Edge and Store apps are not connecting

Microsoft allows its users to download a copy of Windows to install on PCs. However, when you enter the key after the installation and you got the Activation Error 0xC004F212 instead, then it means that the license key and the Windows version you’ve just installed, do not match. When you encounter this error, you will see the following error message on your screen:

“The product key used on this PC didn’t work with this edition of Windows. Activation Error 0xC004F212.”

Every time Microsoft generates a license for a copy of Windows, it is associated with one particular Windows variant. Windows comes in many editions like Enterprise, Home, Professional, and so on. For instance, if you bought a license for Windows 10 Enterprise but you have installed Windows 10 Professional instead, then the activation will surely fail and you’ll encounter the Activation Error 0xC004F212. You will be asked to select which edition you want to install when you reinstall Windows 10 using a digital license. If you opted for an edition other than the one you are licensed to use, then you will most likely get the Activation Error 0xC004F212. If you have purchased your license key from a store or some website, you might want to check back with them about the exact version of Windows. Doing so will help you narrow down the problem. And if you have second thoughts about the license key’s validity, you can just reach out to a Microsoft Support agent to check the validity of the license key. Also, if have bought it from the store, there should be an option to get a refund. That way you can choose to buy the right version of Windows.

Option 1 – Try running the Windows 10 Activation Troubleshooter

The first thing you can do to resolve the Activation Error 0xC004F212 is to run the Windows 10 Activation Troubleshooter. To do so, follow these steps:

• Go to Settings and then select Activation.
• After that, click on the Windows Activation and then troubleshoot. This will help you address most of the commonly found activation issues in Windows devices.

The Windows 10 Activation Troubleshooter will determine if your license key is a valid Windows 10 digital license for an edition that is not currently installed. If it turns out that it’s not, then the troubleshooter will show you how to install the correct edition.

Option 2 – Try forcing Windows 10 ISO to use the right version

You can also try to force Windows 10 ISO to use the correct version depending on the product key. Note that this option only works between Windows 10 Home and Professional version since they both have a common ISO. So if it’s Enterprise, then this option won’t work for you.

• Extract the Windows 10 ISO files using an extractor.
• Then browse to the folder you created and go to the sources folder.
• From there, you need to create a text file named “PID.txt” and make sure to follow the exact format given below:

[PID] Value=xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx

Note: “xxxxx” is the KEY to your Windows version.

• Next, you need to create the ISO again or bootable media that will repack everything and then create the Media file. You can use the Media Creation tool for this.

Note: Windows will check the key during the installation and will figure out the right version of Windows.

Option 3 – Contact Microsoft Support for assistance

If you’re at your wits’ end in trying to update your Windows 10 computer, you should consider contacting Microsoft Support for help as they can offer you various options that would make fixing Windows Activation Error 0xC004F212 a lot easier and faster.

Hive ransomware has been targeting Microsoft exchange servers lately vulnerable to ProxyShell security issues in order to deploy various backdoors. Once the backdoor has been placed various attacks can be performed including but not limited to network reconnaissance, stealing admin accounts, taking valuable data, and even installing and deploying file-encrypting algorithms.

ProxyShell wide abuse

ProxyShell is a set of three vulnerabilities in the Microsoft Exchange Server that allows remote code execution without authentication on vulnerable deployments. The flaw has been used in past by various ransomware like Conti, BlackByte, Babuk, Cuba, and LockFile.

Security vulnerabilities have been reported to be fully patched on May 2021 but how Hive was able to still be successful in exploiting PowerShell and infiltrating into the system there seems to be still some unpatched and open issues.

Hive

Hive has gone a long way since it was first observed in the wild back in June 2021, having a successful start that prompted the FBI to release a dedicated report on its tactics and indicators of compromise.

In October 2021, the Hive gang added Linux and FreeBSD variants, and in December it became one of the most active ransomware operations in attack frequency.

Last month, researchers at Sentinel Labs reported on a new payload-hiding obfuscation method employed by Hive, which indicates active development.

