Saturday Bonus Questions and Answers – 012823
It”s the last Saturday in January and we’re slowly making our way to spring and all the things spring brings:- ) And, yay!, it’s Saturday and time for another edition of Saturday Bonus Questions & Answers.
Sometimes, the best tips and tricks are hidden in the published questions and answers. And rarely do we post questions and answers on this website. Today, we’re featuring some of the questions and answers from past issues of our InfoAve Weekly newsletters.
These questions & answers were selected at random from past InfoAve Weekly newsletters.
Saturday Bonus Questions and Answers – 012823
Anna wants to know what backup program we currently recommend
I am wondering what you currently recommend for a backup program for laptops. I have used Ashampoo Free for a while but have been having trouble with it recently. Thanks, Anna
Our answer
Hi Anna. We currently recommend File History which comes with Windows 10 and Windows 11. See our article here on using File History to back up your Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC. In Windows 11, File History is located in the Control Panel for now. All you need to use File History is an external hard drive with 1 TB of space or more.
If you have a Microsoft 365 subscription, you get 1 TB of cloud storage – this is also an excellent backup option. I currently use One Drive and File History to back up – but one or the other would be enough. OneDrive just makes it easy to access your files and folders from other devices or a new computer. But if you don’t have a Microsoft 365 subscription, you only get 5 GB of OneDrive backup space – so it would not be a viable backup option.
We hope this helps you, Anna.
——
Anna wrote back: “Thank you for the information. That was helpful. Anna”
Ken has a problem with the Windows 10 Settings app
When I click on start then setting it will come up but then disappear, what can I do to correct this matter?
Our answer
Hi Ken. First, before you do anything else, shut your computer off completely. All power off. Leave it off for 5 minutes, then turn it back on. Now try opening “Settings”.
If that does not work, run SFC and DISM scans (it’s easy but time-consuming) as described on this Cloudeight page.
After you run the scans, reboot your computer and see if “Settings” works.
If the Settings app still doesn’t work, you may be looking at doing a Windows reset, Here is a page that shows you how to do a Windows reset and keep all your files.
We hope this helps you, Ken.
Mona is having problems with her large collection of photos
I’m having a problem with the photo files on my computer. Because the capacity of my C: drive is not big enough to have my vast collection of photos, I have an external memory card (D:) to put many of my photos. I remember reading in a Thundercloud newsletter that Pictures on C: can be linked to D: drive (or another drive) to make the collection on both drives easily accessible. I also remember the article stated that the link could be deleted if it wasn’t as expected. (I’m having a problem in describing this because I can’t find that particular newsletter).
I would like to have all of my photos on the D: memory card, but when I try to move the photos on my C: drive to the D: drive, a comment appears stating that the destination folder is the same as the source folder. If I delete a file in the Pictures folder, it is also deleted in the D: Pictures folder.
I apologize, but my ‘senior’ mind can’t figure out how to delete the link. I am attempting to restore space on my C: drive so that I can upgrade to Windows 10. I have no interest in Windows 11 but would like to have Windows 10, version 20H2. I have tried several times but the upgrade never completes.
This is a long explanation but would be pleased if there is help available.
Our answer
Hi Mona. Before we get started, this may be something we’ll need to come to take a look at in order to help you.
You say you’re running out of space on your C: drive but you want them on both your C drive and D drive. If you don’t move them off the C: drive then you’ll still be out of space on your D drive. So, you will need to move the files from C: drive to another drive. I am not sure what the capacity of your memory card is but you should consider buying at least a 1 terabyte external drive so you have sufficient space to store your extensive photo collection – and to allow it to grow. You can purchase a 1TB external drive for around $50 to $60. Here’s one for $55.
If you get a message that you can’t move or copy files because the destination is the same as the source then you’re not moving the files properly. The easiest and simplest way to copy and/or move files is by adding “Copy to/Move to” to your right-click menu. You can do that easily by following the instructions on this page. Once you have that done, just select the files(images) you want to move from your C drive to your D drive and then right-click on the selected files and choose “Move to” and choose a folder on your D drive.
You can move your Pictures folder to another drive – but this will require an external hard drive and you leave the external drive plugged in all the time. Once you do this it will work and look as if the Pictures folder is on your C:\ drive.
