Still sitting on the fence about upgrading to Windows 11 because you don’t know what to expect? Interestingly, the new edition somehow manages to be both a total revamp and still very similar to its predecessor in many ways. It’s really something to experience for yourself.
We do want to give you a sneak peek, though. So here’s an overview of the biggest changes Windows 11 brings to the table.
What’s different in Windows 11?
1. Visual changes
The first thing anyone will notice after switching to Windows 11 is the striking visual difference. The entire interface is smoother, cleaner and more minimalistic than on Windows 10, even resembling the macOS in some instances. Perhaps the most obvious change in appearance is the Start menu and Taskbar location, which is now at the bottom center. It’s actually very neat, but if you’re someone who loves familiarity, don’t worry, you can move it back to the left.
Centralized Taskbar and Start menu
Moreover, you’ll notice that the Taskbar includes a Microsoft Teams icon by default (which you can, of course, remove) and that Live Tiles are gone. The News and Interests section has also been removed - or, shall we say, replaced. As opposed to Windows 10, news, weather forecasts and other information are now displayed as widgets.
To add to the cleanliness of the UI, Microsoft also enhanced the ‘Snap Layouts’ feature to help you better organize your windows and maximize screen real estate. It’s similar to app grouping on your smartphone. In Windows 10 this feature is slightly restricted, as it requires some manual resizing and dragging. In Windows 11, you can just hover over the minimize/maximize option on a window, select a layout and throw the windows in there.
Snap Layouts
2. New accessibility features
Microsoft has certainly paid attention to accessibility with Windows 10, but Windows 11 takes this to a whole new level.
One of the ways Windows 11 has taken things up a notch is by adding the long-awaited ‘Live Captions’ feature and advanced Narrator options.
Live Captions apply both to media played on your PC as well as your own speech when you’re using the microphone. Keep in mind that, as with almost all kinds of subtitles, you have to be prepared for a potential delay. However, it’s barely noticeable and doesn’t take away from the usefulness of this awesome new feature whatsoever.
As for the Narrator, there are three new voice packs to choose from. Microsoft has tried to put emphasis on a more natural voice than we are used to. So, now you can choose between Aria, Jenny and Guy, who will read pretty much anything off your screen out loud. Aside from this, Microsoft has also expanded the list of braille displays supported by the Narrator feature. For users with anxiety or trouble concentrating, a welcomed addition is the Focus app, which is no longer part of the Clock app. It’s now separate and called ‘Focus Sessions’, automatically triggering the Do Not Disturb mode when activated. It blocks all pop-ups and flashes and lets you work in peace until you’re ready to switch it off.
3. Android apps
Android users may rejoice! Windows 11 supports the use of your favorite applications now.
Microsoft has done this by integrating the Amazon Appstore to the Windows 11 Microsoft Store. From there, you can download your favorite Android apps and use them on your PC in a smartphone-like window.
Unfortunately not too many apps are supported at this time, but Microsoft is working on making the emulation possible for many more. Also, the option is only available in specific regions at this moment - check out if you’re one of the lucky ones.
4. Improved gaming performance
Avid gamers will be happy to hear that Microsoft has put some effort into streamlining Windows 11 for their gaming needs.
To give gamers a supreme visual experience, Windows 11 offers the ‘Auto HDR’ feature. As long as your monitor is HDR-compatible, this feature will automatically adjust the colors, brightness and contrast of games without any input from you.
Another update is DirectStorage, which we were introduced to in Windows 10 already. In Windows 11, it’s been improved to tweak loading times and overall gaming performance efficiency even better. The predisposition for it to work optimally is that your device has an NVMe SSD.
The Xbox Game Bar also helps gamers towards a smoother experience. It allows in-game screenshots, viewing processes that are running (similar to the Task Manager), monitoring the CPU and GPU performance and frame rate, integrating the Xbox App and more. There’s also a number of widgets you can now use with the Game Bar, for example the Spotify widget.
Xbox Game Bar
Another cool addition is the Xbox Game Pass, which unlocks hundreds of games to play on your Xbox App, with new additions coming in every month.
5. Smart App Control
Aside from a sleek new look and better accessibility for all users, Windows 11 also comes with a security power-up. Bear in mind that this feature is only available on clean Windows 11 installs.
Smart App Control (SAC) is an AI-powered new feature designed to protect your PC from potential threats. It blocks untrustworthy apps and adware and helps detect potentially unwanted apps, maintaining your PC’s performance and keeping your system safe.
It comes with an ‘Evaluation’ mode, which you should definitely select when running SAC for the first time. That way, the app monitors your usage and assesses whether you’re a candidate for SAC. Some users need it to be on all the time, for others it might be too distracting. Evaluation mode will turn SAC on or off based on your usage.
Don’t disable SAC again unless you’re absolutely sure you don’t need it, since reenabling it will require a fresh install. We recommend you don’t turn it off, as it is a neat feature protecting your data and files from malware at all times.
Summary
Have we piqued your interest in trying Microsoft’s latest OS? It’s a pretty exciting new iteration, but we’ll let you find out for yourself. We hope you like it!
The Boot Configuration Data or BCD files have the instructions required by the Windows operating system in order to properly boot the computer. So if you experience any trouble when you boot your computer, then it is possible that it is due to some misconfiguration or even corrupted Boot Configuration Data files. And if you also encounter an error saying,
“The boot configuration data store could not be opened”
while you try to carry out any command on the bcedit.exe, then you’ve come to the right place as this post will guide you on how you can fix this error in Windows 10.
This kind of error could pop up if the system is not able to locate the specified file. It is also possible that the requested system device can’t be found or that the boot configuration data store could not be opened. In addition, when you open the System Configuration or MSConfig, you might notice that there is no Boot data, and according to the reports, is that when you try to dual boot the computer, the installer will replace the default bootloader.
