The quickest and easiest way to log into your computer is when you use the PIN feature in Windows 10. Even though it is a bit slower compared to biometric logins such as Fingerprint and Iris scanning that comes under Windows Hello, the PIN feature is definitely less complicated. However, just like any other module of the software, it is also prone to some errors. In this post, you will be guided in fixing several PIN errors such as 0xd00000e5, 0x8007139f, and 0x8009003. These errors could be caused at different points in time like when you change or create a PIN or when you log into your computer. To fix the 0xd00000e5, 0x8007139f and 0x8009003 PIN errors, there are various solutions you can try. You may empty the contents of the NGC folder or remove and change the PIN or the password. You could also use the Group Policy Editor or reset the ACLs in the NGC folder as well as run built-in tools like System File Checker and the DISM tool.

Option 1 – Take ownership of the NGC folder and delete its contents

• Boot your computer first into Safe Mode.
• Next, you need to take ownership of the Ngc folder first and you can do that using Command Prompt.
• Type “command prompt” in the Windows Search bar and then right-click on the relevant search result and select “Run as administrator”.
• After that, if a User Account Control or UAC prompt appears, just click on Yes to proceed.
• Next, type and enter this command: TAKEOWN /F C:WindowsServiceProfilesLocalServiceAppDataLocalMicrosoftNgc
• Note that the <path> is the location of the folder or file in File Explorer.
• Now type and enter this second command: ICACLS C:WindowsServiceProfilesLocalServiceAppDataLocalMicrosoftNgc /grant administrators:F
• Finally, once the command has been executed, restart your computer.
• Once your computer has restarted, delete all the contents in the Ngc folder and check if the error is now fixed.

Option 2 – Try to remove and change the PIN or password

The 0xd00000e5, 0x8007139f, and 0x8009003 PIN errors could be caused by some conflicting issues with the PIN or password you have set for the User Account of your computer. Thus, you have to remove or change the PIN or password to fix these PIN errors.

• Remove the PIN by going to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options.
• From there, go to the PIN section and click on the Remove button.
• You will be asked to verify your account to proceed in removing the PIN, enter your credentials.
• Restart your computer and then set up a new PIN.
• Once you’re done, restart your computer and check if the error is gone now.

Option 3 – Try to use the Group Policy Editor

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run utility and type “gpedit.msc” in the field and tap Enter to open the Group Policy Editor.
• Next, navigate to this policy setting: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Logon
• After that, double click on the “Turn on convenience PIN Sign-in” option located on the right-side panel.
• Then set its radio button to Enabled. You will see the following description when you do so:

“This policy setting allows you to control whether a domain user can sign in using a convenience PIN. If you enable this policy setting, a domain user can set up and sign in with a convenience PIN. If you disable or don’t configure this policy setting, a domain user can’t set up and use a convenience PIN. Note: The user’s domain password will be cached in the system vault when using this feature. To configure Windows Hello for Business, use the Administrative Template policies under Windows Hello for Business.”

• After setting the radio button to Enabled, it will turn on the Logins in your computer using the PIN.
• Close the Group Policy Editor and restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

Option 4 – Try to reset the ACLs in the Ngc folder

• Type “command prompt” in the Windows Search bar and then right-click on the relevant search result and select “Run as administrator”.
• After opening Command Prompt with admin privileges, execute this command: C:/Windows/Service/Profiles/Local/Service/AppData/Local/MicrosoftNgc /T /Q /C /RESET
• The command you entered will start checking for errors and fix them automatically.

Option 5 – Run the System File Checker scan and the DISM tool

System File Checker:

• 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.

• Now restart your computer.

DISM tool:

• Open Command Prompt.
• Then type in the following commands and make sure to hit Enter right after you type each one of them:
  • Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
  • Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
  • Dism /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
• After that, wait until the process is finished and do not close the window as the process will probably take a couple of minutes.
• Once it’s done, restart your computer.

Repair Error 3

What is Error 3?

This is a type of Google Chrome update error code. It indicates a failure to communicate with Google update. The error code is displayed in the following format:

‘Update server not available (error: 3)’

Solution

Error Causes

Error 3 may be triggered by several reasons. These include:

• You are running Vista/ 7 and you have configured Google Chrome to run as an administrator
• Google Update is not registered properly
• Registry issues

Further Information and Manual Repair

Here are some of the best and effective DIY methods to resolve error 3 on your PC without any professional help. You don’t need to be a technical whiz to try these methods.

