware applications that pretend as authentic anti-malware software waiting around to wreak havoc on your computer. While looking for an anti-malware program, pick one which gives dependable, efficient, and total protection against all known computer viruses and malware. One of the strongly recommended software is SafeBytes Anti-Malware. SafeBytes has a really good history of excellent service, and customers are happy with it. SafeBytes anti-malware is a powerful, very effective protection application created to assist users of all levels of IT literacy in finding and removing harmful threats from their PC. Using its outstanding protection system, this utility will easily detect and remove most of the security threats, which include viruses, adware, browser hijackers, PUPs, trojans, worms, and ransomware. SafeBytes has great features when compared with various other anti-malware programs. Below are a few of the best ones: Active Protection: SafeBytes provides a completely hands-free live protection that is set to monitor, prevent and destroy all computer threats at its very first encounter. They are very effective in screening and eliminating different threats because they’re continuously revised with new updates and alerts. Anti-Malware Protection: With its enhanced and sophisticated algorithm, this malware removal tool can identify and eliminate the malware threats hiding in your PC effectively. SuperSpeed Scanning: This application has one of the fastest and most effective virus scanning engines in the industry. The scans are extremely accurate and take a short amount of time to complete. Safe Web Browsing: Safebytes allots all websites with a unique safety ranking that helps you to have an idea of whether the website you’re about to visit is safe to view or known to be a phishing site. Lightweight: SafeBytes gives you total protection from internet threats at a fraction of the CPU load because of its advanced detection engine and algorithms. 24/7 Premium Support: Skilled technicians are at your disposal 24/7! They will quickly resolve any technical issues you might be encountering with your security software.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you wish to manually remove MyFunCardsToolbar without the use of an automated tool, it may be possible to do so by removing the program from the Windows Add/Remove Programs menu, or in cases of browser extensions, going to the browsers AddOn/Extension manager and removing it. You will likely also want to reset your browser. To ensure the complete removal, manually check your hard drive and registry for all of the following and remove or reset the values accordingly. Please note that this is for advanced users only and may be difficult, with incorrect file removal causing additional PC errors. In addition, some malware is capable of replicating or preventing deletion. Doing this in Safe Mode is advised.

The following files, folders, and registry entries are created or modified by MyFunCardsToolbar

Files: C:Program FilesFunWebProductsInstallr.binF3EZSETP.DLL C:Program FilesFunWebProductsInstallr.binF3EZSETP.DL_ C:Program Files C:Program FilesFunWebProducts C:PROGRA~1FUNWEB~1Installr.binF3EZSETP.DL_ C:Program FilesFunWebProductsInstallr.binF3EZSETP.DLL Registry: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareFunWebProductsInstaller HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersion HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftware HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoft HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindows HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersion HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExt HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtPreApproved HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtPreApproved1D4DB7D2-6EC9-47a3-BD87-1E41684E07BB HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftware HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoft HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindows HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersion HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExt HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtSettings HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtSettings1D4DB7D2-6EC9-47a3-BD87-1E41684E07BB HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTFunWebProductsInstaller.Start.1 HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTFunWebProductsInstaller.Start.1CLSID HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTFunWebProductsInstaller.Start HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTFunWebProductsInstaller.StartCLSID HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTFunWebProductsInstaller.StartCurVer HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID1D4DB7D2-6EC9-47a3-BD87-1E41684E07BB HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID1D4DB7D2-6EC9-47a3-BD87-1E41684E07BBProgID HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID1D4DB7D2-6EC9-47a3-BD87-1E41684E07BBVersionIndependentProgID HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID1D4DB7D2-6EC9-47a3-BD87-1E41684E07BBProgrammable HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID1D4DB7D2-6EC9-47a3-BD87-1E41684E07BBInprocServer32 HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID1D4DB7D2-6EC9-47a3-BD87-1E41684E07BBControl HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID1D4DB7D2-6EC9-47a3-BD87-1E41684E07BBMiscStatus HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID1D4DB7D2-6EC9-47a3-BD87-1E41684E07BBMiscStatus HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID1D4DB7D2-6EC9-47a3-BD87-1E41684E07BBTypeLib HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID1D4DB7D2-6EC9-47a3-BD87-1E41684E07BBVersion HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftOLEAUT HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTTypeLib HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTTypeLib1D4DB7D0-6EC9-47A3-BD87-1E41684E07BB HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTTypeLib1D4DB7D0-6EC9-47A3-BD87-1E41684E07BB.0 HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTTypeLib1D4DB7D0-6EC9-47A3-BD87-1E41684E07BB.0FLAGS HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTTypeLib1D4DB7D0-6EC9-47A3-BD87-1E41684E07BB.0C:Program FilesFunWebProductsInstallr.binF3EZSETP.DLL C:Program FilesFunWebProductsInstallr.binF3EZSETP.DL_ C:Program Files C:Program FilesFunWebProducts C:PROGRA~1FUNWEB~1Installr.binF3EZSETP.DL_ C:Program FilesFunWebProductsInstallr.binF3EZSETP.DLL HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareFunWebProductsInstaller HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersion HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftware HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoft HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindows 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Fix Windows Updates Error code 0x80246007

Downloading Windows Updates does not always go smoothly as you can encounter several issues like the “Some updates did not finish downloading, We will keep trying, Error code 0x80246007” error. In fact, this error can also occur on other Windows applications like OneNote. According to security experts, this error happens for many reasons. For one, it could be that the Windows Update database is corrupted. It could also be that there is another process that’s in conflict with the Windows Update components or there might be some issue with the Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS). Whichever the cause may be, you can fix it by following the solutions given below.

Option 1 – Delete the contents in the Temporary folder

You can also try deleting the contents in the Temporary folder – all the downloaded, pending, or failed Windows 10 updates. You can do that using the simple and easy steps below.

Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
Then type “%temp%” in the field and press Enter to open the Temporary folder.
After that, select all the folders and files within the Temp folder and delete all of them.

Option 2 – Try running the Windows Update Troubleshooter

Running the built-in Windows Update troubleshooter is one of the things you can first check out as it is known to automatically resolve any Windows Update errors like Error code 0x80246007. 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.

Option 3 – Try renaming or removing the pending .xml file

The problem might be due to some pending .xml file so you need to rename or remove it. To do so, just go to C:/Windows/WinSxS folder. From there, look for a pending .xml file – you can either rename it or delete it. This will allow the Windows Update to delete any pending tasks and build a new and fresh update check.

Option 4 – Restart the Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS)

The Background Intelligent Transfer Service or BITS is a part of the Windows Update service that manages the background download of Windows Update, as well as scans for new updates and so on. Thus, if your Windows Update fails a couple of times, you might want to restart BITS. For you to do that, make sure that you have admin privileges.

Press the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
Then type “msc” in the field and hit Enter to open Services.
After opening Services, look for the Background Intelligent Transfer Service from the list of services and then double click on it to open Properties.
Next, set the Startup type to Manual and click on the Start button. If it doesn’t help, you can try setting it to Automatic (Delayed) and then reboot your PC.

Option 5 – Run the DISM tool

Running the DISM Tool 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”.

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 6 – Delete the files from the Software Distribution folder

The downloaded Windows Updates are placed in a folder called “SoftwareDistribution”. The files downloaded in this folder are automatically deleted once the installation is completed. However, if the files are not clean up or if the installation is still pending, you can delete all the files in this folder after you pause the Windows Update service. For complete instructions, refer to the steps below.

Open the WinX Menu.
From there, open Command Prompt as admin.
Then type in the following command – don’t forget to hit Enter right after typing each one of them.

net stop wuauserv net start cryptSvc net start bits net start msiserver

After entering these commands, it will stop the Windows Update Service, Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS), Cryptographic, and the MSI Installer
Next, go to the C:/Windows/SoftwareDistribution folder and get rid of all the folders and files thereby tapping the Ctrl + A keys to select them all and then click on Delete. Note that if the files are in use, you won’t be able to delete them.

