One of the most useful built-in tools in Windows 10 is the Check Disk or CHKDSK utility. It is the one that maintains the integrity of the disk that’s connected to a computer which can be launched using the GUI or graphical user interface and using the command line. There are a lot of things that warrant the running of this built-in utility and one of these things is the readability of the disk. Recently, a number of users reported that they encountered an error when they tried to run the CHKDSK utility – the error states, “Cannot open volume for direct access”. This kind of error in CHKDSK appears each time the command line is launched according to the affected users. As per the users who encountered this issue, they receive the following error messages when they tried running a ChkDsk command:

“C:WINDOWSsystem32>chkdsk /f g: Cannot open volume for direct access. C:WINDOWSsystem32>chkdsk /f f: The type of the file system is NTFS. Volume label is 0529357401.”

To fix the “Cannot open volume for direct user access” error, here are some suggestions that might help. Follow them carefully.

Option 1 – Try running the CHKDSK utility on Boot

On the other hand, you can also try to run the CHKDSK utility on Boot so you can fix the error and recover any damaged segments of the drive.

• Open an elevated Command Prompt and enter this command: chkdsk /x /f /r
• After that, you will a message that says, “Chkdsk cannot run because the volume is in use by another process. Would you like to schedule this volume to be checked the next time the system restarts? (Y/N)”
• Type Y and tap Enter to schedule a CHKDSK scan once your computer reboots next time.

Option 2 – Try to run the Primary Hard Disk Self Test

The next thing you can do to fix the problem is to run the Primary Hard Disk Self Test by following the steps below.

• You need to boot your computer into the BIOS first.
• After that, go to the Diagnostics tab and select the “Primary Hard Disk Self Test” option. Note that it may be different depending on the motherboard with different manufacturers but they should imply the same thing.
• Now, wait until the test is completed, and then boot your computer normally.

Option 3 – Try to check the hard drive’s health

The next thing you can do to resolve the issue is to check the health of your hard drive using the WMIC utility in the Windows Command Prompt. This utility will check if your hard drive has any problems which resulted in the “Cannot open volume for direct user access” error.

Option 4 – Try to disable various restrictions on your hard drive

You might also want to disable the various restrictions on your hard drive since it is possible that it is encrypted or restricted which explains why you are unable to perform any operations in it and throws the “Cannot open volume for direct user access” error instead. For instance, if you have BitLocker, you can try to disable it and see if it fixes the error or not.

Option 5 – Try to uninstall or disable the Drive Locking feature on your hard drive

You could also look for any Drive Locking feature on your hard drive that tricks disk changes as it might be the root cause of the problem. Thus, if you find one, you need to either uninstall or disable it and then execute a check disk command to resolve the problem.

Option 6 – Try to disable the application service

Disabling the application service can also help you fix the problem. How? Refer to these steps:

• Tap the Win + R keys to launch the Run utility and type “services.msc” in the field and then hit Enter to open the Services Manager.
• Next, scroll down among the list of services and look for the service related to the security software or disk checker software.
• Once you find it, right-click on that service and select Properties.
• After that, change its Startup type to Disabled and click on the OK and Apply buttons to save the changes made.
• Now restart your computer and don’t forget to enable the service back once the disk check is completed.

Option 7 – Try to use Repair Volume via Windows PowerShell

You could also try to use the Repair Volume using Windows PowerShell. All you have to do is open PowerShell as admin and type the “repair-volume -drive letter <DRIVE LETTER>” command and then tap Enter to run Repair Volume. This should resolve the error.

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 wuauserv net start cryptSvc net start bits net 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 wuauserv net start cryptSvc net start bits net 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:

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.

• Restart your computer.