Method 1

If the reason for the error cause is related to Google Chrome configured as administrator on your PC, then simply run it as a normal user. This is a common issue with Google Chrome auto-updating mechanism.

Method 2

If the problem still persists, then it is advisable to try re-installing Google Chrome. To do this, first, uninstall Google Chrome. Go to the start menu, control panel, and then program and features. Choose Add and Remove Programs and uninstall Google Chrome. To activate changes, reboot your system. Now reinstall Google Chrome by downloading it from Google Chrome’s official website.

Method 3

If error 3 is triggered because Google Chrome is not registered properly, then try this method to fix the issue.

1. First, verify that GoogleUpdate.exe exists in the location specified in the Windows Registry Editor. For this, go to the Start Menu and then type Regedit in the search bar.
2. Now click OK. The registry editor will appear. Now in the tree view on the left, navigate to the following directory:
3. HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID{2F0E2680-9FF5-43C0-B76E-114A56E93598}LocalServer32
4. Make sure the default value corresponds to the location of your GoogleUpdate.exe or GoogleUpdateOnDemand.exe file. Also, verify that these files are located in the given path.
5. For instance, if they are located in different locations, then right-click the default value and select Modify.
6. Enter the correct file path and use double quotation marks for example "C:\Documents and Settings%USERNAME%Local SettingsApplication DataGoogleUpdateGoogleUpdate.exe(or GoogleUpdateOnDemand.exe)"

Method 4

Error 3 may also pop up because of registry issues. These issues occur when the registry gets overloaded with obsolete and unnecessary files like cookies, internet history, bad entries, and junk files. In such an event, it is advisable to download Restoro This is a user-friendly and cutting-edge PC Fixer embedded with a registry cleaner. The registry cleaner removes all the obsolete files instantly and repairs the damaged registry thereby resolving all errors including error 3. Click here to download Restoro and resolve error 3.

BubbleDock is a software developed by Nosibay. It installs a customizable dock at the top of your screen.

It adds registry entities to allow it to start automatically each time your system is rebooted, as well as installing an update checker that will automatically update the software when an update is available. The software also adds various scheduled tasks to start the application at different times, this ensures that once the application is closed, it is re-launched at a later time, making it very hard to keep the software closed permanently.

While the software is running, it will generate ad links in your browser, display sponsored ads, and collect personal information and deliver it back to it’s ad network. While using this software you may see additional ads, banners, links, pop-up ads, and various other sponsored content while browsing the internet.

About Potentially Unwanted Applications

Have you ever found out an unwanted program running on your computer system and wondered exactly how the heck it got there? A PUA / PUP (potentially unwanted application / potentially unwanted program) is actually a piece of software that comes bundled with freeware and you consent to install it on your computer. These are programs you certainly don’t want on your computer since it does not provide any beneficial service. From a technical standpoint, a PUP isn’t “true” malware. An interesting difference between PUP and malware is distribution. Malware is commonly dropped via vulnerability exploitation whereas PUP gets installed with the consent of the user, who purposefully or unwittingly authorizes the PUP installation on their PC. Although a PUP is not malware by definition, it can still be harmful software and put your computer at risk exactly the same way a computer virus does.

Exactly how do PUPs look like?

PUPs come in many forms; however, most of them are adware, which usually displays irritating adverts and advertising banners on internet pages that you’re surfing. PUPs which come as browser add-ons and toolbars are widely recognizable. These toolbars alter your homepage and your default search engine in the installed web browser, track your internet activities, modify your search results with re-directs and sponsored hyperlinks, and eventually slow down your internet browser and diminish your web browsing experience. Potentially Unwanted Programs occasionally act quite much like viruses or spyware. They will carry dialers, keyloggers, as well as other software built right into them that may monitor you or deliver your sensitive details to 3rd parties. Even if the PUPs are not basically malicious, these applications still do practically nothing good on your personal computer – they’ll take precious system resources, slow your PC, weaken your device’s security, and make your PC more susceptible to viruses.

