Error Code 80073712—What is it?

Error code 80073712 is one of the dozens of error codes affecting Windows 10 users. It occurs when users attempt to upgrade their operating system but experience a failure. The error code usually results from problems associated with missing or damaged files within Windows Update. Common symptoms of this error code include the following:

• The inability of Windows Update to successfully complete the upgrade process
• Message box highlighting the presence of error code

Solution

Error Causes

In the case of error code 80073712, the issues preventing Windows Update from completing the upgrade process are most likely due to problems with files within Windows Update. For instance, there may be corruption within the Component-Based Servicing (CBS) manifest.

Further Information and Manual Repair

Manual repair methods offer solutions to Microsoft users who are experiencing Windows error codes like the upgrade error code 80073712 in Windows 10. The manual repair methods in this article are not guaranteed to fix problems unrelated to this error code. Thus, be certain you are experiencing error code 80073712 before you attempt to implement the solutions provided below.

Method One: Run Windows Update Troubleshooter

Since issues related to Windows Update may be causing error code 80073712 to occur, one of the best solutions you can consider is to run the Windows Update Troubleshooter. This troubleshooter will be able to detect and fix corruptions within Windows Update files or any other issues directly related to Windows Update. To implement this manual repair method, follow the steps listed below:

• Step one: Open your Internet browser
• Step two: Type www.microsoft.com/downloads
• Step three: Type Windows Update Troubleshooter in the search bar at the top-right corner of the Microsoft website.
• Step four: Select Windows Update Troubleshooter then wait for the webpage to load.
• Step five: Select Run troubleshooter

Once you run the troubleshooter, you should be able to verify and fix any errors within Windows Update files. Restart your machine after the troubleshooting process is complete them proceed by checking Windows Update to see if you are able to complete the upgrade. If Windows Update downloads the upgrade and the installation of the upgrade occurs, the problem has been resolved. Otherwise, error code 80073712 will reoccur, in which case you will need to move to manual repair method two.

Method Two: Run DISM Tool

Another option available to Windows users experiencing error code 80073712 is to download and run the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tool. This tool checks for inconsistencies or corruptions that may be preventing Windows Update services from functioning correctly. To download and run the tool, follow the instructions below:

• Step one: Type Command Prompt in the search box near the Start button
• Step two: Right-click Command Prompt, then click Run as administrator, providing administrator password or confirmation where necessary.
• Step three: Select Allow
• Step four: Press Enter after typing the following command:

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

Wait a few minutes to ensure that the process is complete. Once you’ve run the DISM tool, it will detect errors, for instance within registry data, and correct or replace them. Restart your machine after running this tool then check Windows Update. Attempt to download the upgrade to see if you have successfully resolved error code 80073712. If you experience an upgrade failure, move to the next manual repair method mentioned below.

Method Three: Perform a Clean Install of Windows 10

The issues related to error code 80073712 may also be resolved by performing a clean install of Windows 10. This manual repair method ensures that any previous versions of your Windows operating system are removed before you attempt to access an upgrade. This can prove effective as it helps users avoid issues that would otherwise cause error codes or poor PC performance in cases where errors are present on one’s system.

To successfully perform a clean installation of Windows 10, be prepared to follow step-by-step procedures that include the following:

• Step one: Download and run media creation tool
• Step two: Click Run, then select Create installation media for another PC
• Step three: Select changes to the installation options, then select Next
• Step four: Choose USB flash drive or ISO file, then click Next
• Step five: Select drive, then Next
• Step six: Select Finish, then restart your computer, ensuring that the media option you choose, whether USB flash drive or DVD, is in your machine before you choose to reboot.
• Step seven: Press any key then follow the prompts provided to set up Windows 10.

Method Four: Download an Automated Tool

If you wish to always have at your disposal a utility tool to fix these Windows 8 and other related issues when they do arise, download and install a powerful automated tool.

What is Mastodon? Mastodon is an open-source microblogging network very similar to Twitter. You can make 500 characters post messages called toot (tweet), share videos or images, and follow other people. But unlike Twitter, Mastodon is decentralized, meaning the entire Mastodon is not run by a single company pulling all strings.

Mastodon can be used directly in your web browser or through a mobile client on a smartphone or tablet. It includes features that seem copied from Twitter-like replies, boosts (retweets), favorites (loves), a timeline view, blocking, and voluntary content warnings that hide sensitive content.

