Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping the world, and whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned pro, there’s no better time to learn. Best of all, you don’t need to break the bank – top-notch free AI courses are available online for every skill level. Below, I’ve compiled the best free AI courses, categorized into Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced levels, with overviews of what each offers. Let’s dive in!

Beginner AI Level Courses

Perfect for those with little to no technical background, these courses introduce AI fundamentals and practical applications.

1. DeepLearning.AI – AI for Everyone

• Overview: Led by AI expert Andrew Ng, this Coursera course (free to audit) is a 6-hour intro for non-technical learners. It covers what AI is, how it’s built, and its impact on industries and society. With four modules—What Is AI?, Building AI Projects, Building AI in Your Company, and AI in Society—it’s a broad, accessible starting point. No coding required, and a paid certificate is optional.

2. Intel AI Essentials

• Overview: This 9-hour Coursera course from Intel (free to audit) teaches beginners how AI can enhance productivity. You’ll grasp core AI concepts, explore responsible AI use, and apply it to everyday tasks—no coding needed. Intel’s instructors make it practical and engaging for professionals or curious learners.

3. Vanderbilt – Prompt Engineering for ChatGPT

• Overview: Free to audit on Coursera, this 18-hour course by Vanderbilt’s Jules White introduces prompt engineering for AI models like ChatGPT. You’ll learn to craft effective prompts, optimize outputs, and apply them to tasks like writing or brainstorming. It’s beginner-friendly and hands-on, requiring no prior tech skills.

4. IBM – AI for Everyone: Master the Basics

• Overview: This free edX course (audit mode) takes 4 weeks at 2-3 hours per week. It covers AI basics—machine learning, deep learning, neural networks—without coding prerequisites. You’ll explore applications, ethics, and complete a mini-project, making it a solid entry for non-technical learners.

5. Microsoft – Data Science for Beginners

• Overview: Hosted on GitHub, this free, self-paced course introduces data science concepts foundational to AI. Over 10 weeks, it covers data basics, Python, visualization, and simple machine learning. Aimed at beginners with minimal coding experience, it includes hands-on exercises and is perfect for those curious about AI’s data roots.

Intermediate AI Level Courses

These courses build on basic knowledge, often requiring some familiarity with coding or AI concepts, and focus on practical skills.

6. Microsoft – Generative AI for Beginners (GitHub)

• Overview: This free, 12-lesson GitHub course is for learners with basic coding skills (e.g., Python). It explores generative AI, including large language models (LLMs), prompt engineering, and app-building with Azure. Each lesson offers code samples and exercises, bridging theory and practice for intermediates.

7. Google – Prompting Essentials

• Overview: Free to audit on Coursera, this 10-hour Google course refines prompt engineering skills. It dives into advanced prompting techniques, troubleshooting AI outputs, and real-world applications. Ideal for intermediates comfortable with AI tools, it’s practical for creative or professional use.

8. IBM – Generative AI: Prompt Engineering Basics

• Overview: This 7-hour Coursera course (free to audit) from IBM teaches prompt engineering essentials. You’ll craft prompts, optimize AI responses, and apply them to tasks like content creation. It suits intermediates with some AI exposure, blending theory with IBM’s industry insights.

9. Vanderbilt – Generative AI Automation

• Overview: Free to audit on Coursera, this 10-hour Vanderbilt course explores AI-driven automation. Using tools like ChatGPT’s Advanced Data Analysis, you’ll process files (PDFs, images) and generate outputs like presentations. It’s great for intermediates wanting to automate workflows, assuming basic AI tool familiarity.

10. Coursera – Python for Applied Data Science and AI

• Overview: Offered by IBM on Coursera (free to audit), this 25-hour course introduces Python for data science and AI. You’ll learn Python basics, data structures, and libraries like Pandas and NumPy, with hands-on projects. It’s perfect for intermediates with some coding experience looking to apply Python to AI tasks.

11. Google Cloud – Generative AI Learning Path

• Overview: This free, self-paced Google Cloud course (part of the Generative AI path) takes about 7 hours. It covers intermediate topics like using generative AI tools, Vertex AI, and prompt design on Google’s platform. Aimed at learners with basic cloud or AI knowledge, it includes labs for practical experience.

12. Pearls Lab – AI Agents Course

• Overview: This free, self-paced GitHub course explores building AI agents—autonomous systems that act on user goals. It assumes basic Python and AI knowledge, covering agent design, LLMs, and practical examples. It’s ideal for intermediates ready to experiment with AI applications.

Advanced AI Level Courses

These courses target learners with strong AI foundations. They often require coding skills or prior coursework and tackle complex topics.

13. DeepLearning.AI – Building with Large Language Models

• Overview: Free to audit on Coursera, this 10-hour course by DeepLearning.AI dives into building with LLMs. Assuming Python and AI basics, you’ll fine-tune models, integrate them into projects, and tackle tasks like text generation. It’s perfect for advanced learners or developers creating custom AI solutions.

14. IBM – Generative AI Engineering

• Overview: This Coursera course (free to audit) spans 10+ hours and explores generative AI engineering. You’ll fine-tune models, deploy solutions, and use tools like IBM Watson, requiring Python and AI experience. It’s ideal for advanced learners aiming for professional-grade AI skills.

15. IBM – AI Developer Professional Certificate (Selected Free Content)

• Overview: While the full certificate costs money, individual courses (e.g., “Introduction to AI”) are free to audit on Coursera. This 6-month track (5-10 hours/week) builds advanced skills in AI programming and generative models, with projects like sentiment analysis apps. It’s for coders ready to master AI development.

16. edX – Stanford: Databases – Relational Databases and SQL

• Overview: Free to audit on edX, this Stanford course (10-15 hours) dives into relational databases and SQL—key for advanced AI data management. You’ll master database design, SQL queries, and optimization, assuming some technical background. It’s essential for AI practitioners handling large datasets.

17. edX – Harvard: Statistics and R

• Overview: This free-to-audit edX course from Harvard (8 weeks, 2-4 hours/week) teaches statistics and R programming, critical for advanced AI and machine learning. You’ll cover probability, inference, and regression, with R labs. It’s ideal for those with coding skills wanting to deepen statistical expertise for AI.

18. NVIDIA – Self-Paced AI Training

• Overview: NVIDIA’s free self-paced courses (e.g., “Fundamentals of Deep Learning”) range from 2-8 hours and focus on advanced AI topics like deep learning and GPU programming. Aimed at learners with Python and AI experience, they offer hands-on labs using NVIDIA tools, perfect for cutting-edge AI development.

Final Thoughts

From beginner-friendly intros like AI for Everyone to advanced deep dives like NVIDIA’s AI training, these free courses cover the full spectrum of AI learning. Beginners can explore foundational concepts, intermediates can hone practical skills, and advanced learners can tackle complex projects. Most are free to audit on platforms like Coursera and edX, with optional paid certificates, while GitHub and provider-hosted courses are fully free.

Check X or course reviews for community insights – students often share valuable tips! Which course will you start with? Drop your thoughts below!

The post The Best Free AI Courses to Boost Your Skills first appeared on Help Desk Geek.

There’s no point going around in circles with your data. In Excel, any attempt to create a loop with your formula is called circular referencing, and it’s something that Excel stops by default. Any loop where a formula refers to itself (directly or indirectly) will throw up an error—the cycle can’t be completed as the calculation can’t end.

Circular references are a problem because they’ll stop your formulas from working and prevent you from reviewing your data. You’ll need to find the circular references in your Excel formulas and fix them, or modify your spreadsheet to be able to get around the problem.

Identifying Circular References in Excel

You’ll often encounter a circular reference when a formula refers back to its own cell, whether directly or through a series of formulas. If you’ve inadvertently created a circular reference, Excel typically flags it with an alert.

You can quickly check this for yourself by looking at the status bar at the bottom of the Excel window. If you see Circular References in the bottom-left corner with a cell address, then you have circular references that you’ll need to fix.

Go to that address and fix the problem, then check the status bar until it shows no errors on any of your worksheets.

Using Excel’s Error Checking Tool

Excel also has a built-in tool to help you track down circular references. You can use these steps to find them.

1. Open the Excel workbook you wish to check and select the Formulas tab on the ribbon bar.

2. Click the Error Checking button.
   
3. From the drop-down menu, select Circular References. This will show a list of addresses for you to fix and direct you to the (first) problematic cell on the list.

How to Remove a Circular Reference in Excel

If you’re not intending to use them, circular references in Excel often lead to incorrect, impossible-to-run calculations. However, removing them is a straightforward process once you’ve identified the problematic cell (or cells) causing it.

How you do this will depend on how your spreadsheet is designed to work. A good way to bypass the problem is to copy a cell with a formula and replace it with its final, static result. This might not be ideal, but it can allow you to bypass an error when a formula, relying on another formula’s result, itself relies on that formula’s result to work.

Start by locating the cell with the circular reference, which Excel typically flags with an error message. If you select it, you may see blue arrows appear in other cells—this points out the loop that you may need to fix.

Next, right-click the cell and select Copy, or press Ctrl + C on your keyboard. Once copied, right-click the cell again and select Paste > Paste Value, or press Ctrl + Alt + V on your keyboard.

Repeat these for any other cell references you have in place to get your final formula to calculate properly.

How to Allow Circular References in Excel Using Iterative Calculations

Iterative calculations is a feature in Excel that allows it to perform calculations a certain number of times. If you’re expecting that you’ll need your formulas to refer back to themselves, you may want to enable iterative calculations so that it allows the calculations to run without showing an error.

This feature is disabled by default—it isn’t the ideal behavior for most Excel users. However, if you’re intentionally using circular references for iterative calculations, you’ll need to enable this feature using these steps.

1. Open Excel and press File > Options (or File > More > Options).

2. In the Excel Options menu, click Formulas.
   
3. Under Calculation options, check the box for Enable iterative calculation and set the values for maximum iterations and maximum changes. This will set a limit on the number of calculations that Excel will perform through a circular reference before it stops, as well as the precision of the final calculations it performs.

4. Press OK to save your changes.
   

Managing Errors in Microsoft Excel

A circular reference in Excel isn’t a critical error, but it will stop your spreadsheet from working. By using the steps above, you can track down the problem and fix it to correct the error in your spreadsheet and allow your formulas to successfully calculate their end result.

There are plenty of other errors you might come across in Excel, including the #NUM error. However, as long as you check through your data to correct any formula errors or data integrity, you should be able to fix the problem.

The post How to Find Circular References in Microsoft Excel first appeared on Help Desk Geek.

Windows 11 is the best gaming operating system Microsoft has created to date, although it had a rough start. While most people will be pleased with their default gaming performance, there are some tweaks you can make to improve things.

Core Isolation and Virtualization

If you look up most gaming optimization guides for Windows 11 online, and even in Microsoft’s online documentation, there will be advice regarding “core isolation” and “virtualization.”

The first setting relates to the security and integrity of your CPU’s data. Without core isolation, your computer may be vulnerable to malicious attacks. Virtualization is a feature most modern CPUs support. It helps accelerate virtualization software and applications that create simulated computers, either for security reasons or to allow you to run software meant for another operating system.

Turning these features off may improve video game performance at the cost of security and functionality. In the case of core isolation, Microsoft recommends turning it back on every time you’re finished playing your game.

We’ve tried both of these tricks and benchmarked games with them off and on, and the small amount of performance you might gain isn’t worth the added security risk and pure hassle of flipping these settings on and off. That’s why we’ll go against the grain and recommend you simply leave them alone.

Update Windows

We recommend keeping Windows updated to optimize game performance. Updates often include fixes and new features that directly affect video game performance. Sometimes, these affect all games, and sometimes, they are necessary to make certain new games play correctly, in which case the game’s requirements might even note which version of Windows 11 is required.

To manually update, go to Start > Settings > Windows Update and select Check for updates. Then, install any that are pending.

Turn On Game Mode

Windows 11 has a dedicated “Game Mode” present since Windows 10. When you activate it, the behavior of the operating system changes. While a game is running, Windows halts all background operations that aren’t strictly needed. It won’t download or install things, it will optimize RAM usage, and the game will be the highest priority software from the perspective of the CPU and GPU.

Start > Settings > Gaming > Game Mode, then choose to turn it on.

Make Sure Your PC Supports DirectStorage

Ever wonder how consoles like the Xbox Series X or PlayStation 5 can load games so quickly from their SSDs? It’s because they use hardware-accelerated decompression that can effectively double the speed of the SSD.

For the first few years of current-generation consoles, PCs didn’t have this technology and couldn’t take full advantage of these fast SSDs, but now things have changed with the introduction of DirectStorage.

Newer games that support the DirectStorage will use it automatically if available; there’s no toggle to flip. However, you do need to make sure your computer meets the minimum requirements:

• The latest updated version of Windows 11
• A GPU that supports DirectX 12 and Shader Model 6.0
• An NVMe SSD with a Gen 4.0 drive is highly-recommended

You can check whether this feature is enabled on your system by pressing Win + G to open the Xbox Game Bar. Then, select the gear icon to open settings.

Select Gaming Features and then look for Your system is DirectX 12 Ultimate ready and DirectStorage supported. If both of these messages are there, you’re good to go.

Update Your GPU Drivers

Possibly the most important component on a Windows computer for games is the GPU, or Graphics Processing Unit, found on your graphics card or in your laptop. Drivers are the software components that tell your operating system (Windows) and the video games you want to play how to communicate with the GPU.

More than any other piece of hardware, your GPU relies on up-to-date drivers to get the best performance. To optimize performance, GPU vendors such as NVIDIA and AMD release new drivers alongside major video game releases. Sometimes, new drivers can offer significantly smoother and more powerful game experiences, even if only in selected games.

