Saturday Bonus Questions & Answers – 103021
It’s Saturday! And you know what that means. It’s time for more Bonus Questions & Answers.
Sometimes the best tips and tricks are hidden in the questions and answers we publish. 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 answers were selected at random from past InfoAve Weekly newsletters.
Saturday Bonus Questions & Answers – 103021
Audrey needs to contact Microsoft
Do you have a valid phone number for Microsoft? You had published several contact phone numbers a month or so ago, but of course, I can’t find it right now. I’m trying to get the password for my husband’s account since our computer crashed. Thank you!
Our answer
Hi Audrey. Microsoft’s customer service number is 1-800-642-7676. That is the North American Microsoft Support number. It’s answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You won’t be answered by a real person, you’ll have to tap some keys as you listen to the prompts. Microsoft will try to guide you away from talking to a real Microsoft employee by telling you about “self-help resources”. But just be persistent. In our tests, we were able to get to a real person within 5 minutes.
If you’re using Windows 10 you can contact support right from any PC. You can even have Microsoft call you or you can schedule a call from Microsoft. See this page to learn how to do that.
If you need any more help, let us know.
Delores got a USB WIFI adapter but now her wireless mouse and keyboard don’t work
I got a wireless adapter as you suggested. Thanks! It is working and I am connecting to the internet fine. But my wireless keyboard and wireless mouse connects but do not work. Is the adapter not working with them? You are wonderful and always helpful. Thank you so much.
Our answer
Hi Delores. Thanks for your nice comments.
Your wireless network does not affect your wireless keyboard/mouse. Wireless keyboards and mice have a receiver that plugs into a USB port on your computer that creates a connection that is independent of your wireless network. You can use a wireless mouse or keyboard with a wired (Ethernet) connection as well as a Wi-Fi connection. You don’t need an internet connection at all to use a wireless mouse or keyboard.
So whatever is wrong with your wireless mouse & keyboard has nothing to do with your wireless adapter or network.
Try this: Shut down your computer. Then unplug your wireless mouse/keyboard receiver that plugs into a USB port. Then plug the receiver into a different USB port and turn the computer back on and see if that works. The only other thing I can think of would be your keyboard/mouse batteries need to be replaced or recharged. If they have rechargeable batteries and they are very old they may no longer be able to hold a charge and you might need to replace them.
I hope this helps you, Delores.
Heinz has a problem with a website form that’s being auto-filled by his browser
I am a Disabled American Veteran service officer. I work in VA claims for Veteran Compensation. Here is the issue: I go to VA Forms for the latest forms that they have. They change frequently. When I pull in a form from the VA website, I get a form that I previously filed out for a veteran instead of getting a new blank form. I have cleared the cache and cookies, but it still happens. How can I find this filled-out form on my computer and permanently delete it? Hope you understand this issue.
Our answer
Hi Heinz. Incognito, Private, and InPrivate browser modes would solve your problem since no browser saves anything in these modes. But since I’m not sure of what browser you’re using, I’ll try to cover all of the popular browsers and show you the easiest way to open incognito or private browser windows.
Chrome
If you’re using Chrome, with Chrome open press the CTRL+SHIFT+N keys to open a new incognito window. In incognito mode, Google Chrome does not store anything or save anything, so this should work for you every time.
Firefox
If you are using Firefox, with Firefox open, press CTRL+SHIFT+P to open a new private window, like incognito mode in Chrome, Firefox does not store or save any data from your browser sessions.
Microsoft Edge
If you are using MS Edge, right-click on the MS Edge shortcut and click “New InPrivate Window”. InPrivate mode is the same as Incognito mode in Chrome and Private mode in Firefox.
Let me know if this helps you. If it does, and if you’d like, I can show you how to make shortcuts to open your browser directly in incognito or private modes.
Paul is having problems with Chrome and also wants to know how to renew his Emsisoft license
Hi guys. I keep getting a window that pops up now and then that Chrome has detected some virus, Trojans on my computer. I’m assuming these are scams since when I run my scheduled security software, it tells me that all is well. Any way how I can disable this annoying window that pops up now and then?
Also, my Emsisoft registration expires next week. How do I go about purchasing the program for another year from you? (Forgot how to do it from last year). Thanks, Paul
Our answer
Hi Paul. The easiest and quickest way to fix your Chrome problem is to reset it. You won’t lose your bookmarks or any extensions, but it will turn all your extensions off. You can turn them back on after the reset, but you should beware – as it probably is one of your extensions causing your problems. So pay attention as you turn each extension on – one by one. You find out quickly which extension was causing your problem.
See this page to learn how to reset Chrome.
Tip: Make sure you shut down Chrome and restart it after you reset it.
To renew Emsisoft, just go to our page at www.thundercloud.net/emsisoft/ and click on the button to buy a renewal. When we get your order, we will add 365 days to your license. We can do that remotely so other than buying the renewal there’s nothing else you need to do. Renewals are $25 for one year.
If you need any more help, let us know.
