Category: Computers

  • MacBook Air Blank Screen After Login? Simple & Easy Fixes

    MacBook Air Blank Screen After Login? Simple & Easy Fixes

    Is your MacBook Air having an issue where you see a blank screen right after login? Does your screen stay white and does not display the desktop correctly? Are you thinking that your computer is dead and you need to buy a new one? Don’t worry! We have created this handy little guide in which we’ll discuss how to fix this issue quickly.

    MacBook Air is a reliable machine. Very rarely, it can encounter a problem that prevents it from loading the desktop. You can end up paying a lot of money for a problem that can possibly be fixed with simple and easy to follow DIY methods.

    The blank screen can be simple to troubleshoot if the problem is with the Mac software. However, if the problem relates to hardware, you might want to consider taking your MacBook Air to an Apple-authorized repair shop.

    What Is The MacBook Air Blank Screen After Login Error?

    Some users using MacBook Air experience a blank screen right after they type in their username and password. They can move the cursor around and get to the force quit power menu by holding down the power button. However, they are stuck afterwards.

    What Are The Causes Of MacBook Air Blank Screen After Login?

    macbook air blank screen after login causes

    With a blank screen, your MacBook Air is pretty much unusable. Here are a few causes for this issue.

    • Updating Mac OS to a new version
    • Incompatible or corrupted drivers
    • Mac Apps failing to upgrade
    • Disk space reached maximum capacity for the OS to operate efficiently
    • Corrupted MacBook Air operating system
    • PRAM storing invalid system settings

    How To Fix The MacBook Air Blank Screen After Login Error?

    macbook air blank screen after login fix

    Let us take a quick look at a few of the fixes to get your MacBook Air working again.

    Check Brightness

    The first thing you can do is to check the brightness on your MacBook Air that can get disturbed by accident. You can increase or decrease the brightness and see if that helps in bringing up the desktop after you log in.

    Free Up Disk Space

    You can try a simple method and free up disk space so that your Mac operating system works flawlessly. This can help prevent and fix the blank screen right after your login. You can:

    • Delete files you no longer need and move them to trash
    • Empty your trash
    • Move your music, video, and other media files to an external storage device or on iCloud
    • Compress your files

    After you have cleared enough disk space, try rebooting your MacBook Air and see if you can get rid of the blank screen error.

    Reboot In Safe Mode

    The first thing you can do is to start your MacBook Air in safe mode to load Mac OS with minimum drivers. This process also clears some stored caches that can cause the error as well. To do this:

    • Press down the Power button and press and hold the Shift key
    • Let go of the Shift key on your MacBook Air when the Apple logo is visible
    • Once the safe mode is booted in, you’ll see a red “Safe boot” on the top right area of your screen
    • Verify the desktop loads in safe mode
    • Restart your MacBook Air in normal mode
    • Confirm that the desktop loads after login normal mode

    Perform A PRAM/NVRAM Reset

    PRAM holds the memory of certain settings even when the MacBook Air is powered off. If the safe boot fails to fix the blank screen issue, you can reset PRAM/NVRAM to clear settings for volume, sound, startup disk selection, time zone, and more. You can reset your Mac PRAM by doing the following:

    • Hold down Command+option+P+R to turn on your MacBook Air
    • Keep holding the keys until your MacBook Air restarts again
    • Let go of the keys when you hear the startup Apple chime
    • Verify that you can see the desktop after login

    Reset SMC For A Quick Blank Screen Fix After Login

    SMC stands for system management controller. You can try to reset it and check whether this quick fix can solve the blank screen error.

