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Hi Darcy,

We released the update a week ago, see the last part of this blog post:

https://blog.emsisoft.com/2018/01/04/chip-vulnerabilities-and-emsisoft-what-you-need-to-know/

So our product is compatible with the Windows update. If any of your clients cannot receive the latest Windows security update because of Emsisoft, please let us know.

Windows 10 World Clock, Timers, Stopwatch and Alarms
Windows 10

It’s a new year and a time to think about time. Keeping track of time, counting time, counting down time, do we ever have enough time?

Windows 10 has an app that makes it easy for you to set up a world clock. timers, alarms and more. It’s very simple stuff, but most people do not realize the Windows 10 has this feature built in. Well, it’s an app that comes with Windows 10 called Alarms & Clock and it’s on your Windows 10 Start menu.

We’re going to briefly explain each feature and give you a general idea how to use them.

World Clock

Open the Alarms & Clock app from your start menu (or type “Alarms” (no quotes) in the taskbar search).  When the app opens click on World Clock at the top.

To add a city, click the + (Plus) sign at the bottom and type in the name of the city & country you want to add. As you can see, I’ve already added Sydney, Australia to my World Clock, and I’m in the process of adding Auckland, New Zealand… see? Just click the Plus sign and start typing the name of the city into the search form on the clock. As soon as you start typing you’ll see a list of cities appear.

Now  I have my local time as well as the time in Sydney and Auckland displayed on my World Clock.

And if you click the two little clocks at the bottom, you can even compare the time differences between cities.

3 Rather Rare Windows Tips
Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Windows 10

The tips below should work in any version of Windows from Windows 7 through Windows 10. Enjoy!

1. Taskkill

Windows borrows a feature from Linux. Taskkill allows you to terminate a running process (program) from the command line. Here’s how you use it:

Hold down the Windows key and tap the R key. In the run box type CMD and press Enter. A Command prompt will open.

Type Tasklist at the prompt. You’ll see a list of running processes. Next to each process you’ll see a PID number. To kill any running task, type Taskkill /PID xxx (where xxx represents the PID number of the task you want to terminate). You can kill more than one process at time like this:

Taskkill /PID xxxx /PID xxxx /PID xxxx (xxxx = the PID number of the task you want to kill). There are a lot more modifiers too. If you are interested, see Microsoft TechNet's article on Taskkill here.

Why would you want to use this? Because you can? Or maybe your computer is frozen and you can’t access Task Manager. Or maybe you're trying to rid your computer of malware and you have to kill its process(es) before you can remove it. Sometimes malware prevents you from ending a process using Task Manager /End process.

2. Edit user accounts using the command line

Hold down the Windows key and tap the R key. In the run box type CMD and press Enter. Now type control userpasswords2 at the prompt, and press Enter.

3. Create a shortcut for easy access to Task Manager

You can access Task Manager by right-clicking on your taskbar and choosing Task Manager, you can use CTRL+SHIFT+ESC, or you can use the three-finger salute (CTRL+ALT+DELETE) and click “Task Manager” on the menu which appears.

Did you know that you can also create a shortcut to Task Manager and leave it on your desktop, drag it to your quick launch toolbar, or taskbar (Windows 7 & newer) or put in on your start menu? You can, and it’s easy to do.

Right-click on your desktop and choose “New” “Shortcut” and copy and paste the following (in bold) into the “type location of the item” field:

%windir%\system32\taskmgr.exe

Once you’re created your shortcut, you can drag its icon to your start menu, quick launch bar, taskbar (Windows 7, Windows 8.x, Windows 10) or simply leave it on your desktop. The next time you need to launch Task Manager, just click your new shortcut.

We have advised people who had trouble updating to Windows 10 version 1709 (Fall Creators Update) – even those who tried updated by using the Update assistant or installation media – to wait until the next update coming sometime this spring.

