Fixed! hardware and device troubleshooter is missing windows 10 [minitool news]

Содержание:

Method to delete cache manually to fix Windows Update problem

Enable Safe Mode

Before you delete the cache, you need to enable Windows safe mode. So, if you are using Windows 7 then restart your system and press F8. Then from the boot option, find Safe mode and select it.

For Windows 8 and 10 users, hold the Shift key and restart the system and then go to Troubleshoot >> Advance option >> Windows Startup setting >> Restart >> Safe Mode.

Stop Windows Update Service

Once you have enabled the safe mode successfully, now it’s time to stop Windows update service so that we can delete all the cache files. Stopping Windows Update services is quite easy. You can achieve it within two simple steps and the only thing you will need to use is Command Prompt.

So, press win+X and click on Command Prompt (Admin). It will run the command prompt as administrator. In the Command Prompt Windows, simply type the following command and hit enter.

net stop wuauserv

this command will stop the Windows Update services. Now follow the below steps to proceed further.

Delete Cache

Now the main step is here. It’s time to delete the cache so that your Windows update can work properly. Open file explorer and navigate to the following path.

C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution

Delete all the files present in this folder and don’t worry as it will not affect anything else and if Windows Update Services require these file then it will recreate them.

Start Widows Update Service

After deleting all the cache files, now start the Windows update service again. For this, run Command Prompt as Administrator and type the following command.

net start wuauserv

That’s all you need to do. Restart your system and install the Windows Update, it should work fine.

So, these were the two ways to fix Windows update problems. The best way to fix these errors is with the help of Windows Update Troubleshooter as it can solve almost every error related to Windows Update. But in case if it doesn’t help then the another method will surely help you. Also, if you have something to add to the story then drop a comment in the comment box below.

Change How Windows Looks and Behaves

Windows 10 pro vs pro n: what’s the difference between them [minitool news]

Many tools can reshape the way Windows looks and behaves. Two of the best are Ultimate Windows Tweaker 4, and ShutUp10. Probably the most useful feature: They can eliminate Microsoft OneDrive.

6. Ultimate Windows Tweaker 4

Ultimate Windows Tweaker 4 is an advanced interface editing tool. It gives you quick access to the context menu, Taskbar customization, and other core features of the Windows graphical interface.

Here’s a video demonstrating how it works:

7. ShutUp10

Rather than changing Windows 10’s appearance, ShutUp10 reduces the amount of annoying pop-ups and distractions that Microsoft slipped into Windows. The app also stitches up some of the most severe wounds afflicting Windows 10 users, including gaping privacy issues. For those looking to improve the Windows 10 experience without doing a lot of tinkering and research, ShutUp10 offers a straightforward and direct solution. Like FixWin, ShutUp10 employs a number of switches to turn features on or off.

Run Troubleshooters in Windows 11 to resolve problems

Usb device descriptor failure для windows 10 64 bit

Windows 11 is quite a change over its predecessor. The focus was on analyzing the more commonly used settings in the operating system and making their access easier. Clearly, Microsoft understood the appeal of the built-in troubleshooters and changed their position in the Settings menu. The procedure to Run the in-built troubleshooters in Windows 11 is as follows:

Right-click on the Start button and select Settings. This will open the Settings menu.

In the Settings menu, select the System tab on the list on the left-hand side.

In the right-pane, scroll down to Troubleshoot and click on it.

Now select Other troubleshooters.

This opens the window for the troubleshooters. Select the one of your choice.

From this page you can easily access and run the following Windows Troubleshooters:

Bluetooth Troubleshooter
Hardware Troubleshooter
HomeGroup Troubleshooter
Incoming Connections Troubleshooter
Internet Connections Troubleshooter
Keyboard Troubleshooter
Network Adapter Troubleshooter
Playing Audio Troubleshooter
Printer Troubleshooter
Power Troubleshooter
Program Compatibility Troubleshooter
Recording Audio Troubleshooter
Search and Indexing Troubleshooter
Shared Folders Troubleshooter
Speech Troubleshooter
Video Playback Troubleshooter
Windows Update Troubleshooter
Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter.

What’s the Best Tool?