    • Shut down your MacBook Air
    • Unplug and reconnect the power cable
    • Press down Shift+Control+Option and the power button at the same time
    • Release all keys at the same time
    • You can see the light on the power cable flickering that confirms that you have reset your SMC
    • Reboot your MacBook Air to verify the fix

    Run Disk Utility

    You can pinpoint the issue that is causing the blank screen by running the Disk Utility. This feature can solve many MacBook Air problems. To do this:

    • Hold down Command+R+P keys to restart your MacBook Air
    • Release the keys when the Apple logo shows up
    • On the OS X utilities, select Disk Utility
    • Choose the default disk on which Mac OS is installed
    • Click First Aid to run the Disk Utility process
    • Restart MacBook Air and verify that you can see the desktop after login

    Reinstall macOS On Your MacBook Air

    If Disk Utility fails to solve your blank screen problem, you can try installing a fresh new Mac OS over the internet. You can do the following steps for this purpose.

    • Turn On your MacBook Air while holding down Command+R+P keys
    • When the Apple logo shows up, release all keys 
    • Under macOS utilities, select Reinstall macOS
    • Click continue to start the installation process
    • Confirm that the fresh OS install fixes the blank screen problem after login

    Conclusion

    You should be able to fix the blank screen after the login issue on your MacBook Air with the solutions mentioned above so that it can function like a new one. Good luck!

     

  • MacBook Pro Grey Screen No Logo – Quick & Easy Fix

    MacBook Pro Grey Screen No Logo – Quick & Easy Fix

     

    Are you having a problem with your MacBook Pro showing a grey screen and no Apple logo? Have you tried rebooting the system and even tried unplugging everything but the problem still won’t go away? Well, you’re in luck as we have some easy steps to help you fix it.

    Sometimes, your computer may stall and won’t progress any further after booting up. Depending on your MacBook model, the screen may turn green, black, or grey with or without the Apple logo. 

    MacBook problems are more common than you would think. So before you start spending a lot of money by taking your Macbook Pro to a technician at one of those expensive repair shops, let’s just run through a few steps to see if we can get you through this issue on your own. 

    What are the Reasons behind the Macbook Pro Grey Screen No Logo?

    MacBook Pro Grey Screen No Logo

    Following are the few reasons that can result in the Apple grey screen display.

    Outdated Firmware

    Occasionally, the little red icon in Macbook Pro tells you to update the outdated firmware. These updates are important not only for the safety and security of your device and data but also to make sure that your MacBook runs smoothly.

    Updates that Apple pushes out to their MacBooks will address these kinds of grey screen errors. So always make sure that you have the latest updates and firmware installed on your MacBook Pro.

    Low Memory and Disk Space

    Just like the updates, low memory and disk space can prevent your Macbook Pro from booting up properly. It’s quite possible that your MacBook may not be running on the recommended disk space and memory especially if you have just installed a new version of Mac OS. 

    Therefore, you can fall victim to errors like the grey screen if your system is performing at its maximum capacity while running on less than recommended specs.

    Malfunctioning or Corrupted Softwares and Apps

    MacBook OS has an auto startup list. During the boot process, apps follow the directories in the list to start themselves up. If these apps start to malfunction, it could result in a grey screen at startup.

    Faulty Startup Drive

    Before you can access the main interface of your MacBook OS, you have to switch your MacBook on and get past the boot screen. The drive on which the Mac OS is installed can malfunction due to software or hardware damage.

    In this case, the drive won’t get recognized and won’t be bootable which can cause the grey screen error to show up at startup.

    Bad Peripherals

    If a peripheral device attached to your MacBook Pro malfunctions, it can prevent its ability to continue the startup sequence. External peripheral devices can include:

    • Ethernet cables
    • External mouse
    • External keyboards
    • Audio in and out cables
    • Headphones

    How can you Fix the MacBook Pro Grey Screen with No Logo?

    MacBook Pro Grey Screen No Logo

    Let’s take a look at a few of the DIY fixes for the grey screen on a MacBook Pro.

