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Windows 10 Power Toys detailed guide

Hello and welcome everyone, today we will be talking about power toys, a great, completely free, open-source, Microsoft-supported Windows project which aims to provide Windows itself with powerful features not found natively in it.

We will explore power toys completely here and explain each module and its features.

The first thing is of course to download power toys themselves. You can find them here. After you download them, double click on the downloaded file and install. Start power toys, you will find them at the bottom of the taskbar, note that power toys need to be active in order to use their features.

power toysWhen opened you will be greeted with general settings window. These are settings for power toys themselves, Here you can check for updates, change the looks of power toys, run it on system startup and run them as administrator. Set them up so they best suit your needs.

Color Picker

Moving down next tab we have is Color picker.

power toys colorpicker hex editorThe color picker will let you as the name suggests pick colors, it will sample colors from running applications and windows, snap their values, and place them in the clipboard. A useful application if you are working as a graphic designer, want to create some cool word document, or just want to compare the difference between colors.

After the Color Picker is activated, hover your mouse cursor over the color you would like to copy and left-click the mouse button to select a color. If you want to see the area around your cursor in more detail, scroll up to zoom in. The copied color will be stored in your clipboard in the format that is configured in the settings (HEX by default). The editor lets you see the history of picked colors (up to 20) and copy their representation in any predefined string format. You can configure what color formats are visible in the editor, along with the order that they appear. This configuration can be found in PowerToys settings. The editor also allows you to fine-tune any picked color or get a new similar color. Editor previews different shades of currently selected color - 2 lighter and 2 darker ones. Clicking on any of those alternative color shades will add the selection to the history of picked colors (appears on the top of the colors history list). Color in the middle represents your currently selected color from the history of the colors. By clicking on it, the fine-tuning configuration control will appear, which will let you change the HUE or RGB values of the current color. Pressing OK will add newly configured color into the history of the colors.

Fancy Zones

Moving down, we have fancy zones.

power toys fancy zonesFancyZones is a window manager utility for arranging and snapping windows into efficient layouts to improve the speed of your workflow and restore layouts quickly. FancyZones allows the user to define a set of window locations for a desktop that are drag targets for windows. When the user drags a window into a zone, the window is resized and repositioned to fill that zone. When first launched, the zones editor presents a list of layouts that can be adjusted by how many windows are on the monitor. Choosing a layout shows a preview of that layout on the monitor. The selected layout is applied automatically.

File Explorer

Next, File Explorer.

power toys settings file explorerOnly 3 options here but maybe some are important to you. This extension lets you enable SVG file preview in File Explorer, enable Markdown preview, and enable SVG thumbnails. Turn on each one you might need.

Image Resize

Next down the line, we have Image resize.

power toys image resizeImage Resizer is a Windows shell extension for bulk image-resizing. After installing PowerToys, right-click on one or more selected image files in File Explorer, and then select Resize pictures from the menu. You can specify your own sizes if you want, you can resize when dragging files, you can overwrite files or make new copies of new sizes, and many more options. A very useful tool I am sure plenty of users can use since this eliminates the need for pictures or any other image application for common resizing tasks.

Keyboard Manager

The keyboard manager is the next tab in power toys.

power toys keyboard shortcutsThe PowerToys Keyboard Manager enables you to redefine keys on your keyboard. For example, you can exchange the letter A for the letter D on your keyboard. When you select the A key, a D will display. You can also exchange shortcut key combinations. For example, the shortcut key, Ctrl+C, will copy the text in Microsoft Word. With the PowerToys Keyboard Manager utility, you can exchange that shortcut for ⊞ Win+C). Now, ⊞ Win+C) will copy text. If you do not specify a targeted application in PowerToys Keyboard Manager, the shortcut exchange will be applied globally across Windows. PowerToys Keyboard Manager must be enabled (with PowerToys running in the background) for remapped keys and shortcuts to be applied. If PowerToys is not running, key remapping will no longer be applied.

Power Rename

Nex we have a very cool and powerful Power Rename

power toys power renamePowerRename is a bulk renaming tool that enables you to:

  • Modify the file names of a large number of files (without renaming all of the files with the same name).
  • Perform a search and replace on a targeted section of file names.
  • Perform a regular expression rename on multiple files.
  • Check expected rename results in a preview window before finalizing a bulk rename.
  • Undo a rename operation after it is completed.

Run Utility

Power Toys Run utility follows next.

power toys run warningPowerToys Run is a quick launcher for power users that contains some additional features without sacrificing performance.

PowerToys Run features include:

  • Search for applications, folders, or files
  • Search for running processes (previously known as WindowWalker)
  • Clickable buttons with keyboard shortcuts (such as Open as the administrator or Open containing folder)
  • Invoke Shell Plugin using > (for example, > Shell:startup will open the Windows startup folder)
  • Do a simple calculation using the calculator

Shortcut Guide

Last but not least we have a Shortcut guide.

power toys shortcut guide largeThis guide uses PowerToys to display common keyboard shortcuts that use the Windows ⊞ key. Windows key keyboard shortcuts can be used while the guide is being shown and the result of those shortcuts (active window moved, arrow shortcut behavior changes, etc) will be displayed in the guide. Releasing the Windows ⊞ key will make the overlay disappear. Tapping the Windows ⊞ key will display the Windows Start menu.

