Our Spring Pay What You Like Sale is Back!

Spring is right around the corner and we're celebrating by bringing back one of our most popular sales ever! We're giving you the option to choose what you pay for some of our most popular products & services.

During our Spring Sale you can choose the price you want to pay for any of the following products & services:

• Cloudeight Direct Computer Repair - Single Key
• Cloudeight Direct Computer Care Season Ticket - Computer Care for one full year.
• Thunderbird Email Installation and Setup
• Emsisoft Anti-Malware installation, setup and a one-year Emsisoft license
• Don't need anything? Please help us with a donation.

Get all the details here and get a great deal on a great product or service.

A comment from Marsha
I want to thank TC for the clean up on Monday. He spent over an hour removing malware, cleaning my computer and optimizing things. My computer runs so much faster now. I highly recommend Cloudeight's services. I wouldn't hesitate doing it again in the future.

A Comment From Debbie
Yesterday Darcy worked her magic on my computer and got it running it top form. I honestly don't know what I would have done without TC & Darcy all these years! Their help is invaluable and their Direct Computer care has bailed me out more than once. Thank you for all you do for us! Take advantage of their knowledge and let them connect to your computer & work their magic. You won't regret it!

A comment from Brad
My computer is still working beautifully. TC, you did a great job on it last week. Thank you. I recommended you to one of my skeptical friends. Thanks again.

A Comment From Suzie
I have to tell everyone about the great service you offer. I had read lots of the testimonials and thought... Yeah, right! I bet they can't fix my computer - it was such a mess. I can tell you this: They not only fixed my computer but they gave me some tips to help me keep my computer from getting all messed up again. Don't let their low prices scare you - this service is worth 3x what they charge for it. I just bought another Cloudeight Direct key and I'm saving it just it case. But right now my computer runs as better than I ever thought possible.

A big Cloudeight "Thank you!" to Marsha, Debbie, Brad, Suzie and everyone who took time out to write to us, share a comment and/or share us on Facebook! We appreciate your kind words and your support very much! EB & TC. 

Your Purchase Helps Us!
When you purchase any Cloudeight Direct Computer Care Service, you get the best computer care and repair, at the lowest possible price. Plus, each Cloudeight Direct Computer Care service you purchase goes a long way in helping to support our small business.

Your computer fixed - while you watch!
With our Cloudeight Computer Care, we'll fix your computer while you watch. You'll be getting the best computer repair service available, at the best price, from people you trust. Our Cloudeight Direct Computer Care single repair keys are a great deal. They are good until you use them.

For more information see our Cloudeight Direct Computer Care home page!

Ralph uninstalled Solitaire from Windows 10 and wants it back
I'm using Windows 10 version 1909. I somehow uninstalled the Microsoft Solitaire Collection and can't install it again. How can I download it?

Our answer
Hi Ralph. Try this: From the Windows 10 Start menu, choose Microsoft Store. Once the MS Store opens click on Search. In the search box start typing Microsoft Solitaire Collection and click on it when Microsoft Solitaire Collection appears below the search box -- see the screenshot below:



When Microsoft Solitaire Collection page opens click the Install button.

If you don’t see an Install button, then you'll know that Microsoft Solitaire Collection has not been removed. If that’s the case you may want to go to Settings > Apps > Apps & Features. Click on Microsoft Solitaire Collection and you’ll see the option to repair or reset.

Nora is using Windows 10 Version 1903 and wants to know about Version 1909
Right now I have Version 1903. If I install 1909 and have problems how do I go back to 1903? I’m completely new to Windows 10 and don’t want to screw anything up. Thanks for any help.

Our answer
Hi Nora. I’m not aware of any problems with Version 1909 (it was released almost 4 months ago). Since you’re using Windows 10 Version 1903, the upgrade to Version 1909 is not a major version upgrade, it’s considered to be like one of the old service packs were in previous versions of Windows.

