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  • Fix : Stop 0x0000009F: Driver power state failure in Windows 8 | 7

    Fix : Stop 0x0000009F: Driver power state failure in Windows 8 | 7

    This post will help you fix stop error : Driver_power_state_failure in Windows 8 | 7. This particular Blue screen error is also known with a bug check code 9for 0x0000009f, below are the steps to fix it. The most common cause of this error is out of date driver software of your installed hardware. Another cause is out of date BIOS or a recent change in hardware | Software. DRIVER_STATE_POWER_FAILURE is a blue screen error that occurs when there is a change in power state, i.e. when you shutdown, restart or put your computer to sleep, hibernation etc. So, while this process is running all of the hardware installed in your computer are directed to change their power state to lose power ( to shutdown ), but when there is a fault in a particular device driver, the corresponding device does not respond as Windows wants it to and hence you face this STOP error.

    Here are a few ways that you can fix this BSOD:

    Method 1 : Updating Driver Software

    • Go to Windows update ( type Update in start screen or Start menu )
    • Open the Update application
    • Now, Click on check for updates

    Windows update

    • Click on optional updates section & select any and all hardware device driver updates

    windows update1

    windows update 2

    • After the installation is complete, restart your computer.

    Alternatively,

    • You can go to your Motherboard / System / Independent Hardware manufacturer’s support website
    • Search for any driver updates that they might be offering and install them.

     

    Method 2 : Using Driver Verifier

    Before starting this procedure, it is recommended that you create a system restore point, so that you can fall back on it if something goes wrong.

    This process will help you pin point the exact driver that might be causing this blue screen error. Remember, if the Driver verifier find an issue your computer might throw a BSOD again. That is why we made a system restore point, so that we can simply run system repair and get the computer to it’s previous state.

    • Go to the start menu ( Windows 7 ) & Start screen ( Windows 8)
    • Type Verifier and press Enter
    • Click on Create custom settings (for code developers)
    • Click Next
    • Select individual settings from a full list
    • Next
    • Check these boxes from the list
      • Special Pool
      • Pool Tracking
      • Force IRQL Checking
      • Deadlock Detection
      • Security Checks (Windows 7)
      • Concurrency Stress Test (Windows 8)
      • DDI compliance checking (Windows 8)
      • Miscellaneous Checks
    • Click on Select driver names from a list
    • Click on Provider tab.
    • Check every driver that is not by Microsoft
    • Click on Finish
    • Restart your computer
    • It is highly recommended that you run this verifier for at least 24-36 hours

    For more information on Driver Verifier you can look at this support article by Microsoft

     

    Method 3 : Updating BIOS

    Updating your Computer’s BIOS is a critical process and need a fair bit of understanding on your part. It is always recommended that your only update your BIOS if highly necessary. Over the years motherboard / Computer manufacturers have made it easier for any user to update the BIOS, but still, it is a difficult process and if not done correctly, can brick your system and make it unusable. So, if you choose to update your BIOS, please do it at your own risk.

    • To Update your BIOS
    • Go to your Motherboard / Computer Manufacturer’s support website
    • Carefully locate your Motherboard / Computer make model and ver. and when 100% sure that you are at the right place, download the latest BIOS files
    • Carefully read the documentation associated / provided by the manufacturer on how to update BIOS
    • Before updating your BIOS, make sure that your computer, if a laptop / portable computer is at least 75% charged and if its a desktop computer, make sure that you have a stable backup power supply in case of a power loss.
    • Use the updater / or the software / options provided by your Motherboard / Computer manufacturer

     

    If you still face an issue, please write to us using the comments section.

  • Fix : Stop error 0x0000010e / 0x000000C1 BSOD in Windows 7, Vista

    Fix : Stop error 0x0000010e / 0x000000C1 BSOD in Windows 7, Vista

    This post will help you fix an issue with your Windows 7 or Windows Vista computer, where you receive a blue screen error 0x0000010E or 0x000000C1. Both these errors might display some other parameters along with them. A sample error message would look like :

    Stop 0x0000010E(xxxxxx, xxxxxx, xxxxxx, xxxxxx)
    VIDEO_MEMORY_MANAGEMENT_INTERNAL

    or

    Stop 0x000000C1 (xxxxx,xxxxx,xxxxx,xxxxx)
    SPECIAL_POOL_DETECTED_MEMORY_CORRUPTION

    The earlier one most common to Windows 7 and the later one to Windows Vista. Both of these error can be caused by quite a few reasons, but the most common ones and their solutions are listed below, so, Fix : Stop error 0x0000010e / 0x000000C1 BSOD in Windows 7, Vista

    Method 1 : Display Adapter / Video driver issue

    This Problem is most common with computers that have hybrid display engine ( using two graphic cards in a heterogeneous GPU configuration ) mixing on-board and dedicated card for power saving and performance, accordingly.

    • Download the latest display adapter drivers from your computer / motherboard / graphic adapter manufacturer’s support website.
    • If your computer uses a hybrid display configuration, make sure you download both the display adapter’s drivers.
    • Go to Control Panel
    • Select Classic / Small icons / large icons from the view by menu on the top right corner
    • Locate and open Programs and features
    • Locate your display adapter drivers ( some example include AMD Catalyst Control Centre, NVidia Control Panel)
    • Uninstall the drivers there (If you are not sure of what you are doing, please do not do it, instead contact a professional to help you out )
    • Now, Also look for other display adapter drivers ( Example : Intel, SIS, Via )
    • Uninstall them as well.
    • Restart your computer
    • Now, Install the driver(s) that your downloaded.

    Method 2 : Hotfix by Microsoft

    New : Hotfix by Microsoft ( Windows 7 )

    Microsoft has released a hotfix to fix this particular issue. Please download and install the same using this link

    Hotfix by Microsoft ( Windows Vista )

    Microsoft has released a hotfix for this issue with Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008. Use this link to download and install the hotfix

     

    Method 3 : Upgrading Memory

    This issue can also occur in situations where you are rendering memory intensive tasks and your system has low memory configuration to meet the demand. In this situation, upgrading your memory is a good way to retain system stability.

    Check your memory for errors

    • Go to the start menu
    • Type Memory diagnostic
    • Run the tool
    • It will check your RAM for errors next time you restart / start your computer and display a detailed report once you login
  • Fix : Windows XP not booting, restarting after Windows logo screen

    Fix : Windows XP not booting, restarting after Windows logo screen

    This post will help you fix an issue with your Windows XP based PC, where you cannot boot into Windows and your computer restarts on or after the initial Windows Logo screen. Below are the few fixes that have worked for me over the years.Fix: Windows XP not booting, Restarting after Windows logo screen

     

    Method 1 : Using CHKDSK

    • Boot from Windows XP CD ( You can also use Windows Vista, 7 or 8 DVD for this procedure
    • After the initial setup completes you get a screen which says “Press R to repair” along with other options like “Press Enter to Install Windows”
    • Press R ( this will take you to Windows Repair Console
    • Select your Windows Installation ( 1, 2, 3 )
    • Enter the password for your administrator account ( if you have a password )
    • After the process completes, you will get a command prompt.
    • Now, I am assuming that your Windows is installed in C drive. (C:) – If your Windows is installed in some other drive, just replace C: with that drive letter
    • Type C:
    • Type chkdsk c:/f
    • Let the process complete
    • Restart your computer
    • If you have Windows Vista, 7 or 8 DVD /USB
    • Boot from that DVD / USB
    • After the booting sequence completes click on Repair Your Computer
    • Click on Next
    • Click on Command Prompt
    • Type C:
    • Type chkdsk c:/f
    • Let the process complete and then restart your computer

     

    Method 2 : Using Repair Console

    • Follow Method 1 : Steps 1 to 8
    • After that type fixboot c:
    • Press Y for yes
    • Also, type fixmbr
    • Confirm by typing Y
    • Note: Don’t forget to replace your Windows installation Drive letter ( use C if your Windows is installed in C drive )
    • Restart your computer to check if the problem is solved

     

    Method 3 : Doing Full Repair

    Note: This method will only work if your Windows XP setup recognizes the previously installed Windows

    • Boot from Windows XP CD
    • Press Enter to install
    • Now, Windows XP setup will look for previously installed Windows
    • If the setup detects a previous version, it will ask you whether you want to repair it
    • Press the given choice to Perform a repair on your Windows XP computer system
    • Note: This process will not delete any of your files or installed programs, but in some cases you might have to reinstall some of the applications.

    If you still face this problem, please feel free to contact me using the comment section.

  • Fix : Open with submenu missing from Right Click options in Windows 7 , 8

    Fix : Open with submenu missing from Right Click options in Windows 7 , 8

    After reading this post, you will be able to fix an issue with your Windows computer, where when you right click on a file, the “Open with” sub menu is missing. This can happen dues a malfunction in Windows Registry settings, or due to a security program restricting your file opening permissions. It can also happen due to some corruption in system files.

    openwith

    Below are a few methods that should help you out:

    Method 1 : Adding Registry Values

    • Click here to download a registry patch that will enable your Open with submenu.
    • After downloading, Extract the file
    • Right Click the file and click on Merge
    • Make sure you are logged in as administrator

    openwith1

     

    Method 2 : Using System Repair Options

    • System Restore : Click here for Guide on using System Restore
      System Restore will restore you computer to an earlier time. You can choose the restore point from the available checkpoints. Just make sure you select the date on which the problem was not there.

    Alternatively,

    • You can run System File Checker
    • Go to Start menu and type CMD
      Right Click
      & click on Run as Administrator ( Windows  7 )
    • Press Windows Logo Key + X
    • Click on Command Prompt (Admin) ( Windows 8 )
    • Type SFC /SCANNOW
    • Press Enter
    • Let the process finish. This process will check for faulty system files and replace them if necessary

    Method 3 : Checking Security programs

    • If you are in a Domain or Workgroup in a corporate environment, it is suggested that you first check with your system administrator and make sure that the open with submenu is not locked out by a security software
    • Make sure you are logged in as Administrator
    • Disable your security software and restart your computer to check if the Open with submenu appears.
  • Guide : Installing / upgrading Windows 8.1 preview

    Guide : Installing / upgrading Windows 8.1 preview

    This post is a recommended read if you are about to install Windows 8.1 preview on your pc. Windows 8.1 preview is a pre-release software from Microsoft which is publicly available to download. Being a pre-release software, only advanced computer users and people willing to get their hands on something new and exciting from Microsoft should get the Windows 8.1 preview.

    Things to know before proceeding:

    • Currently 13 base languages are supported. This means that if you are upgrading from Windows 8 to Windows 8.1 preview via Windows store, your current Windows 8 installation should be installed with one of the 13 supported base languages. The supported languages are :
    • Arabic
    • English (US)
    • Chinese (Simplified)
    • Chinese (Traditional)
    • French
    • German
    • Japanese
    • Korean
    • Portuguese
    • Russian
    • Spanish
    • Swedish
    • Turkish
    • If you have installed your current operating system with some other language. You should not continue, else you will be presented with an error message “The update is not applicable to your computer”
    • If you are installing the Windows 8.1 preview by booting from a bootable DVD / USB drive, make sure to select the language from the above mentioned thirteen languages.
    • Windows 8.1 Preview requires the same configuration as Windows 8
    • Your current hardware and Windows 8 device drivers should work with Windows 8.1
    • If you uninstall Windows 8.1 in future and return back to Windows 8, you will have to reinstall your apps.
    • If it highly recommended that your take a proper backup of your computer before proceeding.

    Things to do before installing Windows 8.1 Preview:

    • Make sure to disable or uninstall any Antivirus program ( but retain licensing information of your product for future installation )
    • Create a custom refresh image for your current Windows 8 operating system. This will help you in future when you might want to uninstall the 8.1 preview and return to Windows 8
    • Do a clean boot before installing Windows 8.1 preview from Windows Store
    • Detach any peripheral device that is not needed at the time of installation and plug these devices back after the installation is complete
    • Download the Windows 8.1 preview product guide from here

    Hope you have a great experience trying this preview version of Windows 8.1. If you face any problems with this pre-release software, please use the comment section to start a discussion and express your views.

