Uninstalling the Weather App in Windows

One of the useful things you can use on your laptop is touchpads. They help users in achieving tasks through the gestures and multi-finger tap or touch support it brings in the scope for various shortcuts. However, not all times touchpad brings productivity as it can also encounter some issue every now and then. One of these issues has been reported on a couple of Lenovo laptops that use touchpad drivers from the Alps Pointing Device. According to the reports, an error saying, “Set user settings to driver failed” when they use the touchpad. This type of error on the touchpad usually occurs when a computer boots up and it could be caused by a faulty update on the Alps pointing device driver which is being installed in the background. To fix this error on the touchpad, you could try to disable the Alps pointing device entry from the MSConfig or you could try to get the latest version of the driver or uninstall the driver altogether. Before you proceed with the troubleshooting tips given below, make sure that you create a System Restore point first. Once you have that covered, proceed to the following options.

Option 1 – Try disabling the entry of the Alps pointing device from MSConfig

This first given option was able to fix the problem for many users so to get started, follow these steps:

• In the Start Search box, type “MSConfig” and select System Configuration from the search results.
• Next, go to the Services tab and look for the Alps pointing device entry from the list that appears, and uncheck it.
• Then click the Apply and OK buttons to save the changes made.
• Now restart your computer and see if the error in the touchpad is now fixed.

Option 2 – Try to download and install the latest version of the driver

The next option you can check out to fix the error is to download and install the latest version of the driver from the official website of Lenovo support. Note that an updated version of the touchpad driver will most likely get rid of the error. However, you have to make sure that the version you’re going to get is compatible with your existing Windows version.

Option 3 – Try to uninstall the Alps Pointing device driver

If the first two given options didn’t work, you can try uninstalling the Alps Pointing-device driver instead. You can do this under the Mice and other pointing devices section. After you uninstall the driver, restart your computer and delete the driver’s leftover folder inside this location in File Explorer (C:/Program Files). Once you’re done, restart your computer and check if the error is now gone. Keep in mind that after you’ve uninstalled the driver, any extra configuration features that Lenovo drivers offered before the uninstallation will no longer be available.

If you are trying to log into your user account on your Windows 10 computer but encountered an error message instead that says, “Your account has been disabled, Please see your system administrator”, read on as this post will guide you on how you can fix this problem. In this kind of scenario, you won’t be able to access your data unless you have access to the administrator account. This problem could be caused by several problems. It is possible that malware has infected your computer and has changed some settings in your computer, especially if your system has been under a malware attack not too long ago. The malware could’ve changed the “Account is disabled” option. The only thing you can do to resolve this kind of problem is to log into your computer using another administrator account and then change the setting. However, if you don’t have a second administrator account, you can just enable the built-in hidden administrator account on your computer. You shouldn’t have any problem enabling the hidden administrator account as it is quite easy when you can log into your account. And in this post, you will be guided on how you can enable the hidden administrator account using the Registry Editor to fix the “Your account has been disabled, Please see your system administrator” error.

To get started, follow the instructions given below.

1. First, you need to start your computer and ensure that you are on the error screen. From there, you will see the Power options located on the right-hand side.
2. Click on the Power options and tap and hold the Shift key and then select Restart.
3. After that, the Advanced Boot Options will appear and from there select Troubleshoot > Command Prompt.
4. Next, you have to select your user account and enter the user account’s password to open Command Prompt.
5. After opening Command Prompt, open your screen and type “Regedit” and then tap Enter on your keyboard.
6. Now select the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE in the Registry Editor and go to File > Load Hive.
7. Afterward, you have to open the Windows installation drive and go to the location – WindowsSystem32Config
8. From there, you should find a file named “SAM” – select this file and click the Open button.
9. Next, you have to enter a key name. You can just input whatever you prefer.
10. Once done, navigate to this path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINEkey_nameSAMDomainsAccountUsers
11. From this path, you will see a key named “000001F4” – select this key and double click on the “F” entry that you can find on the right-hand side of the screen.
12. After that, look for the value data line labeled “0038” which should show 11 in the first column. You have to replace it with 10.
13. Once done, click on the OK button and close the Registry Editor and the Command Prompt to restart your computer.
14. Now once your computer has restarted, sign in to the Administrator account and open the Computer Management window. You can just search for it using the search bar in the Taskbar.
15. After you open Computer Management, go to Local Users and Groups > Users – where you can find all the user accounts. Look for your deleted user account and right-click on it and select Properties and then unmark the checkbox that says “Account is disabled”. This should fix the problem.