    Remove External Peripherals

    • Turn off your MacBook Pro and remove all the external peripherals devices
    • Power on your Macbook Pro
    • If you don’t see the grey screen and turn off your MacBook again
    • Connect each peripheral one at a time to single out the device that may be responsible for the issue 
    • Replace the malfunctioning peripheral device

    Utilizing Disk Utility to Fix MacBook Pro Grey Screen No Logo

    Disk utility can handle almost everything related to Macbook Pro errors. Here are a few steps you can follow.

    • Shut down your MacBook Pro
    • Start the MacBook with Command + R keys
    • OS X utilities will appear
    • Navigate to Disk Utility and click on it
    • On the left, select the default drive on which MacBook OS is installed
    • Click on Verify Disk and let the process complete
    • Reboot your MacBook pro and verify the fix

    Safe Boot

    Safe boot lets you boot up your MacBook Pro and load a minimum number of kernel extensions and get rid of small errors. 

    • Press down on your Macbook Pro power button with the shift key
    • Don’t let go of the buttons until your MacBook restarts
    • Now, MacBook will start in safe mode
    • Press Shift+Command+V to get into verbose mode until the desktop is visible
    • Start your MacBook Pro from the Apple menu at the top left of your screen to confirm the fix

    Reset PRAM and NVRAM 

    Some persistent settings may be stored in the PRAM & NVRAM that can be due to the corrupted third-party apps. This can cause the grey screen but there is an easy fix for this.

    • Hold Command+option+P+R keys for 20 seconds before the grey screen appears
    • This will reset the PRAM and NVRAM on your MacBook Pro
    • Reattach all peripheral devices and restart the Mac to confirm the fix

    MacBook Pro Hard Reset To Get Rid of Grey Screen and No Logo

    If you have followed all the above-mentioned and are still stuck with the grey screen issue, you may need to do a hard reboot. The hard reboot will reset your computer back to factory settings. However, you have to install data recovery as hard boot will clear everything in your system.

    • Install “Recoverit” data recovery software
    • Select the default drive on which the Mac OS is installed on the recovery software
    • Click on start so that the software can scan your drive
    • Select the files that are lost and reformatted
    • Select recover to recover all files
    • Point the recovered files to an external hard drive
    • Format your computer and install clean OS
    • Restore your recovered data from an external Hard drive to the MacBook Pro default drive

    Conclusion

    We hope that this troubleshooting guide helps you in fixing your MacBook grey screen error. If none of the troubleshooting steps works, you can get in touch with an Apple Store authorized service centre. They can fix your hardware related issues that are causing the grey screen with no Apple logo.

     

  • How to Fix the Skype Error Code 12175 (Quick & Easy Guide)

    How to Fix the Skype Error Code 12175 (Quick & Easy Guide)

    Are you having trouble joining a meeting on Skype? Are you frustrated with the error code 12175 popping up repeatedly on your Skype screen? Well, we have quick and easy solutions that you can use to get rid of this issue.

    Skype offers a convenient way for you to stay connected with your contacts through video and voice calling features. Additionally, Skype for Business feature lets you choose multiple participants from your online Skype contact list for your meetings. Skype for Business automatically invites your contacts and adds them to your conference calls.

    As with all voice over IP (VOIP) technologies, such as Skype and Zoom, you can experience communication issues. Skype for business error code 12175 is one of those issues. It can happen due to various technical reasons and has the potential to disrupt some very important meetings.

    What is the Skype Error Code 12175?

    skype error code 12175

    Skype 12175 error can happen when you want to join in a meeting but are unable to do so. This error can also manifest when there is something wrong with your Skype’s security certificate.

    Sometimes, Skype for Business reconnects your meeting after this error. However, once the error has shown up for the first time, it can reappear every now and then.

    What are the Reasons behind the Skype Error Code 12175?

    skype error code 12175 reasons

    Following are a few of the reported reasons that can cause the error to show up on your Skype screen.