Mastodon also has some great features that Twitter does not have like automated post deletion for the older post of a certain age, requiring approval for follows without restricting your account, and opting out of search engine indexing.

Currently, there are also no ads on Mastodon meaning no ad tracking or ad network surveillance.

How Does Mastodon Work?

Mastodon is a social media network made of nodes called servers or instances each running special software meaning anyone can run their own Mastodon instance (if they have a proper dedicated server). When you have your own instance it can be linked in the federation or remain private, so individuals or companies can have control over individual Mastodon servers.

The software itself is open source based on the social networking protocol ActivityPub which was developed by WWW Consortium.

While using Mastodon, people sign up for accounts with specific instances. Once logged in, you can view a local timeline (of posts from that instance only) or, if the instance is federated with others, see a federated timeline comprised of toots from people in other instances. Mastodon users can send messages to each other using their Mastodon account names that are similar to email addresses in that they feature the server address as well as the user name.

GoforFiles is a Potentially Unwanted Program that allegedly allows users to easily search for files, movies, apps, and other useful things on the internet. In our testing, this program on further inspection does not work, it only displays an error for every search query. To top this off this program comes bundled up with other programs which could be malicious or unwanted. This program adds startup links into windows, allowing it and its bundled programs to launch every time Windows is restarted or launched. A task scheduled is also made, that lets the launch of the program at different random times during the day. Many anti-virus applications have marked this program and its bundled counterparts as Potentially Unwanted Programs, and it is highly recommended to remove these programs from your computer.

About Potentially Unwanted Programs

Exactly what is a Potentially Unwanted Program (PUP)?

People have encountered it – you download free software, you then discover some unwanted applications on your computer system, or discover a strange toolbar has been included with your browser. You didn’t have them installed, so how did they appear? These unwanted applications, which are called Potentially Unwanted Programs, or PUP in short, usually tag along as a software bundle when downloading the application and could cause serious problems for computer users. PUP does not involve malware in the traditional sense. What normally makes a PUP different from malicious software is the fact that when you download one, you’re doing it with your consent – although in most cases unintentionally and reluctantly. But, there is no doubt that PUPs remain bad news for computer users as they can be incredibly damaging to the PC in many ways. How do unwanted programs affect you? Unwanted programs come in many forms. More commonly, they will be found in adware bundlers which are known to utilize aggressive and misleading advertising. The majority of bundlers install many adware applications from a number of vendors, each of which features its own EULA policy. Safebytes Anti-malware completely removes this threat and safeguards your PC against PUP or malware infection. PUPS also appear in the form of undesirable toolbars or internet browser plug-ins. Not just they needlessly use up space on your screen, toolbars can also manipulate search results, track your web browsing activities, decrease your internet browser’s performance, and slow down your web connection to a crawl. They could seem harmless but PUPs are generally spyware. They may include dialers, keyloggers, and also other software built inside them that could monitor you or send out your sensitive information to 3rd parties. Because of this unwanted program, your application may freeze, your security protections can get disabled that could leave your computer susceptible, your system could get ruined, and this list goes on and on.

Tips for preventing PUPs

• Study cautiously prior to agreeing to the license agreement as it could have a clause about PUPs. • Always opt for the custom if you are given an option between Recommended and Custom Installations – never click Next, Next, Next thoughtlessly. • Install an advert blocker/pop-up blocker; Deploy anti-malware products such as Safebytes Anti-malware. These software programs will establish a wall between the computer and online criminals. • Be alert when you download and install freeware, open-source software, or shareware. Avoid downloading and installing browser extensions and applications you are not knowledgeable about. • Always download software from reliable sources like official sites as opposed to untrustworthy sharing space. Avoid torrents and peer-to-peer clients.

Can't Install Safebytes Anti-malware because of a Virus? Try This!

Malware could potentially cause all sorts of damage after they invade your system, from stealing your private details to erasing files on your PC. Some malware sits in between the computer and your internet connection and blocks some or all internet sites that you really want to visit. It might also prevent you from the installation of anything on your machine, especially an anti-virus program. If you’re reading this now, you’ve probably realized that a malware infection is a reason for your blocked internet traffic. So what to do when you want to download and install antivirus software like Safebytes? Do as instructed below to get rid of malware through alternative methods.