Premiere Download Manager is a Browser Extension that comes bundled with Premiere Download Manager Potentially unwanted program, and other unwanted applications and extensions. This program was developed by Mindspark Interactive and offers users the ability to download files off the internet through the Download Manager provided. It also changes the home page and defaults the search engine to Myway.com.

This bundle monitors the user’s activity, and while the extension has access to your browsing activity, clicked links, visited pages, etc. the application itself has access to all the files that you downloaded, and have on your computer. This gathered data is later sent back to Mindspark’s servers where it is used to better target ads for users.

While installed, you will run into additional, sponsored links, and even pop-up ads while browsing the internet. Though it is not considered malware, it contains many behaviors disliked by users and is labeled as potentially unwanted. This bundle has been marked as a Browser Hijacker by several anti-virus applications and is therefore recommended to remove from your PC.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijacking is actually a form of unwanted software program, commonly a browser add-on or extension, which causes modifications in web browser’s settings. Browser hijacker malware is designed for many different reasons. Often, hijackers will force hits to sites of their preference either to increase web traffic producing higher ad revenue, or to obtain a commission for each and every user visiting there. Although it may seem naive, these tools are made by malicious people who always attempt to take full advantage of you, so that they can earn money from your naivety and distraction. Some browser hijackers are designed to make particular modifications beyond the web browsers, like changing entries in the computer registry and permitting other types of malware to further damage your computer.

Key symptoms that your internet browser has been hijacked

There are numerous symptoms that indicate your web browser is highjacked: the home page of the browser is changed all of a sudden; your browser is constantly being redirected to pornography sites; the default web engine has been changed and the browser security settings have been lowered without your knowledge; you’re getting browser toolbars you have never noticed before; you find lots of pop-up ads on your screen; your browser gets slow, buggy, crashes very often; You can’t access certain sites, in particular anti-virus websites.

Exactly how they get into your computer or laptop

There are several ways your computer or laptop can become infected by a browser hijacker. They generally arrive through spam email, via file-sharing networks, or by a drive-by download. They may also originate from any BHO, extension, toolbar, add-on, or plug-in with malicious purpose. Sometimes you may have mistakenly accepted a browser hijacker as part of an application bundle (usually freeware or shareware). Browser hijackers could affect the user’s web browsing experience significantly, monitor the websites frequented by users and steal financial information, cause difficulty in connecting to the net, and then finally create stability issues, making applications and computers freeze.

Removing browser hijackers

Certain browser hijacking can be quite easily reversed by finding and removing the corresponding malware application through your control panel. However, many hijackers are extremely tenacious and require specialized applications to eradicate them. Also, browser hijackers might modify the Computer registry therefore it could be very hard to restore all of the values manually, especially when you are not a very tech-savvy person. Installing and running antivirus applications on the affected system could automatically delete browser hijackers and also other unwanted applications. SafeBytes Anti-Malware discovers all types of hijackers – including Premier Download Manager – and removes every trace efficiently and quickly.

What To Do When You Cannot Install Safebytes Anti-Malware?

