Windows Update service could not be stopped

One of the most interesting innovations that were released by Microsoft is the Surface Dial. This only goes to show that Microsoft is very competent not just in hardware but in overall innovation. Although it’s quite a piece of technology and as far as the consensus is concerned, it works pretty well, there are still some issues encountered by users. One of the particular issues experienced by users is that the Surface Dial fails to pair with every Windows 10 PC. At a time of writing, it is still not clear what the cause of the problem really is. However, their possible solutions are provided in this post that might help you resolve the problem. Before you get started troubleshooting the problem, make sure that there are two AAA batteries fitted inside properly.

Option 1 – Check if your PC supports Bluetooth 4.0 LE

In case you don’t know, the Surface Dial only works with the Windows 10 Anniversary Update and later PCs that support Bluetooth 4.0 LE. Thus, you have to check if this is supported or not before you troubleshoot further.

• Tap the Win + R keys on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
• Next, type “devmgmt.msc” in the field and hit Enter to open the Device Manager.
• From there, click on Bluetooth and select “Microsoft Bluetooth LE Enumerator” from the drop-down menu. However, if it is not there, then it simply means that your computer does not support this standard which is most likely why you were unable to pair with other Windows 10 PCs. On the other hand, if you were able to see it, then proceed to the next troubleshooting steps below.

Option 2 – Check if Bluetooth is on

The next thing you have to do is to check if Bluetooth is turned on. As you know, the Surface Dial connects to your computer using Bluetooth and so you need to check if it’s really on or not. Aside from that, you also have to verify pairing.

• Tap the Win + I keys to open Windows Settings.
• Next, select Devices from the menu and click on Bluetooth.
• After that, make sure that the toggle switch for Bluetooth is turned on.
• Now all you have to do is to verify pairing by pressing and holding the pairing button located beside the batteries and then wait for a few seconds until the Bluetooth light begins to flash.
• Then go back to the Bluetooth section and click on Bluetooth or other devices.
• From there, click on Add Bluetooth and select Surface Dial.
• Follow the next instructions on the screen and click on Done once everything is completed. That should fix the problem.

Option 3 – Check if Surface Dial is connected to another PC

If you think that connecting a Bluetooth device to two different PCs at the same time is wise, then think again as it does not really bode well for the overall user experience. Thus, you need to disconnect the Surface Dial from the system that you are currently using. On the other hand, if everything fails, then it’s most likely that the Bluetooth adapter is the one at fault. So you may have to get a third-party device that connects to your system via USB and then see if it works or not.

Recently, a number of users reported an error when they tried to open graphic-intensive apps like video games. According to users, when they tried to open an app, they get the “Display driver failed to start” error instead. Thus, if you encounter the same error, then you’ve come to the right place as this post will guide you on how exactly you can fix it. Here’s the full content of the error message:

“Display driver failed to start; using Microsoft Basic Display Driver instead. Check Windows Update for a newer display driver.”

This kind of error could be due to several factors. It is possible that it could be a result of a corrupted or outdated graphics driver. Aside from that, it could also be due to some issues with the system settings. Worry not though for there are potential fixes that can help you fix the problem. But before you troubleshoot the problem, you need to update your Windows 10 computer first and if it didn’t help fix the problem, then here are the potential fixes that should help resolve the “Display driver failed to start” error.

Option 1 – Try to restart the Graphics driver

Although Windows 10 can recover the graphics driver on its own when it crashes, there are times when it fails to do its job. To restart the graphics driver in your computer, simply tap the Win + Ctrl + Shift + B key combination. After that, the graphics driver will be back in less than a second.

Option 2 – Try running the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter

Running the built-in hardware and devices troubleshooter can also help you in fixing the “Display driver failed to start” error.

• The first thing you need to do is click on Start and then on the gear-like icon to pull up the window for Settings.
• After opening Settings, look for the Update and Security option and select it.
• From there, go to the Troubleshoot option located on the left-hand side of the list.
• Next, select Keyboard from the list and open the Troubleshooter and run it. Once it is doing its job, wait for it to complete the process and then restart the system.
• After the system restarts, check if the problem’s now fixed. If not, refer to the next option given below.