However, all computers are different. If you do have problems with Version 1900, you have 10 days to roll back to the previous version of Windows without losing any files, programs, etc. See our article here. This is the same option you have with all Windows 10 version updates.

Candace has a question about the safety of email
Question: Is it just email attachments that may be unsafe, or can opening email messages without attachments also be unsafe? Thanks.

Our answer
Hi Candace. Email without attachments can be opened safely. However opening emails from sites that deal with highly personal and sensitive information may contain links that are not safe and if fact can be very harmful.

Links in emails that appear to be from banks, credit card sites, or even the government that ask you to click to verify your password or to view suspicious activity in your account are almost always dangerous. So you have to be careful. Banks, credit card companies, government agencies, and other sites that deal with your sensitive personal information never ask you to click a link to change your password or check your account for suspicious activity. Legitimate sites will send you an email asking you to log in to your account not trick you into clicking a link to log in.

If an email has an attachment the email can be opened as long as you don't open the attachment(s). That being said, if you're not absolutely sure who sent you the attachment and what it is, you're better off deleting it without opening it.

I hope this answers your questions.

It's springtime and time to get your computer ready for spring & summer. With our Spring Cleanup service, we'll make that EASY for you.  

• We'll connect to your computer and do a deep scan for malware
• We'll check your computer for suspicious programs
• We'll check your browser for problematic extensions/add-ons
• We'll optimize your startups.
• We will check your hard drive
• We'll check your Windows services and optimize them when necessary.
• If you choose, we'll remove your current security software and install Emsisoft and give you a FREE 3-month license
• This service is available for a limited time only.

Get more information and/or get your spring cleanup here!

*Note: Our Spring Cleanup Service does not include repairs.

Our Top 10 Windows 10 Windows Key Shortcuts
Windows 10

Everyone uses their computers in different ways. We’re shortcut fans; anything that saves time is welcome. If you’re not using Windows Key shortcuts you’re missing out. Windows Key shortcuts can save you time, but only if you use them.

We put our heads together this morning to come up with a list of what we think are the ten most valuable and useful Windows Key shortcuts. These are the Windows Key shortcuts we use most often, and we hope you find these shortcuts useful too!

Using Windows Key shortcuts is a great way to save time. Do you use Windows Key shortcuts as much as we do?

How to Get a Copy of All the Data Google Has Collected From You
For everyone with a Google account

There's more to Google than Chrome and Gmail. Google runs a lot of other services like YouTube, Google Drive, Hangouts and others that are all collecting information about you. Google does allow you to have some control over that information, and they also allow you to download and saved a copy of everything they have about you.

If you want to download a copy of all the data stored on Google's servers about you, it's really quite easy to do. Not only is this a good learning lesson to see how much data is collected about you, but you could also actually use it as a backup. For example, if you have a lot of important email messages stored on Gmail, if you download all the data Google has about, you'll also have a backup copy of your Gmail messages on your PC.

All this data about you is being served up for takeout. That's right, just like your favorite Chinese restaurant, Google can package up your data for takeout.

Head over to https://takeout.google.com/settings/takeout. If you're not already logged into your Gmail account, you'll need to log in. Once you're there and logged in, all you have to do is choose what data you want to export for download to your PC.

That's just some of the data you can export - there's a lot more.  After you've chosen the data you want to download, you can choose your delivery options, file type, and even automatically get your data from Google every two months for 1 year.

Data is money and when you see all the data Google has about you, you'll know why they have so much money.

Enjoy your takeout.

How to Control Windows 10 Notifications
Windows 10 (all supported versions)

Notifications are those little popups that appear in the lower right-hand corner on your screen on Windows 10 just above the notification area (near the clock).  By default, you’ll get notifications about new emails, apps, system updates, and other events.

By default, Notifications are only displayed for five seconds. If you’re busy writing an email or doing something else on your computer you might not have time to read the notification before it disappears. You can view them later in the Action Center by clicking on the Action Center icon near the right edge of your taskbar or using the Windows key + A shortcut.