Hey, you made it till the end, thank you for reading and I hope to see you soon.

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DownSpeedTest Removal Guide

DownSpeedTest is a Browser Toolbar Extension for Google Chrome that allows users to test their internet speed and convert files, however this speed test does not show proper values, nor even close.

Upon installation DownSpeedTest will replace your default New Tab page with its own Search Engine “MyWay.com” or “Search.MyWay.com”. This Search Engine camouflages itself as a “Enhanced Google Search Engine”, but all it does is allow more room for easier ad injection. In the background, this extension monitors user browsing behavior and records visited links, viewed products, clicked links and time spend on websites. This information is later used for Ad targeting.

While browsing the internet with this extension enabled you will experience additional ads, sponsored content, and even pop-up ads on some occasions. Due to its information mining behavior and aggressive ad placement, DownSpeedTest had been marked as a Browser Hijacker and it is recommended for removal.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijacking is a type of unwanted program, commonly a web browser add-on or extension, which causes modifications in the browser’s settings. There are lots of reasons why you may experience a browser hijack; but commercial, advertising and marketing are the major reasons for their creation. These are typically used to force hits to a specific site, manipulating web-traffic to generate ad-revenue. Even though it might appear naive, these tools are made by malicious people who always try to take full advantage of you, so that hackers could earn money from your naive and distraction. In a worst-case scenario, your browser could be hi-jacked to download malicious software that can do a lot of damage to your laptop or computer.

How one can know whether the browser is hijacked?

When your web browser is hijacked, the following might happen: your browser’s homepage has been reset to some unknown webpage; new bookmarks pointing to porn websites have been added to your bookmarks; the default browser configurations are modified and/or your default web engine is altered; you see unwanted new toolbars added; unstoppable flurries of pop-up ads show up on your computer screen; your browser gets slow, buggy, crashes regularly; you can’t navigate to specific internet pages, such as security software related websites.

How does a browser hijacker infect a computer?

Browser hijackers infect computers via malicious e-mail attachments, downloaded infected documents or by visiting infected internet sites. They can be included with toolbars, add-ons, BHO, plugins or browser extensions. Also, some freeware and shareware can put the hijacker in your PC through “bundling”. Browser hijackers could record user keystrokes to collect potentially important information leading to privacy concerns, cause instability on computers, significantly disrupt user’s browsing experience, and ultimately slow down the system to a point where it becomes unusable.

How you can fix a browser hijack

One thing you could try to eradicate a browser hijacker is to find the malware in the “Add or Remove Programs” list of the Microsoft Windows Control Panel. It might or might not be there. When it is, uninstall it. However, most browser hijackers are difficult to eliminate manually. Regardless of how much you attempt to get rid of it, it might come back over and over. Amateur PC users should never try for the manual form of removal methods, since it demands in-depth system knowledge to perform fixes on the system registry and HOSTS file. Anti-malware software is really effective when it comes to picking up and eliminating browser hijackers that regular anti-virus application has overlooked. If you’d like to get rid of persistent hijackers effectively, install the top-rated Anti-Malware software Safebytes Anti-Malware. Use a system optimizer (like Total System Care) along with your anti-malware software to fix various registry issues, remove system vulnerabilities, and improve your computer performance.

What To Do If You Cannot Install Any Anti-Malware?

Practically all malware is bad and the consequences of the damage could differ according to the specific kind of malicious software. Some malware is created to interfere with or block things that you’d like to do on your PC. It may not permit you to download anything from the web or prevent you from accessing a few or all of the internet sites, especially the anti-malware websites. So what you should do if malware prevents you from downloading or installing Anti-Malware? There are a few actions you can take to circumvent this problem.

Install the anti-virus in Safe Mode

Safe Mode is a unique, simplified version of Microsoft Windows in which only essential services are loaded to counteract viruses and also other problematic applications from loading. If the malware is set to load immediately when computer starts, switching into this mode may prevent it from doing so. To start the computer into Safe Mode, press the “F8” key on the keyboard just before the Windows logo screen shows up; Or after normal Windows boot up, run MSConfig, look over “Safe Boot” under the Boot tab, and then click Apply. Once you are in Safe Mode, you can try to install your antivirus application without the hindrance of the malicious software. Following installation, run the malware scanner to get rid of most standard infections.

Download the anti-malware program using a different browser

Web-based malware could be environment-specific, aiming for a particular web browser or attacking particular versions of the browser. If you’re not able to download the security program using Internet Explorer, it means virus is targeting IE’s vulnerabilities. Here, you should switch over to an alternative web browser such as Chrome or Firefox to download Safebytes Anti-malware software.