Preventing PUPs

• Study the fine print to be sure the end-user license agreement (EULA) you are accepting is only for the program you actually intend to download. • Never accept standard, express, default, or other installation settings which are recommended. Always opt for custom installation. • Use a good anti-malware program. Try Safebytes Anti-Malware which will spot PUPs and handle them as malware by flagging them for deletion. • Avoid shareware or freeware wherever possible. Disable or get rid of toolbars and browser extensions you don’t actually need. • Don’t download software from popups, online advertising, file sharing sites, as well as other unreliable sources; look out for any pre-set, unwanted features when downloading the program. Avoid heading to blogs and websites that promote pirated programs.

How To Install Safebytes Anti-Malware On An Infected Computer

Practically all malware is inherently unsafe, but certain kinds of malicious software do a lot more damage to your computer than others. Certain malware goes to great lengths to prevent you from downloading or installing anything on your personal computer, particularly antivirus applications. So what should you do if malicious software keeps you from downloading or installing Anti-Malware? There are some solutions you could try to get around with this particular obstacle.

Install in Safe Mode with Networking

Safe Mode is a unique, simplified version of Microsoft Windows where only the bare minimum services are loaded to stop malware and other troublesome applications from loading. In the event, the malicious software is set to load immediately when the PC starts, switching to this mode can prevent it from doing so. In order to enter into Safe Mode or Safe Mode with Networking, press the F8 key while the PC is starting up or run MSCONFIG and look for the “Safe Boot” options under the “Boot” tab. After you restart the PC into Safe Mode with Networking, you may download, install, as well as update the anti-malware program from there. Now, you can run the anti-virus scan to remove computer viruses and malware without interference from another application.

Switch to some other internet browser

Web-based malware could be environment-specific, aiming for a particular internet browser or attacking specific versions of the web browser. If you’re not able to download the security software program using Internet Explorer, this means the virus may be targeting IE’s vulnerabilities. Here, you must switch over to a different browser like Firefox or Chrome to download Safebytes Anti-malware software.

Create a portable USB antivirus for removing viruses

Here’s yet another solution which is creating a portable USB antivirus software that can scan your computer for malware without needing installation. Abide by these steps to run the anti-virus on the affected computer. 1) Use another virus-free computer to download Safebytes Anti-Malware. 2) Plug the Flash drive into the clean computer. 3) Double-click the Setup icon of the antivirus software to run the Installation Wizard. 4) When asked, select the location of the USB drive as the place where you would like to put the software files. Follow the activation instructions. 5) Now, transfer the USB drive to the infected PC. 6) Double-click the antivirus program EXE file on the flash drive. 7) Hit the “Scan Now” button to start the virus scan.

Benefits and Features of SafeBytes Security Suite

To protect your computer from many different internet-based threats, it’s very important to install an anti-malware application on your laptop. However, with so many antimalware companies in the marketplace, these days it’s tough to decide which one you should obtain for your PC. A few of them are excellent, some are ok types, and some will destroy your computer themselves! You should pick one that is efficient, practical, and has a strong reputation for its malware source protection. While considering the highly regarded software programs, Safebytes Anti-Malware is undoubtedly the highly recommended one. SafeBytes anti-malware is a powerful, highly effective protection application intended to help end-users of all levels of computer literacy in identifying and eliminating harmful threats out of their personal computer. After you have installed this software program, SafeBytes' superior protection system will ensure that no viruses or malicious software can seep through your personal computer. There are numerous great features you’ll get with this security product. Let’s check out a few of them below: Live Protection: Malware programs attempting to get into the computer are identified and stopped as and when detected by the SafeBytes real-time protection shields. They’re very efficient in screening and getting rid of different threats since they’re constantly improved with the latest updates and safety measures. Robust Anti-malware Protection: Built upon a greatly acclaimed anti-virus engine, this malware removal tool is able to identify and get rid of many stubborn malware threats like browser hijackers, potentially unwanted programs, and ransomware that other common antivirus applications will miss. Internet Security: SafeBytes gives an instant safety rating about the web pages you’re about to visit, automatically blocking dangerous sites and ensuring that you are certain of your safety while browsing the net. “Fast Scan” Abilities: Safebytes AntiMalware, with its enhanced scanning engine, provides ultra-fast scanning that will promptly target any active online threat. Lightweight: This program is not “heavy” on the computer’s resources, so you will not find any performance problems when SafeBytes is operating in the background. 24/7 Guidance: Expert technicians are at your disposal 24/7! They will quickly fix any technical issues you may be experiencing with your security software.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you wish to manually remove BubbleDock without the use of an automated tool, it may be possible to do so by removing the program from the Windows Add/Remove Programs menu, or in cases of browser extensions, going to the browsers AddOn/Extension manager and removing it. You will likely also want to reset your browser. To ensure the complete removal, manually check your hard drive and registry for all of the following and remove or reset the values accordingly. Please note that this is for advanced users only and may be difficult, with incorrect file removal causing additional PC errors. In addition, some malware is capable of replicating or preventing deletion. Doing this in Safe Mode is advised.

