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Your Windows license will expire soon

If you suddenly get a message telling you that “Your Windows license will expire soon, You need to activate Windows in Settings” on your Windows 10 computer but you know that your Windows 10 is already activated. Worry not for this post will help you get rid of that error message right away. Before you get started, make sure that you have the Windows product key with you. If you don’t, you can get it by running the following command in an elevated Command Prompt:

wmic path SoftwareLicensingService get OA3xOriginalProductKey

Take note of the product key and then proceed to the options given below.

Option 1 – Try activating Windows 10 again or use another product key

  • If you’re sure that you have the correct product key, click the Go to the Settings button.
  • After that, click the Activate button once again.
  • If you have another license key, you can also use that as well, just simply click on the Change product key.
  • Then enter the new product key and click on Activate. That should fix the problem, if it doesn’t, refer to the next option below.

Option 2 – Try to reset the licensing status

  • Click the Start button and then type “cmd” in the Search box and then tap Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open an elevated Command Prompt.
  • Next, type the “slmgr –rearm” and hit Enter to reset the licensing status.
  • Restart your computer and check if the error is now gone or not.

Option 3 – Try uninstalling the product key and re-enter it once more.

  • The first thing you have to do to uninstall the product key is to know the Activation ID of your Windows installation. To do so, open an elevated Command Prompt and type this command, and hit Enter – vbs /dlv
  • After you enter the command, you should see the licensing status and Activation ID. And to get all the Activation IDs of all the installed Windows versions, key in this command and hit Enter – vbs /dlv all

Note: The “/dlv” parameter will give you the license information for the installed operating system.

  • After you enter the second command, you should see a Windows Script Host window with all the Windows licensing and activation status. Take note of the Activation ID.
  • Next, in the same elevated Command Prompt, type this command – slmgr /upk <Activation ID>

Note: In the third given command, “/upk” stands for “uninstall product key”. This parameter uninstalls the product key of the current Windows edition.

  • Restart your PC. After that, your computer will be in an unlicensed state so you need to re-enter the product key again.

Option 4 – Try rebuilding the Tokens.dat file.

The issue might be caused by a corrupted Tokens.dat file. The Tokens.dat file is a digitally signed file that stores most of the Windows Activation files so if it is corrupted then no wonder you’re having activation issues. To rebuild the Tokens.dat file, refer to these steps:

  • From the WinX Menu, open an elevated Command Prompt.
  • After opening Command Prompt, you need to type each one of the following commands and after you type each command, hit Enter.
    • net stop sppsvc
    • cd %windir%ServiceProfilesLocalServiceAppDataLocalMicrosoftWSLicense
    • ren tokens.dat tokens.bar
    • net start sppsvc
    • exe %windir%system32slmgr.vbs /rilc
  • Now restart your computer.

Option 5 – Try running the Windows 10 Activation Troubleshooter

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

Option 6 – Try activating Windows 10 via mobile phone

Activating Windows 10 can also be done using your phone. Just note that you have to call Microsoft to do so.

  • In the Start Search box, type in “Slui 4” and tap Enter.
  • Next, select your country and click on Next.
  • Keep the window open and call the toll-free number of the country you’re from.
  • Afterward, a confirmation ID should be given by the automated system which you must take a note of.
  • Finally, in the box on the window, type in the confirmation ID and click on the Activate button. That should do it.

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Fixing DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL Stop Error on Windows 10
If you’ve been using your Windows 10 PC for a long time now, you might have come across a couple of issues – from minimal ones to critical ones like the Blue Screen of Death or BSOD stop errors. One of these BSOD errors you can encounter is the DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL Blue Screen error. This particular BSOD error is caused by iaStorA.sys, iaisp64 sys, Netwtw04.sys, nvlddmkm.sys, ndis.sys, wrUrlFlt.sys, and other driver files on Windows 10. This error indicates that a kernel-mode driver tried to access pageable memory at a process IRQL that was too high. When you encounter this error, just like a typical BSOD error, your computer will abruptly stop and you will see a blue screen with an error message saying:
“Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart. We’re just collecting some error info, and then we’ll restart for you. (100% complete) If you’d like to know more, you can search online later for this error: DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL (wrUrlFlt.sys)”
The iaStorA.sys file is a software component that’s related to the Intel Rapid Storage Technology by Intel. It is a software solution supported by Intel Smart Response Technology which allows the PC to communicate with the hardware as well as externally connected devices. The Intel Rapid Storage Technology enables the Peripheral Component Interconnect Express or PCIe storage support, serial ATA RAID or Redundant Array of Independent Disks 0, 1, 5, and 10 support, and the PUIS or power-up in standby is also supported. To resolve this kind of BSOD error, you have to update, roll back or fresh-install the problematic driver. Refer to the options laid out below for detailed instructions.

Option 1 – Try removing the Intel Rapid Storage Technology or IRST drivers

The first thing you can try is to fix the Wi-Fi driver or the Ethernet driver on your computer to resolve the BSOD error. Take note that this option works not only on Windows 10 but also other Windows versions.
  • Tap the Win + R keys on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
  • After that, type “devmgmt.msc” in the field and hit Enter or click OK to open the Device Manager.
  • After opening the Device Manager, click on the “IDE ATA/ATAPI Controller” entry and expand it.
  • Next, right-click on all the driver entries that are appropriately labeled, and then click on Uninstall device.
  • Now restart your PC and check if the problem’s fixed or not. If not, proceed to the next given option below.

