Computer makes a beeping noise when you turn it on

I often switch between my desktop speakers and headphones and because of this I very often use the volume adjustment bar to adjust sound levels so it is not too loud and each time when I set it I get annoying BEEP at the end. Now personally this might not bother you and you might want to leave it since it can be a useful feature to tell you how much volume is loud but if you are adjusting multiple times volume during the say it can become really frustrating to hear it each time, especially when switching to headphones and it beeps into your ears. In this guide, I will show you how to remove the beep so it is not heard anymore when you adjust the volume. Please know that beep is part of the Windows sound scheme and you can either remove specific sound with a completely silent wave or just turn off all windows alert sounds.

• Open Windows settings and go to system > sound
• in system sound, go to the right part of the screen and click on the sound control panel
• In the sound control panel click on the Sounds tab
• In the sounds, tab click on the drop-down menu under the sound scheme and choose no sounds.

There you go! You have successfully removed annoying BEEP each time you adjust the volume in Windows 10

If your Windows PC encounters an error, it will display a Blue Screen of Death or BSOD error which usually comes up for a fraction of second and creates some logs or Dumps Files as what other user prefers to call it and then boots your PC suddenly. This process usually takes place quickly that most users find it hard to get the error code and won’t probably be able to check what really went wrong with their PCs. This is where the dump files come in. They are stored internally in your computer and can only be accessed by an administrator. They are classified into 4 main types and in Windows 10 they are either:

1. Complete Memory Dump
2. Kernel Memory Dump
3. Small Memory Dump (256 KB)
4. Active Memory Dumps

Dump Files are useful as they could help you in resolving the problem and so you need to configure your Windows 10 PC to create them but first, you need to make a system restore point. This is essential as you are about to modify some system files as well as critical Windows 10 settings. There are two ways you can create Dump files – first is by modifying the settings in the Startup and Recovery and lastly is via the WMIC command line. Refer to the instructions prepared below to be guided on how you can create Dump files after any BSOD error using these options.

Option 1 – via Startup and Recovery

• Type in “control panel” in the Cortana Search box and then click on Control Panel from the search results to open it.
• After opening Control Panel, you need to make sure that you view the contents by their Category then click on the header link which is labeled “System and Security” or you could also right-click on the This PC icon and then click on Properties.
• Next, select the Advanced system settings from the left panel. Once you do, a new and small window will pop up.
• Under the newly opened window, look for the section called Startup and Recovery and then click on the Settings button.
• And from the System Failure section, you can choose any option from the drop-down for Write debugging information such as:
  • None – this means that there is no dump file created by Windows
  • Small Memory Dump – this means that Windows will create a Minidump file on BSOD
  • Complete Memory Dump – this means that Windows will create a Complete Memory Dump file on BSOD
  • Automatic Memory Dump – this means that Windows will create an Automatic Memory Dump file on BSOD
  • Active Memory Dump – this means that Windows will create an Active Memory Dump file on BSOD

Note: The complete dump needs a page file that is allowed to be the size of the physical memory installed in your PC with a dedicated 1 MB of space for just the page header.

• Now once you have selected the most suitable option for you, just click on OK/Apply and then exit.
• Restart your PC to successfully apply the changes made.

Option 2 – via the WMIC command line

• The first thing you need to do to create Dump files via the WMIC command line is to tap the Win + X keys combination or simply right-click on the Start button and then select the Command Prompt (Admin) option. You could also type in “cmd” in the Cortana search box and then right-click on Command Prompt from the results and select Run as administrator.
• After that, type in any of the commands given below depending on your preferences so that your Windows 10 PC will be configured to create Dump Files:
  • No dump file: wmic RECOVEROS set DebugInfoType = 0
  • Small Memory Dump: wmic RECOVEROS set DebugInfoType = 3
  • Kernel Memory Dump: wmic RECOVEROS set DebugInfoType = 2
  • Complete Memory Dump: wmic RECOVEROS set DebugInfoType = 1
  • Automatic Memory Dump: wmic RECOVEROS set DebugInfoType = 7
  • Active Memory Dump: wmic RECOVEROS set DebugInfoType = 1

Note: A complete dump has to have a Page file which is allowed to be the size of the physical memory installed on your PC accompanied by a 1 MB space for just the page header.

• Now type in “exit” in the Command Prompt to exit it.
• Restart your PC to apply the changes made successfully.

Error Code 0x80131700 - What is it?

