How to Fix Windows 10 Error 0x8000ffff

Error Code 0x8000ffff - What is it?

Error Code 0x8000ffff is an error that is often experienced while attempting to install updates on a Windows machine. It has been found in Windows 10, although the error has been present in the Windows operating systems dating back to Windows Vista.

Common symptoms include:

• Inability to download updates for the operating system
• Inability to successfully run updates for the operating system through to completion

There are several basic Windows tools that can be used to attempt to resolve Error Code 0x8000ffff on your machine. While some of these tools may be familiar for basic users, others may require advanced competency in order to be used correctly. If you are unsure of your ability to complete the methods listed below in order to resolve this error code on your system, you may need to get in touch with a computer repair technician who is competent in dealing with Windows Update repairs.

Solution

Error Causes

The most common cause of Error Code 0x8000ffff is that there is a problem within one of the system files or the registry entries on the computer. There are a number of reasons why a device could have an error in these places, from conflicting software commands to updates that were not installed correctly, to bugs within the system, to viruses or malware that have corrupted the necessary files.

Further Information and Manual Repair

There are several common ways that users can attempt to resolve the appearance of Error Code 0x8000ffff on their Windows devices. If you are not sure that you can follow these steps through to completion, you would be well advised to get in touch with a qualified computer repair technician to help you to finish out the repair process.

Here are the best methods to resolve Error Code 0x8000ffff on your Windows machine:

Method One:  Restart Your Computer

It may sound obvious, but one of the most effective ways to resolve Error Code 0x8000ffff on your machine is to simply reboot your computer. In some cases, the error shows up because there are processes that the system believes are still running when they really aren’t. Restarting your machine also allows your system to apply any previous changes that have been made and to mark any installations that have been undertaken as being complete.

Reattempt your update installations after you have restarted your computer to see if you are able to finish them out successfully.

Method Two:  Run the Windows Registry Repair Tool

The Windows Registry Repair tool is an asset that can make it easy for your system to scan for potential problems in the registry and notify you as to their status. In many cases, the Registry Repair tool can fix the problems that it finds all on its own, although in some cases, you may receive a message that states an error was found that could not be resolved through the program.

The simplest way to access the Windows Registry Repair tool is to do a search for it within the search bar in the Start menu. Once you begin to run the Registry Repair tool, it can take a while to complete its scan, so be prepared to wait for some time once you start it.

Once the tool has completed its scan of your system, it’s always a good idea to reboot your computer so that all of the changes that have been made to the system can be applied successfully to the operating system.

Method Three:  Run the Windows Fix It Tool

Another great tool to help in the resolution is the Windows Fix It tool. You can download it directly from the Microsoft website. Once you run it, it will complete a scan of your system to find any potential hang-ups and to attempt to resolve them. After you run the scan, it is a good idea to reboot your computer to allow all changes to be recognized and applied properly.

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.

A lot of users rely on keyboard shortcuts to carry out tasks on their PCs. One of the most common keyboard shortcuts used is the Ctrl + Shift + Esc which opens the Task Manager. As you can see, the Shift key is not just used to capitalize a text as it can also be used for other functions and plays an essential role in operating a computer. However, if you suddenly find it not working, read on as this post will help you fix the problem. If your Shift key is not working, there are several potential fixes you can check out to fix it. These are the different ways to get rid of the Shift key not working issue on Windows 10:

1. Physically clean the key and keyboard
2. Disable Sticky Keys.
3. Update, Reinstall, or Rollback Keyboard driver.
4. Test the keyboard on another system.
5. Check your connections
6. Run the Hardware troubleshooter
7. Troubleshoot in Clean Boot State.

Option 1 – Clean the keyboard keys physically

Your keyboard might not be working properly due to some dirt or other corrosion. Thus, you need to clean your keyboard, especially the Shift key. First, you need to shut down your computer and then unplug the keyboard if you are using a desktop computer and then prepare it for cleaning. After that, use a small cotton ear cleaning tool to get between the creases and clean them. You can dip it slightly in alcohol to make it more efficient in cleaning dust and dirt. And if you can, you have the option to pull apart the keyboard completely and then wipe away all the corrosion from the inside. Once you’re done, put the keyboard back together and then plug it back into your PC. Now turn your PC on and check if the Shift key is now working.