Explanation
In case you don’t know, Windows’ earlier versions were stored in the “Boot.ini” file. You can find the entry in the EFI firmware boot manager of the EFI-based operating system which is located at EFIMicrosoftBootBootmgfw.efi.
Whatever the cause of the error is, there are several suggestions you can check out to resolve the problem. You can try to set an entry option value in BCD or enable the Advanced options menu, as well as rebuild the BCD. Before you proceed with the troubleshooting options provided below, make sure that you boot your computer into the Advanced Recovery Mode first since that’s where you can find Command Prompt under the Advanced Options. In addition, you also have to suspend or disable BitLocker and Secure Boot on your PC.
Option 1 – Try to set an entry option value in BCD
Once you’re in the Advanced Options, select Command Prompt.
Next, execute this command to set an entry point: bcdedit /set {current} Description "TheNameYouWant"
After the command has been executed, it will enable the system to trust a version of Windows that is not trusted by default. This should fix the problem, if not, follow the next given options below.
Option 2 – Try to specify the BCD file
In the elevated Command Prompt, execute this command: bcdedit /store c:BootBCD
Once done, the command will give you a list of options and then execute this next command: bcdedit /store c:BootBCD /set bootmenupolicy legacy
After that, restart your computer and select your Windows and then tap the F8 key right away.
Note: When you select the legacy option, the Advanced Options menu will be available during the computer boot up and then you can select into which operating system you can boot your computer into.
Option 3 – Try to rebuild the BCD files
The first thing you can do to resolve the issue is to Rebuild Boot Configuration Data or BCD files.
You can start by booting into the installation environment for Windows 10 from an installation media.
After that, click on Repair your computer and on the blue screen, select Troubleshoot and then select the Advanced options menu.
From there, select Command Prompt and once you open it, enter each one of the commands given below by sequence.
bootrec /FixMbr
bootrec /FixBoot
bootrec /ScanOS
bootrec /RebuildBcd
Once you’re done executing the commands given above, type “exit” to close the Command Prompt window and then restart your computer and see if it fixed error code 0xc000014c.
myBrowser is a Potentially Unwanted Program that allows users to access the internet. This browser suggests users install other PUP like myfiles, myemail, and others.
This application claims to be a good reliable portable internet browser, however during our test use of the program several website scripts crashed and were not able to open up all the website assets required, leaving the users with a mediocre browsing experience.
While browsing the internet through this program, you might see additional ads and sponsored links injected into your search results and/or websites.
About Potentially Unwanted Applications
What is a Potentially Unwanted Program (PUP)?
Everyone has experienced it – you download and install a free application, you then notice some unwanted programs on your computer system, come across a strange toolbar on your web browser, or find your default search engine has been changed to something else. You didn’t set them up, so how did they turn up? Potentially Unwanted Programs (PUP), also referred to as Potentially Unwanted Applications (PUA), are programs that you never wanted in the first place and often come bundled with freeware software. Once installed, most of these applications can be difficult to eliminate and become much more of an annoyance rather than a necessity.
PUP doesn’t involve malware in the traditional sense. A basic difference between PUP and malware is distribution. Malware is commonly dropped by silent installation vectors such as drive-by downloads while PUP gets installed with the consent of the user, who knowingly or unintentionally authorizes the PUP installation on their PC. PUP developers may argue that their programs aren’t malicious software but they can still be dangerous software and put the computer at risk much the same way a computer virus does.
What do PUPs do on your PC, precisely?
Unwanted programs can be found in various forms. Usually, they will be found in adware bundlers that are known to utilize aggressive and misleading advertising. The majority of bundlers install many adware applications from several vendors, each of which features its own EULA policy. Safebytes Anti-malware entirely removes this threat and protects your PC against unwanted programs or malware infection. PUPS also appear in the form of undesirable toolbars or web browser add-ons. They may change your internet browser settings, monitor your surfing activities and online searches, take up a large amount of space on your monitor, and degrade your web browsing experience.
Potentially Unwanted Programs at times act quite similarly to computer viruses or spyware. They will often carry keyloggers, dialers, and other programs built inside them that may track you or send your sensitive details to third parties. Even if the PUPs aren’t basically malicious, these programs still do absolutely nothing good on your computer – they will take precious resources, slow down your PC, weaken your device’s security, making your PC more vulnerable to trojans.
Protect yourself from PUPs
• Read very carefully before you install anything. Do not click accept till you have read the fine print. There will probably be a clause about PUPs.• Always select “Custom” or “Advanced” installation and never blindly click the Next button, which will let you uncheck any foistware software programs you do not want.• Use an anti-PUP program. Security software like Safebytes Anti-malware provides the very best real-time protection against PUPs and also other malware.• Be alert if you install freeware, open-source software, or shareware. Don’t install programs that appear suspicious or malicious.• Always download software from reliable sources like official websites instead of untrustworthy sharing space. Stay away from file-hosting sites where/when possible.
Comply with these guidelines and you should more or less never get potentially unwanted programs on your PC
What To Do When You Cannot Install Safebytes Anti-Malware?
Malware could cause all kinds of damage once they invade your PC, from stealing your private details to deleting files on your computer. Some malware is designed to restrict or prevent things that you wish to do on your computer. It may well not let you download anything from the internet or stop you from accessing a few or all of the internet sites, particularly the anti-malware sites. So what you should do if malware prevents you from downloading or installing Safebytes Anti-Malware? Follow the instructions below to eliminate malware by alternate methods.