Updating GPU drivers is quite easy. Go to the manufacturer or your card’s website and look for your model under the drive section. Download the installer, run it, and you should be done. If you’ve already installed your GPU’s software, then you can usually check for updates and install them from within the GPU’s app instead.

Enable Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling

Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling is a new feature supported by modern GPUs and Windows 11. It lets the GPU take over some of the workload the CPU usually does in video games. It removes some of the CPU “bottlenecks” where the GPU no longer has to wait for the CPU for certain tasks before it can do its job.

In most modern games and the older games we’ve personally tested, there’s no downside to making sure this setting is turned on if it’s available. It can improve maximum game performance and reduce stutter, making games play smoothly at any framerate. We have had to disable it for compatibility reasons in one or two games, but for the most part this setting should be on. If you have a 40-series NVIDIA GPU or later, this feature is required to use the DLSS 3-frame generation feature. You’ll need a 10-series NVIDIA GPU or a Radeon 5600 or later to use it.
To activate this feature in Windows 11, go to Settings > System > Display > Graphics > Change Default Graphics Settings and toggle Hardware Accelerated GPU scheduling on.

You’ll have to restart your computer for the change to take effect.

Use a Wired Keyboard and Mouse (Or Controller)

While most players will probably perform and feel just fine using wireless peripherals, especially if they use wireless peripherals designed for gaming. However, standard wireless mice and keyboards will likely have extra latency compared to using wired models, even cheap wired examples.

If you’re using a controller via Bluetooth, the same can apply. Luckily, all you have to do in most cases is connect it with a USB cable, and you’re set. As a bonus, you don’t have to worry about batteries!

Use Ethernet Instead of Wi-Fi

Network performance is a major consideration if you’re playing online games. Downloading games over Wi-Fi is fine in most cases, but when you’re playing online, the unpredictability of Wi-Fi can wreak havoc when trying to score those split-second kills in Call of Duty.

We recommend using a direct Ethernet connection instead. This is by far the fastest and most reliable type of home network connection, and in many cases, it can transform the online experience.

If your gaming PC is too far away from your router, consider investing in a mesh router system and connecting your PC to the nearest mesh unit via Ethernet. Alternatively, you can buy a Powerline Ethernet kit and connect your PC to your router using the electrical wiring in your home. This doesn’t always offer the fastest speeds, but online gaming is less about speed and more about latency, and in that department, Powerline technology usually beats Wi-Fi.

Install Windows and Games on an SSD

Modern games are quite bandwidth-hungry, so fast storage is becoming essential. Some modern games now require an SSD, and others strongly recommend one. There are two main types of SSD in modern Windows computers—SATA and NVME PCIe.

While SATA SSDs are much faster than mechanical hard drives, we recommend an NVMe drive or drives instead for gaming. At the very least, Windows and your most demanding games should be installed on such a drive.

Disable Wallpaper Slideshow

This last one might surprise you, but if you’ve experienced unexplained hitching and stuttering in your games, it might be your wallpaper settings.

Windows lets you use a slideshow setting to change between different wallpapers in a specified folder, at intervals you choose. Every time it makes the changes, the entire computer freezes for a split second.

Even when it happens in the background, if you have your wallpaper set to change frequently, you may be pulling your hair out as to why you’re getting this stutter in your games when the solution is as simple as changing your wallpaper to a static image or setting the slideshow interval to only change once every few hours or once a day.

These are the core tips you need to optimize your Windows 11 PC. If you want to take things further, you can also look at overclocking your CPU and GPU. If you’re still using Windows 10, you may also be interested in How to Optimize Windows 10 for Gaming.

The post How to Optimize Your Windows 11 PC for Gaming first appeared on Help Desk Geek.

Headers and footers in Word documents are great places to store extra document information that also allows for easy navigation. But what happens when you want to remove headers and footers from your document? It’s as easy as inserting a section break, and we’ll show you how to remove the header and footer in Word, whether you’re using the Windows version or the web version of the software.

How to Remove Headings in Word Documents

If you’re wondering how to remove a heading in Word, it couldn’t be easier. Here’s how to remove the header from the entire document:

1. Go to Insert on the Ribbon.
2. Select Header.
3. Choose Remove Header from the drop-down menu.
4. Your header will now be deleted from your entire document.

How to Remove The Header From a Single Page

You can also remove the header from a single page of a document, if you prefer. Here’s how to do that:

1. Double-click in the header area.
2. In the top menu, check the box next to Different First Page.
3. The content of the header is removed from the first page.
4. If you want your header content only on the first page (and not on any subsequent pages), add the content on the first page. You’ll notice it won’t appear on other pages.
5. Press Esc to exit or select Close Header and Footer.

How to Remove Footers in Word Documents

Removing footers from Word documents is just as simple as removing headers. Here’s how to do that:

1. From the top menu, select Insert.
2. This time, choose Footer.
3. Choose Remove Footer from the drop-down menu
4. Your footer will now be deleted from your entire document.

How to Remove the Footer From a Single Page

To delete the footer from one page of a document, follow the below steps:

1. Double-click in the footer area.
2. Check the box next to Different First Page.
3. The footer contents will no longer appear on the first page.
4. If you want only footer content on the first page (and not on any subsequent pages), add the content on the first page. You’ll notice it won’t appear on other pages.
5. Press Esc to exit or select Close Header and Footer.

How to Remove Headers and Footers in Word for the Web

If you’re using the web version of Microsoft Word, here’s how to remove headers and footers from your document:

1. Go to Insert.
2. Select Header and Footer.
3. At the top right side of your document, select Options.
4. Select Remove Headers and Footers.

It’s so easy to remove headers and footers in Word once you know how and it’s just as easy to add them back into your document, if you change your mind. You might also want to check out how to rearrange pages in Word to help you organize your documents or discover useful Microsoft Word tips and tricks so you can get the most out of Word.

The post How to Remove Headers and Footers in Word Documents first appeared on Help Desk Geek.

Phishing emails are scams that try to get you to hand over personal information by pretending to be from a trustworthy source. Microsoft Outlook provides a built-in tool to report these emails quickly and easily. This article explains how to report phishing emails in Outlook (the web-based version) and the desktop app.

What Is a Phishing Email (and How Can You Spot One)?

A phishing email is a type of scam in which a cyberattacker tries to trick you into sharing sensitive information by pretending to be from a legitimate source. For example, the cybercriminal might try to get you to release your bank details or passwords by creating an email that appears to be from the bank you use.

Phishing emails are designed to make you act quickly, without thinking. They’ll often contain an urgent message that urges you to take an immediate action like clicking a link or entering your password.

Here are some ways to spot a phishing email:

• Check the sender’s address. Always double-check that the sender’s email address is legitimate. Phishing emails usually appear to be from a trustworthy source, but when you check the sender’s address, it might be misspelled or fake.
  
• Scan for spelling or grammatical errors. Phishing emails usually have spelling or grammar errors, making them easy to identify.
  
• Be cautious of urgent or threatening language. Phishing emails will often claim that your account has been compromised or something else has happened that warrants immediate action.
  

Why Should You Report Phishing Emails?

Reporting phishing emails removes them from your inbox, ensuring you won’t follow malicious links or download dangerous files from within the email. More importantly, it sends the message to Microsoft so that they can use it to stop spam emails from reaching your inbox. They may also warn other people who have received the same email so that they can avoid it.

How to Report a Phishing Email in Outlook On the Web

Here’s how to report suspicious emails while using Outlook on the Web:

1. Select the email you want to report.
   
2. Along the Ribbon, select Report.
   
3. Choose Report phishing.
   

4. Outlook will automatically send your email to the Trash folder and send a report to Microsoft. This report will be used to improve spam filters that automatically recognize and remove phishing scams.
   

Note: Alternatively, you can select the email and then press the three dots at the top of the email window. Then, select Report > Report phishing.

How to Report a Phishing Email on the Outlook Desktop App

Below, we’ll explain how to report a phishing email on the desktop version of the Outlook app. Keep in mind that these instructions may differ slightly depending on the version of Outlook that you’re using.

In the latest version of the desktop Outlook app, the instructions are the same as for Outlook on the Web. Simply select the email, then press Report > Report Phishing.

Alternatively, select the email that you want to report. Then press the three dots at the top-right corner of the email window, then press Report > Report phishing.

How to Report a Phishing Email on the Outlook Mobile App

To report a phishing email in the mobile version of the Outlook app on either an Android or iOS device, do the following:

1. Open the email you want to report, then press the three dots at the top of the email.
   
2. Select Report a Concern.
   

3. Choose Spam, or whatever choice fits your concern most closely, then press Send. Unfortunately, there’s no specific phishing option on the current version of the Android mobile app.
   

Stay Safe From Phishing Emails

Phishing scams are becoming more common every year, as are the victims of such scams. To stay safe, you need to be proactive and learn how to spot the common signs of email scams. By reporting any phishing email you receive, you not only protect yourself but help to safeguard others from would-be scammers.

The post How to Report Phishing Emails in Outlook first appeared on Help Desk Geek.

Are you trying to launch an app, game, or file but keep getting a “This file does not have an app associated with it” error? This error usually occurs when your PC doesn’t have the app required to open your specific file type. There are other reasons this issue occurs, and we’ll show you how to resolve this problem on your Windows 11 or Windows 10 computer.

Some other reasons the above error appears are that your app or game shortcut is corrupted, Windows’ system files are damaged, a system change you made to your PC is faulty, and more.

Delete and Re-Create Your App or Game Shortcut

If you get the above error while launching an app or game using a shortcut, that shortcut might be corrupted. This happens for various reasons, including a virus or malware corrupting your shortcut.

You can get around that by removing the current shortcut and adding a new shortcut.

1. Remove the existing shortcut by right-clicking the shortcut and choosing Delete.
   
2. Launch File Explorer using Windows + E and locate your app or game’s folder. Windows installs most items in the following directory:
   C:\Program Files
   
3. Find your app or game’s executable file.
   
4. Right-click the file and select Show more options > Send to > Desktop (create shortcut).

5. Access your desktop using Windows + D and double-click the newly created shortcut.
   

Ensure the App for Your File Type Is Installed

Your PC might not have the app required to open your specific file type. For example, you need the Photoshop app to open PSD files, and so on. In this case, get the app required to access your file, and your issue will be resolved.

First, find your file’s type as follows:

1. Right-click the file and select Properties.
   
2. Access the General tab.
   
3. Your file’s extension appears next to Type of file.

If your PC doesn’t have the app needed to open your specific file type, search your file’s extension on Google, and you’ll find the apps that can open your file. Download and install one of those apps, then do the following:

1. Right-click your file and select Open with > Choose another app.

2. Choose the newly-installed app to launch your file with.
   

Set the Default App for Your File Type

Another fix to use is to set the default app for the file type you’re trying to open. For example, set a media player as the default app for MP3 files if you’re trying to launch an MP3 file. This tells Windows what application to open your file with.

On Windows 11

1. Launch Settings by pressing Windows + I.
   
2. Select Apps in the left sidebar and Default apps on the right pane.
   
3. Scroll down the open page and select Choose defaults by file type.
   
4. Select your file’s format on the list, choose the app you want to set as the default and select Set default.

On Windows 10

1. Open Settings using Windows + I.
   
2. Select Apps in Settings.
   
3. Choose Default apps in the left sidebar.
   
4. Select Choose default apps by file type on the right pane.
   
5. Find your file’s extension on the list and select Choose a default next to the extension.

6. Select the app you want to make the default for your chosen file type.
   
7. Access your file.
   

Repair or Reinstall the App You Use to Open Your File With

If you’ve already installed the required app but the file still doesn’t open, the installed app might be faulty. In this case, repair the app and see if the app works. If the issue persists, remove and reinstall the app on your PC.

Repair the App

Both Windows 11 and 10 include the option to repair apps; use this option to see if you can fix problems with your app.

On Windows 11

1. Access Settings by pressing Windows + I.
   
2. Select Apps > Installed apps in Settings.
   
3. Find the app on the list, select the three dots next to the app, and choose Advanced options.
   
4. Select Repair in the Reset section.

On Windows 10

1. Launch Settings using Windows + I.
   
2. Select Apps in Settings.
   
3. Select the app on the list and choose Advanced options.
   
4. Choose Repair in the Reset section.

Reinstall the App

If Windows couldn’t repair the app, uninstall and reinstall the app to fix the problem. Depending on how your app functions, you might or might not lose your data stored in the app.

On Windows 11

1. Access Settings using Windows + I and navigate to Apps > Installed apps.
   
2. Find the app on the list, select the three dots next to the app, and choose Uninstall.

3. Select Uninstall in the prompt.
   
4. Launch the app developer’s site and download and install the app.
   

On Windows 10

1. Launch Settings using Windows + I and select Apps.
   
2. Find and select the app on the list, choose Uninstall, and select Uninstall.

3. Access the app developer’s site and download and install the app.
   

Repair Windows’ Damaged System Files

Sometimes, corruption in Windows’ core operating files causes a specific file type not to launch. In this case, fix those damaged system files using Windows’ built-in System File Checker (SFC) tool. This tool automatically finds the damaged files and replaces those files with working ones.

1. Open the Start menu, find Command Prompt, and select Run as administrator.
   
2. Choose Yes in the User Account Control (UAC) prompt.
   
3. Type the following command on the open window and press Enter:
   DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

4. Next, run the following command to begin fixing the corrupted files:
   sfc /scannow
   
5. Restart your PC after fixing the faulty files.
   

Use System Restore

If the issue persists, roll back the recent changes you might have made to your system. These changes might be interfering with your specific file type, causing the file not to launch.

You can use the built-in System Restore utility to undo system changes.