Option 2 – Try to disable the Sticky keys

Another thing you can try is to disable the Stick keys. How? Refer to these steps:

• Tap the Win + I keys to open the Settings app.
• After that, navigate to the Ease of Access section, and here, select Keyboard.
• Next, make sure that the option for Press one key at a time under the Sticky Keys is toggled off.

Option 3 – Reinstall, update or rollback your keyboard driver

Once you’ve determined that the problem is in the software part of the keyboard, it is now time to try to reinstall, update or roll back your keyboard drivers. To reinstall the driver for your keyboard, refer to these steps:

• From the WinX Menu, open the Device Manager.
• In the Device Manager, you should find your laptop’s keyboard under the “Keyboards” option. Right-click on it and select the “Uninstall” option.

Note: If you’re not quite certain about your laptop’s keyboard, you can uninstall all the keyboards if there’s more than one.

• After that, restart your PC and see if the keyboard driver is installing automatically. If not, open the Device Manager again and right-click on Keyboards, and select the option “Scan for hardware changes” to install it.

Once the keyboard driver is installed again, check if your keyboard is now working properly or not.

Option 4 – Try connecting the keyboard to a different USB port or another computer

The problem might have something to do with the USB port that’s currently in use by your keyboard. It could be that it’s not working so it makes sense to unplug it and attach it to another USB port. You can also clean the USB port on both ends to ensure that they are not affected by corrosion. In addition, you can also try connecting the keyboard to a different computer and see if the Shift key works there or not.

Option 5 – Try to check your connections

You can also try checking if the connection mode you are using for your keyboard is functioning properly. For instance, if you are using a Surface 2-in-device, you can clean the connection pins and see if it resolves the problem.

Option 6 – Run the Hardware and Devices Troubleshooters

• The first thing you need to do is click on Start and then on the gear-like icon to pull up the window for Settings.
• After opening Settings, look for the Update and Security option and select it.
• From there, go to the Troubleshoot option located on the left-hand side of the list.
• Next, select Hardware and Devices from the list and open the Troubleshooter and run it. Once it is doing its job, wait for it to complete the process and then restart the system.
• After the system restarts, check if the problem’s now fixed. If not, refer to the next option given below.

Option 7 – Put your PC in a Clean Boot State

You might also want to put your computer in a Clean Boot State to fix the problem with the Shift key. It could be that there is a third-party program that’s preventing the Shift key from functioning. To isolate this possibility, you need to put your computer in a Clean Boot State.

• 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.)
• Now try to connect the external devices and check if the error is now gone.

The Winload.efi file is an Extensible Firmware Interface or EFI file. EFI files are executable files for the firmware of the computers that are mainly based on UEFI and execute the tasks of loading the files to the bootloader of the computer. They are used for a specific set of tasks such as turning on the computer, installing Windows, restarting the computer or resetting it, and so on. This is why the Winload.efi file is a significant file so if it gets corrupted, lost, or damaged, it would be impossible for the Windows operating system to proceed. Here are some errors you can encounter that are related to the Winload.efi file:

• efi is missing
• efi cannot be found
• efi is missing or contains errors
• This program can’t start because winload.efi is missing from your computer
• This application requires the file winload.efi, which was not found on this system.
• There was a problem starting [path]winload.efi. The specified module could not be found.

In addition, the 0xc0000225 , 0xc00000e and 0xc0000001error codes are also associated with the Winload.efi file. Before you start troubleshooting the problem, you can try to perform System Restore first. This will help undo any changes you’ve made in your computer that might have triggered the Blue Screen error. To perform System Restore, here’s what you have to do:

• First, press the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• After that, type in “sysdm.cpl” in the field and tap Enter.
• Next, go to the System Protection tab then click the System Restore button. This will open a new window where you have to select your preferred System Restore point.
• After that, follow the on-screen instructions to finish the process and then restart your computer and check if the problem is fixed or not.

If System Restore didn’t help in fixing the Blue Screen error, now’s the time for you to resort to the troubleshooting tips provided below but before you get started, make sure that your create a System Restore point first.