Fix inaccessible boot device bsod in windows 10 [with pictures]

In my experience, the troubleshooters work about half the time, but they take seconds to complete — without much user effort. That’s why they’re best used as the first line of defense against issues. Anything that you install from a third party source may, or may not, improve the situation. Start with the easiest to use tools and work your way up from there. A final recourse is to reinstall your operating system — but even then, you should always use the in-place upgrade before trying other options.

If you’re still stuck, please consult our previous publications on the best free Windows repair tools and how to repair common Windows problems for additional help.

Do you have a favorite tool for fixing problems with Windows? Please let us know in the comments!

Is Your Laptop Touchpad Not Working? Here’s the Fix

Is your laptop mouse touchpad not working? Try these touchpad troubleshooting tips to get your mouse working again in no time.

Troubleshooters included in Windows 11/10

Internet Connection: This option will help you to run the Internet Connections troubleshooter to fix any internet connection-related problems. If your internet connection is having some problems, for instance, you could click on the Run troubleshooter button.
Playing Audio: Many people have faced audio issues that prevent users from getting any sound after upgrading their PC to Windows 10. If you are one of them, you can fix the problem using this option.
Printer: If your Windows 10 machine is not recognizing your Printer even after installing the proper driver and setting it up correctly, you can run this troubleshooter.
Windows Update: If you face Windows Update issues, you can run the Windows Update Troubleshooter and see if it helps you.

Find and fix other problems:

Blue Screen: A Blue Screen is one of the worst problems of a Windows computer. Run the Blue Screen troubleshooter to fix Stop Errors. (This has now been removed in Windows 10 v1809)
Bluetooth: If your computer has a Bluetooth component but you are not able to connect your computer to another Bluetooth-enabled device, you can run this fix.
Hardware and Devices: The Hardware Troubleshooter fixes any hardware-related issue.
HomeGroup: If you have created a HomeGroup but are not able to add your computer to your HomeGroup or facing any other problems related to HomeGroup, run the HomeGroup Troubleshooter.
Incoming Connections: If you have messed up with Windows Firewall settings, this troubleshooter will fix your problem.
Keyboard: Many times our external keyboard doesn’t work properly. You can find and fix your keyboard-related problem using this option.
Network Adapter: You often face problems while using an Ethernet connection or Wi-Fi. You can fix such problems using this troubleshooter.
Power: This solves power-related issues and helps conserve and extend battery life.
Program Compatibility Troubleshooter: The Program Compatibility Troubleshooter will help you fix issues and run an old program on your Windows 10 machine.
Recording Audio: If you face problems with the Voice Recorder app, use this tool.
Search and Indexing: Windows Search is a powerful tool to find a certain file, folder, app, etc. You can fix any problem related to Search by making use of this tool.
Shared Folders: If you have created a Shared folder, but other computers are not recognizing it, run this troubleshooter.
Speech: If you are facing any problem related to the microphone, this option is for you.
Video Playback: This troubleshooter fixes any problem regarding playing a movie, video, etc.
Windows Store Apps: There are many Windows Store apps installed on your computer. If you face problems with any one of them, you can solve them by running the Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter.

TIP: See how you can add the Troubleshooters toolbar to the Taskbar.

Microsoft has done a very good thing by clubbing all the Troubleshooters together and making them easily accessible for a single page. So if you ever face any issues, the first thing you want to do is head over to this page and run the corresponding Troubleshooter. The next best thing, of course, would be to search for Windows problems here on TWC.

Start Menu Not Working Properly

What is Start menu?

In short, the Start menu is a graphical user interface element included in Microsoft Windows systems to help users find programs and perform tasks quickly.

Where is Start menu?

There are 2 widely used ways to open Start menu on Windows.

Click on the Start button located on taskbar (in the lower left corner of your PC screen).
Press the Windows logo (also called Start) key on your keyboard.

Windows 10 Start Menu Troubleshooter Is Needed

As the combination of Windows 7 Start menu and Windows 8 Apps menu, Windows 10 Start menu is favored by users. But some of them notice that the Start menu not working well recently – it doesn’t open at all whether you click the Start button or press the Windows logo key. The possible reason for causing such problem may be Windows update or other manual changes users have made to their systems. They desperately need a Start menu troubleshooter for fixing the problem.

