Regional reports from an exposition in Chengdu indicate Bitmain has unveiled a new scrypt ASIC rig for dogecoin, litecoin, digibyte, and verge mining. The Chinese reporter who disclosed the information says the new Bitmain model has a hashrate of around 9,500 megahash per second (MH/s) and overseas prices are reduced by 13%. Bitmain Unveils New Scrypt Miner With 9.5 Gigahash According to the Chinese journalist Colin ‘Wu’ Blockchain, Bitmain has revealed a new scrypt coin mining device that packs a lot more hashrate than the company’s previous model. Wu tweeted out the news on Saturday after Bitmain showed off the specifications at an exposition held in Chengdu. “On June 19th, Bitmain released the new Litecoin/Dogecoin mining machine L7,” the China-based reporter tweeted. “With a hashrate of 9,500 MH/s and 3425W, equivalent to 19 sets of L3+, and the price is $15,000, [the] overseas purchase price is reduced by 13%. The delivery time is November 2021,” he added. Moreover, Wu also said that Bitmain had shown off its “5nm-based Bitcoin water-cooled mining machine and a preview of the Dash mining machine D7.” Photo via Colin ‘Wu’ Blockchain from Twitter. The news from Bitmain follows the company’s unveiling of the Antminer E9 ethereum mining rig at the end of April. The device is not for sale yet and E9 prices have not been announced. “[The] Antminer E9 ethereum miner. Equivalent to 32 – 3080 graphics cards, Equipped with a hashrate of 3 GH/s,” Bitmain explained at the time. The new scrypt miner from Bitmain follows the October 2017 release, the Antminer L3+ which produces around 600 MH/s. Presently, the Innosilicon brand A6+ Ltcmaster is the most profitable scrypt miner on the market today with 2,200 MH/s. A single A6+ Ltcmaster will give an owner $26 per day in profit using today’s exchange rates and $0.12 per kilowatt-hour. Using the same electricity rate and today’s crypto prices for the most profitable scrypt coins, the Bitmain L3+ can rake in around $6.35 per day in profit. If the specifications revealed by the Chinese journalist Colin ‘Wu’ Blockchain and the screenshot Wu shared as well are correct, the new Bitmain scrypt miner will be the most powerful on the market once it is released to the public. For some perspective, the upcoming Bitmain scrypt ASIC machine would be more than four-times more powerful than Innosilicon’s A6+ Ltcmaster. 9,500 megahash per second is equivalent to 9.5 gigahash per second (GH/s) and the Innosilicon machine captures 2.2 GH/s.

Over the last few weeks, there have been many reports about crackdowns in China tied to bitcoin mining operations in various provinces. 30-day statistics show the hashrate has been fluctuating wildly, and across the last week it has slid downward roughly 26%. Reports Show Bitcoin Mining Crackdowns in Five Chinese Provinces Despite the slide, the top three mining pools in the world, which represent roughly 41% of the hashrate today, are considered Chinese mining pools. This doesn’t necessarily mean the mining pools actually host physical bitcoin mining facilities in mainland China, however. How much hashrate resides in China is the million-dollar question these days. Especially after Beijing’s crackdown on the mining industry and the following bans in a number of provinces. Five provinces in China have seen bitcoin mining bans. The mandates first appeared in Inner Mongolia, as reports surfaced during the first week of March 2021. Then on June 9, 2021, a report disclosed that specific bitcoin miners in Xinjiang had been instructed to shut down. Another mandate appeared for crypto miners in Qinghai province. After Qinghai province, authorities in Yunnan cracked down on bitcoin mining operations in that region as well. Bitcoin (BTC) hashrate on June 19, 2021, according to 30-day stats. Then, while everyone was waiting to hear about Sichuan, following the May 31 report that notified the public a meeting was taking place, the news finally came. Officials in Sichuan sent notice to bitcoin miners in the province to shut down by June 25. Existing Hashrate Reference Maps and Faults Found in Assumptions Hashrate charts show during the last seven days, the Bitcoin network hashrate has slipped and currently hovers a hair above the 100 exahash per second (EH/s) zone. The issue is no one is quite sure exactly how much hashrate resides in China, and how many operations are forced to migrate. The Cambridge Center for Alternative Finance index map otherwise referred to as CBECI. The CBECI map has not been updated since April 2020. Many mainstream reports pointed to the Cambridge Center for Alternative Finance index map, otherwise known as CBECI. The unreliable CBECI map hasn’t been updated since April 2020 and the map indicates 65% of the hashrate is in China. The Cambridge Center for Alternative Finance index map otherwise referred to as CBECI. The CBECI map has not been updated since April 2020. The CBECI data also has significant limitations toward estimation, as it only collects data from three large pools and the “aggregate geo-location data based on the IP addresses of hashers connecting to mining pools.” Cambridge further notes that “hashers in certain locations use virtual private networks (VPNs) or proxy services to hide their IP address and thus location.” Moreover, at any given time, a large number of stealth miners have been known to dedicate hashrate to the BTC network. These stealth miners, otherwise dubbed as “unknown” in hash distribution pie charts, make up around 6% of the network hashrate this weekend. At times, during the last few years, mystery miners have gathered more than 20% of the hashrate. The web portal digiconomist.net is similar, as it shows an unreliable chart with shares of the Bitcoin network’s hashrate, but it too has not been updated since April 2020. In China, digiconomist.net’s survey shows operations in Beijing, Nei Mongol, Guangdong, Qinghai, Yunnan, Sichuan, Shanxi, Guizhou, Gansu, Ningxia, Shaanxi, Zhejiang, and Hebei. The web portal digiconomist.net’s hashrate share by country chart has not been updated since April 2020. There’s also a published study from Coinshares, which highlighted that 74% of the world’s bitcoin mining operations were driven by renewable energy in 2019. The in-depth report does contain a survey of a number of mining locations around the world and includes a map. A Coinshares map published in a bitcoin mining report back in 2019. The Coinshares’ map is fairly basic but conveys the general idea that there’s a large portion of miners in China and specifically Sichuan. Between the CBECI map, digiconomist.net chart, and Coinshares’ report we still don’t have an up-to-date percentage of how many miners are located in China. However, there’s a recent report from July 15, 2020, published by Bitooda with support from asset manager Fidelity Investments that cuts China’s hashrate down to 50% from previous estimates. The most recent geographical study on hashrate location stems from a Bitooda report with support from Fidelity Investments. The Bitooda report, published in July 2020, shows China’s hashrate percentage is only 50%. This figure shows the geographic distribution of surveyed mining capacity vs the estimated 9.6GW total capacity. Additionally, faults in the assumptions underpinning the digiconomist.net data have been found. In 2018, another Coinshares’ study had shown criticism toward the Digiconomist’s BECI and noted there was a large discrepancy regarding the total energy consumption data. This Bitooda-created pie chart shows the geographic distribution of surveyed mining capacity vs. Estimated 9.6GW total capacity. The Bitooda report published on July 15, 2020. Hashrate Distribution and Ostensible Headquarters Finally, the public does have access to data from hashrate distribution by pool names. The top five dominant mining pools today are Antpool, Viabtc, F2pool, Btc.com, and Poolin. In terms of hashrate percentage, below Poolin is Binance Pool, an unknown entity, and Foundry USA, respectively. Three-day hashrate distribution for the Bitcoin (BTC) blockchain on June 19, 2021, according to Btc.com stats. Measuring data this way is faulty because not all pools are hard operations, as many pools are a mix of hashpower from physical facilities and miners from all around the world pooling computing power with the pool. There is no known location for Binance Pool and Poolin says its operation is headquartered in Hong Kong. Annual hashrate distribution for the Bitcoin (BTC) blockchain on June 19, 2021, according to Btc.com stats. The mining pool Antpool (top, blue) has seen a 60% increase in hashpower across the last 12 months. Poolin’s website details that it does have offices in Beijing, Chengdu, and Changsha, China. Bitmain’s Antpool says its headquarters is in China, and Viabtc’s records and F2pool (formally known as Discus Fish) also show China-based headquarters. Btc.com’s records indicate the mining company’s headquarters resides in Amsterdam. Roughly 41% of the hashrate could be considered as being from Chinese pools, but we cannot be sure of how much of this hashpower actually stems from mainland China. As stated previously, Chinese bitcoin mining pools are not necessarily located in China. Fact is, figuring out exactly how much bitcoin hashrate resides in mainland China is still a puzzle. Look out for the follow-up to this comprehensive report that covers the complete landscape of Bitcoin hashrate distribution over the last 12 years.

H-E-B shoppers will soon be able to obtain digital assets at more than two dozen locations in Texas. Coin Cloud, a crypto automated teller machine (ATM) provider, says 29 H-E-B stores will feature kiosks that provide access to more than 30 crypto assets including defi tokens and stablecoins. H-E-B Stores in Texas to Host Coin Cloud Digital Currency ATMs 29 H-E-B locations will soon have cryptocurrency ATMs at their disposal. The machines will be provided by Coin Cloud, a digital currency ATM provider based in Las Vegas, Nevada. Coin Cloud calls its devices “digital currency machines” or “DCMs.” The company is set to reach 2,000 DCM installations after the H-E-B locations are complete. Besides H-E-B grocery stores, Coin Cloud has partnerships with the National Alliance of Trade Associations, United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI), and CAL’s Convenience Store. The DCMs are stretched across the United States and countries in South America as well. In the U.S., Coin Cloud has crypto machines in states like Delaware, Texas, Oregon, New Jersey, California, Kansas, Arizona, Oklahoma, Illinois, Ohio, Tennessee, and more. According to a report from the Houston Chronicle, a H-E-B grocery store chain executive confirmed that 29 stores will start the pilot program. Most of the Coin Cloud H-E-B-based DCM kiosks will be located in the Houston area. Coin Cloud crypto machines accept both debit and credit cards, alongside cash. The announcement on Friday revealed that over the last six months, Coin Cloud has installed 750 DCMs. “We’re thrilled to reach this juncture of our business, as our growth is a tangible representation of interest in digital currencies and of Coin Cloud’s mission to provide communities with seamless options to buy and sell,” Chris McAlary, the founder and CEO of Coin Cloud, remarked. “As we continue to expand, retailers will become increasingly aware of the important role digital currency plays in the future.” According to coinatmradar.com statistics as of June 19, 2021, there are approximately 21,842 cryptocurrency automated teller machines installed worldwide. Other crypto ATM providers competing in Texas for ATM real estate include Coinsource, Rockitcoin, and Bitaccess.

According to local media, leading South African financial institution FNB is denying allegations of a banking relationship with the recently collapsed crypto investment company, Africrypt. FNB also insists it did not enable the investment company’s transactions which helped Africrypt’s two directors disappear with billions of dollars in investor funds. Disappearance of Investor Funds The financial institution’s denial comes nearly two months after Africrypt abruptly stopped operating. At that time, the crypto investment firm’s management claimed Africrypt’s trading system had been breached. This breach compromised client accounts, wallets, and nodes, thus forcing Africrypt to freeze all accounts, the directors claimed. However, shortly after the so-called breach, Africrypt directors Ameer Cajee and his brother Raees Cajee are alleged to have “transferred the crypto investment’s pooled funds from its South African account(s) through bitcoin on the blockchain in April 2021.” South African media reports estimate that as much as $3.6 billion in investor funds cannot be accounted for. Meanwhile, in his response to a media inquiry, FNB spokesperson Nadiah Maharaj refused to acknowledge the existence of any relationship between FNB and Africypt. According to a media report, Maharaj, who cites client confidentiality restrictions, stated: FNB once again confirms that it does not have a banking relationship with Africrypt. Due to client confidentiality, FNB cannot provide any information on specific bank accounts. Use of Crypto Mixers An investigation by local media suggests that after successfully siphoning investors’ funds, the Cajee brothers fled to the United Kingdom. These findings are also corroborated by another investigation by Hanekom Attorneys, a law firm that has been retained by victims of the Africrypt fraud. In addition to these findings, the law firm’s investigations further reveal that Africrypt directors had used mixers in an attempt to obfuscate the flow of the funds. While the case has now been reported to the Hawks (South Africa’s elite police unit), the founder of the law firm, Darren Hanekom, is quoted in the report as suggesting Africrypt’s accounts with FNB have already been “drained” and that “the entirety of investors’ funds” may have been subjected to the mixing service.