Install anti-malware on a thumb drive

Another solution is to save and operate antivirus software tool completely from a Pen drive. Follow these steps to use a USB flash drive to clean your infected PC. 1) Make use of another virus-free computer to download Safebytes Anti-Malware. 2) Insert the USB drive on the same system. 3) Double click on the downloaded file to run the installation wizard. 4) Choose the USB flash drive as the location for saving the software file. Follow the instructions to complete the installation process. 5) Now, plug the USB drive into the corrupted computer. 6) Double-click the Safebytes Anti-malware icon on the pen drive to run the application. 7) Run Full System Scan to identify and clean-up of all types of malware.

Protect Your Computer & Privacy With SafeBytes Anti-Malware

If you’re planning to purchase anti-malware for your computer, there are lots of brands and utilities for you to consider. A few of them do a good job in getting rid of threats while many will harm your PC by themselves. You need to select one that is trustworthy, practical and has a good reputation for its malware source protection. While thinking about the dependable programs, Safebytes Anti-Malware is certainly the strongly recommended one. SafeBytes anti-malware is a reliable software that not only secures your system permanently but is also very user friendly for people of all skill levels. Through its cutting-edge technology, this software will help you protect your PC against infections brought on by different kinds of malware and other threats, including spyware, adware, viruses, worms, trojans, keyloggers, potentially unwanted program (PUPs), and ransomware.

SafeBytes has great features when compared with other anti-malware programs. The following are some of the features you might like in SafeBytes Anti-Malware.

Live Protection: SafeBytes provides complete and real-time security for your computer system. This tool will continuously monitor your PC for any suspicious activity and updates itself regularly to keep abreast of the latest threats. World-class AntiMalware Protection: With a critically acclaimed anti-malware engine, SafeBytes offers multilayered protection which is made to find and remove threats which are hidden deep in your computer’s operating system. Safe Browsing: Safebytes assigns all sites a unique safety ranking that helps you to have an idea of whether the webpage you’re just about to visit is safe to view or known to be a phishing site. Lightweight: This program is light-weight and will work quietly in the background, and will not affect your computer efficiency. 24/7 Online Technical Support: Support service is available for 24 x 7 x 365 days via email and chats to answer your queries. SafeBytes can keep your PC safe from latest malware threats automatically with very little input needed from you again. Once you have installed this software, you no longer have to worry about malware or any other security worries. You will get the very best all-around protection for the money you pay on SafeBytes anti-malware subscription, there’s no question about it.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

To get rid of DownSpeedTest manually, go to the Add or Remove programs list in the Control Panel and select the offending program you want to get rid of. For internet browser extensions, go to your browser’s Addon/Extension manager and choose the plug-in you intend to disable or remove. You’ll likely also want to reset your web browser. To ensure the complete removal, manually check your hard disk and computer registry for all the following and remove or reset the values as needed. Please be aware that this is for skilled users only and might be challenging, with incorrect file removal causing additional system errors. In addition, some malware is capable of replicating itself or preventing deletion. You’re suggested to do this procedure in Safe Mode.
Files: %USERPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\DownSpeedTest %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\DownSpeedTest %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\DownSpeedTest %LOCALAPPDATA%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\maoffpmgdffbgbncadalkhfhmlfihkgk %UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Sync Extension Settings\maoffpmgdffbgbncadalkhfhmlfihkgk %LOCALAPPDATA%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\maoffpmgdffbgbncadalkhfhmlfihkgk %UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\maoffpmgdffbgbncadalkhfhmlfihkgk Registry: HKEY_CURREN_USER\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\Browser Helper Objects\5818CEA7-889D-459A-9A75-889E1298A892 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Stats\5818CEA7-889D-459A-9A75-889E1298A892 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Stats\481F6B47-2AD8-4C6A-8554-A2897E6CF900 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Stats\1AAB982B-77D7-44F1-B305-8909DAC045F2 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Settings\5818CEA7-889D-459A-9A75-889E1298A892 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Settings\481F6B47-2AD8-4C6A-8554-A2897E6CF900 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Settings\1AAB982B-77D7-44F1-B305-8909DAC045F2 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Approved Extensions, value: 1AAB982B-77D7-44F1-B305-8909DAC045F2 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes\CA6A7AB9-F4B5-4D50-B5D2-33E996549AE3 HKEY_CURREN_USER\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar, value: 1AAB982B-77D7-44F1-B305-8909DAC045F2 HKEY_CURREN_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar, value: 1AAB982B-77D7-44F1-B305-8909DAC045F2 HKEY_CURREN_USER\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Tracing\DownSpeedTest_RASMANCS HKEY_CURREN_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Tracing\DownSpeedTest_RASMANCS HKEY_CURREN_USER\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Tracing\DownSpeedTest_RASAPI32 HKEY_CURREN_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Tracing\DownSpeedTest_RASAPI32 HKEY_CURREN_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\LowRegistry\DOMStorage\downspeedtest.dl.myway.com
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How to start Windows 10 in safe mode
Booting Windows 10 in safe mode can solve many issues with your computer since Windows will boot just in its basic core and you can safely maintain it, find a solution for issues, etc. Before, entering safe mode was easy and pretty straightforward, during Windows evolution, entering safe mode was somewhat complicated and not being made so directly like once it was but do not worry. Starting Windows in safe mode today is even maybe easier than it was before, it is just not so obvious as it once was. In this article, we will go through several ways how you can boot up Windows in safe mode in order to solve whatever issue is troubling you.
  1. Start safe mode from settings