Make use of Safe Mode to fix the problem
If any virus is set to run automatically when Microsoft Windows starts, stepping into safe mode could very well block this attempt. Since only the minimal programs and services launch in Safe Mode, there are hardly any reasons for issues to occur. Below are the steps you need to follow to start into the Safe Mode of your Windows XP, Vista, or 7 computers (check out the Microsoft website for instructions on Windows 8 and 10 computers).
1) Hit the F8 key repeatedly as soon as your PC boots, but before the big Windows logo comes up. This will bring up the Advanced Boot Options menu.2) Make use of the arrow keys to select Safe Mode with Networking and press ENTER.3) When this mode loads, you should have the internet. Now, make use of your internet browser to download and install an anti-malware application.4) Right after the software is installed, let the scan run to remove viruses and other threats automatically.
Obtain the antivirus software using a different browser
Some malware mainly targets specific web browsers. If this sounds like your case, make use of another internet browser as it might circumvent the virus. If you’re not able to download the security application using Internet Explorer, this means the virus is targeting IE’s vulnerabilities. Here, you should switch to another internet browser such as Chrome or Firefox to download the Safebytes program.
Create a bootable USB antivirus drive
Here’s another solution which is creating a portable USB anti-virus software package that can scan your system for malware without needing installation. Adopt these measures to run the anti-virus on the affected PC.
1) Download Safebytes Anti-Malware or Microsoft Windows Defender Offline onto a clean PC.2) Plug in the pen drive into the uninfected computer.3) Double click on the exe file to open the installation wizard.4) When asked, choose the location of the USB drive as the place in which you want to store the software files. Follow the directions to finish the installation process.5) Now, transfer the flash drive to the infected computer.6) Double-click the EXE file to open the Safebytes tool right from the flash drive.7) Click the “Scan” button to run a full computer scan and remove malware automatically.
SafeBytes Anti-Malware: Lightweight Malware Protection for Windows Computer
If you’re looking to download the anti-malware program for your computer, there are numerous tools on the market to consider however, you should not trust blindly anyone, irrespective of whether it is a paid or free program. Some of them do a good job in removing threats while some will ruin your computer themselves. You have to select one that is reliable, practical and has a good reputation for its malware source protection. On the list of strongly recommended tool by industry experts is SafeBytes Anti-Malware, a well known security software for Microsoft Windows.
SafeBytes is a powerful, real-time anti-malware application that is designed to assist the common computer user in safeguarding their computer from malicious threats. With its outstanding protection system, this tool will quickly detect and eliminate the majority of the security threats, which includes adware, viruses, browser hijackers, ransomware, trojans, worms, and PUPs.
SafeBytes anti-malware takes computer protection to a whole new level with its enhanced features. The following are some of the great features included in the software.
Live Protection: SafeBytes offers real-time active checking and protection against all known viruses and malware. It will continuously monitor your pc for hacker activity and also gives end-users superior firewall protection.
Best AntiMalware Protection: This deep-cleaning anti-malware application goes much deeper than most antivirus tools to clean your computer. Its critically acclaimed virus engine locates and disables hard to remove malware that hides deep within your computer.
Website Filtering: SafeBytes provides instant safety rating to the webpages you’re going to visit, automatically blocking unsafe sites and to make sure that you are certain of your safety while browsing the internet.
Lightweight Utility: SafeBytes is a light-weight application. It consumes a very small amount of processing power as it works in the background so you are free to use your Windows-based computer the way you really want.
Premium Support: You will get 24/7 technical assistance to quickly resolve any concern with your security application.
SafeBytes can keep your PC protected from the latest malware threats automatically, thus keeping your online experience secure and safe. Now you may realize that this tool does more than just scan and delete threats in your computer. If you’re looking for the very best malware removal tool out there, and if you don’t mind spending some dollars for it, opt for SafeBytes Anti-Malware.
Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)
If you want to carry out the removal of myBrowser manually instead of using an automated software tool, you can follow these simple steps: Proceed to the Windows Control Panel, click on the “Add/Remove Programs” and there, choose the offending application to remove. In cases of suspicious versions of browser extensions, you can easily remove them through your web browser’s extension manager. You will most probably also want to totally reset your internet browser to its default settings.
Lastly, check your hard disk for all of the following and clean your Windows registry manually to remove leftover application entries after uninstalls. Please remember that only advanced computer users should try to manually edit the registry because incorrect file deletion leads to a major problem or even a PC crash. Moreover, some malicious programs have the capability to defend against its deletion. Carrying out this in Safe Mode is advised.
In case you don’t know, the Title bar comes with the Maximize, Minimize, as well as the Close button. However, there are instances when you might notice that the Title bar, Maximize, Minimize and Close buttons are missing in the File Explorer. This kind of problem might be due to some glitch in the computer, or it could also be caused by some built-in tool or an installed program in your computer. Moreover, there are also other factors that you have to consider such as corruption in the system files as well as errors in the user profile which is generated on a domain network, and so on.
There are several suggestions you can check out to fix the problem. You can try to boot your computer in a Clean Boot State to see if a third-party program is the root cause of the problem. You can also try to run built-in tools like System File Checker and the DISM tool. You could also get the video buffer emptied, reset or reinstall the program, or recreate the User Profile.
Option 1 – Put your computer in a Clean Boot State
As pointed out, it is possible that some third-party program or service is the one that’s behind the problem. To isolate this possibility and to identify the culprit, you have to put your computer into a Clean Boot State. To do so, follow the steps below.
Log onto your PC as administrator.
Type in MSConfig in the Start Search to open the System Configuration utility.
From there, go to the General tab and click “Selective startup”.
Clear the “Load Startup items” check box and make sure that the “Load System Services” and “Use Original boot configuration” options are checked.
