How to use Windows maps offline

Computer crashes are one of the most annoying things that can happen to users. It often loses your data and work, you must spend extra time if you were in the middle of something and can even break Windows itself. Before we move to the article I just want to say that technically there are no random crashes, there is always a reason why the system hangs up, why you received blue screen, annoying restarts out of nowhere and many more PC crashes. In this article, we will explore many possible reasons why something may occur and offer you straight forward solution on how to escape the situation and prevent it from happening again. Without further delay, let's begin:

1. Check switch connectors and power outlets

   Yes, sometimes the most basic approach provides the best results, check to see if your power outlet is stable and providing you with constant voltage, if not, maybe you want to invest in a UPS system so you do not face random shutdowns and restarts during work, also while you are at it, check to see if that reset and power switch are connected properly and that they are not dirty or loose.

2. Clean your PC and check connectors

   Dirt can cause many issues with computers, from overheating to shutdowns to blue screens and memory dumps, check to see if your computer is clean enough and that all connectors are connected tight into their respective sockets.

3. Check the temperature of your CPU

   CPU overheating can cause so-called random freezes and blue screens, the computer might shut down or restart also without any visible reason. Check to see if your fan on the CPU is working properly and change the thermal paste if needed.

4. Check the health of your hard drive

   If your hard drive is beginning to go down the path of dying out, many issues can come from this condition. There are many tools on the internet and in Windows itself to check if your hard drive is working properly.

5. Run antivirus and firewall

   Random lock-ups or similar issues can also occur if by any chance you have some malware on your system, run protection software, and keep it updated to make sure the issue does not come from the computer being infected with malicious applications.

6. Keep system clean

   Have a habit to clean regularly system files and registries, keep removing unnecessary files from your computer and regularly update your Windows and applications along with drivers.

7. Run memory test

   Bad RAM bank can cause many issues during the work, check it out to be sure the problem is not RAM itself.

8. Do not run applications that are too demanding for your system

   Some applications require stronger hardware, and some require the latest hardware, if your computer is a little outdated, running a demanding application can cause issues like freezing, restarts, etc.

9. Remove applications you do not use

   This does not seem like anything important but if you are not using a specific application just remove it from the system, why? Sometimes an application has some ties to certain services and if it is outdated can cause issues for newer ones.

10. Stop installing everything you find on the internet

    Yes, that extension for chrome looks cool, yes, that fancy new player seems sick but if it is from an unverified source and from the unknown publisher without any reviews maybe you are better off with it. You can never tell what you might be placing into your system from the internet.

And that's it, 10 reasons and solutions on what to do on random computer freezes, crashes, etc.

Logon.scr Application Error - What is it?

To understand Logon.scr application error, it is first important to understand the function of logon.scr. Logon.scr is an important file that is located in the Windows\System32 folder. It guarantees Windows systems stability. Logon.scr application error occurs when logon.scr file gets corrupt. It is a common system error that can happen in most Windows platforms. It usually pops up during system start-ups and when trying to launch certain programs. Some of the common systems of this error code include: system halt, freeze, no application icons are visible on the desktop, random blue screen of death and system performance decreases dramatically.

Solution

Error Causes

Two of the most common causes of logon.scr application error is:

• Corrupted and damaged logon.scr file
• Viral infection

It is advisable to fix this error code immediately because it leads to serious damages. It is fatal and can result in a system crash; therefore resolve it right away.

Further Information and Manual Repair

To resolve this issue on your computer you don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars to hire a professional for the job. The good news is that it can be repaired easily and does not require any technical expertise. Here are some of the most effective and easy DIY methods to resolve the error on your screens.

Method 1 - Replace the Damaged and the Corrupted Logon.scr File

Whether the file gets corrupted or is accidentally deleted, the best way to fix the issue is to download the Logon.scr file again from a reliable website and install in the following location C:\Windows\System32. Alternatively you can also get the file copy form another proper functioning computer by using flash drive if you don’t have an internet connection to download the logon.scr file online.

Method 2 - Restore Points by Applying System Restore of Windows

Another way to resolve this is to restore points to bring back your system to the previous state before the error occurred. To do this, simply click the start button and type ‘System Restore’. Now click System Restore in the result and click next. Select the restore point in the list and click the next button to proceed. To activate changes reboot your PC.

Method 3 - Scan and Remove Viruses

If Logon.scr application error still persists, then it could be due to viruses. To resolve, install a powerful anti-virus. Scan your entire PC and remove viruses.

Method 4 - Repair the Registry

Corrupt and damaged Logon.scr file also triggers issues with the registry. DLL files and other important files like Logon.scr application files may get damage due to too many bad and invalid registry entries. Registry stores all the activities performed on the PC including unnecessary files like junk files and cookies. If these are not removed timely, these files accumulate and corrupt important files. Therefore, to fix the error it is advisable to clean and repair the registry. The best way to go about is to download Restoro. This is a user-friendly and multi-functional PC Fixer deployed with a registry cleaner. It scans for all registry errors and removes all the invalid entries. It cleans the registry and repairs the damaged files thereby resolving the issue in seconds. Click here to download Restoro and resolve the Logon.scr application error now!

CrazyForCrafts is a Browser Extension from Mindspark Interactive. This Toolbar Extension allegedly offers users tons of DIY crafting guides and tricks, however all that it does is point you in the right direction. It links you back to some of the most popular DIY Crafting websites on the internet that you can find at any time by a simple search.

While this may look useful and faster than looking around the internet for good DIY projects, remember that this extension injects itself into your browser, changing your new tab page to Search.MyWay.com and records your browsing habits, can view your internet history, and know whatever you are looking for or viewing online.

While using this extension you will see additional pop-up ads, sponsored content, and injected ads throughout your browsing sessions.

Due to its behavior this extension has been marked for removal by several anti-virus scanners, and it is recommended to remove it from your computer to prevent data leaks.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijackers (sometimes called hijackware) are a type of malicious software that alters web browser configuration settings without the computer owner’s knowledge or permission. These hijacks appear to be increasing at an worrying rate around the world, and it can be really nefarious and sometimes dangerous too. They’re designed to disrupt browser functions for many different reasons. These are typically used to force visitors to a specific website, manipulating web-traffic to earn ad revenue. Although it might appear naive, all browser hijackers are damaging and therefore always classified as security threats. In a much worst case, your internet browser could be hijacked to download malware that will do a great deal of damage to your computer or laptop.

How one can know whether the browser is hijacked?

Symptoms that a web browser is hi-jacked include: the browser’s homepage is changed; new bookmarks pointing to pornographic sites have been added to your favorite pages; the essential web browser settings are modified and unwanted or insecure sites are added to the trusted websites listing; you are finding new toolbars you have never found before; you might see numerous pop-up ads on your computer screen; your browser has become unstable or starts running sluggishly; Inability to navigate to certain sites, especially antivirus as well as other computer security software websites.

How browser hijacker infects computers

Browser hijackers may use drive-by downloads or file-sharing websites or perhaps an e-mail attachment to reach a targeted PC. They also come from add-on software, also called browser helper objects (BHO), browser extensions, or toolbars. Also, certain freeware and shareware can put the hijacker in your PC through “bundling”. Examples of well-known browser hijackers are Fireball, CoolWebSearch. GoSave, Ask Toolbar, RocketTab, and Babylon Toolbar. The presence of any browser hijacker on your system might substantially diminish the web browsing experience, track your online activities that result in serious privacy concerns, develop system stability problems and eventually cause your computer to slow down or to an almost unusable condition.

How to remove a browser hijacker

Some hijackers can be easily removed by uninstalling the free software they were included with or by removing any extension you’ve recently added to your browser. But, most hijacking codes are certainly not very easy to get rid of manually, as they go much deeper into your operating system. You should consider performing manual repairs only if you’re a tech-savvy person, as potential risks are associated to tinkering with the system registry and HOSTS file. Browser hijackers could be effectively removed by installing anti-malware software on the affected system. SafeBytes Anti-Malware can counter relentless browser hijackers and provide you with proactive PC protection against all kinds of malware. In addition to anti-virus software, a system optimizer software, like Total System Care, will help you correct Windows registry errors, remove unwanted toolbars, secure online privacy, and stabilize software programs installed on your PC.