All malware is bad and the degree of the damage will differ greatly with regards to the type of malware. Certain malware variants modify internet browser settings by including a proxy server or modify the computer’s DNS configurations. When this happens, you’ll be unable to visit certain or all of the internet sites, and thus unable to download or install the required security software to get rid of the infection. If you are reading this article now, you have probably realized that virus infection is the cause of your blocked internet connectivity. So what to do when you want to download and install an anti-virus program such as Safebytes? There are some options you could try to get around with this particular issue.

Make use of Safe Mode to resolve the issue

In Safe Mode, you may change Windows settings, uninstall or install some applications, and get rid of hard-to-delete viruses and malware. In case the malware is set to load automatically when the computer starts, shifting into this mode could prevent it from doing so. To boot into Safe Mode, hit the “F8” key on the keyboard right before the Windows boot screen comes up; Or right after normal Windows boot up, run MSConfig, check the Safe Boot under the Boot tab, and click Apply. Once you are in Safe Mode, you can try to install your antivirus program without the hindrance of the malware. At this point, you can actually run the anti-malware scan to get rid of viruses and malware without interference from another application.

Switch to some other web browser

Some malware only targets certain internet browsers. If this sounds like your situation, employ another web browser as it can circumvent the computer virus. If you’re not able to download the anti-malware program using Internet Explorer, it means malware is targeting IE’s vulnerabilities. Here, you should switch over to a different internet browser like Chrome or Firefox to download Safebytes software.

Make a bootable USB anti-virus drive

Another option is to create a portable antivirus program onto your USB stick. To run anti-malware using a pen drive, follow these simple steps: 1) Download the anti-malware on a virus-free computer. 2) Plug the pen drive into the uninfected computer. 3) Double click on the downloaded file to run the installation wizard. 4) When asked, choose the location of the pen drive as the place where you want to store the software files. Do as instructed on the computer screen to finish up the installation process. 5) Transfer the USB drive from the clean computer to the infected PC. 6) Double-click the antivirus software EXE file on the USB flash drive. 7) Hit the “Scan Now” button to start the malware scan.

SafeBytes Anti-Malware: Lightweight Malware Protection for Windows PC

In order to protect your PC from many different internet-based threats, it is important to install anti-malware software on your computer system. But with countless numbers of anti-malware companies out there, nowadays it is hard to decide which one you should buy for your personal computer. Some of them are good and some are scamware applications that pretend as legit anti-malware software waiting around to wreak havoc on your computer. You have to be careful not to pick the wrong application, particularly if you buy a premium application. While considering the highly regarded applications, Safebytes AntiMalware is certainly the highly recommended one. SafeBytes anti-malware is a very effective and user-friendly protection tool that is suitable for end-users of all levels of computer literacy. Through its cutting-edge technology, this software will help you protect your personal computer against infections caused by different types of malware and similar threats, including adware, spyware, trojans, worms, computer viruses, keyloggers, ransomware, and potentially unwanted program (PUPs).

SafeBytes has great features when compared to other anti-malware programs. The following are a few of the great ones:

Active Protection: SafeBytes gives you round-the-clock protection for your personal computer limiting malware intrusions in real-time. It will regularly monitor your pc for hacker activity and also gives users sophisticated firewall protection. Antimalware Protection: With its advanced and sophisticated algorithm, this malware elimination tool can detect and get rid of the malware threats hiding in your computer system effectively. High-Speed Malware Scanning Engine: Safebytes AntiMalware, with its enhanced scanning engine, offers extremely fast scanning which can immediately target any active internet threat. Website Filtering: SafeBytes checks and gives a unique safety ranking to every website you visit and block access to webpages known to be phishing sites, thus protecting you from identity theft, or known to contain malicious software. Low CPU Usage: SafeBytes gives you complete protection from online threats at a fraction of the CPU load due to its advanced detection engine and algorithms. 24/7 Support: You could get high levels of support around the clock if you’re using their paid version. SafeBytes will keep your computer safe from the latest malware threats automatically, thus keeping your online experience safe and secure. Once you’ve downloaded and installed SafeBytes Anti-Malware, you will no longer have to bother about malware or other security concerns. So if you’re looking for the best anti-malware subscription for your Windows-based PC, we highly recommend SafeBytes Anti-Malware software.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you wish to carry out the removal of Premier Download Manager manually instead of employing an automated tool, you may follow these simple steps: Go to the Windows Control Panel, click the “Add or Remove Programs” and there, select the offending program to remove. In cases of suspicious versions of web browser plug-ins, you can easily get rid of it through your web browser’s extension manager. It is also suggested to reset your web browser to its default state to fix corrupt settings. Lastly, examine your hard drive for all of the following and clean your computer registry manually to remove leftover application entries following an uninstallation. Having said that, editing the registry is usually a difficult task that only experienced computer users and professionals should attempt to fix it. Also, certain malware is capable of replicating itself or preventing its deletion. It is advised that you do the removal process in Safe Mode.