To move your Pictures folder from its location at C:\Users\Your Username\Pictures to your D: drive, do this:
Right-click on your Pictures folder.
Choose “Properties”.
In the “Properties” dialog click on the “Location” tab.
Click the “Find Target” button and select your external drive or a folder on your external drive.
Click the “Move” button to move the Pictures folder to the new location.
Click “Apply” “OK”
Here’s a screenshot to help you.
From that point on, your Pictures folder will be on your D drive but it will function as if it were on your C: drive. Also note, that should you ever want to move your Pictures folder back to C:\Users\Your Username\Pictures, just open this dialog, click the Location tab and click on “Restore Default”.
But as we said, we might have to come take a look to see what’s going on and why you’re getting the error “the destination folder is the same as the source folder”.
We hope this helps you, Mona.
Lee cannot access a holiday (vacation) Website
Dear Darcy and TC. My query is that when I go into one particular website, a holiday company that I have signed up with, after a few seconds, or if I try to access my booking details the screen “grays out” and won’t move. I can only exit the page. I don’t have an ad blocker, but something is obviously blocking me on my laptop. I can access the site on my phone and on my wife’s laptop. I don’t have a problem with other sites. Do you have any suggestions? Thanks again for all your help in the past. Best regards, Lee.
Our answer
Hi Lee. Did you try a different browser on the computer where the site “grays out”? Did you try clearing your browser’s history and cache and resetting it? If your reset your browser that will automatically clear the history and the cache. Here is our tutorial page that shows you how to reset most popular browsers. We suggest that you restart your computer after resetting your browser – then try the site again.
If that does not work then let us know what browser you use and what the site URL (address) is, and we can take a look.
Let us know if this helps you, Lee.
——
Lee wrote back: “Dear TC. Thanks for your advice. Previously searched for the site on Start Page. I tried Edge but had no luck. Then I tried Google Chrome and got into the site without it graying out, so now I can now access my account. The simplest things are always the best! Many thanks again. Lee.”
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J wants to know whether to make an installation or recovery drive
Hi. I came across your website whilst seeking ways of finding various Product Keys for Microsoft products. You have some very interesting & useful articles and I’ve learned a few things today!
I do have some questions having read these two articles:-
https://www.thundercloud.net/infoave/new/how-to-make-a-windows-10-recovery-drive-2/
I can see that one is created using windows features on the pc itself and the other is created via Microsoft’s website. One is called an Installation Drive, the other a Recovery Drive. I’m struggling, however, to understand what the difference is (or the differences are) between the end results. If we take the DVD format out of the picture and assume I were to use separate USB flash drives for both exercises, how exactly would the content of the two drives differ? Do I actually need to do both because they would be used in different scenarios? I’m wondering if the locally created drive would “pick up” things that are particular to my setup.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Our answer
Hi J. Since Windows 10 or Windows 11, installation media allows you to boot your PC and access repair tools as well as provide a means of repair-installing, re-installing, or clean installing Windows, it does everything the recovery drive does plus a whole lot more.
The choice of USB or DVD depends on your PC and your knowledge of BIOS settings. Many new PCs – especially laptops – do not come with DVD/CD drives, obviously if you’re using one of those an installation DVD would not do you much good. If you’re using an older laptop or desktop or all-in-one your BIOS may not be set to boot from a USB, in which case you’d have to change the boot order settings in the BIOS. It’s not hard to do, but many people don’t know how to even access the BIOS.
Our recommendation – if your PC has a DVD/CD drive – create a Windows installation DVD since the BIOS is already set to boot from a bootable DVD. If you understand the BIOS settings, and you feel comfortable changing the boot order (if necessary) then you can create a bootable installation USB.
In any case, it makes a lot more sense to us to have a bootable DVD (or USB) than to have a recovery drive. Since it does everything a recovery drive does plus a lot more.
—–
J wrote back: “Thank you so much for taking the time to write back. I have to confess, when I read this after a long day, it all went straight over my head but I get it this morning. An installation drive it will be!”
Gloria wants to keep getting our newsletters and using our start page
Hi. I just got a new computer. How do I make sure I keep getting your newsletters? And how can I get your start page back? Thanks, Gloria.