Option 2 – Try updating the Intel Rapid Storage Technology or IRST drivers

If you’ve already tried uninstalling the IRST driver but you’re still getting the DRIVER IRQL NOT LESS OR EQUAL Blue Screen error when you use your Windows 10 PC, then this means that the drivers might be corrupted or not compatible with the operating system version that you are using right now. So to fix the problem, you have to update your drivers. To do that, follow the steps below.
  • The first thing you need to do is to go to your OEM’s website.
  • Once you’re already on the OEM’s website, go to the Drivers section and get the latest version for your device and then try to overwrite it.
Alternatively, you can also update the drivers via the Device Manager:
  • Tap the Win + R keys on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
  • After that, type “devmgmt.msc” in the field and hit Enter or click OK to open the Device Manager.
  • After opening the Device Manager, click on the “IDE ATA/ATAPI Controller” entry and expand it.
  • Next, right-click on all the driver entries that are appropriately labeled, and then click the Update driver option.
  • Now restart your PC and check if the BSOD error is fixed or not.

Option 3 – Try using the System File Checker via Command Prompt

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 to good system files that might be causing the DRIVER IRQL NOT LESS OR EQUAL Blue Screen error. To run the SFC command, follow the steps given below.
  • Tap Win + R to launch Run.
  • Type in cmd in the field and tap Enter.
  • 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.
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Error 0x00000024 – A Quick Fix

What is Error 0x00000024?

Error 0x00000024 can be seen when you start up and a screen comes up asking which mode you would startup in. Regardless of the mode you select, it leads up to the Windows screen with the loading bar and your computer crashes from there onwards. When you press F8 in order to select the “Disable Automatic Restart On System Failure” option, that is when this error shows up:
ST0P 0X00000024 (x00190203, 0x82700550, 0xc000012, 0x00000000)
Due to this error, both Safe and Normal modes become inaccessible.

Solution

Restoro box imageError Causes

If you’re having this error then it is the indication of an issue with the file NTFS.sys. Further, there might also be problems with the IRP (Interrupt Request Packet) or the disk may have been corrupted. There are multiple other causes of this error, including heavy fragmentation of your hard drive or problems caused by your antivirus software.

Further Information and Manual Repair

First and foremost, you are suggested to run Chkdsk. In order to do this, you have to enter your BIOS and select CDROM as your primary booting device. Now follow the below-mentioned steps:
  1. Insert your Windows XP installation CD into the CDROM and reboot your PC.
  2. Press any key to proceed with the boot from CD when you are prompted to do so.
  3. When the Windows XP setup menu shows up, hit the “R” key to proceed with repairing Windows.
  4. If there is only one Windows installed on your computer then hit the “1” key and proceed by pressing enter. If there are more than two Windows then hit the number which is associated (according to the screen you are viewing) to the Windows you want to repair. Usually, this is C:/Windows and associated with “1” but if that is not the case then you should simply press the number that corresponds with the windows you want to repair and proceed.
  5. Now, you will see a screen that prompts you to enter your administrator password. Most people don’t have an admin password and in that case, you should simply hit enter and you’d be good to go. If you do have an administrator password, however, then you should type it in, hit enter, and proceed.
  6. When the DOS prompt shows up, type in chkdsk/f and hit return.
If you see no improvement in solving Error 0x00000024, and the problem keeps persisting, then you should start over. But this time you should type sfc/scannow instead of chkdsk/f and hit return. There are a few other complex methods that you can try as well but this is the most recommended procedure as it is easier, quicker, and most likely to fix the error.
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How to Fix Stop Error 7B

What is Stop Error 7B?

Stop error 7B is a blue screen of death error code that occurs during Windows XP setup or after installation. The error message is displayed in either of the following formats:
  • STOP: 0x0000007B (parameter1, parameter2, parameter3, parameter4)
  • INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE
  • ‘A problem has been detected and Windows has been shut down to prevent damages’
  • Setup has encountered a fatal error that prevents it from continuing.
  • Setup cannot continue. Power down or reboot your computer now.

Solution

Restoro box imageError Causes

There is no one particular cause for this error. The Stop error 7B may be triggered due to multiple reasons. These include:
  • Boot Sector Viruses
  • Device Driver Issues
  • Poor Windows XP installation
  • Registry Corruption
If you come across this error code on your PC, it is advisable to fix it right away particularly because it is a blue screen of death error that can cause severe damages to your system. It can lead to system failure, crash, and valuable data loss.

Further Information and Manual Repair

Here we’ve listed for you the best PC repair solutions to resolve and fix stop error 7B.

Cause: Boot Sector Viruses

Solution: Stop error 7B can occur when infected with a boot sector virus. If this is the cause, then first download a powerful antivirus on your system. After downloading it, run it to scan your PC for viral infection. Immediately delete the viruses if found. However, if the virus is too powerful, the antivirus may fail to remove it. In such an event, you will have to repartition and format your hard disk and then later reinstall Windows XP.