Option 3 – Try to update or rollback the Graphics driver

You can try to update your Graphics card driver using the Device Manager in your computer to resolve the “Display driver failed to start” error or you can also go directly to the website of your graphics card manufacturers like NVIDIA, Intel, or AMD and go to the section called Drivers then check if there’s a new available update – if there is, download and install it. To update your Graphics driver via Device Manager, refer to these steps:

• First, boot your computer into Safe Mode.
• After that, tap the Win + R keys to launch Run.
• Type in devmgmt.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. From there, look for the Display Adapters and click on them.
• After that, right-click on each entry under the Display Adapters and select the “Uninstall Device” option from the menu.
• Now restart your computer.
• After restarting your computer, go to the Settings app and Check for Updates in the Windows Update section.

Option 4 – Try setting your system for maximum performance

If the first three options didn’t fix the error, you can try setting your computer for maximum performance since Windows 10 allows you to choose the effects you want to activate your system and you can do this by adjusting the performance ratio. Adjusting the performance ratio can be done via a certain setting in your computer – and this setting should be set to “Maximum Performance” to resolve the error.

• In the Windows Search bar, type in “performance” and from the search results that appear, select the “Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows” option.
• Next, a mini window will appear and from there, click on the radio button that says, “Adjust for best performance”.
• Once done, click on the Apply and OK buttons to save the changes made. This should resolve the problem.

Error Code 0x801901F7 – What is it?

Error code 0x801901F7, also known as “The Server Stumbled” error because it shows a message saying “The Server Stumbled. We all have bad days” is associated with Windows Store. Server Stumbled Error 0x801901F7 is an error related to the MS server. The error occurs due to damaged registry files, malware, virus, and corrupted data. You should fix this error to prevent a system crash or a BSOD error. There are some things you can do to fix it. These are not so complex. So, anyone can try these methods to fix error 0x801901F7. Common Symptoms for error 0x801901F7:

• Problems with Windows startup
• System becomes very slow or the system freezes
• Blue screen of death appears
• Windows fails to start some process due to Stop error code 0x801901f7

Solution

Error Causes

• This error is generally caused by corrupt registry files.
• Virus infection can cause this problem.
• Outdated driver, missing .DLL files may also cause this error.
• Microsoft server overload may cause this problem as well.
• Incorrect configuration may cause this problem.

Further Information and Manual Repair

To fix error 0x801901f7, there are four methods listed below. Some might work for you and some might not. Please try all of them to fix this error.

Method 1:

Basic method to fix error code 0x801901F7: Resetting Windows Store Cache Most of the time clearing or resetting the cache helps. It doesn't always work, but you should try this first before moving on to some advanced methods which are mentioned below. To reset the Windows Store cache please follow the simple steps below

• Open RUN by searching or pressing "Windows Key + R"
• Type "wsreset.exe" and press Enter or click on OK.
• Windows Store will open automatically along with a command prompt.
• This will reset Windows Store and you might see it loading as it should.

This method might work but if it fails to solve Error 0x801901F7 then follow the method below.

Method 2:

Advanced method of fixing error code 0x801901F7: Deleting Windows Store database file. By using this method, you will be deleting the database file for Windows Store. This file is located on your C drive or the drive where you installed your Operating System. Follow the steps below.

1. Navigate to C:WindowsSoftwareDistributionDataStoreDataStore.edb.
2. Delete DataStore.edb file from there.
3. Now Open Windows Store and see if you still get error code 0x801901F7.

The Datastore.edb file that you deleted will be automatically created once you perform Step 3 which is launching Windows Store. If you still cannot get this error away then Close Windows Store and Reboot your PC then Launch Windows Store Again.

Method 3:

Modifying Windows update properties: Perform the steps below only if the above-mentioned methods fail. You will be tweaking a few things in the Windows update to see if it helps.