The following files, folders, and registry entries are created or modified by BubbleDock

There are times when you might find it difficult to delete folders or files in File Explorer and it could be due to many reasons. One of these reasons can be attributed to the failure that can lock down the folders or files which prevents you from deleting them. In this kind of situation, you can utilize the Command Prompt to delete the folders, sub-folders, and files on your computer, and in this post, you will be guided on how exactly you can do that. Before you proceed, keep in mind that when you use the Command Prompt incorrectly, it might affect your computer and render it inoperable, thus, you must be extra careful when executing the steps given below and it would also be better if you create a System Restore Point. After that, refer to the following instructions. Step 1: First, in the Start Search, type “command prompt” in the field and from the search results, right-click on Command Prompt and then select the “Run as administrator” option to open Command Prompt with admin privileges. Step 2: After opening Command Prompt as admin, navigate to the folder where the file you want to delete is located. Note that you have to execute the “cd” or the change directory command. Step 3: Next, execute the following command in Command Prompt:

DEL /F /A <file path with extension>

Note: In the given command, “/F” is the force delete command, while “/A” is the command that selects the files with the ready for archiving attribute. Step 4: After that, go to the location where you can find the folder you want to delete by using the “cd” command again. And then execute the following command right after:

RD /S <folder path>

Note: In the given command, “RD” is the command that removes the folder from the directory, while “/S” removes all of its sub-folders and files. On the other hand, if you also use the “/Q” parameter, you won’t see the “Y/N” confirmation but if you didn’t use it, then simply tap the Y button to proceed.

Not a Valid Win32 Application Error

Not a Valid Win32 Application Error - What is it?

Not a Valid Win32 Application error code that indicates either the file or the program you are attempting to run missing or corrupt. And because of this error, Windows is unable to open your desired file or run the program successfully.

Error Causes

The ‘Not a Valid Win32 Application’ is triggered due to multiple reasons such as:

• Unsuccessful program installation due to damaged disc/CD
• Corrupted or incompatible file
• The hard drive is loaded with bad and invalid entries
• Malware invasion or viral infection

When you come across this error code on your PC, it is advisable to resolve it as it will cause you a great deal of inconvenience hampering program and file accessibility. Furthermore, if the error code occurs due to malware or viruses, then it can lead to severe data security threats and privacy issues.

Further Information and Manual Repair

To resolve the Not a Valid Win32 Application error on your PC, you don’t need to be a technical expert or hire a professional. Though this error might be crucial it is easy to fix. Here are some of the many methods that you can try to resolve this error code on your PC:

• Check for File Compatibility

If you downloaded a file that is not compatible with your Windows version then you will come across this error. In this case, it is advisable to download the file version that is compatible and can run easily on the Windows version installed on your system. Nonetheless, if the file is compatible but still doesn’t run on your PC, then it’s possible that the file became corrupt during the download. Try downloading the file again.

• Check if the CD is Clean

You may also come across the Not a valid Win32 application error code if the program installation from the CD is unsuccessful. This happens when the CD is dirty or it is scratched. The program does not copy properly onto the computer from the damaged CD. So, if the CD is scratched and dirty, buy a new CD and try installing the program again.

• Verify the Program You Want to Run is Still on the Computer

If you are running the program from a shortcut, then verify that the program is still installed on your PC. This error may occur if the program is no longer installed on the computer. If you find the program is not installed on your system, then reinstall and try running the program again.

• Wrong File Name Issue

Make sure the program or the file you are attempting to run on your system does not contain the same name as the long filename directory it is saved in. For example, running a file named ‘program’ in the ‘program files’ directory can cause errors in some Windows versions. If this is the issue, then try installing the program in a different directory.

• Repair Hard Drive

If the hard drive is bad or corrupted, it can also generate the not a valid Win32 application. And because of this error files and programs fail to execute successfully as not all data can be read from the hard drive. To repair this issue first you need to run defrag and ScanDisk Microsoft built-in tools. These tools check for errors on the hard drive.

