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Madonna wants to know what programs are safe to disable in Windows Startups
To stop so many programs from start up how do you know which ones that are safe to disable? Would this something you have a list of so we don’t have something to stop our Windows 10 computer from starting? Love your newsletter and tell my friends about it. Have a great day and many thanks. Madonna R

Our answer
Hi Madonna. Thanks so much for your kind words and for telling your friends about us. We appreciate it.

Every computer is different. Each computer manufacturer has different startups. So we can't send you a list and tell you to disable this one or that one. Generally you can use Task Manager / Startup tab to disable most startup. Still you have to be careful you don't disable your antivirus or your printer. If you have a backup program installed like Ashampoo, you won't want to disable that.

If you stick with using Task Manager > Startups (and not some advance startup program like AutoRuns) and you don't disable your printer or your antivirus (security) software, you should be OK.

We can tell you don't need things like Skype, Email programs, browsers, Garmin, Tom Tom, iTunes, CCleaner and/or any graphics programs (like Photoshop or Corel) starting with Windows. Generally speaking, anything that can be opened easily with a shortcut or from the start menu doesn't need to start with Windows.

We hope this helps you.

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Carolyn's Windows 10 computer updated and user account turned up missing
My husband has a laptop that he does not use regularly. He turned it on today and Windows did an update. We were both users on that laptop. NOW The only user that appears is me. How do we get it back the way it was with both users?

Our answer
Hi Carolyn. What kind of Update? Version update? If it's a version update you can roll back to the previous version of Windows 10 by going to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Go back to the previous version of Windows.

What happens if you press Windows Key + L. How many accounts to you see on that screen?

I've heard a lot of things happening when Windows updates, but I've never heard of it wiping out a user account. If this was not a version update, you won't have the option to roll back to the previous version. And if a user account was wiped out, you're not going to get it back. But you can create a new user account and import files from the old user account (assuming the old account is still in C:\Users\Name of lost account. However this will not bring back the programs that were install - all programs would have to be reinstalled if you created a new user account and imported data.

But before you do anything, try Windows Key + L to bring up the login screen.

Let us know what you find out.

--- Carolyn wrote back: "Thank you so much, The Windows(key) plus L did the trick. You have come to our aid again. I knew I could depend on you. You are my HERO."

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Bryan wants to sync all his devices
I have a cell phone, an Android Tablet and a (Windows) laptop and would like to sync them together maybe through the 'cloud' but haven't a clue as to how this can be done. How can his be achieved? Kind regards and thanks a lot for your help over many years - Bryan (N.Z.)

Our answer
Hi Bryan. Thanks so much.

Since you already have Gmail and therefore a Google account, you can sync bookmarks, mail and files with your Google account. All you need to do is turn on Syncing on - on all your devices ( your computer, your phone and your tablet). You can upload pictures, documents and other files to Google Drive. Google gives you 15 GB of free "cloud" drive space. Your Gmail and your bookmarks will automatically be share.

In Gmail click on Settings icon and turn on Sync... it's right at the top when you open Settings.

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In Windows 10 Version 1809 (October 2018 Update) there will be a feature in Settings to sync your Android phone with your PC with just a click.

I hope this helps you, Bryan.

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SeniorPass is valid for unlimited computer care & repair sessions for one full year starting with the first time you use it. The clock does not start ticking until you use your SeniorPass for the first time. A great deal!

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Windows USB Troubleshooter
Windows 7, Windows 8x and Windows 10 (all versions)

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Sometimes USB devices have problems and when it happens it can be frustrating. We're big fans of choosing the simplest fix first. Why? Because it saves time. If the simplest fix doesn't work, then you'll still have the opportunity to roll up your sleeves dig down and look at other things that may be causing USB issues - like drivers and USB Controllers (in Device Manager).

But today, we're going suggest the easy way and tell you about Microsoft's Windows USB Troubleshooter. All you have to do is download and run it - and let it do its magic.

It's particularly good at fixing the problem where Windows "Safely remove hardware and eject media" is not working correctly. If that happens, you may not be able to safely eject a USB device from your computer. You may see a notice the USB device isn't detected or that the device is currently in use when it isn't.

The Windows USB Troubleshooter was made to diagnose and repair USB problems like the ones mentioned and others. According to Microsoft the USB Troubleshooter was create to work with USB audio, storage, and print devices—such as thumb drives, USB hard drives, and USB printers—that do not eject using the Safely Remove Hardware dialog box.

You can download Windows USB Troubleshooter from Microsoft from this link. The file name is "WinUSB.diagcab". All you have to do is download it and run it.

If you have your settings have been changed so Windows is not automatically updating device drivers, you will see a popup when running the Troubleshooter than you need to allow driver updates. You'll have a choice of changing your settings to allow driver updates via Windows update, or "Continue" and update drivers without changing your settings. I like to keep my drivers updated myself and have them turned off in Windows Update, so I chose "Continue"

When the USB Troubleshooter finishes, you'll get a Troubleshooting report that shows you a list of any issues that were found and repaired. The Troubleshooter will also show you a list of potential issues that were checked.

The Windows USB Troubleshooter works on Windows 7, Windows 8x and Windows 10 (all versions).

First. a big thanks to Ron E. for suggesting this tip. It’s something that very few people know is there, but it’s something almost everyone will want to use.

We don’t know what the official name is either, Ron. When Microsoft uses the word “Dehydration” to describe the process of deleting local copies of files in One Drive, that gives us a lot of latitude. So, our new official name for them is: File Explorer’s tiny buttons.