Boot your PC in Safe Mode

In Safe Mode, you can actually change Windows settings, un-install or install some applications, and remove hard-to-delete viruses. In the event, the virus is set to load automatically when the computer boots, switching to this mode could prevent it from doing so. To get into Safe Mode or Safe Mode with Networking, press F8 while the system is starting up or run MSConfig and find the “Safe Boot” options under the “Boot” tab. Once you are in safe mode, you can attempt to install your antivirus program without the hindrance of the malicious software. Right after installation, run the malware scanner to remove standard infections.

Switch over to an alternative internet browser

Malicious program code might exploit vulnerabilities on a particular browser and block access to all anti-malware software websites. If you appear to have a trojan attached to Internet Explorer, then switch over to a different web browser with built-in safety features, such as Firefox or Chrome, to download your favorite antivirus program – Safebytes.

Make a bootable USB antivirus drive

Another option is to save and operate an antivirus program entirely from a USB drive. To run anti-virus using a USB drive, follow these simple measures: 1) Make use of another virus-free PC to download Safebytes Anti-Malware. 2) Connect the flash drive to a USB port on the clean computer. 3) Run the setup program by double-clicking the executable file of the downloaded software, with a .exe file extension. 4) Choose the USB stick as the location for saving the software file. Follow the on-screen instructions to finish the installation process. 5) Now, plug the USB drive into the infected system. 6) Double-click the EXE file to run the Safebytes program from the thumb drive. 7) Run Full System Scan to identify and get rid of all kinds of malware.

Protect your PC from Malware With SafeBytes Security Suite

To protect your computer or laptop from various internet-based threats, it is very important to install an anti-malware application on your laptop. However, with so many antimalware companies out there, nowadays it is actually tough to decide which one you should obtain for your personal computer. A few of them are excellent, some are decent, and some will destroy your PC themselves! You must be careful not to choose the wrong product, especially if you buy premium software. Among few good applications, SafeBytes Anti-Malware is the highly recommended software program for the security-conscious end user. Safebytes is one of the well-established PC solutions firms, which offer this comprehensive anti-malware application. Using its outstanding protection system, this utility will instantly detect and remove the majority of the security threats, including browser hijackers, viruses, adware, ransomware, trojans, worms, and PUPs. SafeBytes anti-malware takes computer protection to a whole new level with its advanced features. Let’s look into a few of them below: Optimum AntiMalware Protection: With a critically acclaimed anti-malware engine, SafeBytes offers multilayered protection which is intended to catch and eliminate threats that are hidden deep in your computer’s operating system. Real-time Threat Response: SafeBytes provides round-the-clock protection for your computer limiting malware intrusions in real-time. It will continuously monitor your computer for hacker activity and also gives users advanced firewall protection. Web Protection: Safebytes allots all sites a unique safety score that helps you to get an idea of whether the webpage you’re about to visit is safe to view or known to be a phishing site. Faster Scanning: SafeBytes Anti-Malware has got a multi-thread scan algorithm that works up to 5x faster than any other antivirus software. Light-weight: SafeBytes is a lightweight and user-friendly antivirus and antimalware solution. Since it uses minimal computer resources, this software leaves the computer power exactly where it belongs to: with you actually. 24/7 Online Support: Support service is readily available for 24 x 7 x 365 days via email and chats to answer your concerns. SafeBytes has created an excellent anti-malware solution to help you conquer the latest computer threats and virus attacks. You now may understand that this tool does more than just scan and delete threats on your PC. You’ll get the best all-around protection for the money you spend on SafeBytes AntiMalware subscription, there is no doubt about it.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you wish to carry out the removal of GoforFiles manually instead of using an automated software tool, you can follow these simple steps: Go to the Windows Control Panel, click on the “Add/Remove Programs” and there, select the offending application to uninstall. 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 highly recommended to factory reset your web browser to its default state to fix corrupt settings. In order to ensure the complete removal, manually check your hard disk and registry for all of the following and eliminate or reset the values as needed. But bear in mind, this can be a complicated task and only computer experts can perform it safely. Also, certain malware is capable of replicating itself or preventing deletion. You’re urged to do this process in Windows Safe Mode.

HP Printer Spooler Not Running - What is it?

If you have the HP printer, then you may come across this error. HP Printer Spooler not running errors does not mean there is anything wrong with your printer. It indicates printer driver issues.