Virus Blocking Access To Safebytes Website And Anti-Malware Downloads - What You Should Do?

Malware can cause all kinds of damage once they invade your PC, ranging from stealing your private details to deleting files on your PC. Some malware is meant to interfere with or prevent things that you wish to do on your PC. It may well not allow you to download anything from the net or it will stop you from accessing a few or all internet sites, especially the anti-malware sites. If you’re reading this, odds are you’re stuck with a malware infection which is preventing you to download or install Safebytes Anti-Malware program on your system. Although this type of issue will be difficult to get around, there are a few steps you can take.

Get rid of malware in Safe Mode

The Windows-based PC has a special mode referred to as “Safe Mode” in which only the minimum required applications and services are loaded. In the event the malware is blocking access to the internet and affecting your computer, starting it in Safe Mode enables you to download antivirus and run a scan while limiting potential damage. To enter into Safe Mode or Safe Mode with Networking, press the F8 key while the computer is booting up or run MSCONFIG and locate the “Safe Boot” options under the “Boot” tab. As soon as you restart the PC into Safe Mode with Networking, you may download, install, as well as update anti-malware software from there. Following installation, run the malware scanner to eliminate standard infections.

Obtain the antivirus software using an alternate web browser

Malicious code could exploit vulnerabilities on a particular browser and block access to all anti-virus software websites. If you appear to have a virus attached to Internet Explorer, then switch over to a different browser with built-in safety features, such as Firefox or Chrome, to download your favorite anti-malware program – Safebytes.

Make a bootable USB anti-virus drive

Here’s yet another solution which is using a portable USB anti-malware software package that can check your computer for malicious software without needing installation. To run anti-malware using a USB drive, follow these simple steps: 1) Download the anti-malware on a virus-free PC. 2) Plug the Flash drive into the uninfected computer. 3) Double click on the exe file to run the installation wizard. 4) Choose the drive letter of the pen drive as the place when the wizard asks you where you would like to install the antivirus. Follow activation instructions. 5) Remove the pen drive. You can now utilize this portable anti-malware on the affected computer system. 6) Run the Safebytes Anti-malware directly from the pen drive by double-clicking the icon. 7) Click “Scan Now” to run a complete scan on the infected computer for malware.

Features of SafeBytes Anti-Malware

If you are planning to buy anti-malware for your computer system, there are lots of brands and packages for you to consider. A few of them are great, some are ok types, and some will destroy your computer themselves! You have to be careful not to select the wrong application, especially if you buy a paid software. Amongst few good applications, SafeBytes Anti-Malware is the highly recommended tool for security-conscious people. SafeBytes antimalware is a very effective and easy to use protection tool which is designed for end-users of all levels of computer literacy. With its cutting edge technology, this software will help you get rid of multiples types of malware which includes viruses, worms, PUPs, trojans, adware, ransomware and browser hijackers.

SafeBytes anti-malware takes PC protection to a whole new level with its enhanced features. A few of them are given as below:

Real-time Threat Response: SafeBytes offers complete and real-time security for your personal machine. This utility will constantly keep track of your PC for any suspicious activity and updates itself regularly to keep abreast of the latest threats. World-class AntiMalware Protection: Using its advanced and sophisticated algorithm, this malware elimination tool can identify and get rid of the malware threats hiding in your computer effectively. Web protection: SafeBytes checks the hyperlinks present on a web page for possible threats and alerts you if the website is safe to view or not, through its unique safety rating system. Lightweight: SafeBytes is lightweight software. It use up a very small amount of processing power as it works in the background so you’re free to use your Windows-based PC the way you would like. 24/7 Support: You can get totally free 24/7 technical assistance from their computer experts on any product queries or computer security issues. Overall, SafeBytes Anti-Malware is a solid program since it has plenty of features and could detect and remove any potential threats. Now you may realize that this tool does more than just scan and delete threats from your PC. For the best protection and the best value for money, you can’t get better than SafeBytes Anti-Malware.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

