After a lot of backlash about choosing the default Windows browser, Microsoft has officially backed up and brought back a one-click browser change into Windows 11.
For anyone who is not aware, when Windows 11 was released if you wanted to switch to another browser you had to go into the settings app and choose the default browser for different types of file extensions like HTML, HTM, PDF for opening on the web, etc. Of course, this was completely unnecessary and it was not well received by users. So after some time, Microsoft backpedaled to standard one click, choose your default browser solution that existed in the previous version of Windows OS.
Altho sometimes Microsoft knows how to irritate its users base, it is good to know that they can also listen and fix things that are required.
Hello and welcome to our user account notifications in Windows 10 tutorial where we will dive a little more into how you can control notification and behavior settings for your or someone else's user account in your Windows 10.
If you are annoyed with confirmation windows each time you start a new application or install one please keep reading and I am sure you will find just the right setting for you.
User account options are a little hidden and not so obvious, well at least not in Windows 10 compared to previous Windows versions. Since we will not be able to find them under typical and standard settings we will need to do few tricks in order to get to them.
Opening control panel
First thing is to press ⊞ WINDOWS + R on your keyboard so the run dialog window pops up on your desktop.
Once run dialog is shown type in it control panel as shown in the picture and press OKIf you have followed the steps precisely, you should be now in the control panel of Windows 10. Click on the top-right view and choose large icons. The Control panel will switch to a grid-like view, in the current view go to the far-right and almost bottom icon where it says User Accounts and click on it.
User account settings
Once the user account opens click on the bottom link which says Change User Account Control settings. Please note that you will need to be logged in as an administrator or have administrator privileges in order to change this setting.
Once you click on the link you will be presented with a User account control slider on the left and a brief explanation on the right
Here in the picture, we see Windows default setting and an explanation of when and how he will notify you. If you wish to turn all notifications linked to programs changing computer or you making windows changes, click on the left slider and bring it all the way to the bottom where it says never notify me. If you prefer some notifications try to find which of the remaining 3 settings best suit your needs. Once you are done and satisfied with your choice click on OK.
Qualcomm Atheros Qca61x4a Driver is a software driver used in WI FI communication between OS and device itself. When this driver stops working usually it means loss of connection and no internet available.
This error knows to comes frequently and repeat itself over long periods of time which makes it quite annoying. If you are one of the unlucky users of Windows who get this error please keep reading in order to eliminate it and continue working on your computer normally.
Disable & Enable the Qualcomm Adapter Driver
Press ⊞ WINDOWS + X to open the secret menu, click on the device manager.
In device manager expand network adapters.Right-click on Qualcomm Atheros Qca61x4a wireless network adapter and click on disableRight-click on Qualcomm Atheros Qca61x4a wireless network adapter and click on enable
Rollback the Qualcomm Adapter driver
Press ⊞ WINDOWS + X to open the secret menu, click on the device manager.
In device manager expand network adapters.
Right-click on Qualcomm Atheros Qca61x4a wireless network adapter and click on properties
Under properties, window click on Driver tab and left-click on Roll Back driver (if the option is greyed there is no previous driver, follow next step)
Choose your reason and click on OK
Update Qualcomm Atheros driver to the latest version
Press ⊞ WINDOWS + X to open the secret menu, click on the device manager.
In device manager expand network adapters.
Right-click on Qualcomm Atheros Qca61x4a wireless network adapter and click on Update Driver
Install the new driver in compatibility mode
Right-click on the installer package and choose properties
Go to the compatibility tab
Choose compatibility settings and install.
Microsoft has officially announced details about the newest upgrades to its office 365 suite moving forward along with its new OS release.
It seems that Microsoft has listened to its user base and feedback since Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are getting much-needed redesign taking into account many suggestions from the community.
The new office should feel more like an application suite guiding focus on the interconnection of applications themselves providing users with a much more natural experience of using them.
The new office features so far
From Microsoft themselves:
“This Office visual refresh is based on feedback from customers who asked for a more natural and consistent experience within and between your applications, specifically on Windows. With this update, we deliver an intuitive, coherent, and familiar user interface, using the Fluent Design principles, across all your applications: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, Access, Project, Publisher, and Visio. We aligned this visual refresh with the design of Windows 11 to provide seamless experiences on your PC.”
It is always refreshing to hear when a company listens to its user base and actually does what is needed instead of trying to invent the wheel.