Next, click the Services tab and select the “Hide All Microsoft Services” check box.
Click Disable all.
Click on Apply/OK and restart your PC. (This will put your PC into a Clean Boot State. And configure Windows to use the usual startup, just simply undo the changes.)
You need to disable one third-party app after the other to really isolate the issue. And once you’ve narrowed down the problem, you can either disable the third-party app that’s causing the problem or remove it.
Option 2 – Run System File Checker scan
You might also try running the System File Checker or SFC scan to fix the issue. System File Checker is a command utility built into your computer that helps restore corrupted files and missing files. Refer to the following steps to run it:
Hit the Win + R keys to launch Run.
Type in cmd in the field and tap Enter.
After opening Command Prompt, type in sfc /scannow
The command will start a system scan which will take a few whiles before it finishes. Once it’s done, you could get the following results:
Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.
Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them.
Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them.
Restart your computer and see if the System32 folder still pops up at startup or not.
Option 3 – Try running the DISM tool
You can try running the Deployment Imaging and Servicing Management or DISM tool to fix the Windows Upgrade problem. Using this built-in tool, you have various options such as the “/ScanHealth”, “/CheckHealth”, and “/RestoreHealth”.
Open the Command Prompt with admin privileges.
Then type in the following commands and make sure to hit Enter right after you type each one of them:
Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
Do not close the window if the process takes a while as it will probably take a few minutes to finish.
Option 4 – Try to empty the Vide buffer
These kinds of problems could also be due to bad data in the Video Buffer. Thus, you can try to empty the Video buffer to resolve the problem. All you have to do is tap the Shift + Ctrl + Win key + B keys on your keyboard. After that, leave your computer idle for about 10 seconds until you notice it blink once. Now you try using your computer as usual and see if the glitch is now fixed or not.
Option 5 – Try to reset or reinstall the program
Another thing you can do to fix the issue is to reset or reinstall the program where you encounter the problem. Chances are, you are running the application in the Full-screen mode but you can exit it by simply tapping the Esc or F11 key. However, if nothing changed, then consider resetting or reinstalling the program. Just go to the Windows 10 Settings app and navigate to Apps > Apps & Features. From there, look for the entry of the application you’re having problems with and select it and then click on the Advanced options. After that, click on the Reset button under the Reset section.
Option 6 – Try recreating the User Profile
You might also want to try recreating the User Profile on your computer since some errors in the creation of a User Profile can result in problems like this one. Thus, you have to try deleting the User Profile and then recreate it.
Error Code 0xc0000005 can be a frustrating error that occurs when you attempt to use programs within Windows 10. While it is most often associated with Windows 10, this particular error has also made an appearance in previous versions of the Windows operating system. In each case, the error works in the same ways and is generally caused by the same things.
Common symptoms include:
Inability to run programs as designed
Inability to start programs
While it can be hard to have to deal with an error like Error Code 0xc0000005 on your Windows machine, there are at least three different strategies that you can use to attempt to resolve the problem at hand. If you do not feel like you have the skill or ability to complete these steps on your own, get in touch with a professional who is familiar with the Windows 10 operating system that can assist you. Please note, if this error code is not rectified, you could be exposing your computer to other error messages such as error code 0xC1900101 -0x20017.
Solution
Error Causes
The most common causes of Error Code 0xc0000005 on Windows 10 machines include interference with other programs that are running on the computer, such as antivirus programs, problems encountered within the registry entries made on the operating system, or faulty drivers that cause bad interactions between the system and the program in question.
Fortunately, there are several methods that can be used to resolve these specific issues.
Further Information and Manual Repair
There are three main ways that you can try to resolve Error Code 0xc0000005 on your Windows machine. Depending on your degree of technical ability and confidence, it may be easy to moderately difficult to follow these steps, so if you feel like you are not able to complete the methods below on your own, be sure to get in touch with a qualified computer repair technician to aid you in the process.
Here are the best ways to resolve Error Code 0xc0000005 on your Windows machine:
Method One: Disable Any Anti-Virus Processes
In some cases, an antivirus program can cause interference with your programs. If you believe that this is the primary culprit of your issue, try temporarily disabling the software that you are running to see if you are then able to use the program that experienced the error correctly.
Always be sure to keep on other security software, such as Windows Defender, while you disable your antivirus programs, ensuring that your computer is still protected from malicious software. In general, this is usually the best security tool that you can run on your computer, without interfering with other programs.
Method Two: Run a Registry Cleaner
In some cases, the error code can appear when a registry entry is either seen to be missing or faulty by the system. If you believe this is the primary cause of your problem, use a trusted registry cleaning software to scan the files and attempt to automatically fix the problem.
Always be sure to check out the provider of the registry cleaning tool that you use, as not every tool that you can download from the Internet is safe. When possible, always try to use registry tools that are directly available from the Microsoft website, rather than ones that you do a simple search for online.
Once the registry scan is complete, take the time to reboot your computer to ensure that every change that has been made can be recognized and applied by your operating system and devices.
Method Three: Check Your Drivers
If your drivers aren’t communicating properly with your hardware, it can cause the error code to appear. To fix this, open up your device manager software and choose to update your driver software. You can run an automatic search for updates to your drivers to make things easier.
When the driver updates have been downloaded and installed, make sure that you take the time to reboot your computer, which can allow your computer to apply and recognize any changes that have been made.
Method Four: Use An Automated Tool
If you wish to always have at your disposal a utility tool to fix these Windows 10 and other related issues when they do arise, download and install a powerful automated tool.
There are a lot of online services and a lot of ways to get your public IP address. One of them being typing whats my IP in Google search and you will get immediate results. But there is a way to get the same information inside Windows 10 which could be very useful if for any reason you can not connect to mentioned services. By checking public IP directly inside your windows you can make sure that the issue for not being able to open some websites is not due to your public IP.
