Windows Security Center Stops Working - Windows 11

I have run into a problem repeatedly recently. On a client computer running Windows 11, if I go to open the Windows Security Center, it won't open and I will get the following message/error:

Some websites will recommend the following:

"Go to the Settings. Select App > Apps & features and type in ‘security’ in search menu box. An icon for Windows Security will pop open. From there, click on the options (three dots) and select Advanced options. Now scroll down to Reset section and click on Reset.

You’ll get a confirmation asking if you really want to reset the app, along with your whole app data. Click on Reset to go with it."

However, so far what I have found is that "Windows Security" is not in the application list at all! 

So how can I reset the app?

Well, what I have found was a simple command you can run from the Windows PowerShell (with administrative privileges) that ultimately solved the problem for me, as well as for some of my clients who have run into this same issue as well.

• Using Windows' search, just type in "PowerShell"

• Right-click on its icon, and select "Run as Administrator"

• Next, copy and paste (or type in) the following script:

Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.SecHealthUI -AllUsers | Reset-AppxPackage

• Hit Enter, and you should get a screen like this:

That should do the trick!
Your Windows Security Center should now be working again!

Pacific NW Computers
www.pnwcomputers.com
360.624.7379

Ransomware Infection? This could help!!

Ransomware infections are a very real and very serious problem that general computer users, and businesses alike, should be prepared for!

• First off, the best prevention to start with is to have good security software installed that can protect you from Ransomware infections (such as Malwarebytes Anti-malware, Kaspersky Antivirus, etc).
• Secondly, have a good data backup system in place that follows the 3-2-1 backup rule to keep your data safe! 
• The 3-2-1 backup rule simply states that you should have:
• 3 copies of your data (your main data and 2 backup copies)
• On two different media types (NAS drive and a thumb drive)
• With one copy off-site for disaster recovery (cloud backup, etc).

If you do get hit with a ransomware infection, the website below can help you identify which ransomware you were infected with and if there is a de-encryption tool available to help get your data/files back: https://id-ransomware.malwarehunterteam.com/

Pacific NW Computers

www.pnwcomputers.com

360.624.7379

Simple Automatic Backup

Quick Computer/Laptop Tip:

If your laptop has an SD card slot and you don't have a data backup system in place, you can use an SD card to set up an automatic backup of your Windows computer!
No clunky external hard drive is needed if you aren't storing a ton of stuff! 

• Snag a compatible 128, 256, or 512GB Class 10 U3 V30 or better SD card off of Amazon
• Pop that little chip into the card reader slot on your laptop.
• Open up the "Backup and Restore (Windows 7)" system utility from the Windows Control Panel. 
• Select the installed SD card as your backup destination and continue with, and complete, the backup configuration! 
• Then just leave the SD card plugged in, and the computer will automatically backup to the installed SD as scheduled!

That's it! 🙌
Easy peasy, lemon squeezy; your data is now automatically backed up! 

Pacific NW Computers

www.pnwcomputers.com

360.624.7379

Upgrade your Windows 10 PC to Windows 11 NOW!

No need to wait for the Windows Update to come along... You can download and install Windows 11 RIGHT NOW!

All you have to do is use Microsoft's Windows 11 Installation Assistant, and you can upgrade your computer today!

You need to make sure your system is compatible and meets the minimum system requirements for Windows 11. You can check your computer's compatibility by using Microsoft's PC Health Check application!

Windows 11 System Requirements:

• Processor 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster with 2 or more cores on a compatible 64-bit processor or System on a Chip (SoC).
• AMD Compatible CPUs
• Intel Compatible CPUs
• RAM Minimum of 4 gigabyte (GB).
• Storage: 64 GB or larger storage device.
• System firmware UEFI, Secure Boot capable. Check here for information on how your PC might be able to meet this requirement.
• TPM Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0. Check here for instructions on how your PC might be enabled to meet this requirement.
• Graphics card Compatible with DirectX 12 or later with WDDM 2.0 driver.
• Display High definition (720p) display that is greater than 9” diagonally, 8 bits per color channel.