You can also change the length of time notifications are shown from the default 5 seconds to as long as 5 minutes.  You can choose from 5 seconds, 7 seconds, 15 seconds, 30 seconds, 1 minute, and 5 minutes.

Here’s how to change how long notifications are shown.

1.) Type HOW LONG in the taskbar search & press Enter.

2.) Scroll down the Settings page that opens. Under “Show notifications for” click the tiny down area to expand the drop-down menu and choose how long you want Windows 10 to display notifications.

That’s all there is to it. Windows will display the notification for whatever time interval you chose.

And if you’re one of those who think Notifications on Windows 10 are distracting, you can turn them off. 

Type NOTIFICATIONS in the taskbar search and press Enter. Under “Get notifications from apps and other senders”, turn the switch to “Off”. 

Additionally, you can also choose to uncheck some or all of the boxes that appear below the On/Off switch under Notifications.

Now you know how to take control of Windows 10 Notifications.
 

How to Turn Almost Any Website Into a Windows 10 App
Windows 10 (the new Microsoft Edge installed)

Have you ever wanted to make an app?  Here’s your chance to turn your favorite Websites into Windows 10 apps.  All you need is the new Microsoft Edge and a favorite Website. If you don’t have the new Microsoft Edge, you can get it free here.

How to turn your favorite Websites into Windows 10 Apps

1.) Visit the Website that you want to install as a Windows 10 App

2.) Click on the Settings icon (3 horizontal dots) near the top right corner of MS Edge. From the dropdown menu, click “Apps” then click “Install this site as an app”.

3.) That’s it! That’s all there is to turning a website into an app.

We installed Cloudeight InfoAve and USA Today as apps for this tutorial. Below you can see that Cloudeight InfoAve now appears as an App in the Windows 10 Start menu. If you right-click on it, you’ll see it displays the same options as any other app or desktop program.

Below… USA Today appears in the Windows 10 Start menu as an app.

You can pin the apps you create to the taskbar or the Windows 10 Start menu.

How do our two new apps look? Pretty good!

And you can use the settings icon to view app options, including “Uninstall”, “Zoom”, “Print” and more.

Even some of your extensions will work in the app. We’re using the Dark Reader extension below to make one of our articles easier to read at night.

Below you can see the other app we created for this tutorial. Our USA Today app.

Installing your favorite Website or a few of your favorite Websites as apps makes it easy to open them without fiddling around with your browser’s or your Favorites or bookmarks. Plus it’s fun and easy to do. And if down the road, you find you no longer want your apps, you can uninstall them from the Windows 10 Start menu or using Apps & Features in the Settings app.

Now you know how to install your favorite websites as Windows 10 apps – and it’s very easy to do… I tells ya!

Want more tips, tricks, and information?

We have thousands of Windows tips, tricks and more on our InfoAve web site.

Subscribe to our free InfoAve Daily newsletter.

Includes "Anytime Repair" with Our Unattended Support Feature!

SeniorPass: A Great Deal for Our Friends 60 and Older!

With our Cloudeight Direct Computer Care SeniorPass, our friends age 60 and older get one full year of unlimited computer care and repair for one low price. With our SeniorPass you'll get the best computer care anywhere - any time you need it!

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!

Having SeniorPass is just like having insurance for your computer. You'll get one full year of computer care and get help with almost any computer problem whenever you need it. We're here to help you.

Computer care & repair for one full year just $99!  Check out our SeniorPass offer right now!

Get your SeniorPass and/or get more information here.   

 GifCam

Have you ever wanted to take an animated screenshot of something you were doing on your computer to show someone else or to show a friend or family member how to do something? A picture is worth a thousand words. Showing someone an animation of what you mean or how to do something can much easier than trying to describe it. You can show off your computer prowess too. You friends and family members will be amazed when you show them how much you know about Windows with your amazing animations.

And no free software we know of makes it easier to create animated gifs than GifCam. GifCam is a very small, portable free program by Bahrain Apps and it’s earned a coveted place on my Start menu. Now instead of trying to explain how to do something on Windows or with a program, I can show them exactly how to do it.