To get rid of CrazyForCrafts 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 plug-in you want to remove or disable. It is also suggested to reset your browser to its default condition to fix corrupt settings. If you choose to manually delete the system files and registry entries, use the following checklist to make sure you know exactly what files to remove before undertaking any actions. Please keep in mind that this is for skilled users only and might be challenging, with incorrect file removal leading to additional system errors. Additionally, certain malicious programs have the capability to defend against its deletion. Completing this task in Safe Mode is advised.

Over time Applications change, some for the better some for worse. Some of them even stop receiving updates and are old and vulnerable. Sometimes standards change and some file types are not used anymore. Software evolves along with technology and that is good. Keeping old and useless applications inside your Windows is not so good. From various exploits to simply taking up space, maybe even slowing down OS it is always wise and good to clean your Windows from unwanted old applications. In this article, we will be mentioning some relics of old and providing you with an explanation of why you should remove them from your system if by any chance you still have them on it.

Silverlight

Silverlight was meant to be a competitor for Adobe Flash, it is a WEB framework that enables rich media content inside your WEB browser. The issue is that it is not developed anymore and today's browsers do not support it. The only browser that actually can support it is internet explorer which itself is not supported and how there is practically 0 content on today's modern WEB that will require Silverlight, it is safe and recommended to remove it.

Adobe Flash

Speaking of Adobe Flash, you should remove it as well. Flash has stopped receiving support as of January 2021 and browsers have dropped support for it and even blocked it due to security issues. However, there still might be some local installation of Flash itself inside Windows along with the old Shockwave player that stopped receiving support in 2019. You should remove them both.

JAVA

Now this one is tricky, by itself JAVA does not present any security issues since browsers do not support it anymore and the desktop version is not really slowing down your computer. This one has simply put just another media runtime that is not used and simply takes up space and resources. However if you have some applications that you do use that rely on it (I can really just think of JAVA Minecraft at this point) leave it of course but in any other case, it is just purely not needed.

Quicktime

While we are at media runtime and stuff that just simply is not needed, Quicktime is one of them. Now this Apple Video player and codec is still pretty developed and active in Apple’s iOS environment, Windows version has not been updated since 2016 and it was discovered that it contains some critical vulnerabilities. Uninstall it and if you need a player that could play MOV files, just use a VLC player that can play them without any separately installed codec.

uTorrent

This one, the same as CCleaner was once a good application, as a matter of fact, it was the best torrenting application. Sadly it has fallen from its grace very low, from getting tons of ads in its interface to findings in 2015 that code of torrent client was packed with a crypto miner that used system resources of an installed computer to mine crypto without user’s awareness. You should uninstall this torrent client if you would like to get your PC back and not provide it for cryptocurrency mining for the company that developed it. Use qBittorrent or TIxati, open-source and free ones that have everything needed for any torrenting needs.

Toolbars and Browser extensions

There are a lot of toolbars for browsers and extensions that are malicious in nature or simply not updated providing security issues. It is very advisable to remove this as soon as possible.

WinRAR

WinRAR has gained its large popularity solely for the reason that you could download it from the official site like shareware and use it forever. The license never expired and you could use it indefinitely. Sadly not much has been improved in the application itself and it is slowly falling out in its range of what it can do. There are better open source and free options today like 7zip, PeaZip, ZIPvare, and more that are working the same as WinRAR if not even better.

Windows and manufacturers Bloatware

Yes, applications that come bundled with Windows and with some laptops that include manufacturers made software for different tasks like its own specific media players, calculators, etc. It is known that these applications are not better than their open-source rivals and there are too many of them including some that you will probably never use. It is the same as buying a new phone bundled with tons of applications that you do not need, did not ask for, and do not use. Delete all of them. Considering Windows there are also some Store application like Candy Crush Saga demo and other are safe to remove if not needed. That’s it, our advice for old and not needed applications so you can keep your PC safe and fast.