The quickest way to control and manage the volume of your Windows 10 PC is using the Volume control icon in the system tray. However, you might encounter issues in using it especially if you recently updated your PC. After the update, if it no longer responds to mouse clicks, be it a right-click or left-click, read on as this post will show you what you can do to remedy that issue. If you think that you’re the only one who has experienced this problem, you are mistaken as several users also reported that the volume icon does highlight and shows the volume level if you hover the cursor over it but it does not really do anything at all. This is definitely the quickest way to change the audio output in Windows 10 especially when you have to change from speakers to your earphone and whatnot. If you are one of the users whose Windows 10 Taskbar Volume Control icon has stopped working and every time you click on the icon and nothing happens and you’re still not able to adjust the volume of your Windows 10 computer, read on as this post will show you what you can do to fix that problem. Although the audio is working just fine, you will still not be able to adjust the volume from its control icon. The problem is most likely related to the UI interaction. There are times when icons in the taskbar also experience the same issue where you can hover your mouse over them but nothing happens when you click on them. As mentioned, the issue with the volume icon does not seem to affect the actual audio of the computer. Double-check to confirm and if it turns out that the audio is indeed working fine, you can use the hardware of your keyboard to manage and control the volume, however, the software just won’t work. This issue is really inconvenient especially for users who connect their laptops to a bigger display. To fix this issue, here are some suggestions you need to check out.

Option 1 – Try to restart the Windows Explorer

This option may sound silly but it has actually worked in fixing the issue for some users. So if anything gets stuck on the taskbar or system tray, the best way to revive them is by restarting Windows Explorer.

• Right-click on the taskbar and then select the Task Manager.
• Next, look for Windows Explorer under the Processes tab.
• Then right-click and select restart.
• After that, wait for the restart process to be completed and for the user interface to refresh. Note that you will notice the Taskbar disappearing and reappearing again. It will reload the entire user interface and allows you to access the volume icon. It should work this time.

Option 2 – Restart the Audio services

Restarting the audio services in your computer can also help you fix the volume control issue and to do that, refer to these steps:

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Type in “services.msc” in the field and hit Enter to open Services.
• From there, look for Windows Audio and then right-click on it and go to Properties.
• After that, you have to make sure that the Startup Type is set to Automatic.
• Then click on the Stop button. Once it has stopped, start it again.
• Now restart your computer and see if you can now access the volume icon on the taskbar.

Option 3 – Try to update or roll back the Audio driver

If the glitch in your audio has something to do with software, chances are it might be related to the audio driver – it could be that the newest version of your Windows 10 does not work well with the old version of the driver. This is why you have to update your audio driver to the newest available version.

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box and then type in devmgmt.msc and tap Enter or click OK to open the Device Manager.
• Expand the section for the outdated device drivers.
• And then select the outdated driver(s) and right-click on it/them.
• From the drop-down menu, select the Update Driver option and follow the on-screen instructions to install the latest version of the driver.
• Then also click on the option, “Search automatically for updated driver software.
• Restart your PC after the installation.

Note: If updating the Audio driver didn’t work, you can go to the website of your PC manufacturer and look for the support section where you can download the drivers for your computer. You just need to take note of your PC’s correct model and model number so you can find the appropriate driver.

Option 4 – Try running the Playing Audio Troubleshooter

Since the Windows 10 operating system has the Playing Audio Troubleshooter, you can use this troubleshooter to try and fix the volume control issue on your PC. You can access this tool in the Control Panel or in the Taskbar Search and even on the Troubleshooters page of Windows 10. Run this troubleshooter and see if it can fix the issue or not.

As you know, the USB security keys are a secure medium to validate a lot of components in a computer. They can be used to log in to Windows 10. Now with the advancement of APIs, you can authenticate across the website as well using the same key. However, there are times when it may not work and it could be caused by several factors. It could be due to corrupted or incompatible drivers or it could also be due to compromised integrity of the key, and many more. So if you happen to encounter an issue with the USB security key on your Windows 10 computer, then there are several potential fixes you can try. You can try toggling the Internet Options settings or reinstall the respective USB drivers. You could also try changing the PIN of the security key or disable the antivirus program on your computer or troubleshoot the web browser. Refer to the potential fixes provided below to fix the problem.

Option 1 – Try to toggle the settings of the Internet Options

• In the Windows Search box, search for Internet Options to open it.
• Next, go to the Security tab and drag the security slider to the lowest possible security for all the given zones.
• After that, click on OK to save the changes made and close the Internet Options.

Note that this option is only a temporary measure as it can make your computer vulnerable. Make sure to press the Reset all zones to default level button.