  • Fix : Folders / Explorer going transparent while dragging in Windows 8, 7, Vista, XP

    Fix : Folders / Explorer going transparent while dragging in Windows 8, 7, Vista, XP

    This post will help you fix an issue with your Windows based Computer, where, when you try to resize your folder view or even your Internet browser, the contents of that Window fade or let’s say turn translucent / transparent. Show Window Content while dragging, is a feature within Windows operating system that you can turn on or Off. But this particular problem can also occur due to some other reasons as well. Below are some of the possible solutions for this problem.

    Troubleshoot Method 1 : Check Windows Settings

    • Go to Control Panel
    • Click on Small icons ( top right corner ) ( to enable All control panel items )
    • Now, Click on Performance Information and tools
    • Click on Adjust Visual Effects

    performance_tool1

    • Now, Make sure that “Show Window Content While Dragging is checked”
    • If it’s already checked, just Uncheck it.
    • Click on Apply
    • and now, recheck the checkbox to re-enable the feature.
    • Click Apply and OK

    performance_tool

     

    If this does not solve your problem try:

    Troubleshoot Method 2 : Checking nVidia Options

    (Applies to nVidia Display card users only )

    • Right Click on desktop
    • Click on nVidia Control Panel

    nvidia

    • Now, Make sure that the options as shown in the screenshot below is set to “Let the 3D application decide”

    nvidia1

    • Now,
    • From the pane on the left hand side select Adjust Desktop size and position
    • Make sure, Enable Desktop resizing checkbox in unchecked.

    nvidia3

     

    Troubleshoot Method 3 : Updating the Device Drivers

    • First, Find out what Make and model your display /graphic card is.
    • The most common ones are : Intel, nVidia and AMD ( ATI )
    • You can refer your computer documentation or check the manufacturer’s support website to confirm your display card
    • You can also check device manager ( control panel ) to check what Display adapter you have.

    Now,

    • To update the device drivers you can either :
    • Go to the support website of your computer / display card / motherboard manufacturer and download / Install the drivers from there
    • OR
    • Go to Device Manager
    • Expand Display Adapters
    • Right Click the Adapter listed there & click on update driver ( make sure you are connected to Internet )
    • Select Automatic method
    • OR
    • Run Windows Update and install all the recommended and optional updates
  • How to add multiple input languages in Windows 8 [Write Hindi by default]

    How to add multiple input languages in Windows 8 [Write Hindi by default]

    This post is a step by step guide with screenshots explaining the process to add multiple keyboard inputs in Windows 8. With this guide you can easily select from the listed languages and use that language for input. This also adds an option to your taskbar that enables on the fly switching of the language you want to use. I have written this post to install Hindi language Input, but you can follow the same steps to Install the language of your choice ( from the list given therein )

    • Go to the start screen and type Control Panel
    • Click on Control Panel to open it
    • Now, Select All control panel Items ( change View to small icons )
    • Locate and open Language from the listed options

    Change input language2

    • Click on Add a Language

    Change input language3

    • From the listed options, select the language of your choice
    • Press OK ( in this guide I have selected Hindi, as my language of Choice )

    Change input language4

    • Now, You can easily use this language for input into any Text input and formatting application, such as Microsoft Word etc.
    • Take a look at your Taskbar ( right bottom corner, near the clock )
    • You should see ENG of similar Language short code displayed there
    • Click on it to reveal the Language bar and click on your language of Choice to start using it

    Change input language

    Note: Please feel free to ask any questions or give your suggestions, by using the Comment section

  • How to Create a Custom Refresh Image in Windows 8

    How to Create a Custom Refresh Image in Windows 8

    This how to guide will help you create a custom “refresh Image” in Windows 8. Refresh your PC is a great feature in Windows 8, which helps you reset your system to a predefined system image. By default, this image restores your computer to a comparably new installation state, but you can create a custom image, based on your current PC settings ( a stable state to fall back on ). This also helps retain all your installed applications and settings. Follow the steps below, to create a “custom refresh” image, that creates a exact image of your system, based on your current settings and installed programs, making it easy for you to use “ refresh your PC “ feature in Windows 8.

    • Press Windows Logo Key + X
    • Click on Command Prompt (Admin)

    Windowslogokey x

    • Type recimg.exe /createimage C:\RefreshImage
    • Press Enter

    custom refresh image

    Now,

    This process will take about 45 minutes to complete, and in the end you should see a CustomRefresh.wim file in C:\RefreshImage folder. Use this image to Refresh your PC anytime without loosing all the data.

  • Fix : Stop error Unexpected_Kernel_Mode_Trap 0x0000007F in Windows 8

    Fix : Stop error Unexpected_Kernel_Mode_Trap 0x0000007F in Windows 8

    This post will help you fix an issue with your Windows PC, where your computer might give a blue screen error with error code 0x0000007f ( unexpected_kernel_mode_trap ). This error can occur in Windows 8 , Windows 7, Vista and XP. Follow the steps below to fix this error. This error most commonly occurs when there is problem with the Installed hardware ( mainly RAM, Processor or Hard disk drive ).

    Method 1

    If you are using Windows 8, 7, Vista you can simply run Memory Diagnostics:

    • Boot from the Windows DVD
    • Click on Repair Your Computer
    • Click on Windows Memory Diagnostics
    • Check your RAM modules for errors ( change if necessary )

    Method 2

    • Start / Restart your computer and boot in to the BIOS by pressing the specified key ( DEL, F2, F10 in most cases )
    • Load the BIOS defaults
    • Press F10 to save and exit
    • Also, make sure any software programs or scripts that you might have enabled to Over Clock your CPU is disabled
    • Check if the problem is resolved

    Method 3

    • Press Windows Logo key + C
    • Click on Power
    • Now, press and Hold the Shift key
    • & Click on Restart ( Windows will open the recovery options )
    • Click on Troubleshoot
    • Click Advanced options
    • Click Automatic Repair
    • Let the process Finish
    • Restart your computer to check if the problem is solved

    Method 4

    • Run Windows update (control panel –> Windows update )
    • & update your computer with all the recommended & optional ( driver updates )
    • Also, make sure all your drivers, i.e. chipset, Display /Graphics  and AHCI ( storage drivers ) are up to date
    • Remove / Disable any Antivirus / Security programs
    • or
    • Install the latest version
    • Also, make sure that you are not using two antivirus programs at the same time

    If the error still persists, please use the comment section to notify me and I will try my best to help out

  • Fix : Stop error 0x000000A0 after resuming from hibernate in Windows 8

    Fix : Stop error 0x000000A0 after resuming from hibernate in Windows 8

    After reading this post you will be able to fix an issue with your Windows 8 PC, where, when you resume your computer from hibernate power state you get a Blue screen error ( BSOD ) / Stop error with error code 0x000000A0. The sample of the error generated would look something like this :

    STOP: 0x000000A0 (parameter1, parameter2, parameter3, parameter4)

    Resolution : Method 1

    • If you haven’t updated your computer in a while, it is recommended to run Windows update.
    • To do that:
    • Go to the start screen
    • Type Windows Update
    • Click on settings ( Right pane )
    • Click on Windows Update
    • ( refer screen shots below )

    update1

    • Click on Check for updates

    update2

    • Now, click on the we’ll install xx important update automatically

    update3

    • Click on choose important updates to install, or install optional updates
    • From the listed options select all the recommended updates and choose the optional updates as per your liking.
    • Make sure that you select the 2822241 update package
    • Check this link on Microsoft support site for more information

     

    Method 2

    • Make sure the computer is shutdown
    • Start it and boot into BIOS by pressing the specified keyboard key ( DEL, F2 or F10 ) are some commonly used Keys
    • Locate the Power options
    • Make sure that S4 power state is enabled in your BIOS
    • Press F10 ( save and exit )

     

    Method 3

    • Go to your Computer / motherboard manufacturer’s support website
    • Download and install the latest power management program
    • Laptops and desktops both have different power management programs, so make sure that you download the correct version
    • Also, Download and install the latest SATA / AHCI driver.

     

    Please use the comment section for further help or query