0x80131700 is a Windows 7 error that occurs when there is a problem with the Troubleshooting Wizard. The wizard fails to function and with an error message displaying the following message on the computer screen:

‘An unexpected error has occurred’- The troubleshooting wizard can’t continue

Error code: 0x80131700'

Windows 7 features Troubleshooting Wizard, an automated tool that helps users resolve several PC-related problems such as accessing shared files or internet connectivity to name a few.

Error Causes

The error code 0x80131700 largely occurs because of two reasons:

• The .NET framework is not properly installed on your system
• Mis-configured System Files and Registry Issues

Further Information and Manual Repair

0x80131700 Windows error is rated easy to fix error code. Thus, repairing this error code is not difficult. It is so easy to fix that you don’t need any technical expertise or professional help for that matter. To begin with, there are 2 methods to resolve the 0x80131700 error code. Let’s take a look at the solutions:

Cause: The .NET framework not properly installed on your system

Solution: If the underlying cause for the error code 0x80131700 is the improper installation of .NET framework on your PC, then the best and easy way to resolve this error is to reinstall it. By default, the built-in version of the .NET framework in Windows is 3.5.1 to reinstall this again on your system follow the steps given below:

1. Go to the Start menu and type: features in the search box
2. Now Choose the option ‘Turn Windows Features on or off’ and then press Enter
3. After this, look for Microsoft .NET framework 3.5.1 and uncheck the box
4. Once you uncheck it, restart your computer
5. Repeat the step 1 and 2
6. Now check the box before .NET framework 3.5.1
7. Restart your system
8. Now try using the Troubleshooting Wizard.

Cause: Mis-configured System Files and Registry Issues

Solution: If the error code 0x80131700 triggered due to misconfigured files and registry issues, then the easiest way to fix this error on your system is to download Restoro

Software Updater is an ad-supported browser extension hijacker that claims to update your PC programs and drivers. In addition to managing the installation of your selected software, this install manager will make recommendations for additional free software that you may be interested in. Additional software may include toolbars, browser add-ons, game applications, anti-virus applications, and other types of applications. The hijacked homepage, softwareupdater.com, did not have valid legal privacy and disclaimer policies on its website as of publication date.

This software adds a Windows Task Scheduler in order to launch the program at various times, including system startup. The software has access to all installed applications on your PC and can install bundled products with unwanted malware. It is also commonly distributed in bundles with unwanted software. Several anti-virus programs have classified this software as malware and are therefore not recommended.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijacking means that a malicious code has control over and modified the settings of your internet browser, without your consent. They’re made to interfere with browser programs for several purposes. The idea is to force users to visit specific sites that are trying to increase their visitor traffic and produce higher ad revenue. It may appear harmless, but most of these sites are not legitimate and could present a severe threat to your online safety. Browser hijackers can even allow other malicious programs without your knowledge to further damage your computer.

How to determine if your web browser is hijacked

The common symptoms that indicate having this malicious software on your computer are: 1. home page is changed 2. you find new unwanted bookmarks or favorites added, typically directed to advertisement-filled or pornography websites 3. the default search engine has been changed and your browser security settings have been lowered without your knowledge 4. you find unwanted new toolbars added 5. you may find many pop-up ads on your computer screen 6. your internet browser has become unstable or starts running sluggishly 7. you can’t go to specific websites such as home pages of anti-malware software.

Exactly how browser hijacker infects computers

Browser hijackers infect PCs in numerous ways, including via a drive-by download, a file-share, or an infected email. Many web browser hijackings come from add-on software, i.e., browser helper objects (BHO), toolbars, or extensions added to web browsers to provide them additional functionality. Also, certain freeware and shareware can put the hijacker in your PC through the “bundling” technique. Some of the well-known hijackers are SoftwareUpdater, Conduit Search, Babylon Toolbar, OneWebSearch, Sweet Page, and CoolWebSearch. Browser hijackers may record user keystrokes to collect potentially valuable information leading to privacy issues, cause instability on systems, drastically disrupt user’s browsing experience, and eventually slow down the computer to a point where it will become unusable.

Browser Hijacker Malware – Removal

Certain hijackers could be removed by just uninstalling the related free software or add-ons through the Add or Remove Programs in the Windows Control Panel. In some cases, it can be a tough task to identify and get rid of the malicious piece because the associated file could be running as part of the operating system process. Besides, browser hijackers might modify the Computer registry so it can be extremely tough to fix manually, especially when you are not a very tech-savvy person.

How To Get Rid Of Malware That Is Preventing Anti-Malware Installation?

