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.
Ehshell.exe is a type of .exe (executable file). This file functions as an essential component of the Microsoft Media Center. By default, it is located in a subfolder of C:\Windows.
Ehshell.exe application error is an error code that pops up when tasks in the Media Center freezes. The Ehshell.exe application error is usually displayed on the screen in the following format:
“ehshell.exe – Common Language Runtime Debugging ServicesApplication has generated an exception that could not be handled.Process id=0xa18 (2584), Thread id=0xa24 (2596).”
Solution
Error Causes
Ehshell.exe application error is triggered when PC users perform repetitive tasks in Media Center on a Windows XP Media Center Edition.
The computer stops to respond and the error message is displayed.
This error occurs if users perform one or more of the following repetitive tasks in the Media Center:
Repeated resize, restore and minimize the Media Center Window
Schedule TV shows to record
Repeatedly change the channel while Media Center is in a window
Ehshell.exe file corruption due to malware infection or registry issues
Though this is not a fatal error, to avoid any kind of inconvenience, it is advisable to fix the error right away.
Further Information and Manual Repair
To fix the ehshell.exe application error on your system, you don’t have to hire a professional and spend hundreds of dollars on repair. Here are some of the best and most effective do-it-yourself methods that you can try to resolve this issue on your PC immediately.
Method 1 - Install the Latest Service Pack for Microsoft Windows
To repair the issue, install the latest Windows service pack. A service pack is basically a Windows update, often combines previously released updates that help make Windows more reliable.
These are offered free of charge on Microsoft’s official website. To get started, simply log on to Microsoft’s official website and download the latest service pack compatible with your Windows version.
The installation process may take 30 minutes to install. And you will be prompted to restart your PC about halfway through the installation process.
Once the Windows Service Pack is installed, the ehshell.exe application error will be fixed. If the error still persists, then try method 2.
Method 2 - Scan for Malware
Ehshell.exe application error may also appear on your PC due to malware infection. Malware programs like viruses, Trojans, and worms deliberately give their malicious processes similar .exe file names, so it is hard to identify the malware.
In such an event, it is advisable to download a powerful antivirus and scan your entire PC. Run it to remove all the hidden malware programs on your system. Once malware is removed, the ehshell.exe application error will be resolved.
Method 3 - Clean Registry
Sometimes .exe files can also get corrupt when the registry gets overloaded with unnecessary and obsolete files. If this is the underlying reason for the error code occurrence then it is advisable to download Restoro.
This is a multi-functional and user-friendly PC Fixer deployed with a registry cleaner. It removed all the unnecessary files, cleans and repairs the registry in seconds thereby fixing all registry-related errors.
Click here to download Total System Care and resolve the Ehshell.exe application error on your PC.
Code 43, Device Manager Error, is reported when Windows doesn’t recognize a hardware device such as the video card, USB, printer, or any other piece of external hardware attached to your PC.
The Device Manager stops the hardware if it reports some kind of unspecified problem. It is mostly displayed in the following format:
“Windows has stopped this device because it has reported problems. Code 43”
Solution
Error Causes
Code 43 can be triggered due to several reasons. However, 95% of the times it is related to the device driver problems such as:
Missing Drivers
Corrupted Drivers
Outdated Drivers
Driver problems pop up when either new driver versions are available or drivers become damaged due to some underlying reasons like viral infections.
Other than driver problems, code 43 can also pop up when you install and remove the software. This can cause hardware conflict in the registry, altering driver communication.
Code 43 can hamper your ability to use your desired device smoothly. Although Code 43 is not a fatal error code like Runtime and BSoD errors, it is still advisable to resolve it immediately to avoid inconvenience.
You can sometimes bypass error code 43 temporarily by a simple PC reboot but this will not fix the problem permanently. For a permanent fix, try the methods given below.
Further Information and Manual Repair
To help you repair code 43 permanently from your PC, below are some of the best, easy perform, and effective solutions. Simply follow the steps to get rid of code 43 from your PC.
Method 1 - Launch and Run the Troubleshoot Wizard
This is one way to find the exact nature of the problem that spurred error code 43 to pop up. To launch and run the Troubleshoot Wizard, here’s what you need to do:
Go to the start menu
Type Device Manager in the search bar and then press enter
Click on Device Manager to run it on your system
Now click on the ‘General Tab’
After that press Trouble Shoot to launch the Troubleshooting Wizard
The Wizard will diagnose the problem and provide you a solution to resolve it, all you have to do from there is to follow the Wizard’s instructions
Method 2 - Check the Hardware Documentation
If for some reason Method 1 doesn’t work, another solution would be to check the hardware documentation for more information about diagnosing the problem.