    Open Settings by pressing the ⊞ WINDOWS + I or by just clicking on the Start button and clicking Settings. Go to Update & Security, then Recovery. In Advanced startup, click Restart now. Once your PC reboots, click Troubleshoot, then Advanced options. Select Startup Settings then Restart.
  2. Go to safe screen from Sign-in screen

    Click the Shift on your keyboard while clicking on the Power button on the bottom right corner of the screen. Once your PC restarts, click on Troubleshoot, then Advanced options. Select Startup Settings then Restart. After the reboot, select or the F4 on your keyboard to run in Safe Mode. If you choose to use Safe Mode with Networking, select or F5.
  3. Start Windows recovery Environment

    Go to the Windows Recovery Environment by doing the following steps: Press on the power button to turn off your device. Press on the button again to turn it on. Once Windows starts, press the power button again for 10 seconds to turn it off. Then press it on again. Upon the reboot, hold on to the power button for 10 seconds to turn it off, then turn it on again. Because you've repeatedly turned on and off your PC, you will be redirected to Windows Recovery Environment. On the pop-up window, click on Troubleshoot, then Advanced options. Select Startup Settings, then Restart. After the reboot, select or the F4 on your keyboard to run in Safe Mode. If you choose to use Safe Mode with Networking, select or F5.
  4. Hold SHIFT while pressing RESTART on the start menu

    On the Windows 10 sign-in screen, hold on the SHIFT on your keyboard. While pressing on the key, click on the Power button, then choose Restart on the pop-up menu. Once your PC restarts, click on Troubleshoot, then Advanced options. Select Startup Settings then Restart. After the reboot, select or the F4 on your keyboard to run in Safe Mode. If you choose to use Safe Mode with Networking, select or F5
  5. Boot from installation media and choose it in the command prompt

    Create a Windows 10 bootable installation media on any external storage media. Once you do this step, wait for the installation to load. Select your preferred language and click on Next. Click on Repair your computer at the bottom left of the menu. Click on Troubleshoot, then Advanced options. Select Command Prompt - Use the Command Prompt for advanced troubleshooting options. Type in the following command on the prompt: bcdedit /set {default} safeboot minimal Hit Enter and wait for it to tell you that "The operation completed successfully". Exit Command Prompt and click on Continue.
  6. Use system configuration tool

    In the Search bar, type in msconfig. Select the Boot tab and under the Boot options, put a check beside Safe boot. Click OK. Reboot PC
  7. Press SHIFT + F8

    Press SHIFT + F8 when turning on Windows. This redirects you to Advanced Boot Options Window, then choose to run Windows on Safe Mode
There you have it, 7 different ways to enter safe mode in Windows 10, we hope that any of these tips proved helpful and that you managed to enter the safe mode and fix your Windows issues.
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How to Repair Windows 10 Error 0x800ccc13

Error Code 0x800ccc13– What is it?

0x800ccc13 is an error message related to sending email using Outlook. Many people are receiving this error after making an upgrade from Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 to Windows 10. The error message appears when you try to send an email message with the use of a POP3 account or an IMAP account in an Outlook profile that has an Exchange Server 2010 mailbox configured. A common complaint would be: Since upgrading to Windows 10 I cannot send email from Outlook 2013. Mail stays in the Outbox, and I get: Error 0x800CCC13. Cannot connect to the network.

Symptoms

This problem may arise under the following situations:
  • You are using Microsoft Office Outlook in online mode to connect to a Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 mailbox
  • When you add an additional POP3 or IMAP account in the same Microsoft Outlook profile
  • You are sending an attachment through email.
  • You try sending an email by selecting POP3 or IMAP account as the sender
During these circumstances, the email message stays in the Outbox and you receive the following error message: Task '<the POP3 account or the IMAP account> - Sending' reported error (0x800CCC13): 'Unable to connect to the network. Check your network connection or modem.'

Solution

Restoro box imageError Causes

Error Code 0x800ccc13 occurs because the system files in Windows 10 during the upgrade became corrupted and most likely caused authentication issues. It can happen with any version of Outlook. Damaged data files will also cause error code 0x800ccc13 to manifest. Overall, the corruption of the Microsoft Windows System could be a result of an installation partially done (or an incomplete one), deletion of any application or hardware erroneously, and or malware or adware infestation.

