How to Fix Camera Error 0xa00f4241 in Windows 11 (Camera Switch Failed)

Posted on by mymce

Problem: After upgrading to Windows 11 on your XPG Xenia 15, Windows Hello became unreliable, and the built-in camera stopped working, showing error 0xa00f4241 (“Camera Switch Failed”). I have an HD Webcam and an IR Camera.

Resolution:

Try disabling the IR Camera temporarily:

  • Open Device Manager, right-click on IR Camera
  • Select Disable device
  • Check your HD Webcam in Discord/Camera app again
  • The IR Camera is typically used for Windows Hello facial recognition, and sometimes it can block the main camera from working properly.

Uninstall both camera devices:

  • Open Device Manager.
  • Right click on HD Webcam → Uninstall device (check “Delete the driver software”)
  • Right-click IR Camera → Uninstall device (check “Delete the driver software”)
  • Reboot
  • Windows 11 will automatically install drivers.

Check Camera Privacy Settings (Critical for Windows 11)

Open Settings > Go to Privacy & security → Camera

Make sure these are ALL enabled:

  • “Camera access” (main toggle at top)
  • “Let apps access your camera”
  • “Let desktop apps access your camera”

Windows Hello Reset

  • Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > Windows Hello Face.
  • Remove the facial recognition setup.
  • Reboot and try re-enabling it after confirming camera functionality.

[Photo courtesy from the user: KraakenTowers 

New Surface Pro 8 Won’t Charge Past 0% – Solutions & Fixes

Posted on by mymce

Problem:

A brand new Microsft Surface Pro 8 has a battery issue — when it’s charging, the statues shows “charging”, but the battery stuck 0%.

Resolution:

Check the Charger connection:

Make sure the magnetic charging connector is properly attached with no debris Try cleaning both the charger port and connector gently.

Verify the LED light on the charger tip is on when charging.

Try a hard reset to detect the battery correctly:

  • Turn off your Surface Pro completely.
  • Press and hold the Power button for 30 seconds.
  • After 30 seconds, release the Power button, then press and hold Power + Volume Up buttons together for 15 seconds, then release both.
  • Wait 10 seconds, then press Power to turn it on normally.

Install latest Firmware and Drivers:

  • Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Check for updates.
  • Install all the latest updates- firmware and driver updates.

Run Surface Diagnostic Tool: Download it from Microsoft Store and install.

Check Battery Health via Command Prompt:

  • Open Command prompt as Admin and copy-paste the following:

powercfg /batteryreport

  • If the report shows 0% capacity, the battery is likely defective.

As it’s a brand-new device so you may raise a warranty issue:

How to get service or repair for Surface

[If the device is out of warranty:

Get service for your out of warranty or damaged Surface]

Forgot Your UEFI Password? Here’s How to Recover Access to Your Surface

Posted on by mymce

Problem:

I have forgotten my UEFI password to reset my tablet. Is there a way to reset?

Resolution:

A UEFI (firmware) password locks the firmware settings and sometimes prevents booting. It’s enforced by the tablet’s firmware — not by the operating system — so normal OS tools or remote access generally can’t remove it.

UEFI passwords are built-in security measures at the hardware level that protect your device’s firmware settings from being accessed or changed without permission.

Someone can’t reset your UEFI password remotely unless they already have direct control of the device or the manufacturer/account that controls firmware for that specific model.

So, if the password is forgotten, Microsoft cannot reset it remotely, nor can support agents bypass it.

The only official solution is a device exchange, typically through warranty or service channels.

You need to prove ownership. You’ll typically need:

#Proof of purchase
#Serial number
#Sometimes a service tag or other device identifiers

There is a Microsoft related article:

Forgot UEFI password for Surface

You may also watch the following YouTube video:

138 | Surface Pro 7 UEFI Password Reset

How to Fix Chrome Not Responding on Startup After Restart

Posted on by mymce

Resolutions:

Disable Hardware Acceleration

• Open Chrome
• Go to chrome://settings/
• Click System in the left sidebar
• Turn OFF “Use hardware acceleration when available”
• Restart Chrome

Clear Chrome Cache and Browsing Data
  • Go to chrome://settings/clearBrowserData
  • Select “All time” from the time range
  • Check: Cached images and files, Cookies and other sites data, Browsing history
  • Click Delete data
Disable Extensions on Startup

• Either remove unused extensions or
• Temporarily disable all extensions
• Restart
• Re-enable extensions one by one to find the culprit

Disable Antivirus tools or third-party programs can conflict with Chrome

Disable any AV or third-party program to check the issue.

Delete Chrome Folder completely:

Open %appdata%\Google

Delete Chrome Folder

Reboot.

Install Chrome fresh.

Alternative solutions

Download Chrome Canary
https://www.google.com/chrome/canary/
Chrome Beta
https://www.google.com/chrome/beta/

How to Keep the Fn Key Permanently Locked on a Surface Laptop 7

Posted on by mymce

Problem:

I use a Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 and frequently rely on the Fn key (bottom left) when working in Excel. I’d like to know if there’s a way to keep the Fn lock permanently on—so that the indicator light in the top-right corner of the key stays lit. I often press the key accidentally, which toggles the function mode off and interrupts my workflow. I’ve already tried holding Fn + Caps Lock for 5 seconds, but that didn’t work. Is there any way to make the Fn key stay locked permanently?

Resolution:

Microsoft Surface consumer models (like the Surface Laptop, Surface Pro, Surface Go, and Surface Book) do not support a permanent Fn key lock at the firmware (BIOS/UEFI) or software level.

So, unless it’s a commercial variant, you can’t make the Fn lock “stick” permanently.

Download Windows 11 ISO Version 25H2

Posted on by mymce

Windows 11 25H2 is now available for download.

Grab this ISO from here:

Download Windows 11

Much of the new functionality was already present in 24H2 builds and this update “turns on” those features. It takes a shorter installation time.

Before updating to Windows 11, version 25H2 using an enablement package, you must be running Windows 11, version 24H2. You must have the following prerequisite installed before applying this update: