Cloudeight InfoAve Premium Bonus Questions & Answers: Part 15
Each week we receive more questions than we can answer in the newsletter due to space restrictions. We try to answer every question we receive. Unfortunately, we just don’t have room to put all the questions and answers in our weekly Premium newsletter.
So now, each week, we will put some of the questions and answers we had to leave out of or Cloudeight InfoAve Premium newsletter and post them here and share them with our Cloudeight InfoAve Premium subscribers, our InfoAve Daily subscribers and our website visitors also.
Below are just a few of the questions and answers that we didn’t have room in this week’s (January 24, 2020 – Issue #850) InfoAve Premium newsletter.
Thanks so much to all of you who sent us your questions last week. Please keep them coming!
Imogene asks about an office program (and office programs)
Hi, again My main question today is I want to buy a software office suite including a spreadsheet for use without going on the internet. I am willing to pay the $60.00 for one called ‘Office Professional 2016 1 PC (Lifetime Download) by Ms-key’ on Amazon IF I knew it is safe, will have support to help me, and I do not have to go online to use it. I trying to use MS Office online, but I do not like going to Cloud as I need to print and also want privacy for my vital medicine log spreadsheet. I have tried using Libre Office and somehow it not work, /operator trouble! me probably, so tried Neat and have to use Libre Office to open Neat even though I uninstalled Libre Office. It would maybe be better to use Lire Office only and remove the other 2.
Our answer
Hi Imogene. First – you only need one good office program. One has to be set as your default for opening office document types. Having more than one causes conflicts and confusion – and I know you don’t want that.
I’m not familiar with “Office Professional 2016” but just by its name, it sounds like it’s not being updated. Office Professional 2016 sounds 4-years-old. I’d be skeptical of paying $60 for a program that has not been updated in 4 years.
Have you tried OpenOffice? It’s free and has a full suite of office programs. It’s updated all the time and it’s been a trusted office suite for many years. See www.openoffice.org for more information.
But… I’m wondering why Libre Office stopped working. How did you uninstall it? Did you use an uninstaller program like Geek or Hibit or did you just remove it using Windows? And any time you uninstall a program to reinstall it, you always need to reboot before reinstalling it. Uninstalling and reinstalling without rebooting in between won’t work because you need to reboot to remove all the registry entries and program data – to wipe the slate clean, so to speak. So, maybe before you try OpenOffice you should use Geek Uninstaller or HiBit uninstaller to remove Libre Office completely. Then restart your computer and try installing Libre again. See if it works for you. If so, you don’t need another office program.
I hope this helps you.
Janet has laptop battery troubles
Every so often my computer says my internal battery is very low. I’ve researched buying a new one but it would be difficult to replace (not like I did on my old computer) and the tec. at the store said they didn’t replace them. Then someone told me that their computer has said that for a long time but it keeps working and not to worry about it. Why is this happening and do I need to be concerned? I keep it plugged in all the time.
Our answer
Hi Janet. Since your battery is hard to remove, try this:
1. Unplug the power cord.
2. Turn off your PC (power it off)
3. Leave it off for 5 minutes.
4. Leave it unplugged and turn it back on. Leave it on for 2 or 3 minutes.
5. Turn it off again (power it off).
6. Wait five minutes, plug the power cord in and turn the PC back on.
Now see if the battery shows that it’s charging. You can also try running a battery health report. This should show you how healthy your laptop batter is See our article here.
I hope this helps you, Janet.
David wants to know if it’s OK to use the browser extension called “Honey”
What do you say about the add-on “Honey”? Is it okay to use it?
Our answer
Hi David. Honey is OK to use. Honey was just purchased by PayPal.
However, you cannot use Honey on Amazon. Amazon says it’s spyware. But that’s odd because Amazon has a shopping assistant that does the virtually the same thing as Honey – go figure.
Any extension that compares prices is going to have to collect some personal data to save you money by comparing prices.
Nothing is ever really free, is it?
Geoff wants to know how to enter his Emsisoft license
Hi, folks. I did not know how to contact you so hope this is OK. I have Emsisoft. I had to re-download it and reinstall it. But now I have the trial version. I cannot get my license to go in. Can you help me, please? I bought the license from you good folk. Many thanks, Geoff.
Our answer
Hi Geoff. Thanks so much for your support. We made a quick and easy tutorial showing how to enter an Emsisoft license.
Please see our Emsisoft license tutorial here.
If you need anything else, please let me know.
Bette can’t download Windows updates
I can’t download windows updates, get net help msg 2182, I’m not comfortable working in the registry. Is this something you can help with if I purchase a computer care package? Thanks, Bette.
Our answer
Hi Bette. It sounds like you need to reset the Windows Update components. If you want to try it yourself… see our instructions on this page. The update tool can be a bit confusing so make sure you read the instructions carefully.
If you don’t want to tackle it yourself and you have a Cloudeight Direct Computer Care key we can reset your Windows updates for you and that should solve the problem.
If you don’t have a repair key you can get one from https://thundercloud.net/direct/
If you need any more help, don’t hesitate to ask.