While GifCam won’t replace my trusty FastStone Capture for still screenshots, FastStone can capture animations but the interface is anything but intuitive. GifCam is “out-of-the-box” intuitive.  Download it, unzip it, click it and use it. GifCam is proving it’s worth to me. It’s so easy to create “this is how you do it” animated gifs. GifCam is simple, useful and free.

It’s quite easy to use, just start it and you’ll see how it works, You can drag the GifCam frame to capture any area of your screen you want. Or you can do full-screen captures if you like. And if you do need more help with using GifCam you’ll find instructions on how to use it on the site. But most of you will find it quite intuitive and you’ll be able to figure it out by using the trusty old trial and error method.

Speaking of the old “trial and error” method. Sometimes I think I learn more by trial and error than I ever learned from reading instructions. Most of us learn by doing and we all learn from our mistakes. And I have not even scratched the surface of what GifCam can do – I’m not even close mastering this the program yet, but after using it only a few times I can tell you it’s already proving to be a valuable tool in my toolbox. I have already created some useful animations (see this page).

GifCam exports your animated screen captures as animated gifs by default, but you can also export them in Windows AVI format.

Above: Using GifCam. Drag the edges of the GifCam window to set the dimensions of the screen area you want to record. You can also create full-screen animations.

Above: A simple GifCam animation showing how to change the Windows 10 version 1909 lock screen picture to Windows spotlight or user slideshow.

Above: From the developer’s site showing how to add text to any animation.

Does it work in Windows 10? Yes. Although the developer’s site doesn’t mention Windows 10, GifCam works well on Windows 10 including the newest versions of Windows 10.

To read more about GifCam see this page. 

The direct download link is here.

GifCam is completely free to download and use forever. You will find a small PayPal button next to the download link giving you a chance to provide the developer with a small $2 donation should you feel the program is worth that tiny price. 

If you purchased or renewed Reg Organizer through Cloudeight within the last 12 months, you're entitled to a free version upgrade to Reg Organizer 8.43.

Save $14 on Reg Organizer right now!

Reg Organizer - A Swiss Army Knife of Windows Tools - Works Great on Windows 10!

On Spring and Dandelions

Spring comes early this year. It will arrive late in the day on March 19th. I can’t remember it ever coming that early, but at my age, I don’t remember much… I don’t remember what happened the last time spring came in a leap year. It might have been early that year too. It doesn’t matter. I’m quite satisfied that the universe is working as it should. And if it isn’t what I am going to do about it?

I noticed, this year, the dandelions have decided to come a little earlier too. Many people don’t like dandelions in their yards – they consider them to be weeds.

But they’re actually quite beautiful really.

Their bright yellow flowers signal that spring is near and the greening of the world is at hand. The perfect-lawn people hate dandelions and kill them with chemicals – to them, dandelions are just an ugly, useless weed.

But I think they are quite lovely. Their vivid yellow flowers are symbols of rebirth and childhood to me. The first flower I ever picked for my mom was a dandelion. I picked five or six of them and brought them home. I remember she put them in a glass of water. She was so happy with me for thinking of her. I must have been all of five-years-old then.

I bet most of us picked dandelions for our moms...

Please read the rest of this essay here.

Our Spring Pay What You Like Sale is Back!

Spring is right around the corner  and we're celebrating by bringing back one of our most popular sales ever! We're giving you the option to choose what you pay for some of our most popular products & services.

During our Spring Sale you can choose the price you want to pay for any of the following products & services:

• Cloudeight Direct Computer Repair - Single Key
• Cloudeight Direct Computer Care Season Ticket - Computer Care for one full year.
• Thunderbird Email Installation and Setup
• Emsisoft Anti-Malware installation, setup and a one-year Emsisoft license
• Don't need anything? Please help us with a donation.

Get all the details here and get a great deal on a great product or service.

