Hello everyone and welcome to our Windows 10 security basics where we will provide you with common practices you should aim to follow in order not to cough some viruses, malware, keylogger, worm, etc. As you are all aware, we live in a digital age where we are surrounded by luxuries of unlimited information, video chats all over the globe, free calls via the internet, applications that track stuff for us, and many many more things that make our lives easier. Sadly with this kind of technology comes risks of cyber attacks that aim to steal your information, credit card numbers, or any other relevant stuff which could be used illegally in order to make purchases, loans, and other theft in your name so ones doing that could not get caught. Think of data stealers the same as you think of armed robbers in a dark alley, just this time their pray is data about your life so they can make purchases for themselves more than once. This article aims to provide you with some common logic, tips, and tricks of what should you do and where should you pay attention in order not to provide wrong people with your crucial information and data. we hope that you will find reading informative and helpful.

1. Keep Windows updated.

   Microsoft is working hard on their Windows defender and firewall to provide protection to its users and fixing any introduced security leaks which are found in Windows itself. By updating and keeping Windows updated you make sure that every security leak that is found is patched and removed from Windows and that you have the latest database of known malware inside the firewall and defender. This common practice, however, should not be limited to Windows only, you should update every application you are using for the same reasons.

2. Use antivirus, anti-malware, and firewall

   These applications exist for a reason and that reason is to protect your data. Dedicated applications specifically made for purposes of defending your data are better than any kind of I am careful mentality since sometimes is enough to just visit a website or just click on some link and you are compromised. You can use Windows Defender and firewall if you wish, they are already in Windows but if you are serious about your data and like to surf the internet some better protection is worth the investment.

3. Get a dedicated password manager

   Your password is bad, if you use the same password everywhere then it is even worse. Computers have come a long way in the last 50 years and so have cyber attack applications which make your commonsense passwords extremely vulnerable and all of your accounts open to cyber attacks. Dedicated password managers that can hash passwords and automate them are your safest bet that your passwords will not be compromised, get one, and get it today.

4. Do not click on anything inside emails

   Cyber attacks come in vast variety and one of them is sending you emails informing you that for example your Paypal or anything else has been hacked and that you must click this link to reset your password. These you do not click, no matter how convincing they sound or how good they look, if you need to update your information on a specific service or website, you delete email, open browser and go to that service and change stuff. The same goes with different offers, discounts, women seeking you, men seeking you, prince sending you 1 billion in gold. Only click on links in emails from a trusted and verified source.

5. Do not click on pop-ups

   Similar to clicking on links in emails you should not click on pop-ups, the same rules, same stuff apply as with emails.

6. Be careful what you are downloading

   Be careful from where you download your software and be careful what are you downloading and stop using pirated software, any kind of malicious applications, keyloggers, viruses, etc could be hidden in these downloads, and by downloading them you are opening doors to your private information. Only use legal software from trusted sources.

7. Never leave your phone or computer unattended

   You can never tell who can implement malicious software or get some crucial information from unattended devices, lock them all time and take them with you.

There you go, 7 common tips and tricks for the basic security of your computer. Thank you for reading and I hope to see you again on our site.

Oobesttings error is the blue screen of death error caused by some faulty settings inside the Windows registry. The good news is that this is not a hard error to fix and if by any chance you are one of the unfortunate people getting this dreaded annoying error, please do keep reading because we have several things that you can do in order to eliminate this issue from your computer.

Reboot your system

This is the easiest and straightforward solution and can work sometimes since if the system has not been properly rebooted in a while memory could be filled with various processes and it can trigger oobesettings error. A simple restart of the system can solve the issue by decluttering files and emptying memory.

Scan and repair with SFC

If rebooting the system was not helpful and sadly you still receive an error then let's scan and repair system files by using Windows built-in tool SFC. In order to use this, we will have to run the command prompt in elevated administrator mode. Follow instructions closely. First click on the search icon on the taskbar and type in CMD The command prompt will show as a search result, on the right side click on Run as administrator. Once it opens type in following command: sfc /scannow and press ENTER Wait for the process to finish completely and restart your device after.

Repair the system registry

If the SFC scan has not repaired the issue then we will move to the next solution that involves repairing the system registry itself. Please note that you need to follow step-by-step for provided instructions since playing with the system registry can cause some serious issues if not done properly and can even render the system unstable. That being said, let's begin: Press ⊞ WINDOWS + R to open Windows run dialog Type inside regedit and press ENTER Inside registry editor locate the following key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SYSTEM/CurrentControlSet/Control/Session Manager/ Memory Management. and click on it to see properties Inside the properties right-click on CommitLimit value and choose delete. Confirm with yes. Close registry editor and reboot your computer.