    • Your internet connection is unstable or you have poor WIFI signal strength
    • You have installed the wrong version of Skype for Business
    • Your computer does not support the minimum system requirements (as shown above) for Skype for Business
    • You have either disabled your Windows updates or not installed them
    • Your Audio and video drivers for Windows are out of date
    • You may have incorrect or corrupted security certificates for Windows

    How To Fix Skype error code 12175?

    skype error code 12175 solution

    Troubleshooting and resolving the error depends on the reason that is preventing you from join the meeting in Skype for Business. Please see our list of fixes below for each reason.

    Check Your System Configuration

    You can make sure that your system configuration is up to date for Skype for Business.

    • Talk to your internet provider about the connectivity issues
    • Install the latest Windows updates
    • Install the latest audio, video, and network drivers for Windows
    • Update the Skype for Business software
    • Allocate the necessary disk space for the Skype app for Business

    Clear Your Cached Certificates

    You can perform the following steps to verify and remove any cached certificates from previous logins for a quick 12175 error fix.

    • Press the Windows key on the keyboard
    • Type in certmgr.msc on the Run command
    • Under “Certificates-Current user”, open the “Personal” folder
    • Open the “Certificates” folder under the “Personal” folder
    • Sort the entries in the “Certificates” folder by “Issue by”
    • Search for the certificate issued by the Communications Server
    • Verify that the certificate is valid, present, or not expired
    • Remove the certificate and login to the Skype for Business
    • Confirm the fix by joining a conference call session

    Clear Your Cached Credentials

    If clearing a cached certificate does not fix the error, you can clear your cached credentials by the following method.

    • Press the Window key and navigate to the Windows Control Panel
    • Click the “Credential Manager”
    • Under “Generic Credentials”, search for the set of credentials that you used to connect to Skype for Business
    • Click on the set of credentials and choose “Remove from vault”
    • Sign in to Skype for Business and enter your new set of credentials
    • Confirm the fix by opening meeting from Skype for business

    IP Conflicts and Chain Certificates

    You might have experienced the error code when a computer from another domain is connected to your domain with on-premises Skype for Business with multiple IPs.

    Now, there are two security certificates on your communication server i.e one is an internal certificate and the other is a public certificate. You can install the cert.chain from another domain to quickly fix the error.

    Do a Complete Reinstall

    Error code 12175 is one of the issues you get if Skype for business is installed incorrectly on your computer. Your computer may have invalid entries that can cause the 12175 error.

    Additionally, improper computer shutdowns due to power failure or any other reason can also corrupt the installation.

    In this case, you can do a complete uninstall, followed by a clean Skype for Business install, and then try to join the meeting.

    Conclusion

    We hope that this guide helps you attend your online meeting on Skype for Business. However, if the above-mentioned fixes do not work for you, we recommend that you contact the Skype support staff for further guidance.

  • How to Delete McAfee from Mac

    Tired of the McAfee antivirus repeatedly pestering you with notifications and pop-ups on the side? Here’s how you can delete McAfee from the Mac OS system the easy way.

    For as long as computers have existed, so has been corrupted software that lands viruses and malware on to them. While Windows and Linux have been plagued by all sorts of adware, malware, trojans, and viruses, Apple has kept macOS X fairly safer in comparison. The company was able to do so by creating a closed ecosystem and controlling every aspect of the operating system, which continues to do to this day.

    Related Posts: 

    However, this does exempt macOS X from viruses, which is why third-party antivirus software developers also extend their services to Mac users. Over the years, antivirus software providers have increasingly become intrusive, which not only download other add-on services automatically but also ruin the user experience with unsolicited pop-ups and notifications. At times, McAfee has also been accused of such deeds, which is why you would want to know how to delete McAfee from Mac machines.

    Method 1 – Remove McAfee from macOS using the Finder

    The first and most straightforward way to uninstall McAfee antivirus from the macOS X system is just how you would uninstall any other app.

    How to Uninstall McAfee
    1. Close any other program that is running on your macOS computer.
    2. In the Dock bar, click on the Applications menu.
    3. Scroll down to find the McAfee Internet Security Uninstaller and click on it.
    4. Click on Continue and enter the administrator password to confirm your action.
    5. The uninstallation process will now begin, and you can press Finish after the process is completed.