Our answer
Hi Gloria. If you were signed up for our newsletters on your old computer you’ll continue to get them on your new computer without doing anything other than checking your email. Getting a new computer doesn’t affect your subscriptions.
If you want to use our Start page at https://thundercloud.net/start/ then see this page. It will show you how to set up start pages in your browser.
If you have questions about products or services you can contact us by doing to https://thundercloud.net/contact.htm.
And if there’s anything else you need, just let us know.
Thanks for your support, Gloria.
Darlene wants to know where to discard an old desktop
There’s not much about computers you two don’t know, so I bet you can answer this one too. A lot of us oldsters should be about the business of clearing out garages, basements, and attics. I’m about to replace my 8-year-old desktop PC with a laptop. This will be the second old computer gathering dust and taking up space in my garage. Is there any place to discard too-old-to-sell electronics?
Our answer
Hi Darlene, Thanks!
You can take your old desktop PC to the nearest BestBuy and recycle it. Or, see this page to find the nearest place to recycle your old desktop computer.
Make sure you follow the instructions on this page to remove all the personal data from your old computer before you recycle it.
We hope this helps you, Darlene.
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Dick thought that Microsoft Office was a one-time purchase
I thought that the acquisition of all Microsoft products was through a one-time purchase, not an annual lease. When a WWII buddy (now deceased) purchased the program, he was allowed to share the product key with five other computers so I now have no idea how to find the product key.
I did not believe there was any need to save it. I’m not really sure whether or not the suite was Office 2016 or 365, but I know that I’m using Outlook 365 so assume that 365 is the “subscription” to which Microsoft is referring.
Do I have any options for “reactivating the subscription” without facing an annual expenditure from here to eternity (not far off)? Since the date for the scheduled disablement appears to be periodically advancing, is there any possibility that the postponement will spill over into another year or two?
My operating system is Windows 10, and I have the most current update. Thank you! Dick.
Our answer
We’re not sure what kind of license your buddy had that allowed him to share it with 5 others.
According to Microsoft …
“A retail license enables you to install Office for a single user on one desktop computer and one portable device, such as a laptop or netbook. You can transfer the license to another computer or portable device once every 90 days, although if your computer dies, you can transfer the license sooner. Microsoft allows you to transfer the license any number of times, as long as the software is installed only for a single user…”
That being said, while most “key finders” don’t work when it comes to finding Office 2016 keys, this one from Easeus https://www.easeus.com/utilities/key-finder.html claims it can retrieve MS Office 2016 keys. It’s not free and we have not tested it – so buyer beware.
As far as Office as a subscription… Microsoft 365 (Formerly Microsoft Office 365) is a subscription. You can either pay monthly or annually. If you have an MS 365 subscription you’ll need to log in to your account and request help from Microsoft.
Microsoft still offers MS Office as a one-time purchase. For instance, Microsoft Office 2021 is a one-time purchase.
Finally, here’s a Microsoft article that may help you sort things out.
Robert wants to know more about using Gmail to filter spam
I have a question about your tip about using Gmail to block junk from your regular email program today. Does Gmail have to be running(signed in) to work? I have a Gmail account but only sign in to use it and then sign out. Thanks!
Our answer
Hi Robert. The article you are referring to shows you how to set up Gmail to check mail from your other email accounts such as y our ISP accounts, as well as Hotmail, Outlook.com, Yahoo.com, and other Gmail accounts. The idea is that all your email accounts are checked through Gmail. If you want Gmail to block the spam from your other non-Gmail accounts, you have to be signed in to Gmail and you have to check all your accounts using Gmail.
If you have an account – let’s make one up – like MeRobert4@madeupisp.com and you want to have Gmail check that account and block spam – you’ll need to check your mail for that account with Gmail. You can’t check the other account(s) directly. Gmail becomes the way you check your Gmail and all the accounts you set up for it to check. The only way to use Gmail’s spam filtering on your other accounts is to make sure you only check your other accounts through Gmail.
We hope this helps you, Robert.
Stan says he has no taskbar search on his Windows 10 PC
I do not have a Taskbar search bar to input searches or the likes of ‘CMD’ instructions etc. There is no facility for this in my Windows 10 menus.