1. Open Task Manager by right-clicking on Taskbar, then click on Task Manager.
2. Go to Services Tab. Click on Open Services at the very bottom of the Window.
3. Now a new window will pop up. Scroll down & find "Windows Update" from the list.
4. Double click on Windows update to open up its Properties.
5. Now from the Startup Type drop-down list, select Automatic. Click on Apply, Start, and then Ok.

Now you need to perform just one more step. Reset Windows Store again (Refer to method 1 for Steps). This should fix your Windows Store error that shows The Server Stumbled with 0x801901F7 Error Code.

Method 4: 

If the error is due to a problem with a driver, then follow the method below to uninstall the current driver:

1. Open the Run command and type “sysdm.cpl” in the text box.
2. Click Enter.
3. Open the Hardware tab on the system properties dialog box.
4. Then press on Device Manager.
5. Double press on Device type and then press on the hardware device that is reporting error code 0x801901F7.
6. Go to the Driver tab and press on Uninstall button to uninstall the device driver completely.
7. Now, install the new driver on your computer.
8. Restart your computer.
9. Run virus scan of your PC
10. Try using a different USB port.

If you do not possess the technical expertise required to accomplish this yourself or do not feel comfortable doing so, download and install a powerful automated tool to get the job done.

You will notice the blurred background on the login screen right away when you start your Windows 10 computer that’s running the v1903 and up. This kind of blurred background is known as “Acrylic Blur Effect on Sign-in Screen”. This new feature delivers a beautiful experience to users by adding more focus to the login screen. However, no matter how nice this feature is and even if it only stays for less than a minute, not all users like it and if you’re one of these users, read on as this post will guide you in disabling the blurred background login screen in your Windows 10 computer. Disabling the blurred background in the login screen can be done in two methods. The first one is via the Registry Editor and the second one is via the Group Policy Editor. Before you proceed, make sure that you are using an admin account and you must create a System Restore point first. Once you have that covered, follow the options provided below.

Option 1 – Disable the Blurred background in the login screen via Registry Editor

• First, tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box and type “Regedit” in the field, and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor.
• After that, navigate to this registry path: KEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindowsSystem
• Next, right-click on any empty space in the right pane and create a new DWORD (32 bit) and name it as “DisableAcrylicBackgroundOnLogon”.
• Once you’ve created the DWORD, double click on it and set its value to 1 to disable it and 0 to enable it.
• After you make the necessary changes, restart your computer. You won’t now see the blurred background on the login screen.

Note: No matter what option you select to change the background, it will stay blurred when you click on the login button. At the time of writing, there is no way to disable this feature in the Personalization section so the Registry Editor will have to suffice for now.

Option 2 – Disable the Blurred background in the login screen via Group Policy Editor

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run utility and type “gpedit.msc” in the field and tap Enter to open the Group Policy Editor.
• After that, navigate to this policy setting: Computer ConfigurationAdministrative TemplatesSystemLogon
• From there, double click on the “Show clear logon background settings” and since its default value is “Not configured”, set it to “Disabled”. You will see the following description under this setting:
  • “This policy setting disables the acrylic blur effect on the logon background image.”
  • “If you enable this policy, the logon background image shows without blur.”

• Now click on OK and then check the login screen.

Note: If you don’t configure or if you disable this policy, the logon background image adopts the acrylic blur effect. However, if it didn’t work, you have to restart your computer and then check.

As you know, the Windows Firewall is designed not just to protect your computer from viruses and malware, and other security threats but it’s also designed to block any program from accessing the internet. Users are given the option to block both inbound and outbound traffic for any apps on their computers. However, this kind of option can often lead to not being able to access the internet. In such cases, when you try to run the Windows Firewall Troubleshooter or the Windows Network Diagnostic troubleshooter, it will throw an error message that says, “Windows Firewall is preventing connections to your computer. The Windows Firewall rule HSS DNS Leak Rule may be blocking your connection”. If you are in this kind of scenario, then you’ve come to the right place as this post will guide you on how exactly you can fix this error. When you encounter this kind of error, there are several options you can check out to fix it. You can try to allow an app or feature through the Windows Firewall or uncheck the HSS DNS leak rule in both private and public. For more details, refer to the suggestions provided below.