• Run an Antivirus

If the error code occurs due to a viral infection or malware attack on your system, then you must download an antivirus, scan, and remove such malicious software. However, antivirus may slow down the speed of your PC. So, to resolve speed issues and boost the performance of your system, you may have to download a system optimizer. Congratulations, you have just fixed Not a Valid Win32 Application Error In Windows 10 all by yourself. If you would like to read more helpful articles and tips about various software and hardware visit errortools.com daily. Now that’s how you fix Not a Valid Win32 Application Error in Windows 10 on a computer. On the other hand, if your computer is going through some system-related issues that have to get fixed, there is a one-click solution known as Restoro you could check out to resolve them. This program is a useful tool that could repair corrupted registries and optimize your PC’s overall performance. Aside from that, it also cleans out your computer for any junk or corrupted files that help you eliminate any unwanted files from your system. This is basically a solution that’s within your grasp with just a click. It’s easy to use as it is user-friendly. For a complete set of instructions in downloading and using it, refer to the steps below Perform a full system scan using Restoro. To do so, follow the instructions below.

1. 1. 1. Download and install Restoro from the official site.
      2. Once the installation process is completed, run Restoro to perform a full system scan.
      3. After the scan is completed click the “Start Repair” button

Windows users need to be on high alert. Microsoft has confirmed a critical vulnerability has been found in all versions of Windows which presents an immediate threat, and you need to act now. A critical new zero-day hack has been found which affects all Windows versions. Tracked as CVE-2021-34484, the “zero-day” flaw enables hackers to breach all versions of Windows (including Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server 2022) and take control of your computer. Microsoft mistakenly thought it had patched the vulnerability (which was first found in August) when it was publicly disclosed in October. But the fix itself was found to be flawed, something the company admitted, and this drew even more attention to the vulnerability. Microsoft subsequently promised to “take appropriate action to keep customers protected” but two weeks later, a new fix has still not arrived. Luckily the third-party security specialist 0patch has beaten Microsoft to the punch with a ‘micropatch that it has now made available for all Windows users “Micropatches for this vulnerability will be free until Microsoft has issued an official fix," 0patch confirmed. You will need to register for a 0patch account and install its download agent before the fix can be applied, but with 0patch fast becoming a go-to destination for hot fixes which beat software companies to the punch this is a no brainer. Hopes will be high that Microsoft can release an effective patch sooner rather than later but, until then, all Windows users must act now if they want to be safe. Download 0patch here: https://blog.0patch.com/2021/11/micropatching-incompletely-patched.html

SMB which stands for “Server Message Block”, is a protocol used for file sharing. It provides the Read and Writes operating on network devices. Thus, it is why it is widely used when accessing a server-based in Linux. Its latest version is the SMB2 which follows after SMB1. The SMB2 contains more fixes to vulnerabilities that were found in SMB1. The predecessor was vulnerable since it served as a gateway to various modern ransomware which is why Microsoft disabled it by default starting with Windows 10 v1709. When you try to share a file, you will get the following error message:

“Microsoft Windows Network: You can’t connect to the file share because it is not secure. This share requires the obsolete SMB1 protocol, which is unsafe and could expose your system to attack. Your system requires SMB2 or higher.”

In this post, you will be guided on how to check if the SMB2.0 version can be installed on your Windows 10 computer. To get started, follow the steps below. Step 1: Tap the Win + X keys to open the Device Manager. Step 2: After that, click on the Windows PowerShell (Admin) option. Step 3: In the Windows PowerShell window, type the following command and hit Enter:

Get-SmbServerConfiguration | Select EnableSMB2Protocol

Note: After entering the command, you will see the following content on your screen which means that your Windows 10 computer is now capable of running the SMB2 protocol Now all that’s left for you to do is to enable the SMB 2 protocol on your Windows computer by enabling the SMB 1 protocol first and then upgrading it to SMB 2 afterward. Refer to the steps below for more details. Step 1: Tap the Win + I keys to open the Settings app. Step 2: Then type in “control panel” in the search area and click on Control Panel from the search results. Step 3: After opening Control Panel, click on Programs. From there, select the “Turn Windows features on or off” option under the larger menu of Programs and Features. Step 4: After that, Windows Features will appear on your screen. And from there, make sure that you select SMB 1.0/CIFS File Sharing Support and then click on OK. Step 5: Now let it install all the required files and then restart your computer to apply the changes made successfully. After your computer has restarted, the SMB 2 protocol should now be supported on your Windows 10 computer. Note: On the other hand, you can also enter the following command in the Windows PowerShell window. Just make sure you have admin rights to enable it.

