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If the ongoing global situation has you down in the dumps, then you may have decided to rekindle a long-gone love affair of building PCs.
Tag: Windows
Is your computer displaying "There was a problem resetting your PC?" Don't let it stop you in your tracks as there are several ways to troubleshoot this error.
But before we dive into a step-by-step explanation of each method, let’s have a quick peek into what causes the “There was a problem resetting your PC” to pop up on your Windows 10 system in the first place.
Why Does It Say “There Was a Problem Resetting Your PC”?
Windows 10 is, by far, a great improvement over its predecessors in terms of various metrics like security, UI, speed, applications, and much more. Though, Windows 10 errors and security issues can still stop your work in its tracks. In its defense, Microsoft releases new updates to take care of them.
One such issue is the common error message of "There was a problem resetting your PC. No changes were made."
In other words, the error will not let you reset your Windows 10. The top causes of the “There was a problem resetting your PC” on Windows 10 systems are:
- A corrupt file preventing Windows 10 from resetting
- Deletion of important files due to an abrupt shutdown
- Compression was enabled by your PC manufacturer
- Windows 10 came pre-installed in your system.
Regardless of the cause, by the end of this article, you’ll be able to reset your Windows 10 system once again. Let's get started.
Top Methods to Fix “There Was a Problem Resetting Your PC” Error
Follow one of these methods if you are unable to reset Windows 10. One of these error fixes will take care of the PC resetting problem for good:
1. Use the System File Checker
The System File Checker scan is the first method you can use to try and fix the resetting problem.
The System File Checker is a free tool created by Microsft to help you find and recover corrupted files in Windows 10. It's a default Windows troubleshooting utility.
You have to run the System File Checker through the Windows Command Prompt sfc /scan command.
Follow the steps below to open the Command Prompt and get started:
-
Type command prompt in the Windows search bar, take the cursor on the top result and click on Run as administrator.
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Type the sfc /scannow command as shown below and hit ENTER.
Reboot your PC after the command has been executed and try to reset the Windows 10 again. You should be able to reset your Windows 10 now.
2. Return to a Stable System With a System Restore Point
If you are still getting the “There was a problem resetting your PC. No changes were made.” error, then you can try to resolve it with a System Restore.
System Restore is another Windows tool designed to repair damaged software and files. It works by taking a "snapshot" of your Windows files and system files. It can take your system back to a healthy state after any file corruption.
In other words, System Restore takes your PC (and its files and settings) to a previous point in time where everything was working, and fixes various kinds of errors in the process. Here are the methods that you need to follow to do just that:
- Type system restore in Windows search bar on the taskbar and click on Create a Restore Point.
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In the System Protection tab, click on System Restore.
- In the next dialog box, click on Next.
- Choose the desired restore point and click on Next.
After you are done with the restore, reboot your PC. The error should be resolved and you should able to log into your desktop.
3. Disable REAgentC.exe
If you are still unable to reset Windows 10, then try this method. You'll have to use Command Prompt again for it. By disabling REAgentC.exe, you will be able to fix the Windows 10 "There was a problem resetting your PC" error.
REAgentC.exe is an executable file in Windows that can be used to configure the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE)--- a collection of tools that can be used to resolve common Windows problems. When your system fails during normal boot up, it will try to turn to the Windows Recovery Environment. Temporarily disabling it may help your computer reset.
To get started, open the Command Prompt as administrator again, as shown in the first method. Now, run these commands on the command line as shown in the images:
- reagentc /disable
- reagentc /enable
After executing these commands, reboot your system and then try to reset your PC once again.
4. Rename the System and Software Registry Hive
To do this, run the Command Prompt as administrator once again. In Command Prompt type the following commands:
- Type cd %windir%system32config and press ENTER.
- Then type ren system system.001 and hit ENTER.
- At last, type ren software software.001 and hit ENTER, once again.
- Lastly, type exit to close the command prompt. Now restart your PC and give resetting another try. You should not see the error message now.
5. Run the Startup Repair
If none of these methods have worked so far, and you are unable to reset Windows 10 till now, then the last solution that we are left with is to use the Windows Startup Repair feature.
To perform this repair, you’ll need to have a bootable DVD or USB drive with the Windows 10 installer.
If you have that ready, use the steps below:
- Insert the USB or DVD in your PC and restart the system.
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When the computer boots from the USB or DVD, choose Troubleshoot.
- Now, click on Advanced Options.
- Next, click on Startup Repair.