How to switch
Since beta is already rolling and if you have an active 365 subscription to office suite visual refresh will be automatically available to all Office insiders running beta channel builds. It can be turned on and off using the coming soon feature in the top right corner of the menu in any application.
Just click on the megaphone icon to open the coming soon pane and apply settings to all office apps.
Note that The Coming Soon feature is not available in Access, Project, Publisher, or Visio. If you turn on the visual refresh in any of the 4 apps mentioned above (Work Excel, PowerPoint, or OneNote), it will also be available in these 4 apps.
Difference themselves
The Home tab menu still has a familiar look with a few tweaks. For example, accessing frequently used Word commands will be a lot easier. By navigating to Designer > Show Quick Access Toolbar, users can add a customizable shortcut ribbon to Word that houses conveniently placed options.
Also, the office will not match your Windows operating system color theme so if you have a dark theme enabled, the office will also have a dark color theme.
Color palettes are more neutral, corners are a bit softer but customizable ribbons are a win here for me.
Conclusion
There was not much said other than visual upgrades and small tweaks that were supposed to make your life easier but then again Windows 11 itself is in the same boat.
I am not sure if this is a great update offering just some visual tweaks and focus on workflow mechanics or just being plain lazy and trying to cash in visuals as a completely new product.
Google Chrome is the most used browser in the world with the most user downloads. Most users are using browsers how it is, open it up and just surf but Chrome offers more than just plain surfing. Here we are presenting you with some interesting features that most users do not use but should.
Use Omnibox to search inside websites
Chrome's Omnibox, also known as the address bar got its name because it can do much more than just search the internet. You already probably know that just by typing any word you will search the internet with Google or another search engine of choice.
You can also set specific keywords inside Chrome settings to tie them with specific websites, for example, you can tie the letter E with errortools, and then just by typing E windows error you will search term windows error on website errortools. There are some already predefined things and you can add anything you want so this is a great feature in order to speed up your work skipping part of actually opening the site.
Search the internet for selected text
On any webpage, you can simply select any text and right-click on it to get a new menu entry that will say search Google for "your selected text" and by clicking on it you will automatically search the net for the selected term.
Grouping tabs
When we surf the internet some of us tend to have plenty of open tabs and over time they can clutter and shrink in width making the surfing experience an unpleasant one.
Chrome has tab groups and you really need to start using them since you can organize much better all the tabs, even color-code them.
Search all open tabs
On top right part on title bar right next to minimize button there is small arrow pointing down, once you clik on it all opened tabs will be displayed by name as a listand by clicking on it you will automatically switch to it.
Change download location
Google Chrome has its default download destination but you can change that destination and even turn on option to be asked where you would like your download to be saved each time.
Live Captions
YouTube has cations for its videos but Chrome itself has live caption option in order to provide you with automatic AI captions for any type of video or audio on any website. If you are struggling with following what is being said try this awesome option.
Extensions
Using extensions in Chrome is awesome, specialy if extensions are usefull but if you go incognito they are not active. There is an option in Chrome to turn on the extensions even in incognito mode and even better, you can even choose which ones you want to be active, you do not need to turn all of them.
USB storage devices are used to store small and even big files, depending on their sizes. Usually, the sizes of the USB vary from 2GB up to 16GB. And as time passes, they have advanced quite a bit and now it’s common to find USB sticks with a capacity of 32GB, 64GB, or even 128GB. And since they now have large capacities, USB storage devices are often used for storing backups of system data as well as creating an image. However, there are times when you might encounter an error message while trying to create a backup or image on your USB device. The error message states:
“The drive is not a valid backup location.”
One of the causes of this problem is that Windows was not able to recognize the USB drives as a valid backup location since USB storage devices weren’t previously large enough to store system images. To fix this error, here are some possible solutions that might help.
Option 1 – Try creating a sub-folder in the USB drive and backup all the images there
The first thing you can try to do is to create a sub-folder on your USB device. This is one good way you can bypass the USB drive limitation. How? Refer to the steps below.
First, right-click on the USB storage device and select Format.
Next, select NTFS as the File System and check the box next to Quick Format.
After that, click on Start to initiate the formatting process.
Once the formatting process is completed, open the USB drive and right-click anywhere inside its main drive window, and then select New > Folder.
Then name the folder to be created as “Image (or anything you please)”.