In order to use this Windows feature, we will be checking our public IP using Windows PowerShell.
To open Power Shell in Windows first press ⊞ WINDOWS + R to open the run dialog
Inside run dialog type Powershell and press ENTER
In the Powershell type in the following command and press ENTER
If you are trying to run Windows Update but encountered an Error 0x80070003, read on as this post will guide you on how you can fix it. This kind of error in Windows Update can occur when you activate Windows Firewall or download from the Windows Store. This kind of error indicates that the Windows Update service or WUAUSERV is not started or that the Background Intelligent Transfer Service or BITS can’t be started. Aside from that, you can also encounter this error with the other Windows Update components.
To fix the Windows Update error 0x80070003, you can try to run the built-in Windows Update troubleshooter or replace the old Configuration file named “Spupdsvc.exe”. You can also try to reset the Windows Update components or check the status of all the Windows Update-related services, as well as run a System File Checker scan.
Option 1 – Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter
Running the built-in Windows Update troubleshooter is one of the things you can first check out as it is known to automatically resolve any Windows Update errors like error code 0x80070003. To run this troubleshooter, Refer to these steps:
Tap the Win + I keys to open Settings.
From there, click Update and Security and go to the Troubleshoot section.
Next, select Windows Update and click the “Run the troubleshooter” button and wait until it’s finished, and then try to run Windows Update again.
Option 2 – Try replacing the old Configuration file named “Spupdsvc.exe”
The next thing you can do to fix the Windows Update error is to replace the Spupdsvc.exe file. This is a process file that comes under the Microsoft Update RunOnce service. So when an update becomes available for your computer, the process responsible for performing the upgrade is notified. In addition, the RunOnce entry is also added to the registry for the spupdsvc.exe and this process is executed when your computer restarts and when you log on.
In the Start Search, type “command prompt” and from the search results, right-click on Command Prompt and select the “Run as administrator” option.
Next, execute this command to replace the old configuration of the Spupdsvc.exe file with a new one: c m d (remove spaces on CMD) /c ren %systemroot%System32Spupdsvc.exe Spupdsvc.old
After that, try to run Windows Updates again and check if the error is now gone.
Option 3 – Try deleting the files from the SoftwareDistribution folder and resetting the Catroot2 folder
The downloaded Windows Updates are placed in a folder called “SoftwareDistribution”. The files downloaded in this folder are automatically deleted once the installation is completed. However, if the files are not clean up or if the installation is still pending, you can delete all the files in this folder after you pause the Windows Update service. For complete instructions, refer to the steps below.
Open the WinX Menu.
From there, open Command Prompt as admin.
Then type in the following command – don’t forget to hit Enter right after typing each one of them.
net stop wuauservnet start cryptSvcnet start bitsnet start msiserver
After entering these commands, it will stop the Windows Update Service, Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS), Cryptographic, and the MSI Installer
Next, go to the C:/Windows/SoftwareDistribution folder and get rid of all the folders and files thereby tapping the Ctrl + A keys to select them all and then click on Delete. Note that if the files are in use, you won’t be able to delete them.
After resetting the SoftwareDistribution folder, you need to reset the Catroot2 folder to restart the services you just stopped. To do that, follow these steps:
Type each one of the following commands.
net start wuauservnet start cryptSvcnet start bitsnet start msiserver
After that, exit Command Prompt and restart your computer.
Option 4 – Check the status of some Windows Update Services
Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
Next, type “services.msc” in the field and hit Enter or click OK to open Services.
From the list of Services, look for the following services and make sure that their Startup type is as follows:
Windows Update – Manual (Triggered)
Background Intelligent Transfer Service – Manual
Cryptographic Services – Automatic
Workstation Service – Automatic
After that, check if the Service status of the listed services above are set to Running. If they’re not, click on the Start button to start these services and then check if the Windows Update error 0x80070003 is now fixed or not.
Option 5 – Run the System File Checker Scan
If manually resetting the Windows Update components didn’t work, you can run a System File Checker scan instead. It is a built-in command-line utility that replaces bad and corrupted system files with good system files that might be the cause why you’re getting the error when you try updating your computer. To run the SFC command, follow the steps given below.
Tap Win + R to launch Run.
Type in cmd in the field and tap Enter.
After opening Command Prompt, type in sfc /scannow
The command will start a system scan which will take a few whiles before it finishes. Once it’s done, you could get the following results:
Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.
Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them.
Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them.
DriverPro is a program developed by PC Utilities Pro. This program is often found bundled in other installations.
From the author: PC Utilities Pro is a leading software development company founded in 2009. As a group of young enthusiastic programmers, we constantly strive in creating powerful, yet easy-to-use solutions that would enable even the most basic computer users to keep their PCs running like new.
When installed, DriverPro will add registry entries for the current user that allow it to run each time to computer is started. It will also add a scheduled task in Windows, that allows it to run at various times. The optimizing nature of the application allows it to access any file and information on your computer without your knowledge.
Multiple anti-virus programs have marked this application as a Potentially Unwanted Program, and it is not recommended to keep it on your computer.
About Potentially Unwanted Applications
Have you ever discovered an unwanted program running on your PC and wondered exactly how the heck it got there? A PUA / PUP (potentially unwanted application / potentially unwanted program) is a software program that comes bundled with freeware/shareware and you agree to install on your computer. These are programs you certainly don’t want on your computer since it doesn’t provide any useful service.
Despite being regarded very dangerous, PUPs aren’t necessarily computer viruses or malware What makes a PUP different from malware is the fact that whenever you download one, you are doing it with your consent – though in most instances unwittingly and unwillingly. PUPs might not be malware but still, they’re harmful programs to your computer. At best, these unwanted applications provide hardly any benefit, and at worst, they could be quite damaging to your computer.