India’s Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has arrested a Mumbai resident known as “crypto king,” who allegedly used bitcoin to purchase narcotics on the dark web. Indian cryptocurrency exchange Wazirx says the accused is not one of its customers. ‘Crypto King’ Arrested in India A Mumbai resident, Makarand Pardeep Adivirkar, also known as “crypto king” in the country’s underground drug circuit, has been arrested by India’s Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). He allegedly used bitcoin to purchase drugs on the dark web that were delivered to India from Europe. Sameer Wankhede, director of the Mumbai Unit of NCB, explained that “In November 2020, a team of NCB Mumbai had seized 20 LSD blots from Kharodi Village in Malad,” local media reported. The director was further quoted as saying: The seized psychotropic substance was purchased from Europe by using bitcoin by a drug peddler from Mumbai. “His modus operandi was to receive cash, and provide bitcoins on marginal profits by using his wallet that was used to purchase drugs from the darknet,” the NCB described. Following reports that the crypto king may have used Indian cryptocurrency exchange Wazirx to facilitate his drug purchases, the exchange issued a statement clarifying that he is not its user. Wazirx tweeted: “On June 11, 2021, Wazirx had received an email from the NCB enquiring about the said accused and his trading activity on Wazirx. Upon checking our records, we identified that the accused is not a Wazirx user, and we communicated the same to the authorities on June 12, 2021.” The exchange continued: “That being said, we want to reiterate that Wazirx follows global best practices on KYC and AML compliances and has a robust transaction monitoring system in place. We perform a stringent KYC verification of every user to verify their identity as well as perform a secondary KYC verification through linked bank accounts of users before allowing a customer to transact on Wazirx.” The exchange stressed:

The System Service Exception in Windows 10 is a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD). Unlike in older versions of Windows, the BSOD now has useful information for fixing your computer. In this article, we'll examine the SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION error, why it happens, what you can do to fix it, and how to stop it happening again. What Is a System Service Exception Error? A SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION error happens for a few reasons: graphic user interface errors, corrupted system files, and issues with outdated or corrupt drivers amongst others. Given that there is such a range of potential SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION causes, there are also several methods for fixing the issue. Some might fix your Windows system errors, while others won't. The main course of action is updating drivers and checking your Windows 10 file system for errors, but you should work through the list below until the SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION error disappears for good. How to Fix a System Service Exception Error 1. Update Windows 10 The first thing to do is check that Windows 10 is completely up to date. Outdated system files can cause unexpected errors. Checking for a pending update is a quick and easy way to figure out if that is what is causing your issue. Hit Windows key + I to open the Settings panel. Now, head to Update & Security, then check under Windows Update for any pending updates. If there is an update, save any important files, then press Restart now. Your system will reboot during the process. 2. Update System Drivers Windows Update keeps your system drivers up to date. Automating the process means your system drivers are less likely to fall behind their recommended version---but that doesn't mean some won't fall through the gaps. At other times, Windows doesn’t use the correct driver version. To check your latest automatic driver updates, head to Update & Security > Windows Update > View update history. Recent driver updates appear here. Now, type device manager in the Start menu search bar and select the best match. Head down the list and check for an error symbol. If there is nothing, your driver status is likely not the source of the issue. If there is a yellow "alert" symbol, open the section using the dropdown arrow, then right-click the problem-driver and select Update driver. Select Search automatically for updated driver software to let Windows automate the update process for you. Otherwise, you can use a third-party tool to update all your system drivers simultaneously. Check out this list of free tools you can use to fix a majority of Windows problems. The first two options---IOBit's Driver Booster and Snappy Driver Installer---do exactly this. 3. Run CHKDSK Next up, try running Windows Check Disk from the Command Prompt. CHKDSK is a Windows system tool that verifies the file system and with certain settings, fixes issues as it runs. It helps with many Windows errors, including the DPC WATCHDOG stop code. Type command prompt in your Start menu search bar, then right-click the best match and select Run as administrator. (Alternatively, press Windows key + X, then select Command Prompt (Admin) from the menu.) Next, type chkdsk /r and press Enter. The command will scan your system for errors and fix any issues along the way. 4. Run SFC System File Check is another Windows system tool that checks for missing and corrupt Windows system files. Sounds like CHKDSK, right? Well, SFC checks for Windows system files specifically, while CHKDSK scans your entire drive for errors. But before running the SFC command, it is best to double-check that it is completely functional. DISM stands for Deployment Image Servicing and Management. DISM is an integrated Windows utility with a vast range of functions. In this case, the DISM Restorehealth command ensures that our next fix will work properly. Work through the following steps. Type Command Prompt (Admin) in the Start menu search bar, then right-click and select Run as administrator to open an elevated Command Prompt. Type the following command and press Enter: DISM /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth Wait for the command to complete. The process can take up to 20 minutes depending on your system health. The process seems stuck at certain times, but wait for it to complete. When the process completes, type sfc /scannow and press Enter. 5. Install the Official Windows Hotfix There is an official Windows hotfix for the SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION error. However, the hotfix relates to a stop code that defines a specific SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION issue. The stop code is 0x0000003B, and it relates to IEEE 1394 devices; in other words, FireWire and similar branded versions of the interface standard. Head to the Microsoft hotfix page and select the Hotfix Download Available link. Follow the onscreen instructions (requires email details to send the hotfix to you). When the hotfix arrives in your email account (it is instantaneous), use the link at the bottom of the page to download the file. Once downloaded, double-click the file. The auto-extraction file suggests C:/ as the default location. However, I would add "hotfix" to the file path, (e.g., C:/hotfix) to make it easier to find the unpacked file. Next up, navigate to the extracted file, then right-click and select Run as Administrator to complete the process. 6. Last Resort: Reset Windows 10 If nothing else works, you can use Windows 10's Reset function to refresh your system files. Windows 10 Reset replaces your system files with a completely fresh set of files and theoretically clears lingering issues relating to your SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION error while keeping the majority of your important files intact. This can also help fix the Bad System Config Info error. Head to Settings > Update and Security > Recovery, then under Reset this PC select Get started. Your system restarts as soon as you hit the button, so make sure you to backup any important files beforehand. Your system will restart, then you may select Keep my files or Remove everything. System Service Exception Error: Fixed and Eradicated! One of these fixes or a combination of them will resolve your SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION error, leaving your system BSOD free. If not, there is another short solution you can try: Work your way through your recently installed programs, uninstalling each one until the issue resolves. Some programs have an unwelcome habit of causing certain system process to crash.

They say your life flashes before your eyes before you (think you) die. When I realized my hard drive was failing, it was a little like that. All I could think of were the hundreds of photos I didn't have a backup of. I was determined to bring them back and I succeeded; sort of. If your hard disk drive has failed, this guide will help you with the repair and data recovery. (If the device is fine, these five methods will help you get data off the hard drive.) Are you looking for help with a failed solid state drive? It's best to turn to an expert right away. My Dead Hard Drive Story Several years ago, I experienced a hard drive failure. My laptop acted strangely. When the problems persisted after a reboot, I knew it was more than an overstretched RAM. I immediately started to back up recent files. About half an hour later, the hard drive failed audibly and the laptop wouldn't boot anymore. I had backups, but not of everything. Just weeks earlier my backup drive had reached capacity. To back up important work files, I had decided to delete my personal photos. Ironically, I had already purchased a new external drive, but I had not taken the time to create a full backup. Now my photos were lost and I was devastated. Over the next couple of weeks, I researched ways to recover the data and considered doing everything under the sun---and did most of it---to revive the old hard drive. This article is the result of that effort. External Hard Drive? Check the Enclosure and Cables When your external hard drive fails, it can do so for all the same reasons an internal drive can fail. Sometimes, however, it's not the drive that stops working, but a connection within the enclosure! And in that case, the drive is easy to revive. Before you open up any hardware, be sure to discharge your body's static electricity, i.e. ground yourself. Remove the hard drive from its casing and use an IDE/SATA data cable and power connector to install the drive internally on your desktop computer. Alternatively, you can get an IDE/SATA to USB adapter or a new USB enclosure, so you can hook the drive up externally via USB. Image Credit: ivonnewierink/DepositPhotos The image above shows a SATA connector (front) and an IDE connector (back). Once you re-connected the external drive to your computer, given the enclosure was the culprit, Windows should recognize it and assign a drive letter. The drive should pop up under File Explorer > This PC. You can also check under Disk drives in the Device Manager (press Windows + X to find the option). If the drive didn't show up anywhere, you can try to manually find your drive to further narrow down the issue; the process is described further down. Internal Hard Drive? Check All Cable Connections Sometimes, it's not the drive that failed, but the physical connection of cables that connect the drive with the computer's motherboard. You can only wish that this is your problem! So before you hire someone, make sure the data and power cables are firmly connected on both ends. To prevent hazards to your health, it's essential to turn off the computer and unplug the power cord. As mentioned above, you also need to discharge your body's static electricity, i.e. ground yourself before you get working on your computer's internals. Then open up the case and make sure all connections are OK. Our guide on how to physically install an internal hard drive shows which connections to watch out for. Once you have made sure the connections are OK, boot the computer again. If you have a desktop computer, you can leave the case open, but stay clear of its interior. Does Your Hard Drive Make Sounds? As you are trying to get the hard drive to run, listen to the sound it is making. Is it completely dead? Or is it still spinning? What exactly does it sound like? Compare your sound to the list of hard drive sounds provided by Data Cent. This will help you diagnose the type of damage. Image Credit: andreyuu/DepositPhotos The damage can be either internal or external. A clicking sound, for example, suggests the head may be malfunctioning, i.e. internal damage. A completely dead drive, on the other hand, could be due to a faulty printed circuit board (PCB), which would be external damage. Does Windows Recognize Your Hard Drive? Sometimes, you can hear your drive spinning, but it never pops up. Or maybe it's completely dead. To pinpoint the type of damage, try to manually check whether or not your computer recognizes the drive. You can do this via the BIOS in case it's the primary hard drive and your computer no longer boots. After you turn on the computer, enter the BIOS by pressing a trigger key, which could be Del, Esc, F2, or F10, depending on the manufacturer. Within the BIOS, navigate through the available menus to find where it lists which types of drives are connected to the computer. You should find this information under the Advanced menu, but you might also find it indirectly under Boot settings. If you have hooked up the drive to another computer, you don't need to access the BIOS at all. In Windows, click the key combination Windows + R, which will launch the Run input window. Type cmd into the field and hit Enter. This will open the Command Prompt. Here type diskpart and hit Enter, to open the respective tool. In the diskpart window, type list volume and hit Enter to show all drives connected to your computer. If Windows recognized your drive, meaning it appears under diskpart, but doesn't show up as an accessible drive, chances are Windows only recognizes the PCB, but the drive itself is damaged (internal damage). In other words, if the drive is recognized in any shape or form, the PCB is most likely working and replacing it will not fix the hard drive! Is the Printed Circuit Board Broken? Technically, the external PCB is relatively easy to replace. However, we strongly advise against swapping out the PCB yourself. It's not as simple as finding a matching model. Unless your hard drive is ancient, the PCB and disk will use a unique microcode to communicate. If you replace a PCB of a drive that requires this microcode to boot, you could permanently damage your data. Image Credit: firstblood/DepositPhotos According to Datarecovery.com, specialists can "copy, rewrite, or repair the micrcode using advanced equipment." Witchcraft and Wizardry When my hard drive failed, the PCB was fine; the drive was still recognized and spinning, but it didn't show up in Windows, meaning I could not access it, and no software recovery tool could help me, either. So I put my last hope into some of those obscure tricks that you'll find floating around the internet, like shaking the drive, hitting it onto a hard surface, exposing it to dry heat in the oven, or sticking it in the freezer overnight. If you have any idea how a hard drive works, then all of these methods should give you the shivers! Image Credit: foxiedelmar/DepositPhotos Well, I didn't dare to melt my drive, but my suspicion was that the head was stuck. So I did shake it; to no avail. Since I could follow the reasoning, I also wrapped my drive in an airtight Ziploc back and stuck it in the freezer overnight. The idea is that low temperatures cause metals to shrink and contract. So if the head was stuck, the cold might get it unstuck. Unfortunately, that didn't work either. And I probably caused condensation to settle on the hard drive platter, which could have caused a lot more damage. I eventually gave up and stored the drive for a future in which I was hoping to be able to afford professional data recovery. Backup Strategy Advice Should you succeed with one of the questionable methods above, note that the fix will be temporary! So be prepared. Know exactly what you want to back up and how. Have the right backup software to quickly copy your data and have enough storage space available. If you want to copy files manually, only copy one set of files at a time! If you make the head jump back and forth between too many files by kicking off multiple copy-and-paste processes, you will slow down the overall backup process and increase the likelihood of a fatal head crash. Consult a Specialist for Professional Data Recovery If you can afford professional help or simply cannot afford to wait for a miracle, do consult a specialist. My recommendation is to go with a reputable company. They should work with professional technicians and tools, be able to open your hard drive in clean rooms or under dust-free conditions, follow industry standards, and have solid credentials, as well as excellent recommendations. After all, you will trust them with your private data. Kroll Ontrack, one of the most reputable companies in the market, offers a free consultation and cost evaluation. Before you pick a company, be sure you understand the conditions! Most charge just for looking at the drive and making a recommendation. They will charge extra for actually attempting to recover the data. Some will charge a full recovery fee, even if they failed to recover the data. Revive Your Drive Diagnosing and fixing a broken hard drive is serious business. Do take it seriously, but also try to exclude some of the more simple-to-fix culprits before you fork out hundreds of dollars to a specialist. The more you know, the better. How far you go to diagnose and fix your hard drive will depend on how important the data is for you. WD 4TB Elements Portable External Hard Drive HDD, USB 3.0, Compatible with PC, Mac, PS4 & Xbox - WDBU6Y0040BBK-WESNBUY NOW ON AMAZON You probably wonder what happened with my hard drive. Well, one fine day, when I was dissolving my apartment, I decided to give it one last chance and then let go of it. More than two years after I had tried everything I dared to get it to work, again and again for weeks, I just plugged it in and it simply worked. I recovered all my data. The drive actually continued to work for many more years. Call me lucky! Even if you managed to repair your drive and recovered all your data, I would not trust this hard drive again. Here's what you can do with your old hard drive and here's what you should know while buying a new hard drive.