Bonnie said her text suddenly got very tiny in Gmail
Yesterday, my emails in Gmail went to a very small type. Those I send use the settings I set but my Inbox and received emails are in very small type. Is there a way to get my larger type back?
Our answer
Hi Bonnie. Text on most websites (including Gmail) is quite easy to make bigger or smaller on the fly.
You can use your CTRL key plus your mouse wheel to increase or decrease the size of the font on Gmail (and most other websites). You can also use your CTRL key and the + (plus) or – (minus) key to change font sizes.
See our article here to learn more.
Please let me know if this helps you, Bonnie,
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Bonnie wrote back: “Worked perfectly! Thank you so much! Bonnie.”
Duane has some questions about SeniorPass and Emsisoft
If I sign up for SeniorPass and have Emsisoft installed, does the service clock start for the $99.00 payment on the sign-up date? And what happens with Emsisoft after the initial free three-month license expires? Is there a payment for this software at that point? If so, how much? Also, we have a desktop and a laptop. Would we pay $99.00 for a SeniorPass for each computer? And separate Emsisoft payments, too? My cousin recommends your service highly. Thanks for answering my questions. Duane W.
Our answer
Hi Duane. As to your question about SeniorPass, day one starts with the first repair session you have, and it is good for one full year from the date you first use it.
As for Emsisoft, renewal is $25, but if you plan to use it on 2 or 3 computers, we also offer a multi-PC license for $40 for a one-year renewal.
Donna wants to know more about Grammarly
I keep seeing advertisements for Grammarly. Is it a safe website? Can I download it and feel safe?
Our answer
Hi Donna. We use Grammarly every week to help edit the Premium newsletter and every post on our InfoAve site. It’s a great program. The free version works very well; the professional version offers more help and suggestions (passive/active voice, word choice, punctuation). For most people, the free version should be good enough. Just remember, with the free version you will be regularly reminded to buy the pro version – but it’s not too naggy.
Roger wants to know how to find the password for his modem/router
Hi, Darcy & TC. I know you answered this question in a previous Cloudeight Weekly newsletter but I can’t find it. Can you please tell us again how to find the password key for a Modem/Router, please? Cheers, Roger.
Our answer
Hi Roger. If you’re looking to find the password for a modem/router … see our article here.
If you’re looking to find your wireless password … see our article here.
And here’s another tip – anytime you’re looking for something you saw in one of our newsletters, you can usually find it fast by using the search feature on our InfoAve website.
If you need any more help, just let us know.
Bonnie’s text size on her Windows 10 PC suddenly became very tiny
Hi Darcy and TC. It’s me again, bugging you two. How do I change the font size in my control panel and the font size on the start button panel etc.? It’s so small I can barely read it. It all started yesterday I don’t know if it’s something I did or what. But it is tiny! Thanks and God bless, Bonnie
Our answer
Hi Bonnie. Thanks! To fix your tiny font problem, do this…
Press & hold down the Windows key and tap the U key. This opens the Ease of Access Settings app.
Under Display > Make text bigger. Use the slider to make it as big as you need it to be.
Click “Apply” and that’s it.
You may have to restart your computer to see the changes.
—————–
Bonnie wrote back: “Thank you so much. It’s working now. I have no idea what I did wrong, but it had to be me hitting the wrong button and the wrong time. Thanks again, Bonnie.”
Uwe asks about Microsoft telemetry
Hi folks: Thanks for the tip on Winaero Tweaker. I disabled Windows 10 Telemetry (prevent Windows 10 from Phoning home) since I don’t like Windows spying on me. Is there a risk to Windows’ performance in doing this? Please advise. Thanks. Uwe.
Our answer
Hi Uwe. Remember this, telemetry exists for Microsoft’s benefit and not for yours – at least not directly. They claim they use it to improve Windows and while that may be true, it’s not going to harm your computer to turn telemetry off. And keep in mind that you can always turn it back on if turning it off has an undesired effect on your Windows 10 computer.
Personally, with a billion users, I am not too concerned about what Microsoft collects. It would be a company-wrecking disaster for MS if they were discovered using private info collected by Windows 10 telemetry for anything untoward.
Virginia’s Windows 10 taskbar is now ghostly white
Yesterday I changed the picture on my desktop and in doing so, I inadvertently changed the color of my Taskbar from comfortable black to stark white so that I can barely see the Icons there. The place in the settings to turn it back to black again is greyed out so I can no longer click on it! Can you offer any help with that?
My everlasting thanks for all you two do to help us. Sincerely, Virginia B.
Our answer
Hi Virginia, thanks so much for your support and your nice comments!
Right-click on your desktop, choose “Personalize”. When Personalization settings open, click “Colors” in the menu on the left.
Under “Choose your default Windows mode” you must choose “Dark”
Under “Choose your default apps mode”, choose “Light”.
Under “Show accent colors on the following surfaces”, check both options.
I hope this solves your taskbar problem.
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I found that changing pics on desktop it will always go to the colours of the desktop you chose. And you have to change back to dark every time as it seems to default to light!