Cause: Device Driver Issues

Solution: If the boot controller is not properly configured or the driver is not updated, Stop error 7B can occur.  When this happens, simply restart your system and press F8 to go to the advanced boot options. Here choose the Last Known Good Configuration option. After that boot into Windows and then perform a system restore. Now go to the start menu and type Device Manager in the search box. To access the Device Manager window it may prompt you to enter an administrator password, insert it to proceed. Now go to Device Manager and perform a driver rollback to reinstall the drivers generating this stop error. By following these simple steps you can easily resolve device driver and configuration issues.

Cause: Poor Windows XP Installation

Solution:  In this case, you will have to perform a Windows start-up repair. This can be done by booting Windows XP from CD. Simply press enter at setup Windows Screen when prompted. Then press R to repair Windows XP installation. This procedure copies the original Windows files over the bad ones.

Cause: Registry Corruption

Solution: Sometimes the stop error 7B is also triggered by the registry corruption. When this happens, it is advisable to download and run Restoro software for PC scan and repair. Restoro is a powerful, advanced, and highly functional registry cleaner. It is deployed with intuitive algorithms that detect registry issues and errors like Stop error 7B on your system in seconds.  It wipes out clutter from your hard disk, repairs damaged files and the corrupted registry. It is safe, efficient, and bug-free. It is also compatible with all Windows versions. In addition to this, it is also embedded with other utilities like an antivirus, a system optimizer, and Active X controls, and a class ID scanner. Click here to download Restoro and resolve to stop error 7B on your PC immediately!
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Device attached to system is not functioning
If you are trying to connect your mobile or external device to your Windows 10 computer but suddenly encountered an error saying, “A device attached to the system is not functioning”, read on as this post will guide you on how you can resolve this error using a couple of potential fixes. In this case, it is possible that the connected device is not working for some reason and this error pops up when you connect your device or when you try to move or copy files from your computer to your external device and vice versa. As you can see, the error message is pretty straightforward, and it mostly occurs when you connect plug and play devices such as USB drives, printers, external storage devices, and many more. And when you open the Device Manager to check the device, you will most likely see a yellow exclamation mark on the device which indicates that the device is currently having problems. To fix this problem, there are several options you can check out. You need to check the status of the device or check the compatibility between the external device and the drive types. You also have to make sure that the device is connected properly or check if the device has been formatted properly. For more details, follow the given suggestions below.

Option 1 – Try to check the status of the device

The first thing you can do to get rid of the error is to check the status of the external device, especially if it’s a plug-and-play device. So when your computer boots, check if it is able to detect the device or not.

Option 2 – Try to check the compatibility between the external devices and drivers

As you know, when you connect an external device to your computer, Windows installs drivers to communicate with the device, the same way as any hardware you connect to the motherboard and if the driver ends up getting corrupted or is incompatible, then you need to update the device driver. To do that, follow the steps below.
  • First, click the Start button and type “device manager”.
  • Then click on the “Device Manager” from the search results to open it.
  • From there, look for the driver the external device related to and then right-click on each one of the Device drivers and select the Update Driver from the menu.
  • Restart your PC and then click the “Search automatically for updated driver software” option.
Note: If updating the device drivers didn’t work, you can try to reinstall them instead.

Option 3 – Try checking the hardware connections

The first thing you have to do before you further troubleshoot the problem is to check the hardware connections of your computer and see if there are damaged ones, just like with USB ports, it would also affect the overall connectivity of the device with the computer. So if you notice some irregularities in the connecting cable physically, you might have to buy another one and replace it and then see if it fixes the problem or not.

Option 4 – Check if the device is formatted properly

You might also want to check if the external device is properly formatted especially if you’ve recently formatted it. If a device wasn’t formatted properly, then it’s no wonder why you’re getting the “A device attached to the system is not functioning” error. To fix this, you need to use Disk Management. From there, you can find the devices connected but are not visible. If you are using an admin account, then to fix this error, you have the option to format the drive or create new partitions using the interface. Once you do this, it should resolve the problem.

Option 5 – Try to run System File Checker or SFC scan

  • Tap Win + R to launch Run.
  • Type in cmd in the field and tap Enter.
  • After opening Command Prompt, type in sfc /scannow and hit Enter.
  • Once done, restart your computer.

Option 6 – Restart your computer in a Clean Boot State

If a third party program like antivirus is the one that’s causing the problem, you can try to put your computer in a Clean Boot State to isolate the issue by following these steps:
  • 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.)
  • Now try to connect your device or copy the files to your external device again and check if the error is now gone.
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An Easy Guide to Resolve Xpcom.dll Error

Xpcom.dll Error Code - What is it?