Option 1 – Try to allow an app or feature through Windows Firewall

The first thing you can do to get rid of the error is to allow a feature or app through the Windows Firewall. To do this, follow these steps:

• Open the Windows Defender Security Center.
• From there, select the Firewall and Network Protection option.
• Next, click on the “Allow an app through firewall” option and then click on the “Change Settings” button and make sure that you have administrative privileges.
• After that, select the app or feature you want to allow through the Firewall from the menu. You also have the option to manually add the app by using the “Add an App” option.
• Then select the between the type of network an app can access such as:
  • Private Network will allow the app to connect to the internet only at home or work.
  • Public Network will allow the app to connect to the internet from anywhere, including Public WiFi hotspots.

• Once done, restart your computer and see if it fixed the error or not.

Option 2 – Try to uncheck the HSS DNS leak rule in both private and public

The next thing you can do to fix the error is to uncheck the HSS DNS leak rule in both private and public. You can do this by following these steps:

• Open the Windows Defender Security Center.
• From there, select the Firewall and Network Protection option.
• After that, click on the “Allow an app through firewall” option and then click on the “Change Settings” button and make sure that you have administrative privileges.
• Next, scroll down until you see the HSS DNS leak rule in both private and public option and then uncheck it.
• Now restart your computer and check if the error is now gone.

When Windows 10 was introduced as an upgrade to Windows 7 and 8, a lot were thrilled because of its new features. One of the most interesting features that this has is the Microsoft Store. Just like in our tablets and smartphones, we can now download our favorite apps from a trusted source. Without the Microsoft store app, you can’t download any applications that you can use on your computer. But what happens if you can’t open your Microsoft Store or you accidentally uninstalled it? The most common error that users encounter when accessing Microsoft Store is the error code 0x80072efd. This error code appears when there is a problem with the internet connection. To resolve this, troubleshoot your modem by doing a simple power cycle. Turn off your modem and wait for a couple of minutes and turn it back on. It should refresh your internet. This works if there is really no problem on the Service provider’s side. Disable your Proxy server, if you are using one to access the internet. To do this, press Windows + R keys on your keyboard. Type “inetcpl.cpl” in the box and go to Connection. Next, click on LAN settings then tick on the box next to Automatically detect settings. Uncheck the box below Proxy Server Among the useful apps that came with the Windows 10 upgrade is PowerShell. It allows you to install and uninstall individual and all apps by using a series of commands. So you don’t have to worry if you can’t find your Microsoft Store or if you accidentally delete it. To access PowerShell, type in the word PowerShell into the search box found beside your Window Icon. Look for PowerShell from the results and right-click on it and hit Run as Administrator.

When you are in the PowerShell window, enter the command below:

Get-AppxPackage -allusers Microsoft.WindowsStore | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)AppXManifest.xml"

Another option is to download a Windows Update Troubleshooter. After you download it, open the troubleshooter tool and follow the steps. If you saved the file instead of directly opening it, go to the folder where the troubleshooter was saved and double click on the wu.diagcab file to rub the troubleshooter. One of the most interesting error codes that you might encounter when accessing the Microsoft store is error code 1. This particular error code is resolved by changing your PC’s region to the United States. To do this, go to Settings and look for Time & Language. Then go to region and language. Under the Country or region, choose the United States from the dropdown menu then restart your computer. The troubleshooting procedures above are the most common solution to resolve the problem on Microsoft Store issues but there are times that these procedures won’t work. If you are not confident to resolve this through the procedures mentioned in this article, there are so many tools online that you can download to help you out. It also helps to contact Microsoft or consult a technician to ensure that you are doing the correct procedure.

Error 651 - What is it?