If you are trying to copy large files that are over 4GB to a USB flash drive or SD card, but you suddenly get an error message saying, “File Too Large, The file is too large for the destination file system”, read on as this post will help you fix this problem. A user recently reported that while trying to copy a 4.8GB zipped file from a Windows 10 PC to a new 8GB USB drive but only got the File Too Large error message instead. If you share the same problem with this user and you know that there is more than enough available space for the file in your USB drive or SD card, continue reading until you get to the instructions provided in this post so that you will be able to copy the file successfully. It is most likely that the USB drive has been FAT32 formatted which is why you’re unable to copy the file and got an error. The FAT32 file system has a built-in limitation on the size of the individual file that it may contain. For instance, it’s 4GB so even though collectively, it may have files or even 1TB individually it shouldn’t be more than 4GB. Thus, you need to change the file system from FAT32 to NTFS. To do that, carefully follow the instructions provided below.

• Step 1: Connect the USB drive and open the Windows File Explorer.
• Step 2: Afterwards, right-click on the USB drive letter and select Format from the context menu.
• Step 3: Next, select NTFS instead of FAT32 the instant a dialog box appears from the drop-down menu for the file system.
• Step 4: Now click on the Quick Format option and then click the Start button to reformat the USB drive.

Note: There is also another way you can change the file system. In this alternative way, you need to open an elevated Command Prompt and type the convert X: /fs:ntfs /nosecurity command, and hit Enter to execute it. Remember that in this command, “X” is the letter of your USB drive so whatever the letter of your drive is, you need to make sure to put it instead of “X”. Once the process is completed, try copying the file again.

If you receive an error message saying, “Windows Update cannot currently check for updates because updates on this computer are controlled”, while trying to change the Windows Update preferences or manually update, then read on as this post will guide you in fixing it. You can mostly encounter this error in managed systems where an Administrator controls the permission on the operating system. The reason why you are not able to modify the Windows Update preferences or manually update your system is that a group policy prevents you from doing so and that the only user who can do these things is none other than the administrator of the system. Troubleshooting this kind of problem is the same as when you troubleshoot an error message that says, “Some settings are managed by your organization”. In such cases, you need to check both the Windows Update Group Policy and Registry settings. If you’re just a standard user, you have to contact your system administrator regarding this issue and if you are the administrator, you can make adjustments to the system settings via the Registry Editor and the Group Policy Editor. Refer to the instructions given below for detailed instructions.

Option 1 – via the Registry Editor

If you are using the Home edition of Windows 10 and you want to change the policy for non-admin users on your local computer, then you can use the Registry Editor for that. Here’s how you can do it:

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Then type “Regedit” in the field and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor.
• After that, navigate to the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindows

• From there, look for the key named “WindowsUpdate” in the Windows folder and if it does not exist, you can just right-click on the Windows folder and select New > Key.
• Now name the new key “WindowsUpdate” and create a new sub-key under the newly created key and input “AU” as its name.
• Keep AU selected and then right-click anywhere in the right pane and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
• Then name the Value as “AUOptions” and right-click on AUOptions and select Modify.
• Next, change the value of the Value data to “5” and click OK to save the changes made to the settings. Note that the Value Data of 5 refers to the policy to allow the local admin to choose the setting.
• Now restart your computer once you’re done and check if non-admin users can now modify the Windows Update settings or update Windows.

Option 2 – via Group Policy Editor

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box and then type “gpedit.msc” and hit Enter to open the Group Policy Editor.
• Next, navigate to this folder: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Update.
• Now look for the “Configure Automatic Updates” policy on the right pane and double click on it to open its Properties.
• After that, shift the Radio button to “Enabled” and from the drop-down menu for Configure automatic updating, select option 5: Allow local admin to choose the setting.
• Then click on Apply and OK to save the changes made to the settings.
• Restart your computer and check if the problem’s fixed or not.

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.

Check your connection. Microsoft Store needs to be online. It looks like you’re not. Check connection Code: 0x80072F7D

This is the error that you get if trying to open the Microsoft store on Windows 10 and it fails. If you experienced this error and are unable to access the store do not despair we are here to help you. This particular error is usually due to some internet issues, follow the presented guide step by step in order to solve it and be able to access the Windows store again.