Option 1 – Try rebuilding the Boot Configuration Data (BCD) and repairing MBR

• Once you get to the Welcome Screen part, click on Next.
• Afterwards, click on the Repair your computer option located on the bottom-left part of the window.
• Then click on Troubleshoot.
• Next, select the Advanced Options and then Command Prompt.
• Once Command Prompt has been pulled up, the following commands to rebuild BCD files and repair MBR. Don’t forget to hit Enter right after you type each command.
  • bootrec /repairbcd
  • bootrec /osscan
  • bootrec /repairmbr
• Once the command line is successful in finding out a Windows installation, hit Y to let it boot from the list which will successfully rebuild BCD.
• Now type “exit” to close Command Prompt and then restart your computer to successfully apply the changes made.

Option 2 – Disable the Secure Boot in the BIOS

Disabling the Secure Boot in the BIOS settings is definitely recommended to resolve errors related to the Winload.efi file. To disable Secure Boot, here’s what you have to do:

• First, boot your computer into Windows 10.
• Next, go to Settings > Windows Update. From there, check if there is anything that you have to download and install if you see any available updates. Usually, OEMs send and update the list of trusted hardware, drivers, and operating systems for your computer.
• After that, go to the BIOS of your computer.
• Then go to Settings > Update & Security > Advanced Startup options. If you click on Restart Now, it will restart your computer and give you all the advanced options.
• Next, select Troubleshoot > Advanced Options. As you can see, this screen offers you further options including System restore, Startup repair, Go back to the previous version, Command Prompt, System Image Recovery and UEFI Firmware Settings.
• Select the UEFI Firmware Settings which will take you to the BIOS.
• From there, go to Security > Boot > Authentication tab where you should see Secure Boot. Note that every OEM has its own way of implementing the options so it varies.
• Next, set Secure Boot to Disabled and set Legacy Support to On or Enabled.
• Save the changes made and exit. Afterward, your computer will reboot.

Option 3 – Run System File Checker scan

You might also try running the System File Checker or SFC scan to fix the error. 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:

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

• Reboot your computer.

Option 4 – Disable the Early Launch Anti-Malware Protection

• You need to restart your computer in the Start Menu first while holding down the Shift key on your keyboard.
• After that, it will restart your computer to Startup Settings.
• Now ensure that the 8^th option is labeled as “Disable early launch anti-malware protection.
• Then tap the F8 key since the aforementioned option above is listed at number 8. This should launch and load Windows on your PC with the Early Anti-malware protection disabled for that session only when you try to carry out the same task and then check if the error related to the Winload.efi file is now fixed.

FileShareFanatic is a browser extension developed by Mindspark Inc. This extension offers users the ability to quickly access some of the most popular file-sharing websites. While this may sound tempting and useful at start, using this extension might prove more annoying then useful.

When installed FileShareFanatic hijacks your new tab page changing your default search engine to search.myway.com. Additionally it monitors user activity, recording visited websites, clicked links, viewed products, and whatever other information that can be used by the Ad network to display targeted Ads.

While browsing the internet with this extension you will notice an increase of ads on pages, especially in search results. This extension injects additional ads, sponsored links, and even displays pop-up ads in order to gain revenue.

FileShareFanatic has been marked as a Browser Hijacker by several top anti-virus scanners, and is scheduled for deletion.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijacking is considered the web’s constant danger that targets browsers. It is a kind of malicious software that modifies your internet browser’s configuration settings so that you are redirected to websites or pages that you had no intention of visiting. Browser hijackers can do more than simply modifying homepages. It redirects you to the sponsored sites and inserts advertisements on your browser which helps its developer generate earnings. It might appear naive, but most of these websites are not legitimate and will pose a major risk to your online safety. Browser hijackers can even let other vicious programs without your knowledge to further damage your PC.

Symptoms of browser hijack

There are numerous symptoms of browser hijacking: 1. you see unauthorized modifications to your internet browser’s homepage 2. you get re-directed to internet sites you never meant to visit 3. default online search engine is modified 4. discover new toolbars which you did not add 5. you observe lots of pop-ups on your screen 6. your web browser gets slow, buggy, and crashes frequently 7. Inability to navigate to certain sites, especially anti-malware as well as other security software webpages.

How they infect computers

Browser hijackers attack computers via malicious email attachments, downloaded infected documents, or by visiting infected internet sites. Many internet browser hijackings originate from add-on software, i.e., browser helper objects (BHO), toolbars, or extensions added to browsers to give them extra features. A browser hijacker could also be installed as a part of freeware, demoware, shareware and pirated programs. Browser hijackers can interrupt the user’s web browsing experience significantly, track the websites visited by users and steal sensitive information, cause difficulty in connecting to the internet, and eventually create stability problems, making software programs and computer to crash.