Method 3 - Uninstall Faulty Drivers
If the underlying reason for code 43 is related to driver problems, then the best way to resolve it is to uninstall faulty drivers and then reinstall new drivers. One of the many ways to uninstall drivers is:
Click on the start button
Type ‘sysdm.cpl’ in the search box and then press enter to continue
In the System Properties dialog box open the Hardware tab
Click Device Manager and then double click Device Type
Now click on the problematic hardware device reporting code 43
After that go to the Driver tab and click Uninstall to uninstall that driver completely
Visit the manufacturer’s website and download the new driver version
Install it on your system by extracting the .ZIP file
Method 4 - Update Drivers Automatically
Identifying and updating new driver versions manually can be both frustrating and time-consuming especially if you are in a rush and no computer whiz.
Also, after you update the drivers, you need to keep checking them time and again to ensure they don’t become outdated. You need to update them every time new versions are available which can be stressful.
To avoid this hassle by repairing code 43 permanently, download DriverFIX. This is an innovative and user-friendly device driver software program exclusively designed to resolve all kinds of driver problems.
Whether code 43 occurs on your PC due to missing or outdated drivers, DriverFIX can resolve the problem easily.
The intelligent programming system embedded in this software enables it to detect problematic and outdated drivers in seconds.
It matches new and compatible versions and updates the drivers immediately, automatically, and on a regular basis in just a few clicks. This resolves code 43 and also ensures that all your drivers remain up to date.
DriverFIX is compatible with all Windows versions.
Click here to download DriverFIX to repair and resolve code 43 right away.
The Windows 10 Orange Screen of Death, unlike Blue Screen of Errors, is quite an uncommon error where the hardware is the culprit which is mostly caused by some issues with the GPU. If you are currently facing this problem, then you’ve come to the right place as this post will guide you on what you can do to fix it.
There have been reports from users that the Orange Screen of Death is caused by various reasons. Some users reported that they encountered Orange Screen of Death when they were watching a YouTube video, while some were not able to boot into their Windows 10 PCs and encountered an error instead of that either says, FAULTY_HARDWARE_CORRUPTED_PAGE or WHEA_UNCORRECTABLE_ERROR error. In addition, this error can also occur when your computer wakes up from Sleep or while using BitLocker, or while you use a second monitor. Whatever the case is, you can try updating your drivers or lower the clock speed of the GPU. You could also try to fix the DRIVER_IRQL issue in case it’s the one that triggers the error or performs Automatic Repair or uninstalls any recently installed software.
Option 1 – Update your Graphics card drivers
One of the possible reasons why you’re getting the Orange Screen of Death error is most likely related to the Graphics card drivers in your computer. Thus, the first thing you can do to resolve it is to update these drivers by following these steps:
First, boot your computer into Safe Mode.
After that, tap the Win + R keys to launch Run.
Type in msc into the box and tap Enter or click OK to open the Device Manager.
After that, a list of device drivers will be displayed. 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: You also have the option to 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.
Option 2 – Try to uninstall software you’ve installed recently
If you have installed a software or two recently and then suddenly encounter this Orange Screen of Death, then they are most likely the culprits. The best thing you can do is to first check the System Log in the Event Viewer for any additional information in case it’s not the GPU but some other driver or device that’s causing the error. Once you have identified the culprits, uninstall them and see if the error is fixed.
Option 3 – Try disabling Overclocking
If overclocking is enabled, you might have to disable it as some users reported that the WHEA_UNCORRECTABLE_ERROR 0x00000124 error started to appear right after overclocking. To disable it, follow the steps below.
Go to the Start Menu and open Settings.
Next, select Update and Security and go to the Recover tab.
From there, click on Restart now in Advanced startup. This will restart your computer.
Once you’re in the Advanced startup, go to Troubleshoot and then select Advanced Options.
From there, select the UEFU Firmware Settings.
Now click on Restart. Once your computer has restarted, it will automatically open BIOS.
From the BIOS, go to the Advanced tab and navigate to Performance and then look for Overclocking.
Once you’ve found Overclocking, make sure that it is disabled. If it’s not, then disable it and then save the changes made by tapping the F10 key.
Start your computer normally and check if the WHEA_UNCORRECTABLE_ERROR 0x00000124 error is now fixed.
Option 4 – Use the Driver Verifier Manager
The Driver Verifier Manager is another tool in Windows that could help you fix driver-related issues. And so if you want to fix the Wdf01000.sys Blue Screen error, you need to use the Driver Verifier Manager:
Type in the keyword “Verifier” in the Cortana search box to search for Verifier in Windows 10.
After that, select the option “Create custom settings”.
Make sure that you have checked everything except the options “DDI compliance checking” and “Randomized low resources simulation”.
Next, select the option “Select driver names from a list” option.
Afterward, you have to select all the drivers from any unofficial or third-party provider. To simply put it, you have to select all the drivers that are not supplied by Microsoft.
Then click on the Finish button.