Afterward, right-click on the folder and select Properties.
From there, go to the Sharing tab and click on Share.
Now check if the Permission level on the System owner which should be your username is labeled as “Owner”.
Then try to back up your files again using your USB drive while keeping the sub-folder as the backup location.
Option 2 – Update the USB Controller Drivers
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 “Universal Serial Bus controllers” option and then right-click on each one of the USB drivers and select the Update Driver from the menu.
Restart your PC and then click the “Search automatically for updated driver software” option.
You also have the option to update the motherboard and the USB driver from the manufacturer’s official website.
Option 3 – Run CHKDSK utility to check the drive for errors
When it comes to some issues concerning the hard drive or removable devices, there is a utility in Windows that might help which is called “chkdsk”. To use it, follow the steps below.
Tap the Win + S keys to open the Search box.
Then type “command prompt” in the field and from the search results that appear, right-click on Command Prompt and select “Run as administrator”.
After opening an elevated command prompt, copy and paste the following command and hit Enter:
Note: In the command given above, “[/F]” will try to fix the system errors while “[/R]” will be the one to fix the bad sectors.
Now if you are prompted to run CHKDSK after your reboot your PC, just tap Y and reboot your PC.
If CHKDSK is not able to find any errors, tap the Win + E keys and navigate the access window. From there, right-click on the concerned drive and click on Properties.
After opening Properties, click on the tab Tools and then click on the “Check” button under the Error-checking section.
Wait until the process is completed and then restart your computer.
Microsoft has been bringing new lock-screen features with every iterative feature release of Windows 10 in order to improve user experience. However, Windows 10 users have different opinions regarding it. Some users are pleased with it while some users simply do not like it. So if you are one of the users who seem to not approve of this feature, read on as this post will be about enabling or disabling the Console Mode sign-in feature in Windows 10.
Before you proceed, take note that you will not be able to use your mouse pointer in this Consol Mode login screen and you can only use your keyboard to navigate around various options. You might also want to create a System Restore point just in case.
To enable or disable the Console Mode sign-in in your Windows 10 computer, refer to the given steps below.
Step 1: Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
Step 2: Then type in “Regedit” in the field and tap Enter to open the Registry Editor.
Step 3: Next, navigate to the following registry path:
Step 4: From there, look for a DWORD named “ConsoleMode”. If you don’t see this DWORD, you can just create a new DWORD and name it as “ConsoleMode” and make sure that its base is set to Hexadecimal.
Step 5: After that, double click on ConsoleMode and change its value to “0” to disable it and “1” to enable it.
Step 6: Now restart your computer to apply the changes made.
Like pointed out, you can only use your keyboard when you’re in the Console Mode login window or screen. You can just use the ESC button to go back to the menu while you can utilize the arrow keys so you can go through the options that are mostly vertically arranged and the Enter key to select an option. In the Console Mode, sign-in using the Passwords and PINs worked efficiently.
Computer crashes are one of the most annoying things that can happen to users. It often loses your data and work, you must spend extra time if you were in the middle of something and can even break Windows itself.
Before we move to the article I just want to say that technically there are no random crashes, there is always a reason why the system hangs up, why you received blue screen, annoying restarts out of nowhere and many more PC crashes. In this article, we will explore many possible reasons why something may occur and offer you straight forward solution on how to escape the situation and prevent it from happening again.
Without further delay, let's begin:
Check switch connectors and power outlets
Yes, sometimes the most basic approach provides the best results, check to see if your power outlet is stable and providing you with constant voltage, if not, maybe you want to invest in a UPS system so you do not face random shutdowns and restarts during work, also while you are at it, check to see if that reset and power switch are connected properly and that they are not dirty or loose.
Clean your PC and check connectors
Dirt can cause many issues with computers, from overheating to shutdowns to blue screens and memory dumps, check to see if your computer is clean enough and that all connectors are connected tight into their respective sockets.
Check the temperature of your CPU
CPU overheating can cause so-called random freezes and blue screens, the computer might shut down or restart also without any visible reason. Check to see if your fan on the CPU is working properly and change the thermal paste if needed.
Check the health of your hard drive
If your hard drive is beginning to go down the path of dying out, many issues can come from this condition. There are many tools on the internet and in Windows itself to check if your hard drive is working properly.