1. Open the Start menu, find Recovery, and select the item with that name.
   
2. Select Open System Restore.
   
3. Choose Next on the utility’s first page.
   
4. Select the most recent restore point on the list and choose Next.

5. Select Finish to start undoing the system changes.
   

Fix the Issue That Prevents You From Opening Your File on Windows

Many items can prevent you from opening a specific file type on your Windows PC. Whether it’s the lack of the required app or corruption in your system, the methods we’ve outlined above will help you fix the problem so you can access your file without problems. We hope the guide helps you out.

The post How to Fix a “This file does not have an app associated with it” Error on Windows first appeared on Help Desk Geek.

Microsoft OneDrive is an excellent choice for backing up and syncing your files to the cloud on Windows. It integrates smoothly with Windows File Explorer, making interacting, managing, and sharing files a breeze.

If you’re just starting with OneDrive, this tutorial will show you how to set up, add, and use Microsoft’s cloud storage service in File Explorer.

Before You Begin

The best thing about using OneDrive on a PC is that it comes pre-installed on Windows. But if you can’t find OneDrive, you can easily download it from the Microsoft Store or the official OneDrive website.

That said, you need a Microsoft Account to use OneDrive. If you don’t have an account, you must create one while setting up the cloud storage service—it’s free.

Storage-wise, the base OneDrive plan is only 5GB. You can bump that up to 100GB with Microsoft 365 Basic for $19.99 /year or 1TB with Microsoft Microsoft 365 Personal for $69.99 /year.

Sign In to OneDrive

Select the OneDrive icon on the Windows system tray to get started and choose Sign in. You can also search for and open OneDrive via the Start menu.

A Microsoft OneDrive setup screen will show up—enter your Microsoft Account ID into the Email address field to continue. Or, select Create account to create a new account.

You must then enter your Microsoft Account password. You won’t have to do that if you’re already signed into Windows with the same Microsoft Account.

Set Up OneDrive

Immediately after signing into OneDrive, you must specify your privacy preferences by deciding whether to share diagnostic and usage data with Microsoft. Once you do that, you must determine where you want the cloud storage service to sync your data.

The default location is the root of your Windows user account—select the Change location option if you’d like to pick a different directory.

If you already use OneDrive on other devices, you must decide between syncing all cloud data or only specific items to your PC. If you want to sync everything but have storage concerns, you should be able to use Files On-Demand functionality to manage space (more on that later).

OneDrive will also ask your permission to perform real-time data backups of your Windows user account’s Documents, Pictures, Desktop, Music, and Videos folders.

Use the storage estimator to determine the impact on your cloud storage quota after selecting or deselecting each item. If storage is not an issue, choose Start backup. You can always enable and disable backups for each folder later, so feel free to skip this part.

Access OneDrive in File Explorer

Once you finish setting up OneDrive, you’ll find a new entry called OneDrive in the navigation pane on the left-hand side of File Explorer. Selecting it reveals contents already stored on OneDrive, including your user account folders if you opted to sync them during setup.

Because of File Explorer integration, you can manage your OneDrive files just like any local file. Right-clicking provides options for sharing, copying, deleting, and more.

The symbols underneath the Status column denote the sync statuses of files and folders. A green check mark means a fully synced item, while a cloud icon translates to an item stored in the cloud. A rotating circle indicates an item that is actively syncing.

Use Files On-Demand Functionality

OneDrive supports Files On-Demand, meaning that you can store files and folders in placeholder format to conserve storage. Just right-click an item and select Free up space to remove locally stored data and display an online-only thumbnail instead.

File Explorer will fetch the data from the OneDrive servers when you access an online-only item. If you’d like to always make a file or folder available locally, select the Always keep on this device option on the right-click contextual menu.

Share Files and Folders With Others

OneDrive allows you to quickly share files and folders with others directly from within File Explorer. Start by right-clicking an item and selecting Share.

On the Share pop-up, specify who you want to share the item with by adding their name, group, or email. Select the Edit icon and choose between Can edit (default) and Can view to specify the permission level. If you have a paid storage plan, select Sharing settings to add an expiration date and password.

Next, select Send to email a link to the people you want to share the item with or Copy to add a shareable link to the Windows clipboard.

Use OneDrive’s Personal Vault

Personal Vault is a feature in OneDrive that allows you to store sensitive files—e.g., your insurance information—with your Windows user account password or Windows Hello acting as an extra layer of security.

Double-click Personal Vault within the OneDrive folder in File Explorer and follow the on-screen prompts to activate Personal Vault. You can then store up to three files (or more if you pay for extra storage).

Personal Vault times out after 20 minutes. To lock it before that, select the Lock Personal Vault option on OneDrive’s system tray flyout.

OneDrive’s System Tray Flyout

OneDrive comes with a handy flyout on the Windows system tray. It features shortcuts to your OneDrive folder (opens up in File Explorer), an online recycle bin (you have 30 days to retrieve deleted items), and the OneDrive web app. It also lists the sync statuses of recent items.

Selecting the Gear icon on the top right of the OneDrive flyout gives you access to the cloud storage’s Settings pane, an option to lock the Personal Vault, and the ability to pause and resume syncing.

Re-Configure Microsoft OneDrive

OneDrive has multiple settings that you can modify to change how the cloud storage service works on your Windows computer. To get to them, select Settings on OneDrive’s system tray flyout.

The default Sync and Backup section of the OneDrive Settings pane lets you do the following:

• Choose Windows account folders—Documents, Pictures, Music, etc.—to back up to OneDrive.
  
• Decide if you want to automatically back up photos and videos from external devices when you connect them to your PC.
  
• Allow screenshots to save to OneDrive automatically.
  
• Allow OneDrive to pause syncing on battery saver mode and metered networks.
  
• Determine the download and upload rates for OneDrive.
  
• Exclude items with specific file extensions from syncing.
  
• Enable or disable Files On-Demand functionality.
  

If you switch to the Account section, you can add additional accounts, enable and disable folders in OneDrive from syncing, and determine how quickly the Personal Vault locks itself.

Then there’s the Notifications tab, where you can specify when you want OneDrive to send you notifications—e.g., when syncing is paused, when others share items with you when you have new “On this day” memories, etc.

Your current OneDrive storage plan and the amount of storage you’ve used should appear at the bottom left of the OneDrive Settings window. Use the Upgrade button above the indicator to subscribe to Microsoft 365 Basic or Microsoft 365 Personal and add more storage.

The post How to Add OneDrive to Windows File Explorer first appeared on Help Desk Geek.

Not many Excel users name their cells, constant values, or formulas inside the worksheet. However, there’s a purpose to Excel names. They make the worksheet content easier to read, write, and reuse. It’s easier to find content in a named range of cells than by using the cell references. It’s also fun as you can add unique characters to the name and create symbols such as smiley, or a heart.

Microsoft Excel allows you to make two types of names, the Defined and Table name. The Defined name refers to a cell, a range of cells, a constant, or a formula. It’s these names that this article will teach you how to use in a Name Box. The Table names are given to the tables when you insert them into the Excel spreadsheet. But before you start naming your Excel data ranges, let’s learn more about the Name Box in Excel!

What Is Name Box in Excel and Where Can You Find It?

A Name Box in Excel is used to give cells, ranges of cells, or tables a name. It’s a box located to the left of the formula bar. When you select a certain cell in the spreadsheet, this Name Box will display its name. For example, selecting the cell A1 will result in the Name Box displaying A1.

You can use this Name Box to assign the group of cells a unique name, instead of the combination of their row and column designations.

How to Give a Name in the Name Box

Naming individual cells or a group of cells is as easy as simply typing the name you want in the name box. Just ensure you have selected a cell or a range of cells before typing the name in the Name Box. That’s how Excel will know what range of cells you’re referring to.

Let’s see it as an example. If you have a list of names, let’s say of employees in your company, you can select all the cells containing names (without a header) and give that range of the cells the name “Employees”. After typing the name you want in the Name Box make sure to press Enter Key on your keyboard to finish creating the name.

If you want to expand this range and include column B which would contain their salaries, you can do so by selecting the data in both the Employees and Salaries columns (without headers) and typing the new name designation in the Name Box.

Using the Excel Name Box to give a name to a range of cells is easy. But you might still be wondering why you would do that.

How to Use the Name Box

Now that you learned how to name cell ranges by typing the designation of your choosing into the Name Box, let’s see how you can use it. The Name Box gives you access to different features you’ll use daily in your work with Excel spreadsheets. Some of these features are crucial if you’re working with large Excel databases.

1. Quickly Find a Specific Cell

Let’s say your Excel worksheet is filled with data, but you need to find specific data. You know it’s in a cell designated B150. Scrolling through the worksheet to find cell B150 can consume your time needlessly. Instead, you can use the Name Box to quickly find and select that specific cell.

All you need to do is select the Name Box and type B150 in it. Hit the Enter Key on your keyboard and this action will automatically take you to the B150 cell and select it.

2. Select Multiple Cells

You can use Name Box to select multiple cells at once, instead of dragging your mouse through the range of cells you need. Let’s say you want to select all the Employees on your list. Just type the name “Employees” in the Name Box and hit enter to select the range of cells designated by that name.

You can also quickly select a range of cells to which you didn’t give a name. Simply input the column and row designation of the range you need to be selected, and hit the Enter key. For example, you want to select all the cells from A1 to D10. Input A1:D10 into the Name Box to make the selection quickly.

Selecting a range of cells with the Name Box is especially useful if your worksheet contains empty cells. In that case, using the keyboard shortcut Shift + Ctrl + Right arrow will only select until it finds an empty cell. It’s the same with the Shift + Ctrl + Down arrow shortcut. It will stop selecting as soon as it hits the empty cell.

3. Quickly Select a Range of Cells From an Active Cell

Let’s say you want to select a range of cells starting from the active cell. An active cell is the cell you currently have selected.

Let’s say it’s a B3 cell, and you want to make a selection to D10. In that case, you don’t have to type the whole reference for the range B3:D10. Instead type only the last cell you want selected, in this case, the D10. However, don’t press Enter. Rather use the keyboard macro Shift + Enter to select the range of cells.

4. Select Two Cells

If you want to quickly select two cells that are not next to each other, you can use the Name Box to do so quickly. You won’t need to scroll through your document to find the particular cell you need.

Let’s say you want to select B3 and D10. Select the B3 and type D10 in the Name Box. Then press Ctrl + Enter on your keyboard.

5. Select Multiple Ranges of Cells

Selecting multiple ranges by using the Name Box is easy. All you need to do is type the designations of the ranges separated by a comma (,). After inputting the ranges, hit Enter on your keyboard to make a selection.

Let’s see it as an example. You want to make a selection of a range of cells between A2 and B8 as well as E2 and F8 to have all the employees and their salaries selected. Type A2:B8,E2:F8 in the Name Box.

Once you hit enter, you’ll get a selection of the two ranges of cells.

6. Select Entire Column or Row

Selecting an entire column from the Name Box is easy. If you want to select the entire A column just type A:A in the name box and hit the Enter key to make a selection.

It’s the same with selecting an entire row. If you want to select the entire row 2 just type 2:2 and hit enter.

Excel Name Rules

There are certain rules you must follow when creating names in Excel. These rules are put in place so that the Excel program can easily deal with them. It needs to be able to recognize them and use the names in functions.

• The first character of a name must be a letter, underscore (_), or a backslash (\).
  
• All other characters in the name can be letters, numbers, periods, or underscore characters.
  
• It’s not allowed to use space characters.
  
• Your names are not allowed to look like cell addresses (R2D2, or C3P0)
  
• Because Excel uses C,c,R, and r characters as selection shortcuts, they can’t be used as names.
  
• Names are not case-sensitive. Excel will treat Employees and EMPLOYEES as if it’s the same name.
  

Using Name Manager in Excel

The Excel Name Manager is designed to manage names. You can use it to edit, find, filter, or delete existing names. You can also use it to create new ones. Accessing Name Manager is easy. You can find it in the Formulas tab on the ribbon, in the Define Name group.

Or you can use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + F3 to quickly open it.

Once the Name Manager dialog box is open, you’ll see the list of all the existing names in the currently open worksheet.

1. Edit Names with Name Manager

If you want to change the existing name with the Name Manager, simply select the name and click the Edit… button in the Name Manager dialog box. Here you can change not only the name but also the reference.

When you input the new name, select OK to finish the edit.

Note: to edit the reference you don’t need to enter the Edit dialog box. You can do it from the Name Manager dialog box by selecting the name you want to edit and typing a new reference directly into the Refers to box. Alternatively, you can use the arrow next to the Refers to box to find the desired range.

2. Filter Names with Name Manager

The Filter button in the Name Manager dialog box allows you to quickly find certain names by using filters. This is especially useful if your Name Manager contains a large list of names.

You can filter names in three categories:

• Names scoped to worksheet or workbook.
  
• Names with or without errors.
  
• Defined names or table names.
  

3. Deleting Names with Name Manager

Deleting names with Name Manager is very intuitive. Select the desired name and then select the Delete button.

You can also delete several names at once if you select multiple and then select the delete button. To select multiple names either click and drag your mouse or select one, then press and hold the Ctrl key on the keyboard and select other names you want to delete.

You can also select the names by using filters. If you want to delete all the names with errors, use the Names with Errors filter to select them before clicking the Delete button.

As you can see, the Name Box in Excel is a versatile tool that offers users a convenient way to navigate, select, and manage ranges, cells, and named ranges within their workbooks. Whether you’re a beginner just starting to explore the world of Excel or a seasoned user looking to enhance your skills, mastering the Name Box is a valuable asset that can greatly improve your productivity and effectiveness in spreadsheet tasks. So, next time you’re working in Excel, don’t overlook the power and convenience of the Name Box. It’s a small feature with big benefits.