Malware can cause many different types of damage to PCs, networks, and data. Some malware is meant to restrict or prevent things that you want to do on your computer system. It may not permit you to download anything from the net or stop you from accessing some or all of the internet sites, especially the anti-virus websites. If you’re reading this now, you’ve perhaps recognized that a malware infection is a reason for your blocked internet traffic. So how to proceed if you need to install an anti-virus software like Safebytes? Even though this type of problem can be difficult to circumvent, there are a few actions you can take.

Install the anti-virus in Safe Mode

In Safe Mode, you can change Windows settings, un-install or install some software, and eliminate hard-to-delete viruses and malware. In the event, the virus is set to load immediately when PC boots, shifting into this particular mode can prevent it from doing so. To start the computer into Safe Mode, hit the “F8” key on your keyboard right before the Windows boot screen comes up; Or after normal Windows boot up, run MSCONFIG, check “Safe Boot” under Boot tab, and click Apply. As soon as you restart into Safe Mode with Networking, you could download, install, as well as update the anti-malware program from there. At this point, you could run the antivirus scan to remove viruses and malware without hindrance from another malicious application.

Switch to an alternate browser

Some malware only targets certain internet browsers. If this sounds like your situation, utilize another browser as it might circumvent the virus. The best solution to avoid this problem is to select a web browser that is well known for its security measures. Firefox contains built-in Malware and Phishing Protection to help keep you secure online.

Install and run anti-malware from your flash drive

To effectively remove the malware, you might want to approach the issue of running anti-virus software on the affected computer system from a different perspective. Adopt these measures to run the antivirus on the affected PC. 1) Download the anti-malware program on a virus-free PC. 2) Mount the USB drive onto the same computer. 3) Run the setup program by double-clicking the executable file of the downloaded application, which has a .exe file extension. 4) Pick a thumb drive as the place when the wizard asks you exactly where you want to install the program. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation. 5) Disconnect the pen drive. You can now use this portable anti-malware on the infected computer. 6) Double-click the anti-malware program EXE file on the flash drive. 7) Run Full System Scan to detect and get rid of all types of malware.

Features of SafeBytes Anti-Malware

Want to install the best anti-malware software for your computer system? You can find many applications available that come in paid and free versions for Windows systems. Some of them do a great job in getting rid of threats while some will affect your PC themselves. You must be careful not to choose the wrong application, especially if you purchase a paid software. Among few good programs, SafeBytes Anti-Malware is the strongly recommended software for the security-conscious individual. SafeBytes anti-malware is really a powerful, highly effective protection application made to assist users of all levels of IT literacy in identifying and eliminating harmful threats from their computers. Through its cutting-edge technology, this software protects your PC against infections brought on by different types of malware and similar threats, including spyware, adware, computer viruses, worms, trojan horses, keyloggers, ransomware, and potentially unwanted program (PUPs). SafeBytes possesses a plethora of great features that can help you protect your laptop or computer from malware attack and damage. The following are some of the best ones: Real-time Active Protection: SafeBytes delivers complete and real-time security for your laptop or computer. They are very efficient in screening and getting rid of different threats because they are constantly revised with new updates and safety measures. Best AntiMalware Protection: This deep-cleaning anti-malware application goes much deeper than most antivirus tools to clean your personal computer. Its critically acclaimed virus engine finds and disables hard to remove malware that conceals deep inside your computer. Safe Browsing: SafeBytes gives an instant safety rating about the web pages you’re about to check out, automatically blocking unsafe sites and make sure that you’re certain of your online safety while browsing the net. Lightweight Tool: SafeBytes is a lightweight and easy-to-use antivirus and antimalware solution. As it uses minimal computer resources, this application leaves the computer’s power exactly where it belongs: with you actually. Premium Support: You may get absolutely free 24/7 technical support from their computer experts on any product queries or computer security issues.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you wish to manually remove SoftwareUpdater without the use of an automated tool, it may be possible to do so by removing the program from the Windows Add/Remove Programs menu, or in cases of browser extensions, going to the browsers AddOn/Extension manager and removing it. You will likely also want to reset your browser. To ensure the complete removal, manually check your hard drive and registry for all of the following and remove or reset the values accordingly. Please note that this is for advanced users only and may be difficult, with incorrect file removal causing additional PC errors. In addition, some malware is capable of replicating or preventing deletion. Doing this in Safe Mode is advised.

The following files, folders, and registry entries are created or modified by SoftwareUpdater

High Efficiency Image File Format (HEIF) is a container format for individual images and image sequences. The standard covers multimedia files that can also include other media streams, such as timed text, audio, and video. A HEIF image using High-Efficiency Video Coding, HEVC, requires only about half the storage space as the equivalent quality JPEG. HEIF also supports animation and is capable of storing more information than an animated GIF or APNG at a small fraction of the size. HEIF files are a special case of the ISO Base Media File Format (ISOBMFF, ISO/IEC 14496-12), first defined in 2001 as a shared part of MP4 and JPEG 2000. Introduced in 2015, it was developed by the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) and is defined as Part 12 within the MPEG-H media suite (ISO/IEC 23008-12). HEIF was adopted by Apple in 2017 with the introduction of iOS 11, and support on other platforms is growing.