Solution

Error Causes

There can be multiple causes behind the HP printer Spooler not running error code such as:

• The poor or unsuccessful printer driver installation
• Invalid registry entries

Though this is not a critical error code as it does not pose serious damage threats to your PC, however, it is advisable to resolve it as it can cause you a great deal of inconvenience especially if you want to take out printouts every now and then.

Further Information and Manual Repair

Here are some ways you can try to resolve HP Printer Spooler Not Running Error on your system: 1. Reinstall the HP Printer driver on Your System

• Simply go to the control panel and then click on the Device Manager option
• Once you click it you will see details pane with a list of devices. Now simply click on the printer, to reinstall the driver software.
• Double click on it to open the properties dialog box
• After that click on the driver tab and then click update driver

Once you update the driver, try using the Printer to see if it works. Sometimes you may come across a pop-up displaying the following message: ‘Driver installed correctly, Device is ready to use however, you may not see the printer under the printer’s pane. This triggers registry issues. 2. To resolve registry issues, install Restoro on your system. This is a highly functional registry cleaner integrated with a powerful antivirus. It helps resolve registry issues, malware, and guarantees system optimization. This feature-filled tool is the answer to all your PC-related issues. Restoro is a next-generation PC repair software that extends outstanding usability and helps PC users resolve errors efficiently. Its simple navigation and user-friendly interface make it so easy to use that even novice users can also work around it and repair issues without any hassle or difficulty. It’s a smart and intuitive in-built registry cleaner that wipes out all the unnecessary and obsolete files on your hard disk. This includes junk files, internet history, invalid registry keys, and files from the uninstalled old program versions. Sometimes the files from the uninstalled programs hamper your ability to update new program versions thus leading to unsuccessful driver installation. Nonetheless, all such files are removed in seconds with this helper and you are then ready to reinstall the driver. This registry cleaner cleans the clutter from your hard disk and optimizes your system's speed, lowering your PC boot time significantly. Total System Care can be used on all Windows versions To fix the HP printer spooler not running error on your computer, simply click here to install Restoro. Run it to scan for the error and fix it in seconds. Once the issue is resolved, update the printer driver. You’ll see the driver will be updated successfully and the HP printer will also appear in the printer’s panel. By installing Restoro on your system, you can also resolve several other issues like privacy errors triggered by malware and virus infections. With this tool, you will not have to download and run a separate anti-virus on your system.

After a lot of backlash about choosing the default Windows browser, Microsoft has officially backed up and brought back a one-click browser change into Windows 11. For anyone who is not aware, when Windows 11 was released if you wanted to switch to another browser you had to go into the settings app and choose the default browser for different types of file extensions like HTML, HTM, PDF for opening on the web, etc. Of course, this was completely unnecessary and it was not well received by users. So after some time, Microsoft backpedaled to standard one click, choose your default browser solution that existed in the previous version of Windows OS. Altho sometimes Microsoft knows how to irritate its users base, it is good to know that they can also listen and fix things that are required.

Things have stirred lately with Chinas ban on crypto mining and many used GPUs will flow the market probably. But should you buy a used GPU? Short answer: NO, long answer: keep on reading to find out why.

GPU shortage and its cause

As you all know by now, we live sadly in a world struck by a global Pandemic. Due to this awful disease and measures taken against it, many people are either working from home or are at home making the manufacturing of new chips problematic while demand on the market has raised. Throw into that mix crypto mining which has raised in popularity and you have, well today's market where we have GPU shortage. Now with the latest news that China has banned the mining of cryptocurrency, there is to be expected that at some point in time mining cards used there will fit the market in the whole world. Sadly even with a large quantity of GPUs that will become available, the overall price of cards will not be much lowered I am afraid since demand is still very high and many people would not want to purchase used mining cards and neither should you.

Be prepared for the worst scenario

Although this sounds very pessimistic and in most cases, it will not turn out to be true, you should always prepare yourself mentally that you might be in that lower percentage that will end up with a really bad GPU. What has come up to be absolutely true when considering GPU that were mining is that if anything at all can be done to GPU in order to increase performance, it has been done. Miners want to optimize and almost every GPU if could be overclocked, it was overclocked. Extensive mining also means that thermal paste has been dried and it is pretty useless at this point and there is a very high chance that fans and heat sinks will need much cleaning or even replacement raising the price of the card itself for mentioned paste, fans, and heat sinks. There's no way to tell what the previous owner might have done with a graphics card when you're shopping online, so our advice is to assume the worst. Don't trust the seller to give truthful information. Any listing that says it was "never used for mining" at this point is probably a lie.