- Select your account.
- Type your account password.
- Click on Continue to start the repair process.
The Windows Repair tool will soon find, scan, and repair all the issues with your Windows 10 software.
After the scanning and fixing are done, restart your computer and check again if you're still facing the "There was a problem resetting your PC" error.
Get Rid of This Windows 10 Error for Good
Windows 10 is an excellent addition to the Windows family of Operating Systems. But you should never neglect the security or maintenance of your Windows 10 Operating System. Windows Stop Codes and the error messages themselves offer all the clues to the problems under the hood.
Stellar Video Repair tool is a software that can fix or repair corrupted, broken or unplayable video files. Here are the details.
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Normally, a Windows 10 exploit or virus requires the user to run an infected program; however, what if someone could trigger an attack just by looking at a malicious file? The concept is more than science fiction, as Microsoft is working to patch an exploit that does just that.
Microsoft's Race to Fix a Nasty Exploit
News of this exploit came to light on The Verge. The exploit was found a week before the report by Twitter user @jonasLyk.
NTFS VULNERABILITY CRITICALITY UNDERESTIMATED
— Jonas L (@jonasLyk) January 9, 2021
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There is a specially nasty vulnerability in NTFS right now.
Triggerable by opening special crafted name in any folder anywhere.'
The vulnerability will instant pop up complaining about yuor harddrive is corrupted when path is opened pic.twitter.com/E0YqHQ369N
This exploit works because Windows 10 handles a particular string of text, numbers, and symbols. When Windows 10 detects this string, it trips a bug that tricks the operating system into thinking its hard drive is corrupted.
Someone abusing this trick doesn't need to do anything extraordinary. All they need to do is get you to see the string in some way. When you see it, your computer processes the string which trips the false corruption alert.
Someone can achieve this by sending you a ZIP folder with a file named after the string, or they can set up a shortcut that contains the string, which triggers the moment you look at the icon.
Fortunately, the bug doesn't destroy anything for good. It does cause Windows 10 to believe the drive is corrupted by marking a section as "dirty;" however, it doesn't actually damage the disk's data.
Once Windows 10 realizes what happened, it will prompt you to restart your computer. It will then perform a CHKDSK scan and fix the issue... most of the time.
In some cases, the user will have to do some manual fixes themselves to get their PC back in working order. Either way, the bug is believed not to cause any permanent corruption, and anyone who encounters the exploit won't lose data.
Microsoft's Response to the Exploit
Fortunately, Microsoft both knows about this bug and is actively fixing it. A Microsoft spokesperson said the following to The Verge:
We are aware of this issue and will provide an update in a future release. The use of this technique relies on social engineering and as always we encourage our customers to practice good computing habits online, including exercising caution when opening unknown files, or accepting file transfers.
For now, exercise caution when downloading unknown files to your PC; however, if you do fall prey to this tricky bug, your files should be safe and there should be no reason to panic.
A Sly Bug, but Not Very Harmful
Microsoft is fixing a new bug that causes a corruption warning when you look at a specific string. Fortunately, the bug does no lasting damage, and a fix should hopefully appear soon.
It's a great idea to get accustomed to tools like CHKDSK, even if this nasty bug never hits you. Knowing how to repair a corrupted Windows 10 PC can mean the difference between fixing a problem yourself and lugging your computer to the nearest repair shop.
Image Credit: lassedesignen / Shutterstock.com
Apple is reportedly going to port its native Music and Podcasts apps for the Mac to Microsoft's platforms later this year, offering Windows users an alternative to iTunes.
iTunes was split into a collection of standalone apps like Music and Podcasts with the 2019 release of macOS Catalina. 9to5Mac now claims in a new report that these apps will probably be coming to the Microsoft Store at some point in 2021.
Sources told 9to5Mac that Apple has been testing both Music and Podcasts apps for Microsoft platforms in a private beta. We cannot confirm if the apps will be compatible with Windows PCs or if they were developed to work exclusively with Xbox, just like the Apple TV app.
If they're being tested, Apple could soon release them.
Xbox Versions Also Possible
Neowin a year ago spotted Apple's job listing for engineers to build "the next generation of media apps for Windows". According to the job listing on LinkedIn, experience with Universal Windows Platform (UWP) is a "big plus." The UWP frameworks allow programmers to write and distribute software that runs on Windows 10, Xbox, and HoloLens.
It's what's helped Apple bring the Apple TV+ app to Xbox consoles in November. Meaning, no technical hurdles exist that would prevent the company from bringing the Music and Podcasts app to Microsoft's consoles.
The Fate of iTunes for Windows?
Apple currently does not offer any other Windows app on the Microsoft Store aside from iTunes. Its fate, however, remains murky because 9to5Mac doesn't make it clear whether Apple might discontinue iTunes for Windows, too. Doing so would inhibit customers because iTunes is currently required to sync iPhones and iPads with PCs.
On the Mac, device syncing is baked into the Finder itself.
If iTunes for Windows gets pulled, Apple will need to introduce new ways of syncing iOS devices on Windows. Apple rarely updates the app so we wouldn't be surprised the slightest bit should the company decide to put iTunes for Windows on the chopping block next.
Image Credit: Apple
It's unclear if Apple is developing the apps to be compatible with Windows PCs or Xbox consoles. They are reportedly coming to Microsoft's digital store one way or another.
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Lenovo is synonymous with CES. Every year, the popular laptop maker takes the wraps off a couple of new models at the annual Vegas show.
We'd already seen the company announce the new IdeaPad 5G last week, but it wasn't done there.
Yesterday, Lenovo followed up its IdeaPad announcement with the unveiling of a new range of ThinkBook laptops.
The ThinkBook Plus Gen 2 has a 12-inch e-ink panel on the lid, meaning business users can easily present to groups of people without needing to spin the laptop around and deal with awkward viewing angles. The new display also has a faster refresh rate, higher resolution, and improved software that will let you launch apps without needing to open the laptop itself.
Both the interior IPS display and the exterior e-ink display have a 2560 x 1600 resolution. The inside screen has 400 nits of brightness.
Under the hood, you get an 11th-gen Intel processor, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage.
Of course, all the extra features come at a price. You can expect to see the new ThinkPad go on sale in Q1 2021 for $1,550.
Other new models in the range include a ThinkBook 13x (it's the same as the Plus Gen 2, but without the e-ink), and two AMD-powered options (the ThinkBook 14p Gen 2 for $850 and the ThinkBook 16p starting at $,1300).
The first Patch Tuesday of 2021 is a big one for all tech companies, not least Microsoft.
The usual raft of security patches carries additional importance this month against the backdrop of SolarWinds, the sophisticated attack that struck the US government and major tech companies in December 2020.
With that in mind, let's take a look at Microsoft's January 2021 Patch Tuesday offerings.
First Patch Tuesday of 2021 Big One for Microsoft
Kicking things off, Patch Tuesday addresses 83 vulnerabilities in total, 10 of which class as critical. Of the 10 critical vulnerabilities, one is being actively exploited. Many believe this to be a vulnerability linked directly to the SolarWinds attack.
The specific vulnerability, CVE-2021-1647, is a zero-day vulnerability in Microsoft Defender's Malware Protection Engine that allow an attacker the opportunity to execute code remotely. The vulnerability affects numerous Microsoft platforms, including Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2016.
However, while Microsoft believes CVE-2011-1647 was actively exploited in the wild, it also labels the vulnerability maturity as "Proof of Concept," which means it "is not functional in all situations and may require substantial modification by a skilled attacker."
Interestingly, Microsoft has had to issue a second patch for a vulnerability previously disclosed and patched. Vulnerability CVE-2021-1648 is an escalation of privilege bug, first discovered by Google Project Zero (Google's zero-day vulnerability hunting lab) and the Zero-Day Iniative in September 2020 under CVE-2020-0986.
However, despite being patched in a previous Patch Tuesday, the Zero-Day Initiative spotted the vulnerability once more. The Zero-Day Initiative also states that the previous bug was being exploited in the wild, "So it's within reason to think this CVE will be actively exploited as well."
At the time of release, however, Microsoft does not believe CVE-2021-1648 is being actively exploited.
The other bugs marked critical in this month's Patch Tuesday are CVE-2021-1665, relating to the Windows Graphics Device Interface, CVE-2020-1643, relating to HEVC Video Extensions, and CVE-2020-1668, linked to the Microsoft DTV-DVD Video Decoder.
Patch Your Windows Systems
As always, Microsoft's Patch Tuesday offering features a host of vulnerabilities ranging from critical downwards. Windows Administrators should patch their systems as soon as possible, especially given the serious nature of some of these vulnerabilities.
Likewise, regular Windows 10 users should always install the latest security updates from Microsoft as they arrive. Failing to do so can leave your computer more vulnerable to exploitation.
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