This problem was fed back to Microsoft, so it released a Windows 10 Start menu troubleshooter for its users. People are able to fix the following issues with that Start menu repair tool coming from Microsoft.

The required apps and programs are not installed correctly.
The registry keys don’t have enough permissions or the permission is not suitable.
The tile database is corrupted somehow.
The application manifest is corrupt due to certain reasons.

Driver Problems

The optimal method for resolving driver problems: locate the driver and install it. Sometimes, though, finding the right driver can be next to impossible. In that case, you might need help.

I do not advise using Driver Booster as the first line of defense against driver problems — it’s best used when you’ve exhausted all other options and simply can’t find the correct drivers for your device. And, even then, you would need to perform a full Windows backup before using it. Because an incompatible driver can render your system unbootable, not only should you take safeguards, you should also look towards other solutions for fixing irritating Windows problems. Another place to look: Installing unsigned drivers in Windows.

For those committed to using a third party tool, here’s a review of Driver Booster 3:

How to Fix Start Menu Not Working/Opening Manually

*1. Run System File Checker

The SFC tool is used to scan & repair corrupted or missing system files.

Right click on the taskbar (usually at the bottom).
Choose Task Manager from the context menu (you can also choose it after pressing Ctrl + Alt + Del).
Select File from menu bar and choose Run new task from its submenu.
Type powershell into the textbox, check Create this task with administrative privileges, and click on the OK button below.
Type sfc /scannow into the window and press Enter.
Wait for the scan to finish.
If Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some (or all) of them, please type DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth and hit Enter.
Wait for the process to complete.

*2. Try Windows Update

Open Settings by pressing Windows + I.
Select Update & Security.
Click on the Check for updates button in the right pane.
Wait for the checking process to finish and install any updates it finds.

*3. Create & Log into a New User Account

Launch Task Manager.
Select File and then Run new task.
Type net user NewUsername NewPassword /add -> check Create this task with administrative privileges -> click OK.
Set a new username and password.
Restart your computer and log into the new user account.
Change the local account to Microsoft account and transfer files & settings.

Besides, you can try to troubleshoot Start menu by resetting your PC or reinstalling all Windows apps.

Windows 10 Won’t Update FAQ

What do I do if my Windows 10 won’t update?

Remove third-party security software.
Check Windows update utility manually.
Keep all services about Windows update running.
Run Windows update troubleshooter.
Restart Windows update service by CMD.
Increase free space of system drive.
Repair corrupted system files.

How do I force Windows 10 to update?

Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
Type the command wuauclt.exe /updatenow and hit Enter to continue.
Open Settings and choose Update & Security.
Go to Windows Update tab and click Check for updates.

What to do if my computer is stuck updating?

Wait or restart the computer.
Free up disk space.
Disable all non-Microsoft programs.
Turn off Firewall temporarily.
Run Windows update troubleshooter.
Restart Windows update service.
Run antivirus.

Why is Windows update taking so long?
Windows 10 update takes so long to complete because Microsoft is constantly addling larger files and features to them. And the new Windows update will fix some bugs. The biggest updates are usually released on the spring and fall of every year.

How to fix Windows update problems with the help of Windows Update Troubleshooter

First of all, go to Control Panel and then click on Find and Fix problems in the System & Security panel.
It will redirect you to a new Window. Now, Find System & Security panel and click on Fix problems with Windows Update.
Doing this will open the Windows Update window from where you will be able to start Windows Update Troubleshooter. In this window, find the Advance option, click on it and then select Run as Administrator. It will run the trouble shooter as Administrator because if you run the Windows Update troubleshooter as administrator then only it will be able to clear the cache in download cache.
After that, simply click the Next button and Windows Update troubleshooter will run. It will automatically start the troubleshooting process. It will find all the errors and fix them. After completing the process it will also show you some details about the errors that occurred.
When all process is completed successfully, restart the Windows Update and it will definitely work fine.

But if anyhow Windows Update Troubleshooter doesn’t fix the problem and you are still facing problems in Windows update then here is another solution. You can delete the cache manually to fix the Windows Update problem.