Open Command Prompt as administrator and execute this command – verifier /querysettings
The command you just executed will display the Driver Verifier settings so if you see any of the flags enabled boot your Windows 10 PC into Safe Mode.
Open the Command Prompt as admin again and run this command – verifier /reset
The command will reset the Driver Verifier. Once the process is done, restart your PC and check.
Option 5 – Try to run the Automatic Repair Utility
You might also want to use Automatic Repair in fixing the error. To do so, follow the steps below.
You can start by creating and booting from a bootable Windows 10 USB Stick.
After that, click on Repair your computer located on the bottom left corner when you are on the initial Windows Startup screen.
Next, click on Troubleshoot, and then on the other screen, click the Startup Repair option.
Now select the operating system you want to repair. Once you do that, it will start to repair your operating system. Wait until the process is completed and then check if the problem’s now fixed.
Computer upgrades are the most common and most efficient ones. RAM upgrade is one of the easiest ones you can do and the most common ones but even as simple an upgrade as this one can cause certain issues.
If you are experiencing error 0164, memory size decreased after RAM upgrade we are offering you solutions on how to fix this particular error and get your computer back in working order.
Change BIOS settings
Enter your motherboard BIOS (usually by pressing the del key on startup)
Load BIOS defaults
Save changes and exit
If the Error 0164: Memory size decreased issue persists even after loading setup defaults, then it must be configured manually inside the BIOS.
Clear CMOS
Follow the instructions precisely:
Turn off all peripheral devices connected to the computer.
Disconnect the power cord from the AC power source.
Remove the computer cover.
Find the battery on the board. The battery may be in a horizontal or vertical battery holder or connected to an onboard header with a wire.
If the battery is in a holder, note the orientation of the + and – on the battery. With a medium flat-blade screwdriver, gently pry the battery-free from its connector.
If the battery is connected to an onboard header with a wire, disconnect the wire from the onboard header.
If you’re having some problem browsing multiple websites on the Firefox browser on your Windows 10 computer, then this post might be of help. One of the most common problems you could encounter in Firefox is mostly related to HTTPS and one of them is the MOZILLA PKIX ERROR MITM DETECTED or ERROR SELF SIGNED CERT or SEC ERROR UNKNOWN ISSUER error which means that Firefox was unable to trust certificates issued on secured websites.
If you encounter the MOZILLA_PKIX_ERROR_MITM_DETECTED error in Firefox, this indicates that something in your network or system is interrupting your connection and injecting certificates and when that happens, Firefox won’t trust it. In such cases, one of the culprits is malware. Malware will try to replace a legitimate certificate with its certificate. Another cause is security software where it keeps a tab on a secure connection and creates a false positive, for instance:
“In Microsoft Windows accounts protected by Family Safety settings, secure connections on popular websites like Google, Facebook and YouTube might be intercepted and their certificates replaced by a certificate issued by Microsoft in order to filter and record search activity.”
And if you are connected to a corporate network, there might be a monitoring/filtering product that could be replacing certificates. Moreover, there are also users who reported getting this issue when they use the Nightly version of Firefox. And if that’s the case, you have to try accessing secure websites using only the stable build especially when it comes to payments. However, if you are not doing that, then here are some options you need to check out.
Option 1 – Try turning off HTTPS Scanning on your security and antivirus programs
Each security-based software has a security option that allows you to turn off the HTTPS scanning functionality. They may be available under different names such as HTTPS Scanning, Scan SSL, Show safe result, Do not scan encrypted connections, etc. Find what is applicable for your security or antivirus software and then try turning it off temporarily and see if it helps in fixing the MOZILLA_PKIX_ERROR_MITM_DETECTED error in Firefox.
Option 2 – Try to disable security.enterprise_roots.enabled
The next thing you can do if the first option didn’t work is to disable security.enterprise_roots.enabled which is an HTTPS certificate check on Firefox. Note that this is not recommended but you have to at least try in order to fix the error.
Open Firefox and then type “about: config” in the Firefox address bar and hit Enter.
After that, if an info message appears, confirm it.
Next, search for the security.enterprise_roots.enabled preference and once you found it, double click on it.
Then change its value to true and restart the Firefox browser once. This will import all the custom certificates from the other security software into Firefox. As a result, it will make sure to mark those sources as trusted and you won’t get the MOZILLA_PKIX_ERROR_MITM_DETECTED error.
A number of users reported lately that their Windows 10 PCs automatically boots into the BIOS whenever they start their computers. And when they tried to exit the BIOS and restart their computers, it still boots into the BIOS. If you are one of the users who experience the same problem, worry not for this post will walk you through what you can do to resolve the problem.