Further Information and Manual Repair

Method 1:

Use the Windows System File Checker to repair corrupted files Verify that your SMTP, username, and password settings are correct. Now, in order to correct missing or corrupt Windows System files, try the following solution by running a command. This is known as the System File Checker. Follow the steps below to invoke the program using a command prompt command:
  1. At first, you need to open the command prompt. To do so, right-click the Windows button in the bottom left of the screen, and select Command Prompt (Admin).
  2. Now, enter the following command
sfc/scannow
When it is done, a message will confirm that Windows found some corrupt or missing files and it has successfully repaired those. Check the Outlook and see if your emails are sending. If the problem persists, don’t worry there is another way to solve this. Users have found another command helpful is using the NetShell utility from the command prompt, which is similar to the above solution.
  1. Open the Command prompt by Right-clicking the Windows button in the bottom left of the screen and select Command Prompt (Admin).
  2. Enter the following command
netshwinsosk reset
This helpful command will reset the network adapter to its default settings. Hope this will solve your problem. If not, you may want to try the Method 2 listed below.

Method 2:

For this method, you need to consider the following things:
  • Are you using POP3, IMAP, or Exchange server for your email account?
  • How many email accounts have you configured in your Outlook?
  • Is there an undelivered email stuck in your Outbox?
  • If you are trying to send an attachment, what is the size of the attachment?
Try the following:
  1. Move or delete any undelivered email that is stuck in the Outbox folder, and then try sending an email and verify the result
  2. Start Outlook in Safe Mode by following the instructions below
Hold down Windows key + R. Copy this command Outlook /safe Note, there is a space between Outlook and / Paste it in the open box and press Enter If Outlook in Safe Mode works, disable the add-ins by following the steps below and determine if the problem is caused by add-ins.
  • Click File menu, click Options, Add-ins, Go button beside Manage Com-in Add.
  • If there are add-ins listed, clear the checkbox.
  • Close Microsoft Office and restart it.
  • Disable the add-ins one at a time. Now, restart Outlook and repeat the procedure once more. If the problem appears again, it will help you find which add-in is causing the problem.
  1. Start the computer using the clean boot. Now, try to send an email and see the result.
  2. If the problem still lingers, create a new profile and configure the email account.
If you do not possess the technical expertise required to accomplish this yourself or do not feel comfortable doing so, download and install a powerful automated tool to get the job done.
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Fix MS Store Error 0x80131500 in Windows
One of the essential parts of the Windows 10 operating system is the Microsoft Store as it is the distribution hub of numerous applications such as Netflix, Facebook, and many more. In fact, Microsoft is planning to make it a hub not just for UWP applications but also Windows Classic applications. Microsoft has already built a bridge with the power of Project Centennial which allows developers to migrate and upload their Windows Classic applications to the Microsoft Store. Although the Microsoft Store has been constantly improving, there are still times when you might face an error while using it. One of these errors is error 0x80131500. When you encounter this error, you will get the following error message on your screen:
“Try that again, Something happened at our end, Waiting a bit might help, The error code is 0x80131500 in case you need it.”
To fix this error, you can try changing your internet connection, toggle the date & time settings, change DNS, create a new user account, run the Microsoft Store Apps troubleshooter or reset the Microsoft Store as well re-register it using Windows PowerShell.

Option 1 – Try changing your internet connection

The first thing you can do is to change your internet connection. If you are using Ethernet, you can try to connect to a Wi-Fi connection instead and see if it helps.

Option 2 – Try to toggle the Date and Time settings

The first thing you can try is to sync the Date and Time of your computer as the wrong Date and Time settings are one of the most common causes of connection problems like the error 0x80131500. This is because of the incompatibility between the SSL Certificate validation date and the System Clock. Thus, you have to sync your System Clock. Refer to the steps below to do so.
  • Start by tapping the Win + I keys to open the Windows Settings.
  • Next, go to Time & Language > Date & time.
  • From there, turn the toggle on for the “Set time automatically and Set time zone automatically” option on the right-side panel.
  • After that, click on Region & language located on the left side panel and make sure that the Country or region on the right-side panel is set to the country you live in.
  • Now close the Settings app and restart your computer and see if it fixes the problem or not.

Option 3 – Try to change the DNS Server

In this option, you can try changing your current DNS settings to the Google Public DNS as it could also help in fixing error 0x80131500. To do so, follow the steps below.
  • 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 “8.8.8.8” and “8.8.4.4” and click OK and exit.

Option 4 – Try to create a new Administrator User account

If you have a standard account, you can try creating a new account but this time, you create an administrator user account and then see if the error is fixed or not. Note that you have to sign in with your main account before you can create an admin account.

Option 5 – Run the Microsoft Store Apps troubleshooter

The Microsoft Store Apps Troubleshooter will help you in fixing the error 0x80131500. This is a great built-in tool from Microsoft that helps users fix any app installation issues. So this is worth a try to solve the problem. This built-in tool also helps you fix the Windows 10 Store if it isn’t working. To use the Windows Store Troubleshooter, follow the steps below.
  1. Tap Win + I keys again to open the Windows Settings panel.
  2. Go to Update & Security and then go to Troubleshoot.
  3. On your right-hand side, scroll down to find the Windows Store Apps and then click on the Run the troubleshooter option and see if it fixes the problem.