Age of the GPU matters

Date when GPU itself has manufactured really matters. Newer cards even if used extensively have been used for a much shorter period of time and are not so damaged were ones produced a few years ago have seen a lot of action. Let’s say that you get RTX 3060, In the worst-case scenario it has been mining since late February of 2021 and basically, it is still under warranty so it should behave OK and put some good work in gaming even in that state. On another hand, if we take for example GTX 1080Ti which is 4 years old GPU things start to change drastically. 4 years GPU could be worn out even if it was used just for extensive gaming sessions let alone for mining.

No return policy and seller rating

Most of the time you will run into a product that cannot be returned or no refunds policy. This should bring a red flag right away and deter you from purchase. Sellers with the highest ratings are more trustworthy since many of them will not want to destroy their reputation but these will probably not even have these kinds of merchandise in their store. Buying with a poor rating seller and no return policy on a product is just asking for trouble. And although some stores do have arbitration and will stand on the customer side there is no guarantee for that and it will take too much time to process.

If you really must buy a second-hand GPU

Of course in these troubled times sometimes due to malfunction or any other reason, there would not be another choice than to buy a second-hand GPU. In this case, if there is no other option consider sellers with many positive ratings. If you can buy locally that would even be better or the best-case scenario would be if you could visually see and inspect GPU itself in order to see in what state it is. Look for warranty stickers to see if they are thorn and the card has been tampered with. Also take a good look at screws, if they have scratches card has been opened, probably to replace fan or heating sinks which means that it has worked a lot.

Conclusion

It is very difficult to give the best possible advice on this situation since of GPU shortage, but I would much prefer a new GPU with lower performance than a hi-performance one which was mining.

Manually cleaning your PC registry may be the worst or best thing you ever decide to do. Registry keys that lie around on your computer, unused, can cause your computer to lag. This can end up in your computer not being able to load the easiest of programs and being slow at loading anything, let alone something that would take up a decent amount of memory. If your computer has slowed to almost an absolute stop, it is most probably the registry’s fault and the only option then is to clean it. You can get programs to do this for you, but they can be riddled with inaccuracies and viruses that could harm your computer even more. This is why some people choose to manually edit their computer. However, this is not without its flaws.

Registry Keys

Registry keys tend to have really long names. These names will be full of numbers and hyphens and will most likely give you no indication of what they do. Even some computer experts find it hard to understand what every computer’s registry keys do. This can make it very hard to see which ones are causing the problem; and if you don’t know what’s causing the problem, then there is no way you will be able to fix it. Some registry keys will be completely menial in what they do but some could be vital to even allow Windows to work on your computer.

Manual Registry Repair

Registry keys can also cause huge problems if you manually delete the wrong one. A lot of registry cleaners have the option to revive a key that they have deleted on you, which means that fixing an error that they made would be easy enough to do. However, when you manually delete registry keys, it will be an awful lot harder to get them back to work again afterward. This can cause your computer many problems and if you delete even one wrong key it is possible your computer will not even start. With the horrid naming system they have as well, it makes it very hard to determine what is important and what is not, which means it is all too likely that you will delete something important. However, those are the risks you have to take when you are cleaning out your registry. A registry cleaner has the same likelihood of messing with your computer and deleting something wrong that you have, so it is the same either way however a registry cleaner will do it with less hassle. But, some people say that if you do it yourself, it’s more likely to be right; that is why they prefer to do it manually and that is alright.

Conclusion

So, if you are manually deleting your registry keys that are unused, you’ll have to use a program that comes with Windows known as ‘regedit.exe’ which is incredibly difficult to use but may just be worth the hassle in the end. So, you don’t really need to put up with a slow computer, but be careful when messing with your registry manually! To repair and resolve this and other PC-related issues Click Here to download Restoro.

Modem Error 633 error is a dial-up error that usually occurs when using a USB modem with a Windows computer. The Modem Error 633 error message is displayed as the following:

“Error 633: The Modem is already in use or not configured properly.”

Solution

Error Causes

This error can be triggered due to several reasons such as:

• A software program conflicts with the USB modem
• The modem is not configured properly
• The Telephon.ini file is missing or damaged
• There is some issue with the way Windows is managing the communication (COM) ports on your computer.