Check Windows Update Utility Manually

Windows Update is a Microsoft service for the Windows operating system, which automates downloading and installing software updates over the Internet. The service delivers software updates for Windows, as well as the various Microsoft antivirus products, including Windows Defender and Microsoft Security Essentials.

If Windows 10 won’t update, you can try to check whether the Windows Update Utility is working. Then we will introduce how to check Windows Update Utility.

Step 1: Launch Settings app from the Windows 10 Start Menu or press Windows Key + I key together and click Update & Security.

Step 2: You will see the following popup window. If there’s something wrong and Windows knows what it is then you can find details here. Thus you need to click Fix issues and Windows Update utility will help to finish updating automatically.

Step 3: You can also click the Advanced options to know more information. It is recommended to choose Automatic.

After all steps have been finished, you can try to restart our computers and check whether the problem Windows won’t download updates is solved.

Repair Corrupted System Files

The issue Windows 10 won’t update may be caused by the corrupted system files. So in order to solve this problem, you can run System File Checker to check and repair the corrupted system files.

And now, we will show you the detailed steps.

Step 1: Type Command Prompt in the search box of Windows 10 and right-click it to choose the Run as administrator.

Step 2: In the Command Prompt windows, type the command sfc /scannow and hit Enter to continue.

After that, the scanning process will begin and please do not close the command line window until you see the message verification 100% completed. When the process is finished, you can reboot your computer and check whether the issue computer won’t update Windows 10 is solved.

Related article: Quickly Fix – SFC Scannow Not Working (Focus on 2 Cases)

However, if none of above methods works, you may need to reinstall Windows 10.

If all else fails, these quick fixes might do it

If our instructions up until now haven’t resolved your issues, then it’s time to go back to the tried-and-true methods, the tricks that have been solving update errors since the update was first invented. Here are a few options that may work for you.

Restart your computer

This is a surprisingly effective method that will solve a host of computer issues — and it often works for Windows Update errors too. When you encounter an error message, restart your machine and try to rerun the updates. If you haven’t run Windows Update for some time, then you might have to repeat this process several times before all updates have been installed.

However, don’t just restart the machine. Turn it off for a few moments so the RAM is cleared of any nefarious code, then turn the machine back on. Data in RAM doesn’t stick around when there’s no power, so you have a clean slate when you boot back into Windows.

Do you have enough disk space?

One scenario in which updates may fail is when your system drive is running out of space. Double-check that you have at least 10GB free. If you don’t, perform a disk cleanup to remove files. Here’s how:

Step 1: Type Disk Cleanup into the taskbar’s search box and select the resulting app.

Step 2: Use the downward-facing arrow to select the drive you need to clean — presumably, it’s the C Drive — then click OK.

Step 3: Specify the type of file that you want to remove and select OK. Try to stay away from important system files, however.

Alternatively, third-party software like CCleaner can be great for freeing up extra space on your system. For more information on this topic, check out our more complete guide on managing Windows 10’s storage space.

Is malware causing the issue?

Malware can affect essential files and services, so it’s vital to run a scanner. If you don’t have antivirus software, look at our favorites for Windows-based computers.

Contact Microsoft Support

If you’re out of options, contact Microsoft support. Visit their contact page and start a chat, request a callback, or make a call. You can also ask the community, which can be useful if there’s already a forum on the issue.

Editors’ Recommendations

Windows 11 brings back another highly requested Taskbar feature
The best free photo-editing software for 2021
The best internet speed tests
Windows 11 vs. Windows 10: Should you upgrade?
How much RAM do you need?

Solution #7: Run System File Checker

System File Checker or SFC.exe is an in-built command line tool that scans for changes in all system files. Not only that but also it can restore all the corrupted system files from a cached copy. As Windows Update may get stuck due to corrupted system files, running the System File Checker may solve your problem.

To run System File Checker in Windows 10/11, do follow these steps-

Open Command Prompt with administrator privilege. For that, search for in the Taskbar search box, right-click on the respective search result, select Run as administrator.
Enter this command-
It takes a couple of minutes. Do not close the window until it finishes the scan.

After completing, restart your computer and try to download updates.