To understand the Xpcom.dll error better, first, you need to know what Xpcom.dll file is. Xpcom.dll is basically a typical DLL (Dynamic Link Library) file. It is associated with Firefox developed by Mozilla Foundation for the Windows Operating System. DLL file contains small programs similar to exe (executable) files. Just like any other DLL file, Xpcom.dll helps loads and run programs smoothly. Xpcom.dll functions as a shared file that can be used to run multiple programs on your PC. Xpcom.dll error code occurs when Windows cannot properly load the xpcom.dll file. The error may pop up on the screen in any one of the following formats:
  • "Xpcom.dll not found."
  • "The file xpcom.dll is missing."
  • "Cannot register xpcom.dll."
  • "Cannot find C:\Windows\System32\xpcom.dll."
  • "This application failed to start because xpcom.dll was not found. Re-installing the application may fix this problem."
  • "Xpcom.dll Access Violation."
  • "Cannot start Firefox. A required component is missing: xpcom.dll. Please install Firefox again."
The xpcom.dll error can occur during program installation or while rebooting your PC or when shutting it down.[/section]

Solution

Restoro box imageError Causes

It is difficult to narrow down a single cause of this error code simply because the Xpcom.dll error code may be triggered due to several reasons. Some of the common causes include:
  • Invalid or corrupt xpcom.dll registry entry
  • Viral infection
  • Outdated PC drivers
  • Another program overwrote the required version of xpcom.dll
  • Xpcom.dll file is accidentally deleted or uninstalled
  • Mozilla Foundation hardware failure

Further Information and Manual Repair

Here are the best, quick and easy DIY methods to resolve Xpcom.dll error code on your system within minutes:

Method 1: Update Window Drivers

To resolve the xpcom.dll error on your system, try updating Window drivers. To do this simply use the driver update wizard from within Device Manager. The driver update wizard walks you through the entire drive update process, making it easy and hassle-free for you to update drivers.

Method 2: Download and Install Xpcom.dll File

Since DLL are shared files and used to run and load multiple programs, it is possible that you might have accidentally removed this file while uninstalling a program on your system. This is the reason why the Xpcom.dll file goes missing. To retrieve the Xpcom.dll file simply go to the recycle bin. Reinstall the deleted program. However, if it still doesn’t resolve the error, then it is advisable to download and install the Xpcom.dll file from a trusted DLL file website over the internet.

Method 3: Scan for Viruses and Repair the Registry

If the error code occurs due to malware infection or is related to registry issues, then simply download Restoro. This is a user-friendly and multi-functional PC Fixer deployed with 6 scanners including a powerful antivirus and a registry cleaner. It is compatible with all Windows versions. Simply run it to remove all types of viruses infecting your system and clean/repair the registry. Click here to download Restoro and resolve the Xpcom.dll error on your PC.
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How to Fix Sndvol32.exe Error

What Is Sndvol32.exe Error?

Sndvol32.exe is actually an important part of the Windows operating system. Responsible for managing the sound-card volume and running programs properly, the problem occurs when error messages appear. The user will be unable to listen to music on the system. Usually, Windows XP users encounter the Sndvol32.exe error.

Solution

Restoro box imageError Causes

Sndvol32.exe error can be caused by any one or several of the reasons listed below.
  • Accidental deletion of the DLL file from the system
  • Damage to the DLL file due to spyware or virus infection
  • Improper removal of software
  • Unintentional overwriting on the DLL file by a mismatched version
  • Obsolete hardware drivers
  • Several obsolete/invalid registry entries
  • Corrupt registry entries
Regardless of what triggers the Sndvol32.exe error, it is of utmost importance to take immediate measures to fix the problem and to keep it from occurring again.

Further Information and Manual Repair

If you are looking for ways to fix this error manually, the Windows functionality of System Restore will come into play in this particular scenario. In case the error is caused by a damaged or corrupt file, performing System Restore is an ideal choice as it will allow you to not only get a fresh copy of the operating system, it will be possible for you to remove the error at the same time as well. The procedure for performing System Restore is outlined below as follows.
  • Click on the Start menu and type ‘System Restore’ in the search box.
  • When the icon for ‘System Restore’ appears, click on it.
  • Now type ‘Restore’ in the search box that appears on the start menu.
  • The window for the System Restore center will now appear.
  • Now you have two options. You can either opt for “Recommend Restore” which is the case where the system itself will choose a restore point for you or you can select “Choose a different restore point”. Users are advised to choose the latter option as it is more customizable.
  • Users can now select from a list of restore points that have been created before. If you observe closely, you will realize that one of the restore points is prior to the occurrence of the Sndvol32.exe error.
  • Click on the restore point. Once you have confirmed your selection, your system will restart and it will roll back to its previously selected restore point.
One recommendation is to perform the system restore in Windows Safe Mode. This is just to ensure that the System Restore is performed smoothly and any potential problems are kept at bay.
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Purchased Adobe CC applications show as trial
Buying a product and then finding out that is not working is one of the most annoying and disappointing things that a consumer can experience. It is no secret that Adobe software and services online can malfunction or detect somewhat false information and behave accordingly placing buyers in an awkward position. Adobe no matter how huge and great can also still sometimes has software that can misbehave in this way and sometimes downloading their suite and buying it after can not be 100% registered and even after the money is transferred and purchase has been completed you can still have a trial status for your adobe cloud applications. In this guide, we will address this issue and see how we can fix it so you can get back to your creative work in no time. Follow this guide as it is presented step by step.
  1. Wait an hour

    No, seriously, wait an hour. Sometimes transaction and registration of transaction along with activation can take up to one hour of time. If you just made a purchase and you are still under trial in the launcher, give it a little time to detect the purchase and adjust accordingly.
  2. Check to see if your subscription is active