Each time a Windows 10 computer boots, it goes through a lot of processes and one of them is where it checks the computer for any hardware issue such as hard drives, peripherals, as well as external devices. So if it finds some issue, the computer will halt the boot process and will boot into the BIOS. To fix this, there are several suggestions you can try. You have to check if you’ve pressed any key, especially the F2 or F12, or Del keys. You also have to check the peripherals and external devices in your computer or update the BIOS or reset it. For more information, make sure to follow each one of the options laid out below.
Option 1 – Try to check for any pressed key
The first thing you can do is to check for any pressed key. This might not make any sense but a pressed key can actually cause this problem. So you have to check if you have the F2 or F12 or Del buttons pressed since these are hardware keys that are usually set by the OEM to boot into the BIOS.
Option 2 – Try checking the physical device connections
You might also want to try checking if there are other devices that are connected to your PC. This is because the configuration of the BIOS or UEFI might be configured in a way that any external device connected to the computer has a higher boot priority compared to the hard disk. And if it’s really the case, the externally attached disk might be the drive your computer is trying to boot into and not the hard disk. In such cases, Pen Drives, USB storage devices, CDs, DVDs, and so on, are included in this category of physical device connections.
Option 3 – Try to set a proper boot device
If the Boot Manager wasn’t able to locate a proper boot device, then it could be the reason why your computer boots into the BIOS when you turn it on. Thus, you have to check if there is an available proper boot device. You can usually find it under the Boot priority section. However, if you’re unable to locate your hard drive or SSD under the Boot device, then you have to change the hard drive but you have to check first if it is properly plugged in and that it works on other computers. If it works on other PCs, then the problem lies in the motherboard of your computer, and in that case, you have to consult its manufacturer.
Option 4 – Try to update the BIOS
Updating the BIOS can help you fix the issue but as you know, BIOS is a sensitive part of a computer. Even though it is a software component, the functioning of the hardware depends on it largely. Thus, you must be careful when modifying something in the BIOS. So if you don’t know much about it, it’s best if you skip on this option and try the other ones instead. However, if you are well-versed in navigating the BIOS, then follow the steps below.
Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
Next, type “msinfo32” in the field and press Enter to open System Information.
From there, you should find a search field on the bottom where you have to search for the BIOS version and then press Enter.
After that, you should see the developer and version of the BIOS installed on your PC.
Go to your manufacturer’s website and then download the latest version of BIOS on your computer.
If you are using a laptop, make sure that you keep it plugged in until you have updated the BIOS.
Now double click on the downloaded file and install the new BIOS version on your computer.
Now restart your computer to apply the changes made.
Note: If updating the BIOS didn’t help, you might want to consider resetting it instead.
Option 5 – Try resetting the BIOS/UEFI configuration
You might also want to reset the BIOS configuration which will lead to arranging the boot configuration since it is intended by the manufacturer. Note that this will get rid of any blockage in the boot process. All you have to do is take out the CMOS battery for a couple of seconds and then put it back again. After that restart, your computer and will be booted directly into Windows. Resetting the BIOS would also get rid of any password set for BIOS and you need to change your CMOS battery in case it didn’t work.
If you encounter a blank page with an error message saying, “Origin Error” when you try to load a webpage, then this post will surely help you resolve this error. As you can see, this error is a very uncommon one and it is not about the popular game known as Origin where all you have to do is reinstall the client.
Although this error message is a very uncommon one, you will see a blank page with a message saying, “Origin Error” when you attempt to load a webpage. To fix this error, this post will provide you some potential fixes that might help. Follow the fixes given below carefully and see which one fixes the problem.
Option 1 – Use Ctrl + F5 keys to clear browser cache
The first thing you can try is to “Hard Refresh” to clear the cache of your browsers. You can do that by using the Ctrl + F5 keys on your keyboard. On the other hand, you can also clear the cache manually for Chrome, Edge, and Firefox.
Option 2 – Remove the Proxy
You might also want to try removing the Proxy as it could also help you in fixing the Origin error. Here’s how you can do it:
Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
Then type “inetcpl.cpl” in the field and hit Enter to pull up the Internet Properties.
After that, go to the Connections tab and select the LAN settings.
From there. Uncheck the “Use a Proxy Server” option for your LAN and then make sure that the “Automatically detect settings” option is checked.
Now click the OK and the Apply buttons.
Restart your PC.
Note: If you are using a third-party proxy service, you have to disable it.
Option 3 – Try to flush the DNS, reset Winsock and the TCP/IP
You might also want to flush the DNS and reset Winsock as well as reset TCP/IP as it could help in fixing the Origin error. To do so, refer to these steps:
Click the Start button and type in “command prompt” in the field.
From the search results that appear, right-click on Command Prompt and select the “Run as administrator” option.
After opening Command Prompt, you have to type each one of the commands listed below. Just make sure that after you type each command, you hit Enter
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /all
ipconfig /flushdns
ipconfig /renew
netsh int ip set dns
netsh winsock reset
After you key in the commands listed above, the DNS cache will be flushed and the Winsock, as well as the TCP/IP, will reset.
