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Spurious folder cannot be deleted on Windows 11: error 0x80004005
I have a spurious folder on a drive that refuses to be deleted (Windows 11 Pro 25H2, all current Windows Updates installed). I have tried everything, and it's still there. It started when I tried to create a compressed archive using 7-Zip. The archive was to be created in the parent folder of where the files were; so, I added the ..\ prefix to the file name in the 7-Zip dialog window, but I must have inadvertently typed it at the wrong place, with the prefix in the middle of the file name. So, I ended up with a subfolder called R.. (notice the two dots) in the folder where the original files were. This folder is empty and shows nothing unusual in the "Properties", but when I try to delete it, I get this error message (my Windows is not in English, so I'm translating, and the original English message may be a little different): An unexpected error is preventing you from deleting this folder. If you continue getting this error, you can use the error code to search for help with this issue. Error 0x80004005: Unspecified error As the description implies, this error code is generic and useless. I have searched it, and found a lot of totally different and unrelated issues, but none remotely similar to mine. The same error occurs when I try to delete the parent folder. I can "Try Again" (which only shows the same error message again forever) or cancel. The folder is on a secondary data SSD (not the system drive), formatted in NTFS and encrypted with BitLocker (like all my drives, by contractual demand from my clients). I have run chkdsk /f unmounting the drive (which the command required), and it found no errors. I have also scheduled a boot-time chkdsk of the drive, but although the countdown appeared, the check itself never happened, and Windows booted right away. Very strange! Since I suspect that the issue may have something to do with the two dots in the name, I have also tried to rename it. WIndows first shows me the usual warning when you try to change a file extension. After I confirm, it shows the following message (again, a translation): It was not possible to locate this item. It is no longer located in [parent_folder_path]. Check the item location and try again. I took full ownership of the parent folder with total control to all subfolders and explicitly replaced the permissions in all of them. It didn't work. I tried erasing both the rogue folder and its parent folder with a secure-erase utility, and it didn't delete them either. Other than this stubborn immortal folder, the drive is working normally. I can even create a new folder in the same parent folder as the rogue one, and then I can delete it normally. What else can I do? Thank you very much for any help.SolvedgoytabrMar 05, 2026Brass Contributor26Views0likes0Comments
Mic not working on PC but works on laptop
I am on Windows 11 Pro (updated). I have a Bumble Bee II mic that I recently purchased. After receiving it I decided to see how voice effects would sound with this mic so I installed VoiceMod. I started playing around with it and the mic worked fine but then discovered that every voice is behind a pay wall, and I wasn't going to use it that much to justify purchasing the program. So I uninstalled it and that's when the problems started. The input from the mic stopped working completely. The mic lights up and it can control the gain input along with mute and unmute and the windows settings reflect this but it does not allow any sound to go through to windows from the mic. I then perused the help articles and went through the process of reinstalling VoiceMod then uninstalling it following their specific procedure but it didn't work. I then did the same exact thing again only this time I installed and uninstalled it via Revo Uninstaller, which found some left over things and I deleted them. But the mic still did not work. I discovered my old c920 webcam mic still works fine on my PC and the Bumble Bee II mic works fine on my laptop. I contacted both VoiceMod support and Turtle Beach support (with hopes they might know of a solution that could work). Turtle Beach came back and said there is nothing they can think of that can help. VoiceMod support had me go through several steps. First I ran DISM then SFC /SCANNOW and SFC found some errors then fixed them, but the mic still did not work. They then had me install reinstall some voicemod dependencies (MS Visual and a .net framework). Neither helped but it might be interesting to note that windows did install the MS visual but the .net framework install indicated it was already installed. They replied that they are not sure what it is and is more than likely not an issue with VoiceMod. I then went into Device Manager and clicked to view hidden items and discovered that there were 4 of each the Bumble Bee II mic and speaker (headphone jacks listed). So I uninstalled all of them, ran both DISM and SFC SCANNOW again, but that did not fix the issue. I did find an unused Audio Device in Software devices in Device Manager and I uninstalled it, but it seemingly had no effect. I have gone through the windows troubleshooter but it can't find the issue with the mic and I've reset sound devices and volumes for all apps via the Volume Mixer reset in windows. At this point I have no idea what to do to get this mic to work again on my PC. A few things to note: I have completely uninstalled Voicemod because I am not using it. I am only having issues getting the Bumble Bee II mic to work again on my main computer. The last time the Bumble Bee II mic worked on my main computer was