Option 7 – Reset the Catroot2 folder

After resetting the SoftwareDistribution folder, you need to reset the Catroot2 folder to restart the services you just stopped. To do that, follow these steps:

Type each one of the following commands.

net start wuauserv net start cryptSvc net start bits net start msiserver

After that, exit Command Prompt and restart your computer, and then try to run Windows Update once more.

How to Resolve Socket Error 10060

Socket Error 10060 - What is it?

Socket Error 10060 is basically a connection time-out error. This error occurs when the remote FTP server does not respond to CuteFTP. This time-out error occurs after an FTP session is established but even the server doesn’t respond. The error message is displayed in the following format:

‘Connection timed out. A connection attempt failed because the connected party did not properly respond after a period of time, or established connection failed because connected host failed to respond.’

Solution

Error Causes

Socket Error 10060 may occur due to multiple reasons including:

Blocked port
Data connection incorrect settings
When the web proxy connection setting does not allow enough time to receive a response from the destination website and therefore the connection is timed-out.
Registry issues
Viral infection

Further Information and Manual Repair

Here are some of the best and quick DIY methods to resolve Socket Error 10060 on your PC.

Method 1: Troubleshoot the Web Proxy Connection

This method is workable and effective if Socket Error 10060 occurs only when the web proxy service is used. To execute it, here’s what you need to do: install the Winsock Proxy Client on your PC. Disable the web proxy settings under the LAN settings on the Connections tab of the internet options. Once you disable the settings, then try to go to the website that you giving you the error. If the site is accessible, the error is resolved.

Method 2: Increase Web Proxy Time out Settings

If disabling the web proxy settings doesn’t work, then try increasing time-out settings. To do so, you will also have to modify the registry. Remember serious problems may occur if you modify the registry incorrectly.

Here’s what you need to do, click start, run and then type Regedit in the dialogue box.
Navigate to the following registry subkey: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetServicesW3ProxyParameters.
On the right side of the Registry Editor, right-click Request TimeoutSecs and then click Modify.
Click decimal, they type the number of seconds that you want the proxy service to wait until the session times out.
To confirm changes, click OK.
Now restart WWW publishing service by going to start, run and type cmd. Click OK to continue.
Type net stop iisadmin/y and then press enter. After that type net start iisadmin /y and then press enter. Test the new settings by going to the website that displayed the Socket Error 10060 message.

Method 3: Switch from Passive Mode to Active Port Mode

This method is effective if the error occurs due to incorrect data connection settings. CuteFTP uses passive mode by default so to ensure the error is resolved, you may have to switch from passive mode to active port mode. To make this switch, open the site manager and then click once on the name of the problem website. Now on the Type tab change the data connection type to use the port.

Method 4: Configure Firewall Settings

Sometimes the error may also occur due to Firewall. To resolve, configure Firewall settings to allow FTP protocol.

Method 5: Download Restoro

Whether the error occurs due to viral infection or registry issues, it is advisable to download Restoro. This is an advanced and multi-functional PC fixer embedded with multiple utilities like antivirus and a registry cleaner. The registry cleaning utility removes junk files, cookies, and invalid entries damaging the registry. It cleans, repairs, and restores the registry while the antivirus removes all types of viruses like spyware and Trojans in seconds thereby resolving socket error code 10060. It is safe, user-friendly, and compatible with all Windows versions. Click here to download Restoro today.

Best MMO games to play during this winter

How summer is slowly slipping away and winter is coming people will spend more time indoors, and on top of that delta variant of Covid-19 is rampaging through the world. Being the gamer is now maybe the best time to be, sitting in the comfort of your home, safely isolated from viruses and people, just pushing buttons and emerging yourself in a vast world and new adventures. But games cost money, and sometimes being a gamer can be expensive, also the COVID situation makes it even more difficult to spend some time with friends. Do not worry, we are here to help. I am presenting you the list of MMO games that you should try or play during this COVID Winter, and since they are MMO games, you can play them with your friends and hang out in the virtual world. Some of them are also free to play so they will not cost you any money to enjoy them. The following list is not set in any particular order and remember that this is not a ranked list. There is no best MMO and I will not try to place any of these titles as one dominant, I will just point their style and who they might be for, it is up to you to decide which one you will pick and enjoy.