They’re tiny – almost unnoticeable – but they can change the look of your folder content from List view to Large icon view and back with just a click.

Here, we’ll show you. Open File Explorer (Windows Key + E) and follow along with us.

Above: Clicking on the tiny button on the left, change the File Explorer view to “List (details)” view.

And below, you can see that clicking on the tiny button on the right changes the File Explorer view to “Large icon” view. See?

Now anytime you’re viewing files and folders in File Explorer, you can use File Explorer’s tiny buttons to switch back and forth between List view and Large Icon view.

How to Recover Missing Bookmarks in Chrome After a Chrome Update
Windows 7, Windows 8x, Windows 10 (all versions)
Chrome browser

Marjorie, one of our Cloudeight subscriber, alerted us to this problem that has plagued many Chrome user. It seems that when Chrome updates it sometimes removes all the user's bookmarks. We checked on this phenomenon and found that's it more common than we thought.

Luckily, Chrome automatically creates a backup of your bookmarks every time you open Chrome; they're saved in a file called bookmarks.bak. We were able to help Marjorie recover her bookmarks.

If a Chrome update wipes our your bookmarks, you can get them back. Here's how:

First, make sure you are able to view hidden files and folders in Windows. See our tutorial here if you're not sure how to do this.

Once you're able to view hidden files and folders here's what you need to do:

1. Make sure that Google Chrome is closed.

2. Open File Explorer (Windows Key + E) and navigate to:

C:\Users\NAME\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default

(note: for NAME you will need to substitute your Windows User Name)

3. In that folder you'll see two files: Bookmarks and Bookmarks.bak. The latter one is the most recent backup that Chrome created the very last time you opened the browser.

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4. Rename the Bookmarks file to Bookmarks.old and then rename Bookmarks.bak to Bookmarks.

5. Close File Explorer.

6. Open Chrome

Now all your bookmarks should be back in Chrome.

Two Quick and Useful Browser Right-Click Tips
Windows 7, Windows 8x, Window 10 (all versions)
Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Internet Explorer

These tips work in any browser. They are very simple and maybe most of you know them. But if you do this will be a reminder.

You can open any page in a new browser window by right-clicking the link and choosing “Open page in a new window” (in Firefox and Chrome):

If you click on a download link the download will start and it will save to your default download location. But what happens if you try to download a PDF file? Normally, if you click a link to a PDF file, the file opens in your browser. Of course, after it does, you can save it to your computer. But what if you just want to download the PDF file?

In Chrome or Firefox, right-click the download link and choose “Save link as”. A File Explorer (Windows Explorer) window will open and you can choose where to save the file – you’ll even be able to rename it.

In Internet Explorer or Edge, right-click the download link and choose “Save target as”.

Now, if you already knew these two easy tips… this is a reminder. If you didn’t know them, you learned something new. Right?

Text Tips
Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Windows 10 (all versions)

This tip works in most word processing programs, text editors, and in some email programs.

Want to move around in a document, an email you are typing, or other items you may be editing the easy way? Amaze your friends, startle your cronies, make your enemies writhe in jealously.

Here are some easy tips to help you move around documents, emails and other text-based items you’re editing:

To move insertion point to the beginning of the next word. Control Key + Right Arrow
To move insertion point to the beginning of the previous word. Control key + Left Arrow
To move insertion point to the beginning of the next paragraph. Control Key + Down Arrow
To move insertion point to the beginning of the previous paragraph. Control Key + Up Arrow

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It’s the weekend again… so I went looking for something different, and I came up with an amazing weather app called Ventusky. Why do they call it Ventusky? We’ll get to that in a minute.

There are weather apps and then there are weather apps, but I’ve never seen a weather app like Ventusky. You can see the weather, anywhere in the world, come alive in colorful animated visualizations that you can zoom in and out.

You can view the weather anywhere in the world – or the whole world at once You can view the map by specifying what you want to look at – such as temperature, thunderstorms. snow cover, wind speed, barometric pressure, the freezing level, the and many more. Are you a Fahrenheit(°F) or a Celsius (°C) person? You’ll be happy that Ventusky lets you choose between them.

I spent over an hour viewing the animated maps and visualizations – it fascinated me. II particularly like the viewing the temperature, freezing level, and winds. The jet stream maps were also fascinating. But rather than trying to describe to you all you can do with Ventusky, you’ll see very quickly how much you can do just by visiting Ventusky. Once you visit, you’ll quickly learn how to use the various viewing options and how to zoom in and out on the maps and more – it’s all very intuitive.

Also, you can view weather data from the past as well as current data – and look ahead with forecasts for anywhere in the world. You and zoom in and zoom out on an interactive, animated map.

I’ve reviewed a lot of weather apps – but I’ve never seen anything as fun, as educational and as comprehensive as Ventusky.

OK you’re wondering why they call it Ventusky? Ventusky is a creative combination of the Latin word for wind – “ventus” – and the English word “sky”. Pretty clever.

Meteorological visualizations and weather predication is the focus of Ventusky. But do I think Ventusky is going to take the place of your good old Accuweather or Weather.com apps?. I really doubt it. But if you’re looking for an amazing and comprehensive worldwide weather site, one with magnificent animated visualizations of the weather anyplace on earth, you’re going to really like Ventusky.

Ventusky works in all major browsers, including Chrome, Internet Explorer, Opera, Firefox, Safari, and Microsoft Edge. If you don’t use any of those, I’d be willing to bet it works in whatever browser you do use.