    Sign in to https://account.adobe.com/plans. If you have more than one account, make sure you sign in with the proper one. Under My plans, select Manage plan. In the Plan Information section, check to make sure that your subscription is active. If it’s expired, it's likely why you’re seeing messaging that indicates you are in trial mode or that your trial has expired. If your subscription is showing as active, then an out-of-date payment method may be the issue. To see if your payment information is current, in the Plan information section, select Manage payment. If your payment method isn’t current, update your credit card information in the pop-up window and select Save. Your new payment method will take effect in the next billing cycle.
  3. Sing out and then sign back in

    Open the Creative Cloud desktop app. (Select the icon in your Windows taskbar or the macOS menu bar.) Select the Account icon in the upper right, and then select Sign out. In the confirmation dialog box, select Sign Out. The Creative Cloud apps and services associated with your account are deactivated on the computer. Sign in again to your Adobe account. Launch any Creative Cloud app included in your membership, such as Photoshop or Illustrator. If prompted, sign-in on the next screen.
  4. Update creative cloud applications

    Open the Creative Cloud desktop app. (Select the icon in your Windows taskbar or the macOS menu bar.) Depending on your version of the Creative Cloud desktop app, do one of the following: On the Help menu, select Check for updates. or
    Select the three vertical dots icon in the upper-right corner of the app. Choose Check for App Updates from the menu. If you aren’t using the latest version of your Creative Cloud app, an update prompt appears next to it on the apps list. Select Update.
  5. Remove entries in the HOSTS file

    If the previous solutions do not work, your computer could have trouble connecting to Adobe's activation servers. This could be because of an incorrectly configured Operating System hosts file (Operating system hosts files map host names to IP addresses). To solve this issue, try removing Adobe-related entries from the hosts file. You can remove the Adobe-related entries from the hosts file in two ways: Automatically repair the hosts file using the Limited Access Repair tool: Repair the hosts file using the Limited Access Repair tool. With this method, you do not have to manually edit the hosts file -- the tool automatically repairs the file. Reset the hosts file manually: If the issue is not fixed even after you run the Limited Access Repair tool, reset the hosts file manually: To reset the hosts file on Windows, do the following: Navigate to C:\WINDOWS\System32\drivers\etc. Open the hosts file with a text editor such as Notepad. Check for any Adobe-related entries in the hosts file. If there are Adobe-related entries in the hosts file, move the file to the desktop, for example by dragging. Delete the Adobe-related entries from the hosts file. Make sure that you do not delete any other entries. Save the hosts file that you edited in the previous step. The updated hosts file should not have any Adobe-related entries. Move the file from desktop to the original location: C:\WINDOWS\System32\drivers\etc. When moving the file, select the Replace option. To reset the hosts file on macOS, do the following: To find the hosts file, open Finder and then choose to Go > Go to Folder. In the box, type the following location and then press Return: /private/etc/hosts If you are unable to locate the file, it means that the hosts file is hidden. Type the following command in terminal to unhide the file, and then repeat Step 1. chflags nohidden /etc/hosts Open the hosts file using a text editor such as Text Edit. Check for any Adobe-related entries in the hosts file. If there are Adobe-related entries in the hosts file, move the file to the desktop, for example by dragging. Delete the Adobe-related entries from the hosts file. Make sure that you do not delete any other entries. Save the hosts file that you edited in the previous step. Move the file from the desktop to the original location: /private/etc/hosts. When moving the file, select the Replace option.
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Resolve Windows Update Not enough disk space
If you are trying to update your Windows 10 computer but are not able to do so since your computer is running low on storage then this obviously indicates that there is not enough disk space available on your drive where Windows 10 has been installed. As you know, when Windows 10 downloads the update packages, it extracts them in a separate folder which means that there should be enough space on that particular folder for the update to begin with. Windows do not really check systems for any adequate space requirements before it even initializes the update or upgrades and you only get to know about it right when the update process starts. On Windows 10 thin clients or the ones with embedded systems that have limited storage space, when Windows Update runs, the update initialization may fail because as pointed out, Windows does not check systems for adequate space requirements so you may have to do the work for them by making sure that your disk has enough space available. Here are some suggestions you can follow to resolve Windows 10 update issues on computers with low storage space.

Option 1 – Delete the files from the Download folder

Since you are going to delete everything manually, you need to create a backup for all your important files which you may have placed in the Download folder. After you create backup copies of important files, delete the files from this folder or you could simply tap the Shift + Del keys to remove the files permanently after you selected them all.

Option 2 – Change the Windows Update Folder location

You might have to change the Windows Update folder location where Windows download all the files need to update the operating system if you cannot really create some space on your primary driver. So all you have to do is set the drive with enough space available for the update to be completed.

Option 3 – Uninstall apps and programs you no longer use

In some cases, apps and programs take up a lot of space on your drive. So if there are programs or apps that you no longer use, you can uninstall them to save storage space. To do so, follow these steps:
  • In the search box, type in “control” and then click on Control Panel (desktop app) among the search results.
  • After that, select Programs and Features from the list which will give you a list of all the programs installed on your computer.
  • From there, look for the apps and programs that you no longer use and right-click on each one of them and click on Uninstall.

Option 4 – Move files to another drive

This is another thing you can try. You can move files, especially the ones with large sizes, to another drive to make up space on your drive. After that, install the updates once again.