Best MMO’s in no particular order

EVE Online

EVE Online is one of the earliest MMO games out there but since its release, it is still actively developed and is receiving updates. This science-fiction Sandbox will offer space lovers everything they need and more. Large scale PvP, mining, pirating, etc. It can be daunting and complex for beginners but take your time to get familiar with its systems and you will be rewarded greatly with an immersive and complex game worth the time. Open PvP in some zones might not be everyone’s cup of tea and seeing only your ship might be a turn-off for some players, but if you do not mind these things give it a go. It is free to play with an item shop.

Final Fantasy XIV

FF14 had a tough start, so tough that it was scrapped and destroyed and has been remade again and that idea was great. The game now is better than ever and at this time it is experiencing large players from other games surging into it. This on the rails fantasy MMO will offer you a great story and great leveling experience. It has a free trial where you can play the whole original game for free but if you wish to continue playing you will have to buy the expansion and pay a monthly subscription but the content is well worth the money.

World of Warcraft

Let’s be honest, not a single list of MMO games cannot be without a once greatest and most successful MMO ever made, World of Warcraft. But instead of me praising the game why it was the greatest and why you should play it and how great it is I am going to take a little different approach. I am going to recommend you World of Warcraft classic, yup, you read it correctly, classic. Now World of Warcraft is a retail game with a subscription service but with that one subscription you will be able to access three games in the World of Warcraft universe: World of Warcraft retail (standard game), World of Warcraft Classic (vanilla WOW without expansions offering you experience as it once was when it was released) and World of Warcraft the Burning Crusade classic (same as WOW classic but with the first expansion the Burning Crusade). Among all solutions, I would really urge you to play either WOW classic or WOW TBC classic simply for reason that they are far superior games in comparison to typical retail ones, but if you like easier game go for retail, it is included in the sub anyway.

Guild Wars 2

Guild Wars 1 was one of my favorite games and I sank a lot of times in it and once Guild Wars 2 came I must admit I was pleasantly surprised with it and I would recommend it highly. The base game is completely free to play with only expansion to be purchased and it is buy to play model without monthly fees. It has specific mechanics different from other games and interesting classes to try. The living world is a great feature of the game and it is still very strong with its player base.

Star Wars: old republic

This game is made for people who enjoy, love, and like Star Wars. Mechanically besides being able to have henchmen with you and space battles (which I do not really like how they are done) game itself does not offer anything special. Where it shines is in the story and overall Star Wars experience. If you look at this game as a single-player game with multiplayer dungeons you will have a great time, since the story is really good but sadly end game lacks in comparison.

Elder Scrolls Online

Blackwood-release-date-on-TESO-when-will-the-new-chapter

I am going to admit something here, I was not fond of the idea to make the beloved Elder Scrolls series into MMO, but in time I gave it a go and I am really glad I did. This game is great and it is getting better and better as time progresses. It is buy to play without monthly fees and basic game free, same as FF14 but without fees. It has a decent community and offers a really good Elder Scrolls experience and now it is packing Morrowind expansions and other great areas. Highly recommended for any Elder Scrolls fan.

Lord of the Rings Online

This one is troublesome to recommend, on one side you have free to play games deeply inside Tolkien Lord of the Rings lore, on the other side, you have outdated graphics and some stupid item shop decisions like buys specific classes. But if you look past stupid item shop decisions and can live with playing free class in the game you will be pleasantly surprised. The game itself is surprisingly good, the story is great as expected from the game infused with lore taken from one of the best books series ever written, and the feeling when visiting iconic landscape is epic. But if I need to be real as I should, I would recommend this one to people appreciate good story and lore and ones that are fans of Lord of the Rings itself.