HEIF files can store the following types of data:

Image items

Storage of individual images, image properties, and thumbnails.

Image derivations

Derived images enable non-destructive image editing and are created on the fly by the rendering software using editing instructions stored separately in the HEIF file. These instructions (rectangular cropping, rotation by one, two or three quarter-turns, timed graphic overlays, etc.) and images are stored separately in the HEIF file, and describe specific transformations to be applied to the input images. The storage overhead of derived images is small.

Image sequences

Storage of multiple time-related and/or temporally predicted images (like a burst-photo shot or cinemagraph animation), their properties, and thumbnails. Different prediction options can be used in order to exploit the temporal and spatial similarities between the images. Hence, file sizes can be drastically reduced when many images are stored in the same HEIF file.

Auxiliary image items

Storage of image data, such as an alpha plane or a depth map, which complements another image item. These data are not displayed as such but used in various forms to complement another image item.

Image metadata

Storage of EXIF, XMP and similar metadata which accompany the images stored in the HEIF file.

The dialog boxes that you see on your Windows computer exist to send you a message or to notify you. However, you can also encounter issues with them. Recently, some users reported that they’re getting empty or blank dialog boxes. It’s definitely hard to choose between Yes or No or to click OK when you don’t know the context of the dialog box. If the same thing happened to you, worry not for there are some possible solutions that can help you fix the problem. This kind of problem usually happens when there are some issues with the graphics driver or when there is some corrupted software. Whichever the case is, here are some fixes you can check out to fix the empty or blank dialog boxes on your Windows 10 computer.

Option 1 – Run the System File Checker

System File Checker or SFC is a built-in command utility that helps in restoring corrupted files as well as missing files. It replaces bad and corrupted system files with good system files that might be the cause why you’re getting the errors 0x8024a11a and 0x8024a112. To run the SFC command, follow the steps given below.

• Type “cmd” in the Start search and then right-click on the appropriate search result.
• Next, select “Run as administrator” to open Command Prompt with admin privileges.
• After opening Command Prompt, type in sfc /scannow

The command will start a system scan which will take a few whiles before it finishes. Once it’s done, you could get the following results:

1. Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.
2. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them.
3. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them.

 Now restart your computer and see if the problem is fixed or not.

Option 2 – 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 blank dialog boxes problem 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.

Note: If updating the Graphics driver didn’t fix the problem, you can also try to roll back to its previous version and see if that helps.

Option 3 – Run the DISM tool

The next thing you can do is run the DISM tool. This tool is known to repair potentially corrupted files in your system as having them could also system issues like the blank dialog boxes. To repair these corrupted system files, you can run the DISM commands:

• Tap the Win + X keys and click on the “Command Prompt (Admin)” option.
• After that, input each one of the commands listed below sequentially to execute them:
  • Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
  • Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
  • Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

• Once you’ve executed the commands given above, restart your computer and check if the problem is now fixed.

Option 4 – Try to repair or reinstall the software

If the issue with the empty dialog boxes only occurs in a specific program, you can either try to repair the program or reinstall it. You can find the Repair option in the Add/Remove program section when you select the concerned program. If repairing the program didn’t work, you might have to uninstall it and then reinstall it.

Option 5 – Try troubleshooting the problem in a Clean Boot State

You might also want to troubleshoot the problem in a Clean Boot State. Doing so will help you isolate the problem. Refer to the steps below to do so:

• 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.)

Valve has officially announced that Steam Deck will be compatible with Windows 11 despite TPM 2.0 Microsoft requirements. From the beginning, Deck was announced like a mini handheld PC device. Powered with new Steam OS 3.0 based on Linux. However, besides out-of-the-box OS it was also stated that Deck will be a personal device meaning that other PC-based operating systems could be installed on it and even run your typical applications in it. Since Microsoft announced Windows 11 hardware requirements, specifically the TPM 2.0 requirement many users voiced concern that Steam Deck will not be able to connect to Windows 11 TPM 2.0 is something that Microsoft requires for every internal and hardware component that is to connect on a Windows 11 device. This is to ensure that only trusted devices would be included in the array of a PC setup and avoid any problems like malicious hardware injecting software into a system. This would also minimize the compromise Windows would have, as unverified or untrusted devices connect to a Windows PC. However, Valve and AMD are ensuring us that Deck will not have any issue connecting to a PC running Windows 11 or even if you wish to transform Deck itself into a Device running Windows 11.