Winning Against Windows 10: Fight Microsoft and Win!

Ever since the release of Microsoft’s “Free Upgrade” to WIndows 10 (which came to and end August 1st 2016), I have fixed dozens of computers for people which had system damage or issues stemming from an unwarranted upgrade of their computer to Windows 10. The upgrade to Windows 10 was free for Windows Vista and Windows 7 users for almost a year, but was supposed to be an optional decision. The end user was supposed to decide on whether or not, or when, to install Microsoft’s “latest and greatest operating system”.

As well all know from either the news, friends, family, or even personal experience, Windows was tricky with this OS upgrade and many people were automatically upgraded without direct and clear consent or without any knowledge until it was too late. If they did agree, some users had major issues with system stability, hardware, and software following the upgrade to Windows 10. Not the smooth process Microsoft said it to was to be... This means repair costs for folks as well as the inconvenience of downtown, as well as lost work and income for business.

Well recently I had a customer whose business computer went down due to a non-user initiated Windows 10 upgrade. The upgrade actually didn't complete correctly, killing the Windows OS upgrade installation (mid-install) requiring the system to be brought into the shop, have Windows 7 re-installed and onsite service to get everything set back up again. Well my client did some research and found a ebook on Amazon called "Winning against Windows 10".

"Winning against Windows 10" is the story of a woman named Teri Goldstein and specifically lays out how Teri fought back against Microsoft (due to a Windows 10 upgrade that messed up her system) and she actually was able to win; forcing Microsoft to reimburse her $10,000!!

Using the book (which gives you the specifics on her court case), my client was able to fight back against Microsoft themselves and was able to get Microsoft to reimburse them for all of the repair costs; onsites and all!

So if you have had any issues with Windows 10 "damaging" your computer and you had to get it fixed and/or can prove lost income from downtime, etc you could get Microsoft to pay you back!!

https://www.amazon.com/Winning-Against-Windows…/…/B01IU0A2N6

Any questions or comments?? Feel free to get in touch!
www.pnwcomputers.com

How to Clean up a Slow Performing Computer ~PLUS~ a few Mac tips too ;)

Many think that when a computer starts performing poorly it's time to buy a new computer. Does your desktop or laptop often hang on the hourglass or swirling circle for several minutes at a time? Does "Not Responding" sound familiar to you? Is it slow to load files or applications, and does it take a long time to boot? Even if you're extremely careful about how you use your computer and never download questionable material, over time it is inevitable that your system will accumulate unwanted registry entries, errors, clutter, and debris. Here's how to clean your computer up and get it running faster again!

Things YOU can DO:

1. Update and Scan with your Security Software:
   (Link to more in-depth PC/computer clean-up guide)
   Antivirus software helps protect you from viruses and other malicious files that can spread through emails or downloads. It performs regular system checks and detects when foreign files are trying to infiltrate your computer.
   We recommend using Malwarebytes Anti-Malware for comprehensive protection.
   Click the link below for a list of the security software that we recommend and use:
   
   Pacific NorthWest Computers' Recommended Software to Have and Use!
   
   
2. Do not use Registry Optimizers or so-called Clean Reg Tools.
   Most of these cause more harm than good in the long run.

3. Clear up space on the hard drive.
   Deleting unnecessary files is an easy way to free up memory and improve performance. Use BleachBit for a thorough cleanup of your PC, and Onyx for your Mac.

   • For Windows 10 and 11: Open Settings, go to System, then Storage, and use the built-in Disk Cleanup tool.
   • For macOS: Go to the Apple menu, select About This Mac, then Storage, and use the Manage button to find options for optimizing storage.