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

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

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

Solution

Error Causes

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

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

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

Further Information and Manual Repair

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

Method One

Activate by phone- the long method.

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

Method Two

Activate by phone- this is a much simpler method.

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

Method Three

Error code 0xC004C020 occurs if you have used your Windows 7 activation key on multiple computers, or multiple times on the same computer. You are not allowed to exceed the uses of the key—you should consider purchasing a new key if this is the case. A Windows 7 key is available for purchase online through the Microsoft website, in the shop section. The new product key must then be activated within 30 days, or it becomes no longer valid. It can be activated online or through the telephone. If it is not activated on time, features will stop working until the new key has been activated. This should be the last resort method, as you should not have to purchase a new Windows 7 key code if it is not necessary. If you wish to always have at your disposal a utility tool to fix these Windows 10 and other related issues when they do arise, download and install a powerful automated tool.

If you are trying to start a service using the Windows Services Manager but you got an error message stating, “The executable program that this service is configured to run in does not implement the service”, then you’ve come to the right place as this post will provide you instructions on how you can fix this error. Since almost all program requires service to run on your computer, if the service is not listed in the corresponding registry key, then you will most likely encounter this error on your Windows 10 computer. Here’s the entire content of the error message:

“Windows could not start the service on Local Computer. Error 1083: The executable program that this service is configured to run in does not implement the service.”

To fix this error, you have to add the service name in the respective host in the Registry Editor, and to do that, here are some steps you need to take on. Step 1: The first thing you have to do is to take note of the service name that’s given in the error message. For instance, you get the “Windows Management Service. Step 2: Next, you need to open the Services Manager by tapping the Win + R keys and typing “services.msc” in the Run dialog box, and then tapping Enter. Step 3: After opening the Services Manager, look for the Windows Management Service and once you see it, double click on it. This will open a new mini window. Step 4: From the newly opened window, copy the Service name and the Path to executable under the General tab. If the path to the executable is displayed as “C:/Windows/system32/svchost.exe -k netsvcs –p”, you need the “netsvcs” part only. Note that it can be different for different services and you need the part that comes after “-k”. Step 5: Now tap the Win + R keys again to open Run utility and type “Regedit” in the field and click OK to open the Registry Editor. Step 6: After that, navigate to the following registry path:

ComputerHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionSvchost

Step 7: From the given registry path, look for a key named “REG_MULTI_SZ” located on your right-hand side. This key is named after the “Path to executable” part. For instance, you should see “netsvcs”. Step 8: Double click on the REG_MULTI_SZ key and enter the Service name that you’ve copied earlier and then write it down at the end of the preset list. Step 9: Now save the changes you’ve made and try to open the program or run the service again.

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.

The printer can stop working for many various reasons, some of them are however tied to the printer driver itself. In this guide, we will address issues and provide you with advice on how to get your printer back in working order in no time. All of that being said let us fix your Printer driver issue.

1. Check to see if the printer is plugged and that it has toner or colors and paper in the tray

   The simplest solutions are the best ones, and most of the time simplest issues are overlooked. To eliminate any basic issues check the printer cable does it has paper in the tray and check the status of toner or colors in it.

2. Check if Windows troubleshooter will resolve the issue

   Bring up settings and choose devices, under devices click on printers and scanners. On the far right top, you have a link to start the troubleshooter, click on it. Windows built-in tools could resolve issues and fix them for you. If by any chance Windows is not able to find or resolve issues move to the next step.

3. Check if the Device Manager is reporting an error and update the driver

   If the hardware is functioning properly then the issue might be in Windows not detecting device or driver malfunction. In any case, the Device Manager will be the one who will report this problem. In order to check to see if the driver is properly working press ⊞ WINDOWS + X to open the hidden start menu. Once it opens, click on Device Manager to open it, If you have a driver device error inside Windows, you should see it immediately when entering the Device Manager, it will have a yellow exclamation mark beside it. Right-click on it and choose update driver.

4. Reinstall driver

   If driver update failed or you already have the latest drivers, reinstalling them could fix the issue since drivers might have corrupted during installation of some update or application. Follow steps from point 3 to get to the driver in Device Manager, then right-click on it but instead of update choose to uninstall. Reboot Windows once the driver is uninstalled and Windows will install a new one automatically. If you do not want to update drivers automatically install the latest driver for your device, then reboot.

5. Check Windows update

   Check to see if the latest Windows update is installed, update your Windows if needed

6. Fix driver issue with DRIVERFIX

   If everything else fails, get DRIVERFIX, a premium solution for your PC issues, and fix driver errors.

As you know, the CHKDSK utility is proven to be one of the useful tools to fix any issues that concerns file system, storage, and disk. However, as useful as it may be, it is still not immune to issues as you could encounter errors when running it. One of these errors is the “One such error is the CHKDSK cannot continue in read-only mode” error. If you receive such an error message while running CHKDSK, then you’ve come to the right place as this post will help you sort the problem out. It is possible that the drive is read-only or that the Write Protection is enabled. It could also be that the drive is already being used and scanned by a different program or utility. To get rid of this error, there are a couple of suggestions you need to check out. You can try to run the CHKDSK utility from Recovery or run it on Boot. You could also try to disable Write Protection. For more detailed steps, follow the given instructions below.

Option 1 – Try to run the CHKDSK utility from Recovery

The first thing you can do to resolve the error in CHKDSK is to run the CHKDSK utility from Recovery. How? Follow these steps:

• First, boot into the installation environment for Windows 10 from a Windows installation media.
• Next, click on the “Repair your computer” option.
• After that, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Command Prompt.
• After opening Command Prompt, type this command and tap Enter: chkdsk <Partition Letter>: /r /f
• Wait until the disk error checking process is completed.
• Once it’s done, exit the Command Prompt window and restart your computer and then see if the error is fixed.

Option 2 – Try running the CHKDSK utility on Boot

On the other hand, you can also try to run the CHKDSK utility on Boot so you can fix the error and recover any damaged segments of the drive.

• Open an elevated Command Prompt and enter this command: chkdsk /r
• After that, you will a message that says, “Chkdsk cannot run because the volume is in use by another process. Would you like to schedule this volume to be checked the next time the system restarts? (Y/N)”
• Type Y and tap Enter to schedule a CHKDSK scan once your computer reboots next time.

Option 3 – Try to remove the Write Protection from the drive

As mentioned, removing the Write-Protection on the concerned drive could also help you fix the problem and there are two ways to get rid of the write protection – you can either use the Diskpart utility or the Registry Editor. How? Refer to the following steps.

Via Diskpart utility:

• Open Command Prompt with admin privileges and then type the “diskpart” command and tap Enter to execute it.
• Next, type “list disk” and tap Enter to get the list of all the Disk connects or all the partitions that are formed on those disks.
• After that, you need to choose one command depending on the list of commands you entered. Type “select disk #” and tap Enter to select the disk or partition you want to select.
• Then type “attribute disk clear readonly” and tap Enter to Disable the Write Protection on the selected disk or partition.

Via Registry Editor:

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run utility and type “Regedit” in the field and then tap Enter to open the Registry Editor.
• Next, navigate to the following registry key:

ComputerHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlStorageDevicePolicies

• After that, look for the DWORD named “WriteProtect” and double click on it, and then set its Value Data to “0”.
• Now restart your computer and see if the problem is now fixed or not.

Wondering if upgrading to Windows 11 will boost your gaming experience? We can’t give you a straightforward answer, sadly. But we can take you through the tweaks you can expect if you have all the right requirements and help you make a final decision.

Is Windows 11 good for gaming?

Essentially, the answer to this question is yes. Microsoft has definitely added a bunch of enhancements and features to its latest OS to give gamers the best possible experience. However, you have to keep in mind that this may not work out smoothly for every single user.

Whether you’ll be able to fully take advantage of the Windows 11 gaming features really depends on your setup. As expected, Windows 11 has more demanding system requirements than its predecessor.

So, unless your hardware can run the new OS comfortably, you might not be able to make the most of all these gaming perks. In that case, we recommend you first upgrade your hardware and then make the switch. Be prepared to be a little surprised by a few other interesting changes in comparison to Windows 10, though!

For some of the new gaming features to work, it’ll also be necessary for you to have an NVMe SSD and an HDR-compatible monitor. So let’s take a look at 4 big improvements you can expect if your setup is compatible.

Gaming enhancements on Windows 11

1. Enjoy faster loading speed with DirectStorage

For this powerful feature to work, you need a compatible graphics card and, as stated before, an NVMe SSD. It’s also important for your GPU to support the DirectX 12 graphics API at least. And since we’re on that subject, you’ll be happy to know that Windows 11 has also introduced a new version of the API called DirectX 12 Ultimate. 

Now, what does DirectStorage do? It’s a new feature designed to make full use of the speedy storage of NVMe SSDs. It also transfers game data directly onto the graphics card, lightening the load on your CPU. Normally the CPU would have to decompress the data first, but DirectStorage helps bypass this. That’s how loading times are reduced and games run more smoothly.

2. Fully immerse yourself through Game Mode

Windows 11’s Game Mode is certainly a welcomed addition. When you turn on Game Mode, usage of background apps that aren’t essential to your game is reduced. This results in the game you’re running becoming a priority process. This way, it uses your hardware and system resources to the max. Ultimately, the Game Mode means less lag and higher frame rates so you can play undisturbed and fully enjoy your gaming session.

3. Vibrant visual experience thanks to AutoHDR

For this one you’ll absolutely need an HDR-compatible monitor. Basically, HDR (High Dynamic Range) means a wider range of contrasts and colors that can be displayed on a monitor.

Windows 10 has an HDR feature, but you have to turn it on and off manually (“Use HDR”). Plus, users have reported that, if left on, it results in an unappealing appearance of content other than movies and games. 

Windows 11 fixes that problem with its AutoHDR feature. Toggling it results in the system automatically adjusting the color contrast, balance and brightness based on what you’re currently looking at. For gamers, this means vivid imagery in every single game, resulting in a supreme visual experience. You can check out Microsoft’s own video showcasing the power of AutoHDR.

Aside from AutoHDR, another way Windows 11 improves the visual aspect is through its support for refresh rates of up to 360Hz.

4. Xbox Game Pass & Game Bar

It’s no secret that Microsoft wants to integrate Windows and Xbox. We’ve seen some attempts with Windows 10, but they’re pretty wonky compared to the new OS.

Windows 11’s built-in Xbox Game Bar enables quite a few options all gamers desire. You can take screenshots and videos of your game and send them, for starters. Furthermore, you can use it to see audio settings and monitor your PC’s performance without having to leave the game or open the Task Manager.