Finally upgraded to Microsoft’s newest OS, but the performance is a bit sluggish? Here are a few useful tips you may not have thought about that could significantly transform your experience!

How to speed up Windows 11?

1. Disable startup programs

There are many programs that launch right on startup that really aren’t essential. This, in turn, causes your PC to launch and run more slowly.

To check which programs are enabled on startup, go into the Task Manager and select the Startup tab. Find every program that doesn’t need to launch immediately, right-click on it and press ‘Disable’.

This will not shut down the program in that instant. It’ll just prevent it from running automatically as you turn on your PC. You can always launch it manually when you need it.

2. Expand your memory and storage

If you want your PC to run super smoothly, you need to have enough memory to support that. This is especially significant for those of you who love to multitask. Upgrading your RAM gives your PC more space to store the temporary data it needs to complete processing tasks. In other words, processing takes a lot less time.

Your long-term storage is equally important. Hopefully at this point you’re already using SSD over HDD, since this type of storage offers a faster boot time.

In any case, we recommend expanding your storage capacity. The more files and data you store, the more there is to load, significantly influencing your PC’s speed. Larger storage capacity means new data and essential updates can be stored comfortably, preventing any strain on your PC’s performance.

3. Clean up disk space

If you aren’t willing to upgrade your storage just yet, the least you can do is clean up your storage right now. 

Aside from manually deleting stuff you no longer need, you can also get rid of temporary files that clutter up your storage and eat up performance for no reason. To get to them, click Windows + X and select ‘Run’ (or just type it in the search bar).

A small window will pop up, where you need to type %temp%. This will take you to a whole folder full of all the temporary files you can remove without thinking twice. 

For those who upgraded from Windows 10, there’s a neat trick to get rid of potential leftover files you don’t need on your brand new iteration. Only do this if you’re 100% sticking with Windows 11, though. Go to System > Storage > Temporary files. Make sure to only leave ‘Previous Windows Installation’ and ‘Windows Update Clean-up’ checked and click on ‘Remove files’.

Lastly, make use of Windows 11’s fantastic Storage Sense feature. Turning it on will enable your PC to constantly watch out for junk or unused files to optimize your PC’s performance to the maximum.

4. Install pending updates

This one should go without saying, but pending updates can be detrimental to your Windows 11 performance. The longer you leave them untouched, the more bugs the outdated programs and patches can cause. So, make sure to regularly check for updates and install them as soon as they’re available.

5. Disable visual effects

As cool as visual effects, animations, shadows and transparency are, they can also put quite a toll on your computer’s speed. On a newer setup this generally shouldn’t be a problem, but if you do notice a drop in performance, definitely consider turning off some of these settings.

To do this you can go to the Control Panel, System Properties and click the ‘Advanced’ tab. In the Performance section, choose Settings. If you’d like a quicker way to get to the dialog (Performance Options) with Visual Effects, you can also type sysdm.cpl in the search bar.

Once there, you can either have your PC choose what’s best, choose the best appearance or the best performance. The other option is to manually toggle the effects off and on. The biggest obstacles to speed are taskbar animations, window shadows, control/element animations and animations upon minimizing/maximizing.

In the same vein, you should go to Settings > Personalization > Colors and disable Transparency, to prevent your computer from doing overtime just to hit the aesthetic appeal.

6. Get rid of bloatware

Bloatware is one of the biggest culprits of slow computer speed. 

Pre-installed software that’s pretty much useless but takes up valuable system resources has been around since day one. No matter which device or platform you’re talking about. Luckily, a lot of it is removable, making it easy to lighten the load on your device.

To boost your Windows 11 computer, go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps. You’ll probably see a bunch of apps you don’t want or need. Click on the three dots next to each one you want to remove and press ‘Uninstall’. 

Aside from helping optimize performance, removing bloatware has another great benefit. Unfortunately, often this pre-installed software is quite vulnerable, exposing you to great risk of cyberattacks. So, removing it definitely improves your device’s security and gives you at least some peace of mind.

Summary

These are a few of our fastest tips for boosting performance. There are other, more complex and time-consuming ways, of course. If you’ve tried these quick ones and still need advice on how to improve your PC’s speed, feel free to reach out!

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

GPU shortage and its cause

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

Be prepared for the worst scenario

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

Age of the GPU matters

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

No return policy and seller rating

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

If you really must buy a second-hand GPU

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

Conclusion

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

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.