1. Check your Internet connection

   Since this error is closely tied to internet connection it is advisable to first eliminate the obvious and check if your computer is connected to the internet.

2. Run Network troubleshooter

   Built-in Windows troubleshooter is a great tool and we will be using it in the next few segments in order to locate the issue and fix it. Open Windows 10 Settings app using the WINDOWS + I Click on Network & Internet Click on Network troubleshooter Select network adapter to diagnose Press the Next button.

3. Run Internet Connections troubleshooter

   Press WINDOWS + I to open the Settings app Click on the Update & Security Click on the Troubleshoot Select Additional troubleshooters option Click on Internet Connections option Hit Run the troubleshooter button.

4. Run Windows Store Apps troubleshooter

   Press WINDOWS + I to open the Settings app Select Update & Security Click on the Troubleshoot Use the Additional troubleshooters option Click on the Windows Store Apps option Press Run the troubleshooter button

5. Temporarily disable security software

   Your antivirus or firewall might be interfering with the application, sometimes, in some cases store is detected as a false positive in some security applications, and its access to the internet is cut. Disable your security suite to see if this is the case.

There are cases when you want to undo some changes you’ve made to your computer and to do that you have to perform the System Restore task. However, if you encounter an error that states “To use System Restore you must specify which Windows installation to restore”, when doing so, read on as this post will help you fix the problem. This kind of error in System Restore could be due to corrupted files in the system. There are also situations where you are not able to boot up once you encounter this error which could be a big problem. On the other hand, this error might have something to do with corrupted BCD files. Whatever the cause is, here are some potential fixes you have to try.

Option 1 – Try to run System File Checker offline

Like pointed out, since the error might be due to corrupted system files, you can try to run System File Checker offline. How? Refer to these steps:

• You need to go to the Advanced Startup Options and from there select Troubleshoot.
• Next, select the Advanced Options and then Command Prompt.
• After opening Command Prompt, type the commands given below and tap Enter right after you type each one of them.
  • Cd /
  • Dir

• If you can see the “Users” folder, that is your system’s drive. However, if you can’t see it, you can just change the drive-by assigning “D” as its alphabet volume.
• Then execute this command where “C” is the system drive: sfc /scannow /offbootdir=C: /offwindir=C:Windows
• Now repeat the given steps sequentially.

Option 2 – Try to run DISM tool

You can also run the DISM tool to repair the potentially corrupted system image. First, you have to check the health of the system like checking the integrity of the system files and Windows services. To run DISM, follow the given steps below sequentially.

• Open Command Prompt from the Advanced Startup options.
• After that, execute this command where “C:” is the system volume: DISM /Image:C:Windows /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:C:WindowsWinSxS
• If you encounter an error after executing the given command, insert the Windows USB or DVD and then execute this next command where “E:” is the USB or DVD drive: DISM /Image:C:Windows /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:esd:E:SourcesInstall.esd:1 /limitaccess
• In some cases, “install.esd” would be “install.wim” and in such case, you have to modify and execute this command: DISM /Image:C:Windows /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:wim:E:SourcesInstall.wim /limitaccess

Option 3 – Try to repair corrupted BCD

As mentioned, the error could also be due to corruption in BCD, and to fix it, you can use Bootrec.exe – a built-in command-line tool used to troubleshot issues related to boot up and Windows Startup. Before you run this tool, make sure that you have inserted a bootable USB or DVD into your computer. Once you have that covered, follow these steps:

• You need to go to the Advanced Startup Options.
• Then click on Troubleshoot.
• Next, select the Advanced Options and then Command Prompt.
• Once Command Prompt has been pulled up, enter each one of the following commands and in the sequence that they are given to rebuild BCD files and repair MBR files:
  • Bootrec /Fixmbr
  • Bootrec /FixBoot
• After you execute the commands given above, you should see a confirmation message that says, “The operation completed successfully”.
• Now type the “Bootrec /RebuildBCD” command to rebuild BCD.
• Finally, close Command Prompt and then restart your computer to successfully apply the changes made.