The post Name Box in Excel: All You Need to Know first appeared on Help Desk Geek.

Both Windows 11 and Windows 10 display an update error 0x800705b4 when a system update fails to install. If this error has occurred on your system and you can’t install available updates, apply a few fixes and your issue should be resolved. We’ll show you various ways to get around this problem on your computer.

A few reasons your software update fails to install are that your third-party antivirus or firewall is blocking the update, Windows Update is experiencing issues, your operating system files are corrupted, a third-party app is interfering, and more.

Restart Your PC

One quick way to fix many minor system glitches is by rebooting your PC. These glitches might be why your update isn’t installing, and resolving these issues will fix your update problem.

Make sure to save your unsaved work before turning off your computer.

1. Open the Start menu using the Windows key or by selecting the menu icon.
   
2. Select the Power icon in the menu.
   
3. Choose Restart to turn off and back on your computer.

Turn Off Third-Party Antivirus and Firewall on Your PC

If you’ve installed a third-party antivirus or firewall on your PC, that program might be interfering with Windows Update, causing the feature not to install available updates. In this case, temporarily turn off the program to fix the issue.

You’ll find the option to disable the antivirus and the firewall on the main panel of the program. Then, try to install the available updates. You can turn the protection back on after installing the latest updates.

Note that you don’t have to turn off your protection if you use Microsoft Defender Antivirus or Microsoft Defender Firewall. Both these items don’t interfere with Windows Update.

Change How the Windows Update Service Starts

The Windows operating system runs a background service called Windows Update to find and install the latest system updates. It’s possible this service isn’t running correctly, causing your issue.

You can get around that by forcing the service to start automatically with a delay on your PC’s boot.

1. Open the Start menu, find Services, and select the item with that name.
   
2. Find Windows Update, right-click the service, and select Properties.
   
3. Open the General tab, select the Startup type drop-down menu, and choose Automatic (Delayed Start).

4. Select Apply, choose OK, and close the Services window.
   
5. Restart your PC and try to install the available updates.
   

Use the Windows Update Troubleshooter

Microsoft has included a Windows Update troubleshooter in both Windows 11 and Windows 10 to allow users to find and fix various update problems. Utilize this tool and let Windows help you resolve any update-related issues.

On Windows 11

1. Open Settings by pressing Windows + I.
   
2. Select System in the left sidebar and Troubleshoot on the right pane.
   
3. Choose Other troubleshooters.
   
4. Select Run next to Windows Update.

5. Allow the tool to find and fix update issues.
   

On Windows 10

1. Launch Settings using Windows + I.
   
2. Select Update & Security in Settings.
   
3. Choose Troubleshoot in the left sidebar and select Additional troubleshooters on the right pane.
   
4. Select Windows Update and choose Run the troubleshooter.

5. Wait for the tool to detect and resolve update problems.
   

Disable Other Updates When Updating Windows

Windows updates other Microsoft products when you install system updates. It’s possible one or more of these products are faulty, causing the main system updates not to install.

In this case, isolate those products’ updates by turning off an option in Windows Update settings.

1. Open the Start menu, search for Windows Update settings, and select the item with that name.
   
2. Select Advanced options.
   
3. Turn off Receive updates for other Microsoft products (Windows 11) or Receive updates for other Microsoft products when you update Windows (Windows 10).

4. Try to install the available updates.
   

Fix Windows’ Corrupted System Files

Windows Update is a system feature and this feature relies on various core operating system files to function. If those core files are corrupted or damaged, the feature can stop working. This might be the case with your PC.

Luckily, you can use a built-in tool called System File Checker (SFC) to find and fix all the corrupted system files on your computer. This tool replaces the broken files with working files.

1. Open Start, find Command Prompt, and select Run as administrator.
   
2. Choose Yes in the User Account Control prompt.
   
3. Type the following command on the CMD window and press Enter:
   DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

4. Run the following command to begin finding and fixing the corrupted system files:
   sfc /scannow
   
5. Restart your PC and install the available updates.
   

Clean Boot Windows and Install Updates

If a third-party app is interfering with Windows Update, clean boot your Windows PC to isolate any third-party items from the operating system. You can install the available updates in this mode without any problems.

1. Open Start, find System Configuration, and launch the tool.
   
2. Access the Services tab, activate Hide all Microsoft services, and choose Disable all.

3. Open the Startup tab and select Open Task Manager.
   
4. Right-click each app that displays Enabled in its Status column and choose Disable.

5. Close Task Manager, return to System Configuration, and select Apply followed by OK.
   
6. Restart your PC and try to update your system.
   

Reset Windows Update

If the Windows Update feature itself is experiencing problems, reset the feature’s various components to possibly fix your issue. You can use a reset script to reset the feature.

1. Launch a web browser on your PC and download the reset script for your Windows 11 or Windows 10 system.
   
2. Right-click the downloaded file and select Properties.
   
3. Enable the Unblock option and choose Apply followed by OK.

4. Right-click the file and select Run as administrator.
   
5. Choose Yes in the User Account Control prompt.
   
6. Follow the on-screen instructions in the reset tool.
   

Download and Install the Update Manually

If nothing else works, your last resort is to manually download and install the available updates. Microsoft has an online catalog where you can find and download the updates you want for your PC. This method helps you bypass the Windows Update feature’s issues.

1. Go to Settings > Windows Update on Windows 11 or Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update on Windows 10 and find the update that’s failing to install. The update name should start with KB.
   
2. Launch a web browser and head over to the Microsoft Update Catalog site.
   
3. Select the search box on the site, type the update name you noted, and press Enter.
   
4. Find the update on the list and select Download next to that item.

5. Launch the downloaded file to install the update on your PC.
   

Resolving a 0x800705b4 Error to Bring Windows Up to Date

Update errors like 0x800705b4 prevent you from getting the latest bug fixes and features for your Windows PC. Fortunately, dealing with most update errors is easy, as all you have to do is make a few tweaks here and there on your PC to resolve the problem.

Once you’ve done that, Windows will find and install all the available system updates without an issue. Enjoy using your up to date Windows machine!

The post How to Fix an Update Error 0x800705b4 on Windows first appeared on Help Desk Geek.

It is irritating yet unfortunately common to find your computer freezing or lagging while playing a demanding game. Here are some ways you can solve the problem.

We will be focusing on fixes that actually work – things like clearing temporary files or Windows Updates have minimal impact on your gaming experience, and shall not be discovered as solutions here.

Reduce Temperature

Thermal throttling is the most common reason for a computer freezing during intense gaming sessions, especially if you game on a laptop. Poor thermals can push CPU temperatures to dangerous limits, forcing the system to reduce its performance to stay safe.

How can you fix it though? Your PC might be overheating due to a variety of factors, so there is no single hack we can suggest. Instead, here are a bunch of ways you can reduce computer temperatures:

• Turn down the graphical settings. It is tempting to play video games at the highest setting possible, but if your PC cannot handle it smoothly, it is better to turn it down. Often even the recommended settings are not well optimized, and you will get smoother performance at lower settings.

• Enable Vsync. Your GPU might be trying to render more frames than your monitor can even display, wasting performance for absolutely no reason. Simply enabling Vsync (either from the game settings or GPU settings) can make a game run smoother.

• Lower the framerate. Many displays these days are capable of rendering graphics at more than 60FPS, which your system is not always able to output. For any game where freezing becomes an issue (or even stuttering) , reducing this framerate to 60FPS (or even lower in some games) can let you play smoothly.

• Get a cooling pad. This obviously only applies to laptops, but a cooling pad can decrease temps by 10-15 degrees, which is often enough to bring it back to the safe zone and prevent throttling, thereby getting rid of the freezing problem.
  
• Use Nvidia Whisper mode, if you have a compatible GPU. This will automatically tone down the power consumption (and thus the heat production) of the GPU, letting your system run cooler.

• Clean your PC and repaste the processor. The accumulation of dust and degrading of the thermal paste can make it heat up more easily. This holds for both laptops and desktops, though laptops are of course more susceptible to getting clogged by dust.

Check If You Have Enough Free Memory

After overheating, the second most common reason for a computer freezing during a game is a lack of memory. Either you just don’t have enough RAM to handle the game’s demands, or not enough of this memory is available for use.

Check Memory Requirements of the Game

To rule out the first possibility, check the game’s system requirements. Does your PC hardware meet its recommended needs? Keep in mind that the minimum requirements are only for running the game at its lowest settings, and even then it is not always a smooth ride.

Look for Background Processes Eating Up Memory

For the second problem, you need to keep an eye on the Task Manager. Use the Ctrl + Shift + Esc hotkey to open the Task Manager (you can do this in the middle of a game as well).

The Task Manager lists all running programs and processes alongside their memory and CPU usage. Clicking on the memory tab sorts them by that metric, letting you quickly spot the biggest guzzlers.

If you notice any programs other than your game taking up too much memory, that might be what’s causing your computer to freeze. This can be an unnecessary program running in the background or an app you left minimized. Closing these will free up that memory for usage.

Some apps might also be starting up without your knowledge and running in the background. You can disable these by switching to the Startup tab and unchecking the option. You can also remove some of them with a dedicated bloatware removal tool.

Switch to an SSD

Because of their inexpensive costs, a lot of people still use traditional hard disk drives for storage. But the tradeoff is that these drives are slow, and can cause freezing in applications that need to read a lot of data quickly, like video games.

This is why it is always recommended to use a Solid State Drive (SSD) for gaming. Chances are that your system already uses one, but in case it doesn’t, replacing the hard drive (or installing an additional SSD) is an easy way to boost performance.

Almost all modern games will benefit from this change, as they have to keep loading chunks of the game world into memory.

Update Graphics Drivers

Windows automatically updates many drivers, but your GPU’s drivers are generally not on this list. For that, you need to manually download the right drivers from the manufacturer’s website, or use the graphic card’s dedicated utility.

People generally forget this step, so it is very likely you are running your system with outdated GPU drivers. This can lead to problems with some games that are poorly optimized or have bugs that could be patched up by the latest drivers.

1. To update your GPU drivers, you first need to determine which GPU you have. If you already know, then great, you can move on to step 4. But if you don’t, you can easily find it out from the Task Manager. Open the Task Manager by hitting Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard.

2. Switch to the Performance tab (the third tab on the left). This lists the performance of the main components of your PC, from the Processor to the Memory and of course, the GPU.

3. Select the GPU from this list – you might see two entries, one for the discrete graphics card, and the other for the integrated graphics that are baked into the processor. This will display its full name on the right.

4. Now just search for the drivers of this GPU in your web browser.

5. Download the latest update package from the official website of the manufacturer (Nvidia in our case).

6. When you run this installer, it automatically checks if your device is compatible with the update, and proceeds if it matches up.

Fix Internet Issues

Most modern video games are very reliant on your internet connectivity. Even games that lack a multiplayer mode often require an uninterrupted connection with the game servers.

This means internet issues can cause your games to freeze as well, even when there are no graphical problems. And this doesn’t necessarily happen only with slow internet connections – a sudden drop in network quality can cause a freeze as well.

How do you fix this though?

Switch to a Stable Connection

For browsing the internet you can get by with a mobile hotspot, but online gaming requires more consistency. You should be using broadband to ensure internet fluctuations don’t impact your gaming experience.

Even with broadband, how you connect your PC to the router can make a difference. 5 GHz WiFi is significantly faster than 2.4GHz, and a wired Ethernet connection is better than either. With WiFi, the distance from the router matters too, as you might not be able to get a stable connection in a far-off room.

Restart Your Router

Temporary internet issues can plague your gaming experience too, due to errors in the router’s cache. Simply restarting your router from time to time can refresh its cache, letting the internet connection run smoothly again.

Upgrade your Hardware

If you have tried out all of these fixes and nothing is working, your hardware just might not be up to the mark. Maybe you have insufficient RAM, an aging processor, or a weak GPU. Ultimately the only real fix is to upgrade these things.

RAM

The RAM is usually the easiest upgrade if you have any spare slots on your PC’s motherboard. Most budget gaming laptops, for example, possess two slots but only come with one stick installed. You can easily buy a compatible RAM module and just slot it in.

Even when both slots are occupied, it does not take much work or technical knowledge to replace them with better memory sticks. Not only can you upgrade the capacity like this, but also the speed as well, provided the motherboard supports it.

CPU

The processor is a trickier upgrade, especially if you have a laptop, since that would require you to first remove the heatsink. It is also generally not worth it since CPUs tend to be tied to the motherboard chipsets, making any big leap impossible.

GPU

The GPU, on the other hand, is a straightforward – if expensive – upgrade. As GPUs only require a compatible PCIe slot, you can easily get the latest GPU and install it on your older motherboard. Do keep in mind though that an aging processor and chipset will slow down the graphics card.

Ultimately, the entire motherboard has to be upgraded to allow your PC to move on to newer technologies.

What’s the Best Way to Fix a Computer that Freezes When Playing Games?

As with most PC issues, it is hard to nail down the exact cause of why your computer freezes up while playing a demanding game. This makes it impossible for us to recommend a single best fix that is guaranteed to solve your problem.

What you instead need to do is to go through the fixes outlined above one by one, until you find the one that actually lets you play smoothly. It could be updating your GPU drivers, shutting down background programs, or improving the thermals of your PC.

If nothing else works, you might even have to consider upgrading your PC or just lowering the game’s settings to the point where it can handle it without freezing.

The post Computer Freezes When Playing Games? 6 Ways to Fix first appeared on Help Desk Geek.

If you’ve run into an “A JavaScript error occurred in the main process” notification while installing or launching an app, there are ways to fix the problem. This JavaScript error occurs for various reasons, from your antivirus interfering with your app to your Visual C++ Redistributable package being corrupted. We’ll show you the ways to fix these items on your Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC.

Other reasons the above error occurs are that your user account has problems, your app’s AppData folder has damaged files, the app’s core files are buggy and more.

Temporarily Turn Off Your Antivirus Program

It’s possible your antivirus has detected your app as a malicious item, blocking the app’s installation or launch. This sometimes happens even when your app is safe. One way to get around this is to temporarily disable your antivirus tool.

How you deactivate your antivirus protection depends on the program you’re using. You’ll follow the following steps for Microsoft Defender Antivirus:

1. Open the Start menu, search for Windows Security, and launch the app.
   
2. Select Virus & threat protection in the app.
   
3. Choose Manage settings in the Virus & threat protection settings section.
   
4. Turn off Real-time protection.

5. Select Yes in the User Account Control prompt.
   
6. Install or launch your app.
   

Make sure to turn your antivirus protection back on after installing or launching your app. If your issue was with launching the app, add the app to your antivirus exclusion list as follows:

1. Select Add or remove exclusions in the Exclusions section on the Virus & threat protection settings page.
   
2. Choose Add an exclusion and select File.

3. Navigate to your app folder and choose the app file.
   

Run the File Without Administrator Rights

If you’ve enabled an option so Windows always launches your file with admin rights, disable that option and see if your file launches. You simply untick an option to do that.

1. Right-click your app’s shortcut on your desktop and select Properties.
   
2. Open the Shortcut tab and select Advanced.
   
3. Turn off Run as administrator and choose OK.

4. Select Apply followed by OK.
   
5. Run your file.
   

Run the App Installer From Another User Account

An issue with your user account may be causing your app not to install and display an error. In this case, switch to another user account on your system and try to install the app. This helps bypass your current user account issues.

1. Open the Start menu by pressing the Windows key or selecting the menu icon.
   
2. Select your profile icon.
   
3. Choose Sign out to log out of the current account.

4. Select the secondary account and sign in to that account.
   
5. Run your app installer to install the app. Make sure to select yes if and when the installer asks you if you want to install the app for all users on the system.
   
6. Log out of the secondary account after installing the app.
   
7. Sign in to the primary account and use the app.
   

Fix Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable

One possible reason you get the above error is that your Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable package is corrupted. This can cause issues with app installation and app launches. You can get around that by repairing the damaged package.

1. Open Start, find Control Panel, and launch the utility.
   
2. Select Uninstall a program in Control Panel.
   
3. Select the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable package on the list and choose Change at the top.

4. Select Repair in the open window.
   
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to repair the package.
   

Delete the App’s Contents in the AppData Folder

Many apps store temporary data in Windows’ AppData folder. Your app’s contents in this folder may be corrupted, causing the app not to open. In this case, remove your app’s temporary files from this folder to resolve the problem.

1. Open the Run dialog box by pressing Windows + R.
   
2. Type the following in the box and press Enter:
   %localappdata%
   
3. Find the folder for your app.
   
4. Right-click the folder and select the trash can icon (Windows 11) or Delete (Windows 10).

5. Empty the Recycle Bin after deleting the folder.
   

Re-register the JScript File

If your app requires JScript functionalities and the JScript file isn’t correctly registered in Windows, that can cause your problem. You can fix that by re-registering the incorrectly registered file.

1. Open Start, find Command Prompt, and select Run as administrator.
   
2. Choose Yes in the User Account Control prompt.
   
3. Type the following command on the CMD window and press Enter:
   regsvr32 jscript.dll

4. Close Command Prompt.
   

Update the App

Your app itself may have bugs, causing a launch failure. This usually happens if you haven’t updated your app in a long time. In this case, you can update your app to the latest version to fix the problem.

One way to update an app is to use the built-in update option in the app. You’ll usually find this option in the File or Help menu in your app. If you don’t see such an option, go to your app developer’s site, download the latest app installer, and use the installer to bring your app up to date.

Uninstall and Reinstall the App

If your issue still persists, your last option is to delete and reinstall the app on your PC. Doing so removes all the app files (including the faulty ones) and brings new working files, fixing your issue.

Depending on your app’s nature, you might or might not lose your saved data in the app. If yours is an app like Discord or Dropbox that syncs with online servers, you can resync your data after reinstalling the app. However, if your app only stores data locally, you might lose the data.

Uninstall and Reinstall the App On Windows 11

1. Open Settings by pressing Windows + I.
   
2. Navigate to Apps > Installed apps in Settings.
   
3. Select the three dots next to your app and choose Uninstall.

4. Select Uninstall in the prompt.
   

Uninstall and Reinstall the App On Windows 10

1. Launch Settings using Windows + I.
   
2. Select Apps in Settings.
   
3. Find and select the app to remove and choose Uninstall.

4. Select Uninstall in the prompt.
   

After removing the app, visit the app developer’s site, download the latest app installer, and use this installer to reinstall the app.

Get Rid of the JavaScript Error Preventing Your App Installation or App Launch

If a JavaScript error is holding you back from installing or launching your favorite app, the methods we’ve described above will help you fix the problem. Once you’re past these methods, you’ll find your app installs or opens without any problems at all. Enjoy using your favorite app on your computer!

The post How to Resolve “A JavaScript error occured in the main process” Error on Windows first appeared on Help Desk Geek.

Do you enjoy using Character.ai, but a 500 internal server has disrupted your experience? This is a common error. We’ll show you the solutions you can use to fix this issue on the Character.ai site.

Some reasons you get the above error and not the actual site are that your internet connection isn’t working, Character.ai’s servers are down, your web browser’s cache is corrupted, your prompt on the platform is too difficult to understand, and more.

Check Your Internet Connection

When you run into an internal server error, ensure your internet connection is active and stable. It’s possible your connection to the platform’s servers has dropped, leading to an error.

You can verify your connection’s status by opening a web browser and launching a site. If the site loads, your connection is working. If the site fails to load, your connection has issues. In the latter case, try to fix the problem by restarting your router, forgetting and re-joining your Wi-Fi network, unplugging and plugging back in your Ethernet cable, fixing your network adapter problems, or speaking to your internet service provider (ISP).

Check Character.ai’s Server Status

It’s possible that Character.ai’s servers are down, causing a platform-wide outage. This might be why you can’t access the site and use the site features. There are ways to verify this.

One way is to head to the Character.ai Status site. This site tells you the platform’s server status. Another site you can use is Down for Everyone or Just Me. This site gets downtime reports from users and lets you know if an online service is experiencing problems.

If those sites say that Character.ai’s servers are down, you can’t do anything but wait until the company resolves the problem and brings the functionality back. This usually doesn’t take too long.

Refresh the Current Web Page

A quick fix you can apply is to reload your current Character.ai web page and see if that resolves the problem. This method usually works if a minor glitch has caused the issue.

You can refresh the web page by selecting the refresh icon beside your web browser’s address bar.

After reloading the web page, the site should function as expected.

Clear Your Web Browser’s Cache

Your web browser caches various files to speed up your browsing experience. Sometimes, these cached files become corrupted, leading to issues on various sites. This might be the case with you.

You can fix that by clearing your web browser’s cached data. You don’t lose your browsing history, saved passwords, cookies, and other data when you do this. Your web browser will rebuild the cache as you browse sites.

Clear the Cache in Google Chrome

1. Select the three dots in Chrome’s top-right corner and choose Clear browsing data.
   
2. Select All time from the Time range drop-down menu.
   
3. Enable the Cached images and files option, disable all other options, and choose Clear data.

4. Close and relaunch Chrome, then load the Character.ai site.
   

Clear the Cache in Mozilla Firefox

1. Select the three horizontal lines (the hamburger menu) in the top-right corner and choose History > Clear recent history.
   
2. Select Everything from the Time range to clear the drop-down menu.
   
3. Enable the Cache option, disable all other options, and select Clear Now.

4. Quit and re-open Firefox, then visit the Character.ai site.
   

Clear the Cache in Microsoft Edge

1. Select the three dots in Edge’s top-right corner and choose Settings.
   
2. Select Privacy, search, and services in the left sidebar.
   
3. Select Choose what to clear next to Clear browsing data now on the right pane.
   
4. Select All time from the Time range drop-down menu.
   
5. Enable the Cached images and files option, disable all other options, and select Clear now.

6. Close and re-open Edge, then access the Character.ai site.
   

Use Another Internet Connection

It’s possible your current internet connection has restrictions on using Character.ai. Verify that by switching to another connection and seeing if the site loads.

You can use your iPhone or Android phone as a hotspot if you don’t have another connection to use. By turning your smartphone into a hotspot, you can use your phone’s data to browse the internet on your computer.

If you can access the site using your phone’s hotspot or another internet connection, your previous connection had issues. In this case, speak to your internet service provider and see what solution they have.

Sign Out and Back Into Your Account

If you can access Character.ai’s dashboard somehow, log out and back into your account to possibly fix your problem. This helps resolve any login session-related problems.

1. Select your profile icon in the site’s top-right corner.

2. Choose Profile Settings beneath the profile photo.
   
3. Select Preferences in the left sidebar.
   
4. Scroll a bit down and choose Logout.

5. Close and relaunch your web browser, then log back in.
   

Use a Different, Simple Prompt

If the issue persists, use a different and simple prompt and see if Character.ai responds. It’s possible the platform has imposed restrictions on the kind of prompt you’ve entered, or your entered prompt is too complex to understand.

Simply remove the current prompt, type a new and simple prompt, and see if the site responds. If you receive a response, edit your original prompt and make it simpler.

Contact Character.ai’s Support Team

If nothing else works, your last solution is to contact Character.ai’s support team. You can raise the issue with the team and let the team figure the problem.

1. Launch a web browser and head to Character.ai’s support site.
   
2. Select your issue using the drop-down menu.
   
3. Explain the issue using the available fields.
   
4. Select Submit to send your issue to the support team.

Eliminate a 500 Internal Server Error and Access Character AI

Not being able to use your favorite AI tool is frustrating. If an error 500 doesn’t let you access Character.ai, use the methods outlined above to fix the problem. More often than not, it’s an easy fix that resolves the issue, allowing you to access the site and use all the site features. Happy talking to your favorite characters!

The post How to Fix a 500 Internal Server Error on Character AI first appeared on Help Desk Geek.

Network discovery is a useful feature that lets your computer interact with other devices on your network. This feature plays a crucial role in home and office networks, letting you share files and printers, play games, and more – but it often stops working.

In this troubleshooting guide, we’ll explain how to fix the “Network discovery is turned off” error in Windows.

What Causes the Network Discovery Is Turned Off Error

Network discovery is a network setting that allows your computer to see other devices within the same network and vice versa. It is essential for sharing files and printers between devices, participating in networked games, and other essential network activities.

When network discovery is turned off, your computer cannot find other computers or devices on the network, and likewise, your device will not be visible to others. You also won’t be able to see shared folders.

There are a few things that might cause this error in Windows, including:

• The Windows network discovery feature is disabled. This is by far the most common cause of the error. Usually, this occurs when you’ve accidentally turned off this feature or reset your network settings.
  
• System services for network discovery are disabled. If the system apps and services required to run network discovery are disabled, it will cause this error.
  
• Your network drivers are outdated. Occasionally, outdated network drivers cause problems with network discovery and other key features.
  
• Your antivirus is blocking network discovery. Usually, this is a problem with Windows Defender. Most often, network discovery isn’t whitelisted, so the antivirus firewall prevents it from running.
  

How to Fix the Network Discovery Is Turned Off Error

Here are five ways to fix the network discovery is turned off error:

1. Turn On Network Discovery

As mentioned, the most common cause of this error is that the feature has been manually turned off. To fix it, you only need to turn it back on again. Here’s how:

1. Press Win + I to open Settings.
   
2. Select Network & Internet.

3. Under Advanced network setting, select Network and Sharing Center.

4. Select Change advanced sharing settings.

5. Expand the menus beneath both Private networks and Public networks.
6. Toggle on Network discovery in both of these menus.
7. Check the box beside, “Set up network connected devices automatically.”
   

Now, try to use network sharing again. If the error still occurs, something else is going wrong.

2. Turn on the Network Discovery Services

For network discovery to work, you need five essential services to be enabled. Here’s how to turn them back on if they’ve been disabled:

1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box.
   
2. Type “services.msc” and press Enter.
   

3. Scroll down and right-click Function Discovery Provider Host, then select Properties.
   

4. In the Startup type drop-down menu, select Automatic.
   

5. Then press Start to turn on the service.
   

6. Repeat this process for the following four services: Function Discovery Resource Publication, SSDP Discovery, UPnP Device Host, and DNS Client.
   

3. Whitelist Network Discovery in Windows Defender

Windows Defender may be blocking network discovery if the first two solutions haven’t fixed the error. Here’s how to whitelist the process:

1. Press Win + I to open Settings.
   
2. Choose Update & Security.
   

3. Select Windows Security then choose Firewall & network protection.
   

4. Select Allow an app through firewall.
   

5. Scroll down until you find Network Discovery, and make sure the Public and Private checkboxes are ticked.
   

6. If they aren’t, press Change settings, then tick them.
   

4. Update Your Network Adapter Drivers

If your network drivers are outdated, they might be causing problems with network discovery. Here’s how to update them to the latest version:

1. Press Win + R to open Run.
   
2. Type “devmgmt.msc” and press Enter.
   

3. Find the Network adapters group and expand the menu.
   
4. Right-click each adapter, then press Update driver.
   

5. Select Search for updates automatically. If there are new updates for that driver, your PC will install them.
   

5. Run the Network and Internet Troubleshooter

Windows has a built-in troubleshooter to help fix random network errors whenever they pop up. If nothing else has worked, it might find the problem and resolve it for you. Here’s how to use it:

1. Press Win + I to open Settings, then select Update & Security.
   
2. Choose Troubleshoot, then Additional troubleshooters.
   

3. Find Incoming Connections and press Run the troubleshooter.
   

4. Wait for the troubleshooter to open, then follow the on-screen instructions. The wizard will try to find out what the problem is, then explain what to do in order to fix it.
   

Discover Your Network

Network discovery is a useful feature, but it can negatively impact your workflow if it stops working. Luckily, it’s usually not that hard to kickstart, and hopefully, this guide has helped you get it up and running again.

The post How to Fix the Network Discovery Is Turned Off Error on Windows first appeared on Help Desk Geek.

When you’ve invested in a high-performance GPU, it’s panic-inducing to see the fans not spinning. This silent treatment can simply be a sign of efficiency but can also herald potential problems.

Before you start imagining an expensive replacement in your future, let’s troubleshoot the problem! Here’s why your GPU fans might be on a hiatus and ten practical steps to coax them back into action.

Understanding GPU Fan Mechanics

A basic understanding of GPU fan mechanics and its role in your system is invaluable to troubleshoot GPU fan issues. GPU fans are not just simple cooling devices but part of a sophisticated thermal management system designed to keep your graphics card operating within safe temperature ranges.

These fans kick into action when the GPU’s heat sensors detect temperatures rising above preset thresholds, drawing cool air over the heatsink to dissipate heat away from the GPU chip.

The mechanics behind these fans involve a delicate balance of power, control, and efficiency. They are typically controlled by the GPU’s firmware, which dictates the fan speed based on current temperature readings, ensuring optimal cooling performance without unnecessary noise.

Some high-end GPUs come with multiple fans, each possibly serving different cooling zones on the card, which allows for more precise thermal management.

In other words, GPU fans in modern GPUs aren’t just operated by a simple on-off switch, and you can even finetune them to your own liking, although fan control is a totally different subject.

Check for Zero RPM Features

Modern GPUs are like ninjas—they only make a move when necessary. Many are equipped with a “Zero RPM” or “fan stop” feature, allowing them to operate silently under light loads by stopping the fans. It’s an energy-efficient feature that also reduces wear and tear. Before you panic, check your GPU’s software utility to see if this feature is active. Alternatively, check out the card’s manufacturer’s website, where this type of feature is often plainly advertised. It could just be your GPU being smart, not silent.

The reason this is possible is that many modern GPUs are so powerful that some software and games only use a fraction of the processors inside the chip or only need the chip to run at very low speeds. Likewise, just hanging out on the desktop watching YouTube videos won’t make the GPU sweat, so the heatsink itself along with case airflow is enough to keep it cool.

Inspect Power Connections

While the power connection from your power supply to your GPU may be fine, the connection from your GPU fan to the GPU itself may not be. On most GPUs the fansink assembly is removable, and so the fan receives power via a cable plugged into the card’s circuit board.

Check that the cables are undamaged, that they aren’t partially pulled out of either the fan or plug side, and that the plug is correctly seated in the socket. You may also want to remove the plug, and then inspect the socket to see if the pins are corroded or broken, or if the plug itself is loose on the board, which may require a resoldering.

Monitor Temperature Thresholds

While your GPU might have a fan stop feature, that doesn’t mean it always works perfectly. In some cases you may be able to set at which threshold the fans should kick in. If your fans still aren’t spinning under moderate or heavy loads, check if this setting isn’t higher than it should be, and search online or contact the card maker to confirm at what temperature the fans should start spinning. Then manually adjust them and test again.

Clean Dust and Debris

Dust is the arch-nemesis of electronics, clogging up systems and hindering performance. If your GPU fans are stuck, they might be battling against a layer of dust. Power down your system, open up your case and give your GPU a gentle but thorough cleaning. Sometimes, it takes a little TLC to get things moving again.

If you’re not sure how to clean your graphics card correctly, have a look at How to Clean Your Computer Properly, Inside and Out.

Update or Reinstall GPU Drivers

An outdated or corrupted driver can lead to many mayhem, including non-spinning fans. Check for the latest driver updates from your GPU manufacturer’s website. If you’re up to date, try reinstalling the drivers to clear out any potential glitches.

Check BIOS/UEFI Settings

The BIOS/UEFI is the backstage of your computer, where all the foundational settings live. Some systems have fan control settings that can affect GPU fan behavior. Enter your BIOS/UEFI settings (there will be instructions in the motherboard manual) to ensure nothing is set to keep your fans at bay.

Test With Alternative Software

Sometimes, the issue might be with the software controlling your GPU fans. Try using alternative software tools to adjust the fan speed manually. Tools like MSI Afterburner or EVGA Precision X1 can give you direct control over your fans. If they respond to these tools, the issue might be with your primary software suite.

Inspect for Physical Damage or Wear

Physical damage can be a silent killer for GPU fans. Inspect your fans for any signs of damage or obstructions that might prevent them from spinning. Look for broken blades or debris that might be jamming the mechanism. It might be time for a repair or replacement if you spot damage.

While this is less common on modern GPU fans, the fan may simply be burned out. One way to determine this is by placing your finger dead center on the fan where the bearing is. If this spot feels hot to the touch, indicating that power is flowing and building up, it’s likely the fan motor is done for and needs replacement.

Consider Firmware Issues

Firmware is the low-level software that gives life to your GPU’s hardware. A bug or glitch in the firmware can lead to quirky behavior, including fan issues. Check the manufacturer’s website for firmware updates. Updating firmware can be risky, so follow the instructions to the letter and only proceed if you’re comfortable doing it yourself.

Some modern GPUs have a dual-BIOS type feature where if something does go wrong you can restore the last working firmware copy. Check if your GPU has this feature. If it does, familiarize yourself with the process before attempting and updating.

Professional Diagnosis

If you’ve tried everything and your GPU fans still refuse to spin, it might be time to call the professionals. A reputable repair service can diagnose the issue, whether it’s a faulty fan motor or a deeper problem within the GPU. Sometimes, professional intervention is the best course of action to save your investment.

There are some problems that can be fixed with a spot of solder, by someone who has the right equipment and knowledge. If that’s the case it’s far cheaper than buying a whole new GPU!

Tips and Warnings

As with any troubleshooting that involves actually opening your computer and handling the hardware within, there are risks involved. You are responsible for any damages to your hardware, but that being said, as long as you’re sensible and careful there’s no reason why things should go awry.

When addressing GPU fan issues, here are some tips and warnings to keep in mind:

• Be cautious with power: Always power down and unplug your PC before attempting any physical inspection or cleaning of your GPU. This ensures your safety and protects your components from accidental damage.
  
• Avoid static damage: Use an anti-static wristband or ensure you are grounded when handling your GPU to prevent static electricity from damaging sensitive components.
  
• Regular maintenance: Incorporate regular cleaning of your GPU and its fans into your maintenance routine. This can prevent many issues related to dust and debris build-up.
  
• Software caution: While updating drivers and firmware can resolve many issues, be cautious. Ensure downloads are from reputable sources, and follow installation instructions carefully to avoid causing more problems.
  
• Be gentle: When cleaning or inspecting your GPU, handle it gently. Avoid applying force, especially to the fan blades, as they can be delicate and prone to damage.
  
• Professional help: If you don’t know what you’re doing,stop. Get someone with the right skills to help instead.
  
• Warranty awareness: Before undertaking invasive troubleshooting steps, check your GPU’s warranty terms. Some actions may void your warranty, so proceeding with caution is essential.
  

By keeping these tips and warnings in mind, you can safely and effectively address many common issues with GPU fans, ensuring your system continues to run smoothly and efficiently.

If it’s time for a whole new GPU, be sure to check out How to Choose and Change Your Next Graphics Card.

The post Why Your GPU Fans Aren’t Spinning and 10 Ways to Fix first appeared on Help Desk Geek.

Roblox throwing an unexpected error and quitting is unfortunately a pretty common problem. Let’s look at some methods of fixing this issue.

As with most such errors, determining the exact cause of the crash is impossible, so your only recourse is to try out multiple methods and see what works. The problem can stem from an update, a corruption of Roblox files, or even something as simple as a random error in the Roblox cache.

Method 1: Restart Your Computer

We know you have heard this a thousand times already, but this advice is repeated for a very good reason – it is the simplest thing you can do that fixes most temporary problems.

And if you think you don’t need to restart the PC because you have shut it down, think again. Modern operating systems like Windows 11 do not truly shut the computer down but only put it in a variation of sleep mode.

This does improve bootup times, but it also means that any temporary glitches do not vanish after a shutdown, as you would generally expect. For that, you explicitly need to tell your computer to restart.

So before you go hunting for any other solution, it is worth a try to restart the PC and see if the error shows up again. If not, you just fixed your problem without having to do much. This

Method 2: Reinstall Roblox

Okay, so you have already restarted your computer, and it did nothing. The next step is to try reinstalling Roblox to see if that fixes the issue.

As Roblox is a live-service game (meaning that it is hosted on a cloud server and tied to an account), you will not lose any of your progress or data by doing so. The only things that will be removed and reinstalled are the game files, which is exactly what we want.

1. To uninstall Roblox, open Settings from the Start Menu.

2. Select the Apps tab from the left and click on Installed apps on the right.

3. Search for Roblox in the search bar.

4. This will show the Roblox player – simply click on the three-dot menu to its right and select Uninstall.

5. Roblox will be quickly uninstalled from your computer.

That was just uninstalling Roblox. Now let’s look at installing it again.

1. Download the installer from Roblox’s website.

2. Run the downloaded setup to install Roblox on your PC again.

3. Open Roblox after the installation is complete and login to start playing again.

Method 3: Update Windows

If reinstallation doesn’t fix the error, the problem might lie not with Roblox, but with Windows itself. Such issues can crop up if your system is not updated, as the game may expect features that are not there or conflict with outdated bugs.

These problems are simply fixed by updating Windows. In case you are unable to do so, there are ways to overcome updates not showing up or forcing Windows to install updates.

1. To update Windows (or at least check if you have any updates pending), open Settings from the Start menu.

2. Select the Windows Update tab from the left, and hit the Check for Updates button. Major updates are already listed below this button.

3. Use the Download & install button to install the update. The update will now be downloaded and installed in the background.

Method 4: Clear Cache Data

Like all apps, Roblox caches data to speed up loading times. Sometimes this data can become corrupted as well, creating bugs when Roblox runs even when its game files are intact.

These temporary files can even persist through a reinstall, making it important to clear them manually. Don’t worry; a deleted cache just means Roblox will take a bit longer to load as it will have to re-download that data from the cloud and create a fresh cache.

1. Open the Run app by searching for it from the Start Menu or just use press Win + R on the keyboard.

2. Enter %localappdata% to open this hidden folder. You can also manually navigate to it through the Windows Explorer, but this method is shorter and easier.

3. Scroll down until you locate the Temp folder.

4. This directory is filled with temporary files created by various applications. We need to find the one named Roblox and delete it.

Method 5: Try the Microsoft Store Version

Apart from the standard Roblox client installed by most players, there is a version distributed through the Microsoft Store as well. This version tends to be better optimized for Windows, making it more stable on some computers.

And as your data is tied to your account, you can continue exactly where you left off.

1. Search for the Microsoft Store app in the Start Menu (unless you already have it on your taskbar or desktop).

2. Login to your Microsoft account to browse apps on the store.

3. Search for Roblox.

4. Select the Roblox app and click on the Get button to install it.

5. The button will change as the Store downloads Roblox.

6. Running this game brings you to the familiar Roblox login screen.

Method 6: Contact Roblox

When nothing else works, it’s time to contact the professionals. Roblox maintains a dedicated contact page for feedback and complaints, and you can reach out with details of any issues you are facing with the game.

To reach out to Roblox for help, head to the Support page and fill up the form. Be clear and concise, mentioning the fixes you have already tried.

What Causes the “An unexpected error…” in Roblox?

There is no dearth of errors you can face while trying to play Roblox – from obtuse error codes to plain old connection problems, there is a lot that can go wrong in Roblox. But what could be the possible cause of “An unexpected error…”?

While there is no definitive answer on why this error occurs in Roblox, it tends to be only seen with the web version and the client downloaded from Roblox. Most people have managed to solve this problem by switching to the dedicated Microsoft Store version.

This has led many users to speculate that the issue stems from Byfron – an anti-cheat software integrated into the web version of Roblox. While intended to prevent some players from gaining unfair advantages by running cheat tools, its intrusive checking or false alarms can prevent Roblox from running smoothly.

What Is the Best Way to Fix “An Unexpected Error…” in Roblox?

As with any bug, it is impossible to determine the exact cause of the problem. Which means that there is no one best way to fix an “An unexpected error…” message in Roblox.

Just go through all the methods we have outlined above one by one, starting with basics like restarting your PC to remove its cache data. Reinstallation is of course also on the menu, and you can try installing the Microsoft Store version of Roblox to see if it works better.

And if all else fails, you can always reach out to customer support of Roblox to seek help. It is possible that the bug is not on your end, or even if it is, they might be able to diagnose it better.

The post How to Fix “An Unexpected Error Has Occurred and Roblox Needs to Quit” Error first appeared on Help Desk Geek.

Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling is a mouthful, but it’s also a new feature for modern GPUs that has numerous benefits but a few drawbacks. Let’s explain what this feature does and whether you should enable it.

What Does a GPU Do?

Before we can talk about advanced stuff like hardware scheduling, let’s also talk about GPUs. We cover this in detail in What Is a GPU, but in short, this is a specialized processor on your computer dedicated to rendering graphics.

Actually, that’s no longer quite accurate since GPUs now do all sorts of things beyond graphics, including AI, data decompression, and video editing acceleration. However, for this discussion, just think of the GPU as the microchip that allows high-performance graphics to appear on your screen. However, the GPU doesn’t do all the work itself. Other components in your computer all have their role, and that’s where your operating system comes into the picture.

Understanding Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling

Your operating system, in this case, Microsoft Windows, is the one that delegates tasks to your hardware. Traditionally, Windows used the CPU to perform the actual processing work of delegating tasks to hardware in the computer, which makes sense since the CPU is the main all-purpose processor for the whole computer.

This means that the CPU becomes part of the process of getting the GPU to draw graphics on the screen. But as with any chain, the weakest link can limit how well the entire thing works. If the CPU can’t delegate tasks to the GPU as fast as the GPU can handle, you get what’s called a “bottleneck.” In almost all cases, you want the GPU to be the performance bottleneck rather than the CPU, since we want the GPU to draw as many frames as it can.

With hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling, the CPU is removed as the middleman, so the GPU handles its own scheduling. This means it’s more (but not entirely) independent of the CPU and won’t be held back where the traditional method would result in a CPU bottleneck.

The Benefits of Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling

If you do turn on this feature, there are a few potential benefits that it can bring.

Reduced Latency

Latency is how long the graphics on your screen take to respond to your inputs or changes in the game world. The less latency there is, the sooner each new frame appears on the screen. By cutting the CPU out of the scheduling process, the total time it takes to render a frame is reduced, so the total latency should decrease. Will it go down by a noticeable amount? That will depend on the specific game and CPU you’re using.

Better Efficiency

When running code and executing tasks on hardware, there are varying levels of efficiency to achieve a goal. Emulation, for example, is highly inefficient since you’re simulating an entirely different computer system to run software that’s not meant for the computer you’re using. The ideal situation is often referred to as “bare metal” or “close to the metal,” where a piece of hardware runs as close to its ideal situation as possible.

One potential advantage of hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling is that the GPU can run at its full potential with less overhead or influence from other components in your system.

Better Responsiveness and Consistency

Offloading scheduling from the CPU to the GPU can also make the whole system more responsive, preventing heavy graphics tasks from bogging down the CPU causing latency spikes and uneven frame delivery. Sometimes, even though the frame rate seems high, the CPU struggles to juggle everything, leading to uneven time gaps between each frame. So, you still get a weird jerky sensation that can be hard to nail down.

The Downside of Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling

Since this feature is still relatively new, having only been introduced in Windows in 2020, not all combinations of hardware, drivers, and applications will work well. For example, we’ve recently enjoyed playing Robocop: Rogue City, but the game suffered from frequent crashes on our PC. After much troubleshooting, it turned out that disabling hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling made the games 100% stable, and we could play it with ease.

Random instability is the main issue you’ll likely face with this feature. We’ve been playing numerous video games, both old and new, with the feature turned on, and the aforementioned Robocop game was the only time it’s ever made a difference, but everyone’s PC is unique. So, if you are struggling with instability, try turning the feature off to see if it makes a difference.

As mentioned above, if your PC wasn’t highly CPU-limited already, hardware-accelerated scheduling likely won’t make much of a difference anyway, but there is one potential sacrifice. New GPUs now have a “frame generation” feature where the GPU creates interpolated frames between the traditionally rendered frames. This is essentially the same thing as the “soap opera effect” motion smoothing feature TVs have had for ages. However, this technology on PC looks far better and doesn’t have the latency impact that “dumb” motion smoothing introduces.

Frame generation is perfect for CPU-limited games since it bypasses the CPU completely. However, as you’ve probably guessed by now, it relies on the hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling feature. However, if you don’t care about frame generation, you might as well turn the feature off.

Minimum Requirements for Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling

Before we even worry about turning this feature on or off, you should confirm whether your computer can use it. These are the minimum requirements:

• An NVIDIA 1000-series or AMD 5600 series or later. As of this writing, Intel Arc cards do not support the feature.
  
• Window 10 version 2004 or later, or Windows 11
  
• The latest GPU driver for whichever GPU you have.
  

The feature was activated by default on our Windows 11 system with an RTX 4060 NVIDIA GPU, but we’ll show you how to check and toggle acceleration next.

How To Turn Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling On or Off

Turning this feature on or off is pretty simple, but you’ll likely need a reboot every time you toggle the option. Here’s how to do it in Windows:

1. Navigate to the Windows Settings, then System, and select Display.

2. Scroll down and click on Graphics

3. Under Default Settings select Change default graphics settings

4. Look for the Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling option and toggle it on or off.

After flipping the toggle and rebooting your computer, your settings will take effect, and either you’ll get the advantages of having this feature on or resolve any problems it may have been causing.

Should You Enable Hardware-accelerated GPU Scheduling?

In our experience, hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling is a stable feature that rarely causes any problems. If you have inexplicable stability problems in games or 3D graphics apps, it only takes a few minutes to disable it in order to rule it out as the issue.
You can benchmark your favorite games and apps with the feature switched off and on, to see if it makes a substantial difference and then base your decision on that. However, current and future games will benefit more from this feature than older titles, as they become more CPU reliant with complex systems and simulations within the game. While this feature won’t make a huge difference by itself, it all adds up when combined with other modern GPU features such as asynchronous computing, mesh shading, variable rate shaders, and frame generation.

Frame generation is the big one, and this feature is most impactful on lower-end GPUs such as the RTX 4060. You want access to this feature in newer games, and if you turn hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling off, you’ll lose the option altogether.

In short, we recommend leaving this feature on unless it’s causing problems.

The post What Is Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling in Windows (And Should You Turn It On)? first appeared on Help Desk Geek.

When you import data into Microsoft Excel or have more than one person working on a sheet, you can easily end up with messy data. This data can have extra spaces at the beginning, end, or middle of a cell’s content.

We’ll show you how to remove spaces from an Excel cell so you can clean up your data. With a few different methods to do so, you can use whichever is most appropriate at the time.

Remove Leading, Trailing, and Extra Spaces

One method for removing spaces in Excel is using the TRIM function. With it, you can eliminate leading, trailing, and spaces in the middle of text with a single formula.

The syntax for the formula is TRIM(text) where you can enter the cell reference or actual text for the argument. Keep in mind that this function only removes extra spaces, not single spaces between text, and uses a separate cell for the result.

Choose the cell where you want to enter the formula and receive the result. For example, we pick cell B1 to trim the text in cell A1.

Enter the following formula replacing the cell reference with your own. For our example, we type the following:

=TRIM(A1)

Use Enter or Return to apply the formula and see your result.

As you can see, the TRIM function removed the extra spaces at the beginning, in the middle, and then at the end of the text in cell A1.

Substitute Spaces

Another way to eliminate extra spaces in Excel is to use the SUBSTITUTE function. This function lets you substitute existing spaces with a different number of spaces or an empty string, but also requires the results in a separate location.

The syntax is SUBSTITUTE(text, old, new, instance) where only the first three arguments are required, and you can use a cell reference or actual text for the first argument. Optionally, you can use the instance argument if you only want to substitute certain occurrences.

Choose the cell to enter the formula and receive the result. As an example, we pick cell B1 to substitute spaces in cell A1’s content.

Using this formula, you can substitute two spaces for one space. Within the first set of quotes, enter two spaces. In the second set of quotes, enter one space.

=SUBSTITUTE(A1,” “,” “)

When you use Enter or Return to apply the formula, you’ll see your updated content.

If you want to replace spaces with a blank string instead, simply leave the second set of quotes empty as follows:

=SUBSTITUTE(A1,” “,”“)

Find and Replace Spaces

While the above functions do a great job at eliminating extra spaces, you may not want to use separate cells for your updated content. In this case, you can use the Find and Replace feature in Excel.

With Find and Replace, you’ll enter the number of spaces you want to both remove and replace, can apply it to selected cells or the whole sheet, and receive the results directly in the data-filled cells.

To apply the change to a particular cell or range, be sure to select it. Otherwise, the tool finds and replaces all spaces in the spreadsheet.

1. Go to the Home tab, open the Find & Select menu in the Editing section, and pick Replace.
   

2. When the box opens, enter the number of spaces you want to remove in the Find what field.
   

3. Next, enter the number of spaces to replace those with in the Replace with field. To completely remove the spaces, leave the Replace with field blank as shown below.
   

4. Choose one of the following:
   
5. To replace all spaces without seeing the cells first, select Replace All.
   
6. To review the cells before replacing the spaces, select Find All and then Replace All when you’re ready.
   

7. You’ll see the number of replacements made, can select Close in the Find and Replace box, and should then see your data without the spaces you entered.
   

Eliminate Spaces Using Power Query

One more way to remove spaces in Excel is with Power Query. This is ideal if you’re already using Power Query to import or transform your data or just want to remove beginning and ending spaces.

Note: Different from the TRIM function mentioned earlier, this Trim feature only removes leading and trailing spaces, not those in the middle.

If you don’t have Power Query open yet, select your data and go to the Data tab.

1. Choose From Table/Range in the Get & Transform Data group.
   

2. Confirm your data range for the table in the pop-up box, optionally mark the box if your data has headers, and select OK.
   

3. With your data in Power Query, select the columns to update if you have more than one. You can do this by holding Ctrl as you choose each one.
   

4. Go to the Transform tab, open the Format menu in the Text Column group, and pick Trim.
   

5. You’ll see your data update to remove all leading and trailing spaces.
   

6. To use the data immediately, head to the Home tab, open the Close & Load menu, and pick one of the following:
   
7. Close & Load To: Choose the location for the updated data.
   
8. Close & Load: Place the data in a new tab in your existing sheet.
   

You can then format, move, and convert the data from a table to a cell range depending on your needs.

With various ways to get rid of spaces that you don’t need in Excel, you can quickly and easily clean up your data regardless of where the spaces are located.

Now that you know how to remove spaces from an Excel cell, look at how to eliminate duplicate rows in Excel too.

The post How to Remove Unwanted Spaces from Excel Spreadsheets first appeared on Help Desk Geek.

If you’ve received a 0x80070002 error while installing a Windows update, there are ways to get around this problem. This issue occurs for various reasons, including incorrect date and time settings and a faulty Windows Update feature. We’ll show you how to resolve the problem on your Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC.

Other reasons you get the above error are that your internet connection isn’t working, the downloaded update files are corrupted, Windows’ system files are damaged, a third-party app is causing interference, and more.

Check Your PC’s Date and Time Settings

Sometimes, Windows fails to install an update because your PC’s date and time settings are incorrect. In this case, make your PC use the automatic date and time settings. Here’s how.

1. Right-click the clock in the bottom-right corner and select Adjust date and time (Windows 11) or Adjust date/time (Windows 10).
   
2. Turn on both Set time automatically and Set time zone automatically options.

Restart the Windows Update Services

It’s possible a background service related to Windows Update feature isn’t running as expected, causing the updates to fail to install. In this case, restart the services related to Windows Update and see if that resolves your problem.

1. Open the Run dialog box by pressing Windows + R.
   
2. Type the following command in the box and press Enter:
   services.msc
   
3. Find and right-click the service named Windows Update and select Restart.

4. Right-click the Background Intelligent Transfer Service service and choose Restart.
   
5. Close the Services window and update your PC.
   

Restart Your Windows PC

If restarting services didn’t fix your issue, give your Windows PC a reboot and see if that resolves the problem. Turning your system off and back on helps fix many minor glitches.

1. Open the Start menu by selecting the menu icon or pressing the Windows key.
   
2. Select the Power icon in the menu.
   
3. Choose Restart.

Run the Network Troubleshooter

If your internet connection isn’t working, that might be why Windows can’t install the available updates. In this case, restart your router and see if that fixes the issue. If the issue persists, use your PC’s built-in Network Adapter troubleshooter to find and fix network issues on your PC.

On Windows 11

1. Launch Settings by pressing Windows + I.
   
2. Select System in the left sidebar and Troubleshoot on the right pane.
   
3. Choose Other troubleshooters on the following page.
   
4. Select Run next to Network and Internet to launch the troubleshooting tool.

5. Wait for the tool to find and fix network problems.
   

On Windows 10

1. Open Settings using Windows + I.
   
2. Select Update & Security > Troubleshoot in Settings.
   
3. Select Additional troubleshooters on the right pane.
   
4. Choose Network Adapter and select Run the troubleshooter.

5. Follow the on-screen instructions to fix your network issues.
   

Use the Windows Update Troubleshooter

Both Windows 11 and Windows 10 include a Windows Update troubleshooter that you can use to find and fix any issues related to your system updates. This tool finds the issues on its own and helps you fix those problems.

On Windows 11

1. Right-click the Start menu icon and select Settings.
   
2. Navigate to System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters in Settings.
   
3. Select Run next to Windows Update to launch the troubleshooter.

4. Follow the on-screen instructions in the tool.
   

On Windows 10

1. Access Settings by right-clicking the Start menu icon and choosing Settings.
   
2. Navigate to Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters in Settings.
   
3. Select Windows Update and choose Run the troubleshooter.

4. Follow the on-screen instructions in the troubleshooter.
   

Delete the Windows Update Cache

Windows downloads the update files and then installs those files on your system. The downloaded update files may be corrupted, causing the updates to fail to install. In this case, clear that download cache and allow Windows to re-download the available updates.

1. Open Run by pressing Windows + R.
   
2. Type the following command in Run and press Enter:
   services.msc
   
3. Find Windows Update on the list, right-click the service, and select Stop. Keep the Services window open.
   
4. Open Run again using Windows + R, type the following path, and press Enter:
   C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\
   
5. Press Ctrl + A to select all files in the folder.
   
6. Right-click a selected file and choose Delete (a trash can icon).

7. Empty the Recycle Bin so the files are gone for good.
   
8. Return to the Services window, right-click Windows Update, and select Start.
   
9. Try to update your PC.
   

Repair Windows’ System Files

When Windows’ system files become damaged, you experience issues using various system features, including Windows Update. In this case, use the System File Checker (SFC) tool to find and fix the corrupted core files on your computer.