Removal

The one thing you can try to get rid of a browser hijacker is to find the malware within the “Add or Remove Programs” list in the Microsoft Windows Control Panel. It may or may not be there. If it is, try to uninstall it. But, most hijacking codes aren’t very easy to eliminate manually, as they go deeper into your operating system. Besides, browser hijackers could modify the Computer registry so that it could be very hard to repair manually, especially when you’re not a very tech-savvy individual. You can choose automatic browser hijacker removal by just installing and running reliable anti-malware software. If you need to get rid of persistent browser hijackers effectively, install the top-rated Anti-Malware software Safebytes Anti-Malware.

Find Out How To Install Safebytes Anti-Malware On An Infected PC

Malware can cause a lot of damage to your PC. Some malware types alter internet browser settings by including a proxy server or change the PC’s DNS configuration settings. When this happens, you’ll be unable to visit certain or all of the sites, and thus unable to download or install the required security software to remove the infection. If you are reading this, you may have infected by a virus that prevents you from downloading a security program such as Safebytes Antimalware on your PC. There are some actions you can take to circumvent this issue.

Download the application in Safe Mode with Networking

If the virus is set to load immediately when Microsoft Windows starts, entering Safe Mode could very well block the attempt. Since only the bare minimum programs and services launch in safe mode, there are hardly any reasons for conflicts to occur. To start your Windows XP, Vista or 7 computer in Safe Mode with Networking, please do as instructed below. 1) At power on, hit the F8 key before the Windows splash screen starts to load. This will bring up the Advanced Boot Options menu. 2) Choose Safe Mode with Networking with arrow keys and hit ENTER. 3) Once this mode loads, you will have the internet. Now, utilize your browser to download and install Safebytes Anti-malware. 4) As soon as the application is installed, allow the scan run to eliminate viruses and other malware automatically.

Switch to an alternate internet browser

Web-based viruses can be environment-specific, aiming for a particular web browser or attacking specific versions of the browser. The best solution to avoid this problem is to opt for a browser that is known for their security measures. Firefox comprises built-in Phishing and Malware Protection to keep you safe online.

Run antivirus from a USB drive

Another option is to make a portable antivirus program onto your USB thumb drive. To run antivirus from a thumb drive, follow these simple steps: 1) Download Safebytes Anti-Malware or Microsoft Windows Defender Offline onto a clean computer system. 2) Plug the Thumb drive into the uninfected computer. 3) Double-click the Setup icon of the anti-malware software to run the Installation Wizard. 4) Select the drive letter of the USB drive as the place when the wizard asks you exactly where you would like to install the anti-virus. Follow the directions to finish the installation process. 5) Unplug the pen drive. Now you can utilize this portable antivirus on the affected computer. 6) Double-click the anti-malware program EXE file on the thumb drive. 7) Simply click “Scan Now” to run a complete scan on the infected computer for malware.

SafeBytes Anti-Malware Features

To protect your personal computer from many different internet-based threats, it’s important to install an anti-malware application on your computer system. However, with countless numbers of anti-malware companies in the marketplace, nowadays it is challenging to decide which one you should purchase for your PC. Some are good ones, some are decent, and some are simply just fake anti-malware applications that could harm your personal computer themselves! You should choose one that is trustworthy, practical and has a strong reputation for its malware source protection. On the list of strongly recommended software by industry analysts is SafeBytes Anti-Malware, the most dependable program for Windows computers. SafeBytes anti-malware is a powerful, very effective protection application made to help users of all levels of computer literacy in finding and eliminating malicious threats from their computer. Once you’ve installed this program, SafeBytes state-of-the-art protection system will ensure that absolutely no viruses or malware can seep through your PC.

SafeBytes anti-malware takes PC protection to a totally new level with its enhanced features. These are some of the highlighted features included in the software.