Are you a Windows 7 PC user? Are you experiencing error 651? If yes, then read on. We will discuss what is this error, the causes, and easy DIY solutions to help you resolve this issue immediately. Error 651 is a common Windows 7 error. This error occurs when you try to connect using your PPPoE connections. The error message is displayed in the following format:

“Error 651: The Modem (or other connecting device) has reported an error.”

Solution

Error Causes

The error code 651 occurs due to multiple reasons. However, some of the most common error causes include:

• The raspppoe.sys file saved in the wrong location
• IP setting  issues
• Registry issues

Further Information and Manual Repair

Here are some of the best and easiest solutions to resolve the error code 651 on your system immediately. These solutions are so easy to perform that you don’t need any technical expertise or knowledge to get started. So here we go!

Solution 1: Reset TCP/IP Settings

To reset TCP/IP settings on your PC, here’s what you need to do. Simply replace the RAS PPPoE driver. First open a command prompt, then write the following command in the command prompt:  TAKEOWN /F"C:Windowssystem32driversraspppoe.sys" ICACLS "C:Windowssystem32driversraspppoe.sys" /grant administrators:F. After that, press enter to continue. Now close the command prompt and go to the folder C:\Windows\system32\drivers, here rename the raspppoe.sys file to raspppoe2.sys. Now right click on save the link as Vista RAS PPPoE Driver and save it in the C:\Windows\system32\drivers folder. Once this process is complete, to activate changes made, restart your PC. This is most likely to resolve the error code 651 on your system.

Solution 2: Try Power Cycling your Modem and your Router

This is another way to resolve error 651. However, before you try this solution, it is recommended that you save all your work on your system, close all your open applications, and then shut down your PC. After that first turn your router off and wait for about 2 minutes. Then turn off your modem too. Now disconnect all the Ethernet cables that are connected to your modem, router and your system. Reconnect them again and make sure that the connections are not loose. After reconnecting the cables, reboot your PC and switch on the modem first. After your modem gets initialized, turn on the router. See if this procedure works. If it does, then that’s great the issue is resolved. However, if the error persists, then this indicates deeper problems. The error message is triggered due to registry issues.

Solution 3: Clean and Repair the Registry

Sometimes the underlying cause of error 651 is a corrupt and damaged registry. Registry is the database where operating system stores all the information associated with installed programs and activities performed on your PC. Registry issues typically result due to poor PC maintenance. When you don’t clean the registry the unnecessary and obsolete files accumulate and acquire a lot space. It damages the registry and DLL files. This often leads to disk fragmentation and files are then saved in segments in different locations. This also slows down your PC performance. This could also be the reason for why the raspppoe.sys file is saved in the wrong location. Though you can repair the registry manually but it may be complex for you especially if you are not technically sound. And besides, it is also slightly time-consuming.

Restoro - Premier Registry Cleaner

Therefore, to resolve errors like 651 triggered by the registry issues on your system in seconds, it is advisable to download Restoro. Restoro is a cutting-edge and multi-functional PC Fixer. It is deployed with a powerful intuitive algorithm and multiple highly functional utilities designed to resolve practically all types of PC errors. It includes utilities like a registry cleaner, an antivirus, and a system optimizer. The registry cleaning feature scans for all types of registry issues and errors and resolves them instantly. It wipes out unnecessary and redundant files like cookies, internet history, junk files, and bad/ invalid registry entries. It cleans the registry freeing up space. Furthermore, it also repairs the damaged files and restores the registry back to normal.

Restoro Special Features

Other features include an antivirus that removes all types of malicious software hiding in your PC including viruses, Trojans, spyware, malware, and adware. The system optimizer feature ensures that your computer performs at its optimal level at all times. Restoro is safe and bug-free. Its user-friendly interface and simple navigations makes it quite easy for users to operate it without any difficulty. Furthermore, compatibility is not an issue with this software. You can download it on any Windows version. Click here to download Restoro and fix error 651 on your PC today!

