Ann asks about firewalls and security programs
I have read your articles in regard to iOBit products, I have been using Advanced System Care for quite a long time as it was very convenient to have fire wall and security under one program, now that it is almost expired and I must purchase another program, I would appreciate any suggestion you may have for a safer product, I am also looking into the possibility of Emsisoft, but I am still left with needing a safe firewall and security system. I have never had any problem with IOBit, and find myself questioning whether to renew or not. Any help would be most appreciated, I look forward to your regular newsletters and read very carefully anything that could possibly affect my computer system. Thanks for your assistance. Ann

Our Answer
Hi Ann.   We use and recommend Emsisoft which is all the security you need. It is an antivirus/antimalware/anti-adware/anti-pup. Windows Firewall will automatically start when you remove iOBit. It is all the firewall you need despite what the people selling 3rd-party firewall tell you. In fact, we could make a lot of money selling firewalls, but we won't sell what we don't use, or what you don't need. Here is some reading on firewalls: http://thundercloud.net/infoave/new/you-don't-need-a-firewall/

Here is our order page for Emsisoft. We have an option to have us remove all current antivirus programs/suites, and install, Emsisoft for you. Or, you can download and install Emsisoft yourself. You will find more info here - http://thundercloud.net/emsisoft .



Betty wants to join the world of Wi-Fi with a nine-year-old desktop
Time to join the world of wifi and I am wondering what is the best way to connect?   I have a 2007 Gateway desktop and it runs like a brand new one, thanks to you two.   I need wifi now for my kindle fire.   What do I need to buy?   Thanks for your help as always.

Our answer
Hi Betty. We want to remind you that if you're running Windows XP or Windows Vista, there is no way to secure your computer against the new threats that were created when Microsoft discontinued support for Windows XP and Windows Vista, so keep that in mind. Right now, you can get nice laptop, more powerful than your 2007 PC for around $300. If you're running Windows 7, you're good to go until January 2020 - assuming your PC's hardware holds out.

Now, to answer your question. A nine-year-old desktop probably does not have a wireless adapter. The easiest and best choice for you would be to buy a Wireless USB adapter. All you have to do with a Wireless USB adapter is plug it in to any open USB port, follow the easy set-up instructions, and your desktop will be Wi-Fi ready. Not only is it easy to enable Wi-Fi on your PC this way, it's also inexpensive. You can get a Wireless USB adapter for less than $20.  Here's an example.

Hope this helps you, Betty.



Bill wants to make a Windows 10 installation USB
II upgraded my Windows 7 computer to Windows 10 - so far so good. I'd like to make an installation USB. My question is, should I make the USB or should I make an installation DVD. Love your newsletters!

Our answer
Hi Bill. Thank you. Great question. Whether you use a USB or DVD depends on what your computer's boot sequence is - is your computer capable of booting from a USB? If you can't boot your computer having a Windows installation disk or USB will come in mighty handy. If your computer won't start, you can start your computer with your Windows installation USB or DVD and access all the Windows 10 troubleshooting tools. You can also access system restore and system reset. And if all else fails you can clean install Windows from your installation USB or DVD.

As a general rule, if your computer is older than 2 or 3 years, and you're not familiar with changing the boot sequence in the BIOS, you should definitely make the installation DVD as opposed to an installation USB. If your computer is less than 2 or 3 years, you could probably use the USB; your PC mostly likely boots from a bootable USB drive out of the box.. If you're not sure, and you're not familiar with BIOS settings, then making an installation DVD is the way to go.

If you have a newer computer and it has no DVD/CD drive (and many new laptops do not) you'll want to make the installation USB flash drive, since your computer can boot from a USB flash drive.

Visit this page to see a tutorial showing how to create a Windows 10 installation DVD. You can make an installation USB following this tutorial too, you can see where Windows gives you a choice of creating a USB or DVD.



Jenny loves Thunderbird, but needs to know how to create groups for mailing
Thank you for installing Thunderbird for me. I love it. I have a question though. In Windows Live Mail I could create a group in my address book I could use to send mailings to members of my dog rescue group. I can't figure how to do it in Thunderbird. Can you tell me how to do it? Thanks!

Our answer
Hi Jenny. It's very easy to create a group of addresses for group mailings. Here's how:

1. With Thunderbird open, click "Address Book: from the Menu
2. Choose "New List"
3. Give List a Name - the name of your group would be great
4. Add all the Contacts you want to send mail to, to the list. Hint: If you type the first letter or two of a person's name or email address you will see it show up in drop down menu and you can choose it from there.

OK. Now that you have your group created, you'll want to send an email to everyone in your group. And here's two ways to do that..

1. With "Address Book" open, click the name of the group you created and then click Write.

2. Or, From main menu of Thunderbird, click Write, and then type in the first letter or two of the name of your group in the "To" field, and click the name to choose it from the drop down menu.

Hope this helps you, Jenny.

Mary can no longer move her desktop icons
It seems I can no longer move my desktop icons around. It is really quite annoying. Do you have any suggestions to remedy this. Thank you, Mary.

Our answer
Hi Mary. You probably set them to auto arrange; right click on an empty space on your desktop and uncheck Auto-arrange icons, but leave "Align icons to grid" checked as that spaces them nicely when you move them around.

