When you have to connect to a drive that’s on a different computer or on external storage, that’s where the mapped network drives come in. Mapped network drives make accessing files a lot easier. However, there are times when it won’t work for some reason.
Windows will notify you about the unavailability of mapped network drives in several ways. For one, Windows might display a red X on the network drives or it could be that its status will be unavailable when you try to use it from the Command Prompt or via a notification.
It is recommended that you run a few scripts when you log in to your PC as it may so happen that the network drive takes more than usual to connect. Before you start troubleshooting the problem using the given options below, keep in mind that some workouts might only work under certain scenarios. You might need some network access at logon or you might need access to the Group Policy settings. So you need to choose what you prefer more.
You can try the given workarounds below if the mapped network drives are not showing or connecting or working on your Windows 10 computer. These workarounds use scripts to make sure that you are connected to them as soon as you start to use your PC.
As mentioned, before you can troubleshoot, you need to create scripts first. There are two scripts here namely MapDrives.ps1 which is executed by the second script named MapDrives.cmd and is done at a regular and non-elevated Command Prompt. Follow the steps below to get started.
You have to create a script file named “MapDrives.cmd” first and then save it on a place where the files are safe. To do that, open a text editor like Notepad and then copy and paste the following script:
After that, save the file and name it “MapDrives.cmd”.
Next, create a script file named “MapDrives.ps1” and then copy and paste the following content. Just make sure to save both scripts in the same folder.
Write-Host "There was an error mapping $MappedDrive.RemotePath to $MappedDrive.LocalPath"
}
}
$i = $i - 1
if($error.Count -eq 0 -Or $i -eq 0) {break}
Start-Sleep -Seconds 30
}
Note: Now that you’ve created the script files, it’s time for you to proceed to the options given below.
Option 1 – Try creating a startup item
Note that this option only works on devices that have network access at login. So if it’s not there, the script will fail to reconnect the network drivers automatically. To create a startup item, here’s what you have to do:
Open the Startup folder located at %ProgramData%MicrosoftWindowsStart MenuProgramsStartUp.
From there, copy and paste the MapDrives.cmd.
After that, open the Scripts folder located at %SystemDrive%Scripts copy-paste MapDrives.ps1 and then copy and paste MapDrives.ps1 in there.
Note: After you complete the steps above, a log file named “StartupLog.txt” will be created in the %TEMP% folder. Now all that’s left for you to do is to log out of your computer and then log back in. This will ensure that the mapped drives are open.
Option 2 – Create a scheduled task
It is possible to create a scheduled task that runs as soon as you log in to your computer. To create a scheduled task, follow the steps below.
You have to copy the MapDrives.ps1 script file to the scripts folder of Windows located at %SystemDrive%Scripts.
After that, open the Task Scheduler and select Action > Create Task.
Next, type a name and description of the task in the General tab.
Then click on the Change User or Group button and select a local user group and click OK.
Now check the box labeled “Run with highest privileges” and switch to the Triggers tab.
From there, create a new trigger with the “At Logon” option in the Begin the task drop-down menu and then click OK.
After that, switch to the Actions tab and create a new action then choose to Start a program.
Next, type “Powershell.exe” in the Program/Script field, and in the Add arguments (optional) field, type the following:
And in the Start in the (optional) field, type “%SystemDrive%Scripts” as the location of the script file.
Now under the Conditions tab, select the “Start only if the following network connection is available” option and then select Any connection and click OK.
Restart your computer or log off from your account and then log back in so that the task will be executed.
Option 3 – Use the Group Policy settings
You need this option if the mapped network drives are defined via Group Policy settings. You have to update the action of the drive maps to Replace. As a result, it will delete the existing mapped drive and create the mapping on each logon again. However, any settings on the mapped drive that are changed from the Group Policy settings will be gone on each logon. So if the changes don’t work, you need to run the gpupdate command together with the /force parameter in order to refresh the Group Policy setting quickly.
Code 17 is a typical Spotify error code. Spotify is a music streaming service. Through this software, PC users can browse songs and search by artist, album, and playlist.
Simply put, it is an audio player available for BlackBerry, iOS, and Microsoft Windows desktop.
You may experience error code 17 if the process fails when downloading Spotify from the internet. The error message is displayed in any one of the following formats:
Error 17: Spotify has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience. Spotify could not be started (Error code 17)
Some of the symptoms of this error code are program crash, slow Windows performance, and periodic system freeze.
Solution
Error Causes
Error 17 may be triggered by several reasons such as:
Viral infection
Incomplete installation of Spotify software
Corrupt download
Registry corruption
Windows Installer service terminated
To use the audio player Spotify successfully on your PC, it is advisable to fix error 17 right away on your system. Delay may cause inconvenience and limit your access to your desired program.
Further Information and Manual Repair
To repair this error code on your PC, you don’t have to hire a professional or be a technical whiz yourself. The good news is that this error is quite easy to fix.
You don’t need to be technically sound to resolve it. Here are some proven methods for you to fix error code 17 on your system.
So let’s get started:
Method 1 - Make sure that the Windows Installer is running
Sometimes Spotify error 17 may occur if the Windows Installer service is terminated. Therefore before you download, make sure the Windows Installer is running. This is a good way to ensure the error code 17 messages don’t pop up on your PC again.
For this here’s what you need to do, first quit all programs. Now go to the start menu and in the search box type RUN, and press enter. In the Open Box, type msiexec /unregister and then press OK to confirm.
After that, perform the same steps again, and now in the Open Box type msiexec /regserver and press OK to save.
Reboot your PC and try downloading Spotify again. If the program successfully downloads on your system, then this means error 17 is resolved. However, if the error code still persists, then try other methods given below.
Method 2 - Use System Restore to Undo Recent Changes
Another reason for the cause of error 17 is the improper or incomplete installation of Spotify. Improper installations can configure settings and also leave bad entries in the registries.
To resolve, use System Restore utility built-in Windows. By using this system tool, you can undo recent changes and resume your computer to its previous condition as it was before the proper installation was attempted.
To do this, go to the start menu, then in the search box type System Restore and press enter. Go to System Restore and choose a restore point. Once you’ve selected the point, reboot your PC to activate changes.
Method 3 - Remove Viruses
Viruses can enter and damage your PC if you download software programs from unknown websites. These not only damage your PC but also hinder your ability to install desired programs successfully in this case audio player Spotify.
In such an event, simply use an antivirus to remove all viruses infecting your system. After they are removed, make sure you download and install Spotify software from a trusted website.
Method 4 - Repair the Registry
Another cause of error 17 is registry corruption. This occurs due to bad entries, invalid and junk files saved in the registry. To fix the corrupt registry simply download Restoro.
This is a user-friendly PC Fixer embedded with a powerful registry cleaner. This software is compatible with all Windows versions. The registry cleaner detects all registry issues, removes all file corrupting the registry, and cleans it immediately in just a few clicks.
Click here to download Restoro on your PC and resolve Error 17.
OneXPlayer is a direct competitor to Valve’s upcoming steam deck. This device is clearly inspired by Valve’s offering and it shows all over the place, from its looks to its purpose and aims to PC gamers as a handheld device.
Hardware under the hood
This device is packing a 7-inch 1080p display, 11th generation Intel Core i7-1195G7 CPU, stunning 16GB of RAM, 512GB SSD drive with the option to purchase 1TB or 2TB model. GPU of choice is Intel iris Xe Graphics that is in our opinion a bottleneck in the whole system and for more demanding games, we believe switching them to 720p would be a better option. Everything here is powered with a 10455 mAh lithium-ion battery.
OneXPlayer inputs and other stuff
Handheld is equipped with dual bumpers and dual linear triggers. The console comes with dual speakers on both sides of it. Inside the console, there is an aluminum heat sink with copper heat pipes and a fan in order to cool internal hardware. On the outside, we have two USB-C ports and one USB-A port for connections, and of course, a headphone jack for headphones. The console comes with Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 for wireless connectivity.
Price
The base entry model will cost you a whopping $1.259, 1TB model $1.399 and 2TB one will go as far as $1,599. With this kind of price, I am not sure it can come up as a winner against Valve. Sure it is packing fully licensed Windows 11 that will for sure offer more options than Stem’s OS based on Linux but even with that advantage I do not think it justifies such a big price difference.
Conclusion
Of course, this kind of console or handheld PC will still find its customer base, many users will probably like it since it comes Windows ready out of the box. Sure, you can place Windows on Steam deck as well but you will need to know how, where everything is ready and you can run beside steam other launchers without issues like origin, uplay, gog, etc.
How this will be accepted by community time will tell but it is good to see that there is variety and competition in handheld PC space.
Where all have been there, we are downloading something and for any kind of reason chrome closes, internet breaks, etc. And our download is interrupted and gone forever, and we need to start again.
You will be glad to hear that chrome has side a download manager which tracks each download you made and you can use this manager to resume interrupted downloads.
Please note that some websites have certain scripts that will prevent you to resume interrupted downloads, in this case, using chrome's download manager will not work and you will have to start the download again.
All of this being said, if your download has been interrupted, and went away, pin Chrome press CTRL + J to open download manager, find your interrupted download, and press the resume button.
That's it, you have successfully resumed your download.
Did you previously use Windows 7 or 8 but decided to run with the latest Windows 0S, Windows 10? An early error message encountered was activation error code 0Xc004F074. Error code 0Xc004F074 is manifested when the user fails to activate Windows directly after the installation of Windows 10. This occurs if the previous operating system on your computer was Key Management Service (KMS) activated.
The KMT provides a more seamless operation when users are activating volume license editions of Microsoft Windows and Office. This process tends to be clear to end-users of the system.
Symptoms of error code 0Xc004F074 include:
Windows is unable to reach your company’s activation service.
The Key Management Service is unavailable.
Solution
Error Causes
Various factors might incite error code 0Xc004F074. A primary cause is a discrepancy or difference between the KMS client and the KMS host machine. The host computer could possibly be operating a Windows Server 2003 or Windows Server 2008, while the client runs on OS Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2. To supplement, the computer’s time might be a contributing factor. The time on the host machine and client might show a difference (Usually the host time exceeds 4 hours).
Further Information and Manual Repair
To rectify error code 0Xc004F074, users are advised to try various methods. These methods include:
Method 1: Update Your KMS Host 9 (Windows Server 2003)
Are you running later versions of Windows Server? Use an update that fixes or installs KMS on your computer. The update is available on Microsoft’s website. Keep clearly in mind that the update is only for Windows Server 2013 Service Pack 1 and later versions of Windows Server 2003.
Method 2: Update Your KMS Host 9 (Windows Server 2008)
This step is similar to the aforementioned. However, it applies to Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008. This ensures the service is extended to Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2.
Method 3: Update the Time
It was previously mentioned that the time reflected on the KMS host and client might cause error code 0Xc004F074 to manifest. A simple fix to adhere to is to always ensure that the time between both is updated. To Resync the time on the client, execute the following command.
w32tm /resync
Method 4: Uninstall the Existing KMS
For this method to be successfully deployed, you’ll need to have in your possession an activation key or KMSpico Key. As you cannot apply the new key with the existing one, remove or uninstall the initial key. To perform this step, open the command prompt. This should be done while the computer is in admin mode. Then, run the command
(slmgr.vbs /dlv)
It should be executed without the brackets and before you have removed the existing key.
After executing the command, you’ll encounter the description:
Move along with the process by applying the slmgr.vbs /upk to uninstall the existing KMS key.
After the old key is uninstalled, you’re ready to apply the following:
slmgr.vbs /ipk <NewKMSProductKey>
To check if things are in place and complete the process, follow the steps below: PC Settings >Update and Security > Activation
Method 5: 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.
There are instances when there are multiple accounts which is the result when there are a lot of users who use the computer. Some may use it more often, while others may seldom use it. Having multiple accounts can be quite confusing and inconvenient especially if it takes a lot of space. Thus, in this post, you will be guided on how you can delete a User Account on your Windows 10 computer, as well as how you can create a backup of the existing profile data and files.
All the data of user accounts can be found at C:/Users, where its folder name will be exactly the same as the name of the user. You can check the exact user’s name by simply using the “net user” command either via Command Prompt or Windows PowerShell. Once you delete a user account, its folder, along with its files, will also be deleted. You can also create a backup for user files and the best way to do that is by copying the folder to other partitions or to an external drive.
Here are two methods you can check out to delete a user account in Windows 10 – you can do it via Windows Account settings or via the command line. For more details, follow each one of the options provided below.
Option 1 – Delete the user account using Windows Account settings
First, go to Settings > Accounts > Family & other users.
Next, select the account you want to delete and click on the Remove button. This will open a confirmation window along with a warning message and two buttons that say, “Delete account & data” and “Cancel”.
Click on the Delete account & data button to delete the user account.
Note: Once you remove a user account, it will also remove all its corresponding data such as items like Documents, Photos, Music, Desktop, and other related folders. Thus, if you have not created a backup, then you won’t be able to recover those files.
Option 2 – Delete the user account using the command line
If you want to delete several user accounts, then doing it via Command Prompt or Windows PowerShell is a lot quicker. To get started, follow these steps:
In the Start Search, type “command prompt” and from the search results that appear, right-click on Command Prompt and select the “Run as administrator” option.
Next, type the “net user” command and hit Enter to execute it. This will show you the exact usernames on the computer.
After that, type the “net user <username> /delete” command and hit Enter to execute it. This will delete the account and all of its data without any warning. You have to replace “<username>” with the name of the user account.
Facebook has an algorithm inside it that can recognize your face in pictures and videos which is meant to help people tag friends when they upload media into Facebook. It is a neat feature meant to help all Facebook users but what if we do not want to be detected in pictures and videos? What if we do not want to be tagged?
If you are one of the Facebook users that do not wish to be detected and recognized by Facebook in media keep on reading to find out how you can disable this option.
Open the Facebook website and log into your account.
Click on the arrow visible in the top menu bar.
Select the Settings & privacy option.
Click on the Settings option.
Switch to the Face recognition tab on the left-hand side.
Click the Edit button.
Select No from the drop-down list.
And you are done, you do not need to log out or restart facebook in order for changes to have an effect. Now you are free from face recognition and detection.
In today's IT world, if you want a computer for typical day-to-day actions and gaming, there are 3 primary ways you can go. An Apple computer with its proprietary hardware and operating system or a typical machine with Windows or Linux operating system.
Each system has both advantages and disadvantages and picking the right one might be difficult for some users. From hardware differences to specific software and operating system, each system is aimed at a different type of work, and in this article, we will explore each one and help you in choosing the right one for you.
Apple ecosystem
Apple has managed to create a unique ecosystem of its own devices, from its iMac desktop computers to more professional MAC studio and power MAC and all the way to tablet iPad and iPhone are powered by Apple's own operating system that connects all of these devices into one large system. So if you really need one singular ecosystem this is a huge advantage.
The ecosystem on the side, MAC computer systems are great, some would argue best for coding, design, video work, and sound editing. MAC M2 chip is optimized for all of these tasks and a specially tailored operating system is just the icing on the cake. Specific Apple-made software like a logic pro or final cut also helps a lot to position MAC systems on top of the line.
Reading all of this you might think hey this is the computer for me, it does everything! Sadly the truth is not like that. The first thing that is difficult on MAC systems and a maybe big reason that it is not so adopted outside professional working environment is lack of games. If you are a gamer or plan on using MAC for gaming, well I have some bad news. The second big turn-off is that MAC systems tend to be more expensive than PC systems, yes components are of higher quality but rest assured that you will pay for also for branding.
Get MAC as your workstation for serious work and for good tech support, if you need a plain home computer keep reading.
Windows PC machine
There is no better feeling than assembling your own computer, tweaking hardware to make a monster and despite haters hating, Windows is the best all-around operating system on the market. It is supporting the largest variety of hardware and the largest variety of software.
The best platform for serious gaming and streaming Windows machine has cemented itself as a multimedia powerhouse. But, this kind of computer is not alien to being also a professional machine, you can practically do everything that you can do on Apple or Linux machine inside Windows, yes some things might require extra steps or will be slightly slower but in the end, being able to do anything is the greatest strength of Windows machine.
Of course, every system has its flaws and Windows is not immune to that. One of the biggest is being the operating system for every hardware ever made and every software as well while keeping legacy support for old software and hardware, basically, its biggest strength is in the same time its biggest weakness leading to sometimes stability issues. Also being able to place any kind of hardware can also lead to the same stability issues. Executing something a little slower than other systems and having some extra steps can also be looked upon as weaknesses.