What do PUPs do on your computer, really?
Most Potentially Unwanted Programs will come in the form of adware, which typically aims to exhibit numerous irritating pop-up ads, banners, coupons, and bargains on websites you go to. PUPs that come as browser add-ons and toolbars are readily identifiable. They’ll track your online activities, redirect your search results to unsafe websites where spyware and adware can be downloaded, hijack your home page, and slow your internet browser down to a crawl.
PUPs load up a dangerous bite if kept unchecked. They will often include things like information gathering program code which could gather and send your sensitive information back to 3rd parties. These are programs that don’t really do anything good for you; in addition to occupying space on the hard drive, they also slow down your PC, often alter settings without your authorization, the list of annoying features goes on and on.
Great tips on protecting yourself from unwanted software
• When setting up anything on your computer system, always study the fine print, like the license agreement. Don’t accept terms of use that are for bundled programs.• Only Use the “custom” or “manual” install method – and never blindly click Next, Next, Next.• Use an advert blocker/pop-up blocker; Install anti-malware products such as Safebytes Anti-malware. These software programs could establish a wall between the computer and cybercriminals.• Think twice before you decide to download any type of freeware or shareware. Just before adding a plug-in or web browser extension, think about whether it is really necessary.• Only download programs from the original providers’ websites. Avoid download portals because they use their very own download manager to pack extra programs along with the initial download.
Help! Malware Blocking Anti-virus Installation And Access To The Web
All malware is bad, but certain kinds of malicious software do a lot more damage to your computer than others. Some malware is meant to hinder or block things that you wish to do on your computer. It may well not allow you to download anything from the net or it will stop you from accessing some or all websites, particularly the anti-malware sites. So what you should do if malware prevents you from downloading or installing Safebytes Anti-Malware? Do as instructed below to get rid of the malware in alternate ways.
Get rid of malware in Safe Mode
The Windows operating system has a special mode known as “Safe Mode” where just the bare minimum required programs and services are loaded. In the event, the virus is set to load automatically when the PC starts, shifting to this mode may well prevent it from doing so. To start the computer into Safe Mode, press the “F8” key on the keyboard just before the Windows boot screen appears; Or right after normal Windows boot up, run MSConfig, check the Safe Boot under the Boot tab, and click Apply. After you restart into Safe Mode with Networking, you could download, install, and update the anti-malware program from there. Now, you are able to run the anti-virus scan to eliminate computer viruses and malware without any interference from another malicious application.
Switch to some other internet browser
Web-based viruses could be environment-specific, aiming for a particular internet browser or attacking particular versions of the browser. If you appear to have malware attached to Internet Explorer, then switch over to a different internet browser with built-in safety features, such as Firefox or Chrome, to download your favorite antivirus program – Safebytes.
Run anti-virus from your USB drive
Another way is to download and transfer an anti-malware program from a clean computer to run a scan on the affected system. Adopt these measures to run the anti-malware on the infected computer system.
1) On a clean computer, download and install Safebytes Anti-Malware.2) Plug the pen drive into the uninfected computer.3) Run the setup program by double-clicking the executable file of the downloaded application, which has a .exe file format.4) Select the USB flash drive as the location when the wizard asks you where you intend to install the software. Follow the activation instructions.5) Remove the flash drive. You may now utilize this portable antivirus on the infected computer.6) Run the Safebytes Anti-malware directly from the flash drive by double-clicking the icon.7) Press the “Scan” button to run a full system scan and remove viruses automatically.
Detect And Remove Viruses With SafeBytes Anti-Malware
Want to download the very best anti-malware software for your laptop or computer? There are many applications available that come in paid and free versions for Microsoft Windows computers. A few are worth your money, but many aren’t. You need to pick a company that creates industry-best antimalware and has earned a reputation as reliable. Among few good programs, SafeBytes Anti-Malware is the strongly recommended software for the security-conscious end user.
Safebytes is one of the well-established PC solutions firms, which provide this complete anti-malware software program. This software program can easily detect, remove, and protect your computer from the most advanced malware intrusions such as adware, spyware, trojan horses, ransomware, parasites, worms, PUPs, along with other potentially harmful software applications.
SafeBytes anti-malware offers a plethora of advanced features that set it apart from all others. The following are some of the good ones:
Real-time Protection: SafeBytes provides complete and real-time security for your personal machine. It will regularly monitor your computer for hacker activity and also gives users superior firewall protection.
Best AntiMalware Protection: This deep-cleaning anti-malware program goes much deeper than most antivirus tools to clean out your computer system. Its critically acclaimed virus engine finds and disables hard to remove malware that hides deep within your PC.
Web Protection: SafeBytes gives an instant safety rating about the web pages you are about to check out, automatically blocking unsafe sites and ensuring that you are certain of your safety while browsing the world wide web.
Fast Scan: SafeBytes Anti-Malware has a multi-thread scan algorithm that works up to 5x faster than any other antivirus software.
Very Low CPU and RAM Usage: This software program is not “heavy” on your computer’s resources, so you’ll not notice any overall performance problems when SafeBytes is operating in the background.
Fantastic Tech Support Team: You will get 24/7 technical assistance to promptly resolve any issue with your security application.
Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)
To remove Driver Pro manually, navigate to the Add/Remove programs list in the Control Panel and choose the offending program you want to get rid of. For web browser plug-ins, go to your web browser’s Addon/Extension manager and select the add-on you want to remove or disable. You may also want to reset your web browser settings, as well as clear your web browser cache and cookies.