World-class AntiMalware Protection: Built on a greatly acclaimed anti-virus engine, this malware removal tool can identify and get rid of several obstinate malware threats such as browser hijackers, potentially unwanted programs, and ransomware that other typical antivirus programs will miss. Real-time Threat Response: Malware programs attempting to get into the computer are discovered and stopped as and when detected by the SafeBytes active protection shields. It’ll examine your PC for suspicious activity at all times and its unrivaled firewall protects your computer from unauthorized access by the outside world. Safe Browsing: Safebytes assigns all sites a unique safety ranking that helps you to get an idea of whether the webpage you’re just about to visit is safe to browse or known to be a phishing site. Lowest Memory/CPU Usage: SafeBytes is a lightweight tool. It consumes a really small amount of processing power as it operates in the background therefore you will not see any computer performance difficulties. 24/7 Guidance: SafeBytes provides 24/7 technical support, automatic maintenance and updates for best user experience. All in all, SafeBytes Anti-Malware is a solid program as it has lots of features and could identify and remove any potential threats. Once you have downloaded and installed this software, you no longer need to worry about malware or any other security worries. So if you’re searching for the best anti-malware subscription for your Windows-based computer, we recommend SafeBytes Anti-Malware tool.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you wish to carry out the removal of FileShareFanatic manually instead of using an automated software tool, you may follow these measures: Proceed to the Windows Control Panel, click the “Add or Remove Programs” and there, choose the offending application to uninstall. In cases of suspicious versions of web browser plug-ins, you can easily get rid of it via your web browser’s extension manager. You’ll probably also want to reset your browser. To be certain of complete removal, find the following registry entries on your computer and remove it or reset the values appropriately. Having said that, editing the registry can be a complicated job that only advanced users and professionals should try to fix it. Furthermore, some malware is capable of replicating or preventing removal. It is advisable that you carry out the removal process in Windows Safe Mode.

As you know, the Windows 10 Action Center has a stack of all the notifications that come from different applications on your computer. So each time an app displays notifications, it will be displayed for about 5 seconds and then it disappears right away. Although the allotted time for the notifications to be displayed is quite enough to catch your attention and help you get a glance at the message, there are times when you might miss it and you hoped it could’ve been displayed a lot longer. So in this post, you will be guided on how you can increase or decrease the display time of the notification in Windows 10. The best way you can view the missed notification is to click on the Action Center. From there, you will see all the notifications that are grouped by the applications. This means that if you have a lot of notifications, it would be hard for you to find what you are looking for. Thus, in such cases, the best way you can do is to increase the display time for which notification to stay on the screen.

To get started, refer to the instructions given below.

Step 1: Tap the Win + I keys to open Settings. Step 2: Next, navigate to Home > Ease of Access > Display. Step 3: After that, scroll down to the end until you see the dropdown to change the notifications where you should see the “Show notifications for”. Step 4: Then you can change the time from the default 5 seconds to 7, 15, 30, and so on. Step 5: Once done, the display time of the notifications should stay longer but keep in mind that you must choose the length wisely so if you have notifications from a lot of apps, then the screen will also be filled with multiple notification cards.

There are some new generation motherboards for laptops and PCs that bring in support for both the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface or UEFI as well as the Basic Input Output System or BIOS. The main advantage of UEFI over the traditional BIOS is the fact that UEFI supports a hard drive that has a capacity of more than 2 terabytes. However, the disadvantage of UEFI is that it only supports the x64 Windows operating system versions and that the hard drive is supposed to use the GPT structure. So if your PC is compatible with and supports UEFI and you want to change from Legacy to UEFI, then you’ve come to the right place as this post will guide you on how you can exactly do that without having to reinstall it. There are two ways to change Legacy to UEFI. You can convert MBR to GPT using either the built-in utilities in Windows or using the Recovery Environment. Before you proceed, make sure that your computer fulfills the following prerequisites:

• Your PC’s motherboard should support both Legacy and UEFI.
• Your PC should be running at least the 1703 Windows 10 version or newer on an MBR partition.

Once you’ve made sure that your computer covers the aforementioned prerequisites, refer to the given options below.

Option 1 – Convert MBR to GPT via Windows built-in utilities

• In the Windows Search box, type “command prompt” and from the search results that appear, right-click on Command Prompt and select the “Run as administrator” option.
• After that, execute this command: exe /convert /allowfullOS
• Now, wait until the process is completed since you can track its process on your screen.
• Once it’s done, go to Settings > Update & Security > Advanced Startup options and from there, click on Restart Now. This will restart your computer and give you advanced options.
• Next, select Troubleshoot > Advanced Options where you will see further options including System Restore, Startup Repair, Go back to the previous version, Command Prompt, System Image Recovery, and UEFI Firmware Settings.
• Now select the UEFI Firmware Settings. This will take you to the BIOS. Boot Mode is typically available under Boot > Boot Configuration. Once you’re there, set it to UEFI and then save the changes you’ve made. After that, your computer will restart.