Option 6 – Try to reset the Microsoft Store cache

Just like browsers, Microsoft Store also caches as you view apps and games so it is most likely that the cache is no longer valid and must be removed. To do so, follow the steps below.
  • Right-click on the start button and click on Command Prompt (administrator).
  • Next, type in the command, “exe” and tap Enter. Once you do, the command will clear the cache for the Windows Store app.
  • Now restart your PC and afterward, try opening Microsoft Store again and then try to install your app or update your computer again.

Option 7 – Try to re-register the Microsoft Store app via PowerShell

  • Tap the Win + X key combination or right-click on the Start button and click on the Windows PowerShell (Admin) option.
  • If a User Account Control or UAC prompt appears, just click on Yes to proceed and open the Windows PowerShell window.
  • Next, type in or copy-paste the following command to re-register the Microsoft Store app and tap Enter:
powershell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $Env:SystemRootWinStoreAppxManifest.xml
  • Wait for the process to be completed and then restart your computer.
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Fix The drive is not a valid backup location
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:
CHKDSK [volume [[path] filename]] [/F] [/V] [/R] [/X] [/C] [: size]]
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.
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How to Fix the AVFoundationCF.dll Error on Your PC
AVFoundationCF.dll is a type of Dynamic Link Library file. This DLL file is associated with AVFoundationCF and is developed by Apple Computer Inc. for Windows PC. This file functions similarly to any other DLL files. It comprises of small programs. This DLL file is typically needed to load and start the Apple iTunes utility. The inability to call this file or the files to load triggers the AVFoundationCF.dll error message on your system. The error message can be displayed in either of the formats on your PC:
“The program can’t start because AVFoundationCF.dll is missing from your computer. Try reinstalling the program to fix this problem.” "This application failed to start because avfoundationcf.dll was not found.” "Cannot find %COMMONFILES%AppleApple Application Supportavfoundationcf.dll." "Cannot start AVFoundationCF. A required component is missing: avfoundationcf.dll.” “Avfoundationcf.dll Access Violation." "Cannot register avfoundationcf.dll."

Solution

Restoro box imageError Causes

AVFoundationCF.dll error can occur due to numerous reasons. However, the most common reasons for this error code include:
  • Viral infection
  • Corrupt or invalid registry entries
  • Apple Computer Inc. hardware failure such as bad hard drive
  • Missing or deleted Avfoundationcf.dll file
It is recommended to resolve the error as soon as you experience it virtually because if the error code is related to viral infection on your system, it can expose your PC to privacy errors and data security risk. And if the error is triggered by registry issues, it can lead to serious threats like system crash, failure, and data loss. Therefore, the AVFoundationCF.dll error not only hampers your ability to access and start Apple iTunes program but it also puts your PC at serious risk.

Further Information and Manual Repair

To fix the error AVFoundationCF.dll on your PC, here are some of the best and easy to do solutions that you can try:

Check your Recycle Bin

Since dll files are shared files, there is a possibility that this file accidentally got deleted when you were uninstalling some other program on your system. If you experience missing AVFoundationCF dll file error message after performing any program on your PC, then chances are that it got deleted and maybe in your recycle bin. So, first, check your recycle bin and search for the dll file. If you find it, restore it to fix the error.

Update Device Driver

To resolve the issue, try performing a driver update. This can be done by downloading the latest drivers from the hardware manufacturer’s website. Now open Device Manager from the Control Panel and locate the hardware device that you want to update the driver for. Once you find the hardware you are updating the driver for, right-click on the hardware icon and choose properties. In the properties windows, click the driver tab. Now click the update driver button. To activate changes, restart your PC. To automatically update your computer's drivers when necessary, download and install DriverFIX.

Try Re-installing Apple iTunes Program

To do this, simply go to the control panel, select programs and then uninstall a program and then select iTunes.  Uninstall it and then repeat the same program and install the Apple iTunes program again on your PC by downloading the program from Apple’s official website.

Scan for Viruses

If the error still persists, then it is advisable to scan your PC for viruses. This can be easily done by running a powerful antivirus on your PC. However, please note anti-viruses are notorious for slowing down PC performance. So, may have to compromise on the speed of your system.