If your computer fans frequently hit top speeds, it's a sign that your CPU usage is reaching 100%. Simultaneously, your computer may slow down. That's annoying, especially if you're not actually doing anything. The CPU (central processing unit), also known as the processor, is your computer's brain. Like your own noggin, it can become overwhelmed if bombarded with too many processes, or if a single task consumes undue attention. Just as you may find work difficult when overwhelmed, your processor can slow to a crawl if too much is asked of it at once. Normally, you can avoid this situation by staying away from demanding apps. However, CPU usage can sometimes go out of control because of a bug in a process, such as the infamous WmiPrvSE.exe. Fortunately, in most cases, you can easily fix the underlying issue and lower high CPU usage. Is the WMI Provider Host (WmiPrvSE.EXE) Causing High CPU Usage? The WMI Provider Host process, also known as Windows Management Instrumentation or WmiPrvSE.exe, is part of Windows and assists organizations in monitoring and troubleshooting a large number of systems on a network. It's not uncommon for the process to go out of control, however. You can tell if this is your problem by opening the Task Manager (press Control + Shift + ESC) and looking for the WmiPrvSE.exe process. If its CPU usage is higher than a few percent, and you're not running any program that would impact it, it's not functioning properly. Restart the WMI Provider Host to Fix High CPU Usage Microsoft recently pulled its official fix. The only option you're left with now is manually restarting the service. Do a Windows Search for "Services" and, in the window that opens, look for Windows Management Instrumentation. Right-click it, then select Restart. You can also stop the service entirely, if you desire, or simply restart your computer. Identify Persistent WMI Provider Host Issues Using the Event Viewer If the issue with WmiPrvSE.exe keeps returning, use the Windows Event Viewer to identify its cause. It could be another system process that keeps the WMI provider host busy, thereby causing high CPU usage. In Windows 10 and 8, right-click the Start button and select Event Viewer. In Windows 7, use the Start menu to find and launch Eventvwr.msc. Inside the Event Viewer app, go to Applications and Service Logs > Microsoft > Windows > WMI-Activity > Operational. Now scroll through the list of operational events and find recent Error entries. For each Error, identify the ClientProcessId. Note that every time you restart a process, its ID will change, hence there's no point in checking older errors. If you suspect that one of these processes is causing the high CPU usage, you can use its ID to find it in the Task Manager and identify the faulty process. Open the Task Manager (press Control + Shift + ESC), switch to the Services tab, and sort all running services by PID, i.e. their process ID. If the guilty process is still running, you'll be able to identify it and investigate further. Right-click the process and select Open File Location to review the software it belongs to. Updating or uninstalling the respective program may fix the WMI Provider Host's high CPU usage. Finally, there's a possibility that the service could be a worm or virus. You should see only one version of the process at any given time, and the process should stop if you halt it through the Services window. If you see two versions of it, or the process will not stop, run a virus scan immediately. Does the System Idle Process Exhibit High CPU Usage? Windows users occasionally run across a process called the System Idle Process causing high CPU usage. This obscure process seems to hog all the CPU power it possibly can – terrible, right? Actually, the System Idle Process is simply a thread that consumes CPU cycles, which are not otherwise being used. The process is used because of some very arcane peculiarities in coding, which make it sometimes preferable, and even more efficient, for a processor to run something instead of nothing at all. This is not just a Windows thing, but Windows displays the process in the Task Manager, so users see it and assume something is wrong. This is not to say you can't experience performance issues when the System Idle Process is showing a high CPU usage load, but the issue lies elsewhere. In fact, you should expect to see the System Idle Process report that it consumes 95% (or more) of your CPU when Windows is at idle. If it's not, something else is consuming processor cycles without your knowledge. Is the Svchost.exe (netscvs) to Blame for High CPU Usage? If you checked the Task Manager, you might have noticed that the svchost.exe (netscvs) process is causing high memory or CPU usage. While this process is sometimes associated with malware, it's primarily a legitimate and system critical Windows process. If you're unsure, use this Lookup Tool to see which service the process is referring to. If it's not malware, svchost.exe might be busy scanning for plug-and-play devices. To exclude this cause, head to Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center and click Change advanced sharing settings. Here, select Turn off network discovery. Svchost.exe (netsvcs) also shows high CPU usage when Windows is downloading updates. You'll commonly see it using 25% or more CPU capacity after you just installed Windows. In that case, just let Windows Update finish its thing. Since Windows 10, you can't delay or pause Windows Update easily. While you can schedule when to install new updates, Windows downloads updates as needed. This may randomly cause svchost.exe to increase its CPU usage. What you can change, however, is whether your computer shares downloaded updates with peers. Turn this off to conserve bandwidth and processing power. Head to Settings > Update & security > Windows Update, click Advanced options, then click Delivery Optimization, and click Advanced options once more. Here you can limit the bandwidth used to download updates in the background or for uploading updates to other PCs on the Internet. You should set the latter to a minimum of 5% and also set the monthly upload limit very low. The only other workaround to tame high CPU usage related to downloading updates is to temporarily disable Windows Update. This will prevent Windows from downloading updates. However, we don't recommend this solution! Are Too Many Background Processes Hogging Your CPU? A background process is a program that's running on your PC, even though it's not open in a window. A typical computer will have many background processes running at once, as Windows itself requires some to run. But as you install programs, over the years you may collect more and more, and eventually overwhelm your PC. You can check on this by opening Task Manager via a Windows Search for the same or by running taskmgr.exe. The Processes tab will appear by default, displaying not only overall CPU usage, but also the usage of each app. You should do this while no other programs are open to prevent confusion. Note the processes which appear to be using at least 10% of your processor's capability on a regular basis. In Windows 10, head over to the Startup tab within the Task Manager. In Windows 7, exit Task Manager and open msconfig.exe via Windows Search or the Run dialog (Windows + R). In the System Configuration window, head to the Startup tab. Now find startup items correlated with the items that you noted. Uncheck them, click okay, and then restart your PC. This will stop those programs from launching at boot. It Could Be an Annoying Antivirus Do you notice that your computer becomes slow at seemingly random times, and those times often correlate with high disk activity? Your problem could be your antivirus. An anti-virus program, when actively searching your disk for a threat, can consume a surprising amount of processor load. This usually isn't enough to slow a modern desktop or high-end laptop, but older or slower systems may noticeably slow under the strain. Fixing this is easy. Virtually all anti-virus apps come with a scheduling function that lets you adjust when it automatically scans. Change the schedule to a time when you're not using the laptop, and you'll no longer be bothered. Or It Could Be a Virus On the other hand, malware can cause high CPU usage. A system that's infected may run processes in the background and it may attempt to spread itself by sending malware to others via your email, your network, or other sources. All of this requires processing power, which can translate to poor performance. Confirming an infection manually is not easy, and for the layman is more guesswork than anything else. If you don't have an anti-virus, download a free malware application and run it. In fact, you may want to try several anti-malware tools, because malware that's already installed has the advantage; it may be able to hide from any single anti-virus app. Once you've found the problem, you can remove it with the anti-virus app you used to scan. If that fails, read our malware removal guide; the tips there can help you exorcize whatever has possessed your PC. High CPU Usage Is a Diverse Issue High CPU usage can be hard to track down. While the problems listed here are among the most common causes, you may find that CPU usage is still an issue even after you try everything suggested above. If this problem still plagues you, find a Windows support forum, where you can ask users for advice about how to deal with your particular situation.

Does Windows 10 not have sound? We know how frustrating it is when your audio is not working. This article covers seven quick and easy solutions to fix your sound on Windows 10. How to Fix Missing Sound in Windows 10 1. Check Your Sound Settings Now, before you say "But Gavin, I've done that," have you really done that? It can be the most obvious things we overlook. Without insulting your computing ability, make sure to check you haven't accidentally muted Windows 10---it's easily done. At the same time, check your: Cables Plugs Speaker connections Headphone connections Any other audio connections If Windows 10 still has no sound, read on. 2. Roll Back or Reinstall Audio Drivers Drivers have always had an unhappy knack of creating issues. Windows 10 is no different. As Windows 10 takes control of driver updates, sometimes your system ends up with the wrong driver configuration. In the early days of Windows 10 (especially following the upgrade cycle from Windows 7, 8, and 8.1) driver updates made a lot of users unhappy. Microsoft has vastly improved the driver update process since that time and manufacturers are now deep into the Windows 10 ecosystem. As such, new drivers are configured for Windows 10, rather than trying to make an old Windows 7, 8, or 8.1 driver fit. Windows 10 gives us a few options to fight an irksome driver. First, we can try to simply roll it back to the last good configuration. Right-click the Start button, select Device Manager, and right-click your sound driver, select Properties, and browse to the Driver tab. Press the Roll Back Driver option if available, and Windows 10 will begin the process. If like the above image you have no option to roll the driver back, you'll need to either Update or Reinstall the driver. As we're dealing with audio driver issues, go for a reinstall. This will remove the offending driver during the process, and give your system a nice clean one instead. Before proceeding with the uninstall, ensure you have the new manufacturer version of the driver. You'll be able to download them directly from the hardware issuer's website, or in some cases, via a third-party supplier. In the same Properties tab you should note the final option: Uninstall. Click this, and you'll meet the Confirm Device Uninstall window. Depending on the driver issuer, this window may also contain an option to Delete the driver software for this device. If this is the case, check the box and press OK. Once you wipe the drivers, restart your system, and install the new driver. We have previously written about how you can better manage Windows 10 updates and generally run the rule over the at times unruly Windows 10 automatic update system. 3. Update IDT High Definition Audio CODEC Some systems may encounter issues with their IDT High Definition Audio CODEC. This can be fixed with a manual driver update which allows us to choose the sound driver we wish to use. Right-click the Start menu and select Device Manager. Expand the Sound, video games and controllers section. If you spot IDT High Definition Audio CODEC, right-click and select Update Driver Software. In the next panel, select Browse my computer for driver software, followed by Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer. This allows us to select from any drivers pre-installed on our system. Under Model, select High Definition Audio Device, followed by Next, followed by Yes. You may need to restart your system for the changes to take effect. 4. Fix Realtek Audio Realtek drives pop-up all-to frequently in forum posts discussing audio issue. I've not experienced issues with Realtek drivers personally, but it does seem to be a common Windows 10 audio issue. There are a couple of fixes for Realtek audio problems below. Refresh Wi-Fi Drivers One fix focused on disabling Realtek WLAN drivers, uninstalling, and reinstalling the latest version---even if you already have the latest version installed. First, head over to the Realtek website and download the latest applicable version for your system. Right-click the Start menu and select Device Manager, and browse to your Realtek Wireless LAN drivers. Right-click and Uninstall. Now head to the file you downloaded, extract the folder, browse to setup.exe, and follow the instructions. You'll need to reboot your system following the installation. Disable Front Panel Jack This fix could be very system specific, but it certainly fixed one system, and it could fix yours, too. Reddit user Tiflotin fixed a persistent Realtek audio issue by disabling front jack detection from within the Realtek HD Audio Manager itself. The linked thread includes screenshots, in case you need further guidance. If you're already pulling your hair out, this could be worth a try! 5. Disable Audio Enhancements Next up are Windows 10 Audio Enhancements. Audio Enhancements are inbuilt Microsoft and third-party packages designed to make sure your systems specific audio hardware works perfectly. Except for when it doesn't. These very "enhancements" could be causing your Windows 10 audio issue. Luckily, they're simple to turn off. In the Start menu search box type Sound, and click on the Sound Control Panel option. In the new box that opens, right-click the default device, and select Properties. Click the Enhancements tab, and make sure to check the box labeled Disable all enhancements, and Apply. (This is how you switch between default audio devices.) Issue with multiple devices? Repeat the process for each listed. 6. Restart Audio Services Windows doesn't always play ball, and sometimes it's all behind the scenes. Audio services can sometimes miraculously disable themselves, but we can use them to give your audio a jump start. In the Start menu search box, type Services and press Enter. Scroll down to Windows Audio. If the service has been stopped for any reason, your system audio will not function correctly. Restart it by double-clicking and selecting Start. While you are here, double-check the service start-up type. Audio services should be set to Automatic by default. If it is anything different---Automatic (delayed start), Manual or Disabled---change it back. Here are three more ways you can put the Windows Services menu to good use. 7. Try the Audio Troubleshooter You can also use the built-in audio troubleshooter, allowing Windows 10 to identify and fix its own issues. If you've used the inbuilt Microsoft troubleshooters before, you know they don't always catch everything, but it can be worth a shot. Head to Control Panel > Troubleshooting > Troubleshoot audio playback, and follow the instructions. Can You Hear Me Now? We've covered some of the most common Windows 10 audio afflictions, and hopefully, you can hear the wonderful world in stereo once again. While not a definitive fix for every issue, Windows 10 seems to really like you using the inbuilt High Definition Audio Drivers, and the huge amount of fixes I've read through involve updating, uninstalling, reinstalling, and rolling this driver back. And there are enough free Windows troubleshooting tools to help you fix any problems.