Things to Remember When Changing Your Email Address

We get a lot of emails informing us of an email address change. Here a few tips to remember when changing your email address:

1. Don't use your old email address to email your contacts to tell them that you are changing your  email address. Use the new one.

2. If you have a PayPal account, be sure you log in to PayPal and add your new email address and remove the old.

3. Most newsletters have a way to change your address and that information can usually be found at or near the bottom of the newsletter.

4. If you're subscribed to our daily news, which is sent via Google, just unsubscribe and then rejoin with your new email address. Your old email address will automatically be purged.

 You can sign up for our InfoAve Daily newsletter in jiffy. Subscribe to our Cloudeight InfoAve Daily Newsletter. It's free!

<

Help us keep on helping you!

When you support us with a small gift, you help us continue our mission to keep you informed, separate the truth from the hyperbole, and help you stay safer online. Plus, our computer tips make your computer easier to use.

Did you know that we provide support to thousands of people? Every week we help dozens of people via email at no charge. The questions and answers you see in our newsletters are from the email answers and help we provide to everyone free of charge.

Thanks to your gifts, we do a lot more than provide this free newsletter. We help you recognize online threats, fight for your online privacy, provide you with the knowledge you need to navigate the Web safely, provide you with suggestions for safe, free software and websites, and help you get more out of your PC.

Please Help us keep up the good fight with a small gift.

Interested in making an automatic monthly gift? Visit this page. Help us keep helping you... and helping you stay safe on the Web.



Sales of the following products and services help support our newsletters, websites, and free computer help services we provide.

Cloudeight Direct Computer Care: Single Keys, SeniorPass or Season Tickets - always a great deal. Cloudeight Direct Computer Care is like having PC insurance. Get more information here.

Emsisoft Anti-Malware:  Emsisoft is the only Cloudeight endorsed and recommend Windows security program. It provides users with a complete antivirus, antimalware, anti-ransomware, anti-PUPs solution. We offer single Emsisoft licenses and multi-computer licenses at discount prices. Also, we offer our exclusive Emsisoft with Cloudeight installation & setup. Get more information here.

Thunderbird Email Setup: Thunderbird is a great email program that you can use with your Gmail and Outlook.com (Hotmail) webmail accounts as well as with your Internet provider's email. We'll set it up correctly you. Our set up includes configuring up to 3 email accounts and setting up Thunderbird to use stationery (if desired). Our Thunderbird Email Setup Service is always a great deal. For more information visit this page.

Reg Organizer 8.43: Reg Organizer is the Swiss Army Knife of Windows tools. It's far more than just a registry optimizer and cleaner... it's a Windows all-in-one toolkit. Reg Organizer helps you keep your computer in tip-top shape and helps you solve annoying Windows problems. Reg Organizer works great with Windows 10! Get more information about Reg Organizer (and get our special discount prices) here.

• InfoAve Weekly Subscribers' Home Page. You'll find the last few weeks of Cloudeight  InfoAve Weekly archived on this page.
• To change your subscription address, see "Manage your subscription" at the bottom of this newsletter.
• Submit your questions, comments, and suggestions for possible inclusion in our newsletters here. This form is for questions, comments, and suggestions for this newsletter. This form is not for product support, stationery questions, or general questions concerning our products or services.
• Submit your Windows tips and tricks here.
• Send us your suggestions and recommendations for future freeware picks and/or sites of the week
• Follow us on Twitter
• Find us on Facebook
• Help us Grow! Forward this email newsletter to a friend or family member - and have them sign-up for InfoAve Weekly here!
• Get our free daily newsletter! Each evening we send a short newsletter with a tip or trick or a computer-related article - it's short and sweet - and free. Sign-up right now.
• Have a question about a Cloudeight Software program, service, stationery, or need to ask about an order? Let us know!
• If you need help with one of our software programs, have a question about an order, or have a question about any of our email stationery, screensavers, or other products - please don't use our InfoAve Questions/Answers/Tips form. Use our general Cloudeight support form instead. 
• Print our Cloudeight Direct Flyer and spread the word about our computer repair service! If you want to help us by telling your friends about our Cloudeight Direct Computer Care service, you can download a printable flyer you can hand out or post on bulletin boards, etc. Get the printable PDF Cloudeight Direct Computer Care flyer here.