Barb lost “Cloudie”
I’ve lost Cloudie again. I know it’s not important, but Cloudie is my preferred desktop icon for accessing NOTH. He doesn’t appear in the options to change the icon options are very limited and I don’t know how to increase these options. If you ever have a spare minute, would you get Cloudie back for me? I think Windows Updates are responsible for losing things at times. Little things do matter. I use that icon daily as I’m always searching Google and I always do it from my NOTH page in the hope that there might be some advantage for Cloudeight if people use it. Thank you both for your help, you are keeping so many people happy and inspiring confidence in those who need it.
Our answer
Hi Barb. Thanks for your nice comments and your support.
Cloudie is what is called a Favicon. We have included it with all our site links but we don’t control who sees it – some browsers display it and some do not. If you clear your cache or history, or clean temp files it may disappear temporarily. Most browsers display a site’s Favicon automatically with shortcuts to the related website.
You can download the Cloudie icon here… and use it wherever you want.
Carol had a pretty shut down screen and now it’s ugly
I used to have a picture on my shut down screen. When I updated my “Edge” it went away and now shows an ugly blue screen. How can I get it back? I love all your tips and tricks. Thank you, Carol
Our answer
Hi Carol. Thanks for your nice comments.
On that screen, I think you are referring to the lock screen… try this and tell me if it fixes the ugly!
Next to the start button, in the search area (taskbar search), type Lock Screen, then press Enter. You can change the background picture there.
I hope that helps solve the problem of the ugly screen!
———
Carol wrote back: “Wow, you guys are quick in responding!!! Problem solved with your help. Thank you, Thank you, Carol”
Dick is not receiving our InfoAve Daily newsletter
Is anyone else having problems receiving your daily newsletter? I receive your Friday large letter just fine but I can’t receive your daily one. It seemed to stop when the latest software update to my iPad took place. I even tried to receive it by applying under my GMAIL account. Still no daily letter. I used to really enjoy reading all your daily tips, as even though I use an iPad a lot, I also use two regular PCs, and the daily letter does not load on them either. Strange… Anyway, I still think you are both better than thick peanut butter on a piece of toast, and that’s the best compliment you could receive. You are great and have been for years.
Our answer
Hi Dick. The daily newsletter is being sent almost every night. We get a delivery report and 98% of our subscribers are receiving the newsletter, why you’re not, I cannot explain… or even guess.
Try subscribing by using the link below. Let me know if it tells you you’re already a member when you put in your Gmail address or it accepts you as a new subscriber. This is a relatively new subscription link.
Subscribe to the Cloudeight InfoAve Daily newsletter – it’s free!
Our daily newsletter is sent via Google and we cannot add or remove anyone from this list – it’s controlled and secured by Google.
Let me know if that subscription link works for you.
Thanks again for subscribing to our newsletters and for you nice comments and support.
Kathie has a myriad of problems after upgrading to Windows 10
I am fit to be tied. I have a huge problem. I upgraded my Windows 7 to 10 less than a month ago. Everything was working great. Then Windows did an update and now none of my apps will work and I can’t open any of my pictures w/out getting a warning…File System error (-2147219196) on every picture I try to open.
I sat at this computer for at least 6 hours + trying to find fixes. I found a few pages on the Internet explaining how to fix apps and photos but I can’t do any of them because I don’t have settings in the start menu so I opened the apps and clicked on settings from there. When I got the page Apps & Features I don’t have photos on the list so I can’t reset it. I tried resetting the Calculator but it still doesn’t work, none of them do now. So I tried to do an sfc /scannow as one web page suggested (some even suggested going into the Registry..NO WAY am I even going to contemplate going into the Registry. That scares me to death.) and all it does is flash and goes away.
So I started going through all my Info Ave newsletters trying to find solutions where you may have helped someone else hoping it would help me too. Finally, I had to go to the Info Ave page on the Internet and put Reset in the search box. I read the page How to Reset Windows 10 & Keep Personal Files. Ok, my question……should I do a recovery or is it time to invest in a SeniorPass?
I use Eusing Free Registry Cleaner, I’ve used it for years with Windows 7 and never had a problem. I ran the software about a week ago. Could that have damaged my apps? I also use ToniArts EasyCleaner. Used it since Windows XP. Never had a problem. Thank you for your help. Kathleen (Kathie)
Our answer
Hi Kathie. I’m sorry to hear you’re having so many problems. I can tell you this – after having upgraded over 100 computers from Windows 7 to Windows 10, your problems are unique and certainly not typical
First of all, free registry cleaners are a big Cloudeight no-no. Cleaning the registry is not necessary. Back in the day of 540 MB or 2 GB hard drives, it may have been, but now 1TB and larger drives, cleaning the registry does nothing at all to speed up your computer and as you’ve found out running a free registry cleaner can cause huge problems. Windows 10 has built-in maintenance programs that run automatically and generally for good maintenance it does a decent job. And running off-the-wall cleaners can cause problems too -as you seem to have found out. Windows 10 Storage Sense (see this page) can automatically clean up your PC safely.