Option 4 – Try to run the Automatic Repair Utility

You might also want to use Automatic Repair in fixing the error. To do so, follow the steps below.

• You can start by creating and booting from a bootable Windows 10 USB Stick.
• After that, click on Repair your computer located in the bottom left corner when you are on the initial Windows Startup screen.
• Next, click on Troubleshoot, and then on the other screen, click the Startup Repair option.
• Now select the operating system you want to repair. Once you do that, it will start to repair your operating system. Wait until the process is completed and then check if the problem’s now fixed.

Option 5 – Try to use the Windows Recovery Environment

If the four options given above didn’t help fix the problem, you could try running Windows Repair and a Windows bootable USB or DVD.

• First, insert the bootable USB or DVD and boot into it, and select the “Repair your computer” option.
• Next, once you see the manufacturer logo on your computer, tap the key to enter into Windows Recovery Environment.
• After that, change the Boot sequence to DVD drive under the UEFI Firmware settings and restart your computer.
• Once your computer has restarted, select the boot order and make changes accordingly as displayed in the BIOS.

Option 6 – Try running System Restore in Advanced Startup Options

Since you probably can’t boot into your Windows 10 computer, you can try to run System Restore again in the Advanced Startup Options.

• Boot your computer into the Advanced Startup Options screen.
• From there, you will see some options to troubleshoot when you can’t log in to Windows in the usual way.
• Now select Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Command Prompt.
• After that, type “exe /OFFLINE:C:Windows” and hit Enter to execute the command which will start the System Restore process.

Note: You need to replace “C” with the drive where Windows Installation is located.

BSOD or Blue Screen of Death errors are one of the most common errors you can encounter on your Windows PC. One of these BSOD errors is the “ACPI_BIOS_ERROR”. If you suddenly get this error, it means that there is some problem in booting the operating system from your hard drive or Windows was not properly installed on your PC. In addition, this error could also mean that there is something wrong with the CMOS battery located in the motherboard. Unlike other BSOD errors, the workaround for this error is a bit different as these workarounds require a bit more expertise in updating the BIOS as well as setting the correct boot configuration. If you know are capable enough in troubleshooting the problem, refer to the instructions laid out below to fix the BSOD “ACPI_BIOS_ERROR”.

Option 1 – Try to remove the SSD and update the BIOS

The first thing you have to do is to check the primary storage devices on your PC. If you have just installed a new hard drive or SSD recently on your computer, then it’s most likely the cause of the BSOD error. Moreover, you should also ensure that your BIOS is up-to-date to the latest available build.

• Remove the SSD/HDD and inject a different HDD that was already preinstalled in your Windows PC.
• After that, update the BIOS to the latest available build. After updating it, insert the old SSD/HDD and then try to boot your PC again. The problem should be fixed now. If not, refer to the next given option.

Option 2 – Try to check the CMOS battery and reset the CMOS module

As mentioned earlier, the CMOS battery might also be the one that’s causing the problem. It is a physical component of the motherboard and is a memory chip that contains all the settings configuration on your computer and is also powered by a battery. So if your battery loses power, the CMOS will be reset and as a result, all the configurations will be gone as well. It is also possible that the CMOS module is not properly working and every time things are saved, they are properly written due to the battery. That’s why you have to consider changing the CMOS battery and see if it fixes the problem. In addition, you also have to make sure that you completely reset the CMOS module and then try booting your PC again.

Option 3 – Try to check the BIOS settings

If the BIOS settings are incorrect, chances are that’s the reason why you’re getting the “ACPI_BIOS_ERROR” BSOD error. Every BIOS has different settings which you can make use of to enhance your computer experience. So make sure that your BIOS is up-to-date and that the settings are in accordance with your requirement. Another thing you can try is to disable the Legacy USB and the Legacy BIOS in the BIOS settings if you are trying to install a 64 bit Windows version. Make sure that you also enable AHCI before plugging in the installation drive on your PC. Moreover, ensure that your PC is using IDE or Integrated Drive Electronics mode instead of SATA or Serial Advanced Technology Attachment. Aside from that, try to check the extracted setup if it is in NTFS format, if it is, you should extract the ISO in FAT32 and use it to install Windows.