Now restart your computer and open Google Chrome then try opening the website you were trying to open earlier.
Option 4 – Try using Google Public DNS
You might want to try changing your current DNS to the Google Public DNS. All you have to do is change the DNS settings explicitly on your operating system by using the DNS IP addresses. Here’s are the steps to do that:
The first thing you have to do is right-click on the network icon in the Taskbar and select Network and Sharing Center.
Next, click on the “Change Adapter Settings” option.
After that, search for the network connection that you are using to connect to the internet. Note that the option might be “Wireless Connection” or “Local Area Connection”.
Right-click on your network connection and click on Properties.
Then select the new window to choose the “Internet Protocol 4 (TCP/IPv4)” option.
After that, click on the Properties button and click the checkbox in the new window for the option “Use the following DNS server addresses”.
Type in “8.8.8” and “8.8.4.4” and click OK and exit.
It really sucks when you can’t fully enjoy the newest version of your favorite OS.
Windows 11 is still relatively fresh and consequently has some annoying little bugs that really ruin our experience. The good news is that you’re not alone and most of them are easy to fix.
Here are 5 commonly reported Windows 11 issues and what you can do to get rid of them.
1. Windows 11 audio problems
One of the absolute most irritating things in the world is struggling with the sound on your computer. Windows 11 users have reported facing the issue of low or no sound. If you’re currently experiencing the same frustration, you can be relieved. Chances are fixing it will only take a few minutes.
The first thing to check would be whether you accidentally muted your device by pressing the mute button on your keyboard. Yes, we know it sounds a lot like the old “have you tried turning it off and on again?” But it’s important to leave no stone unturned, and the most obvious things are usually the ones we easily overlook.
Moreover, if you have several audio output sources, check whether the right one is selected. You can do this via the Action Center or through Settings. If you want to use the same source every time, we also recommend you set it as the default one.
It’s also important to have a good, up-to-date audio driver. More often than not, this will be the true cause of your audio struggles. Make sure to update your driver, and if that doesn’t work out, you can always un- and reinstall it or install a different one.
Lastly, if all attempts remain unsuccessful, run the audio troubleshooter to figure out what’s actually going wrong.
2. Unable to find files
Such a powerful new operating system, yet it can’t seem to do the simplest thing imaginable? The File Explorer not responding on Windows 11 is one of the most frustrating and most common problems with Microsoft’s newest iteration of its awesome OS.
However, 9/10 times it can be fixed by simply restarting your PC. You could also try killing the Windows Explorer process in the Task Manager and then rerunning it.
If these don’t help, check whether there are any pending Windows 11 updates. A single missing update can compromise your PC’s functionality, so always make sure to install them all on time.
Should none of that work, then there are other ways to solve the File Explorer problem. However, then the issue is probably a bit deeper and it’s no longer in the ‘easy fix’ territory.
3. Start menu not working
Just like the File Explorer, the Start menu is a fundamental element of your OS. So, it’s only natural that its malfunction grinds your gears. It may be more customizable than on previous Windows versions, but it doesn’t always work smoothly.
If you’re facing the so-called Start menu critical error, there are a few things this could be caused by. Usually it means you turned off your system while an important update was still being installed, there is a corrupt file on your PC, or Windows forcefully stopped a program.
Whatever the reason, the solution should be pretty simple. Try the basic steps: restarting your File Explorer (like we explained above) and signing out and back into your account. If that doesn’t do anything, you may want to try uninstalling third-party start menu apps (if you have any), since they can interfere with your default programs’ functionality.
Now, those are the easy fixes. If you get nowhere with them, you might need to identify the root cause and search for more complex solutions than that.
4. Snipping tool not working
Our beloved screenshot tool was introduced with Windows 10 and Microsoft decided to keep it. However, you were probably just as disappointed as us when you tried to run it and failed.
Normally, this can be fixed by installing the latest Out-of-band (OOB) update, or even pending updates in general. Even if your system appears to be up-to-date, run the checker just in case.
Another cool thing Windows 11 lets you do is ‘Repair’ and ‘Reset’, which is the easiest way to troubleshoot your Snipping tool. If this fails, you can also try the good old un- and reinstall method. Simply uninstall the tool through the Control Panel and reinstall it from the Microsoft Store.
Furthermore, in the case of an upgrade from Windows 10 to 11, it may be that the old Snipping tool version is interfering with the launch of the new one. If you don’t care that much about the additional options available with the enhanced screenshot tool, you can use the old version instead.
Simply go to your C Drive, find the Windows.old folder, search for the tool and open it from there. Make sure to pin it to your taskbar as well, if you know you’re going to use it often.
5. Can’t install the latest update
The latest Windows 11 version, 22H2, has brought tons of enhancements to our dearest operating system. Unfortunately, a lot of users still haven’t had the opportunity to experience it. A mere update of your OS version should be the one thing that goes smoothly, but sometimes that’s not the case.
Failure to install 22H2 can be caused by a few things. Most commonly, the issue is caused by lack of storage space or corrupted files, but there could be other culprits.
There are a couple of things you could try. For example, it’s crucial that your drivers be up-to-date and some important services be enabled. These are: Windows Modules Installer, Background Intelligent Transfer Service, Cryptographic Service, Windows Update services.
To enable them, search ‘Services’, find the service you need and right-click on it. Open ‘Properties’ and select the startup type ‘Automatic’.
It may also be necessary to unplug all peripherals that aren’t crucial and disable third-party antivirus tools until after the update is finished.
Ultimately, you can run the Windows Update troubleshooter to detect and fix other possible issues.
Summary
Tiny bugs like these are nothing out of the ordinary. That said, we still all hate when they happen.
Hopefully some of our solutions have helped you to a smoother Windows 11 experience. But if you’re still struggling, feel free to reach out to us. We’d be happy to help!
Code 39 is a device driver error code that pops up when the Windows operating system cannot load the driver for the hardware you want to use.
This hampers your ability to use the hardware properly. The error code is almost always presented in the following format:
“Windows cannot load the device driver for this hardware. The driver may be corrupted or missing.”Code 39
Error Causes
A device driver is a software program that tells the operating system how to control a particular hardware device. Each hardware device has a different driver.
There are separate device drivers for printers, CD-ROM readers, and keyboards, to name a few.
Many device drivers are already built into the operating system. But sometimes you will need to install a new device driver when you want to use a new piece of hardware device that the operating system is not familiar with, or does not anticipate.
Regardless of whether or not the drivers are already integrated into the operating system, you may still experience code 39, typically because of the corrupted or outdated drivers.
Outdated and corrupted drivers cause hardware malfunction and failure, which trigger device driver error codes like code 39. Other causes include incorrect registry values.
Further Information and Manual Repair
Below are some of the easiest and most effective methods to resolve Device Manager error code 39 on your PC.
To follow and implement these methods, you don’t require any technical knowledge or expertise. Simply follow these instructions to fix the error right away.
Method 1 - Fix with a Simple Reboot
There is a possibility that the error code 39 is caused by some fluke within the Device Manager or your BIOS.
If that’s the reason, then a simple PC reboot can resolve the issue immediately. Therefore, before you try anything, it is advisable to restart your system.
If it works, then that is great, but if it doesn’t, then don’t worry, try other methods given below to fix this problem successfully.
Method 2 - Uninstall and Reinstall Drivers
If the error code 39 is generated due to faulty or outdated drivers, then simply uninstall and remove them and then reinstall new driver versions. There are two ways to remove faulty drivers.
Method One
One is, to go to the start menu, click on Control Panel, and then Add/Remove Programs.
Remove the program and the driver you think is causing problems. This will thoroughly remove all traces of the faulty driver.
To reinstall, follow the same steps but this time install the new device driver version.
Method Two
The other way is to go to the start menu, type Device Manager in the search bar, and then press enter to continue.
In the Device Manager, find and locate the problematic device.
After that, double-click the category of device that you wish to uninstall. Let’s say, Windows is unable to load the graphics card driver.
This means you will have to click on the Display Adapter category in the Device Manager to uninstall the graphics card.
After you have successfully uninstalled, Windows will prompt you to confirm device removal.
Simply click OK to confirm and proceed. To activate the changes, restart your PC.
To reinstall, go to the Device Manager, click on the Action tab and then select the option ‘Scan for Hardware Changes.’
This method, although effective in resolving error code 39, can be time-consuming. To avoid the hassle and save time, try method 3.
Method 3 - Update Drivers Automatically with DRIVERFIX
If you would like to read more helpful articles and tips about various software and hardware visit errortools.com daily.
PC Optimizer Pro is a PC optimizer utility developed by Xportsoft Technologies. It is classified as a potentially unwanted program, due to its aggressive scan and registration reminders, and that it is often distributed bundled with other programs in a manner that leads many users to not know how it got on their computer. While not inherently malicious, PC Optimizer Pro adds numerous registry keys, startup entries and while running consumes a relatively high amount of system resources, especially during its scans. The software installs from a .exe file that is around 5.20 MB or 5.453.240 Bytes (depending on the version). As of the publication of these videos, the current version of PC Optimizer Pro was detected as malicious or potentially unwanted by at least 21 AntiViruses.
About Potentially Unwanted Applications
If you have ever installed freeware or shareware, chances are high that your computer can get installed with a bunch of unwanted applications. A Potentially Unwanted Program, also called PUP, in short, is actually software that contains adware, installs toolbars, or has other hidden goals. These kinds of programs are almost always bundled up with free software which you download from the net or are also bundled within the custom installers on many download sites.