Reset Windows 11

If even clearing key inside the registry editor has not helped next step would be to reset the system itself. Press ⊞ WINDOWS + I to open Windows settings and click on System on the left. Inside on the right part click on Recovery In recovery click on the button next to Reset this PC that says Reset PC Choose between keep my files and remove everything (a better option is remove everything, but be sure that you have all your files on a separate drive backed up) Choose between Cloud Download or Local reinstall. Click on next to confirm choices and after that on Reset to start the reset process. Follow onscreen instructions until it is fully done.

As you know, all computer mouse devices are designed ergonomically for users who are right-handed. Although that’s mostly the case, there are also other mouse devices that are designed specifically for left-handed users or the ones that can be used by either the right or left hand. But before you look for these kinds of mouse devices, there is actually an option you can try so that your mouse device can work with either the left or right hand. All you have to do is configure your mouse device. Aside from setting the device to work on either hand, you can also switch mouse buttons, from left to right, using only a couple of simple steps. As mentioned earlier, most mouse devices are created for right-handed users. Meaning to say, these mouse devices are configured to be right-handed with their primary button on the left and the second one on the right. The primary button is used for certain functions such as selecting and dragging. Now you can configure your mouse to be left-handed by swapping its predefined functionality. How? Refer to each one of the given instructions below.

Option 1 – via Control Panel

• First, go to the Start Menu and search for “control panel” in the Start search.
• Once you see it from the search results, click on it to open it and then go to the Hardware and Sound section.
• From there, click on Mouse under the Device and Printers section. This will open the window for Mouse Properties.
• Now you have to check the Switch primary and secondary buttons box.
• Then click on OK to save the changes made. After that, your primary select button on your mouse device is your right button while the secondary button, also known as right-click, is now the left button.

Option 2 – via Windows 10 Settings

This is the second option you can check out to change the configuration of your mouse from being right-handed to being left-handed.

• First, right-click on the Windows icon and select Search.
• Next, type “mouse” and from the search results that appear, click on Mouse Settings.
• After that, select “Right” from the “Select your primary button” drop-down menu. This should set the mouse device from being right-handed to being left-handed.

Microsoft allows its users to download a copy of Windows to install on PCs. However, when you enter the key after the installation and you got the Activation Error 0xC004F212 instead, then it means that the license key and the Windows version you’ve just installed, do not match. When you encounter this error, you will see the following error message on your screen:

“The product key used on this PC didn’t work with this edition of Windows. Activation Error 0xC004F212.”

Every time Microsoft generates a license for a copy of Windows, it is associated with one particular Windows variant. Windows comes in many editions like Enterprise, Home, Professional, and so on. For instance, if you bought a license for Windows 10 Enterprise but you have installed Windows 10 Professional instead, then the activation will surely fail and you’ll encounter the Activation Error 0xC004F212. You will be asked to select which edition you want to install when you reinstall Windows 10 using a digital license. If you opted for an edition other than the one you are licensed to use, then you will most likely get the Activation Error 0xC004F212. If you have purchased your license key from a store or some website, you might want to check back with them about the exact version of Windows. Doing so will help you narrow down the problem. And if you have second thoughts about the license key’s validity, you can just reach out to a Microsoft Support agent to check the validity of the license key. Also, if have bought it from the store, there should be an option to get a refund. That way you can choose to buy the right version of Windows.

Option 1 – Try running the Windows 10 Activation Troubleshooter

The first thing you can do to resolve the Activation Error 0xC004F212 is to run the Windows 10 Activation Troubleshooter. To do so, follow these steps:

• Go to Settings and then select Activation.
• After that, click on the Windows Activation and then troubleshoot. This will help you address most of the commonly found activation issues in Windows devices.

The Windows 10 Activation Troubleshooter will determine if your license key is a valid Windows 10 digital license for an edition that is not currently installed. If it turns out that it’s not, then the troubleshooter will show you how to install the correct edition.

Option 2 – Try forcing Windows 10 ISO to use the right version

You can also try to force Windows 10 ISO to use the correct version depending on the product key. Note that this option only works between Windows 10 Home and Professional version since they both have a common ISO. So if it’s Enterprise, then this option won’t work for you.

• Extract the Windows 10 ISO files using an extractor.
• Then browse to the folder you created and go to the sources folder.
• From there, you need to create a text file named “PID.txt” and make sure to follow the exact format given below:

[PID] Value=xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx

Note: “xxxxx” is the KEY to your Windows version.