Windows 10 opens different file types using a particular program. It does this through file associations, where a program or app has been set as the default for that file type. If you want to set default programs and change file associations in Windows 10, we'll show you all the methods to do this. What Are Windows 10 File Associations? Every file on your system is stored in a particular format, like JPG image files and DOC Word files. Certain programs can only open certain files. For example, an image file like JPG can't be opened in a word processor like Word. Instead, you'd open the image in something like the Windows 10 Photos app. Rather than having to specify which program you want to use to open a file every time you access it, Windows assigns each file type a default program. These defaults can be changed by the user, or a program could set its own when installed. That's why it sometimes becomes necessary to adjust your file type associations. Happily, it's easy to do this. Let's find out how you can see what type your files are and then the different methods to change the Windows 10 file associations. What Type Is My File? Before you can change file associations, you need to know what file types you are storing. First, open File Explorer and navigate to the folder which contains your file. Then, right click the file and select Properties. A new window with details about that file will open. Type of file will tell you what the file extension of the file is. Opens with will tell you what program it'll open in. You can set it so that the file extension appears with the file name in File Explorer. To do this, open File Explorer and click the View tab. Then tick the box for File name extensions. How to Change File Type Associations in Windows 10 There are three quick and easy methods within Windows to change the file type associations. 1. Open With You can change the file type associations direct from the File Explorer. To do so, right click the file and then hover Open with. You'll see a list of programs, which you can use to open the file, but this will just be a one-off and won't change your settings permanently. To make a permanent change, select Choose another app. Now select the application from the list that you want to use to open the file type of the file you've chosen. If you don't see the program you need, scroll down and select More apps for a wider selection. If it's still not there, select Look for another app on this PC. You can then go through your Program Files and locate the executable for the program you want. When selected, tick Always use this app to open .X files at the bottom of the window. This will permanently change the file type association. Then click OK. 2. Set Default File Associations in Settings The best place to comprehensively change file associations and set default apps is through Settings. To begin, press Windows key + I to open Settings. Go to Apps > Default apps. Here you can set and use default apps for things like email, maps, music, and so on. Click the application to select a different one from the list. You can click Reset to put everything back to "Microsoft recommended defaults." As you might expect, this means Microsoft-created Windows 10 default programs like Groove Music for music and Edge for web browsing. Scroll down and you will see three options to have refined control over file associations: Choose default applications by file type Choose default applications by protocol Set defaults by app Choosing by file type lets you set specific programs for JPG, DOC, and so on. This is the option you most likely need. Choosing by protocol is for actions or links. For example, when encountering a URL:calculator link, you can set which program is used. The vast majority of these will be pretty application specific anyway, so it's rare that you'll need to change them. Finally, setting by app lets you manage an entire program and its associated file types and protocols from one place. 3. Delete File Associations in Command Prompt It isn't possible to reset file associations through Settings. For that, you need to use Command Prompt. Press Start, type cmd and it'll find Command Prompt. Right click the entry and click Run as administrator. Type assoc, press Enter, and it'll bring up all file types and their associations. To quickly check a specific file type, input: assoc .ext Replace ext with the file type. For example, input assoc .jpg and you will see what program opens JPG files. To remove the association from the program, type: assoc .ext= Again, replace ext. You can type the first command to double check it's worked, as you should see a "file association not found" error. Back Up and Restore File Type Associations Windows 10 has been known to reset default apps by changing file type associations after every update. The best thing you can do to fix this is back up your file type associations and restore them once you discover that a Windows 10 update has messed with them. 1. Using Default Programs Editor The easiest method to back up and restore file type associations is by using a third-party utility called Default Programs Editor. Once downloaded and installed, launch it and click Create or restore a backup of registry settings. Click Create a backup. It will process and add an entry to the table with the date and time. When it's time to restore, return to this screen, click the entry, and click Restore selected backup. Finally, restart your computer. 2. Using the Registry You can also go directly into the registry to back up file type associations. However, this is a bit more complicated, and it can sometimes result in a permission error when restoring certain associations. As such, use it as a last resort. Press Windows key + R to open Run. Enter regedit and hit Enter to launch the Registry Editor. Now browse to the following key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts Right-click FileExts (or the sub-folder you want), select Export, and choose a destination and file name for your .reg file backup. Once you need to restore this backup, right-click the respective .reg file that you saved previously and select Merge. This will overwrite the current settings in your registry and restore your previously backed up preferences. Take Full Control Over File Associations With these methods you'll have full control over your file type associations, ensuring that all your files open in the most suitable program by default. Be wary when installing a new program as some of them will request to become the default program for a set of file types, and you might not want that.

Recording and streaming games on Windows 10 has never been easier thanks to the build-in Xbox Game Bar. It features tools for recording game activity and it's also a great way to share footage and upload your greatest gaming achievements with the webcam and mic. But what if it stops working? The Xbox Game Bar is, unfortunately, a little buggy. Here's how to deal with Xbox Game Bar errors and start recording and sharing game footage once again. Know About the Xbox Game Bar Press the Windows + G key to open the Xbox Game Bar on the desktop over your game. The Xbox Game Bar in Windows 10 is part of the Xbox gaming experience on Microsoft's desktop OS. It's available alongside the Xbox Console Companion as a way to bring console-like gaming to Windows. So, you get access to your Xbox gamertag, achievements (many of which are available in Windows games), and even the ability to stream games from your Xbox to Windows. The Xbox Game Bar sits alongside this, bringing the ability to record your gameplay to Windows without third-party software. Unfortunately, however, the Xbox Game Bar occasionally fails to work correctly. So, what can you do about this? Typical Xbox Game Bar Issues in Windows 10 Problems you might encounter range from the Xbox Game Bar not opening when requested to video not being recorded. Along the way, you might find that the app causes weird pop-up messages or won't stream video. Most issues with the Xbox Game Bar app are related to the app settings. As such, they can be resolved by disabling the app, resetting, repairing, or uninstalling, or simply tweaking the registry. Note, however, that extreme Xbox Game Bar issues---those that refuse to be resolved in normal ways---require drastic action. Namely, a full system reset or repair. Hopefully, it won't get that far. Xbox Game Bar Recording and Screenshot Errors Trying to record videos of your gameplay, or take screenshots, and you find the Xbox Game Bar isn't playing ball? You can encounter these four common Xbox Game Bar problems, to begin with: Some games don't allow recording. In this scenario, you won't be able to record with the Game Bar. If a recording is allowed, but it refuses to work, try another tool. For Steam games, you can broadcast using the app, but you'll need a third-party tool to record. The Game Bar can vanish in a full-screen game. Just use the WIN+Alt+R key combination to start recording. Use the same shortcut to stop. Screenshots may not work using the Game Bar for similar reasons. For example, you may be running some protected content on your computer (e.g., protected by DRM). Try closing this, or using a different Windows desktop screenshot tool. Restart Windows 10 and Clean Boot Your Computer One way to fix problems with the Xbox Game Bar is to restart Windows 10. Click Start > Power > Restart and wait while your computer reboots. When you've logged back into Windows, the Xbox Game Bar should work. Another way to fix this is to clean boot your computer. Not to be confused with booting into Safe Mode, a clean boot starts with a minimal set of drivers. Unlike Safe Mode, you can use a clean boot to determine which app or service is causing a problem. A clean boot gives you more control over what software is running. To perform a clean boot in Windows 10: Sign in to your computer as an administrator Click Start and type msconfig In the results, click System Configuration Find the Services tab, and check the box labeled Hide all Microsoft services Click Disable all Next, click Startup then Open Task Manager In the Startup tab here, select each item then Disable Close task manager On the System Configuration, click Startup, then OK To finish, reboot the computer. Try the Xbox Game Bar and see if it works as intended. If it does, disable or remove any apps installed since the Game Bar last worked correctly. Note that misusing System Configuration can cause problems with your computer. So stick to these instructions. Solving the Xbox Game Bar "ms-gamingoverlay link" Error One particularly stupid Windows 10 error occurs thanks to the Xbox Game Bar. Either launching a game or the Game Bar itself results in the error message: "You'll need a new app to open this ms-gamingoverlay link" This appears to be due to a problem with the Windows Store, but there is a simple fix. Open Start and enter game bar then in the results, click App settings. Look for the option that starts Record game clips at the top of the window and switch this to Off. The "ms-gamingoverlay" error will no longer appear. Hurrah! The downside, however, is that you can no longer use the Xbox Game Bar. Mixer Streaming Won't Work If you're trying to stream from the Xbox Game Bar to Mixer, we've got bad news for you. As of October 2019, Mixer broadcasting is no longer available. As there isn't much information about this online beyond Microsoft's own troubleshooting page, it's difficult to say why. However, with recent Xbox Game Bar issues following Windows Update 1903, it's possible the broadcast feature is broken. Worse still, it might not be reinstated. Unfortunately, the only solution to this is to broadcast to another service. Repair, Reset, and Uninstall the Xbox Game Bar If you don't have any issues listed above but the Xbox Game Bar has suddenly stopped working, try these fixes. Use them one at a time, in the order presented. 1. Repair the Xbox Game Bar It's easy to repair the Xbox Game Bar. Press Start and enter game bar to display the app, then choose App Settings. Look for Repair and click the button. Wait while the Xbox Game Bar is repaired by Windows. 2. Reset the Xbox Game Bar Similarly, you can reset the Game Bar. This is like a Windows reset, but based purely on the app. To do this, navigate to the App Settings screen for Xbox Game Bar, this time clicking Reset. Again, wait while the app is reset, then try using it again. 3. Disable Xbox Game Bar Another option is to disable the Xbox Game Bar. This won't repair it but will at least stop you using it. To do this... Press WIN+R to open the Run box. Enter regedit then OK. Next, browse to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\GameDVR (you can copy this string and paste it into the Registry Editor address bar). Right-click AppCaptureEnabled and select DWORD, then set the Value to 0. This will disable the feature. Browse to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\System\GameConfigStore. Right-click GameDVR_Enabled and select DWORD, again changing the value to 0. (Should you need to re-enable, change the DWORD values back to 1.) Reinstall Xbox Game Bar Now, this option is pretty extreme, intending that you uninstall then reinstall the Game Bar. Begin by right-clicking Start then select Windows PowerShell (Admin). Next, copy and paste this command: Get-AppxPackage *xboxapp* | Remove-AppxPackage The Game Bar will be removed from Windows. Restart your computer to complete the action. With the system back up, open the Windows Store and reinstall Xbox Game Bar. If this doesn't work and your Xbox Game Bar is still unresponsive, consider drastic action. It's time to learn how to reset and repair Windows 10. Xbox Game Bar: Fixable, But Don't Rely on It Following a strong start, the Xbox Game Bar has become a fixture for many Windows 10 gamers. But sadly, it's not perfect and it's prone to bugs or unpredictable behavior. The good news is that the Xbox Game Bar can be fixed. If you're lucky. To be honest, Microsoft shouldn't be shipping an app that is so flakey. While most of these fixes will work most of the time, none are guaranteed. Indeed, you might end up abandoning the Xbox Game Bar altogether.