Further Information and Manual Repair

If you experience the Modem Error 633 on your PC, you don’t have to panic. Though this error does not pose any major threats like data loss, it may hamper your ability to use the internet therefore it is advisable to resolve the error. Repairing the Modem Error 633 is quite easy. There are a number of ways to fix this error. So, let’s get started:

Solution 1: Delete Incompatible Software and Non-Present Modems

• Click on the start menu and go to the ‘Control Panel’. Now choose the option ‘Phone and Modem’.
• Here you will see three tabs, the dialing rules, modems, and advanced. Choose the tab ‘Modems’. As you click on it, you will see modems installed on your PC. To repair the Modem Error 633, select and remove all the incompatible software and modems that are not present and click ‘OK’.
• Now to bring the changes into effect, restart your system with the modem plugged in and try connecting to the internet again.

Solution 2: Change the Communication Ports

If the error occurs because the modem is not properly configured, then this solution is possibly the best way to resolve this error. Here’s what you need to do:

• Click on the Start menu and choose My Computer.
• Now click on the option ‘Manage’ to open the Computer Management Window.
• Once it opens, click the option ‘Device Manager and then expand the option modems. Click on Properties, then the Advanced tab, and the Advanced Port Settings button.
• As you click on the Advanced Port Settings, then click on the COM Port Number drop-down box.
• Choose a new Communication Port. However, make sure it is not already in use.
• Once you make changes, click ‘OK’ and then restart your PC.
• Now Open Device Manager again. Open the Modern Properties Window and then Click the Diagnostics tab.
• After that view the command response window to verify if the error is fixed. If yes, then create a new dial-up connection and connect to the internet with ease.

Solution 3: Disable the Startup items

• Another way to resolve Modem Error 633 on your PC is to go to the start menu and type ‘msconfig’ into the search box and then press ‘enter’.
• Open the misconfig.exe program. As you open it, you will see 4 tabs, General, Boot, Service, Start-up, and Tools.
• Now click on the ‘Start-up’, ‘Disable All’, and then press Apply.
• After you press Apply, a window will pop up asking to restart the computer.
• Confirm it and click restart.
• Once the computer restarts now try connecting to the internet again. This will hopefully resolve the Modem Error 633.

Driver Pro Description

DriverPro is a program developed by PC Utilities Pro. This program is often found bundled in other installations.

From the author: PC Utilities Pro is a leading software development company founded in 2009. As a group of young enthusiastic programmers, we constantly strive in creating powerful, yet easy-to-use solutions that would enable even the most basic computer users to keep their PCs running like new.

When installed, DriverPro will add registry entries for the current user that allow it to run each time to computer is started. It will also add a scheduled task in Windows, that allows it to run at various times. The optimizing nature of the application allows it to access any file and information on your computer without your knowledge.

Multiple anti-virus programs have marked this application as a Potentially Unwanted Program, and it is not recommended to keep it on your computer.

About Potentially Unwanted Applications

Have you ever discovered an unwanted program running on your PC and wondered exactly how the heck it got there? A PUA / PUP (potentially unwanted application / potentially unwanted program) is a software program that comes bundled with freeware/shareware and you agree to install on your computer. These are programs you certainly don’t want on your computer since it doesn’t provide any useful service. Despite being regarded very dangerous, PUPs aren’t necessarily computer viruses or malware What makes a PUP different from malware is the fact that whenever you download one, you are doing it with your consent – though in most instances unwittingly and unwillingly. PUPs might not be malware but still, they’re harmful programs to your computer. At best, these unwanted applications provide hardly any benefit, and at worst, they could be quite damaging to your computer.

What do PUPs do on your computer, really?

Most Potentially Unwanted Programs will come in the form of adware, which typically aims to exhibit numerous irritating pop-up ads, banners, coupons, and bargains on websites you go to. PUPs that come as browser add-ons and toolbars are readily identifiable. They’ll track your online activities, redirect your search results to unsafe websites where spyware and adware can be downloaded, hijack your home page, and slow your internet browser down to a crawl. PUPs load up a dangerous bite if kept unchecked. They will often include things like information gathering program code which could gather and send your sensitive information back to 3rd parties. These are programs that don’t really do anything good for you; in addition to occupying space on the hard drive, they also slow down your PC, often alter settings without your authorization, the list of annoying features goes on and on.