Our answer
Hi Stan. You don’t need a search bar to use taskbar search. You can use choose to show a Search icon instead. Or you can hide the Taskbar search completely and use the Windows key + S shortcut to launch the search.
If you want to show a search box on your taskbar, right-click your taskbar and choose “Show search box”. If you want to show just a search icon (which takes up less room) choose “Show search icon”. If you don’t want either a search box or search icon, you can still use taskbar search using the Windows key + S shortcut.
We hope this helps you, Stan.
Teddie has questions about using libraries on Windows 10
Greetings Darcy and TC! My passion is genealogy. I have my computer folders set up by family surnames in both the Pictures and Documents files because I often have both types of media for any one person or family group. This is getting to be quite a lot of duplication. Is there any reason why I cannot combine Documents AND Pictures in the same folder? Would it be possible to set up a new Main/Library folder just for Genealogy that would show immediately when I open File Explorer, as the Documents/Pictures/Music/Video folders do now? Is there a downside to doing it this way? I have been a fan of yours for decades. –Teddie
Our answer
Hi Teddie. Thanks so much. Libraries are not enabled on Windows 10 by default. To show libraries in Windows 10 File Explorer, select the View tab, and then select Navigation pane > Show libraries.
Libraries do not contain files. Libraries are a collection of shortcuts to the original file or folder locations that are on your local computer or a network drive. The difference between Libraries and User Folders is that user folders are actual folders while Libraries are collections of shortcuts to user folders.
Default Library folders in Windows 10 are Documents, Music, Pictures, and Videos. But you can create a folder for pictures and documents (or whatever else you want) and name it whatever you like. Once you’ve created the folder, right-click it and choose “Include in library”. Once you enable Libraries, create a folder, and include it in Libraries, you’ll see it listed when you open File Explorer.
We hope this helps you, Teddie.
——
Teddie wrote back: “Thank you, TC. I knew I could count on you! –Teddie.”
Chris is looking for a good photo organizer
Can you recommend a good photo organizer? I have thousands of photos and am looking for a program to help sort them out. Thank you for all your help. Chris.
Our answer
Hi Chris. Both Windows 10 and Windows 11 come with a good photo organizer called Windows Photos app… be sure to see our article here.
Also, we reviewed a freeware program called FastStone Image Viewer, which is also an excellent photo organizer. To learn more about FastStone Image Viewer, see our article here.
We think both are good options – and both are free.
We hope this helps you, Chris.
Bevlee is buying a new computer and wants our advice
I have two PCs – a desktop with Windows 7 and a laptop with Windows 10. The latter I’ve hardly used it as I mainly use an iPad. I’m considering buying a new laptop with Windows 11. What requirements like RAM, etc. should I look for?
Our answer
Hi Bevlee. We recommend at least 8 GB of RAM and at least a 256 GB solid-state drive or a 1 terabyte traditional hard drive (HDD). Any processor capable of running Windows 11 (even if the computer comes with Windows 10) will be fine. The screen size is up to you – screen size is a personal choice. We favor laptops over desktops because they are more portable and sometimes less expensive (it’s a more competitive market).
Right now, you may get a better deal on a laptop with Windows 10. Just make sure if the computer comes with Windows 10 that it says it’s upgradable to Windows 11. There are a lot of laptops on sale right now that come with Windows 10 pre-installed. Many of these are easily upgradable to Windows 11. If saving money is a priority, choose a new Windows 10 laptop that is upgradable to Windows 11. Almost all new(er) Windows 10 computers that are upgradable to Windows 11 will say so on the device or the packaging.
We hope this helps you pick out a new computer, Bevlee.
Will wants to know how to get his email password in case he forgets it
Hi TC it’s me again. Is there any way I can get my password for my email in case I need it? I check my email online using Google Chrome.
Our answer
Hi Will. In Chrome, you can view your saved passwords by clicking on the Settings icon (3 vertical dots) in the top-right corner of Chrome. Click on Settings, then click on Autofill from the menu on the left. In the Autofill section, click on Passwords. Under “Saved Passwords”, click on the “eye” icon to show the password.
You can also click on the vertical dots to the right of the “eye” icon to copy, edit, or remove the password.
We hope this helps you, Will.
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