The SFC tool automatically finds the faulty files and replaces those files with working ones.

1. Open Run by pressing Windows + R, type CMD, and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter.
   
2. Select Yes in the User Account Control Prompt.
   
3. Type the following command on the CMD window and press Enter:
   DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

4. Run the following command to start fixing your system’s damaged files:
   sfc /scannow
   
5. Update your PC.
   

Clean Boot Windows and Install the Update

If a third-party app is causing interference, clean boot your Windows PC and then install the update. Clean booting your system isolates any third-party items, allowing you to check if those items are the culprit.

1. Open Run by pressing Windows + R, type the following command, and press Enter:
   msconfig
   
2. Access the Services tab on the open window, enable the Hide all Microsoft services option, and choose Disable all.

3. Open the Startup tab and select Open Task Manager.
   
4. Right-click each app whose Status column displays Enabled and choose Disable. This prevents the installed apps from automatically running.

5. Close Task Manager, return to the System Configuration window, and select OK.
   
6. Restart your PC.
   
7. Try to update your system.
   

If your PC updates successfully in clean boot mode, you’ve likely installed malicious apps on your system. Remove those apps from Settings > Apps > Installed apps on Windows 11 and Settings > Apps on Windows 10.

Manually Download and Install the Update

If a specific update fails to install, you can manually download and install that update on your system. Microsoft has an online update repository from where you can download any update you want for your machine.

1. Find the faulty update name from Settings > Windows Update on Windows 11 and Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update on Windows 10. The update name should start with KB.
   
2. Launch a web browser and head to the Microsoft Update Catalog site.
   
3. Select the search box on the site, type the faulty update’s name, and press Enter.
   
4. Select Download next to your update and save the update to your PC.

5. Run the downloaded file to install the update.
   
6. Restart your PC after installing the update.
   

Fix the Error Preventing You From Installing Windows Updates

It’s crucial to keep your Windows PC up to date. If your updates fail to install and you get an error 0x80070002, the guide above is all you need to fix the problem. The guide covers solutions to fix the very items that can cause your update problem, allowing you to install all the available updates without a hiccup on your PC. Enjoy!

The post How to Resolve a Windows Update Install Error – 0x80070002 first appeared on Help Desk Geek.

Like any other application on Windows, Logitech G HUB can encounter issues such as random software bugs, malfunctioning background services, or corrupt installation files. Some of them can be severe enough to prevent it from opening.

This tutorial will show various techniques to troubleshoot and fix Logitech G HUB, allowing you to return to customizing your Logitech gaming hardware as you normally would.

Force-Quit Logitech G-HUB

It’s not unusual for Logitech G HUB to crash or hang randomly while launching. To fix that, you must fully quit any stuck background processes before reopening it.

The Windows Task Manager should help you forcibly shut down all Logitech G HUB processes quickly. Here’s how:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.
   
2. Locate the LGHUB, G HUB, LGHUB Agent, and LGHUB Updater processes under the default Processes tab.
   
3. Highlight these processes and select End task.
   

4. Exit the Task Manager.
   
5. Re-open Logitech G HUB to see if it launches correctly.

Configure Logitech G HUB

If it’s only a matter of Logitech G HUB not opening alongside Windows at startup, just:

1. Open Logitech G HUB, select the icon with three stacked lines on the top left corner and choose Settings.
   
2. Switch to the App Settings tab (if it isn’t selected already).
   
3. Check the box next to Always Start After Logging In.
   

Restart Your Computer

If Logitech G HUB continues to fail to open, it’s a good idea to reboot Windows before moving on with the rest of the fixes. To do that, open the Start menu and select Power > Restart—if you see an Update and restart option, choose that instead.

Clear Temporary Files in Windows

Windows creates various forms of temporary data to speed things up, but these can corrupt and prevent applications from opening. Deleting all temp data could make a difference. Just:

1. Press Windows + R, type %temp% into the Run box, and select OK.
   
2. On the File Explorer window that shows up, delete every file and folder inside and restart Windows.
   

3. Open another Run box, visit the temp directory (type the command without the percent signs), and delete the items within.

Run Logitech G-HUB as Administrator

Running Logitech G HUB as an administrator, even temporarily, often resolves launch issues caused by insufficient permissions to files and system areas. To fix that:

1. Right-click the Logitech G HUB shortcut on the desktop or search for the app on the Start menu.
   
2. Select the Run as administrator option.
   
3. Select Yes on the User Account Control (UAC) dialog.
   

Configure the LGHUB Updater Service

Logitech G HUB relies on the LGHUB Updater Service to manage its application and driver updates. If it isn’t configured to run automatically in the background, it might cause issues with Logitech G HUB, potentially preventing it from opening. To fix that:

1. Open the Services app—press Win + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
   
2. Scroll down the list of services and right-click LGHUB Updater Service.
   
3. Select the option labeled Properties.
   
4. In the Startup type dropdown, select Automatic.
   
5. Select Apply, then OK.
   

Update Logitech G HUB

An outdated version of Logitech G HUB leads to compatibility issues in Windows, so it’s a good idea to update the application. To do that, you must be able to open Logitech G HUB, even briefly, since the only way to install updates is through the program’s user interface. If that’s possible:

1. Select the icon with three stacked lines on Logitech G HUB’s top-left corner and choose Settings.
   
2. Select the Check for Update option.
   
3. Select Install if there’s a pending update.
   

Update Windows to Its Latest Version

Keeping Windows up-to-date ensures compatibility with applications like Logitech G HUB. To update Windows:

1. Right-click the Start menu and select Settings.
   
2. Go to Windows Update and select Check for updates.
   
3. Select Download and install to apply all available updates.
   

Additionally, go to Advanced options > Optional updates and install all pending hardware driver updates from Microsoft.

Reinstall the Logitech Drivers

Corrupt Logitech hardware drivers are another reason preventing Logitech G HUB from working correctly. You can rule that out by reinstalling the relevant drivers.

Connect another mouse via Bluetooth or USB so you won’t encounter issues interfacing with the operating system, and then:

1. Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager.
   
2. Expand the Human Interface Devices, Keyboards, and Mice and other pointing devices sections.
   
3. Right-click a Logitech mouse or keyboard and select Uninstall device.
   

4. Check the box next to Attempt to remove the driver for this device and select Uninstall.
   
5. Remove the drivers for any other Logitech devices.
   
6. Exit the Device Manager, unplug all Logitech gaming devices from your PC, and restart Windows.
   
7. Reconnect the Logitech peripherals after logging back in.
   
8. Re-open the Device Manager and select Action > Scan for hardware changes on the menu bar—that prompts Windows to reinstall basic drivers for the Logitech devices.
   

9. Open the Logitech G HUB, and the application should auto-install additional Logitech drivers.
   

Remove and Reinstall Logitech G-HUB

If none of the above methods work, the Logitech G HUB installation is likely corrupt, so you must remove and reinstall the application on Windows. To do that:

1. Right-click the Start button and select Installed apps or Apps and Features.
   
2. Select Logitech G HUB within the list of programs and choose Uninstall.
   

3. Restart your PC.
   
4. Download the latest version of Logitech G HUB from the official Logitech website.
   
5. Visit your PC’s Downloads folder and double-click the lghub_installer.exe file.
   
6. Follow all onscreen instructions within the Logitech G HUB installer to install and set up the application.
   

Logitech G HUB Is Opening in Windows Again

We understand—it’s super-frustrating when Logitech G HUB stops opening, especially when you’re looking to quickly customize your Logitech gear before hopping into a gaming session. However, you stand a good chance of fixing the problem by following the troubleshooting steps above. From force-quitting Logitech G HUB to reinstalling drivers and the application itself, these instructions address many underlying problems.

If you’ve tried all the fixes and Logitech G HUB still isn’t working, it’s time to contact Logitech Support. They can provide additional solutions based on your PC’s hardware configuration.

The post Logitech G HUB Not Opening in Windows? How to Fix first appeared on Help Desk Geek.

When you get a Microsoft Visual C++ runtime error, you can’t launch your application or use your app’s features properly. Many items cause this issue on your Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC. We’ll show you how to fix the items causing this problem so you can resume your work with your installed apps.

Resolving a Visual C++ runtime error often requires following multiple troubleshooting methods. This is because the item causing the issue is often unclear; using multiple methods allows you to fix all the possible items causing the problem.

Update Your Graphics Card Drivers

If your graphics card drivers are outdated, that might be why you’re running into a runtime error. This usually happens when you launch a game on your PC.

You can fix that by updating your graphics card drivers using Windows Update on both Windows 11 and Windows 10 systems.

On Windows 11

1. Open Settings by pressing Windows + I.
   
2. Select Windows Update in the left sidebar.
   
3. Choose Advanced options on the right pane.
   
4. Select Optional updates.

5. Install all the available updates.
   

On Windows 10

1. Launch Settings using Windows + I.
   
2. Select Update & Security in Settings.
   
3. Choose Windows Update in the left sidebar.
   
4. Select View optional updates on the right pane.

5. Download and install the available updates.
   

If you still don’t have the latest drivers, manually download and install the latest drivers from your graphics card manufacturer’s website. For example, you can update Nvidia drivers as follows:

1. Launch a web browser on your PC and head to the Nvidia Driver Downloads site.
   
2. Select your specific graphics card model from the drop-down menus and choose Search.

3. Select Download on the following screen to download the latest drivers.
   
4. Run the downloaded file to install the latest drivers.
   

Turn Off the Compatibility Mode for Your App

If you use Windows’ compatibility mode to run your app, turn off the mode and see if that fixes your issue.

1. Right-click your app’s shortcut on your desktop and select Properties.
   
2. Access the Compatibility tab.
   
3. Turn off the Run this program in compatibility mode for option.

4. Select Apply followed by OK at the bottom.
   
5. Run your app.
   

If your app fails to launch because the app requires compatibility mode, use the app version compatible with your current operating system version. If this isn’t possible, use an alternate app on your PC.

Fix RAM Issues on Your Windows PC

Your PC’s RAM (Random Access Memory) sometimes causes issues with app launches. In this case, use a built-in Windows tool to find and fix memory issues.

1. Open the Start menu, find Windows Memory Diagnostic, and launch the tool.
   
2. Select Restart now and check for problems (recommended) to reboot your PC and run a memory issue scan.

3. Run your app when you’ve fixed the memory problems.
   

Clean Boot Your Windows PC

A third-party app installed on your system may be causing a runtime error. One way to verify that is to clean boot your Windows PC. Doing so only loads the essential files to run your system, allowing you to find if a third-party item is the culprit.

1. Open the Start menu, find System Configuration, and launch the tool.
   
2. Access the Services tab, enable the Hide all Microsoft services option, and select Disable all.

3. Open the Startup tab and select Open Task Manager.
   
4. Right-click each item whose Status column says Enabled and choose Disable. This ensures no apps automatically launch when you clean boot your PC.
   
5. Quit Task Manager and select OK on the System Configuration window.
   
6. Restart your PC.
   

If you don’t get a runtime error in clean boot mode, uninstall any suspicious apps on your PC.

Reinstall Your Application

Sometimes, an app fails to launch because the app itself is damaged. In this case, remove and reinstall the app to fix your problem.

On Windows 11

1. Launch Settings using Windows + I.
   
2. Select Apps > Installed apps in Settings.
   
3. Find your app on the list, select the three dots next to the app, and choose Uninstall.

4. Select Uninstall in the prompt.
   

On Windows 10

1. Open Settings with Windows + I.
   
2. Select Apps in Settings.
   
3. Select your app on the list, choose Uninstall, and select Uninstall.

After removing the app, re-download the app and run the installer to reinstall the app on your PC.

Repair Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable Packages

If your Microsoft Visual C++ redistributable packages are faulty, that might be why you have a runtime error. In this case, use the repair option to fix issues with your packages.

1. Access the Start menu, find Control Panel, and launch the utility.
   
2. Select Uninstall a program.
   
3. Find a Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable package, select the package, and choose Change at the top.
   
4. Select Repair and follow the on-screen instructions.

Repeat the above steps for each package on the list to fix all your installed packages.

Uninstall and Reinstall Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable Packages

If repairing the Microsoft Visual C++ redistributable packages didn’t fix your issue, remove and reinstall the packages to resolve the problem.

1. Open Control Panel on your PC.
   
2. Select Uninstall a program.
   
3. Select a Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable package on the list and choose Uninstall at the top.
   
4. Select Uninstall on the window that opens.

5. Restart your PC.
   
6. Head to the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable package site and download and install the latest packages on your system.
   

Repair Windows’ Corrupted System Files

If Windows’ core system files are corrupted, that might be why you’ve run into a runtime error. This is because your app can’t access the required files to run, resulting in an error.

In this case, use the built-in SFC (System File Checker) tool to find and fix the damaged system files.

1. Open the Start menu, locate Command Prompt, and select Run as administrator.
   
2. Choose Yes in the User Account Control prompt.
   
3. Type the following command on the CMD window and press Enter. This will download the required files to fix your system files.
   DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

4. Run the following command to begin repairing your system’s bad files:
   sfc /scannow
   
5. Restart your PC after fixing the bad files.
   

Resolve a Visual C++ Runtime Error and Launch Your Windows Apps Successfully

It’s frustrating when you can’t launch your favorite app and keep getting an error message. Luckily, your specific problem has various solutions, as outlined above. Once you follow these methods and resolve problems with the underlying items, your app will launch and let you perform all your intended tasks. Enjoy!

The post How to Fix a Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime Error on Windows first appeared on Help Desk Geek.