Option 4 – Try to reset the ACPI Compliant Control Method

ACPI or Advanced Configuration and Power Interface provide an open standard that operating systems can use to detect hardware, perform power management, as well as monitor the status of your device and provide information for other processes. Chances are, there are some misconfigurations with this module on your PC that lead to believing that there is no battery present. That’s why you need to reset it and see if it fixes the BSOD error or not.

• Boot your PC into Safe Mode.
• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Type in “devmgmt.msc” in the field and tap Enter to open the Device Manager.
• After opening the Device Manager, go to the “Batteries” section and click it to expand it and then right-click on the “Microsoft ACPI-Complaint Control Method Battery” option and click on Uninstall.
• After you disable the module, click on any empty space and then click the “Scan for hardware changes” option.
• Then check if you can now boot your PC normally and without the BSOD error.

There are times when you see a message in Windows Defender saying, “The Threat Services has stopped, Restart it now” when you try to use it. This kind of error is usually fixed by simply clicking on the Restart now button. However, if the error still appears even after you restart your computer and you see another message that says, “Unexpected error, Sorry, we ran into a problem”, then continue reading as this post will guide you in resolving this issue in Windows Defender. Before you proceed with the given fixes below, you have to create a System Restore point first. This way, you can always undo any changes you’ve made in case something goes wrong.

Option 1 – Make sure that the Windows Defender Services are started

The Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection service is the one that protects your computer from advanced threats by monitoring and reporting security events that happen on your computer. This is why you have to make sure that this, as well as other required services in Windows Defender, are set to their default values and are started. To do so, follow these steps:

• In the Cortana search box, type “services” and click on the Services icon to open the Services Manager. Alternatively, you can also tap the Win + R keys to launch the Run prompt and then type “services.msc” in the field and hit Enter to open the Services Manager
• After opening the Services Manager, look for the following services and make sure that their Startup type is set to their default values:
  • Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection Service – Manual
  • Windows Defender Antivirus Network Inspection Service – Manual
  • Windows Defender Antivirus Service – Manual
  • Windows Defender Firewall Service – Automatic
• You can right-click on each one of the listed services and then select Start to start them.
• And if some of the services don’t have their default values, just double-click on the Services to change the Startup types and select the correct option from the drop-down menu of the Startup type under the Properties box.
• Next, set up the Startup type of these services to Automatic and then click on the Start button if the services are not running yet.
• Now click on the Apply and OK buttons to save the changes made and then see if it fixed the problem or not.

Option 2 – Try modifying some entries in the Windows Registry

If the first option didn’t work in fixing the problem, you can try to alter some entries in the Windows Registry using the Registry Editor.

• First, tap Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Then type “Regedit” in the field and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor.
• Next, navigate to this registry path: HKLMSoftwarePoliciesMicrosoftWindows Defender
• From there, look for the “DisabledAntivirus” and “DisableAntiSpyware” DWORDS from the right pane and change each one of their values to “0”. On the other hand, if you don’t see any of these DWORDS, you can create them instead and give each one of them a 0 value.
• To create a DWORD, simply right-click on any empty space and select New > DWORD. Then name them both as “DisabledAntivirus” and “DisableAntiSpyware”.
• Afterward, set the value of the newly-created DWORDS to 0.
• Now exit the Registry Editor and reboot your PC to apply the changes made and then check if it has fixed the error in Windows Defender or not.