Option 2 – Try to update or reinstall the respective drivers

If updating the drivers of the device did not fix the problem with the USB security key, you can try to update or reinstall the Universal Serial Bus Controller drivers instead of using the Device Manager. Refer to the following steps:

• First, click the Start button and type “device manager”.
• Then click on the “Device Manager” from the search results to open it.
• From there, look for the “Universal Serial Bus controllers” option and then right-click on each one of the USB drivers and select the Update Driver from the menu.

Note: If it is a regular USB drive, then it will be listed as a USB Mass Storage Device but if you have a USB 3.0 device, then look for a USB 3.0 Extensible Host Controller.

• Restart your PC and then click the “Search automatically for updated driver software” option.

Note: If updating the USB Controller drivers didn’t work, you can try to reinstall them instead.

Option 3 – Try to change the PIN of the security key

If the first two options didn’t work, you can try changing the PIN of the security key. There are instances when the PIN for the security key might have been corrupted. Thus, resetting it can help you resolve the problem.

Option 4 – Temporarily disable Firewall and third-party antivirus

Firewall and antivirus programs are known to block the proper functioning of the USB security key. Thus, your antivirus or firewall programs might be the reason why you can’t download anything on your Windows 10 computer. To isolate the issue, you need to temporarily disable both the Firewall and antivirus programs and then check if you can now download anything from the internet. Do not forget to enable them again as disabling them can leave your computer vulnerable to cyber threats.

Option 5 – Try to troubleshoot the web browser

Troubleshooting your web browser can also help you fix the USB security key problem. You can do that by checking if your web browser supports the security key and you can do that by checking on the official website of your browser. You can also try to update your web browser to its latest version but if it didn’t help, you can try to reinstall it or switch to another web browser.

Easy Guide to Resolving Error Code 16

Error Code 16 - What is it?

Code 16 is a type of Device Manager error code. Windows XP users are most likely to encounter it. This error pops on XP systems that are running legacy or not plug-and-play hardware.

Error code 16 is displayed in the following format:

‘Windows cannot identify all the resources this device uses. (Code 16)’

Solution

Error Causes

Error code 16 occurs when you use a peripheral device such as an external drive or a printer and that device is not properly or completely configured. Though the device may have been recognized before Windows fails to verify its configuration. Simply put, error code 16 appears when devices are partially configured.

In addition to this, another cause of error 16 is outdated or corrupt device drivers. Devices often fail to run successfully because of driver problems.

Device drivers are programs that provide instructions to control different devices attached to the computer system such as audio devices and printers to name a few.

Though error code 16 is not fatal like other PC error codes such as BSoD; however, it may hamper your ability to use certain devices installed on your system and lower your work productivity.

To avoid inconvenience, it is advisable to resolve the error immediately to avoid inconvenience.

Further Information and Manual Repair

PC error codes are often considered technical and difficult to resolve which is why many prefer to hire a professional for the repair job rather than doing it themselves.

Small repair jobs like fixing error code 16 by a professional computer programmer may cost you hundreds of dollars.

So, why incur so much cost when you can repair it easily by yourself even if you are not a technical whiz.

Error code 16 is easy to repair.

Here are some effective DIY methods that you can use for resolving error code 16 on your PC. These methods require no technical background, knowledge or expertise for that matter. Just simply follow the instructions and resolve the error code 16 issue.

Let’s get started…

Method 1 - Setup from the Disk that Came with the Hardware Device

Run setup from the disk that came with the hardware device, or you can simply copy the setup software file to your hard drive/flash drive. Refer to the vendor’s direction to set up.

If for any reason you’re unable to find the directions, simply uninstall the device. Then go to the start menu, Control Panel, and select ‘Add New Hardware’.

Now pick the appropriate hardware and follow the steps that the Wizard suggests. This is most likely to resolve the error code.

Nonetheless, if the error code still persists, then try method 2.

Method 2 - Allocate More PC Resources

Another alternative method to resolve error code 16 is to allocate more PC resources to the device. To specify additional resources:

• Go to the start menu
• Type Device Manager
• Then go to the Device properties and click the resources
• Here specify the device in the Device Manager
• If you see a resource with a question mark, assign that resource to the device
• However, if for any reason the resource is unable to change, then simply click ‘Change Setting’.
• If Change Settings is not available, then click the box to the ‘Use Automatic Settings’ box. This will make the option available.

Method 3 - Install DriverFIX

As previously stated above, device manager error codes like error code 16 may also occur due to driver problems. If this is the underlying reason for error code 16 on your system, then the best way to resolve it is to install DriverFIX.

DriverFIX is user-friendly, advanced, and feature-filled software deployed with an intelligent programming system, which detects all problematic device drivers automatically in seconds.

It matches these drivers with their latest versions and updates them smoothly without any hassle, resolving error code 16 right away.

And furthermore, once you install this software on your PC, you don’t have to worry about driver problems anymore typically because it updates drivers on a regular basis with compatible and new versions, ensuring that your computer functions properly. It is easy to install and is compatible with all Windows versions.

Click here to download DriverFIX to repair error code 16

If you were trying to install a program on your Windows 10 computer but encounter an error instead that says, “Error 1310, Error writing to file: <PATH>, Verify that you have access to that directory” then read on as this post will guide you on how you can fix it. This kind is a fairly common type of error encountered by many Windows users. You can get this error when you try to install certain programs like Excel, AutoCAD, Adobe Photoshop, and some other Adobe products on Windows. One of the most likely causes for this error is that the required files or location is already used by some other software which means that Windows finds that you are trying to overwrite a software that is already installed. Aside from that, it could also occur if the program installer does not have access to write to that directory. To fix Error 1310, here are some potential fixes that could help.

Option 1 – Clear up temporary or junk files

The error could be caused by some temporary or junk files in your computer and so you need to clear them up to fix the problem. You can achieve that using the Storage Sense feature.

• Open Setting > System > Storage from the WinX Menu.
• From there, you will see a list of all the local and connected storage devices along with the details on the free space. Make sure that Storage Sense is on.
• Next, find a link that says “Free Up Space” and click it to open.
• After that, a screen which is the built-in program in Windows 10 will appear and will scan your computer for the following junk files so you can free up disk space:
  • Windows Upgrade Log Files
  • The system created Windows Error Reporting Files
  • Thumbnails
  • Temporary Internet Files
  • Previous Windows Installation Files
  • Delivery Optimisation Files
  • DirectX Shader Cache
• Choose the files you want to get rid of and then click on the remove files option. Note that you’ll have an idea of the total size as you select any of the junk files listed above.
• Now go to the “Free Up Space Now” section and click the Clean Now button. This will get rid of all the temporary or junk files in your computer and should hopefully fix Error 1310.

Option 2 – Reinstall the program in a Clean Boot State

You can also troubleshoot Error 1310 in a Clean Boot state. It could be that there are some third-party applications in your computer that's preventing the program from getting installed and to isolate this possibility, you need to boot your computer in a Clean Boot State and then try installing the program 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, make sure that you’re signed in as administrator and then try to install the program again.

Option 3 – Try to unregister and re-register the Windows Installer Module

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Then type the “msiexec /unregister” command and hit Enter to unregister the Windows Installer Module.
• Next, type the “msiexec /regserver” command and hit Enter to re-register the Windows Installer Module.
• Now restart your computer and see if un-registering and re-registering the Windows Installer Module fixed the problem or not.

Option 4 – Take ownership of the location where you want to install the app

The next thing you can try to do is to take ownership of the particular folder as this worked for some users who experienced the same problem. But before you do that, you have to create a System Restore Point first, once that’s done, proceed to the given steps below.

• First, locate the concerned folder and right-click on it then select Properties.
• Next, click on the Edit button in the Properties window and click OK to confirm if you got a User Account Control elevation request.
• After that, select user/group from the permission windows or click on the Add button to add another user or group. It would be best if you add “Everyone” to give permission.
• Then check “Full Control” under the “Allow” column to assign full access rights control permissions.
• Now edit the permission to Full Control for “Everyone”.
• Click OK to save the changes made and then exit.
• Finally, try to install the application again.

Troubleshoot Error Code 1309

What is Error Code 1309?