Apple introduced the Live Photo feature way with iPhone 6S in their iOS9. Live Photo idea was that each time you take a photo, your phone will capture a few seconds of video along with sound and all of that is sent when you share your photo. This of course can sometimes be really bad when some not wanted audio gets recorded in the background.

Since the feature was introduced it has been set as the default option when taking pictures so each time you snap one you just capture a small amount of video and audio along. Good thing is that this feature can be turned off and the even better news is that you can edit your old photos to remove back video and audio.

How to share only photo

You can keep your Live Photos but share only a single still typical photo if you wish. Go to the photos app on your phone and select the photo you wish to share. Press the Share button on the bottom left part of the screen and once the Share menu appears tap on the Live button in the upper left corner of the selected photo. The button should turn grey and become slashed and now you can share only still photo. This is only temporary for this one specific share so next time you want to do this you will have to go through the process again.

How to disable Live Photo

If you are not happy with the previous solution and really do not want to turn off the Live feature each time you want to share a photo or you just simply do not want the feature at all there is way to turn if off for good. Take note that you can temporarily not use this feature just by opening the camera, switching to photo mode, and then tapping on the Live photo button on the toolbar that looks like three circles one inside another. This will temporarily turn the Live Photo feature for this session but next time when you open the camera by default it will be turned on again. This is a good approach if you want the feature but sometimes you just want not to use it.

In order to turn it off completely go to the settings of your phone and go to Camera and then preserve settings. inside the preserve setting turn the switch Live Photo to ON position, now go-to camera and again click on the live photo button to turn it off but this time setting will be saved and next time you open the camera it will not be ON.

Editing old Live Photos

As stated before you can edit your old pictures in order to make them stills. You can edit them to remove audio only but keep the video part, or you can completely remove everything and convert them into typical still images.

In order to only remove audio from your Live Photos go to pictures and select one that you wish to change, click on edit, and inside edit tap on the Live Photo icon (three circles). Next tap on the audio icon located in the top left corner of your screen and it will change into the mute icon. Click on done and you are finished.

To completely remove the Live photo go to Photos, select picture, click on edit and select the live photo button again. This time tap and hold the Live button next to the sound until it turns gray with a strike through it. Click on done and you are finished.

New Windows brings new keyboard shortcuts, most of them are tied to new features and we are presenting you some new ones that are worth remembering. ⊞ WINDOWS + N - notification panel ⊞ WINDOWS + W - News and Interests feed With the News and Interests feed, Windows 11 offers users the ability to check the latest news, the weather, and more without opening a browser window. ⊞ WINDOWS + Z - Snap Layout Instead of the usual two windows snapping capability, Windows 11 allow users to snap their windows in a three-column layout. Users can access this by pressing Windows Key and Z to access the Snap layout. ⊞ WINDOWS + PRT SCN - taking screenshots This one isn’t exactly new, but pressing the Windows Key and Print Screen will automatically capture the entire screen and save a copy of the image on your PC. Once the screen flashes, you will know that the screenshot has been taken, after which you can find the file saved under your Pictures folder in a subfolder called Screenshot. ⊞ WINDOWS + C - Microsoft Teams chat Microsoft Teams app, the service allows anyone with a Microsoft account to quickly start a chat using the Windows + C shortcut.

Recently, a number of users reported that they were not able to use the “Run as administrator” context menu option when they tried using it or opening a program with administrator privilege. If you are one of these users facing this problem, then you’ve come to the right place as this post will guide you in fixing this issue. At the time of writing, it isn’t clear what the cause of the issue is but there are potential fixes you can try to fix the problem. You can try turning on the User Account Control or clean up the Context Menu items change the Group Membership. On the other hand, you can also perform both SFC and DISM scans via Command Prompt or troubleshoot the problem in a clean boot state as it is possible that some third-party programs are the ones that are causing the problem. You could also run an anti-malware scan using Windows Defender or your antivirus program.

Option 1 – Try to turn on the User Account Control

When you open a program with administrator privilege, the User Account Control or UAC prompt will pop up asking you to confirm the permission. However, if you have disabled the User Account Control by mistake or some malware has disabled it, then it’s no wonder why the “Run as administrator” option is not working. Thus, you need to check if UAC is turned on or not. All you have to do is go to the User Account Control settings.

Option 2 – Try changing the Group Membership

• First, you need to sign in with your administrator account or ask your administrator to sign in for you. So if you only have a Standard User account, you have to add that account to the Administrators group.
• In the taskbar search box, type “netplwiz” and check the search results.
• From there, select your user account and click the Properties button.
• After that, go to the Group Membership tab and select Administrator.
• Now click on the Apply and OK buttons to save the changes made and then sign in to your computer again and see if the “Run as administrator” option is working or not.

Option 3 – 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 you can now use the Run as administrator option or not. Note that you have to sign in with your main account before you can create an admin account.

Option 4 – Run the DISM tool

You can run the DISM tool as well to help fix the problem with the “Run as administrator” option. 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 5 – Perform a System File Checker scan

The SFC or System File Checker scan could detect and automatically repair damaged system files that could be causing the problem with the “Run as administrator” option on your Windows 10 computer. SFC is a built-in command utility that helps in restoring corrupted files as well as missing files. It replaces bad and corrupted system files with good system files. 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 and hit Enter.

The command will start a system scan which will take a few whiles before it finishes. Once it’s done, you could get the following results:

1. Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.
2. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them.
3. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them.

• Once done, restart your computer.

Option 6 – Put your computer in a Clean Boot State

You can also troubleshoot the problem in a Clean Boot state. It could be that there are some third-party applications in your computer that are preventing you from using the “Run as administrator” option and to isolate this possibility, you need to boot your computer in a Clean Boot State and then try to use the Run as administrator again. Putting your computer in this state can help you identify which program is the culprit and thus isolates the problem. In a Clean Boot state, your computer will start using only the pre-selected minimal set of drivers and startup programs. Note that you have to disable and enable one process at a time.

• Log onto your PC as an administrator.
• Type in MSConfig in the Start Search to open the System Configuration utility.
• From there, go to the General tab and click “Selective startup”.
• Clear the “Load Startup items” check box and make sure that the “Load System Services” and “Use Original boot configuration” options are checked.
• Next, click the Services tab and select the “Hide All Microsoft Services” check box.
• Click Disable all.
• Click on Apply/OK and restart your PC. (This will put your PC into a Clean Boot State. And configure Windows to use the usual startup, just simply undo the changes.)
• After you’ve set your computer into a Clean Boot State, try to check if the error is now fixed and that you can now view the Properties.

Option 7 – Try scanning your computer using Windows Defender

As mentioned, if your computer was recently infected with some malware, it is possible that the malware changed the User Account Control settings which is why you’re not able to use the Run as administrator option. Thus, you need to scan your computer using Windows Defender.

• Tap the Win + I keys to open Update & Security.
• Then click on the Windows Security option and open Windows Defender Security Center.
• Next, click on Virus & threat protection > Run a new advanced scan.
• Now make sure that Full Scan is selected from the menu and then click the Scan Now button to get started.

Error Code “Windows 10 isn’t activated after upgrading for free” – What is it?

Windows 10 isn’t activated error occurs when Windows users attempt to upgrade to Windows 10 for free and end up in a non-activated state. It is a Windows 10 activation error affecting PC owners who attempt to upgrade their Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 operating systems. A message box will appear with the following message: “Windows 10 isn’t activated after upgrading for free from Windows 7 SPI or Windows 8.1 update.”

Common symptoms of this error code include the following:

• Inability to upgrade for free to Windows 10
• The appearance of activation error code in the message box

Solution

Error Causes

To understand the cause of this activation error, users will need to understand activation within Windows. Activation is a process that allows Windows to verify that you are upgrading your operating system based on the Microsoft Software Licensing Terms. These terms specify, for instance, the number of devices upon which you can use Windows.