At this point, the fastest, easiest way to fix your computer is to do a System Reset. This will keep your files (pictures, documents, desktop, music, videos), remove all non-Windows apps and reinstall Windows 10. When it’s done running you’ll need to reinstall all the programs that you installed – Windows will leave a list of programs that were removed. You do not need to reinstall them all – I strongly advise you not to reinstall the registry cleaner or the clean-up program you used in the past.
For instructions on how to do a Windows 10 Reset and keep all your files see this page.
Since that article was written Microsoft has added a Cloud recovery option (see this page) but I think you’ll be fine using the information here.
If you do a standard Windows 10 reset it will take about 45-60 minutes to complete. If you do a Cloud recovery it will take longer.
If you have any more questions or need more help, please let me know.
Audrey found Reimage installed on her computer and she tried to delete it
All of a sudden Reimage Repair has entered my computer. I do not know where it came from but it is doing things to my computer can you help me? I deleted it but it is still there so checked and it is not listed and I do not know what to do, can you help me?
Our answer
Hi Audrey. Reimage was once a legitimate program. It was purchased by a company that chose to turn it into a PUP. It usually gets installed on computer surreptitiously -bundled with other programs, particularly freeware.
I don’t know how you tried to remove it, but just a reminder you can’t just delete an installed program, you have to uninstall it.
The best way to uninstall it is to use an uninstaller program like Geek or HiBit.
You can get Geek uninstaller free from this page.
Or
You can get HiBit uninstaller free from this page.
Run the uninstaller you downloaded and find Reimage in the list of programs and then uninstall it.
If you still can’t find it to uninstall it, please let me know.
Karen asks about Google Chrome
Hi Darcy/TC, I am having issues with Google & also Chrome or Google Chrome and am getting confused with this. I was using Chrome & then Google Chrome shows up. You folks have helped me before and I hope that I can get one of you to help me get this mess sorted out. I am hoping you can get back to me and advise me as to what I should do here. Thanks so much, look forward to your reply. Karen
Our answer
Hi Karen. You are thinking that Chrome and Google Chrome are two different browsers. They are not. Google makes Chrome, just like Microsoft makes Microsoft Windows. Whether you call it Windows or Microsoft Windows they are the same. And Mozilla makes Firefox. You could call Firefox or Mozilla Firefox -they are the same.
You can’t have two copies of Chrome on the same computer. Whether you call it Google Chrome or Chrome, it’s the same program.
The simpler you make things, the easier they are.
Becky wants to know more about upgrading to Windows 10
Hi Darcy. I do have some questions. If I switch to Emsisoft on his computer, will it still need to be shut down for the upgrade? Also, my AT&T email goes through Yahoo email and so does my husband, Jim’s. Will that be a problem? I think I saw that mentioned somewhere, And also, I wondered if you can give me an idea of how long the upgrade will take? Thanks for your time and help. Becky
Our answer
Hi Becky. Emsisoft does not interfere with the Windows 10 upgrade.
Mail is not affected at all. The only thing we have seen is for some reason Yahoo mail does not work on our web form if you use it to submit a question so just put us in your address book and email us directly if you ever need something.
We will initiate the upgrade and verify that the upgrade is proceeding normally – then we’ll disconnect as once the upgrade starts it’s automatic. It can take anywhere from 1 to 5 hours to complete. Most upgrades complete within 2 or 3 hours. If you have an extremely fast internet connection it will only take an hour or so. The time it takes varies with the speed of your connection and the speed of your computer.
Once your computer has been upgraded to Windows 10, we reconnect and do the customization to make your computer work and look more like Windows 7.
I hope this answers your questions!
Jim asks about Gmail playing multimedia files
Do ya’ll have anything to say about Gmail not playing videos like MP4s and such? I understand this has been going on for over a year.
I don’t use Gmail directly, just indirectly. I use Microsoft Outlook as my email client but Gmail is one of my accounts. I’ve never really known about it I’m just asking for my brother-in-law so please say something impressive to tell him. I don’t want to appear as dumb as he is. Thanks, Jim
Our answer
Hi Jim. Gmail on the Web is a webmail application it receives email (POP3 or IMAP) and sends email (SMTP). Gmail and other email applications are not media players. If you check Gmail using Chrome (or most any other browser) you’ll be able to play multimedia files embedded in or attached to the email -if your browser supports playing them. If you check Gmail with a mail program like Thunderbird or Outlook, the media player installed your PC plays the multimedia files attached to or embedded in your emails if the email client integrates with your OS media player. When you check Gmail with a mail program, Gmail is just another email account like the account.
Mail applications are not media players but they integrate with media players in browsers and media players installed on operating systems like Windows.
I hope this helps you explain it to your brother-in-law.
You made it! Thanks for reading the extra questions and answers from Cloudeight InfoAve.
Did you know you can get daily tips and tricks sent to your inbox free?
I really appreciate your taking the time to do these “Bonus Questions”. I read your weekly and daily newsletters and get a lot of helpful information from them. Have been following you for many years and have watched you both work on my laptop and PC several times over the years. You provide such a wonderful service to so many people. I am sure we will meet up again on one of my machines sooner or later. Thank you and God Bless you both.
Thanks Judy!