Set-SmbServerConfiguration –EnableSMB2Protocol $true

A lot of users connect to the internet are using VPN on their Windows 10 computers which means that their regions could be different from the actual region of their Windows 10 computers. Thus, if you are facing some issues in updating your computer in this kind of environment, specifically the Windows Update error 0x800F0922, you need to follow the tips given in this guide to help you resolve the issue. When you encounter this kind of Windows Update error, you might see either of the following error messages on your screen:

“Windows could not search for updates, Code 0x800F0922 Windows Update encountered an unknown error” Or: “Windows failed to install the update with error 0x800F0922”

This issue might be caused by two possible reasons such as:

1. VPN issues
2. Not enough space on the System Reserved partition

To resolve the problem, here are some tips that might help:

Option 1 – Try disabling the VPN

As mentioned, if you are using VPN, this could be the reason why you’re getting the Windows Update error 0x800F0922 so the most obvious thing to do is for you to turn off the VPN and try to run the Windows Update once more. And if you use a VPN software that works using their software, you can just completely exit or log-off from its account. On the other hand, if you are using a built-in Windows 10 VPN, you can simply turn it off or delete all the settings you have created there. Although it’s understandable that you might have to use a VPN connection to connect to the work network, you really have to disable it at least until the Windows Update is no longer stuck in the error 0x800F0922. It would be best if you do this when you are not working.

Option 2 – Try to free up space in the System Reserved partition

The System Reserved partition is a part of the hard disk created when Windows is first installed on it. It is where the Boot Configuration Database, Boot Manager Code, Windows Recovery Environment, and the reserves space for the startup files are stored. And as mentioned early on, the error might be due to some insufficient space in the System Reserved partition so the next thing you can do is to increase the space in this partition. Note that it is a complex process so you need to make sure that you have made backups to all your data on the computer. So if ever something goes out of hand, at least you have copies of your important files in case you aren’t able to boot into the system at all.

Microsoft has implemented a number of small features in Windows 10 to enhance user productivity. These features make a difference in the overall experience and productivity of users. However, there are times that instead of helping users, these small feature causes some issues instead which causes the computer to function in an unusual way. One of the issues caused by these features is where the Mouse automatically scrolls up or down even without any user intervention. This can get really annoying especially when you’re doing an important task on your computer. So if this bug takes place repeatedly, it can make your computer unusable. If you are currently facing this problem, worry not for this post will guide you on what to do to fix the mouse auto-scrolling issue in your Windows 10 computer. Use the options provided below to fix the mouse auto-scrolling issue.

Option 1 – Try to toggle the appropriate Mouse 10 setting

• Tap the Win + I keys to open the Settings app.
• After that, navigate to Devices > Mouse.
• From there, toggle the “Scroll inactive windows when I hover over them” setting to off.
• Now restart your computer and see if the issue is resolved.

Option 2 – Try to uninstall the installed Windows Updates recently

The mouse issue might have something to do with a recent update you have installed on your computer. It is possible that there are some recently installed updates that have messed up some settings in your computer. Thus, you can try to uninstall this recent Windows Update to try and fix the problem. Not that the best way to do this is in Safe Mode.

• Boot your computer into Safe Mode first.
• Once your computer has restarted, tap the Win + I keys to open the Settings app.
• Next, click on Update and Security, and from the left side menu column, select Windows Update.
• After that, select the “View installed update history” option on the right-side column.
• Then click on Uninstall Updates. This will open a window where you’ll see the list of all the installed updates on your computer.
• Select the update you want to uninstall and click on the Uninstall button located in the lower-right corner of the window.

Option 3 – Try to run System Restore

You might have made some adjustments in your computer’s settings that caused the issue with the mouse. You can undo those changes using System Restore.

• Tap 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 then check if your mouse is now back to its normal state.

If you suddenly encounter an error saying, “Something happened and this app couldn't be installed. Error Code: 0x80244018”, when trying to install apps on your Windows 10 computer, then you’ve come to the right place as this post will help you in resolving the problem. It’s not just you that’s experiencing this problem right now as several users also reported getting this error they try to apply a Windows update or download and install the application from Microsoft Store. There could are several reasons why you’re getting this error. It could be caused by a third-party application, or it could be that the update is blocked by your VPN or proxy server, or that the BITS service is disabled. In addition, the error could also be due to some glitch in the component services or it could be that the system files are corrupted. Whatever the cause is, you can fix the error by following any of the given options below.