This article will show you how to set a Metered connection to stop Microsoft from repeatedly trying to automatically update your computer while allowing critical security updates to install automatically (Windows 10 Fall Creators Update v1709 & Windows 10 Creators Update v 1703)

The purpose of a Metered connection according to Microsoft is for those who have bandwidth limits or limit the amount of data you can use. However, you may also want to use Metered connection to prevent Windows from downloading large updates or to prevent version updates that have already failed to install from continually trying to reinstall.

On the Creators Update and newer (including Fall Creators Update), Microsoft has changed Metered connection so Windows Update is allowed to download critical security updates automatically. Microsoft has said they will not abuse this. So, turning on Metered connection should allow you to receive all critical security updates that help keep your Windows 10 PC up-to-date and safe.

When you turn Metered connection on:

1. You will only receive critical security updates automatically. You will not receive Windows version updates (like Fall Creators Update).

2. Windows stores apps and apps included with Windows 10 will no longer update automatically. However desktop programs you installed, such as Firefox, Chrome, and others will continue to update as they always have.

3. Microsoft says that live tiles on your Start menu and/or Start screen “may” stop updating on a metered connection.

4. “Some” Windows Store apps “may” function differently or with limited functionality.

If you’re having problems with Windows Update trying to continually install a new version update or you’re on a connection where you have data limits, here’s how to turn on Metered connection.

For Wi-Fi

Open Settings (Windows key + i) or open Settings from the start menu or the Windows key + x menu.

In Settings, click on Network & Internet.  On the Status page, under your “Network status”, click on “Change connection properties”.

If you don’t see “Change connection properties” click on “Wi-Fi” on the left side, then click on your active connection. See screenshot below.

You’ll see your network name at the top. Further down on the page you’ll see “Metered connection”

Under “Metered connection” you will an on/off switch under “Set as metered connection”. Turn the switch under “Set as metered connection” to “On”.

Ethernet (Wired) Connections

If you’re using an Ethernet connection, open “Settings”. In “Settings” click on “Network & Internet”, then click on Ethernet on the left side.

Added: Reader David B. pointed out to us, that after you click Ethernet you’ll need to click on your connection.

Under “Metered connections” “Set as metered connection” turn the switch to “On”.

Whether you’re on a Wi-Fi connection or Ethernet, should you ever want to go back to a non-metered connection, follow the steps above only this time turn the switch to “Off”.

Three Windows 10 Tricks
Windows 10 (all versions)

It’s time to take time for some fun stuff. Here are three Windows 10 tricks you might not know. You might even find them useful. Anyway… have fun!

Desktop Trick

Have you noticed the thin strip at the far-right edge of your taskbar? It looks like this:

Did you know if your click it , it will bring your desktop into view. Click it again and your open program windows are right back where they were. And to avoid any misunderstanding, we placed the red line on the screen shot above to draw your attention to that area of the taskbar, there will be no red line on your taskbar.

And if you right-click on the very edge you’ll see this menu:

If you enable “Peek at desktop” all you have to do is hover over the very right-edge of your taskbar and you’ll be able to "peek" at your desktop.

Cortana Trick

Hey Cortana users! Did you know that you can use Cortana to roll the dice, flip a coin or even play Rock, Paper, Scissors. Try it

Say “Hey Cortana. Roll the dice”, or “Hey Cortana – Rock, Paper, Scissors” or “Hey Cortana, flip a coin”.

But don’t ask Cortana to play chess or she’ll think it’s a band. And don’t ask her to play checkers – because all you’ll get are videos of checker games. How exciting!

Shake it up baby, now!

If you have a desktop full of windows, you can clear all the windows by grabbing the top of the window you do want to stay in view and “shaking” it rapidly side to side. This minimizes all the other windows except for the one you shook.

Miss all those windows? No problem, shake the window again and all the windows will come back.

Every time you access a file or folder in Windows, it’s added to a list. But do you know how to access this list? It’s easy. Very easy.

Open a Run dialog by holding down the Windows Key and tapping the “R” key. Type RECENT in the Run dialog and press Enter or click “OK”.

And you’ll see a long list of files you’ve accessed recently. Mine go all the way back to 3 weeks ago, which was the time I cleaned my computer using the CLEANMGR command which you an also run from a Run dialog.