Lastly, check your hard disk for all of the following and clean your registry manually to remove leftover application entries after uninstalls. Please note that only professional computer users should try to manually edit the system files mainly because removing any single vital registry entry leads to a major problem or even a computer crash. Also, certain malware is capable of replicating itself or preventing its removal. Carrying out this in Safe Mode is suggested.
If your Windows 10 computer is currently experiencing high CPU usage because of the IAStorDataSvc, read on as this post will show you what you can do to resolve the issue. The high CPU usage of IAStorDataSvc is because of the Intel Rapid Storage Technology. It appears as a Service that may not only result in high CPU usage but also high disk and memory usage, as well as slow computer performance and overheating of your PC. This problem usually occurs on HP computers and on any computers that are using the Intel Rapid Storage Technology. You might also notice that your fan runs at high speed each time this issue occurs with the average CPU usage spiking up to 50%.
Take note that this service is used to speed up file access. However, if you are not using an SSD on your computer, then it’s not really necessary for you to have the IAStorDataSvc installed. To resolve this issue, here are some options you can try.
Option 1 – Update or reinstall or remove the IAStorDataSvc driver
Before you proceed, you need to decide first if you want to update, reinstall or remove the IAStorDataSvc driver. To make things easier for you, you can try downloading the latest driver from the Intel Download Centre and then install it on your computer. If it works, good, but if not, you might want to consider removing the driver completely and just let the Windows Update look for the right driver for your computer after you restart it. There are times when the drivers installed are incompatible with the latest Windows update which results in issues like high CPU usage.
Tap the Win + X + M combination on your keyboard to open the Device Manager.
After that, look for the Intel Rapid Storage Technology driver, right-click on it and then select Uninstall.
Now restart your computer for the changes to take effect.
Note: You might also have to go to the list of installed programs and uninstall a program that is listed as “Intel Rapid Storage Technology driver”. To do so, refer to these steps:
In the Cortana Search box, type “control panel” and from the search results that appear, click on Control Panel.
After opening Control Panel, select Programs > Programs and Features which will open the list of installed programs on your computer.
From there, look for Intel Rapid Storage Technology and uninstall it.
Option 2 – Try to disable the IAStorDataSvc via Services Manager
Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
Then type “services.msc” in the field and hit Enter to open Services.
Next, look for the Intel Rapid Storage Technology services from the list of services and then double-click it.
Then change its Startup type to “Disabled”.
After that click on the Apply button and then OK to save the changes made.
Now exit the Services window and check if the problem’s resolved.
Free Ride Games is a desktop casual game program and potentially unwanted application. It sets its player to run in startup boot with Windows and installs additional files outside of its designated installation folders. The software reads PC information to display targeted advertising and runs a background process that cannot be shut down even by exiting the FreeRide Player. The player runs in full screen with no visible window controls to exit or minimize, and contains unskippable advertising in its function. While not malicious, the FreeRide Player possesses many traits that as of publication time have caused some AntiVirus programs to designate it as potentially unwanted adware. It has also been associated with adware distribution toolbars such as GameVance.
About Browser Hijackers
Browser hijacking means a malicious code has power over and modified the settings of your browser, without your consent. Browser hijacker malware is created for a variety of reasons. Typically, hijackers will force hits to websites of their preference either to increase web traffic generating higher ad earnings, or to gain a commission for each and every user visiting there. Many people think that such websites are legitimate and harmless but that is incorrect. Nearly every browser hijacker poses an actual threat to your online safety and it is vital to categorize them under privacy risks. When the malware attacks your computer or laptop, it begins to mess things up a whole that slows your system down to a crawl. In the worse case, you will be pushed to deal with serious malware threats as well.
Browser hijacking signs
There are numerous signs that could indicate a browser hijacking:
1. you find unauthorized modifications to your Internet browser’s home-page2. when you enter a URL, you find yourself regularly directed to some other website than the one you actually intended3. the default web engine and the default browser settings are modified4. discover new toolbars that you didn’t add5. you might find numerous pop-up adverts on your computer screen6. your internet browser has become unstable or starts running sluggishly7. you are blocked to access those sites of security solution providers.
How it infects your computer
Browser hijackers could use drive-by downloads or file-sharing websites or even an email attachment to reach a targeted computer. They can also come from any BHO, extension, toolbar, add-on, or plug-in with malicious objectives. Also, certain freeware and shareware can put the hijacker in your computer through the “bundling” technique. An example of some notorious browser hijacker includes Conduit, Anyprotect, Babylon, DefaultTab, SweetPage, Delta Search, and RocketTab, but the names are constantly changing.
Browser hijacking can lead to serious privacy issues and also identity theft, affect your web browsing experience by taking control of outbound traffic, substantially slows down your personal computer by depleting a lot of resources and lead to system instability as well.
How to remove a browser hijacker
Some hijackers could be removed by just uninstalling the related freeware or add-ons through the Add or Remove Programs in the Windows Control Panel. However, most hijackers are difficult to eliminate manually. Regardless of how much you attempt to get rid of it, it might keep returning again and again. Furthermore, manual removals demand in-depth system knowledge and therefore can be an extremely difficult task for beginner computer users.
Can't Install Safebytes Anti-malware due to the presence of Malware? Try This!
Malware can cause all kinds of damage when they invade your system, from stealing your personal details to erasing files on your computer system. Some malware sits in between the computer and your net connection and blocks a few or all internet sites that you really want to check out. It might also prevent you from adding anything on your PC, particularly anti-malware applications. If you are reading this, chances are you’re stuck with a malware infection that is preventing you to download and/or install the Safebytes Anti-Malware program on your system. Even though this sort of problem can be harder to get around, there are a few actions you can take.