Once you have a genuine copy of Windows and you are following the terms mentioned earlier, you should be able to activate and complete the upgrade to Windows 10. However, the activation fails when these conditions are not met. Note also that the error may occur if users fail to upgrade to Windows 10 before reinstalling, requiring them to repeat the installation process by first going back to the previous version of Windows present on their system. Once the upgrade process is not done as should, you might encounter other Windows 10 errors such as error code 0xc0000142

If you see this error code, “Windows 10 isn’t activated after upgrading for free” proceed to rectify it using manual repair methods below.

Further Information and Manual Repair

To fix this activation error code in Windows 10, users will need to employ at least one manual repair procedure. This process can successfully be completed by non-technical Windows users. However, you may also consider getting assistance from a Windows repair technician if you are not certain you have the requisite skills needed to complete the manual repair tasks below.

The main methods to resolve the error code “Windows 10 isn’t activated after upgrading for free from Windows 7 SPI or Windows 8.1 update” is as follows:

Method One: Manually Activate Windows

If you attempted upgrading for free to Windows 10 and ended up with the activation error you will need to first perform a manual activation. Follow the steps below to complete the process.

• Step one: Tap or click the Start button
• Step two: Select Settings then Update & security
• Step three: Select Activation
• Step four: Once activation status is Connect to the Internet to activate Windows, click or tap Activate

The steps above enable users to successfully activate Windows 10 if the issue involves a connection problem. However, if Windows is not activated, it may mean your copy of Windows is not genuine. This may require you purchase a copy of Windows to rectify the issue. However, if you have a genuine copy of Windows proceed by applying the steps found in method two.

Method Two: Use Product Key to Verify Copy of Windows

A valid product key is one way you can verify your copy of Windows is genuine. This will enable you to complete activation and allow you to access the free upgrade to Windows 10. Follow the steps below.

• Step one: Click or tap the Start button
• Step two: Select Settings then Update & security
• Step three: Click Activation
• Step four: Select Change Product Key then type in the product key. (Ensure you type the 25 characters in the correct order.)

Method Three: Use an Automated Tool

Error codes in Windows often occur due to poor maintenance of one’s PC. To improve your system and reduce your machine’s risk of experiencing error codes, download a powerful automated tool. This tool is both powerful and user-friendly, making its benefits accessible to even the most non-technical Windows users.

If you were trying to open File Explorer but it suddenly stopped working and you encounter an error message that states, “An attempt was made to reference a token that does not exist”, read on as this post will guide you in fixing this problem. This problem was initially reported after the April Update and Microsoft was able to fix it right after correcting the build. However, this effort seems futile for some users as recently, some reported getting the same error when they try to open not just Windows File Explorer but also with utilities like Microsoft Management Console or MMC, Visual Studio, Task Manager, Printer, Recycle Bin, etc. Two of the most likely causes of this error are a troublesome Windows Update and corrupted system files. Whatever the cause is, here are some suggestions you can follow to fix the “An attempt was made to reference a token that does not exist” error.

Option 1 – Try to re-register the problematic DLL file

You may have to re-register the ntdll.dll file using the regsvr32.exe before you can successfully install the program and fix the ntdll.dll file crash error. The Regsvr32 tool is a command-line utility that can be used to register and unregister OLE controls like DLL and ActiveX (OCX) control in the Windows operating system. Follow the steps below to use it.

• Open Command Prompt as admin from the WinX menu.
• Next, type the following commands in the elevated Command Prompt and hit Enter to execute the command. This will re-register the affected DLL file using the Windows operating system tool, regsvr32.exe.
  • exe /[DLL file]
  • exe [DLL file]

Note: Replace “[DLL file]” with the name of the DLL file that was pointed out in the error.

• After you execute the given commands, you should see a message saying, “DllRegisterServer in vbscript.dll succeeded” if the Regsvr32 tool was able to run successfully. After that, try to install the program again and see if it now works.