    Method 2 – Delete McAfee from Mac with Terminal

    While using the Applications menu helps you remove most apps, McAfee tends to leave behind apps and files even after uninstalling the main module. A rather expert method to completely remove McAfee from your computer is using the Terminal window with the following steps:

    1. Launch the Spotlight tool and search to open a Terminal window.
    2. In the Terminal window, type in the following line of code:
      sudo /Library/McAfee/cma/scripts/uninstall.sh
    3. Hit the Enter button and then type in the administrator password into the window.
    4. Follow the on-screen instructions to delete McAfee from Mac computer once and for all.

    Finally, reboot the macOS computer, and you will have finally removed from the Mac computer for good.

    Method 3 – Manually Delete McAfee System Files

    One final method to get rid of McAfee software from macOS X computers for good is to select each and every app file and delete it.

    Take Correct Steps to Uninstall McAfee for Mac | WordCamp Mid-Atlantic
    1. Launch the Finder app and click on Go to and select Go to Folder from the drop-down menu.
    2. Search in the following directories for McAfee-related files and delete all of them:
      /Library/Preferences/
      /Library/Application Support/
      /Library/Caches/
    3. Now, open the Trash app and click on Secure Empty Trash so that you remove all of the files stores there.

    Final Words

    The way McAfee has designed the antivirus software, allows add-ons to operate separately from the central service. While the first method may work well on removing the add-ons, you may need to use the more advanced solutions to remove every trace of the antivirus software from the macOS X system.

  • How to Delete McAfee from Mac

    How to Delete McAfee from Mac

    Tired of the McAfee antivirus repeatedly pestering you with notifications and pop-ups on the side? Here’s how you can delete McAfee from the Mac OS system the easy way.

    For as long as computers have existed, so has been corrupted software that lands viruses and malware on to them. While Windows and Linux have been plagued by all sorts of adware, malware, trojans, and viruses, Apple has kept macOS X fairly safer in comparison. The company was able to do so by creating a closed ecosystem and controlling every aspect of the operating system, which continues to do to this day.

    Related Posts: 

    However, this does exempt macOS X from viruses, which is why third-party antivirus software developers also extend their services to Mac users. Over the years, antivirus software providers have increasingly become intrusive, which not only download other add-on services automatically but also ruin the user experience with unsolicited pop-ups and notifications. At times, McAfee has also been accused of such deeds, which is why you would want to know how to delete McAfee from Mac machines.

    Method 1 – Remove McAfee from macOS using the Finder

    The first and most straightforward way to uninstall McAfee antivirus from the macOS X system is just how you would uninstall any other app.

    How to Uninstall McAfee

    1. Close any other program that is running on your macOS computer.
    2. In the Dock bar, click on the Applications menu.
    3. Scroll down to find the McAfee Internet Security Uninstaller and click on it.
    4. Click on Continue and enter the administrator password to confirm your action.
    5. The uninstallation process will now begin, and you can press Finish after the process is completed.

    Method 2 – Delete McAfee from Mac with Terminal

    While using the Applications menu helps you remove most apps, McAfee tends to leave behind apps and files even after uninstalling the main module. A rather expert method to completely remove McAfee from your computer is using the Terminal window with the following steps:

    1. Launch the Spotlight tool and search to open a Terminal window.
    2. In the Terminal window, type in the following line of code:
      sudo /Library/McAfee/cma/scripts/uninstall.sh
    3. Hit the Enter button and then type in the administrator password into the window.
    4. Follow the on-screen instructions to delete McAfee from Mac computer once and for all.

    Finally, reboot the macOS computer, and you will have finally removed from the Mac computer for good.

    Method 3 – Manually Delete McAfee System Files

    One final method to get rid of McAfee software from macOS X computers for good is to select each and every app file and delete it.

