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3 biggest problems of Windows 8.1 and how to fix them

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All Operating Systems have the flaws and Windows 8.1 is not without its problems. We have looked at three of the most common problems and how to fix them.

The Blue Screen of Death

The most common BSOD error message is “DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL.”. This error occurs because of corrupt or incompatible drivers. The solution to this problem is updating all drivers of your system. To update all drivers you can either use a Driver Update Tool or you can follow the steps set out below:

Updating Drivers Automatically

Automatic driver update tools offer many benefits, the most important ones being:

  • You can update device drivers automatically
  • The software scans and updates all outdated or missing drivers at one go
  • The tool picks the right drivers for your device and operating system, so you won’t have to worry about installing an incorrect driver by mistake
  • Automatic driver updates are 100% safe

Driver Updater is one of the best driver update tools out there. Outbyte Driver Updater will give you access to a database of over 1 million drivers. It will regularly scan your PC, suggesting new driver versions to install. Driver Updater contains drivers for a variety of Windows devices. With just one click, you can update drivers in your system.

Step 1
Click here to Install and launch the app

Step 2
Scan all devices

Step 3
Install or update drivers automatically

 

Start Download

 

  1. Move your mouse pointer to the lower right corner of the screen and move the pointer upwards
  2. Click Settings
  3. Click Change PC Settings
  4. Click Update & Recovery
  5. Click Windows update
  6. Click Choose how updates get installed
  7. Under Important updates, select Install updates automatically (recommended)

PC runs too slow in Windows 8.1

Many users complain of their Windows 8.1 PC running very slowly. This can be due to many reasons, including malware and the running of unnecessary services. A malware disguising as a Windows process (svchost.exe) is known to hog system performance. For this reason, you need to scan your system using good anti-virus software.

Another reason for your PC’s slow performance could be the Windows UPnP service. The Windows UPnP service scans your home network for compatible devices. However, in some cases, the service run inefficiently utilizing valuable system resources continuously causing the PC to slow down. To resolve this issue, follow the steps set out below:

  1. Right-click on the Network icon located on the right side of the taskbar
  2. Click Open Network and Sharing center
  3. go to the Advanced settings
  4. Turn Network Discovery Off

Blurred Text in Windows 8.1

Some Windows 8.1 users complain of the blurry screen that causes difficulty in reading. This problem is caused by older software designed to work with screens with lower resolutions. While the windows operating system tries to upscale the resolution, it does not always give perfect results. To resolve this display issue, follow the steps set out below:

  1. Right-click on the program’s executable file
  2. Go to the Compatibility tab
  3. Tick the box for “Disable display scaling on high DPI settings”
  4. Restart the program

If you are experiencing similar problem with general text and icons, make adjustments to the Windows UI by following steps set out below:

  1. Move your mouse pointer to the lower right corner of the screen and move the pointer upwards
  2. Click Search
  3. Type “Make text larger” in the search box
  4. Click “Make text and other items larger or smaller”
  5. Drag the slider until the preview image is of the size you want it to be.

If your issue is not covered here, feel free to post your question in the comments below or search our site for your specific problem.

Resolve Printer issues in Windows 7

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Problems with printing are quite common as there are various different types of issues that can arise. Below are some common printer issues faced by Windows 7 users and the solutions to these issues.

“Error Printing”

If the printer is unable to print, you need to check the printer spooler service and see if it is enabled.  Follow the steps set out below to enable the printer spooler service

  1. Click Start > Control Panel > Administrative tools > Services
  2. Go to Print Spooler and double-click on it
  3. In the General tab, check the value of Startup Type – it should be set to Automatic. If it is Disabled, click on the drop-down list and select Automatic
  4. If this does not solve the printer issue, remove the printer from Devices in Control Panel by following the steps given below
  5. Uninstall the Printer through Add/Remove program options
  6. You also need to remove all printer drivers by following the steps given below
  7. Click Start menu
  8. Type print management in the search box
  9. On the left of the Print Management window, select the All Printers folder
  10. If the printer is still listed, right-click on the printer and select Delete
  11. On the left of the Print Management window, select the All Drivers folder
  12. Right-click the unwanted printer and select Remove Driver Package

This will ensure Windows will not have any references when you re-install the printer. Download the latest printer software for Windows 7 from the manufacturer’s website or use a Driver Update Tool and install the printer.