Run antivirus and firewall
Random lock-ups or similar issues can also occur if by any chance you have some malware on your system, run protection software, and keep it updated to make sure the issue does not come from the computer being infected with malicious applications.
Keep system clean
Have a habit to clean regularly system files and registries, keep removing unnecessary files from your computer and regularly update your Windows and applications along with drivers.
Run memory test
Bad RAM bank can cause many issues during the work, check it out to be sure the problem is not RAM itself.
Do not run applications that are too demanding for your system
Some applications require stronger hardware, and some require the latest hardware, if your computer is a little outdated, running a demanding application can cause issues like freezing, restarts, etc.
Remove applications you do not use
This does not seem like anything important but if you are not using a specific application just remove it from the system, why? Sometimes an application has some ties to certain services and if it is outdated can cause issues for newer ones.
Stop installing everything you find on the internet
Yes, that extension for chrome looks cool, yes, that fancy new player seems sick but if it is from an unverified source and from the unknown publisher without any reviews maybe you are better off with it. You can never tell what you might be placing into your system from the internet.
And that's it, 10 reasons and solutions on what to do on random computer freezes, crashes, etc.
A lot of Windows 10 users have reported recently that their computers are frequently crashing with a Blue Screen error with an error code “VIDEO_DXGKRNL_FATAL_ERROR”. This kind of Stop error appears not so often and its bug check value of 0x00000113 is an indication that there is some violation in the Microsoft DirectX graphics kernel subsystem. This error also occurs when there is a corrupted driver that interferes with the GPU’s normal functionality.
According to some security experts, this kind of error is reported to only occur in Windows 10 PCs. Users started getting this error right after a large Windows Update. The cause of this error might have something to do with a violation in the DirectX graphics kernel subsystem where there could be a bad DirectX install or some corrupted Dynamic Link Library or DLL. Aside from that, the error might also be caused by the Nvidia driver which might have crashed or it could also be that there is an intermittent power supply. Moreover, an outdated BIOS as well as a third-party security program might be the ones behind this Blue Screen error. Whichever the case may be, you need to fix the VIDEO_DXGKRNL_FATAL_ERROR BSOD error by following the instructions given below carefully.
Option 1 – Try checking if the NVIDIA graphics card is enabled and update it as well
Although the problem is quite massive, the fix could be as simple as enabling the NVIDIA graphics card if it turns out to be disabled. There might be some strange reason why your graphics card disables itself. Thus, the best and first option you can try is to check if the NVIDIA graphics card is enabled or not. To do so, follow these steps:
Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
Then type “devmgmt.msc” in the field and hit Enter to open the Device Manager.
After opening the Device Manager, look for the Nvidia graphics card option among the list of device drivers. Once you found it, check if it is enabled or not. If it’s not enabled, you should see a gray arrow pointing downwards. Right-click on the card and select Enabled.
Next, right-click on the graphics card once more and click on the Update Driver Software option and then click on the “Search automatically for updated driver software” option.
Option 2 – Update or uninstall third-party security program
As mentioned, the VIDEO_DXGKRNL_FATAL_ERROR Blue Screen error might be caused by a third-party security program that’s installed on your computer. So you have to either update it or uninstall it to resolve the issue.
Option 3 – Check the power supply for any inconsistency
The Blue Screen error might also be caused by an intermittent power supply. If there is any intermittent changes between the main supply and the battery power, it might lead to bad contact on your supply to the charger and thus, causes the VIDEO_DXGKRNL_FATAL_ERROR Stop error to appear. So to check if this scenario is applicable to you, you have to monitor your computer for any frequent changes between the power supply and the battery power. If you see that the supply is displaying power On and Off, see if the same goes when the power supply is disconnected. However, if it does not occur, you might have to purchase a new power adapter cable and replace the one that you have right now.
Option 4 – Reinstall the Graphics card drivers
Tap Win + R to open Run then type “devmgmt.msc” in the field and hit Enter to open the Device Manager.
From there, look for the Display adapters and uninstall each one of the graphics card drivers by right-clicking on them and selecting the Uninstall device option.
After uninstalling the graphics card drivers, close the Device Manager and tap Win + R to open Run once again.
After that, type “appwiz.cpl” in the field and hit Enter to open Programs & Features in the Control Panel.
Next, look for any program that’s related to your GPU manufacturers like Nvidia, AMD, or Intel. Right-click on any GPU-related entry and click on Uninstall to uninstall them and then follow the next on-screen instructions that appear afterward.