Option 1 – Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter

Running the Windows Update Troubleshooter can help in fixing Error Code 0x80244018. To run it, go to Settings and then select Troubleshoot from the options. From there, click on Windows Update and then click the “Run the troubleshooter” button. After that, follow the next on-screen instructions and you should be good to go.

Option 2 – Put your PC in a Clean Boot State

It could be that some third-party application is the one that’s causing the problem so it’s best if you put your computer in a Clean Boot state. During this state, you can start the system with a minimum number of drivers and startup programs that will surely help you in isolating the root cause of the issue.

• 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 that, try to install the Windows app again.

Note: If you are able to install the app without any trouble at all then it means that the error is caused by some third-party application on your computer. You need to look for the culprit and uninstall it once you found it.

Option 3 – Restart BITS

The Background Intelligent Transfer Service or BITS is a part of the Windows Update service and is the one that manages the background download of Windows Update, as well as scans for new updates and so on. And if Windows Update is experiencing some problems, you can try restarting BITS but make sure that you have admin privileges to do so.

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Next, type “services.msc” in the field and hit Enter to open Windows Services.
• From the list of Services, look for the Background Intelligent Transfer Service and double-click on it to open Properties.
• After that, you need to set the Startup type to “Automatic (Delayed Start) and click on Apply.
• Now click the Stop button to stop BITS and then click the Start button to restart the service.
• Click OK to save the changes made and then restart your PC.

Option 4 – Disable the Proxy server

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Then type “inetcpl.cpl” in the field and hit Enter to pull up the Internet Properties.
• After that, go to the Connections tab and select the LAN settings.
• From there. Uncheck the “Use a Proxy Server” option for your LAN and then make sure that the “Automatically detect settings” option is checked.
• Now click the OK and the Apply buttons.
• Restart your PC.

Note: If you are using a third-party proxy service, you have to disable it.

Option 5 – Try disabling the VPN

As mentioned, if you are using VPN, this could be the reason why you’re getting Error Code 0x80244018 so the most obvious thing to do is for you to turn off the VPN and try to run the Windows Update once more. And if you use a VPN software that works using their software, you can just completely exit or log-off from its account. On the other hand, if you are using a built-in Windows 10 VPN, you can simply turn it off or delete all the settings you have created there. Although it’s understandable that you might have to use a VPN connection to connect to the work network, you really have to disable it at least after you’ve successfully installed the app.

Option 6 – Reset Windows Update components

• Open Command Prompt with admin privileges.
• After that, type each one of the following commands and hit Enter after you key in one after the other.
  • net stop wuauserv
  • net stop cryptsvc
  • net stop bits
  • net stop msiserver

Note: The commands you entered will stop the Windows Update components such as Windows Update service, Cryptographic services, BITS, and MSI Installer.

• After disabling WU components, you need to rename both the SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2 folders. To do that, type each one of the following commands below, and don’t forget to hit Enter after you type one command after the other.
  • ren C:WindowsSoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
  • ren C:WindowsSystem32catroot2 Catroot2.old
• Next, restart the services you’ve stopped by entering another series of commands. Don’t forget to hit Enter after you key in one command after the other.
  • net start wuauserv
  • net start cryptsvc
  • net start bits
  • net start msiserver
• Close Command Prompt and reboot your PC.

Option 7 – Run the System File Checker Scan

System File Checker or SFC is a built-in command utility that helps in restoring corrupted files as well as missing files. It replaces bad and corrupted system files with good system files that might be the cause why you’re getting the Error Code 0x80244018. 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 PC.

Option 8 – Run the DISM tool

You can also run the DISM Tool as it helps in repairing the Windows System Image as well as the Windows Component Store in Windows 10. Using this built-in tool, you have various options such as the “/ScanHealth”, “/CheckHealth”, and “/RestoreHealth” which could help in fixing the Error Code 0x80244018.

• Open the Command Prompt with admin privileges.
• Then type in the following commands and make sure to hit Enter right after you type each one of them:
  • Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
  • Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
  • exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
• Do not close the window if the process takes a while as it will probably take a few minutes to finish.