Splashes can obscure what you see on the screen. Smudges and greasy fingerprints accumulate over time to leave you with a dirty screen; dust gathers. The result is a viewing experience that is diminished by the presence of dirt. It doesn't have to be this way. Cleaning your computer or laptop display is remarkably simple. What's more, it only takes a few minutes. When you're done, you'll have a shiny new display as good as the day you bought it. Here's What to Clean a Computer Screen With You don't need much to clean a computer screen. Just a bottle of suitable cleaning spray and a lint-free, microfiber cloth. Cleaning solution Microfiber cloth These can often be bought as a bundle. This EcoMoist cleaning kit is a great example. Don't have these things to hand? Don't worry---you can also clean your computer screen with standard household products. Start off by making your own screen cleaner, using isopropyl (rubbing alcohol) or white vinegar, and distilled water. You'll also need a suitable microfiber cloth substitute. The idea here is to avoid anything likely to scratch your display. So, avoid paper towels, anything used for washing dishes, and facial wipes. Instead, opt for a cotton t-shirt, or handkerchief. A soft cotton tea towel is also a safe alternative. Out regularly with your laptop? Carrying a bottle of spray isn't practical, so instead pack some monitor wipes. Monitor Wipes - Pre-Moistened Electronic Wipes, Surface Cleaning for Computers, Cell Phones, Sunglasses, LCD Screens, Monitor - Quick Drying, Streak-Free, Ammonia-Free - Screen WipesBUY NOW ON AMAZON While they're good for a quick fix, monitor wipes don't give the same results as a spray. So be sure to clean your screen at home between trips. How to Clean a LCD Laptop or PC Screen So, you've got your cleaning spray and a microfiber cloth. You're ready to start cleaning---but stop right there! Before proceeding, you need to turn off your device. If it's a desktop PC, turn off the monitor. Laptop user? Shut it down. Now, you were going to spray the cleaning fluid directly onto the display, weren't you? Don't do that. Drips from the fluid can run into the bezel of the display, causing problems with the electrics. On a laptop, the spray can end up in vents and the keyboard, as well as running into the bezel. Instead, spray the fluid directly onto the cloth. You will need a few applications, but this approach is far safer than risking the integrity of your computer's display. With the cloth in hand, clean the display making small circular motions, avoiding unnecessary pressure. Start in the top left corner, and work across, then start another row. If some dirt seems tough to shift, repeat the process, focusing on that area. Wipe off any excess, then leave to dry naturally. Don't use any heated dryers. How to Clean an Old-Style CRT Monitor Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) monitors are rare these days, but they can still be found in retro gaming systems. You might even own an arcade machine with a CRT display, or simply own an old CRT TV that you still use. Need to clean a dirty CRT display? You'll need: Anti-static cloth Lint-free cloth Screen cleaning fluid (glass cleaner is okay here) Start off with the anti-static cloth and cleaning fluid, quipping down the dusty case. Next, spray the screen cleaning fluid onto the lint-free cloth, wiping the display in straight lines. Don't worry if the cloth dries out---simply apply another few squirts of cleaning fluid. How to Clean a Touchscreen Display If you're using a hybrid laptop that can be used as a tablet, cleaning the display is a little different. These devices attract more grease and dust than static LCD displays. As such, you'll need to clean them in a slightly different way. Hybrid device touchscreen displays are cleaned in much the same way as standard tablets and smartphones. The main aim here is to remove the grease, then clean the screen of other dirt and detritus. Our guide to safely cleaning a tablet or smartphone display will help you here. Computer Screen Clean? Don't Stop There! By this stage you should know everything you need to know about cleaning a dirty screen. Let's recap: Turn off your display Start off with a microfiber cloth and screen cleaning fluid Spray the cloth Wipe the display clean in small circular motions If you're using a laptop, use the same steps, but keep some dedicated screen wipes in your bag. They'll prove useful when you're out. Meanwhile, if you own a CRT, follow the same steps, but remember that you can use glass cleaner. The case and display should also be cleaned with an anti-static cloth. Finally, if you use a hybrid or touchscreen laptop, you'll need to be more aware of the problems with grease. Our dedicated tutorial, linked to above, will help you out here. Once your greasy, dirty screen is cleaned up, you might feel ready to start using your computer again. But you shouldn't stop there. It's time to completely clean your computer. Using a notebook? Here's how to clean your laptop and keyboard.

It's not uncommon for a Windows 10 laptop to display the wrong battery information. This could be a fault with the battery hardware or the Windows software. We'll show you how to fix it and get it to display the right battery charge level. If you've ever found yourself with a laptop unexpectedly shutting down, even when you seemingly had enough battery left, this will help you fix the problem. Laptop Batteries Don't Last Forever Not every laptop battery is created equal. A laptop battery has a set capacity, determined by the milliamp-hour (mAH). Simply put, the higher the mAH value, the more power the battery can hold. It's common for more expensive laptops to have better batteries, but check your manufacturer's specifications if you're unsure. The amount of time that your laptop will stay on without requiring more charge depends on how you use the laptop. Having the screen at full brightness, watching videos, and running lots of programs are all things that will drain the battery quicker. There's also debate around whether removing a laptop battery increases its life. That said, no matter how lightly you use your laptop, the total capacity of the battery will always decrease over time. Every battery has a specific number of charge and recharge cycles. They also get affected by environmental factors like heat. Of course, no battery will last as long as it did when you bought the laptop. Typically, you'll notice a reduction in battery run time after 18 to 24 months. You can use battery health tools to get a better understanding of how your battery is fairing. Battery Time Remaining Is a Prediction Before you read the steps below to try to sort out the battery reading provided by Windows, you should understand how it's calculated because it might not off the mark, to begin with. The battery time estimate provided by Windows is an estimate. It's based upon what your laptop is currently doing and assumes it will continue doing that. If you are watching a video, or playing a game, or doing something intensive like that, Windows won't estimate many hours remaining. However, if you stop playing the game, decrease screen brightness, and only open a Word document, the number of hours left on the battery will shoot up. The figure can also change without you actively doing anything, like if a program is installing updates in the background. So, if the remaining hour count jumps around a lot, that might be normal. But if your laptop suddenly turns off at 30 percent charge, there's a problem. Calibrate Your Laptop Battery If your laptop battery meter is displaying an incorrect figure, the most likely way to solve it is by calibrating the battery. This is where you run the battery down from a full charge to empty and then back up again. This process won't give your battery more power or increase its life, but will instead allow Windows to provide an accurate reading. 1. Adjust Your Power Plan To start, right click the battery icon in the taskbar. Click Power Options, then click Change when the computer sleeps from the left menu. Take note of your existing settings here because you will need to put them back later. Change all the dropdowns to Never and click Save changes. Click Change advanced power settings. Expand Battery, then expand Critical battery level. Take note of the current percentage for later. Click the On battery percentage and set it as low as possible. Expand Critical battery action and ensure that On battery is set to Hibernate. If it isn't, click to change it. Once done, click OK to save the changes. 2. Charge Your Laptop Plug your laptop in and charge the battery to 100 percent. You can still use your laptop when doing this. When it gets to 100 percent, stop using the laptop and wait a couple of hours. You want the battery to cool down. It'll also account for any extra charging that might need to happen if the 100 percent reading is inaccurate. 3. Unplug Your Laptop Take your laptop off charge and let the battery drain. Again, you can use your laptop during this time. You need to wait until the laptop completely runs out of power and turns off. When it has, let it rest for a couple of hours. 4. Charge Your Laptop Again Plug the laptop back into power and charge the battery to 100 percent. Go back into the Windows power plan settings, following the previous instructions, and set everything back to how it was. (Or adjust them to something new, if you want.) The battery percentage provided by Windows should now be accurate. If it isn't, try the other steps below. Reinstall Battery Drivers Your battery drivers might be missing or corrupted and therefore causing an incorrect percentage reading. This can also help if your laptop is plugged in and not charging. Let's reinstall them. Press Windows key + X and click Device Manager. Expand Batteries and you should see Microsoft AC Adapter and Microsoft ACPI-Compliant Control Method Battery. Right click on Microsoft ACPI-Compliant Control Method Battery and click Uninstall device. Wait for this to complete. Once done, from the top menu, click Action > Scan for hardware changes. This will reinstall the driver. Restart your computer when it's finished. Update Windows You should always keep Windows up to date to keep your system protected and to benefit from the latest features. The issue with Windows being outdated is that the battery percentage that is displayed when you hover the taskbar icon, versus the percentage that shows when you click it, is one percent different. To ensure your laptop is running the latest version of Windows, press Windows key + I to open Settings, click Update & Security, and click Check for updates. Any available updates will automatically download and install. Optimize Your Battery Life Hopefully, this has helped you understand your Windows laptop battery reading and fix it if necessary.

It's not uncommon for a Windows 10 laptop to display the wrong battery information. This could be a fault with the battery hardware or the Windows software. We'll show you how to fix it and get it to display the right battery charge level. If you've ever found yourself with a laptop unexpectedly shutting down, even when you seemingly had enough battery left, this will help you fix the problem. Laptop Batteries Don't Last Forever Not every laptop battery is created equal. A laptop battery has a set capacity, determined by the milliamp-hour (mAH). Simply put, the higher the mAH value, the more power the battery can hold. It's common for more expensive laptops to have better batteries, but check your manufacturer's specifications if you're unsure. The amount of time that your laptop will stay on without requiring more charge depends on how you use the laptop. Having the screen at full brightness, watching videos, and running lots of programs are all things that will drain the battery quicker. There's also debate around whether removing a laptop battery increases its life. That said, no matter how lightly you use your laptop, the total capacity of the battery will always decrease over time. Every battery has a specific number of charge and recharge cycles. They also get affected by environmental factors like heat. Of course, no battery will last as long as it did when you bought the laptop. Typically, you'll notice a reduction in battery run time after 18 to 24 months. You can use battery health tools to get a better understanding of how your battery is fairing. Battery Time Remaining Is a Prediction Before you read the steps below to try to sort out the battery reading provided by Windows, you should understand how it's calculated because it might not off the mark, to begin with. The battery time estimate provided by Windows is an estimate. It's based upon what your laptop is currently doing and assumes it will continue doing that. If you are watching a video, or playing a game, or doing something intensive like that, Windows won't estimate many hours remaining. However, if you stop playing the game, decrease screen brightness, and only open a Word document, the number of hours left on the battery will shoot up. The figure can also change without you actively doing anything, like if a program is installing updates in the background. So, if the remaining hour count jumps around a lot, that might be normal. But if your laptop suddenly turns off at 30 percent charge, there's a problem. Calibrate Your Laptop Battery If your laptop battery meter is displaying an incorrect figure, the most likely way to solve it is by calibrating the battery. This is where you run the battery down from a full charge to empty and then back up again. This process won't give your battery more power or increase its life, but will instead allow Windows to provide an accurate reading. 1. Adjust Your Power Plan To start, right click the battery icon in the taskbar. Click Power Options, then click Change when the computer sleeps from the left menu. Take note of your existing settings here because you will need to put them back later. Change all the dropdowns to Never and click Save changes. Click Change advanced power settings. Expand Battery, then expand Critical battery level. Take note of the current percentage for later. Click the On battery percentage and set it as low as possible. Expand Critical battery action and ensure that On battery is set to Hibernate. If it isn't, click to change it. Once done, click OK to save the changes. 2. Charge Your Laptop Plug your laptop in and charge the battery to 100 percent. You can still use your laptop when doing this. When it gets to 100 percent, stop using the laptop and wait a couple of hours. You want the battery to cool down. It'll also account for any extra charging that might need to happen if the 100 percent reading is inaccurate. 3. Unplug Your Laptop Take your laptop off charge and let the battery drain. Again, you can use your laptop during this time. You need to wait until the laptop completely runs out of power and turns off. When it has, let it rest for a couple of hours. 4. Charge Your Laptop Again Plug the laptop back into power and charge the battery to 100 percent. Go back into the Windows power plan settings, following the previous instructions, and set everything back to how it was. (Or adjust them to something new, if you want.) The battery percentage provided by Windows should now be accurate. If it isn't, try the other steps below. Reinstall Battery Drivers Your battery drivers might be missing or corrupted and therefore causing an incorrect percentage reading. This can also help if your laptop is plugged in and not charging. Let's reinstall them. Press Windows key + X and click Device Manager. Expand Batteries and you should see Microsoft AC Adapter and Microsoft ACPI-Compliant Control Method Battery. Right click on Microsoft ACPI-Compliant Control Method Battery and click Uninstall device. Wait for this to complete. Once done, from the top menu, click Action > Scan for hardware changes. This will reinstall the driver. Restart your computer when it's finished. Update Windows You should always keep Windows up to date to keep your system protected and to benefit from the latest features. The issue with Windows being outdated is that the battery percentage that is displayed when you hover the taskbar icon, versus the percentage that shows when you click it, is one percent different. To ensure your laptop is running the latest version of Windows, press Windows key + I to open Settings, click Update & Security, and click Check for updates. Any available updates will automatically download and install. Optimize Your Battery Life Hopefully, this has helped you understand your Windows laptop battery reading and fix it if necessary.

Ever attempted to troubleshoot your own computer? Then you've encountered Safe Mode. Safe Mode is an inbuilt troubleshooting feature which disables unnecessary drivers and programs during the startup process. It allows us to isolate any setting or system errors and fix them at the root, without non-essential applications interfering. For example, you can use Safe Mode to run System Restore when troubleshooting your computer or to delete a file in use by another program. Here we'll take a quick look at booting into Safe Mode with Windows 10, and what to do if you cannot boot into Safe Mode. Method 1: System Configuration To open the System Configuration screen, type msconfig in your Start Menu search bar and select the Best Match. Open the Boot tab and note the Boot Options. Selecting the Safe Boot option will force your system to boot into Safe Mode following its next restart. You can choose from additional options. Here's what they do: Minimal: Starts Safe Mode with the absolute minimal amount of drivers and services, but with the standard Windows GUI (Graphical User Interface). Alternate Shell: Starts Safe Mode with a Command Prompt, without the Windows GUI. Requires knowledge of advanced text commands, as well as navigating the operating system without a mouse. Active Directory Repair: Starts Safe Mode with access to machine-specific information, such as hardware models. If we unsuccessfully install new hardware, corrupting the Active Directory, Safe Mode can be used to restore system stability by repairing corrupted data or adding new data to the directory. Network: Starts Safe Mode with the necessary services and drivers for networking, with the standard Windows GUI. Select Minimal > Apply > OK. System Configuration will now ask if you want to restart your system. Selecting Restart will immediately initiate the restart process, so be sure to save any active documents or projects. Method 2: Advanced Startup Your next option is Windows 10 Advanced Startup. It isn't that advanced, but it is really useful to know. Type advanced start up in your Start Menu search bar and select the Best Match. Now, under Advanced start-up, select Restart Now. Clicking Restart Now will restart your system in recovery mode where you will encounter three options: Continue, Troubleshoot, or Turn Off Your PC. Select Troubleshoot > Advanced Options. You now have a new range of options to choose from. Select Start-up Settings > Restart. Your system will restart. The Startup Settings screen will load after you reboot. From here, choose the requisite option for Safe Mode. Advanced Startup Shortcut You can skip the somewhat lengthy clicking process by holding down Shift and clicking Restart under Power, found in the Windows 10 Start Menu. This reboot takes you straight to the Recovery options, where you can select Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings. Method 3: Tapping Until the introduction of Windows 8, the most common method for entering Safe Mode was tapping F8 on your keyboard during startup. Tapping F8 brings up the Safe Mode options screen, listing the options found under Method One (above) and several alternatives. Windows 10 (and Windows 8/8.1) has F8 Safe Mode disabled by default. However, you can sacrifice a couple of seconds during startup by enabling the F8 menu using the Command Prompt. Begin by opening an elevated Command Prompt. Right-click the Start menu and select Command Prompt (Admin). Select Yes in the User Account Control dialogue, if it appears. Command Prompt should now be open. Input (or copy/paste) the following command: bcdedit /set {default} bootmenupolicy legacy Job done! To undo this legacy command at any time, reopen the elevated Command Prompt as per the above instructions and type: bcdedit /set {default} bootmenupolicy standard This returns startup to its original state, so to reach Safe Mode you'll have to use one of the alternate options in this article. What If Nothing Works? Even if none of the above works, you still have two aces up your sleeve. If you installed Windows 10 via a disc or USB flash drive, you can boot straight into recovery mode by inserting the said installation media before turning your system on. Choose your keyboard layout, followed by Repair Your Computer, in the bottom-left of the screen. From here you can head to Troubleshoot > Advanced Options where you'll find System Restore, System Image Recovery, Startup Repair, Command Prompt, and Go Back to the Previous Build. For System Image Recovery to work, you'll have to have made a backup image before your system error, something we would absolutely advise you to do. You can create a System Image by typing recovery into the Start Menu search bar and selecting the Best Match. The Advanced Recovery Tools will open. Select Create a Recovery Drive and follow the steps. System Repair Disc Another helpful tool at your disposal is the System Repair Disc. Unlike the System Image, these aren't machine-specific, so you can acquire one via a friend if all goes completely pear-shaped. Head to Control Panel > System and Security > Back-up and Restore (Windows 7). Don't let the Windows 7 tag put you off: you're in the right place. Select Create a System Repair Disc from the left-hand column, and follow the instructions. How Do I Get Out of Safe Mode? Once you fix your Windows 10 issue, you can leave Safe Mode. But how do you get out of Safe Mode once you're in there? There are two options, depending on how you booted into Safe Mode. If you entered Safe Mode using Method 1 (via System Configuration), you must turn the Safe Mode option off in the configuration window. Otherwise, Windows 10 will boot back into Safe Mode after each restart. If you entered Safe Mode using Method 2 (via Advanced Startup) or Method 3 (via Tapping Your Keyboard), shut down or restart your system to leave Safe Mode. Accessing Safe Mode on Windows 10 Is Simple You now know the three easiest methods to access Windows 10 Safe Mode. Make sure to take note of the final section on System Image Recovery and System Repair Discs. Do always remember the former only works if you've set the recovery location before your world began collapsing in a BSOD-induced nightmare.

Danske Bank will not block credit cards used in crypto trading, according to its newly announced position on cryptocurrencies. The Danish bank would also accept deposits related to crypto investments, although it follows a cautious approach towards decentralized digital assets. Denmark’s Largest Bank Clarifies Its Stance on Cryptocurrencies Responding to mounting inquiries from customers and other stakeholders, Danske Bank has released an official position on crypto assets. “In recent years, cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin and ethereum have received significant attention from investors and media,” the bank noted, outlining its current stance on crypto trading and investing. Denmark’s largest banking institution recognizes that “cryptocurrencies represent a significant digital innovation in financial services” and praises the “great potentials in the blockchain technology.” At the same time, it continues to maintain “a very cautious approach towards cryptocurrencies.” The bank listed several reasons for that. In the first place, Danske finds it hard to meet its obligations to fight financial crime and money laundering as crypto trade is “not always sufficiently transparent.” Pricing is opaque and fluctuating, the bank added, leaving investors with limited market insight. Furthermore, as crypto trading is only partially regulated, clients do not get the same level of consumer protection that comes with other financial products, Danske insisted. The bank also feels that the “extremely energy intensive” processing of cryptocurrency transactions clashes with its own ambition to promote sustainable development. Crypto Investors Are Welcome to Deposit Funds With Danske Citing these concerns, Danske Bank reminded customers that its platforms do not currently support the trading of cryptocurrencies and crypto-based financial instruments. The financial institution also advised against investing in digital assets or related products in general. However, the Danish banking group pledged its support for the development of crypto regulations under the new EU legislation called Regulation of Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) while emphasizing: We continuously monitor developments in the area of cryptocurrencies, and as the cryptocurrency market matures and is further regulated, we will review our position. Despite its hesitant attitude towards cryptocurrencies, Danske is not completely turning its back on crypto traders and investors. For example, the bank said it doesn’t block credit cards when they are used in crypto trading, provided customers comply with applicable anti-money laundering rules and laws. The bank also stressed it would treat deposits of funds stemming from cryptocurrency investments just like deposits from any other type of investment.

A group of Spanish deputies filed a proposal that seeks to accelerate the implementation of a digital euro. The proposal, presented on June 8, asks for the creation of a group to study the implementation of a digital currency in the Eurozone. This study group, if created, would be aided by the Bank of Spain. However, the issuance of a digital euro is still under study by the European Central Bank (ECB). Spanish Deputies File Proposal to Accelerate the Digital Euro A group of Spanish deputies from the Socialist Party introduced a no law proposal to accelerate the issuance of a digital euro. The proposal, filed on June 8, asks the central government to establish a study group to examine the benefits of the implementation of such currency. The Bank of Spain would aid this central bank digital currency (CBDC) study group in this task. The proposal mentions four motives to advance this research: first, the advances in digitalization techniques that make these new payment forms possible. Second, the establishment of a CBDC would decelerate the use of cryptocurrencies and other payment methods separated from the banking system. These methods are difficult to control and scrutinize. Another motive mentioned has to do with financial inclusion. The proposal states a central bank digital currency would improve financial inclusion, with the penetration of smartphones aiding the population to acquire financial products directly. The fourth motive mentions the impending disappearance of cash for health and public costs reasons. However, experts argue that Spain might not have the legal competence to issue a digital euro just on Spanish lands. This is what Alfredo Muñoz, professor of Commercial Law at the University of Madrid, declared. According to him: Spain lacks the competence to decide on the issuance of euros, digital or not. The EU has “exclusive competence” in the monetary policy of the member states. The Digital Euro Still Under Study The proposal presented by these Spanish deputies seems contradictory, considering a digital euro is still under study. The ECB has declared this type of electronic currency is still in the experimentation phases. The official digital euro website clarifies the institution will decide on this subject towards the middle of this year. However, other voices have advanced more specific information on the subject. For example, Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank, stated the digital Euro could arrive in five years. She stressed they had to do it right because the task what not trivial. Other countries like the Bahamas and China have already been testing and phasing in their own CBDCs. But Spain, as part of the EU, will have to wait for the decision of the European Central Bank.

Ledger customers are receiving fake wallets by mail to steal their cryptocurrency. A user in Reddit reported receiving a suspicious package that claimed to be mailed by Ledger. The package included a letter stating the user needed to substitute the current wallet for safety reasons. Ledger has been the source of several leaks of information of customer data. Criminals are presumably using this information to organize these schemes. Scammers Are Mailing Fake Wallets to Ledger Customers Scammers are reportedly mailing fake hardware wallets to Ledger customers to steal their private seeds. According to the statements of a Reddit user, he received a package sent by Ledger with a legit-looking Ledger Nano X. The package also contained a letter that stated their current wallet was compromised. This letter stressed the user needed to replace their current wallet with the new one. It declared: For security purposes, we have sent you a new device you must switch to a new device to stay safe. There is a manual inside your new box you can read that to learn how to set up your new device. The package reportedly included instructions to set up the new cryptocurrency wallet with the private key. However, upon further inspection, the hardware wallet mailed was a modified version of the original Nano X. Also, this modified wallet contained a series of different connections inside of the device. Mike Grover, a security consultant, talked to Bleepingcomputer about the fake wallet. Grover declared: This seems to be a simply flash drive strapped on to the Ledger with the purpose to be for some sort of malware delivery. The Ledger web page has updated its phishing campaign page to alert users of this new modus operandi. Customers Facing Huge Data Leaks The company suffered two important data leaks last year. The first one happened on July 14, when an unidentified third party accessed one million emails and 9,500 addresses from its users. Furthermore, last December 20, the information was leaked to the internet for free. As a result of this, its customers are facing a series of phishing and scam attacks by mail. The blog of James A. Chambers gives proof of these attacks. The article titled “Life as a Ledger Wallet Data Breach Victim” tells all the problems these leaks have created for him remotely. The company is even facing a class-action lawsuit from part of the users filed last April 6. However, this is one of the first attacks targeting users physically by sending modified products.

A report published by the independent marketing intelligence company, Miq Digital, explains that Hawaii has seen the most crypto demand of all the states in the U.S., with a 687% increase since 2020. As far as increased cryptocurrency demand since last year, Nevada, California, Florida, and Colorado followed the island state with increases of over 600% as well. Hawaiian Interest in Crypto Skyrockets, Americans Love Dogecoin, Crypto Acceptance Among American Merchants Increases The independent marketing intelligence firm Miq Digital has published a research report on interest in cryptocurrencies across all the American states since 2020. According to the study, demand has increased this year following a similar pattern as the crypto asset market bull run. The firm analyzed search data from sources like Google Trends and found that around 6% of Americans either use or own digital currencies in 2021. “Around 6% of the U.S. population now use or own crypto, and the trend is growing,” the Miq Digital report details. As far as the top five states that saw increases above 600%, Hawaii topped the list with 687%. The Aloha State is followed by California (655%), Colorado (637%), Florida (628%), and Nevada (621%). “We analysed search data to uncover the states driving the ongoing crypto craze. These are the areas with the largest interest in crypto in 2021, alongside the increase in demand since 2020,” Miq explains. In addition to the U.S. “hotspots,” the Miq Digital study also highlights some of the most popular cryptocurrencies discovered in the search analysis. The top coin on the list is the meme-based crypto asset dogecoin (DOGE), followed by other popular tokens such as maker (MKR), ethereum (ETH), dash (DASH), litecoin (LTC), and bitcoin (BTC). The study shows the Shiba Inu crypto asset DOGE saw a “1,781% increase in interest across the U.S.” The Miq Digital study indicates the “dogecoin hotspots” in the U.S., and highlights Alaska, California, North Dakota, and Washington as the biggest DOGE-supporting states. Ethereum followed dogecoin with a 777% increase in interest across the nation. “Ethereum hotspots” include California, New Jersey, and Washington according to the researchers. Furthermore, “acceptance of cryptocurrencies among businesses is slowly growing across the U.S.,” the study reveals. Moreover, the acceptance of BTC has proliferated across a number of different states. California has the most businesses recorded with “440 businesses” and the state is followed by the Sunshine State, as Florida captures “180 businesses.”

Spain’s second-largest bank, BBVA, is opening up its bitcoin trading and custody service to all private banking clients in Switzerland in a few days. The bank has been testing the cryptocurrency service for six months. “The bitcoin management system is fully integrated” in the bank’s app, “where its performance can be viewed alongside that of the rest of the customers’ assets, funds, or investments.” BBVA’s Fully Integrated Bitcoin Service Spain’s Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) announced Friday that BBVA Switzerland will open a bitcoin trading and custody service to all private banking clients on June 21. The bank has been testing this new cryptocurrency service with a selected group of clients for six months. BBVA explained: For the time being, BBVA Switzerland’s offer includes bitcoin trading and custody services, with the aim of extending it to other cryptocurrencies. The entity will not offer advice on these types of investments. BBVA explained that the new cryptocurrency service is only available in Switzerland for the time being because the country has “clear regulation and widespread adoption” of crypto assets. Founded in 1857, BBVA “has a strong leadership position in the Spanish market, is the largest financial institution in Mexico, it has leading franchises in South America,” its website details. At the end of March, the group had 719.7 billion euros in total assets, 79.8 million customers in more than 25 countries, 122,021 employees, 7,254 branches, and 30,747 ATMs. BBVA is Spain’s second-largest bank after Banco Santander. Its presence in Switzerland is through a 100% group-owned franchise. The bank’s announcement details: One of the most important attractions of BBVA Switzerland’s offer is that the bitcoin management system is fully integrated in its app, where its performance can be viewed alongside that of the rest of the customers’ assets, funds or investments. This service “allows investing and combining traditional and digital financial assets in the same investment portfolio,” the bank noted, adding that it helps clients “in terms of simplicity when it comes to trading, account statements, tax returns, etc.” BBVA further stated that “Through the customer’s personalized digital wallet, bitcoins can be converted into euros or any other current currency, and vice versa, automatically, without delays and without the illiquidity that affects other digital wallets or independent brokers.” Alfonso Gómez, CEO of BBVA Switzerland, commented: “We are bringing the quality of banking service to the fledgling world of crypto assets. With this innovative offer, BBVA positions itself as a benchmark institution in the adoption of blockchain technology.” He revealed:

The DistributedCOM Error 10016 is a common Windows issue found on almost every Windows version since Windows XP. The error doesn't immediately crash your system. You won't suffer a sudden blue screen of death. In fact, the DCOM Error 10016 is benign. However, that doesn't mean you can't fix it. So, here's how to fix the DistributedCOM Error 10016 on your Windows 10 system. What Is DistributedCOM? First up, what is DistributedCOM, and why is it showing an error? The Distributed Component Object Model (DCOM) is an integral aspect of networked communication on Windows computers. It is a proprietary Microsoft technology which whirs into action every time an application makes a connection to the internet. A traditional COM can only access information on the same machine, whereas DCOM can access data on remote servers. For example, many websites and services use scripts that access a remote server. When your system makes a request using a script or otherwise, DCOM forwards the request to the specific script object. Given how frequently modern applications use a network connection and our general use of computers, you can see how frequently DCOM comes into use. A DCOM error usually occurs when an application or service attempts to use DCOM but does not have the proper permissions. Most of the time, DCOM errors won't affect your system, other than clogging up your Event Viewer. Given most Windows 10 users do not check the Event Viewer regularly, DCOM errors are nothing to worry about. Still, an error-free system is better than the alternative. With that in mind, here is one easy method for fixing DCOM Error 10016, and one slightly more long-winded fix. 1. Edit the Windows Registry to Fix DCOM Error 10016 The first port of call is the Windows Registry. A simple registry tweak can sometimes fix the DCOM Error 10016 immediately. Before editing the registry, I recommend taking a backup. Type registry in your Start Menu search bar and select the Best Match. Head to File > Export, set the Export Range to All, then Save the Windows Registry to a handy location. The following fix won't damage your computer, but it is best to take a backup to restore from in the event of an unexpected error. Now, let's attempt the fix. Type registry in your Start Menu search bar and select the Best Match. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Ole. You can copy and paste the address into the Registry Editor address bar. Delete the following four registry keys: DefaultAccessPermission DefaultLaunchPermission MachineAccessRestriction MachineLaunchRestriction Close the Windows Registry Editor, then reboot your system. Your system should remain DCOM Error 10016 free from now on. 2. Enable DCOM Permissions for Specific Error If that doesn't work, there is a substantially longer workaround that you can follow. However, if you have several individual applications all providing DCOM errors, the following process will take some time as you have to repeat the majority of it for each error. The DCOM Error 10016 error message in the Event Viewer contains information regarding the specific application or process creating the issue. Input event viewer in your Start Menu search bar and select the Best Match. Head to Windows Logs > System and locate your most recent DCOM Error 10016. Double-click the error message to expand it. The General tab explains the reason for 10016 error, listing the CLSID (Class ID) and APPID (Application ID). The CLSID and APPID character strings look random. However, you can use them to identify which application or service is the route of the 10016 error. Locate CLSID and APPID in the Registry Editor Here's how you locate the service in the Registry Editor. First, highlight the CLSID in the Event Viewer, then press CTRL + C to copy. Then, open the Registry Editor. Search the registry for the following: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{Paste Your CLSID Here} For me, that looks like HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{2593F8B9-4EAF-457C-B68A-50F6B8EA6B54}. Remember, you can copy and paste the address into the Registry Editor address bar. Once the CLSID search finishes, you can cross-reference the APPID from the error message with the AppID listed under the CLSID. In my case, the DCOM Error 10016 stems from the Runtime Broker, which is one of the most common causes of this error. Edit the CLSID Permissions In the left-hand list of registry entries, right-click the CLSID relating to the error, then select Permission > Advanced. From here, you can edit the Permissions of the service. (Changing file permissions can fix a bunch of other Windows 10 issues, too.) Highlight Administrators and select Edit. Switch the Basic Permissions to include Full Control, then hit OK > Apply > OK. Now, restart your system. Once the restart completes, input Component Services in your Start Menu search bar and select the Best Match. Head to Computers > My Computer > DCOM Config. You will see a long list of service that uses DCOM in some manner. Locate the service using the name and APPID, right-click and select Properties > Security. Under Launch and Activation Permissions, select Edit > Add > Add a Local Service > Apply. Now, tick the Local Activation box, hit OK, and reboot your system again. Whew! All done, the process is complete. Note: Unfortunately, if you have multiple 10016 error causes, you'll have to complete this process for each CSLID/APPID combination. DCOM Error 10016 Solved Hopefully, that has alleviated your Distributed COM 10016 error. I must emphasize that a DCOM 10016 error is highly unlikely to affect your system performance. In the very old days, when Microsoft first introduced "Distributed" to the Component Object Model, there were vulnerabilities. However, these vulnerabilities have been patched and DCOM is safe now.

A longtime Windows truism proposes that you need to reinstall the operating system often for best performance. But while there are times when it's appropriate to do so, it's not as vital a step as some propose. As a Mac user, you might be curious if it's the same case for macOS. Do you need to reinstall macOS regularly, and why should you ever reinstall the OS? Let's dig into this question and the reasons behind it. Do You Ever Need to Reinstall macOS? Before we get into the motives for doing so, we should be clear that yes, there are some good reasons to reinstall macOS. However, this doesn't mean that reinstalling it regularly is necessary. macOS is a stable operating system that takes pretty good care of itself. Most users can use the copy of macOS that came with their system for years and never experience any problems. This is especially true since Apple introduced System Integrity Protection in OS X El Capitan, which limits user access to protected system files. When you have a problem on your Mac, reinstalling the OS should be near the bottom on your list of troubleshooting steps. Let's look at some situations where reinstalling macOS is a good idea, plus alternative ways to deal with these problems first. 1. When Your Mac Has a Serious Problem Image Credit: IzelPhotography/Depositphotos The main reason most people would reinstall macOS is because their system is completely messed up. Maybe error messages pop up constantly, software won't run correctly, and other usability issues prevent you from working normally. In extreme cases, your Mac might not even boot. While rare, this is more likely to occur with power users who regularly play with new software and make tweaks to system settings. However, it can happen to anyone. If your Mac has a major issue like this, we recommend first trying some other troubleshooting tools. Have a look at our list of the best free tools to fix common macOS problems for lots of help. For example, you can use the built-in Disk Utility tool to check for errors with your storage disk. Apple also provides diagnostic tests to help you check for hardware failures. And third-party customization tools like OnyX offer easy maintenance utilities for when something goes wrong. If these don't fix your problem, proceeding with a macOS reinstall is a good idea. 2. When Your Mac Is Really Slow Even if your Mac doesn't have a critical problem, it might still run at a snail's pace. When this happens, we first recommend reviewing common mistakes that slow your Mac down. You might need to remove some startup programs, run updates on your system, or clean out your storage drive to fix this issue. But if none of these fixes have an effect, reinstalling macOS can likely help speed up your system. This is especially the case if your Mac is approaching a decade of life. If you do have a really old system, you may need to follow our tips for making an old Mac feel like new beyond an OS reinstall. 3. When You're Selling Your Mac Because Macs hold their value for so long, you can often resell your machine years after you bought it and make some of the cost back. Whether you plan to sell your Mac online or just give it to a friend, you don't want the new owner to have access to all your files. The easiest way to wipe out your own configuration and prepare the Mac for the next person is to reinstall the OS. When you do this, you can erase your storage drive so they can't access any of your old data. We've looked at how to sell your Mac safely and for the best price, so take a look at that for more information. 4. When You Want to Downgrade macOS Most of the time, upgrading to the latest version of macOS is a painless experience. Doing so grants access to new features, plus better performance a lot of the time. But maybe you regret updating the OS on your Mac. Perhaps the latest version made a change that affects your workflow, or maybe it just doesn't run well on your older machine. In those cases, downgrading macOS is a viable option. Unfortunately, Apple doesn't offer an official solution for downgrading macOS. You'll have to follow our guide to downgrading macOS to use workaround methods for this. There's no in-place downgrade option, making this another instance where you have to run a fresh install. How to Reinstall macOS When Needed Now that we've looked at the few cases where reinstalling macOS makes sense, how do you actually perform the reinstall process? We've covered the complete process for reinstalling macOS, so be sure to read that for full details. Here we offer a brief summary of the procedure. Before You Start the Process First, make sure you have all your files backed up. You can do this using the built-in Time Machine or another backup solution. While you can reinstall macOS and keep your personal data, backing up is still a smart idea. You may also want to generate a list of installed apps on your Mac so you don't forget what you had installed. Next, you should sign out of Apple services like iCloud, iTunes, and iMessage. Some of these only let you use your account on a certain number of devices, so you don't want a computer that's no longer around to use a spot. Reinstalling Through macOS Recovery When you're ready to reinstall, shut down your Mac, then reboot while holding Cmd + R. After a few moments, you'll see the macOS Utilities screen. If you simply want to reinstall macOS without losing any data (to fix issues or get a clean start), select Reinstall macOS from the list. However, if you want to erase everything on your computer first (such as when selling your machine), you'll need to enter Disk Utility before reinstalling. Select your disk on the left side of the utility, then use the Erase tab to wipe it clean. Finally, you can walk through the steps in the Reinstall macOS option. After some time, the reinstall process will complete. You can quit here if you're selling your system, or continue through the welcome steps to set up your Mac again. When You Might Need to Replace Your Mac It's clear that while you don't need to reinstall macOS regularly, it can come in handy in certain circumstances. If you fall under any of the above situations, try an OS reinstall if the other troubleshooting steps didn't fix your problem. Thankfully, Apple makes it easy to reinstall macOS, so the bulk of the time is just waiting for the process to complete. If reinstalling doesn't fix your issue, it may be time to replace your Mac.

Suffering from a slow internet connection? It's an extremely frustrating problem, leading everyone to wonder how to speed up their internet performance at some point. We're here to help. Let's look at some general Windows tips to improve your internet connection and get you browsing in style again. First: Test Your Connection Speed To start, head to Speedtest.net to measure your connection speed and quality. Simply click the Go button and give the app a minute to run. You'll see three stats related to your internet connection: Ping, also called latency, is the number of milliseconds it takes for you to receive a response after sending a request to a server. The lower this number, the better your connection to that server. This is especially important in online video games, as a high ping results in lag. Download speed, measured in megabits per second (Mbps), is how fast your computer can grab data from remote servers. The higher your download speed, the quicker you'll be able to download files, stream video, and similar. Upload speed, also measured in Mbps, is how fast your computer can send data to other devices on the internet. The faster this speed, the quicker you can perform tasks like uploading files to a website. This number is usually less than download speed since most online activity revolves around downloads. Taking these together, we often use the term bandwidth to describe the amount of information you can transfer over the internet in a set amount of time. Think of bandwidth like a water pipe leading into your house. If one person wants to take a shower, they'll have a pleasant experience. But with six people using the water at the same time in different places, the pressure drops for everyone. Network bandwidth works in the same way. One device downloading large files is no problem. But when you have six devices on your network all trying to stream HD video, play online games, and similar at once, they can only each use a portion of the total bandwidth. Now, let's review some tweaks you can make to improve your internet speed. 1. Close Network-Heavy Apps As discussed, if one program is heavily using the network, other apps will suffer. Because of this, when you experience slow speeds, you should check to see what apps are using your network connection and close them if necessary. To do this, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager and click More details to expand the window, if needed. Next, on the Processes tab, click the Network header to sort running apps by their network usage. If anything is using an excessive amount of bandwidth, you should close it to free up resources for other apps. This is especially important if you want to perform a network-intensive activity, like playing games online or streaming video. Some common network culprits include: Cloud storage services like Dropbox syncing many files Torrenting software Files downloading in your browser Streaming video, especially in 4K or HD 2. Review Other Devices on Your Network If you still experience a slow network connection after closing apps, the problem may lie with another device on your network. Maybe someone else is streaming Netflix on their tablet, downloading files on their computer, or playing games on their console. In those cases, you should check with other people in your home. Hopefully, you can tweak their systems with the tips mentioned here, or work out a way to better share the bandwidth. You may need to upgrade to a better connection plan with your provider if you want to have multiple devices all online doing network-intensive activities at once. It's also wise to check for common culprits that slow down your Wi-Fi network. 3. Change Your Wi-Fi Channel Your wireless router broadcasts using a specific channel. Because of the large number of devices that use Wi-Fi, and the number of networks in crowded areas like apartment complexes, certain channels can run into interference. If you only experience slow internet speeds when on Wi-Fi, making changes to the channel might improve your issue. See our complete guide to changing your router's Wi-Fi channel for instructions. 4. Adjust Windows Update's Delivery Options Windows Update in Windows 10 includes a peer-to-peer sharing feature. This allows computers to share pieces of updates they download to other machines. While it's a nice idea in theory, it can also result in wasted bandwidth. To adjust this option, head to Settings > Update & Security > Delivery Optimization. Here, you can choose to disable the update sharing feature entirely by disabling the Allow downloads from other PCs slider. If you like, you can instead enable it and select the PCs on my local network option. This prevents your system from sharing updates to random computers on the internet, while still sharing with other computers on your network. For homes with multiple Windows 10 systems, this could reduce the overall bandwidth usage for updates. To further adjust the bandwidth Windows 10 uses, click the Advanced options link. This provides you with checkboxes and sliders to limit how much bandwidth Windows uses when downloading updates in the background or foreground. You can also limit how much bandwidth the update sharing feature uses for uploads. 5. Limit Bandwidth Usage for Apps Restricting Windows Update is great, so you might consider doing the same for other apps. Some, like backup and cloud storage apps, let you restrict bandwidth usage in their settings. For example, with Dropbox, you can right-click its icon in your System Tray, then click your profile icon and choose Preferences. In the resulting window, select the Bandwidth tab and you can limit the Download rate and Upload rate. What if you want to limit the bandwidth usage of an app that doesn't have this option built-in? We've covered apps that let you limit the internet bandwidth programs use. To get an idea of which apps use the most bandwidth on your PC, head to Settings > Network & Internet > Data usage. At the top, click your connection and you'll see a breakdown of usage by app. This gives you an idea of which ones you might need to limit. 6. Change Your DNS Server If nothing above has worked, you might consider adjusting the DNS servers your computer (or entire network) uses. DNS, or Domain Name System, is a system that translates human-readable website names (like makeuseof.com) into computer-readable IP addresses (like 34.233.102.111). When your computer has to make a DNS request, it goes through a server equipped for this purpose. It likely uses your ISP's DNS server by default, but you can often speed up your browsing by using another DNS server. To do this, type Control Panel into the Start menu to open that utility. Change the View by field in the top-right to Large icons or Small icons, then choose Network and Sharing Center. Next to the Connections text, click the link with the name of your connection. In the resulting window, click the Properties button at the bottom. In the list that appears, double-click on Internet Protocol Version 4. Then, at the bottom, select the Use the following DNS server addresses button. Here you'll need to enter the addresses of the server you want to use. To start, give Google's public DNS a try. Enter the following addresses to use it: Preferred DNS server: 8.8.8.8 Alternate DNS server: 8.8.4.4 Click OK once done, and you've successfully switched your DNS server. Whether this makes a major difference will depend on your location and ISP. Note that this is different than using a dynamic DNS provider. 7. Try Further Internet Troubleshooting We've gone over some useful Windows tweaks to improve your network speed. But you might require further testing if you're still suffering from slow speeds. In that case, you should review what to do when your Wi-Fi connection speed drops. If you experience extremely slow Wi-Fi speeds all the time, it might be time to buy a new router. As you've seen, a lot of these issues are related to Wi-Fi. If it's at all possible for you to wire your computer to your router with an Ethernet cable, doing so will improve your internet performance considerably. Now You Know How to Fix Internet Speed We've looked at several Windows adjustments that can improve your internet connection. Hopefully, they bring your current speed to an acceptable level. It's important to note, however, that tweaks like these can only go so far. Your connection speed won't ever exceed what you pay your ISP for. If you live in a remote area and thus use a slow connection type like DSL, or have a cheap internet plan, you may need to look into another provider or upgrade your plan to improve your speeds.

At certain times, you may find it necessary to restore your Windows computer to factory settings. Maybe you ran into malware and need a fresh start, or perhaps you plan to sell your computer and wipe it clean. Whatever the reason, we'll show you what to do. Here's how to factory reset your HP laptop. First: Don't Forget to Back Up! Before you perform a factory reset, you should make sure you have a backup of your files. In most cases, performing a factory reset will remove all data from your machine. See our guide to backing up Windows 10 for how to do this. Factory Reset Your HP Laptop Using Recovery Manager Until 2018, HP computers came with a tool called HP Recovery Manager. You can use this to restore your laptop to its default settings, but it comes with a few stipulations. To see if you have it installed, open the Start menu and search for Recovery Manager. If you don't see it, your computer may be too new and thus doesn't include the software. You also can't use this option if you've deleted the HP Recovery partition on your system's hard drive. Finally, HP's recovery tools only work for the version of Windows that your computer shipped with. Thus, if you bought your laptop with Windows 8.1 and later upgraded to Windows 10, you can't use the utility. Should you fulfill all these conditions, you can use HP Recovery Manager to restore your PC to its default state. The app will walk you through the process, including backing up your files first. Once it completes, you can set up Windows again. See HP's page on Recovery Manager and the below HP Support video for help with this process. If your computer doesn't have Recovery Manager, HP recommends using the built-in Windows options (covered below). Factory Reset an HP Laptop Using Pre-Boot Options If you can't boot into Windows normally, or you don't have the Recovery Manager available, you can instead turn to pre-boot options. When you start your laptop, you'll see some text on-screen telling you what keys you need to press to access the startup environment. On my HP laptop, this is the Esc key, but it may be different for yours. As soon as you boot your computer, rapidly press the button until it jumps to an options screen. You may see a key that corresponds to a Recovery option of some sort. On my laptop, I had to press F10 to access the BIOS Setup menu first. After this, in the Security section, I found an option labeled Secure Erase. This allows you to erase the entire hard drive, useful for when you plan to give your computer away. Be careful what you choose here. Your computer may not include an option to reinstall Windows through this menu. The above Secure Erase option wipes the hard drive clean, meaning you would have to reinstall Windows yourself. Windows 10's Factory Reset Options If you don't want to use any of the above methods, or find that they didn't work, you can turn to the universal reset options in Windows 10. No matter what kind of laptop you have, you can use these to get your computer back to its default state. See our guide on factory resetting your Windows 10 computer for all you need to know on this. You can use the Reset this PC options in Settings, open the advanced startup options to reboot into a recovery environment, or even reinstall Windows with installation media. All You Need to Factory Reset an HP Laptop Now you know your options for resetting an HP laptop to factory settings. It seems HP has acknowledged that Windows 10 has great factory reset options built in, making old-school recovery methods less important. You're probably best off using those, but it's good to know what HP includes so you have all the bases covered.

Bluetooth is a wireless technology that lets you connect devices together. On Windows 10, you can use Bluetooth to pair keyboards, phones, speakers, and more. Bluetooth is great when it works, but you might encounter problems when trying to pair your device to a Windows 10 system. We're going to show you how to fix those pairing problems. 1. Check If Your Device Has Bluetooth This might sound silly, but it's easy to mistakenly assume that a device has Bluetooth. Check the product specifications of your device---look for the Bluetooth logo on the packaging. If you can't find any reference to it, chances are it doesn't support Bluetooth and instead needs to be connected via Wi-Fi or cable. If it's your Windows 10 computer that doesn't have Bluetooth, don't worry. You can buy a cheap Bluetooth adapter that is small and fits into a USB slot. 2. Ensure Bluetooth is Enabled Your device won't necessarily have Bluetooth enabled by default. On Windows 10, press Window key + A to open the Action Center. Ensure that the Bluetooth tile is highlighted and on. If it isn't, click on the tile to enable it. If you don't see the Bluetooth tile, click Expand. While you're here, double check that Flight mode is disabled because this turns Bluetooth off. Alternatively, press Windows key + I to open Settings and go to Devices > Bluetooth & other devices and slide Bluetooth to On. The device you want to pair will have its own method to enable it, so check its documentation. It may even have a physical switch to turn Bluetooth on. 3. Double Check the Bluetooth Service Status Bluetooth is a service on Windows 10. That service should turn on as part of the processes above. But it's always best to check again. Press Windows key + R to open Run and input services.msc. The list is sorted by alphabetical Name, so look for all those that begin with Bluetooth. Double click each and check the Service status. If it shows as Stopped, click Start to get it going. 4. Make Your System Discoverable Confusingly, Windows 10 settings are still fragmented, and this is also true of Bluetooth. The setting to make your PC discoverable to other Bluetooth devices is not where you might expect. Press Windows key + I and go to Devices > More Bluetooth options. Tick Allow Bluetooth devices to find this PC and click OK. This shouldn't be necessary if you want to pair something like a mouse or keyboard, but can be helpful to pair devices like phones. 5. Reposition Your Device Bluetooth has a limited range. The specific value varies, but in a home setting, it's roughly ten meters. That can be greatly reduced by physical barriers like walls. As such, make sure that the device you want to pair to your computer is turned on, fully charged, and in close range to your Windows 10 system. Also, make sure it isn't too close to another device using a USB 3.0 port. Unshielded USB devices can occasionally interfere with Bluetooth connections. 6. Disable Other Bluetooth Devices Technically, you shouldn't need to disable other Bluetooth devices, but they might be causing interference when you try to pair a new device. To disable them, press Windows key + I to open Settings and click Devices. In turn, click each Bluetooth device and click Remove device > Yes. Of course, remember to pair these devices again if you still need them. 7. Read the Event Log In June 2019, Microsoft patched Windows 10 to protect from a Bluetooth security vulnerability. However, this caused some Bluetooth devices to suffer connectivity issues. You can see if this is impacting you. Press Windows key + X and click Event Viewer. Beneath Summary of Administrative Events, expand Error and look for the following: Event ID: 22 Event Source: BTHUSB or BTHMINI Name: BTHPORT_DEBUG_LINK_KEY_NOT_ALLOWED Event Message Text: Your Bluetooth device attempted to establish a debug connection. The Windows Bluetooth stack does not allow debug connection while it is not in the debug mode. If you see this, Microsoft recommends contacting the manufacturer of your Bluetooth device to see if they've made a patch. If not, you may need to buy a new Bluetooth device entirely. 8. Check for Windows Updates It's best to keep Windows up to date to benefit from the latest features and security patches. This can help resolve problems with Bluetooth. Windows 10 will automatically update, but you can manually check for and install updates. To do this, press Windows key + I to open Settings. Go to Update & Security and click Check for updates. Your system will either be running the latest version already, or it will begin to download and install new patches. 9. Update the Drivers Your Bluetooth drivers may be outdated. This will often be the case if you recently updated Windows 10. To check for driver updates, press Windows key + X and click Device Manager. Expand Bluetooth and right click the adapter. Click Update driver > Search automatically for updated driver software. Follow the instructions. Once the driver has updated, restart your system. If this process doesn't find any drivers, double check your manufacturer's website and download from there. If it's an EXE file, open it up and follow the instructions. Alternatively, it's another format, like INF or SYS, follow the instructions above to update via Device Manager, but select Browse my computer for driver software when prompted. Browse to what you just downloaded, select the location, click OK, then Next to see the wizard to the end. Restart your computer when done. 10. Run the Bluetooth Troubleshooter Windows 10 has a built-in Bluetooth troubleshooter. This will detect any problems and automatically try to repair them. To run it, press Windows key + I to open Settings and go to Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Bluetooth > Run the troubleshooter. Follow the instructions. It should fix any problems it finds, but some of them might require your manual action. Fix Your Bluetooth Pairing Problems It can be frustrating when Bluetooth doesn't work, so hopefully one of our steps have resolved your problem.