Option 2 – Convert MBR to GPT via the Recovery Environment

• When the message appears on your screen while running Windows Setup, you need to tap the Shift + F10 keys to open Command Prompt.
• Make sure to run Command Prompt as admin and then execute this command: exe /convert
• After that, wait until the process is completed. When it’s done, you have to go to the BIOS just like in the first given option above.
• As mentioned, you can usually find the Boot Mode under Boot > Boot Configuration. Once you’re there, set it to UEFI.
• Now save the changes made and exit as your computer will restart.

Malware Guide: How to Remove DownloadAdmin

What is DownloadAdmin/ Updateadmin?

As a digital creation of Blueis, the DownloadAdmin application peruses your computer system for programs/applications that are outdated. This program then makes the necessary updates/installation on your computer, as if it were the Administrator. While most people might consider this application harmful, scrutinizing the Digital Publisher/Creator of the application should be reason enough to remove DownloadAdmin (and any other associated program) from your computer. Why? Blueis is infamous for producing/distributing “adware type software”, according to herdProtect Anti-Malware. Is that not a plausible reason for you to remove applications associated with that publisher? Additionally, DownloadAdmin not only updates your outdated applications, but it installs additional programs - usually utility tools and search toolbars. This is a sly way to promote third-party software and to get ads loaded onto your computer system. Technical details about DownloadAdmin include:

Digital Publisher: Blueis Product Version: 4.0.0.1 Original File Name: DownloadAdmin Entry Point:  0x0000234A

Assessment of DownloadAdmin

For this assessment, the DownloadAdmin file was obtained and installed on a test computer. After the DownloadAdmin/Updateadmin application was installed, it made several modifications to the computer system. These modifications may class the newly installed file as a PUP (potentially unwanted program). Outlined below is what took place after the file was installed.

• Updated an outdated application installed on the computer

Subsequent to the update made by Updateadmin, I thought the PUP had run its course. However, it was not quite finished. It was after scanning the contents/programs of my Local Drive, I stumbled on an additional program, one that I did not download or install, at least not intentionally. As predicted, the DownloadAdmin application scanned through the computer system (in the blink of an eye), during installation and made adjustments to an application already installed. This program was the Mozilla Firefox. Since Mozilla Firefox was rarely used on the PC in question, the DownloadAdmin application thought it quite appropriate to revive the Mozilla Firefox browser, by replacing it with the latest or more contemporary version.

• Installed a search toolbar

While DownloadAdmin did request permission to install an updated version of my Browser, it provided no warning about installing a search toolbar. This is quite shady and deceptive. In addition to updating the Internet Browser, DownloadAmin also installed the SearchProtect toolbar (Conduit). This toolbar is no stranger to the market as I’ve encountered it on several occasions during my assessment of malware.

Should you remove DownloadAmin?

That decision is totally yours to make. However, here are some reasons why most people would consider that program unwanted

• It updates your outdated programs

In most cases, at least those I’ve seen, if a user has a program installed, they don’t necessarily want a new version of that program. In fact, this PUP could spell trouble since some programs, especially paid, require a license to use the software. When that program is updated/ upgraded, you might have to acquire a new license to get it to work.

• Unnecessary program

If you’re totally lackadaisical and loathe the idea of doing work yourself, this program might come in handy. Many users will update their computers manually by using Microsoft’s preinstalled/pre-programmed updater in their computer’s Control Panel. This option searches for and installs all the necessary programs to keep your computer safe and secure. The DownloadAdmin program only occupies needed space and resources on your computer. However, what’s good about this program is that it doesn’t operate at the start time so it doesn’t necessarily cause unnecessary lags on your computer.