• Next, you need to create the ISO again or bootable media that will repack everything and then create the Media file. You can use the Media Creation tool for this.

Note: Windows will check the key during the installation and will figure out the right version of Windows.

Option 3 – Contact Microsoft Support for assistance

If you’re at your wits’ end in trying to update your Windows 10 computer, you should consider contacting Microsoft Support for help as they can offer you various options that would make fixing Windows Activation Error 0xC004F212 a lot easier and faster.

In case you don’t know, the Windows Script Host provides capabilities such as batch files but it also includes many other features like it can be used by a user manual as well as created by the operating system to automate the flow of operations in the system. However, there are a lot of errors that could take place in such a process. One of them is the following error:

“Script: <PATH of the VBS Script> Line: x Char: x Error: The description of the error. Code: xxxxxxxx Source: (Source of the error)”

At the time of writing, it isn’t clear yet what the root cause of the error really is but there are several potential fixes you can check out to fix it. You can try to run the System File Checker or set the default value for the .vbs key, or troubleshoot the problem in a Clean Boot State. You could also try to repair Install Windows 10 or scan your computer for malware. For more detailed instructions refer to the following options.

Option 1 – Try to run a System File Checker scan

• In the Windows Start Search, type “command prompt” and right-click on Command Prompt from the search results, and then select the “Run as administrator” option.
• After opening Command Prompt with admin privileges, type the “sfc /scannow” and tap Enter to execute it.
• Once the scan is finished, restart your computer and see if the Windows Script Host error.

Option 2 – Try setting the default value for the .vbs key

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box and type “Regedit” in the field and tap Enter to open the Registry Editor.
• Next, navigate to this registry path: ComputerHKEY_CLASSES_ROOT.vbs
• From there, double click on the default string and change its Value data to “VBSFile”.
• Exit the Registry Editor and restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

Option 3 – Try troubleshooting the problem in a Clean Boot State

Setting your computer in a Clean Boot State can help you diagnose and later troubleshoot the problems in your computer. During this state, the system will start with a minimal number of drivers and startup programs that help in isolating the problem with the interfering software. To put your computer in a Clean Boot State, follow the given steps below.

• Log onto your computer 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.)
• From there, start to isolate the problem by checking which one of the programs you installed recently is the root cause of the problem.

Option 4 – Try to repair install Windows 10

• First, you have to click this link and then click the Download Tool Now button.
• Next, click the “Use the tool to create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file)…” option and follow the next given instructions on the screen.
• Now select the ISO file option in step 5.
• After that, you should now have an ISO file.
• Next, go to the location where you’ve downloaded the ISO file.
• Then right-click on the Windows 10 ISO file and select the Open with option and then select File Explorer.
• Now click on “setup.exe” and follow the next instructions that appear on the screen. When asked, you have to select either Nothing (clean install) or Keep personal files only option. Take note that you must not select the “Keep personal files, apps, and Windows settings”.

Option 5 – Try scanning your computer using Windows Defender

It is possible that your computer is infected with malware which could be why you’re getting the Windows Host Script error. 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.

The Windows 10 operating system comes with a user-friendly interface as well as better security features compared to its previous versions. One of these new features is the “Recently Opened Files” feature which displays all the files you’ve opened recently in File Explorer. Although it might seem useful, some users see this as a privacy concern especially if there are other users that use the same computer. If you are one of these users, read on as this post will guide you on how you can disable the “Recently Opened Files” feature in Windows 10. There are three ways you can disable the “Recently Opened Files” feature. You can manually clear the recent files, or disable the feature via Control Panel. You can also do it using the Group Policy Editor.

Option 1 – Manually clear the recent files

The first thing you can do is to clear the recent files manually. Since the information about the recently opened files is stored in the form of cached data, you can locate this data and delete it manually, from time to time. To do that, follow these steps:

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run utility and copy this address in the field: %AppData%MicrosoftWindowsRecent
• Next, tap the Ctrl + A keys to select all the items and then tap the Shift + Delete keys simultaneously.
• After that, a prompt will appear where you have to click on Yes. This will delete all the recently opened files in the File Explorer the next time you open it.

Option 2 – Disable the feature via Control Panel

The next option you can try to disable the feature is via Control Panel. Refer to these steps to do so:

• First, click on the Start Menu button and select the Settings icon.
• After that, click on Personalization and then on Start located on the left pane.
• Next, scroll down until you see the “Show recently opened items” in Jump Lists on the Start or the Taskbar and click on it and then toggle it off.