How to fix Windows Update installing update manually

Sometimes installing the most recent update manually can help to fix problems with the Windows Update service.

Determining system type

Before you can download the correct update package, you have to confirm whether you’re using a 32-bit or 64-bit version of Windows 10.

To determine your device system type, use these steps:

Open Settings.
Click on System.
Click on About.
Under the «Device specifications» section, determine the system type.

Source: Windows Central
Under the «Windows specifications» section, determine the version number.

After you complete the steps, you can proceed to download the latest package for your installation.

Downloading updates manually

To download quality updates of Windows 10 manually, use these steps:

Click the version of Windows 10 that matches your installation (for example, version 1909) from the left side.
Confirm the knowledge base number of the latest update — for example, KB4530684.

Source: Windows Central
Search for the KB number — for example, KB4530684.
Click the Download button for the version that applies for your installation. For instance, if you’re running the 64-bit version, you should click the download button for the «Windows 10 Version 1903 for x64-based Systems» update.

Source: Windows Central
Click the .msu download link to save the package on your device.

Source: Windows Central

Once you complete the steps, you can proceed to install the update on your computer.

Installing updates manually

To install the latest update that you downloaded manually, use these steps:

Open Start.
Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
Type the following command to install the update and press Enter:

This example installs the update package located in the Downloads folder:

Source: Windows Central

Quick tip: If the name is too long to type, then type Windows10.0-kb and press the Tab key to complete the name automatically and continue typing the command.

After you complete the steps, the update package will install, but you’ll need to restart the device manually to finish applying the changes. If the update applies successfully, there’s a good chance that Windows Update will start working again.

Troubleshoot Windows Update Issues in Windows 10

There are several different ways to troubleshoot Windows Update issues in Windows 10.

Step 1: Built-in Windows 10 Update Troubleshooter

This troubleshooting step works for the majority of Windows Update issues.

Open the “Control Panel,” then search for “Troubleshooting” or simply search for the latter via Cortana.

Click on “Fix Problems with Windows Update” under the System and Security section at the bottom of the results.

Click on “Advanced” in the lower left-hand corner and click “Run as administrator.” This will reopen the troubleshooter as an administrator, which is best for troubleshooting and applying fixes.

Now, click “Next” to start troubleshooting Windows update problems.

This may take a few moments.

If it finds any issues, it’ll offer solutions and fixes. Follow any prompts to run through the troubleshooter at this stage as it’ll vary from PC to PC.

If you find no issues, you can click “Explore additional options” to get more help online or from Microsoft directly.

Step 2: Restart Windows Update Service

This is a general Windows 10 update troubleshooting step.

In order to do some higher-level troubleshooting, open an administrator-elevated Command Prompt.

Run the following commands:

You can cut and paste them all at once, they’ll run successively.

When the final command runs, you’ll close the pop-up, then click “Enter” in the Command Prompt to turn the Windows Update service back on.

Restart your PC, then go use Windows Update to see if that fixed it.

Step 3: Manually Clearing Windows 10 Update Cache

If Windows Update isn’t working after the above two troubleshooting steps, this is your next step to try.

In some cases, you may need to clear out the Windows Update cache to get Windows Update to download new updates or finish an update it gets stuck on.

Navigate to the following folder:

Click the “View” tab and check the box next to “Hidden items” to show everything in the folder.

Delete everything.

A few files won’t be able to be deleted, just skip them.

Now, restart your PC and try Windows Update again.

Step 4: Cycle Your Network

In a last ditch effort to troubleshoot, you should flush your DNS settings along with resetting the WinSock protocol for your Windows 10 PC.

Open an administrator-elevated Command Prompt and copy and paste the following commands at once:

Once run, you’ll need to restart your PC for the reset to take place. Turn off your PC instead and cycle your home network like you normally would, then turn on your computer and try Windows Update one more time.

Conclusion

If Windows Update in Windows 10 is still giving you trouble, we recommend reaching out to Microsoft and troubleshooting with them directly. In some cases, they have tools consumers won’t have access to in order to narrow down and correct the issue. If Windows Update has you frustrated, try the above steps, then contact Microsoft if Windows Update is still getting you down.