Linux system
First and perhaps for some people, the biggest advantage of the Linux operating system is its price, it is completely free! Other advantages include the great server and networking included in the OS itself, the large amount of customization, and unmatched stability. The ability to write scripts inside the OS terminal is also a great thing and coding is much more streamlined and friendlier than on other machines.
The power of Linux is the ability to change anything, even on the system layer, no other operating system will let you change the basic functionality of the OS itself while Linux will let you do this. It is also the only operating system you can fully use by booting it up from a USB stick and having the same experience as it was installed on a local hard drive. Among other OS mentioned earlier, Linux is by far the lightest one, taking the smallest amount of memory among the three.
The bad side of the Linux machine is the steep learning curve, among the three mentioned operating systems rest assured Linux is the most difficult to learn and be comfortable in it. The operating system will require you to know the hardware and how computers work in order to fully use its potential. Other things that place it behind are not so wide hardware support compared to Windows and the somewhat confusing distro model.
Linux versions come in form of different distro packages and first-time users will face many of them being left in awe of which one to choose. Also installing drivers and software via a package system can also be a tedious task as well, often being that some version of the driver will not work on the newer version of the Linux distro.
Get a Linux machine if you are well versed in computer technology, if you want great customization of the OS itself or if you do not want to spend money on OS and software since almost entire Linux software is open source.
A slow PC startup can be pretty annoying. This usually results from various computer issues. If your computer is acting sluggishly, here are four ways to speed up your PC startup.
In this post, you will be guided on how to import and export the WSL distros in your Windows 10 computer. WSL, also known as Windows Subsystem for Linux, is a compatibility layer needed to run Linux binary executable in Windows 10, as well as the Windows Server 2019.
In case you don’t know, when you reinstall or reset Windows 10, all of its configuration data stored with the WSL distros gets deleted. Going back or restoring the configuration can be quite challenging but worry not for Microsoft has already got this covered as you can now import and export the WSL or Windows Subsystem for Linux distros.
There are three aspects that you have to deal with when you import or export WSL distros in your Windows 10 computer, such as importing WSL distro, exporting WSL distro, and uninstalling the imported WSL distros.
Before you proceed to the instructions provided below, make sure that all your installed distros are updated via Microsoft Store. Once you have this covered, follow the options below.
Option 1 – Import the WSL distro
Type “command prompt” in the Start Search and from the search results, right-click on Command Prompt and then select the “Run as administrator” option.
After opening Command Prompt as admin, execute this command: wsl --list –all
The command you entered will list all the installed WSL distros on your computer. And now it’s time for you to import a WSL distro by executing this command: wsl --import <Name of the distro> <Fill path to save the backup .tar file>
Note: In the given command above, replace “<Name of the distro>” with the name of the distro you want to import and replace “<Fill the path to save the backup .tar file>” with the location where you want to save the .tar file.
Option 2 – Export the WSL distro
Type “command prompt” in the Start Search and from the search results, right-click on Command Prompt and then select the “Run as administrator” option.
After opening Command Prompt as admin, execute this command to see the list of all the installed WSL distros in your computer: wsl --list –all
After that, execute this command to export a WSL distro: wsl --export <Name of the distro> <Fill path to save the backup .tar file>
Option 3 – Uninstall the imported WSL distro
Open Command Prompt with admin privileges.
Next, execute this command to view the list of all the installed WSL distros: wsl --list –all
After that, execute this command to uninstall an imported WSL distro: wsl --unregister <Name of the distro>
Once it’s done, close Command Prompt and restart your computer.
The standard icon place in the Taskbar inside Windows 11 is in the center. Some users welcomed this change, some not so much. If you are part of the user base that is not so much thrilled with this Microsoft’s idea of innovation, do not worry, there is an easy way to move all icons and start button on the left inside Taskbar.
Moving icons in Taskbar
Open Windows settings by using ⊞ WINDOWS + I key combination
Click on Personalization
Select Taskbar
Click on Taskbar Behaviors
Click on the drop-down menu beside Taskbar Alignment
Select your desired option of icon alignment
Close settings
Your options will be active right away and you will see icons switching to the position of your choosing.
Error Causes
Hardware under the hood
Moving icons in Taskbar