Clean and Repair the Registry

If the error is caused by invalid and corrupt registry entries and damaged Avfoundationcf dll file, then the best way to resolve is to download a powerful registry cleaner. We advise you to install Restoro on your PC. This is an advanced and a multi-functional PC Fixer integrated with multiple powerful utilities including a high functional registry cleaner, an antivirus and a system optimizer. The registry cleaning utility scans all the registry issues and removes all errors triggered by the registry immediately. It cleans the registry by wiping out all the unnecessary, obsolete and redundant files including invalid entries and bad registry keys. Furthermore, it also fixes the damaged and corrupt dll files including Avfoundationcf dll file. Thereby resolving the error right away. Furthermore, the antivirus deployed in this software scans for all types of malicious codes like viruses, Trojans, spyware, and malware and removes them. To ensure you don’t compromise on your PC performance, it is deployed with a system optimizer utility that boosts the speed of your computer dramatically. This tool is bug free, has a user-friendly interface and compatible with all Windows versions. Click here to download Restoro and resolve Avfoundationcf.dll error on your PC today!
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Windows 11 different sounds for dark theme
Windows 11 dark mode2Interesting information has come out from Microsoft, Windows 11 dark theme will include a different sound theme from its standard light one. When in dark mode on Windows 11, the system sounds generally become softer, and they echo a bit, creating a more soothing experience that matches the overall look and feel of the dark mode. Flipping back to light mode brings the system sounds back to their normal level. However, even though the light model has slightly louder sounds than the dark mode, Microsoft has taken great care to make sure the audio is more soothing, according to a report from CNBC. The designers of Windows 11 took inspiration from an approach called calm technology. Microsoft’s Christian Koehn and Diego Baca wrote about calm technology in a post on Medium. In it, they said, “Windows 11 facilitates this through foundational experiences that feel familiar, soften formerly intimidating UI, and increase emotional connection.” According to a Microsoft spokesperson in a statement to CNBC, “The new sounds have a much rounder wavelength, making them softer so that they can still alert/notify you, but without being overwhelming.”
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Repairing a corrupt Group Policy in Windows
If you recently made some changes in your Windows 10 computer using the Group Policy Editor but they were not reflected and you got errors instead, it could be that your Windows computer wasn’t able to read the Group Policy file (registry.pol). To resolve this kind of issue, you have to repair the potentially corrupted Group Policy using the options given in this post. .As you know, Group Policy is a feature in the Microsoft Windows Active Directory which allows an admin to make changes in the features on Windows PCs that are on the network. So if the modifications you just made weren’t successfully applied, then there could be something wrong with the registry.pol file on the client or it could also be that the Group Policy folder is missing. To fix this issue in the Group Policy, you need to refer to the given suggestions below and make sure that you have admin privileges as you execute them.

Option 1 – Try to delete or recreate the missing registry.pol file

The entire settings of the Group Policy are stored in the registry.pol file so if it went missing, all the changes you make will not be reflected. The good thing is that you can recreate it but if the file exists and is corrupted, you need to delete it first before you recreate it.
  • First, go to the C:/Windows/System32/GroupPolicy/Machine location.
  • And from there, check if the registry.pol file exists or not. If it’s there, just delete it permanently by tapping the Shift + Delete keys.
  • Now it’s time to recreate the file. Just open Windows PowerShell with admin privileges by tapping Win + X + A keys.
  • After opening PowerShell, type this command: gpupdate /force
  • The command you entered will recreate the registry.pol file and will refresh the Group Policy. Restart your computer.

Option 2 – Try recreating the secedit.sdb file

The security settings of Group Policy are stored in the secedit.sdb file so if you made some changes to security and they weren’t reflected, you can try to delete and recreate the secedit.sdb file instead of deleting the Group Policy file. All you have to do is navigate to the C:/WINDOWS/security/Database folder and look for the secedit.sdb file and rename it or move it to another folder. After that, restart your computer. Once your computer has restarted, the secedit.sdb file will be created again.

Option 3 – Try to reset the Group Policy to default

You can also try to reset the Group Policy back to its default state. There are several ways you can do that. You can either use the gpupdate or the secedit command in the Windows PowerShell to do that. Resetting the Group Policy will resolve any issues that could be caused by its current settings.

Option 4 – Try to perform System Restore

System Restore can also help resolve the Group Policy issue. It could be that prior to the issue, you’ve made some changes in the system that might have affected the Group Policy. To undo these changes, perform System Restore.
  • First, 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.

Option 5 – Use the DISM tool

You can also try running the Deployment Imaging and Servicing Management or DISM tool. This tool will repair the Windows System Image as well as the Windows Component Store in your Windows 10 computer. So if there are any missing or corrupted folders and files, the DISM tool can restore and repair them. As a result, any system consistencies and corruptions will be fixed. To run this tool, follow these steps:
  • Tap the Win + X keys and click on the “Command Prompt (Admin)” option.
  • After that, input each one of the commands listed below sequentially to execute them:
    • Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
    • Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
    • Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
  • Once you’ve executed the commands given above, restart your computer.
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How to Fix Missing MSVCR80.dll Error

Missing MSVCR80.dll Error - What is it?

Msvcr80.dll is a runtime dynamic link library file. This file is typically required to run programs written with Visual Studio. Msvcr80.dll error messages might appear when using or installing certain programs on your PC, that are dependent on the Msvcr80.dll file to run and load. This error message may appear on your computer screen in either of the following formats:
  • "Msvcr80.dll Not Found"
  • "This application failed to start because msvcr80.dll was not found. Re-installing the application may fix this problem."
  • "The file msvcr80.dll is missing."
  • "Cannot start [APPLICATION]. A required component is missing: msvcr80.dll. Please install [APPLICATION] again.
  • "APSDaemon.exe - System Error - MSVCR80.dll is missing from your computer."
  • "Cannot find [PATH]msvcr80.dll"

Solution

Restoro box imageError Causes

Msvcr80.dll error is a common Windows PC error. This error code may occur due to multiple reasons. These include:
  • Removal and corruption of Msvcr80.dll file
  • Registry issues
  • Viral infection
  • Hardware failure
  • Improper software installation
It is advisable to resolve this error code to avoid inconvenience. This error may hamper your ability to access and run your desired program.