Option 3 – Disable the feature using the Group Policy Editor

If you are using the Windows 10 Pro version, then you have access to edit the functions in the Group Policy. The Group Policy function has the option that can disable all the default services of Windows 10. Note that in this step, you will permanently disable the “Recently Opened Files” feature. So before you proceed, make sure that you really want to disable this feature permanently and not in the meantime.

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box and type “gpedit.msc” in the field and click OK or tap Enter to open the Group Policy Editor.
• Next, on the left side pane, click on the “User Configuration” option and then click the “Administrative Templates” option.
• After that, select the “Start Menu and Taskbar” option and select the “Don’t keep the history of recently opened documents” option in the right pane.
• Now double click on this option and check the “Enabled” option and then click on Apply and OK buttons to save the changes made.

As you know, networks that are domain-based are common in organizations and companies. These domain-based networks require multiple computers to be controlled through a single node known as a server. And the one that sets certain policies and restrictions on every system that is joined to the domain is the server administrator. So if you want to add your computer to a domain, you need to have the following information available:

• The domain name
• A user account name that’s registered in the active directory associated with the server
• Windows Enterprise, Pro, or education version

In this post, you will be guided on how you can join or remove a domain. To get started, follow the given instructions below.

Option 1 – Joining a domain

• First, you need to connect your computer to the network associated with the server since your computer and the server have to be on the same network.
• Next, click the Start button and then click on the gear-like icon for Settings to open it.
• After that, navigate to this path: Accounts > Access work or school.
• Then click on Connect. This will open a new dialog box and from there, select the “Join this device to a local Active Directory domain” option.
• Afterward, you will be asked to enter the username and password of your domain account.
• Now select your Account type and when you proceed, you have to restart your computer. Your domain account should now be created.

Option 2 – Removing a domain

• You need to open the Windows 10 Settings app.
• And from there, go to this path: Accounts > Access work and school.
• Next, select the account you want to remove from the domain and then click on Disconnect.
• A prompt will then appear that says, “Are you sure you want to remove this account? This will remove your access to resources like email, apps, network, and all content associated with it. Your organization might also remove some data stored on this device”. Just click on Yes.
• This will give you a Disconnect from the organization prompt.
• Now click on Disconnect and select Restart now to restart your computer. This will complete the removal process of the domain.

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.

How to Fix Error Code 0xC004F00F on Your PC

Error Code 0xC004F00F – What is It?

Error Code 0xC004F00F can appear during the Windows 10 installation and activation process. It is a fairly straightforward error code that occurs when a product key is entered in that is unable to be used to complete the final activation of the new operating system. This error code is most commonly related to the installation of new pieces of hardware on a machine that was already running Windows 10 at a previous time.

Error Code 0xC004F00F can also appear on other versions of the Windows software, so if you are not specifically trying to install and activate Windows 10 when this message appears, you may want to contact a qualified Windows technician to help resolve your system error, as the error code has different causes and resolution methods on other versions of the Windows operating system.

Solution

Error Causes

In some cases, Error Code 0xC004F00F will show up if you are attempting to install Windows 10 on a computer in which the hard drive has been replaced or significantly altered. It can also appear when other major pieces of hardware, like the motherboard, have been changed out.  These pieces may be changed as part of an upgrade to new or better hardware or be changed due to the malfunction of the original pieces of equipment. Because it may appear to the Windows activation servers that you are attempting to use the same product code that you have used before to activate what appears to be a new machine (even if the machine is the same one, just with some new parts), you may see Error Code 0xC004F00F arise.

Error Code 0xC004F00F can also come up if you have installed Windows 10 on your machine in the past and have already used the product key that you are attempting to use again.

Further Information and Manual Repair

Error Code 0xC004F00F most commonly appears for users who have made major hardware or software changes done on their machine. Because this error specifically arises from the Windows activation servers believing that your computer is a new one, you’ll need to get in touch with the Windows support team in order to resolve the error. From their database, they will be able to confirm that you are not using a new computer and will be able to bypass the error, allowing you to complete the Windows 10 Activation process.

If you haven’t installed or replaced any of the hardware on the computer, but are still seeing Error Code 0xC004F00F arise during your Windows 10 installation, you will still need to get in touch with the Windows support team to bypass the error code.

Calling the Windows' Support Team

When you call into the Windows support team, you’ll want to specifically have a list of the following information readily available: Which pieces of hardware have been changed out on your computer prior to the installation and activation, what method you were using to install Windows 10, which version of Windows 10 that you were attempting to install, whether it was a single-use or multiple-use license, and basic details about your PC like its make, model, and age.  You may also want to have the product key that you were attempting to use when Error Code 0xC004F00F first appeared.