Install the anti-virus in Safe Mode
If the virus is set to load automatically when Microsoft Windows starts, entering Safe Mode could block the attempt. Only minimal required applications and services are loaded when you boot your computer or laptop into Safe Mode. To launch your Windows XP, Vista, or 7 PCs in Safe Mode with Networking, please do as instructed below.
1) At power on, hit the F8 key while the Windows splash screen begins to load. This will bring up the Advanced Boot Options menu.2) Select Safe Mode with Networking with arrow keys and hit ENTER.3) When you are into this mode, you should have online access once again. Now, get the malware removal application you want by using the browser. To install the software, follow the directions in the setup wizard.4) Following installation, run a complete scan and let the program delete the threats it discovers.
Download the antivirus program in an alternate browser
Web-based viruses could be environment-specific, aiming for a specific web browser or attacking specific versions of the browser. If you appear to have malware attached to Internet Explorer, then switch over to a different web browser with built-in safety features, such as Firefox or Chrome, to download your favorite antivirus program – Safebytes.
Make a bootable USB antivirus drive
Another option is to save and operate an anti-malware software program entirely from a USB drive. To run anti-malware from a USB drive, follow these simple steps:
1) Download the anti-malware program on a virus-free PC.2) Plug in the pen drive into the clean computer.3) Run the setup program by double-clicking the executable file of the downloaded application, which has a .exe file extension.4) Select flash drive as the location when the wizard asks you exactly where you wish to install the application. Follow the directions to complete the installation process.5) Remove the flash drive. Now you can use this portable antivirus on the infected computer.6) Double-click the Safebytes Anti-malware icon on the thumb drive to run the software.7) Click on the “Scan” button to run a full computer scan and remove viruses automatically.
How SafeBytes Anti-Malware Keep your Machine Virus Free"]If you are planning to buy anti-malware for your desktop, there are numerous brands and applications for you to consider. Some are very good ones, some are decent, while some are merely bogus anti-malware applications that will damage your computer themselves! You have to look for a tool that has gained a strong reputation and detects not just viruses but other types of malware also. Among few good applications, SafeBytes Anti-Malware is the highly recommended program for the security-conscious end user.
SafeBytes anti-malware is really a powerful, highly effective protection tool made to assist end-users of all levels of computer literacy in detecting and removing malicious threats from their PC. After you have installed this tool, SafeBytes sophisticated protection system will make sure that no viruses or malicious software can seep through your PC.
SafeBytes has excellent features when compared to other anti-malware programs. The following are some typical features found in this software:
Active Protection: SafeBytes provides complete and real-time security for your personal machine. It will check your computer system for suspicious activity continuously and its unrivaled firewall protects your PC from unauthorized access by the outside world.
Most effective AntiMalware Protection: Using its enhanced and sophisticated algorithm, this malware removal tool can detect and eliminate the malware threats hiding in your computer system effectively.
Web Protection: SafeBytes checks and gives a unique safety rating to each and every website you visit and block access to webpages considered to be phishing sites, thus safeguarding you from identity theft, or known to contain malicious software.
Faster Scanning: Safebytes Anti-Malware, using its advanced scanning engine, provides extremely fast scanning which can quickly target any active online threat.
Light-weight: This software is lightweight and will work silently in the background, and that does not have an effect on your computer efficiency.
24/7 Online Tech Support: You can get 24/7 technical support to promptly resolve any concern with your security tool.
Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)
If you wish to manually remove FreeRideGames 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 FreeRideGames.
Error code 707 is a typical Gmail error. Gmail is an email service provided by the largest internet giant Google Inc. It is an email service that is most widely used by web-based email providers with more than 425 million active users worldwide.
The error code 707 is usually displayed in any one of the following formats:
“Oops... the system encountered a problem (#707)”“Server error occurred and your email was not sent (error 707)”
Solution
Error Causes
The error code 707 may be triggered due to many reasons. These include:
Enabled Lab ‘Background Send’ feature on Gmail
Web browser history and cache is full of junk content
Outdated browser
Though this error code is not fatal it is advisable to fix it right away to avoid inconvenience and to ensure your email is sent right away without any delays.
Further Information and Manual Repair
Here are some of the easy DIY methods to repair and fix the error code 707 on your PC. These methods are simple and do not require any kind of technical expertise. So, even if you are not technically sound, you can repair the error code 707 on your system in no time.
Method 1
Sometimes you may experience error code 707 while sending email via Gmail because of the enabled Background send labs feature. To fix this error here’s what you must do: Log in to your Gmail account, click on the Gear Box, and select settings.
Now simply switch to the lab tab under the settings. Here search for Background Send. If you can’t locate it, then scroll down and insert background Send in the find box. Once you find this lab feature, disable it. After disabling this feature, try resending the email.
Hopefully, this will resolve the issue. Nonetheless, if the error 707 still persists, then try method 2 given below.
Method 2
The error 707 may also be triggered if your web browser becomes outdated. If so, then it is advisable to update the browser to resolve the issue. Simply download the latest browser version from a reliable website.
After the installation is complete, log on to your Gmail account and then try to send an email. If the email is sent successfully, then the issue is fixed.
Method 3
Try clearing cache and web browser history. When the web browser history and cache are full of junk files, then you might experience this error on your system. Sometimes this can also lead to registry issues. To remove the error and repair the registry immediately, download Restoro.
This is a multi-functional and user-friendly PC Fixer compatible with all Windows versions and embedded with multiple powerful scanners including a registry cleaner.
It scans your entire PC for such errors. It clears the registry, removes all obsolete and unnecessary files including cookies, web browser history, junk files, and invalid entries, and cleans it right away thereby fixing the error immediately.
Click here to download Restoro and resolve error code 707.