• Modifies your search experience

By installing a search toolbar called SearchProtect, Updateadmin modifies or changes the browsing experience you’re accustomed to. SearchProtect hijacks your browser and changes your homepage to their choice while removing yours. This is often hard to reverse since the publisher created this software to remain once installed. To completely remove DownloadAdmin from your computer, click here to download and install Spyhunter

Following a two-year investigation by the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, the state has filed a lawsuit against Activision Blizzard for fostering a "frat boy" culture in which female employees are allegedly subjected to unequal pay and sexual harassment. As reported by Bloomberg, Activision Blizzard is being accused by the state of California of discriminating against female employees at nearly all levels of employment, including in regards to compensation, promotion, assignments, and termination. The state alleges Activision Blizzard’s leadership has failed to address any of these outstanding issues or prevent them from occurring within the workplace. You can read the full details of the lawsuit here. The suit, filed Tuesday in the Los Angeles Superior Court, says Activision Blizzard, which is made up of about 20 percent women, assigns women, and women of color, to "lower paid and lower opportunity levels" with lower starting pay for similar work as their male counterparts. The documents also accuse Activision Blizzard of fostering a "pervasive 'frat boy' workplace culture in the office. Male employees are said to drink "copious amounts of alcohol" as they make their way through cubicles and "often engage in inappropriate behavior toward female employees." Male employees are said to come to work hungover, play video games during work "while delegating their responsibilities to female employees, engage in banter about their sexual encounters, talk openly about female bodies, and joke about rape." The lawsuit also cites one particular incident where a female employee, who was already subjected to intense sexual harassment at the company, committed suicide during a work trip with a male supervisor who allegedly brought inappropriate, sexual items with him on the trip. The lawsuit is asking for an injunction that will force Activision Blizzard to comply with workplace protections, as well as deliver unpaid wages, pay adjustments, back pay, and lost wages and benefits for female employees.

An Activision Blizzard spokesperson sent the following statement in response to the allegations:

We value diversity and strive to foster a workplace that offers inclusivity for everyone. There is no place in our company or industry, or any industry, for sexual misconduct or harassment of any kind. We take every allegation seriously and investigate all claims. In cases related to misconduct, the action was taken to address the issue. The DFEH includes distorted, and in many cases false, descriptions of Blizzard’s past. We have been extremely cooperative with the DFEH throughout their investigation, including providing them with extensive data and ample documentation, but they refused to inform us what issues they perceived. They were required by law to adequately investigate and to have good faith discussions with us to better understand and to resolve any claims or concerns before going to litigation, but they failed to do so. Instead, they rushed to file an inaccurate complaint, as we will demonstrate in court. We are sickened by the reprehensible conduct of the DFEH to drag into the complaint the tragic suicide of an employee whose passing has no bearing whatsoever on this case and with no regard for her grieving family. While we find this behavior to be disgraceful and unprofessional, it is, unfortunately, an example of how they have conducted themselves throughout the course of their investigation. It is this type of irresponsible behavior from unaccountable State bureaucrats that are driving many of the State’s best businesses out of California. The picture the DFEH paints is not the Blizzard workplace of today. Over the past several years and continuing since the initial investigation started, we’ve made significant changes to address company culture and reflect more diversity within our leadership teams. We’ve updated our Code of Conduct to emphasize a strict non-retaliation focus, amplified internal programs and channels for employees to report violations, including the “ASK List” with a confidential integrity hotline, and introduced an Employee Relations team dedicated to investigating employee concerns. We have strengthened our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and combined our Employee Networks at a global level, to provide additional support. Employees must also undergo regular anti-harassment training and have done so for many years. We put tremendous effort into creating fair and rewarding compensation packages and policies that reflect our culture and business, and we strive to pay all employees fairly for equal or substantially similar work. We take a variety of proactive steps to ensure that pay is driven by non-discriminatory factors. For example, we reward and compensate employees based on their performance, and we conduct extensive anti-discrimination training including for those who are part of the compensation process. We are confident in our ability to demonstrate our practices as an equal opportunity employer that fosters a supportive, diverse, and inclusive workplace for our people, and we are committed to continuing this effort in the years to come. It is a shame that the DFEH did not want to engage with us on what they thought they were seeing in their investigation.

Conclusion

We will see how things work out, but I am not too optimistic for Activision Blizzard, truth to be told these reports are really bringing up some disturbing news on the sunlight. I just hope that all responsible will be brought to justice.

