Windows 10: //?/ Connection Appeared Literally

This happening is weird. For a split second when I was opening an application, I saw the words "//?/Device/" or "//?/Device/Harddisk/". Then it was gone. Surely weird! I have no idea what happened.I do not have a photo. It was just too fast.

:)

 

Running Optimize literally does nothing; in PS it yields an error

After doing a clean install of Windows 10 20H2 (OS Build 19042.906) and fully updating it, and updating all of the Dell drivers from Dell.com, I tried the following Optimize and Defrag options from How to Optimize and Defragment Drives in Windows 10 (tenforums.com/tutorials/8933-optimize-defrag-drives-windows-10-a.html):

• OPTION ONE: To Optimize Drives in Optimize Drives Tool: Steps 2, 3, and 4,
• OPTION TWO: To Optimize Drives in Command Prompt: Step 2, and
• OPTION THREE: To Optimize Drives in PowerShell: Step 3

The four steps attempted from Options 1 and 2 resulted in no notice action; i.e., it appeared as though nothing happened after executing the commands.

When I ran Step 3 of Option 3, I received the following error message.

What does this mean and now what do I do?

Thanks!

 

W10 can connect to wider internet but cannot access web pages

I have an odd issue with my W10 laptop linked to Sky broadband in the UK via wifi using a Sky router. The effect is that while I can actually access the internet (I can send and receive emails using Outlook and can connect to other machines using TeamViewer) I cannot access any web site (Google, BBC etc). There is no specific error message, merely that the access request timed out and a suggestion that it may be to do with proxy.

I have tried the following:

1. Other systems (W10 and ios) can access web sites using the same Sky router (therefore probably not a router problem)
2. I have sent and received emails using Outlook, so the broadband connection is working (probably not a Sky problem)
3. I have tried two different browsers (Firefox and Edge), no connection (not a browser problem)
4. I am using Windows Defender and have:
   1. Made sure that Firefox is in the list of allowed systems in its Firewall, no connection after a reboot
   2. Turned off the Firewall and tried again - no connection

My next step will be to re-install Windows, but has anyone got any other suggestions? Could it be some sort of virus (I have carried out a complete virus check using Defender)

So - any suggestions?

 

local area connection 2 suddenly appearing

Hi,

The computer might think that there is an Ethernet cable connected to it. If there is no cable connected, we suggest that you uninstall and reinstall the driver from the device manager.

If it's the same issue, kindly run the Network Troubleshooter. To do so, follow the steps below:

• Press Windows key.
• Type Troubleshooting.
• Click Network and Internet.
• Click Internet Connections.
• A window will pop up, click Next to proceed with the troubleshooting.
  

Let us know how it goes.