before I uninstalled Voicemod, even reinstalling Voicemod does not get the mic to work again on my main computer. My other mic (with the C920 web cam) works fine on my main computer. The Bumble Bee II mic works on my laptop just fine. On my main computer, the Bumble Bee II mic shows up and it has power. I can adjust the gain of the mic via the controls on the mic and windows reflects the gain change in the volume indication for the system. The mic just does not record any sound nor does it show any sound coming through the system when I try to use it. The Bumble Bee II mic is not muted. I can mute and unmute it via the mic controls and it indicates the same in the system, but no sound either way. Again the Bumble Bee II mic works perfectly fine on my laptop and my C920 web cam mic works just fine on my main computer. The headphone jack on the mic works fine when I connect a headset to it but still no sound going to the computer. One last thing, after I had deleted the extra BumbleBee listings in Device manager under both "Audio inputs and outputs" and "Sound, video and game controllers" I was testing the mic with the headset installed to see if I could get it to work by adjusting the different variables via the mic knob and my system crashed. but there was no indication why it crashed. I am hoping someone here can help me with this.Solvedmadmaxneo1Feb 18, 2026Copper Contributor50Views0likes1Comment
svchost.exe high CPU usage - solved
I dont know when it started happening, but I was getting a CPU spike from svchost.exe on startup This lasted about 30 seconds then the CPU cooled off. I found that Superfetch was causing it. By disabling Sysmain service the CPU spike seems to have been resolvedSolvedalexspechtFeb 15, 2026Copper Contributor78Views0likes4Comments
KB5077181 update causes HDMI port to fail
KB5077181 update causes HDMI port to fail. Worked prior to this 2/11/2026 update. K have the 3 display devices: Dell 1536 Laptop Integrated Display, dual monitor duplicated on HP2301 Monitor on USB-C port. Prior to the update, the HP2311 Monitor on HDMI port worked as well. After the update, the 2311 monitor does not see an HDMI signal and goes to sleep. I also tried the handshake reset procedure (obscure procedure found with CoPilot) which fixed a similar issue with 25H2 update, but that failed. No configuration or driver changes. Note - monitor drivers are no longer supplied for W10 or later OS. The 2311 shows up when I selected "Show Hidden Devices". Hesitant to try AMD graphics update, BIOS, etc., as the 2301 monitor is also still working. Last, tried to do a uninstall of this KB, but apparently not possible with this update. Suggestions? Thanks.SolvedPaul2Feb 12, 2026Copper Contributor536Views1like4Comments
Screen Freezes and turns black randomly
I have a weird one my screen suddenly freezes goes black then in a matter of seconds comes back on as if nothing has happened. I have read that there is problem with Windows 11 and this does it seems to have happened after an update. Any Ideas please?Solvednoah88Feb 09, 2026Brass Contributor115Views1like3Comments
W11 almost unusable
I installed the 25 version of W11 last October on a new PC as my old one wasn't 'qualified'. Since then, I have experienced the following issues: I The User Account Control pops up all the time telling me that Thunderbird, Firefox, Photoshop, File Explorer and others are trying to make changes to my computer. This happens even when that app isn't opened. 2 The troubleshooters don't work. If I click on one I get a box telling me that my PC doesn't have an app that can open this link. I am asked to choose an app from the MS store only to be told that aren't any apps for what I want to do. 3 My keyboard seems to go crazy so that I don't get the expected results. That could be with typing text where I get foreign language characters, or key presses in an app that do something other than they should. 4 Frequent reports of drives (SD cards or USB sticks) being faulty which they aren't. Do I need to reinstall W11, or is there a less labour/time intensive solution to getting a working version of this OS?SolvedNuukFeb 05, 2026Copper Contributor99Views0likes4Comments
Windows update broke Wi-Fi and taskbar disappeared
Hello, after the latest Windows updates my PC started to have serious problems. On January 30, 2026, Windows installed an update and Wi-Fi stopped working completely. To try to fix this, I installed the latest available updates, but the problem remains. After this update, I also noticed that the taskbar has completely disappeared. Details: Wi-Fi does not work at all Ethernet connection still works correctly The PC seems to work normally If I open programs using Command Prompt, they run correctly The taskbar is completely missing Network settings problems: In Control Panel → Network and Sharing Center, the network status shows “Unknown” The page also shows the message: “The service to detect this status is disabled.” If I click “Change adapter settings”, nothing happens (no window opens) Only “Change advanced sharing settings” and “Media streaming options” links work All other links in Network and Sharing Center do not respond Additional important test: I uninstalled the latest Windows update. The taskbar reappears, but Wi-Fi still does not work When I reinstall the update, the taskbar disappears again Because of this, I cannot view, enable, or modify any network adapters. What can I do to restore: The Wi-Fi connection The taskbar / Windows Explorer Thank you for your help.SolvedHotto0000Feb 05, 2026Copper Contributor366Views1like3CommentsIs it possible to display which Kb:xxxxx files are installed on an ISO disk file.
Is it possible to display which Kb:xxxxx files are installed on an ISO disk file. Why: I tryed to install a clean Win 11. I have in the Windows Logbook different messages about: 1 - ELAN/Service The requested section is not present in the activation context 2 - Security SPP The Software Protection service has stopped. Software Protection service scheduled to restart on 2126-01-07T09:24:59Z. Reason: RulesEngine. 3 - warning about WMI The provider IntelMEProv is registered in the Windows Management Instrumentation namespace root\Intel_ME to use the LocalSystem account. This account contains permissions that allow the provider to cause a security breach when incorrectly imitating user requests. KB:504109 was present on the Iso Win 11 file and KB:5078217 not. Installation of KB:5078127 gave the rerror 0x800f0991 and it was not posible to install it in all the different advices on internet. So i restored my old backup and got the above 3 messages again ( 1 - 2 - 3 ). Now I want to show which KB files are installed on the Win ISO files before i want to instal win11. So who has the solution? Regards, Andre.SolvedAndre1946Feb 02, 2026Copper Contributor124Views0likes4CommentsWindows 11 not activating after mainboard replacement, troubleshooter doesn't run, can't get support
I work from home with my PC running Windows 11 Pro 25H2. My Windows license has a long lineage, starting with a retail Windows 8 DVD, which was successively updated for free to Windows 8.1, 10, and 11, activating it with a digital license automatically issued by Microsoft at every update and renewed without issue at every Windows reinstall. So, I don't have a Windows 11 product key, and since the original retail purchase was over a decade ago, I don't have the Windows 8 DVD or its key anymore either (not that I think that it would work anyway). During all those years, my PC had several hardware changes that affected the activation, but back in those days you could easily talk to a Microsoft support representative, and they always solved my problem. Now, however, Microsoft has made that extremely difficult. More about this later on. My mainboard just died a few days ago, and I was forced to replace it. I did not reinstall Windows, I'm still using the same old boot drive with the same Windows install. I knew I would lose the Windows activation, but I counted on that being easy to resolve, as it was the previous times. Was I wrong! I searched what I should do and found that I had to run the activation troubleshooter on the Settings -> System -> Activation window and inform that my hardware had changed. However, when I click on the Troubleshoot button, nothing happens, other than the mouse cursor briefly blinking. THE TROUBLESHOOTER WINDOW DOES NOT APPEAR AND IT DOES NOT RUN. I ran sfc /scannow, rebooted, and tried again. Nothing changed. I tried to contact Microsoft's support, but after walking in circles through a lot of knowledge base articles that the site force-fed me and that obviously didn't help, I finally found an actual contact link. It asked me for the type of issue, and I selected "Windows activation". After another truckload of useless KB articles, it asked me to inform my installation ID (not the product key), which, according to that page, should appear on the Activation window. The window does not show the installation ID. I searched again and found that I could obtain the installation ID with the command slmgr /dtl. Indeed, it showed the ID — in a separate pop-up window that doesn't allow copying the text. It's a very long sequence of digits (63, I think) that I had to manually and carefully type into the form. I had a few false starts (it's easy to mistype when it's 63 seemingly random digits), but the form warned me that the ID was invalid and I retyped it until I got it right. Then I got a response that said that my installation could not be validated and I could close the window. No contact link, nothing more. Dead end. Microsoft refused to even hear me! So, the recommended solution doesn't work and Microsoft won't even let me contact them and explain my problem. I don't want to buy a new Windows license, not only because of the expense, but also because it wouldn't be fair. After all, until a few days ago I was a legitimate user with a fully licensed and activated Windows install, according to Microsoft's own terms. In the meantime, I'm writing this with that ugly watermark on my monitor... What can I do? Thank you very much in advance for any help.SolvedgoytabrJan 30, 2026Brass Contributor142Views0likes3CommentsUS International keyboard with dead keys not working
Hi, I'm a big fan of the US International keyboard since Windows 7. As you know, the US International keyboard layout uses specific keys (like ') as "dead keys" to create accented characters by pressing the symbol followed by a letter (e.g., '+e=é). This keyboard is available and works fine on Windows 11. However, for one of my Windows 11 PC, the dead keys are no longer dead, meaning that when pressed once, the corresponding symbol is typed twice (e.g. ' pressed once results in ''). To diagnose the problem, I restarted the PC in safe mode and confirmed that the US International keyboard works as expected. Then I ran "sfc /scannow" and "Dism.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth" to make sure all windows components are ok. Then I used "msconfig" to play with the services and startup items. After many restart with different startup configurations, I found that when the service "DNS Client" is disabled at startup, the US International keyboard works as expected. I don't think the "DNS Client" directly affects the keyboard configuration, but being disabled at startup probably prevents another task to affect the keyboard, but which one? Also, during my different tests, I noticed that if I quickly log in and open notepad, the US International keyboard works fine for the first few characters typed. So, during the startup sequence, a task dependant on "DNS Client" runs and change the US International keyboard layout. How can I monitor/log the sequence of tasks during startup?SolvedmyriaxisJan 30, 2026Copper Contributor175Views0likes1Comment
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