Widgets are also a really cool part of the Game Bar. You can choose from a wide variety of widgets, such as Xbox Achievements, Spotify, Gallery, Xbox Social and more. 

Moreover, the Xbox Game Pass has been streamlined on Windows 11. Game Pass is a subscription service that unlocks hundreds of awesome games and supports cloud streaming. Do keep in mind that the games are only unlocked for a certain period of time, as the selection rotates once in a while.

What can you do for a better gaming experience?

Windows 11 does offer tweaks that require zero input from you. However, there are a few things you can do manually to get even more out of your new OS while gaming.

• Turn off enhanced pointer precision. Most games enhance precision by default, so having this feature on might interfere with that.
• Make sure to select your high performance graphics card for each game. Go to Settings > Gaming > Game Mode and tap ‘Graphics’ from the ‘Related settings’ menu. Find the game you want to adjust, click on ‘Options’ and choose your high performance graphics card to be the default setting. While there, you can also turn on ‘Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling’ at the top.
• Disable unnecessary apps and programs. As long as they aren’t essential to running your game, they might take up valuable system resources, so disable them to make space for your gaming requirements.
• Check for pending updates and install them. It’s well-known that out-of-date software causes bugs, latency and crashes. The same goes for your GPU drivers.
• Use the High-performance power plan (Control Panel > Power Options > Additional plans) to maximize the use of resources for the best possible performance.

Summary

Windows 11 has done quite a bit for avid gamers. We hope your setup is compatible with all these new features and you can experience these enhancements ASAP!

Error 577 - What is it?

This is a typical system error code. It stops your ability to run or load programs on your PC. The error message is displayed in the following format:

‘Windows cannot verify the digital signature for this file.

A recent hardware or software change might have installed a file that is signed incorrectly or damaged, or that might be malicious software from an unknown source.’

Solution

Error Causes

Error 577 may be triggered due to several reasons. However, the most common causes of this error include:

• Device Driver Conflicts
• Hardware Malfunction
• Viral Infection
• Windows Registry Corruption or Damage
• Software File Corruption or Damage

Error 577 can prove to be fatal if the underlying causes are related to viral infection or registry corruption.

Further Information and Manual Repair

To resolve error 577 on your PC, you don’t have to hire a professional and spend hundreds of dollars on repair. The process for fixing this error is simple and easy. Here are some of the best and efficient methods to repair error 577 - no technical expertise is required.

Method 1 - Check and Update Device Drivers

If the problem is triggered by the outdated or corrupted driver for the device reporting the error then it is advisable to update the driver. To do this, first, uninstall the corrupted driver and then reinstall the latest version. For this simply click the start menu, go to the control panel and then click Performance and Maintenance, and then System. In the new window, you will then see a tab called Hardware and the Device Manager. Double click on the device whose driver you need to uninstall. Click on the properties window with a tab marked driver. Then click on the driver you want to uninstall. To activate changes reboot your PC. Now reinstall the latest and updated version of the driver uninstalled using the Plug and Play feature.

Method 2 - Scan For Viruses

System error codes like 577 can also pop up if your PC is infected by viruses. Viruses enter through phishing emails and downloadable files from unreliable websites. If the reason for error 577 is a viral infection, then simply install a powerful antivirus, run it to scan your entire PC. Remove all the viruses and malicious programs immediately to resolve. If the issue still persists, then try method 3.

Method 3 - Repair the Registry

Sometimes registry corruption can be the underlying cause for error 577. The registry is the part that saves all activities performed on the system. It stores both important and unnecessary files like junk files, cookies, and bad registry entries. If these files are not removed from the registry frequently, they accumulate and corrupt the registry which then generates system error codes. To resolve and repair the registry in seconds, simply download Restoro. This is a user-friendly PC Repair Tool embedded with a registry cleaner. It wipes away all unnecessary files corrupting the registry and repairs it. Click here to download Restoro.