Now restart your computer.
Once your computer has restarted, go to the GPU manufacturer’s website and download the latest driver version for your graphics card model and then install it.
Restart your computer once again. That should fix the problem.
Option 5 – Try checking if there are any BIOS updates available for your PC
Updating the BIOS may help you resolve the BSOD error. You can just go to the OEM’s website as they offer utility software that can download BIOS firmware and update it without any problem. BIOS updates usually offer enhancements and fixes to some issues like this one.
Option 6 – Perform a System Restore
Performing a System Restore on your computer can also help you fix the VIDEO_DXGKRNL_FATAL_ERROR Blue Screen of Death error. You can do this option either by booting into Safe Mode or in System Restore. If you are already in the Advanced Startup Options, just directly select System Restore and proceed with the next steps. And if you have just booted your PC into Safe Mode, refer to the steps below.
Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
After that, type in “sysdm.cpl” in the field and tap Enter.
Next, go to the System Protection tab then click the System Restore button. This will open a new window where you have to select your preferred System Restore point.
After that, follow the on-screen instructions to finish the process and then restart your computer and check if the problem is fixed or not.
The 0x80040600 error is a common error that becomes particularly distressing for Outlook users.
This error prevents users from sending or receiving emails through Microsoft Outlook. Users may also encounter this problem while altering an entry on the calendar or adding a new contact. There is no obvious message that is displayed to the user when this error occurs.
However, Outlook displays a vague message that includes the code 0x80040600.
Solution
Download available to recover all lost Outlook data
Error Causes
The primary cause of this error is a problem with the PST file. When the PST file is corrupt, missing, or damaged, this error occurs at once. The PST file is essentially an important file that stores crucial and personal information of an individual’s accounts.
Sometimes this error is because the file is corrupt while at other times, the reason that it occurs is that the file is too full to accommodate any further information.
Irrespective of the causes of this problem, it is important that this error is promptly fixed to ensure the proper and uninterrupted functioning of Outlook in the future.
Further Information and Manual Repair
The error occurs because the Outlook application encounters problems while attempting to receive, send or read emails. Some solutions that can work wonders and help you get rid of the problem are outlined below.
As soon as the error appears, the first solution is to restart the system. This is the first thing that must be done because a lot of times, these errors can be removed by simply restarting the system. This will, hence, save the user the inconvenience of manually fixing this problem.
If restarting the system doesn’t resolve the problem and the error message displays again, it is advised the user makes use of the ‘Inbox Repair Tool’.
This is the most commonly used and effective approach to fixing a corrupt PST file. The procedure to remedy this Personal Storage Table file or PST file is listed below.
Go to the start menu. Type Run and launch the Inbox Repair Tool by typing the following path: drive name: Program FilesCommon FilesSystemMapiLocale IDscanpst.exe. Now click Ok. A pop-up message will appear. Enter the file name and path of the damaged PST file. Now click on the Start button. Here it is important to mention that the inbox repair tool may take a long time depending upon the file size and the amount of data that has to be recovered. However, it is the most effective way of fixing this problem.
Windows 10 and Windows 11 have automatic dynamic screen brightness depending on the surrounding light inside the room. Please take note that this option is available only on devices with build-in screens like laptops, tablets, and all in one desktop PC. If you are connected with your PC via an external monitor you will not have these settings available and probably feature is not even working.
Some computers will also allow automatic brightness changes also on what is displayed on the screen. This option is meant to save battery life on devices. Microsoft calls this automatic brightness feature Content adaptive brightness control. In order to change this setting, we will go to settings inside Windows.
Disabling automatic brightness inside Windows
Open Settings inside Windows, in Windows 11 press WINDOWS + I to open settings, then click on the system in the sidebar and then go to Display. Click on the small arrow beside the Brightness slider in order to expand a small menu and then uncheck Help improve battery by optimizing the content show and brightness. If you see Change brightness automatically when lighting changes, uncheck that as well. Close the settings and you are good to go, now brightness will always be as set in settings.
Inside Windows 10, go to Settings and then go to System and then in Display under the Brightness and Color section look below and locate the box that says Automatically adjust contrast based on the displayed content to help improve battery and uncheck it, if the box below with text Change brightness automatically when lighting changes exists, uncheck it as well. Close settings and you are done.