Option 2 – Replace the DLL file from a trusted source

• First, you need to get the new DLL file from another computer with preferably the same file version number.
• After that, you need to boot your PC into Safe Mode and navigate to the paths listed below and then replace the file using a USB drive or other external storage devices.
  • x86: This PC > C:/Windows/System32
  • x64: This PC > C:/Windows/SysWOW64
• Next, type “cmd” in the Cortana search box and right-click on Command Prompt, and select “Run as administrator” to open it with administrator privileges.
• Now type the “regsvr32 ntdll.dll” command and hit Enter.
• Restart your PC and check if the error is now fixed.

Option 3 – Perform a System File Checker scan

The System File Checker or SFC scan could detect and automatically repair damaged system files that could be causing the “An attempt was made to reference a token that does not exist” error to pop up. SFC is a built-in command utility that helps in restoring corrupted files as well as missing files. It replaces bad and corrupted system files with good system files. 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 and hit Enter.

The command will start a system scan which will take a few whiles before it finishes. Once it’s done, you could get the following results:

1. Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.
2. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them.
3. Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them.

Option 4 – Try reverting back to the previous build of Windows

This kind of error might have something to do with a Feature Update so you can try to revert your computer to a previous build of Windows 10 as it could help you fix the problem. In this case, it would better if you refrain from updating your Windows 10 computer until this problem is completely resolved by Microsoft.

Error 0146 - What is it?

Dell laptop is a great choice for laptop users who like to have the best configuration, fast working platform, and long warranty period. But this does not mean that your errors can’t pop up on Dell laptops. Users can experience a variety of hardware and software-related issues on Dell laptops. And one such error is the error code 0146. This is a typical Dell laptop hard drive-related error code. It can cause your Dell laptop to freeze and system applications to stop responding for a long period of time. Therefore, it is recommended to fix the error immediately.

Solution

Error Causes

Error 0146 may be triggered due to several reasons on your system. These include:

• Program corruption
• Viral infection
• Hard drive issues

Further Information and Manual Repair

The good news is that error 0146 is easy to fix. Here are some of the easy do it yourself methods that you can try to resolve error 0146 on your system:

Method 1 - Run a Virus Scan

Malware and viruses can corrupt and damage the hard drive and trigger error 0146. In such an event, it is recommended that you open your antivirus, update it and run a full virus scan on your PC. Once the scan is complete, remove all the viruses. This will hopefully resolve the error 0146.

Method 2 - Run Your Laptop in Safe Mode and Clean Boot

Another alternative is to run your Dell laptop in safe mode and clean boot. To do this, simply disconnect all the attached devices like wireless printers, routers, and USB keys and turn off your laptop. Turn it on again and then press and hold the F8 key. Make sure you do it quickly before the Windows logo comes up. Now select ‘Safe mode with networking’ and press enter. After that, open System Configuration Utility by going to the start menu and typing ‘msconfig’ in RUN, and then click OK. In the System Configuration Utility click General then selective startup. Now uncheck the load startup items box ad select services and then check the hide all Microsoft services box and disable all. To apply these changes, click ‘Apply’ and then OK.  Now restart your laptop.

Method 3 - Change to SATA Drive

Sometimes error 0146 may pop up due to hard drive configuration changes. If this is the reason for error occurrence, then simply go to Dell Laptop BIOS. Check whether the hard drive configuration has been changed to AHCI SATA from SATA Drive. If it has changed, then it is advisable to change it back to SATA Drive. When you are done back up all your data, and then format your hard drive. It is important to create a backup because formatting will make you lose all your data. Once you format the hard drive, reinstall Windows from scratch.

Method 4 - Run a Registry Scan

If the error 0146 results due to program corruption then there is a possibility that the underlying reason might be registry damage. Therefore it is advisable to run a registry scan and repair it. To do so, download Restoro. This is a cutting-edge and user-friendly PC Fixer integrated with a registry cleaner. Run it to scan for registry issues. It removes all obsolete files corrupting and damaging the registry, repairs important and damaged system files and cleans the registry in the shortest time. Click here to download Restoro and resolve error 0146.