HP Laserjet error – Error – Printing in queue

One of the more common errors occurs where print jobs are lined up in the queue for printing but nothing appears to happen. The first thing to do is to run the HP diagnostics utility and try printing a test page.  Next clear the print spool by following the steps given below:

  1. Click Start > Control Panel > Administrative tools > Services
  2. Go to Print Spooler and double-click on it
  3. In the General tab, look at the value of Startup Type
  4. Click on the drop-down list and select Disabled
  5. Now keep that window open and go to the Print Spool folder that is located at C:\WINDOWS\system32\spool\PRINTERS
  6. Delete every file in the folder
  7. Close the folder and go back to the Services window
  8. In the Startup Type field select Automatic from the drop-down list

If that does not solve the problem, check the printer ports by following the steps given below

  1. Click Start Menu > Control Panel > Hardware & Sound > Devices and Printers
  2. Select the right printer and right-click on it
  3. Select Printer Properties
  4. Choose the correct port. For example, if the printer is connected through USB, select USB001 or anything similar, tick the box beside the right port

Often the printer-related error occur because of out-of-date or corrupt printer drivers. An easy way to keep your drivers up-to-date is by installing a reliable driver update tool which automatically downloads the latest drivers for your hardware devices.

Updating Drivers Automatically

Automatic driver update tools offer many benefits, the most important ones being:

  • You can update device drivers automatically
  • The software scans and updates all outdated or missing drivers at one go
  • The tool picks the right drivers for your device and operating system, so you won’t have to worry about installing an incorrect driver by mistake
  • Automatic driver updates are 100% safe

Driver Updater is one of the best driver update tools out there. Outbyte Driver Updater will give you access to a database of over 1 million drivers. It will regularly scan your PC, suggesting new driver versions to install. Driver Updater contains drivers for a variety of Windows devices. With just one click, you can update drivers in your system.

Step 1
Click here to Install and launch the app

Step 2
Scan all devices

Step 3
Install or update drivers automatically

 

Start Download

 

How to fix Windows 10 sleep mode issues?

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One of the problems users can experience with Windows 10 is sleep mode not functioning as expected. Here are few sleep mode issues in Windows 10 and quick solutions to resolve these issues.

User is signed-out when computer enters sleep mode

This problem might be caused by the settings in Power management. Here are some steps to see if these settings need to be changed.

  1. Right-click on Start menu
  2. Select Control Panel
  3. Click on Power Options
  4. On the left menu pane, click on “Require a Password on Wakeup”
  5. Click on “Change Settings that are Currently Unavailable”
  6. Under the heading Password protection on Wakeup, click on “Do not require a Password”
  7. Click on Save changes
  8. Check if the issue persists

If the issue does persist, try the Power Troubleshooter

  1. On the Search bar type the text “Troubleshooting”
  2. Click on View all
  3. Click Power
  4. A new windows pops up. Follow on-screen instructions to resolve the issue
Troubleshooting Guide – Windows 10 Does Not Go to Sleep

Windows cannot connect to Wi-Fi after exiting Sleep mode

This problem might be caused by some new hardware or software you have added to your system. If that is not the case, follow the steps given below

  1. Press Windows + X on the keyboard
  2. Select Control Panel
  3. Type the text “troubleshooting” in the Search bar of the Control Panel
  4. Click on View all  which you will see on the left side of the navigation pane
  5. Select Network Adapter from the list
  6. In the Network Adapter window, click on Advanced
  7. Click on Run as administrator
  8. Enter the username and password if prompted
  9. Click on Next and follow the on-screen instructions to resolve the issue

If the issue still persists, you need to download and install the latest Wi-Fi drivers from the manufacturer website or use a driver update tool to update the drivers for you.

Windows 10 does not return to previous state after exiting sleep mode

This problem might be caused due to a Fast Startup component in Windows 10. Follow the steps set out below to resolve the issue.

  1. Press Windows + X on the keyboard
  2. Select Control Panel
  3. Click on Power Options
  4. Select Choose what the power buttons do from the left side menu
  5. Select Change settings that are currently unavailable
  6. Scroll down to ShutDown settings section
  7. Remove the check sign from Turn on Fast Startup option
  8. Click on Save Changes
  9. Shut down the computer and wait for few minutes
  10. Start the PC by pressing the Power button
  11. Check if the issue persists