• Emsisoft Anti-Malware: The best anti-malware you'll find anywhere. Great protection -- both proactive and reactive. Learn more here.
• SeniorPass - One year of Cloudeight Direct Computer Care - unlimited sessions! Get more information here.
• Reg Organizer-- A Swiss Army knife of PC tools. Easy for beginners to use -- with advanced features for experienced users too. Get more info.
• Cloudeight Direct Computer Care - Our world-class remote computer care & repair service: You can't beat our prices or our service!  You never have to leave your home, take your computer anywhere or leave it with someone you don't know or trust. We can fix most computer problems, and all you have to do is sit back and relax. See our Cloudeight Direct Computer Care home page for more information.
• Thunderbird Email Setup: Let us set up Thunderbird for you. Thunderbird works great with Windows 7, Windows 8 and with all versions of Windows 10. Get more details here.
• Windows 10 Customization: Make Windows 10 look and work the way you want it to. Learn more.

• InfoAve Daily Tips & Tricks - We're offering something we think most of you will enjoy. We have a daily tips and tricks summary newsletter that is sent six days a week. It features daily tips, freeware picks, and site picks and interesting computer tips, tricks and more. It's short and sweet - very brief and lightweight. If you'd like to receive or daily tips and tricks newsletter (completely free, of course). You can subscribe here.
• Help us by using our Start Page. We have over 100 free games on our Start Page. Please use our Start Page and come and play all day. It costs nothing, and it helps us a lot.
• We have thousands of Windows tips and tricks and computer articles posted on our Cloudeight InfoAve website. Our site has a great search engine to help you find what you're looking for too! Please visit us today!
• Your InfoAve Weekly Members' Home Page is located here.
• Print our Cloudeight Direct Computer Care Flyer and spread the word about our Cloudeight Direct Computer Care repair services.  Get our ready-to-print flyer here.

We'd love to hear from you!

If you have comments, questions, a tip, trick, a freeware pick, or just want to tell us off for something, let us know.

If you need to change your newsletter subscription address, please see "Manage your subscription" at the very bottom of your newsletter.

We received hundreds of questions for possible use in IA news. Please keep in mind we cannot answer all general computer questions. We try to personally answer as many as we can. We can only use a few to in each week's newsletter, so keep this in mind. If you have a support question about a service or product we sell, please contact us here.



Subscribe to our Daily Newsletter!

Get computer tips & tricks every night. Our daily newsletter features a computer tip/trick or two every day. We send it out every night around 9 PM Eastern Time (USA). It's short and sweet, easy-to-read, and FREE. Subscribe to our Cloudeight InfoAve Daily Newsletter!

Print our Cloudeight Direct Computer Care Flyer!

Print our Cloudeight Direct Computer Care Flyer and spread the word about our Cloudeight Direct Computer Care repair services. Get our ready-to-print flyer here.



We hope you have enjoyed this issue of Cloudeight InfoAve Weekly. Thanks so much for your support and for being an InfoAve Weekly subscriber.

Have a great weekend.

Darcy & TC
Cloudeight InfoAve Weekly - Issue #856
Volume 17 Number 20
March 6, 2020

Not a subscriber?  Subscribe to our FREE Cloudeight InfoAve Weekly Newsletter here.

Share Us on Facebook!
We'd love for you to share us with your family and friends on Facebook. Help us by sharing us on Facebook!




"Cloudeight InfoAve Weekly" newsletter is published by:

Cloudeight Internet LLC
PO Box 73
Middleville, Michigan USA 49333-0073

Read our disclaimer about the tips, tricks, answers, site picks and freeware picks featured in this newsletter.

Copyright ©2020 by Cloudeight Internet