Windows 10 users will notice also that a list of recently accessed files and folders appears in File Explorer > “Quick Access”.

If you want to clear this list of recently access files and folders, do this:

Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog.

Type control folders in the run box to open Folder Options and click OK or press Enter. (Note: You can also use Control Panel / Folder Options or File Explorer / Options.)  Under the General tab, under “Privacy”, next to “Clear File Explorer history” click “Clear”.

So now you know how to see what files and folders have been recently accessed on your computer. And how to clear them. I always love to do this with EB’s computer. You should see the stuff she looks at!

Attention Windows 7 users!  You will see different dialogs, but the functionality is the same.

Duolingo: Learn a New Language Free

I recently revisited a really wonderful site where anyone, even me(!) can learn a new language absolutely free. As in no charge. As in nada. Zed. Zip.

Hmm…

The site and teaches you a new language by letting you play games. There are written and spoken aspects — but don’t worry if you don’t have a microphone — you can easily take the courses they offer without one. But make sure  your speakers work and your volume is up – so you will learn the correct pronunciation of each word.

Capiche? [Kuh-Peesh]

I (TC) had several years of Spanish in high school and college, I am a very rusty. My Spanish is even worse than my English and many of you think my English could use a shoe shine. But really, I'm rusty because I’m old and because I don’t need to know Spanish to say Costa Azul or Nachos con queso.  Or order tacos.  So mi español es muy malo. No EB, not Maalox.

Anyway, I tested this site by signing up for a free account and taking it for a test drive. It was so addictive I didn’t want to stop playing… and learning. It’s a very unique and easy way to learn a language or become more fluent in a language you already know. (EB wanted me to take remedial English, but she’s mean and she was trying to rattle my chain. But I’m calm and cool :-) she couldn’t get me riled try as she does, she fails!)

Now I’ll be serious: The site is called Duolingo and it’s a great way to learn:

Spanish
French
German
Italian
Portuguese
Dutch
Irish
Danish
Swedish
High Valyria
Russian
Swahili
Polish
Chinese
Romanian
Japanese
Greek
Vietnamese
Turkis
Esperanto
Hebrew
Norwegian
Ukranian
Hungarian
Welsh
Czech
Korean

Heck. I didn’t even know what some of those were, but I do now… thanks to my buddy Google.

Duolingo teaches you a language by using a series of games and it’s a lot of fun. You can win lingots an trade them at the lingot store for things like getting back the hearts you lost because you missed a question. Hearts keep your lessons alive. You lose them when you answer incorrectly. When you’re out of hearts, you’re out of luck. But you can start over and try again.

Duolingo is a really great way to  learn another language… and it really is fun. Even those who have no previous knowledge of a language can learn one. (It’s how I learned English! I bet some of you really believe me don’t you? )

Those who want to learn a brand new language can start at the beginners level, those who have some knowledge of a language and who want to become more fluent, can take a proficiency test to see which level is right for them. Each level gets more sophisticated, so the learning is gradual – and did I mention it is a lot of fun?

Above: TC correctly selects the manzana…ole’ !

Only 96% more to go!

The courses are completely free, but you’ll need to sign up for a free account. All you need to do is sign up with an email address – then choose a password. Having an account lets you stop and start lessons any time… Duolingo will remember so you can start right where you left off.

¿Estás listo para aprender español? Haga clic aquí! or Are you ready to learn Spanish? Click here!

PS: Duolingo has apps for Android and iOS too.

Do you speak Welsh? Me either!

Rwy’n gobeithio y byddwch i gyd yn mwynhau Duolingo. Mae’n hwyl ac yn ddefnyddiol a dyna pam ei bod yn ein gwefan yr wythnos!

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We hope you have enjoyed this issue of InfoAve Premium. Thanks so much for your support and for being a Premium subscriber.
 
Have a great weekend!
 
Darcy & TC
Cloudeight InfoAve Premium - Issue #744
Volume 15 Number 13
January 12, 2018
 
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