Month: July 2020

Fixing VPN problems in Windows 10

Situation: When attempting to use VPN on Windows 10, you may receive this message: A connection to the remote computer could not be established.  You might need to change the network settings for this connection.

Troubleshooting: Option 1:

  1. Type device in the search, and click on Device Manager.
  2. Under Network Adapters, uninstall all adapters starting with “WAN Miniport” – Right click, Uninstall.
  3. Once you’ve uninstalled all, go to the menu and select “Scan for Hardware Changes” and those adapters will reinstall automatically without restarting. 

Fixing Windows 10 mapping problem: “The specified network name is no longer available”

Situation: After Windows update, you may lose mapped network drives with this message: “The specified network name is no longer available” message.

  1. Disconnect and re-connect the network drive.
  2. If re-mapping doesn’t fix the problem, make sure the SMC client is enabled by going to Control Panel>Uninstall Programs>Turn Windows feature on or off.

Please view this step by step video:

PC repeatedly prompts to activate Office 365

Situation: The small company gets some new computers and they install Office 365. However, they repeatedly prompts to activate Office 365.

Troubleshooting: This can happen if you don’t uninstall the pre-installed OEM version of Office on your new PC before installing Office 365. You may have two options:

Option 1: Go to Control Panel>Programs and Features to uninstall OEM version of Office.

Option 2: Modify the Registry by following these steps.

  1. Close the activation window and all Office apps.
  2. In the search, type regedit and click on Registry Editor.
  3. On the left side of the Registry Editor, under Computer, navigate to the following key in the registry:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Common\OEM
  4. Right click the OEM value and click File>Export.
  5. Save the key.
  6. After the key is backed up, select Edit>Delete.
  7. Repeat steps 3-6 for the following key:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Common\OEM
  8. Close the Registry Editor and start Office again.

Please view the step by step video:

Fixing Windows update error: 0x80080005

Situation: When installing windows update, you may receive this message: “There were some problems installing updates, but we’ll try again later. If you keep seeing this and want to search the web or contact support for information, this may help: (0x80080005)”

Troubleshooting: Option 1: Rename the SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2 folder by following these steps:

  1. Disconnect the network.
  2. Run Command Prompt (as Admin).
  3. Stop the BITS, Cryptographic, MSI Installer and the Windows Update Services. To do this, type the following commands at a command prompt. Press the “ENTER” key after you type each command.

net stop wuauserv

net stop cryptSvc

net stop bits

net stop msiserver

4. Rename the SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2 folder. You can do this by typing the following commands in the Command Prompt. Press the “ENTER” key after you type each command.

ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old

ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 Catroot2.old

4. Now, let’s restart the services:

net start wuauserv

net start cryptSvc

net start bits

net start msiserver

5. Exit in the Command Prompt.and then restart the computer.

Option 2: Download and install Windows update assistant from Microsoft.

Please view the step by step video:

Can iPhone use Google FI WiFi calling?

quoted from Google:

You’ll have calls, texts, and data on T-Mobile’s network as well as international roaming. You won’t be able to make calls or text over Wi-Fi, use visual voicemail, or use data hotspots outside the US.Texting will work with some additional setup, but iMessage works right away.

  • iPhone XS
  • iPhone XS Max
  • iPhone XR
  • iPhone X
  • iPhone 8 & 8 Plus
  • iPhone 7 & 7 Plus
  • iPhone 6S & 6S Plus
  • iPhone 6 & 6 Plus
  • iPhone 5S
  • iPhone SE

All phones must run iOS 12 or higher.

However, iPhones and other compatible phones can actually make wifi calls through non FI apps like Hangouts etc

Google FI WiFi calling

compatible phone for Google FI WiFi calling and you’re connected to Wi-Fi. You make a wifi call like you normally would using the phone dialer. If you start a call on Wi-Fi on a weaken wifi, Google Fi automatically continues your call over a cellular network if one is available so you can keep talking.

To enable or check the status of WiFi Calling, Please view these video:

You can use WiFi calling while outside of US. The rates for making Wi-Fi calls depend on the country you are calling. These rates are the same as when you’re calling from the U.S. You’re not charged for calls to U.S. numbers over Wi-Fi—they’re included in your plan.

For iPhone, this is quoted from Google:

You’ll have calls, texts, and data on T-Mobile’s network as well as international roaming. You won’t be able to make calls or text over Wi-Fi, use visual voicemail, or use data hotspots outside the US.Texting will work with some additional setup, but iMessage works right away.

  • iPhone XS
  • iPhone XS Max
  • iPhone XR
  • iPhone X
  • iPhone 8 & 8 Plus
  • iPhone 7 & 7 Plus
  • iPhone 6S & 6S Plus
  • iPhone 6 & 6 Plus
  • iPhone 5S
  • iPhone SE

All phones must run iOS 12 or higher.

However, iPhones and other compatible phones can actually make wifi calls through non FI apps like Hangouts etc