Option 5 – Reduce on-drive files from Cloud services

If you are using tons of cloud backup services such as OneDrive and Dropbox, you might want to consider reducing the number of files you have on those cloud backup services. You can do what you’ve done on option number three and have those files moved to another drive to free up storage space.

Option 6 – Empty the contents in Recycle Bin

As you know, the files that are deleted from your computer goes to the Recycle Bin first. So if you have not emptied Recycle Bin for a long time now, the files you delete are still actually taking up space on your drive. Thus, you need to empty the contents in the Recycle Bin to save storage space.

Option 7 – Clean up temporary files

You can use the Windows 10 Storage Sense feature which can clean all the temporary files from your computer. To use Storage Sense, follow the steps below.
  • Open Setting > System > Storage from the WinX Menu.
  • From there, you will see a list of all the local and connected storage devices along with the details on the free space.
  • Now make sure that the Storage Sense feature is turned On then go find a link that says “Free Up Space” and click it to open.
  • After that, a screen which is the built-in program in Windows 10 will appear and will scan your computer for the following junk files so you can free up disk space:
  • Windows Upgrade Log Files
  • System created Windows Error Reporting Files
  • Thumbnails
  • Temporary Internet Files
  • Previous Windows Installation Files
  • Delivery Optimisation Files
  • DirectX Shader Cache
Choose the files you want to get rid of and then click on the remove files option. Note that you’ll have an idea of the total size as you select any of the junk files listed above.
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BuzzDock Removal Guide

What is BuzzDock?

Buzzdock is a browser extension. Buzzdock will be automatically enabled on IE and Chrome following installation, and you may begin using Buzzdock with no further action required. If you elect to optimize Buzzdock performance, the settings preferences of your browser may be adjusted after installation. This browser extension changes your default search provider to Buzzdock.com custom search. It displays additional unwanted ads, banners & sponsored links on web pages that you visit, and it hijacks your browser home page. This browser extension has been flagged as malware by many anti-virus scanning programs.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijackers (sometimes called hijackware) are a type of malicious software that modifies web browser configuration settings without the user’s knowledge or consent. These hijacks are rising at an alarming rate worldwide, and it could be actually nefarious and sometimes dangerous too. They’re created to interfere with web browser programs for many different reasons. In most cases, hijackers are made for the benefit of online hackers often through income generation from forced ad clicks and site visits. Nonetheless, it’s not that harmless. Your online safety is jeopardized and it is extremely irritating. They not only screw up your browsers, but browser hijackers can even modify the computer registry, leaving your PC susceptible to other attacks.

Symptoms of browser hijacker malware

There are several signs that indicate the web browser is hijacked: 1. the home page of your browser is changed unexpectedly 2. you find new unwanted bookmarks or favorites added, typically directed to ad-filled or porn sites 3. The default search page of your web browser is changed 4. you see unsolicited new toolbars added 5. you notice a lot of pop-ups on your computer screen 6. your web browser gets slow, buggy crashes frequently 7. you are prohibited access to specific web pages, including the site of an anti-malware software firm like SafeBytes. Exactly how browser hijacker finds its way onto your computer system Browser hijackers infect computer systems in numerous ways, including through a file-share, a drive-by download, or an infected email. They are usually included with toolbars, BHO, add-ons, plug-ins, or browser extensions. Browser hijackers sneak to your computer along with free software downloads also that you unknowingly install alongside the original. Some of the most well-known hijackers are BuzzDock, Babylon Toolbar, Conduit Search, Sweet Page, OneWebSearch, and CoolWebSearch. Browser hijacking can cause severe privacy problems and even identity theft, affect your web browsing experience by taking command over outbound traffic, substantially slows down your computer by consuming lots of resources, and result in system instability as well.

The best ways to get rid of browser hijackers

Certain browser hijacking can be quite easily corrected by discovering and removing the corresponding malware application from your control panel. However, most hijackers are hard to remove manually. No matter how much you try to get rid of it, it may keep returning over and over again. You should consider doing manual fixes only if you’re a tech-savvy person because there are potential risks associated with fiddling around with the system registry and HOSTS file. Browser hijackers could be effectively removed by installing and running anti-malware software on the affected PC. Safebytes Anti-Malware can counter relentless browser hijackers and provide you proactive computer protection against all kinds of malware. Together with anti-malware, a system optimizer program, similar to Safebytes Anti-Malware, can help you correct registry errors, remove unwanted toolbars, secure online privacy, and enhance overall system performance.

Find Out How to Get rid of Malware that is Blocking Websites or Preventing Downloads

Malware could cause all sorts of damage when they invade your computer, starting from stealing your personal information to erasing files on your PC. Some malware sits in between the computer and the internet connection and blocks a few or all internet sites which you want to visit. It might also block you from adding anything to your system, especially anti-malware applications. So what should you do when malicious software prevents you from downloading or installing Safebytes Anti-Malware? There are a few fixes you can attempt to get around with this problem.