Great tips on protecting yourself from unwanted software

• When setting up anything on your computer system, always study the fine print, like the license agreement. Don’t accept terms of use that are for bundled programs. • Only Use the “custom” or “manual” install method – and never blindly click Next, Next, Next. • Use an advert blocker/pop-up blocker; Install anti-malware products such as Safebytes Anti-malware. These software programs could establish a wall between the computer and cybercriminals. • Think twice before you decide to download any type of freeware or shareware. Just before adding a plug-in or web browser extension, think about whether it is really necessary. • Only download programs from the original providers’ websites. Avoid download portals because they use their very own download manager to pack extra programs along with the initial download.

Help! Malware Blocking Anti-virus Installation And Access To The Web

All malware is bad, but certain kinds of malicious software do a lot more damage to your computer than others. Some malware is meant to hinder or block things that you wish to do on your computer. It may well not allow you to download anything from the net or it will stop you from accessing some or all websites, particularly the anti-malware sites. So what you should do if malware prevents you from downloading or installing Safebytes Anti-Malware? Do as instructed below to get rid of the malware in alternate ways.

Get rid of malware in Safe Mode

The Windows operating system has a special mode known as “Safe Mode” where just the bare minimum required programs and services are loaded. In the event, the virus is set to load automatically when the PC starts, shifting to this mode may well prevent it from doing so. To start the computer into Safe Mode, press the “F8” key on the keyboard just before the Windows boot screen appears; Or right after normal Windows boot up, run MSConfig, check the Safe Boot under the Boot tab, and click Apply. After you restart into Safe Mode with Networking, you could download, install, and update the anti-malware program from there. Now, you are able to run the anti-virus scan to eliminate computer viruses and malware without any interference from another malicious application.

Switch to some other internet browser

Web-based viruses could be environment-specific, aiming for a particular internet browser or attacking particular versions of the browser. If you appear to have malware attached to Internet Explorer, then switch over to a different internet browser with built-in safety features, such as Firefox or Chrome, to download your favorite antivirus program – Safebytes.

Run anti-virus from your USB drive

Another way is to download and transfer an anti-malware program from a clean computer to run a scan on the affected system. Adopt these measures to run the anti-malware on the infected computer system. 1) On a clean computer, download and install Safebytes Anti-Malware. 2) Plug the pen drive into the uninfected computer. 3) Run the setup program by double-clicking the executable file of the downloaded application, which has a .exe file format. 4) Select the USB flash drive as the location when the wizard asks you where you intend to install the software. Follow the activation instructions. 5) Remove the flash drive. You may now utilize this portable antivirus on the infected computer. 6) Run the Safebytes Anti-malware directly from the flash drive by double-clicking the icon. 7) Press the “Scan” button to run a full system scan and remove viruses automatically.

Detect And Remove Viruses With SafeBytes Anti-Malware

Want to download the very best anti-malware software for your laptop or computer? There are many applications available that come in paid and free versions for Microsoft Windows computers. A few are worth your money, but many aren’t. You need to pick a company that creates industry-best antimalware and has earned a reputation as reliable. Among few good programs, SafeBytes Anti-Malware is the strongly recommended software for the security-conscious end user. Safebytes is one of the well-established PC solutions firms, which provide this complete anti-malware software program. This software program can easily detect, remove, and protect your computer from the most advanced malware intrusions such as adware, spyware, trojan horses, ransomware, parasites, worms, PUPs, along with other potentially harmful software applications. SafeBytes anti-malware offers a plethora of advanced features that set it apart from all others. The following are some of the good ones: Real-time Protection: SafeBytes provides complete and real-time security for your personal machine. It will regularly monitor your computer for hacker activity and also gives users superior firewall protection. Best AntiMalware Protection: This deep-cleaning anti-malware program goes much deeper than most antivirus tools to clean out your computer system. Its critically acclaimed virus engine finds and disables hard to remove malware that hides deep within your PC. Web Protection: SafeBytes gives an instant safety rating about the web pages you are about to check out, automatically blocking unsafe sites and ensuring that you are certain of your safety while browsing the world wide web. Fast Scan: SafeBytes Anti-Malware has a multi-thread scan algorithm that works up to 5x faster than any other antivirus software. Very Low CPU and RAM Usage: This software program is not “heavy” on your computer’s resources, so you’ll not notice any overall performance problems when SafeBytes is operating in the background. Fantastic Tech Support Team: You will get 24/7 technical assistance to promptly resolve any issue with your security application.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