If the Sleep option is missing from the Power Menu then this could be caused by the power settings, local group policy configuration, etc. in your computer. Based on the reports of users who experience the same problem, the issue occurred after they’ve updated or upgraded their Windows 10 computers. As you know, the sleep mode is quite useful in certain cases and is utilized by most users. If you put your computer in sleep mode, it actually minimizes the power usage of your computer while at the same time keeps your current session running. So if sleep mode is suddenly missing, then that could be a problem but worry not for this post will give you possible fixes to resolve the issue. Make sure to follow each one of them carefully to achieve good results.

Option 1 – Check the Power settings

As mentioned, one of the reasons why the Sleep option is missing could be the power settings in your computer. To check this possibility, make sure that you’ve enabled the sleep mode in the Power options setting window. How? Refer to these steps:

• First, go to the Start menu, and from there open Control Panel.
• Next, set the View by Large icons and select the Power Options.
• After that, click on the “Choose what the power buttons do” option on the left-hand side.
• Then click on the “Change settings that are currently unavailable” option and make sure that Sleep is checked under the Shutdown settings.
• Afterward, click on Save changes.

Option 2 – Modify the Local Group Policy

If the Power setting isn’t the cause of the problem, then you might want to check the Local Group Policy and modify it. There is a dedicated policy for showing the sleep option in the power menu and if this policy is disabled, then it’s no wonder why you don’t see the sleep option in the power menu. To change this policy, refer to the steps below.

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Then type “gpedit.msc” in the field and hit Enter to open the Group Policy Editor.
• Next, navigate to this path: Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> File Explorer
• Look for the “Show sleep in the power options menu” option from the right-hand side pane and double click on it.
• Now change it to Enabled and click on the Apply and OK buttons to save the changes made and restart your computer.

Option 3 – Try to turn on Standby

Standby, also known as InstantGo, is a feature in Windows 8 and 10 that allows users to maintain network connectivity after a computer has been put into sleep mode. Thus, if this feature is disabled, it can cause the Sleep option to disappear from the power menu. To turn it on, follow these steps:

• Tap the Win + R keys to open Run.
• And type “Regedit” in the field and tap Enter to open the Registry Editor.
• Next, navigate to this path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlPower
• From this path, look for the “CsEnabled” key on the right-hand side of the pane and double-click on it.
• Set its value to “1” and click OK to save the changes made.
• Now reboot your PC.

Note: If you were not able to find the CsEnabled key, then this indicates that your computer does not support the Standby feature. And if that’s the case, proceed to the next given option below.

Option 4 – Try to install a Video Card driver

On the other hand, some users reported that the problem was caused by the video card driver. And if your computer lacks the video adapter driver, it can also cause the same problem. Windows 10 typically install the video card driver on its own, however, there are rare cases when it doesn’t which is why you have to do it yourself manually. All you have to do is go to your manufacturer’s website and look for the video card driver, download it and then install it. Once you’ve installed the video card driver, reboot your computer and check if it has fixed the problem.

Kernel Mode Heap Corruption is the error message that the Windows operating system throws when it encounters a blue screen of death or BSOD error during PC startup or launching specific programs such as video games. It is mainly caused due to software conflicts, driver issues (especially graphics card driver), and computer hardware malfunctioning. The good news is that this error is easily fixable. Follow the next steps in order to fix the error:

1. Rollback graphic card driver

   Press ⊞ WINDOWS + X to open Windows secret menu and click on device manager Expand Display adapters section Right-click on your GPU and choose properties In properties window go to the driver tab and click on Roll back driver Select the reason for operation and click on YES Reboot your PC

2. Update corrupted and outdated drivers

   How is this error mostly driver issue, updating and fixing bad drivers can fix it very easily. As in the previous step, you will need to open the device manager and go through all drivers and manually check for updates for each one, update as necessary or reinstall ones you might think have gone rogue. If you are not experienced enough with this kind of task install some automatic solution for this task like DriverFix

3. Check for software issues

   If this error started happening after the installation of new software it is very likely that the application is causing problems. Try uninstalling or disabling the application to see if it will fix the issue. You can also boot Windows in safe mode to see if the error will happen there, if Windows is working fine in safe mode, it is likely that issue is on the software side.

4. Run SFC scan

   Press ⊞ WINDOWS + X and choose Command prompt (admin) In command prompt type in sfc /scannow and press ENTER Wait for the process to be finished and Reboot the system