Error code 1309 is an error code that occurs when installing either Microsoft Office 2003 or Microsoft Office Project 2003. This error code may hamper your ability to run and use applications associated with Microsoft Office. To ensure installation is successful, it is first advisable to fix this error code. Error 1309 is displayed in any one of the two formats illustrated below. When installing Microsoft Office Project 2003, the error message may pop up as:

Error 1309. Error reading from file:    pathfilename.cab. Verify that the file exists and that you can access it.

When installing Microsoft Office 2003, the error message may appear in the following format: Fatal Error During Installation

Solution

Error Causes

Error code 1309 message may appear during Microsoft Office installation due to several reasons. These include:

• Problems in the Oclncore.opc file. Project 2003 uses this version of the file for program installation.
• Lack of adequate use permission
• The requested file was not found
• Setup registry entries are modified in an unacceptable manner

To avoid inconvenience and access Microsoft Office 2003 or Microsoft Office Project 2003, it is recommended to fix the error immediately.

Further Information and Manual Repair

To resolve this error you don’t need to be a technical whiz. Here are some of the best, easiest, and proven do-it-yourself methods to resolve error 1309 on your computer screen instantly.

Method 1 - Change CacheLevel Settings

If the problem is related to Oclncore.opc file then try changing CacheLevel settings. Follow these steps to work around this method.

1. First, locate the PRJPRO*.XML file in the FILESSETUP folder of the Project 2003 installation source and then open this file in the Notepad.
2. Also, make sure that you do not open the file as read-only and make sure that a checkmark is not displayed next to Word Wrap on the Format menu.
3. The next step is to search the file for the following text string: OCLNCORE.OPC_1033.
4. Now on the line where this string is located, change the CacheLevel=’1’ setting to the following CacheLevel=’3’ save the file back to the original location, and then quit Notepad.

After the changes are activated, try installing the software again on your system. If it installs successfully, then this means error 1309 is resolved. If the error still persists then try other given methods.

Method 2 - Configure security settings to get full permission

When the cause of error 1309 on your PC is related to lack of adequate permission issues, then configure security settings to resolve. To do this, simply locate the folder on your installation drive. Then right-click the folder and click Properties. On the Security tab, click edit and now make sure your user name is added to the list. Grant required security permissions and then click OK to save changes. After this, try installing Microsoft Office 2003 again on your system.

Method 3 - Copy the requested file from another source

If the error 1309 pops up because the requested file was not found, then try this method. Simply copy the file specified in the error to the destination directory. For example, if the error shows data1.cab was not found, then copy this file from another source and paste it into the directory specified in the error description.

Method 4- Remove bad registry entries

Bad registry entries are responsible for registry setup modification. If this is the reason for error code 1309, then download Restoro. This is a user-friendly PC Repair Tool embedded with a powerful registry cleaner. It scans and removes all bad and invalid entries accumulated in the registry. It cleans and repairs the registry resuming it back to its normal function. Click here to download Restoro and repair error 1309 today.

Malware Guide: How to remove OpenCandy

What is OpenCandy?

OpenCandy is an application that downloads and installs software, including other Internet Browsers to a computer system. Used as a bundle, this application installs additional programs that you may knowingly or unknowingly agree to install. Since most users don’t accept the challenge of reading the EULA in its entirety, they tend to download bundled applications unknowingly.