To remove Driver Pro manually, navigate to the Add/Remove programs list in the Control Panel and choose the offending program you want to get rid of. For web browser plug-ins, go to your web browser’s Addon/Extension manager and select the add-on you want to remove or disable. You may also want to reset your web browser settings, as well as clear your web browser cache and cookies. Lastly, check your hard disk for all of the following and clean your registry manually to remove leftover application entries after uninstalls. Please note that only professional computer users should try to manually edit the system files mainly because removing any single vital registry entry leads to a major problem or even a computer crash. Also, certain malware is capable of replicating itself or preventing its removal. Carrying out this in Safe Mode is suggested.

The quickest way to control and manage the volume of your Windows 10 PC is using the Volume control icon in the system tray. However, you might encounter issues in using it especially if you recently updated your PC. After the update, if it no longer responds to mouse clicks, be it a right-click or left-click, read on as this post will show you what you can do to remedy that issue. If you think that you’re the only one who has experienced this problem, you are mistaken as several users also reported that the volume icon does highlight and shows the volume level if you hover the cursor over it but it does not really do anything at all. This is definitely the quickest way to change the audio output in Windows 10 especially when you have to change from speakers to your earphone and whatnot. If you are one of the users whose Windows 10 Taskbar Volume Control icon has stopped working and every time you click on the icon and nothing happens and you’re still not able to adjust the volume of your Windows 10 computer, read on as this post will show you what you can do to fix that problem. Although the audio is working just fine, you will still not be able to adjust the volume from its control icon. The problem is most likely related to the UI interaction. There are times when icons in the taskbar also experience the same issue where you can hover your mouse over them but nothing happens when you click on them. As mentioned, the issue with the volume icon does not seem to affect the actual audio of the computer. Double-check to confirm and if it turns out that the audio is indeed working fine, you can use the hardware of your keyboard to manage and control the volume, however, the software just won’t work. This issue is really inconvenient especially for users who connect their laptops to a bigger display. To fix this issue, here are some suggestions you need to check out.

Option 1 – Try to restart the Windows Explorer

This option may sound silly but it has actually worked in fixing the issue for some users. So if anything gets stuck on the taskbar or system tray, the best way to revive them is by restarting Windows Explorer.

• Right-click on the taskbar and then select the Task Manager.
• Next, look for Windows Explorer under the Processes tab.
• Then right-click and select restart.
• After that, wait for the restart process to be completed and for the user interface to refresh. Note that you will notice the Taskbar disappearing and reappearing again. It will reload the entire user interface and allows you to access the volume icon. It should work this time.

Option 2 – Restart the Audio services

Restarting the audio services in your computer can also help you fix the volume control issue and to do that, refer to these steps:

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Type in “services.msc” in the field and hit Enter to open Services.
• From there, look for Windows Audio and then right-click on it and go to Properties.
• After that, you have to make sure that the Startup Type is set to Automatic.
• Then click on the Stop button. Once it has stopped, start it again.
• Now restart your computer and see if you can now access the volume icon on the taskbar.

Option 3 – Try to update or roll back the Audio driver

If the glitch in your audio has something to do with software, chances are it might be related to the audio driver – it could be that the newest version of your Windows 10 does not work well with the old version of the driver. This is why you have to update your audio driver to the newest available version.

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box and then type in devmgmt.msc and tap Enter or click OK to open the Device Manager.
• Expand the section for the outdated device drivers.
• And then select the outdated driver(s) and right-click on it/them.
• From the drop-down menu, select the Update Driver option and follow the on-screen instructions to install the latest version of the driver.
• Then also click on the option, “Search automatically for updated driver software.
• Restart your PC after the installation.

Note: If updating the Audio driver didn’t work, you can go to the website of your PC manufacturer and look for the support section where you can download the drivers for your computer. You just need to take note of your PC’s correct model and model number so you can find the appropriate driver.

Option 4 – Try running the Playing Audio Troubleshooter

Since the Windows 10 operating system has the Playing Audio Troubleshooter, you can use this troubleshooter to try and fix the volume control issue on your PC. You can access this tool in the Control Panel or in the Taskbar Search and even on the Troubleshooters page of Windows 10. Run this troubleshooter and see if it can fix the issue or not.