By having all of this information ready and on hand ahead of time, you’ll have a greater likelihood that your error will be able to be resolved quickly and efficiently, avoiding long periods spent on the phone with customer service. Make sure that you specifically mention that you are experiencing Error Code 0xC004F00F during the Windows 10 activation process when you call into the Windows support team so that you can be connected to a representative who is equipped to help you resolve this specific problem.

Getting a Qualified Technician

If you are not comfortable in working with the Windows support team or have not been able to successfully resolve Error Code 0xC004F00F even after getting in touch with customer support, contact a qualified technician who is familiar with the Windows 10 activation process and can walk you through the things that you will need to communicate to the Windows support team in order to have them bypass or resolve the error code.

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.

Repair Error 0x80070057

Error Code 0x80070057 - What is it?

Error 0x80070057 is a typical Windows 7 error code. It may occur when you try to back up files by using Windows Backup on Windows 7 and the backup fails.  The error message is often displayed as the following:

“An internal error has occurred: The parameter is incorrect: (0x80070057)”

Besides this, you may also experience this error message when you format a hard disk drive to install Windows 7.

Solution

Error Causes

The error 0x8007005 occurs due to multiple reasons. However, the most common causes for this error code include:

• The partition that is reserved for the system is damaged
• Misconfigured registry keys
• Misconfigured decimal symbol settings

Further Information and Manual Repair

Here are some of the best and easy DIY methods to resolve the error 0x80070057 on your PC.

Solution 1: Change the Decimal Symbol Setting

As mentioned above the error 0x80070057 sometimes can be triggered by misconfigured decimal symbol settings. Therefore, try changing the settings to fix the problem. The error is likely to occur if the decimal symbol is not set to ‘.’ (dot). This is common in languages and locales other than English such as German. Here’s what you need to do to change the decimal symbol setting:

• First, open the Control Panel, click the clock, then language, and then region.
• Now click the formats tab and go to the additional settings menu.
• Here you will find the decimal symbol field, now type "." (dot) and then click OK twice.
• After that, you must restart your PC to activate the changes.

Solution 2: Create a New Partition and Reinstall Windows 7

If the error 0x80070057 is linked to partition damage, then this method is the best way to resolve it. Here’s what you need to do:

• Insert the Windows 7 DVD and start the installation.
• Select your language preference to install. Here you will see a screen of the Microsoft License Agreement. Click on the I accept option to proceed with the installation process.

Then click next.

• Choose a custom advance option and select the Disk O partition 1 option.
• Once selected, click delete. When you do this you will be prompted if you want to confirm the deletion, click OK to continue.
• Now repeat the same however now select Disk O partition 2.

Delete this partition as well. Now click New to create a new partition. Here define the disk size and then click apply. Please note, the size of the default value is the maximum size of the disk. After doing so, select disk 0 partition 2 and then click the formatting tab. Once the formatting is complete, click next to continue Now you will be able to complete the installation of Windows 7 on your PC without any problem.

Solution 3: Add a Registry Key Value

If the underlying cause of the error 0x80070057 is a registry issue, then it is serious as such issues can put your PC at serious risks like system failure, crash, and data loss. To resolve this error and add a registry key value here’s what you need to do: Go to the start menu and type Regedit.exe in the search bar and then press enter. Locate and click the following registry sub-key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftSystem. Once you locate it, now go to the edit menu and point to new, and then click DWORD Value. After that, type CopyFileBufferedSynchronousIo and press enter again. Right-click now on the text you just typed and then click Modify. In the Value data box, type 1 and then click ok and exit the registry editor. This will fix the error on a temporary basis but not permanently. However, a long-term solution is to clean and repair the registry.

Solution 4: Restoro

The registry gets cluttered with unnecessary and redundant files like junk files, cookies, internet history, and bad registry keys. If these are not removed timely, they can damage the registry and corrupt DLL files. It often leads to disk fragmentation (disk partition) too. To remove these files immediately, clean and restore the registry and repair the corrupt files, it is advisable to download Restoro.

Why Restoro

• This is an advanced and highly functional Registry Cleaner. It is deployed with a cutting-edge and intuitive algorithm that scans your entire PC to detect all registry issues in seconds. It cleans the cluttered disk and restores the registry back to normal.
• It is safe, bug-free, and efficient. This software is easy to use and compatible with all Windows versions.
• In addition to this, it is also deployed with several other powerful utilities like an antivirus that detects all malicious software and removes them right away. It also functions as a system optimizer and boosts the speed of your PC significantly.

Click here to download Restoro and resolve error 0x80070057 now!