Assessment of OpenCandy PUP

During the initial assessment of OpenCandy, I was a little skeptical about what to look out for or expect. In fact, I had to install the OpenCandy.exe file twice to discern its behavior. I’m not sure how this application got its name but I do believe it has something to do with the fact that it supposedly helps Internet users open a new world of Internet browsing. That conclusion was arrived at after realizing that OpenCandy.exe installed mostly Internet browsers along with a tune-up tool on the test computer. However, as a result of the system requirements, there was a pop-up message indicating that Internet Explorer 8 was not compatible with the computer system in question. In comparison to the malware I’ve encountered since I started researching malware, OpenCandy is everything but malicious. In fact, this application is only categorized as malware because of its’ subtle covert nature of installing bundled programs unsolicited by the user. Additionally, OpenCandy coerces users into changing their Internet Browsers by installing those unrequested by the user. In fact, it’s no shock that OpenCandy chose to install the Internet Browser ‘Opera’ as a part of this bundle since it’s one of the least used browsers according to the Federal Government. Clearly, this was a smoothly disguised advertisement or promotion to force users into using the Opera Browser, along with Internet Explorer 8.0. While these aforementioned browsers in themselves aren’t malicious and are in no way considered malware, they were installed as a promotional tool and without the request of the user. Despite being mentioned within the EULA, advertisers are capitalizing on this since most users do not bother to read the agreements when installing a program. Furthermore, OpenCandy, like most other bundled applications I’ve dealt with, threw in a tune-up tool as a part of the promotion. I found this tune-up application annoying since I had to hassle my way into getting it to close from the computer screen. I can only imagine the hassle users would go through trying to remove this software. Image 7: Depiction of a scan performed by Tuneup Utilities. The scan detected that several areas on the test PC could be optimized/tuned up. Image 8: After a scan was completed using the Tuneup utility program, I was given an option to buy the full version. Nothing is wrong with this marketing strategy. In fact, most utility tools if not all will scan your computer to detect threats or loopholes, but they won't exactly allow you to fix those problems unless you buy the full version. It's not unfair, it's just business. Programs installed during the installation of OpenCandy include:

• Web Companion: Developed by Lavasoft, Web Companion is said to be an application that serves as a security defense for your Internet browsers by preventing unauthorized changes (see image below)
• Tuneup Utilities: Tuneup Utilities does exactly as it says. It cleans up a computer system, whereby preventing unused programs from slowing it down.
• Opera Stable 30.01.1835.88: Opera is a fast, simple, and effective Internet browser that allows users to get around on the web.

All in all, the intent of installing an application such as OpenCandy is to unleash a world of promotion or advertisements on your computer. They are pretty annoying and in some cases difficult to remove. Furthermore, as a user, you want to control what gets installed on your computer without being dictated to or coerced in some EULA that you probably overlook. To completely remove OpenCandy PUP from your computer, click here to download and install Spyhunter.

How To Fix Error 0x00000050

0x00000050 - What is it?

0x00000050 is a type of stop error code. It is also known as a Blue Screen of Death error. It usually occurs when you try to start your PC or load a program. It can also occur while running a program. This error may also pop up when you restart your PC after installing Windows XP Service Pack (SP1) on your computer. Unlike some PC related errors, 0x00000050 error code occurs without any warning. The stop 0x00000050 error is displayed in a blue screen and interrupts you from carrying your desired activities on your PC smoothly. This error message is prompted in the following format:

Stop 0X00000050 (parameter1, 0, parameter3, parameter4) PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA”

Solution

Error Causes

Stop 0x00000050 error code may pop up on your Windows computer screen due to multiple causes. The most common causes for this error code include:

• Poor PC maintenance
• Registry issues- Bad registry keys, invalid entries, corrupt and damaged registry
• Incompatible DLL files
• Corruption of system files- Pool corruption in the Srvnet.sys file
• Spyware and viruses
• Overheating of PC components
• The conflict between Windows XP SP1 and the display adapter drivers that are currently installed on your PC.

It is advisable to resolve 0x00000050 error code on your PC right away. BSOD errors are fatal errors and can pose serious threats to your PC. If not fixed timely it can lead to system crash, failure and valuable data loss.

Further Information and Manual Repair

To prevent data loss and system failure, there are some effective methods to resolve Stop 0x00000050 error code on your PC.  To implement these solutions on your PC, you don’t need to be a technical whiz or a computer programmer.

Method One

If the error cause is the conflict between Windows XP SP1 and the display adapter drivers then here’s what you need to do to resolve it:

1. First start Windows in safe mode. To do this, restart your computer and press F8. On the Windows Advanced Options Menu, use the arrow keys to select Safe Mode.
2. Once you select it press enter. Now use the arrow keys to select the operating system, press enter to start your computer in safe mode.
3. Go to Start, click Run and then type ’msinfo32’ in the open box and press OK to continue. Then under the System Summary option, expand Components and then click Display to note the information that corresponds to the INF File Item. And then simply quit the utility.
4. After that, go to the start menu again and then the My Computer and Properties option.
5. Press the Hardware Tab and then click the Device Manager tab. Go to the ‘Display Adapters’ option and press the option ‘Uninstall. To confirm action press OK.
6. Once again, go to the start menu and run and then type the following commands as illustrated below and after each command press enter.