When your computer boots up or when it just woke up from sleep but it suddenly encounters a Blue Screen of Death error, saying, “HAL INITIALIZATION FAILED error with STOP CODE 0x0000005C”, then read on as this post will give you some fixes that might help in resolving the problem. You will see the following error message on your computer’s screen when this error pops up:

“Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart. We’re just collecting some error info, and then we’ll restart for you. If you’d like to know more, you can search online later for this error: HAL_INITIALIZATION_FAILED HAL INITIALIZATION FAILED 0x0000005C”

This kind of Blue Screen error indicates that there is a hardware or device driver problem in your PC. Aside from that, it also signifies that the initialization of the Hardware Abstraction Layer or HAL has failed. This happens only during the relatively short period that the Windows operating system is being initialized, specifically during phase 4 of Windows startup. What’s worse about this kind of Stop error is that it does not just go away after a computer reboot. You may have to boot your computer into Safe mode with Networking using the Advanced startup options which you can access by tapping the F2 or F8 key. Once you’ve accessed the Advanced startup options, follow the fixes prepared below.

Option 1 – Run CHKDSK command to repair hard disk errors

Running the Chkdsk utility could help you resolve the HAL INITIALIZATION FAILED error with STOP CODE 0x0000005C. If your hard drive has issues with integrity, the update will really fail as the system will think that it’s not healthy and that’s where the Chkdsk utility comes in. The Chkdsk utility repairs hard drive errors that might be causing the problem.

• After you access the Advanced Startup options, select Command Prompt by using the arrow keys on your keyboard.
• After opening Command Prompt, execute the following command and hit Enter:

chkdsk /f /r

• The command you entered will scan the hard disk for any errors and will automatically fix it if it finds some issues. Wait for the process to be completed and then restart your computer.

Option 2 – Run the DISM tool

If the first option didn’t work, then running the Deployment Imaging and Servicing Management tool can help you resolve the HAL INITIALIZATION FAILED error as it will repair the Windows System Image as well as the Windows Component Store in Windows 10.

• After you access the Advanced Startup options, select Command Prompt by using the arrow keys on your keyboard.
• Next, type in this command: DISM /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 3 – Update the Device drivers

• Tap the Win + R keys to launch Run.
• Type in msc into the box and tap Enter or click OK to open the Device Manager.
• After that, a list of device drivers will be displayed. Look for the device driver you and then select either “Update driver” or “Uninstall device”. And if you find any “Unknown device”, you need to update it as well.
• Select the “Search automatically for updated driver software” option and then follow the instructions to complete the process.
• If you have chosen to uninstall the driver, follow the screen options to complete the process and then restart your PC.
• Connect the device and Scan for hardware changes – you can see this option under Device Manager > Action.

Option 4 – Try removing any external hardware

You might also want to remove any connected devices and external hardware in your computer as it might help in fixing the BSOD error.

Option 5 – Disable Fast Start-up

If you want your computer to boot faster, then you might have enabled Fast Start-up. This feature is ideal for computers that are using a hard disk drive. However, turning on this feature also means that when the computer boots, it might lag some drivers that are loaded when it initially boots up. Thus, it might be the potential cause of the UNEXPECTED STORE EXCEPTION BSOD error. Thus, you need to disable Fast Start-up. To do that, follow these steps:

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

Option 6 – Disable your antivirus program

There are times when the antivirus program installed in your computer blocks file access and even disk access. Thus, disabling the antivirus program or any security software installed in your computer is always a good idea you can try when the Windows Update process does not go smoothly. So before you try updating your computer again, make sure to disable the antivirus or security program and once the Windows Update is done, don’t forget to enable the antivirus program back again.

Option 7 – Perform a Clean Boot

There are some instances that some conflicting programs installed in your computer might be the one that’s causing the HAL INITIALIZATION FAILED error. To identify which program is causing the problem, you need to put your computer in a Clean Boot State. To do so, follow the steps below.

• Log onto your PC as an administrator.
• Type in MSConfig in the Start Search to open the System Configuration utility.
• From there, go to the General tab and click “Selective startup”.
• Clear the “Load Startup items” check box and make sure that the “Load System Services” and “Use Original boot configuration” options are checked.
• Next, click the Services tab and select the “Hide All Microsoft Services” check box.
• Click Disable all.
• Click on Apply/OK and restart your PC. (This will put your PC into a Clean Boot State. And configure Windows to use the usual startup, just simply undo the changes.)
• From there, start to isolate the problem by checking which one of the programs you installed recently is the root cause of the problem.