Boot Windows in Safe Mode

The Windows OS includes a special mode called “Safe Mode” where only the minimum required programs and services are loaded. In the event, the malicious software is set to load automatically when the computer starts, shifting to this mode may well prevent it from doing so. To get into Safe Mode or Safe Mode with Networking, press the F8 key while the computer is booting up or run MSCONFIG and find the “Safe Boot” options in the “Boot” tab. After you restart the PC into Safe Mode with Networking, you could download, install, as well as update anti-malware software from there. Right after installation, run the malware scanner to eliminate standard infections.

Use an alternate internet browser to download the anti-malware application

Malicious program code might exploit vulnerabilities in a specific browser and block access to all antivirus software sites. In case you suspect that your Internet Explorer has been hijacked by malware or otherwise compromised by online hackers, the best plan of action would be to switch to an alternate internet browser like Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, or Apple Safari to download your favorite computer security program – Safebytes Anti-Malware.

Create a portable USB antivirus for removing malware

Another way is to download and transfer an anti-malware program from a clean PC to run a scan on the affected computer. Adopt these measures to run the antivirus on the affected computer. 1) Download Safebytes Anti-Malware or Windows Defender Offline onto a clean computer. 2) Plug the Thumb drive into the uninfected computer. 3) Double-click the executable file to run the installation wizard. 4) Pick a USB flash drive as the location when the wizard asks you where you intend to install the software. Follow the directions to finish the installation process. 5) Transfer the thumb drive from the uninfected computer to the infected PC. 6) Run the Safebytes Anti-malware directly from the pen drive by double-clicking the icon. 7) Run Full System Scan to identify and clean-up up all types of malware.

A Look at the Best AntiMalware Program

If you’re looking to download an anti-malware application for your PC, there are various tools out there to consider however, you just cannot trust blindly anyone, irrespective of whether it is free or paid software. Some of them are excellent, some are ok types, and some will harm your PC themselves! You need to pick a tool that has gained a good reputation and detects not just computer viruses but other types of malware as well. Amongst few good programs, SafeBytes Anti-Malware is the highly recommended program for the security-conscious individual. SafeBytes anti-malware is a trustworthy tool that not only secures your PC completely but is also quite user-friendly for people of all skill levels. This software could easily detect, remove, and protect your computer from the latest malware threats including spyware, adware, trojan horses, ransomware, worms, PUPs, along with other possibly damaging software programs. There are numerous great features you will get with this security product. The following are some of the great features included in the software. Robust Anti-malware Protection: With its advanced and sophisticated algorithm, this malware removal tool can find and eliminate the malware threats hiding within your PC effectively. Live Protection: SafeBytes gives real-time active monitoring and protection against all known computer viruses and malware. This software will continuously monitor your PC for any suspicious activity and updates itself regularly to keep current with the constantly changing threat landscape. Website Filtering: Safebytes assigns all websites a unique safety score that helps you to get an idea of whether the webpage you are going to visit is safe to view or known to be a phishing site. Low CPU and Memory Usage: SafeBytes is really a lightweight application. It consumes an extremely small amount of processing power as it runs in the background so you’re free to use your Windows-based PC the way you really want. 24/7 Online Tech Support: For any technical issues or product support, you could get 24/7 expert assistance through chat and email. To sum it up, SafeBytes Anti-Malware offers great protection combined with an acceptable low system resources usage with both great malware detection and prevention. You now may understand that this particular software does more than just scan and delete threats from your PC. For optimum protection and the best value for your money, you can’t get better than SafeBytes Anti-Malware.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you wish to manually remove BuzzDock 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 BuzzDock
Files: File at $COMMONPROGRAMSBuzzdockBuzzdock Support Site.lnk. File at $COMMONPROGRAMSBuzzdockBuzzdock.lnk. File at $COMMONPROGRAMSBuzzdockUninstall.lnk. File at $PROGRAMFileSBuzzdockBuzzdock Support.url. File at $PROGRAMFileSBuzzdockBuzzdock.ico. File at $PROGRAMFileSBuzzdockBuzzdock.url. File at $PROGRAMFileSBuzzdockBuzzdockIEClient.dll. File at $PROGRAMFileSBuzzdockUninstall.url. Directory at $COMMONPROGRAMSBuzzdock. Directory at $LOCALAPPDATAGoogleChromeUser DataDefaultExtensionsejaodgecffaefnnoggjpogblnlpejkma.1.5_0. Directory at $LOCALAPPDATAGoogleChromeUser DataDefaultExtensionsejaodgecffaefnnoggjpogblnlpejkma. Directory at $PROGRAMFileSBuzzdock. Registry: A key in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT named BuzzdockIEClient.Api.1 A key in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT named BuzzdockIEClient.Api A key in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT named BuzzdockIEClient.Layers.1 A key in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT named BuzzdockIEClient.Layers Key 220EB34E-DC2B-4B04-AD40-A1C7C31731F2 at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionUninstall. Key 435D09AA-DDE4-4B40-9129-08F025ECA349 at HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID. Key 435D09AA-DDE4-4B40-9129-08F025ECA349 at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerBrowser Helper Objects. Key 4A3DEECA-A579-44BC-BCF3-167F4B9E8E4C at HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID. Key 83C58580-EC6E-48CD-9521-B95874483BEB at HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID. Key BE3A76AC-F071-4C7F-9B7A-D974B4F52DCA at HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppID. Key C8C107B2-28C2-472D-9BD4-6A25776841D1 at HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTTypeLib. Key BuzzdockIEClient.DLL at HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppID. Key ejaodgecffaefnnoggjpogblnlpejkma at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREGoogleChromeExtensions.
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Malware Guide: How to Remove Solimba

What is Solimba?