Neverwinter

Neverwinter is a premium and licensed D&D MMO game and it is well strange. The free-to-play model of the game will let you enjoy it until you hit the end game, then you will have to shell real money if you want to be competitive but the journey until then is great. I would recommend it to D&D lovers and people that love to try other people's maps, yup you read it correctly. Neverwinter has a map editor making it one of a kind MMO game where you can create your own dungeons and post them for other players to play, this user-generated content makes it a very specific beast in this list, and for that feature alone it has my recommendation.

Tera

Another one of the older titles, Tera will offer you nor depth nor anything new in terms of leveling, quests, or end game except… the COMBAT. This is maybe the greatest MMO Combat game ever created and it is quite fascinating that even after so many years no other game has managed to create a better combat system than one of Tera. If you enjoy action combat and like some specific aesthetics Tera is a game for you.

Albion

Albion is a sandbox game with open-world PvP and building mechanics where you can build your own forest, house, etc. You know, sandbox stuff, including a lot of crafting and well, other sandbox stuff. If you want great quests and some occasional play then skip Albion, this game is made for a more hardcore player base not being afraid to die and spend some time crafting and going through the economy. The best comparison might be with EVE but in fantasy settings.

Black Desert

Black Desert is also a sandbox game but different from Albion, here you can organize and hire a workforce and send them to different nodes on a map to harvest resources and build an economy while you are on some epic adventure. Housing is also included but you can buy already made houses instead of making your own in the world. Combat is a game that comes very close to Tera combat and it is very enjoyable. The end game is money sink and PvP based so be careful when choosing this one.

Secret World Legends

the-secret-world-relaunching-as-1200x675

If you like occult and supernatural with new world order themes and conspiracy theories, Secret World Legends is the game for you. Somewhat little clunky its setting and story really set it apart in many many ways. It has semi-action combat and it is free to play with item shop but all the content can be experienced for free. Recommended for fans of deeper gameplay and horror lore.

Runescape

When I said no MMO list can be without World of Warcraft, it also cannot be without Runescape, one of the oldest games it was revamped with newer mechanics and graphics, free to play all the way and you can also pick old school Runescape if you really want to go all the way on a nostalgia trip. I would recommend a newer one for newer players, the game offers a great story and unusual quests infused with puzzles and interesting storylines. If you like really good quest design without fetch and grind quests along with interesting story this is a game for you.

AION

Last on my list would be AION, a very interesting game made also a long way back, but the fact that is completely free with the cosmetic shop will make it as one to recommend since you can experience the whole game for free. It has some limited flying mechanics in it and later game zone are open PvP zones, story is interesting and leveling process is enjoyable. Also game itself is not really easy and if not careful you can get yourself in danger quite quickly. Recommended for old-school feeling.

Conclusion

That's it, there are many more MMO games out there but some are on verge of closing down and some are plainly bad. I hope that I have made your choice easier and that you will find one or a few from this list to spend your time in it. Remember, stay safe and take care of yourself.

T-Mobile Hack, 40 Million and more Impacted

Hacker group recently came up with claims that they have stolen data from 100 million T-Mobile customers. T-Mobile has responded with confirmation it has been compromised and that over 40 million records were stolen, among them are not just present customers, but anyone who has applied for T-Mobile service as well as past accounts.

What has been stolen?

Report from T-Mobile states that stolen records included first and last name, date of birth, social security number, driver’s license & ID information. The company said that it has “no indication that the data contained in the stolen files included any customer financial information, credit card information, debit or other payment information.” Not really a reassuring statement meaning that they really do not know, but even if the statement is true, already stolen information is as much if even not more damaging and devastating as payment information.

What T-Mobile is planning to do now?

It is stated that the hole used for the hack has been addressed and closed so no more data can be stolen. Considering people that had their personal information compromised, T-Mobile said it is planning to reach out to them and offer them two years of free identity protection through McAfee’s ID Theft Protection Service. Additionally, T-Mobile recommends postpaid customers change their PIN by going online into their T-Mobile account or calling T-Mobile customer service by dialing 611 on their phone. The company also recommends a feature called Account Takeover Protection that prevents unauthorized individuals from stealing a phone number and porting it out of T-Mobile. Finally, the company will publish a website “for one-stop information and solutions to help customers take steps to further protect themselves.”

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