PUPs did not really constitute pure “malware” in the strict sense of the term. Just like malicious software, PUPs cause problems when downloaded and installed on your PC, but what makes a PUP different is that you give consent to download it – although the truth is vastly different – the software installation package actually tricks you into accepting the installation. Irrespective of whether it is regarded as malware or not, PUPs are nearly always harmful to the user as they might bring on adware, spyware, keystroke logging, and also other bad crapware features on your computer.
What do PUPs do on your computer, exactly?
Potentially Unwanted Programs come in many forms and varieties, but in most instances, these are adware programs that show annoying pop-up adverts and advertisements on websites you check out. The PUPs also get installed into your computer in the form of web browser add-ons and toolbars. Not only they needlessly take up space on your computer screen, but toolbars may also manipulate search engine results, watch your web browsing activities, decrease your web browser’s efficiency, and decelerate your internet connection to a crawl.
Potentially Unwanted Programs at times act quite similarly to viruses or spyware. Some PUPs include keyloggers, dialers, along with other software to gather your private details that may result in identity theft. These are programs that don’t do anything good for you; in addition to taking over space on your hard drive, they also slow down your computer, often modify settings without your approval, the list of bothersome features goes on.
Ways to avoid PUPs
• Always study the EULA and privacy statement. Don’t agree until you know precisely what you are acknowledging.• Choose the “custom” install whenever installing a software program. In particular, look closely at those small boxes that have been checked as default, where you may ‘agree’ to receive promotions or install software bundlers.• Use good antivirus software, like Safebytes Anti-Malware that offers real-time protection against PUPs.• Avoid adding a freeware program you do not use. Turn off or remove toolbars and web browser extensions you don’t really need.• Always download software from reliable sources like official sites as opposed to untrustworthy sharing space. Avoid file-hosting sites where/when possible.
What you can do if Malware Prevents You From Downloading Or Installing Antivirus?
Practically all malware is bad, but certain types of malware do much more damage to your computer than others. Certain malware goes to great lengths to stop you from downloading or installing anything on your personal computer, particularly antivirus applications. If you are reading this right now, you have probably recognized that a malware infection is the real cause of your blocked web connectivity. So what to do if you need to install an antivirus program like Safebytes? There are a few steps you can take to circumvent this problem.
Install in Safe Mode
The Windows OS has a special mode known as “Safe Mode” in which just the bare minimum required programs and services are loaded. In the event the malware is blocking the internet connection and affecting the computer, running it in Safe Mode will let you download antivirus and run a diagnostic scan while limiting possible damage. To start the computer into Safe Mode, press the “F8” key on your keyboard right before the Windows boot screen comes up; Or right after normal Windows boot up, run MSConfig, look over “Safe Boot” under Boot tab, and click Apply. After you reboot into Safe Mode with Networking, you can download, install, and update anti-malware software from there. Right after installation, run the malware scanner to remove standard infections.
Switch to an alternate browser
Some malware may target vulnerabilities of a specific browser that block the downloading process. If you seem to have malware attached to Internet Explorer, then switch over to an alternate web browser with built-in safety features, such as Firefox or Chrome, to download your favorite antivirus program – Safebytes.
Install and run anti-virus from the USB drive
Another solution is to create a portable anti-malware program on your USB stick. Adopt these measures to employ a thumb drive to clean your infected computer system.
1) Download Safebytes Anti-Malware or MS Windows Defender Offline onto a clean PC.2) Plug the Thumb drive into the clean computer.3) Run the setup program by double-clicking the executable file of the downloaded software, with a .exe file format.4) Choose the flash drive as the location for saving the file. Do as instructed on the screen to complete the installation process.5) Now, plug the pen drive into the corrupted computer.6) Double-click the anti-malware software EXE file on the USB flash drive.7) Press the “Scan” button to run a full system scan and remove viruses automatically.
SafeBytes Anti-Malware: Lightweight Malware Protection for Windows PC
These days, an anti-malware tool can protect your computer from different types of online threats. But how to choose the best one amongst numerous malware protection application that’s available out there? You may be aware, there are numerous anti-malware companies and tools for you to consider. A few are well worth your money, but many aren’t. You have to be very careful not to choose the wrong application, especially if you buy a paid application. In terms of commercial anti-malware application options, many people select well-known brands, such as SafeBytes, and are quite happy with it.
SafeBytes anti-malware is a powerful, highly effective protection tool created to help end-users of all levels of IT literacy in detecting and eliminating malicious threats from their computer. Using its cutting-edge technology, this software can assist you to eliminate several types of malware such as computer viruses, trojans, PUPs, worms, ransomware, adware, and browser hijackers.