4. Uninstall useless programs or programs you rarely use. These can include games, media files, or redundant software.

   • For Windows: Go to Settings, then Apps, and uninstall programs that are no longer needed.
   • For macOS: Drag unwanted applications from the Applications folder to the Trash, then empty the Trash.
   • When uninstalling programs be sure you don't need them! Some programs are needed for the operation of the computer. So if you are unsure about a program then leave it alone or do a quick search on Google to see if you can find out whether it's good or bad.
     
     
5. Clean Up Junk Files.
   BleachBit is a powerful, open-source tool that helps you clean up unnecessary files and free up disk space on your computer. Follow these steps to use BleachBit to clean your system:
• Download and Install "BleachBit," and then find and click on the application to open it.
• Choose What to Clean:
1. In BleachBit, you will see a list of cleaners on the left-hand side. 
2. These cleaners correspond to different types of junk files and applications.
3. Check the boxes next to the items you want to clean. 
4. Common selections include:
• System: Temporary files, logs, memory dumps
• Web browsers: Cache, history, etc
• Careful deleting cookies as they store your saved login data.
• Applications: Temporary files from installed applications
• Deep Scan:
• For a more thorough clean, you can enable "Deep Scan" under the System section. 
• This option will scan for and delete more obscure temporary files and caches.
• Be cautious with deep scanning, as it may delete files you were not expecting.
5. Preview (Optional but Recommended):
• Click the "Preview" button to see a list of files that will be deleted and the amount of space that will be freed.
• Review the list to ensure no important files will be deleted.
6. Clean:
• If you're satisfied with the preview, click the "Clean" button to delete the selected files.
• BleachBit will begin cleaning the files, which may take a few minutes depending on the amount of data.
  
  
6. Defragment your hard drive if you are using a traditional HDD. 
   *SSDs do not need defragmentation.
1. For Windows: Open the Start Menu, search for Defragment and Optimize Drives, and run the tool.
2. MacOS: Mac operating systems manage disk fragmentation automatically, so manual defragmentation is not needed.
   
   
7. Check your RAM.
   If your computer is running slowly, you might need more RAM.
1. For Windows: Right-click on This PC, select Properties and check the installed RAM. Consider upgrading if you have less than 8GB for modern systems.
2. For macOS: Click the Apple menu, select About This Mac, and check the Memory tab. Aim for at least 8GB for general use.
   
   
8. Optimize startup programs.
   Reducing the number of programs that run at startup can improve boot times.
1. For Windows: Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), go to the Startup tab and disable unnecessary programs.
2. For macOS: Go to System Preferences, then Users & Groups, and select your user. Click the Login Items tab and remove unnecessary items.

Other Tips:

• Only install software that you intend to use regularly.
• Be cautious with free downloads; they can come with spyware, malware, or viruses.
• Regularly clean up your computer using tools like BleachBit.
• Ensure safe internet browsing by using a firewall and a secure browser.
• Schedule regular scans with your antivirus and anti-malware software.
• Always back up your important data before running any cleanup tool.
• If you're unsure about specific options, stick to the default settings.

Warnings:

• When uninstalling programs, ensure they are not essential for your system's operation. If unsure, do a quick search to verify.
• Use anti-malware programs carefully and follow instructions thoroughly. Incorrect changes to the registry can worsen performance. If you're unsure, clean only detected items marked in red, or consult a knowledgeable friend or professional.

Further Reading/Related Articles:

How you can get infected & what you can do to try to prevent it:

https://pnwcomputers.blogspot.com/2024/07/how-am-i-getting-infected.html

How to do a full system clean-up with virus/malware scans:

https://pnwcomputers.blogspot.com/2024/07/how-to-do-tune-upclean-up-with-virus.html

Think someone is accessing your accounts and/or devices!? Here's what to do:
https://pnwcomputers.blogspot.com/2024/07/i-think-someone-is-accessing-my.html

Fake Tech Support Scam: What You Should Do:
https://pnwcomputers.blogspot.com/2024/07/fake-tech-support-scam-what-you-should.html

Pacific NW Computers

www.linktr.ee/pnwcomputers

www.pacificnwcomputers.com