Solimba is a bundled executable program. It was created to be launched as a promotional tool to get advertisements loaded on a user’s system, upon installation. As a bundle, Solimba offers installation of various programs, with the objective of promoting various products and services. It utilizes unethical techniques, as in the case with adware tactics to influence or for want of a better word, hijack an Internet Browser to affect a website’s result on a search results page. In this assessment, Solimba distributed ads on Internet Explorer, Chrome, and Mozilla browsers, by hijacking various Internet Browsers to change the user's experience. (Images are shown below) Technical details about Solimba PUP include:
Digital Signature:  POPELER SYSTEM, S.L. Entry Point:   0x0000C1DC

Assessment of Solimba Potentially Unwanted Program

Solimba PUP is all about the ads. Once this executable is installed, it penetrates your computer system and sends ads all over your Internet Browser – Chrome, Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, and the likes. For this assessment of Solimba.exe PUP, two installations were carried through. In layman's terms, I actually installed Solimba on two occasions to decipher the true nature of the PUP. It was shocking to find that both installations revealed different bundled programs and advertisements. In the first instance (as shown below), Solimba proved more aggressive in featuring ads for revenue advancements.
 Solimba employed aggressive advertising techniques
It’s important to note that hijacked results resulting from the installation of Solimba. This affected the results of the website on the Internet browser to boost its ranking, even without the use of a search engine. The advertisement displayed on the Internet Explorer search page routes the user to a software installation website. The utility tool in question was a “Windows 8.1 PC Repair” tool used to identify threats present on the Windows 8.1 OS.Advertisement shown on Chrome after Solimba Installation The advertisement displayed on the Chrome Browser search page routes the user to a health and beauty magazine website. This site advocates health and beauty, especially issues concerning weight loss. Several ads were visible on-site, displaying products to assist people in losing weight. During my installation of Solimba, the installation wizard underscored that four programs would be downloaded. These programs included N8Fanclub.com_KinoniRemoteDesktop, Lolliscan, PaceItUp, and SearchProtect. Interestingly, only two programs from the list were apparent or obvious. An N8Fanclub.com_KinoniRemoteDesktop file was made on the Desktop and SearchProtect was seen in “All Programs”, along with files stored on the computer’s Local Drive. The other programs that were “supposedly” installed remained concealed. A test was done to determine whether these were counted as extensions or add-ons to the varying web browsers but nothing was found on any of the tested browsers – Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, and Mozilla Firefox.

Description of 4 Installed Files

N8Fanclub.com_KinoniRemoteDesktop

When this file was initially found on the Desktop, a rootkit came to mind. A rootkit was used as a means to an end. Whoever was on the receiving end of this unwanted file would be able to connect to an infiltrated system without the knowledge of the user. After running the file to determine its behavior, nothing much happened. A message appeared indicating that the software couldn’t execute on the computer. That was pretty tricky since, to begin with, I didn’t place that specific file on the desktop but it came along with the territory and so I had to accept it. Further research online into N8Fanclub.com_KinoniRemoteDesktop proved very rewarding. A search of the entire file name was not able to do the trick so I had to do research on both terms separately. After landing on N8Fanclub.com, I was nicely asked to disable my adblocker. There seemed nothing harmful about the site. However, due to the fact that it was not what I initially installed, the program was an unwanted program. That’s exactly what Solimba does. It installs several other programs that were not requested by the user in an attempt to make money from advertising. The mere fact that this program got installed meant that it was to promote an online service.

KinoniRemoteDesktop

was a separate program. It was combined with N8Fanclub as a way to allow users to use their PC computer “as if they were sitting in front of it.” A user would be able to make use of a full web browser, watch Flash videos, play games, and even use office applications. This would be done from the user’s Nokia device. This is an advertisement at its best.

Lolliscan

This program did not allow me to see much since it didn’t leave a physical trace behind. However, during the installation, Lolliscan was listed as one of the four programs that would be installed. Overall, Lolliscan supposedly should be able to save people money since this form of the ad focuses on showing coupons when visiting sites such as Amazon. While this seems like a good deal, this ad will invade your personal space and distribute pop-ups at the most inopportune times.

PaceItUp

As the name states, PaceItUp is software added to a browser with the intent to speed your computer. Quite the contrary, PaceItUp does the total opposite since it installs bundled programs that slow down a computer system. PaceItUp is also known for displaying ads and tracking what the user does on his/her computer system.

SearchProtect

It’s known for hijacking your computer’s homepage. In fact, this addition is very stubborn and often possesses a challenge when a request to uninstall is made.

Further Information on Solimba

The second installation of Solimba also had its own dose of bundles to display. In comparison to the first installation, two programs from the bundle were different while two remained the same. two additional programs were installed along with the second installation of this bundle. These were dubbed Optimizer Pro and GamesDesktop. SearchProtect and N8Fanclub.com_KinoniRemoteDesktop remained triumphant and unbeatable. They were repeated within the installation. To completely remove Solimba from your computer, click here to download and install Spyhunter.
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