    Take Correct Steps to Uninstall McAfee for Mac | WordCamp Mid-Atlantic

    1. Launch the Finder app and click on Go to and select Go to Folder from the drop-down menu.
    2. Search in the following directories for McAfee-related files and delete all of them:
      /Library/Preferences/
      /Library/Application Support/
      /Library/Caches/
    3. Now, open the Trash app and click on Secure Empty Trash so that you remove all of the files stores there.

    Final Words

    The way McAfee has designed the antivirus software, allows add-ons to operate separately from the central service. While the first method may work well on removing the add-ons, you may need to use the more advanced solutions to remove every trace of the antivirus software from the macOS X system.

  • How to Fix ThinkPad Lenovo Camera Freezes in Zoom

    How to Fix ThinkPad Lenovo Camera Freezes in Zoom

    Are you having a hard time trying to get video call working on your ThinkPad because Lenovo camera freezes in Zoom app? Here’s how you can get a quick fix to this annoying issue right away.

    When you consider communication and its important in the modern world, the place of video calling cannot be understated. For personal use when trying to connect to your loved ones, or getting a meeting done with associates in different parts of the world, video conferencing is the standard of communication.

    How to Fix the Issue of Lenovo Camera Freezes in Zoom

    Users have reported that an ongoing Zoom call session abruptly stops in between, or fails to launch entirely. Apart from freezing for the Zoom app, the ThinkPad camera does not seem to work for other camera apps either.

    Fix #1 – Turn off Privacy Mode

    In an attempt to make their laptops more privacy-friendly, Lenovo has a built-in Privacy Mode that prevents the camera from sending out live images. Although the feature does not restrict using most camera apps, it might interfere with the functioning of the Zoom app.

    Video Not Working on Lenovo Devices – Zoom Help Center

    1. Click on the Windows icon and search for Lenovo Settings or Lenovo Companion
    2. If none of these apps are installed already on your ThinkPad, download either of them from the Windows Store app.
    3. Inside the app, scroll down to find the Camera icon and click on it.
    4. On the Camera menu, find the Privacy Mode section and toggle off the switch.

    Fix #2 – Update the Camera Drivers

    If the camera does not seem to work with any other app either, it could point towards the issue of outdated drivers. Moreover, some users have even reported that the Lenovo Camera Freezes in Zoom app after updating it. In this case, you will benefit from rolling back the drivers to an earlier version which worked before a recent update.

    Dell Win 7 to Win 10 webcam not connected (Code 45) - Dell Community

    1. Click on the Windows icon and search for Device Manager
    2. From the list of drivers, find the Cameras tab and click on Integrated Webcam option.
    3. Go into the Driver tab, click on Update Driver and Search automatically for drivers from the menu.
    4. Additionally, you can even choose to Roll Back Driver if the Zoom camera issue occurred after installing a driver update recently.

    Fix #3 – Edit the Registry

    A significant number of users have reported the issue when Lenovo Camera Freezes in Zoom app seems to occur after the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, and is not limited to Lenovo ThinkPad devices alone. A tried and tested method of fixing the issue has to do with modifying the registry files, which should always be done after making a full backup first.

    1. Press the Windows key + R key on the keyboard and type in regedit into the field.
    2. Browse on the sidebar to access the path – HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windows Media Foundation\Platform
    3. On the right panel, right-click and select DWORD (32-bit) Value from the drop-down menu.
    4. Select the Value name – EnableFrameServerMode and set the Value data – 0 and press the OK button.

    Restart the computer, and this should most likely fix all of the webcam issues you have been facing on Zoom.

    Final Words

    Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, the strategic shift to online communication became possible due to the Zoom app, which surged in popularity in the past year. Since it has become the default app for socially distanced personal and business communication, it can be disheartening to see the ThinkPad Lenovo Camera Freezes in Zoom app, but the list above should be able to fix it all.