• ren %systemroot%infINF file name from Step 5.inf *inf.old
• ren %systemroot%infINF file name from Step 5.pnf *pnf.old

This procedure may look pretty lengthy but it is worth it. Once you insert the commands, close all open windows and then reboot your system. Now download the latest drivers for your display adapter and install them. This will hopefully resolve the 0x00000050 error code on your system.

Method Two

Sometimes 0x00000050 BSOD error may occur due to temporary issues like overheating PC components. In times like these, all you need to do to fix the issue is to switch off your computer and allow the components to cool down. Try starting your PC after a few hours.

Method Three

If the issue is triggered by malware, then it is advisable to download a powerful antivirus. Scan your entire PC to detect and remove viruses affecting your PC and generating BSOD errors on your system.

Method Four

However, if the error still persists after trying all the methods stated above, then this means the cause of the error is deep-rooted. It is related to the Windows registry. Registry stores all your system files and activities performed on your PC. It usually gets damaged and corrupt if it is not cleaned frequently. The registry loads with unnecessary and obsolete files like junk files, cookies, internet history, bad registry keys and invalid entries. These files if not removed, accumulate and damage the registry, DLL files, and system files too thereby generate BSoD errors like 0x00000050 error messages. You can clean and repair the registry manually but it requires a great deal of expertise. The ideal and easiest way to clean it is to download Restoro. This is highly functional and easy-to-use software. It is embedded with multiple powerful utilities including such as a registry cleaner, an antivirus and a system optimizer. The registry cleaning feature scans for all errors related to the registry. It removes obsolete files, invalid entries, restores damaged DLL and system files. The antivirus feature simultaneously detects and removes all kinds of malware. These include viruses, Trojans, spyware, and adware affecting your PC. While the system optimizer feature ensures that your PC functions at its optimum speed. It is a safe and powerful PC Fixer. It has a user-friendly interface and compatible with all Windows versions. Click here to download Restoro and Fix Error 0x00000050

Bluetooth perhaps is slowly becoming an outdated feature but sometimes you can really used it and need it. By default, in Windows 11 Bluetooth is turned OFF so if you need it, you will need to turn it ON first. Luckily turning it ON is easy and we will guide you through the process

Turning Bluetooth using the Quick Settings menu

The easiest and fastest way to turn the Bluetooth ON is using the quick setting menu:

1. Click on indicator icons located left of date and time in Taskbar
2. Click on the Bluetooth icon (if the icon is not displayed, click on the pencil icon, then click on Add and add Bluetooth icon from the list)
3. Right-click on the Bluetooth icon and select go to Settings
4. Go to Adding a Bluetooth Device to Windows 11 section

Switch it ON via Windows Settings

1. Open Windows settings by using ⊞ WINDOWS + I combination
2. Click on Bluetooth & Devices
3. Inside settings turn Switch to ON beside Bluetooth
4. Click + Add Device large button on top
5. Click Bluetooth
6. Select device in the list of found devices (make sure device is turned ON, it has Bluetooth sharing ON, and that it is in pairing mode)
7. If the device needs the password, type it in
8. When the message Your device is ready to go is showed on the screen click on the Done

Advice on Bluetooth devices

Note that the Bluetooth devices you connect to Windows 11 stay linked to your PC unless you pair them with a different PC, smartphone, or tablet later. After a time, most Bluetooth devices power down automatically to save battery life. To continue where you left off, either power the Bluetooth device up (if it has a power button) or press a button on a keyboard or mouse, and it should automatically turn on and reconnect with your PC. If you’re having trouble connecting your Bluetooth device, make sure that Windows 11 is fully updated and that you’ve installed any drivers that came with your device. Make sure that the device is fully charged or that it has a fresh set of batteries. while Windows is searching. You’ll need to remove the device from Windows 11 first and then attempt to pair it with your PC again.

Removing devices

If you need to remove (un-pair) a Bluetooth device, just open Windows Settings and navigate to Bluetooth & Devices. Locate the name of the device that you want to remove, click the three dots button in the corner of its square and select Remove Device.