SafeBytes has excellent features when compared to other anti-malware programs. Let’s have a look at a few of them below:
Robust, Anti-malware Protection: Safebytes is made on the best virus engine within the industry. These engines will find and get rid of threats even during the initial phases of a malware outbreak.
Active Protection: Malware programs aiming to enter the system are discovered and stopped as and when detected by the SafeBytes active protection shields. It’ll check your PC for suspicious activity at all times and safeguards your personal computer from unauthorized access.
High-Speed Malware Scanning Engine: SafeBytes’s high-speed malware scanning engine minimizes scan times and extends the life of the battery. Simultaneously, it will effectively detect and eliminate infected computer files or any online threat.
Website Filtering: SafeBytes checks the hyperlinks present on a webpage for possible threats and informs you whether the site is safe to explore or not, through its unique safety rating system.
Lowest CPU/Memory Usage: SafeBytes is a lightweight and user-friendly antivirus and antimalware solution. Since it utilizes negligible computer resources, this tool leaves the computer’s power exactly where it belongs to: with you.
Premium Support: You may get high levels of support round the clock if you’re using their paid software.
Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)
If you wish to manually remove PCOptimizerPro 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 PCOptimizerPro
Files:
DesktopPC Optimizer Pro.lnk.
%Programs%PC Optimizer ProLive Support.url.
%Programs%PC Optimizer ProPC Optimizer Pro.lnk.
%Programs%PC Optimizer ProUninstallation Guide.url.
%Programs%PC Optimizer ProVisit Website.url.
%ProgramFiles%PC Optimizer ProPCOptimizerPro.exe.
%ProgramFiles%PC Optimizer ProPCOptProCtxMenu.dll.
%ProgramFiles%PC Optimizer ProPCOptProTrays.exe.
%ProgramFiles%PC Optimizer ProStartApps.exe.
%ProgramFiles%PC Optimizer Prouninst.exe.
%QuickLaunch%PC Optimizer Pro.lnk.
WindowsTasksPC Optimizer Pro Idle.job.
WindowsTasksPC Optimizer Pro Scan.job.
WindowsTasksPC Optimizer Pro startups.job.
WindowsTasksPC Optimizer Pro Updates.job.
C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1Tempoptprosetup.exe
C:WINDOWSsystem32netmsg.dll
C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1Tempoptprosetup.exe
C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1Tempis-SJGJ9.tmpoptprosetup.tmp
C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1Tempis-NTRVH.tmp_isetup_shfoldr.dll
C:WINDOWSsystem32shfolder.dll
C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1Tempis-NTRVH.tmpOptProHelper.dll
C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1Tempis-NTRVH.tmpitdownload.dll
C:1e4e2d65e12311cac2c0eeb8c5c1d7bd1ddc865b367b98b56bc2330bf18436
C:WINDOWSRegistrationR000000000007.clb
C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1Tempoptprosetup.exe
C:WINDOWSsystem32shfolder.dll
C:1e4e2d65e12311cac2c0eeb8c5c1d7bd1ddc865b367b98b56bc2330bf18436
C:WINDOWSRegistrationR000000000007.clb
C:WINDOWSsystem32shell32.dll
C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1Tempis-SJGJ9.tmpoptprosetup.tmp
C:Program FilesOptimizer Pro 3.99OptimizerPro.exe
C:Program FilesOptimizer Pro 3.99unins000.exe
C:Program FilesOptimizer Pro 3.99OptProStart.exe
c:autoexec.bat
C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1Tempoptprosetup.exe
C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1Tempis-SJGJ9.tmpoptprosetup.tmp
C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1Tempis-NTRVH.tmp_isetup_shfoldr.dll
C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1Tempis-NTRVH.tmpOptProHelper.dll
C:DOCUME1USER1LOCALS1Tempis-NTRVH.tmpitdownload.dll
C:Program FilesOptimizer Pro 3.99is-BDCDJ.tmp
C:Program FilesOptimizer Pro 3.99is-DB4S5.tmp
C:Program FilesOptimizer Pro 3.99is-C16E7.tmp
C:Program FilesOptimizer Pro 3.99is-QE691.tmp
C:Program FilesOptimizer Pro 3.99is-GQ78C.tmp
Registry:
Key 003B9C22-6FE0-4BCA-A73F-9AA99B9BBDAA at HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTTypeLib.
Key 12AB121E-44C6-488B-8773-B0AE25E662E1 at HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTInterface.
Key 203ABD21-41F1-4F1B-BAE3-D6A89A90D239 at HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID.
Key PC Optimizer Pro at HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftware.
Key PC Optimizer Pro at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWARE.
Key PC Optimizer Pro at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionUninstall.
Key PCOptimizerPro.exe at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionApp Paths.
Key PCProCtxMenu at HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT*shellexContextMenuHandlers.
Key PCProCtxMenu at HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTlnkfileshellexContextMenuHandlers.