How to Install Media Feature Pack and Windows Media Player

After buying a brand-new Windows 10 or 11 computer, double-clicking a video file opens it in Films & TV (or Movies & TV), and the Windows Media Player shortcut is nowhere to be found. This makes one wonder if Windows Media Player has been removed in Windows 10 and 11. The good news is that the classic Windows Media Player program is included in Windows 10 and Windows 11.Read more

How to Set User Environment Variable Using Setx

You probably know how to add or remove environment variables using GUI in Windows. It can be done by launching sysdm.cpl → Advanced → Environment Variables. Alternatively, one can run the following command in the Run dialog to launch the Environment Variables dialog directly: rundll32 sysdm.cpl,EditEnvironmentVariables (To set per-system environment variables, the above command needs … Read more

“Resource $(string.RequirePrivateStoreOnly)” Error After installing KB3147458

After installing the April Cumulative Update KB3147458, the following error may pop up when opening the Group Policy Editor.

Resource ‘$(string.RequirePrivateStoreOnly)’ referenced in attribute displayName could not be found.

File C:\WINDOWS\PolicyDefinitions\WindowsStore.admx, line 140, column 9

Although dismissing the error messages (occurs twice) should allow you to use the Group Policy Editor, the “Store” category may be missing from Windows Components, under Computer Configuration and User Configuration.Read more

Reinstall or Repair stuck Windows 10 Start Menu & Taskbar, and Fix “Critical Error”

reinstall start menu startmenuexperiencehost

Occasionally, the Start button, Taskbar, and the Notification area icons may get stuck or frozen; clicking them does nothing. When the items in the Notification area are frozen, you wouldn’t be able to access Action Center, Wi-fi network settings, etc.

If the Windows 10 Start Menu is frozen or non-responsive and does not work, or shows the Critical Error message, here is the list of troubleshooting steps you can follow. The fixes involve running the Start menu Troubleshooter or manually registering the ShellExperienceHost & StartMenuExperienceHost packages using PowerShell or restoring the default Start menu by rebuilding the Start menu database.

This article explains how to repair, reset, or reinstall the Start menu in Windows 10.Read more

Cascading Menu and File Explorer Jump Lists Issue in Windows 10

When you implement Cascading Menus in File Folders (Directory) using the SubCommands or ExtendedSubCommands registry keys in Windows 10, an interesting thing happens. The last item in your Cascading menu gets executed when you right-click Pinned File Explorer shortcut in the Taskbar, and click on a folder in the Jump List, instead of a folder window opening.Read more