Microsoft’s initial Windows 11 hardware requirements were not really well received by users and they were not really clearly represented from the start making a lot of potential customers slowly drift away from the hype. It seems that Microsoft has acknowledged this since they have changed their tune about system hardware requirements for the upcoming Windows 11. It seems that Windows 11 will be able to be officially installed on unsupported computers but with a little inconvenience.

What is a catch?

Windows 11 will still have the same hardware requirements and if the PC meets them, that computer will be officially supported, other ones (any that can run Windows 10) that do not meet system requirements can still run Windows 11 but the system will have to be clean installed. So no upgrade option for old computer users, just a clean install. This means of course that you will need to download the ISO image and make a bootable USB in order to install it. Also since you will be doing a clean install do a backup of the hard drive since it will need to be formatted. Also, Microsoft has stated that with unofficially supported PC some driver updates might not be delivered leaving you with either older driver versions or relying on your hardware manufacturer on them. This is still not confirmed by Microsoft, just stated as an option. We will see how it goes.

Conclusion

It is very good that Microsoft has reconsidered its system requirements and will not stubbornly push its initiatives over the top requirements allowing even older computers to install new OS. I am sure over time lot of users will upgrade their hardware and drive into officially supported waters, but it is good that they will be able to use new OS on their current hardware.

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.

As you know, one of the most highlighted features of Windows 10 is Windows Updates. It was offered to the customers as a service rather than a product with the release of Windows 10 under the scenario of Software as a Service which led to Windows Updates being set by default on Windows 10 and without an option for any users to disable it. Although not all users are happy with what Microsoft did, this is an ultimate step towards the greater good of all its customers since Windows Updates helps users in keeping their computers secured against all kinds of threats as well as provide them with the greatest and latest updates from Microsoft. So if you are one of those users who approved of the Windows Updates service, then read on as this post will guide you in running Windows Updates from Command Line either via Command Prompt or Windows PowerShell. For the complete set of instructions, refer to the options given below.

Option 1 – Run Windows Update via Command Prompt

Command Prompt in the Windows operating system exists for a very long time now compared to the comparatively new Windows PowerShell. That’s why it has similar capabilities to run Windows Updates. However, the highlighting point here is that you don’t have to download any module for Windows Updates. To get started running Windows Updates using Command Prompt, refer to the steps below.

• First, type “cmd” in the Cortana search box, and from the search results, right-click on Command Prompt and select the Run as Administrator option to open it with Administrator privileges.
• If a User Account or UAC prompt appears, just click on Yes to proceed.
• Next, type in the commands listed below, and don’t forget to tap Enter right after you type each one of them.
  • UsoClient StartScan – use this command to start checking for updates.
  • UsoClient StartDownload – use this command to start downloading updates.
  • UsoClient StartInstall – use this command to start installing the downloaded updates.
  • UsoClient RestartDevice – use this command to restart your computer after you install.
  • UsoClient ScanInstallWait – use this command to check, download and install updates.

Note: Keep in mind that the commands in Command Prompt listed above are only meant for Windows 10. On the other hand, if you are using an older Windows version, you can try using the following commands instead:

• wuauclt /detectnow – use this command to start checking for updates.
• wuauclt /updatenow – use this command to start installing the updates detected.
• wuauclt /detectnow /updatenow – use this command to check, download and install updates.

Option 2 – Run Windows Updates via Windows PowerShell

If you run Windows Updates in the Windows PowerShell, it will require you to install the Windows Update module manually. Hence, you have to get the Windows Updates downloaded and install Windows Updates.

• Search for PowerShell in the Cortana search box and then run it with administrator privileges.
• Once you’ve opened the Windows PowerShell, type the following command and hit Enter.
  • Install-Module PSWindowsUpdate – use this command to install the Windows Update module for Windows PowerShell.
  • Get-WindowsUpdate – use this command to connect to the servers of Windows Update and download the updates if found.
  • Install-WindowsUpdate – use this command to install the Windows Updates you’ve downloaded to your computer.