Mary wrote back: Thank you so very much for your quick response and solution. Mary

Sonia asks about AbiWord - last week's freeware pick
Hi TC EB can you help I down loaded AbiWord ( I think that is correct) via the news letter my question is . How do I open up any saved items in my documents and right click on it and want it to open in AbiWord at present they only open with pictures and I would like AbiWord to take over anything written in documents with thanks and blessing Sonia,

Our answer
Hi Sonia. We are sorry to say that you cannot set AbiWord as a default program to open Word documents (.DOC, DOCX,), text files (.TXT), or RTF (RTF) etc. It's not made to be a Windows default opener. You can open AbiWord and then open any of those kinds of files (and many more) but you can't make those files open automatically or always open with AbiWord.

You can download free office programs like OpenOffice that you can set as default opener for Word docs and other MS Office files, but sadly, not AbiWord. 

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Today's issue features Windows tips & tricks submitted by you, our readers. We had so many tips and tricks submitted, we couldn't use them all in one issue, so we'll be featuring more reader's tips & tricks in future issues of InfoAve Premium. The following tips & tricks we among the first submitted. Thank you for all the great tips you sent to us.

A Windows Tip from Philip: Using the Windows Key + M shortcut
Windows 7, Windows 8x, Windows 10

I enjoy the Windows key + M. It lets me pause a game I am playing and also turns off the sound. I can pause the game when ever the phone rings or when I need to use the restroom! I can also instantly use this trick to pause what ever I am doing and go right to the desktop to get an incoming email.
 


A Windows 10 Tip from Enid: Windows 10 Snipping Tool
Windows 10

UUsing the Snipping Tool as found under Windows Accessories. Now with Windows 10 you can not only save the piece you select but print it, as well as forward it. You can have it as a shortcut on the desk top so it is there for easy access. An improvement with 10, as previously you had to save it first, before you could do anything with it. The Snipping Tool is used when you see a piece or article you would dearly like to save or print or forward for future reference. You don't have to download it, it comes with Windows and is very easy to use.

Two Windows Tips from Barbara: Browser Screen Size & Right-clicking the Windows 10 Start Button
Windows 7, Windows 8x, Windows 10br />
I like the F11 feature to give more screen size when using my browser. Press F11 to open the browser to full screen, then press F11 again to return it to normal.

A another tip (for Windows 10). This one I use all the time now. Right-click on the start button for many functions. I use it most often to shut down my PC.

A note from TC & EB: Windows Key + X opens the same menu as right-clicking the Windows 10 start button.

A Windows Tip from Ted: Copy & Paste
Windows 7, Windows 8x, Windows 10

There is one tip I use constantly, learned it from your newsletter many years ago, along with many other things. Ctrl + C to copy and Ctrl+ V to paste. That has saved me so much time over the years. Enjoy your long weekend you deserve it.

A Windows Tip from Shirley: The Degree ° Sign
Windows 7, Windows 8x, Windows 10

I seem to need the sign for degree quite frequently, so I use alt 0176 on the numerical keypad for Windows10. Degree sign °

A note from EB & TC: For those without a numerical keypad (for instance some laptop users). You can use the Windows Character Map. Windows Key+R to open a Run box. Type CHARMAP in the run box and press Enter.



You can select and copy the degree sign ° from the Character Map and paste it in a document or email.

Rich Has Two Windows 10 Tips to Share: Opening Programs & Setting Up Bookmarks
Windows 10

I like it that you frequently feature keyboard shortcuts since I hate using a touchpad, or even worse, a mouse. To open a program in Windows 10 press the Windows key, then type the first letter (or letters, if necessary,) then press [Enter]. For example, to open Firefox I press the Windows key, type f, then [Enter]. To open Chrome, I press the Windows key, type ch, then press [Enter].

I also set my bookmarks up for quick and easy opening via the keyboard. When I name a page I bookmark, I start the name with a digit, for example 3 - Weather. That way ALT + B opens the bookmarks menu in Firefox, then typing 3 takes me to my weather website without even pressing [Enter]. You can use all the digits from 1 to 0 and also any letters that aren't already initial letters on the bookmarks menu.

Connie's Tip: Create Folders & Stay Organized
Windows 7, Windows 8x, Windows 10

I save a lot of information on the internet so I make folders that I keep on my desktop. For instance, I make jewelry, so I have a folder to store any information relating to jewelry. Another for music from YouTube, etc. I also keep my favorite sites on the desktop like Amazon or Facebook so I can just click on them to open.

Two Tips from Rhea: Printing and Copying & Pasting
Windows 7, Windows 8x, Windows 10

One very helpful tip I learned from you years ago has come in handy so many times and that is when I want to print something and cannot find a printer icon on the tool bar is to highlight what I want to print, hit CTRL + P and when the printer screen comes up , press print and tick selection.

Another tip I learned a while back: If you want to copy and paste something and send it in an email or even a letter, press CTRL + C to copy. Then I want to include it in an email press CTRL+V to paste.

A tip from EB & TC: About Your PC
Windows 10 (all versions)

If you’re running Windows 10,  you can get a lot of details about your PC by typing one word and doing one click.

Yes you can. So, step right up and read all about it!

You can learn what version of Windows you have, what version of Windows you have, how much RAM your PC has installed, what kind of processor(s) and more. Plus you can see your computer’s name and rename it to something else just by clicking a button and typing in a new name for your PC.

If you are using Windows 10, just type ABOUT in the taskbar search (Cortana) and click on “About your PC” when it appears at the top of the search results. (Tip: If you have hidden your taskbar search icon, just press Windows Key + S to open Search.)

See? Your PC info at your command!

You can get your current Windows 10 version, your processor type, how much RAM you have, if you have a 32-bit or 64-bit computer and amore. All by typing one little word: "About".

Heck, you can even rename your computer from here. Whatever you do, do not change the name of your PC to EB, or you’ll be sorry!

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