Further Information and Manual Repair

Here are some of the best and easiest DIY solutions to fix the Msvcr80.dll error on your PC right away:

1. Check your Recycle Bin for the Missing Msvcr80.dll file or Download the Msvcr80.dll file from a Trusted Website

If you receive the error message ‘missing Msvcr80.dll file’ then first check the recycle bin. It is possible that you may have unknowingly deleted the Msvcr80.dll file while uninstalling a program from the PC. Remember dll files are shared files. These files are used by a number of programs on your PC to run and load. There is a possibility that the program you uninstalled shared the same file to run on your PC. So, when removing that program from your PC it could have also deleted the Msvcr80.dll file. Therefore, check your recycle bin to restore the missing file. Nonetheless, if in case you are unable to locate the missing Msvcr80.dll file, then try downloading it on your PC. However, when doing so, make sure you download the file from a reliable dll download website.

2. Uninstall and Reinstall Apple iTunes Program

This error commonly pops up when running Apple iTunes on your PC. To resolve this issue, and ensure smooth access to Apple iTunes, here’s what you need to do: uninstall from Windows the following programs in this order: Apple iTunes, Software update, Apple Mobile device support, Bonjour, application support, iCloud and mobile me. Skip over software that you haven’t installed already on your system. When uninstalling the programs, if you have two entries of the same software, then uninstall the older version first and then the newer one. To do so, go to Applet in the Control Panel.  It is called programs and features in Windows 7, 8, and Vista and add/remove programs in Windows XP. Once all Apple software is uninstalled, the next step is to download the latest version of iTunes from Apple. After the software is downloaded on your system successfully, run it. This is most likely to resolve the issue.

3. Scan for Viruses

If the issue still persists, then the underlying cause could be related to malware invasion. Therefore in such circumstances, it is advisable to scan for viruses and malware with a powerful antivirus on your PC and remove them right away. Please note, using an antivirus may slow down your PC performance.

4. Perform Registry Scan and Repair

When the registry is overloaded with unnecessary and redundant files like junk files, cookies, invalid entries, and bad keys, it gets corrupted easily thereby generating errors like Msvcr80.dll errors. To resolve this issue, you must perform a registry scan and repair it with a powerful registry cleaner. Whether the cause of the issue is a viral infection or the cause is related to registry problems, the best way to resolve the issue without compromising the speed of your system is to download Restoro. This is an advanced, cutting-edge, and multi-functional PC repair tool. It is compatible with all Windows versions. This software is embedded with multiple PC repair and performance-boosting utilities such as a registry cleaner, an antivirus, and a system optimizer. It has a high functional intuitive algorithm and a user-friendly interface. The registry cleaning feature detects all registry issues, wipes unnecessary files, cleans and repairs the corrupt registry and damaged dll files. The antivirus utility scans for all types of malware, viruses, Trojans, and spyware and removes them immediately. While the system optimizer module helps boost your computer’s performance to its optimal level.  In just a few simple clicks, the Msvcr80.dll error is resolved. To get started, click here to download Restoro on your PC today!
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Edge DevTools An error occurred while ...
In case you don’t know, Microsoft Edge, the new default browser of Windows 10, is equipped with the essential tools that are needed to help web developers in testing their websites in the Edge browser. However, it is not without its flaws as there are instances when you could also encounter some errors when using DevTools. One of these errors is the “An error occurred while starting the profiling session” error. You can see this error message in the DevTools Memory Panel, worry not for this post will help you resolve it. A memory panel is one that primarily measures your memory resource usage and compares heap snapshots in different states of code execution. The Memory panel also provides profiling of three different types, such:
  • Head Snapshot
  • Record Allocation timeline
  • Record Allocation profiles
Using a memory panel, you can find issues that affect the page performance in the most common scenarios like bloats and memory leaks. There are two steps you need to carry out to fix this error that’s associated with the Memory Panel of Microsoft Edge (Chromium) DevTools. First, you need to access the Microsoft (R) Diagnostics Hub Standard Collector Service. Second, you need to restart this service. For detailed steps, follow the instructions provided below. Step 1: Access the Microsoft (R) Diagnostic Standard Collector Service To access the Microsoft (R) Diagnostic Standard Collector Service, follow these steps:
  • Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
  • Then type “services.msc” in the field and hit Enter or click OK.
  • This will open the Services Manager. Here, look for the Microsoft (R) Diagnostic Service from the Services panel that opens on the right-hand side.
Step 2: Now restart the Microsoft (R) Diagnostic Hub Standard Collector Service
  • After accessing the Microsoft (R) Diagnostic Standard Collector Service, right-click on it and select the Restart option.
  • Once it’s done, exit the Microsoft Edge Developer Tools as well as the tab.
  • Next, open a new tab and navigate to your page and tap the F12 key.
  • Now, try to check if profiling begins.
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