When you open System Properties and click the System Protection tab to create a restore point, you may notice a mystery drive appearing with the volume GUID string (e.g., \\?\Volume{a6810e9c-8234-4cd1…) instead of a drive letter.Read more
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[Fix] DISM StartComponentCleanup Stops at 20%
When you run a component store cleanup using DISM.exe’s /startcomponentcleanup parameter, the command doesn’t finish correctly. The output shows that the process has stopped at 20%, but the message says, “The operation completed successfully.”Read more
How to Find if a Disk Uses MBR or GPT
Knowing how your disks were set up (MBR vs. GPT) is essential for troubleshooting boot issues and Windows Update errors. Master Boot Record (MBR) disks use the standard BIOS partition table. GUID partition table (GPT) disks use the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI).Read more
[Windows Setup] Setup.exe Immediately Crashes and Reboots Windows
When you run Setup from the Windows 10 or 11 ISO, the system may immediately crash and reboot. The user may not realize the reboot was due to a kernel-mode crash.
For instance, running the Windows 11 22H2 setup from the ISO may crash the system and restart the PC immediately. The Installation Assistant or Media Creation Tool may crash/reboot the device after the download phase.Read more
[Fix] The boot configuration data store could not be opened
When you run bcdedit to view the settings in the boot configuration database (BCD), the following error may occur:
The boot configuration data store could not be opened. The volume for a file has been externally altered so that the opened file is no longer valid.
Other Troubleshooters: This file does not have an app associated with it
When you open a troubleshooter from the Settings window in Windows 11, the following error may appear:
ms-contact-support://settings/SettingsPageTroubleshootAudio This file does not have an app associated with it for performing this action. Please install an app or, if one is already installed, create an association in the Default Apps Settings page.
How to Install Windows Sandbox in Windows 10 and 11
This article explains how to uninstall and reinstall Windows Sandbox in Windows 10 and 11.
Windows Sandbox provides a lightweight desktop environment to safely run applications in isolation. Software installed inside the Windows Sandbox environment remains “sandboxed” and runs separately from the host machine.Read more
How to access Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE)
Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) is a recovery environment based on Windows PE that contains troubleshooting and diagnostic tools to repair an unbootable operating system. By default, WinRE is preinstalled into Windows 10 and Windows 11.Read more
Task Manager Startup Entries Keep Getting Disabled
When you install a Store app, it may register its startup tab. But ITS Startup entry may get disabled automatically. If you re-enable the entry via the Task Manager Startup tab and restart, the startup entry reverts to “Disabled.”Read more
How to Install XPS Viewer in Windows 10 and 11
The XPS Viewer Feature on Demand (FOD) component allows you to read, copy, print, sign, and set permissions for XPS documents. This article explains installing the XPS Viewer in Windows 10 and 11. Installing the “XPS Document Writer” via the classic Windows Features dialog (i.e., OptionalFeatures.exe) doesn’t install the XPS Viewer. They’re two different components. How … Read more