Cloudeight InfoAve Weekly - A weekly computer publication featuring tips, tricks, website & freeware picks, answers to your computer questions and more!

Our newest Cloudeight Endorsed Email Program - Very Similar to Windows Mail & Outlook Express. Stationery works great!

Read more about OE Classic here!

Rebecca wants to know about Zinstall vs. Cloudeight services
Hello TC and EB. I came across this site and was wondering what you think of it. I'll be purchasing a new desktop in the near future and thought this might be helpful. I am excited to get a new PC, but dreading the transfer of stuff, especially settings I have personalized, passwords that I have auto-saved and can't remember (I know I should be using LastPass...) and the like.

Is this pretty much the same thing as you offer with your New Computer Set-up and Customization package? If yes, then say no more. I would way rather pay you guys that I 100% trust than using an unknown software from a "competitor." Thanks for all of your help over the years. Stay safe! :-)

Our answer
Hi Rebecca. The Zinstall computer migration software is nothing like we offer. First, Zinstall is a program, not a repair service. And there are other software products like Zinstall such as PC Mover. But thanks for thinking of us!

We don't transfer programs from one computer to another- it's an invitation to big problems. With our Windows 10 Transformation service, we upgrade Windows 7 computers to Windows 10. On new computer we just make the new Windows 10 computers look and work more like Windows 7 - it does not include transferring files.

There are many programs that promise to transfer "everything" from one computer to another - including programs, but from what we're seen, it can really cause a mess. Any problems you were having with the old computer will be transferred to the new one as well.

The best way is to transfer your C:\Windows\Your username folder to an external drive and then transfer the contents of the Documents\Pictures\Music, etc. to the corresponding folders on the new computer. Then reinstalling the programs you need/want. If you have an external hard drive, we can help with this.

I'm not sure what to tell you regarding your passwords. How are you remembering them now? If you store them in your browser, you can usually recover them from the browser. For instance, see this article about exporting your passwords from Google Chrome.

If you have any more questions, please let us know.

Pat got caught up in a tech support scam
I had a problem with my computer when I went online to Sirius. An alert came up, and a voice kept saying I had a severe threat to my computer. I couldn't do anything. So, I called the phone number on the screen. A man with an accent answered, said I didn't have internet protection. He took over my computer, downloaded some "protection" software and then then went thru all my files to remove any infection.

Would you please get on my computer and see what he did. I trust both of you. Thank you, Pat B.

Our answer
Hi Pat. I'm sorry this happened to you. You fell for a scam and unfortunately let the scammer connect to your computer. That has compromised your PC, so do not log in to any banking/financial/personal sites for now.

To schedule a session, please use the scheduling form that came with your purchase of your Senior Pass. As soon as you fill out the scheduling form, we'll get you on the schedule right away.

(Note: We connected to Pat's computer removed the remote connection software and other software installed by the scammer. Pat's good to go now.)

Terry asks about LastPass and the big changes coming
Any suggestions now that Last Pass will be limited use beginning on March 16, 2021?

Our answer
Hi Terry. If you only use LastPass on your Windows PCs/laptops, LastPass will still be free. You can use it on all your Windows PCs -laptops, desktops, and all-in-ones. But if you want to use it on your Windows PCs and your smartphone or tablet, etc. you will have to buy LastPass Premium or Family. Here's the info from LastPass.

Starting March 16, 2021, LastPass Free will only include access on unlimited devices of one type.

1. Sarah is a LastPass Free user with Computers as their active device type. They can use LastPass on their laptop, desktop, and their dad’s laptop (anyone’s computer!), but they can’t use LastPass on their phone, tablet, or smart watch unless they upgrade to LastPass Premium or Families for unlimited device type access.

2. Steve is a LastPass Free user with Mobile Devices as their active device type. They can use LastPass on their personal iPhone, work-issued Android phone, tablet, and smart watch, but they can’t use LastPass on their desktop or laptop unless they upgrade to LastPass Premium or Families for unlimited device type access.

So, whether you want to continue to use LastPass depends on your needs. Other options include RoboForm, but there are limits to that as well. And recently when I was logged in to Dropbox (paid version) they offered a password manager, but I did not check that out. We are also testing BitWarden which is another free password manager.

Jeanne needs some advice
I always rely on you for my computer help. Thank you. Now I am writing for a friend. Her computer is 10 years old and she is about 90. She loves her computer and now is having problems with it.

Can maybe the hard drive be replaced, or should she buy a reconditioned computer? She doesn't like buying used things and can't see buying a new computer at her age. Thank you for your advice.

Our answer
Hi Jeanne. A ten-year-old computer is outdated and should be replaced We would not recommend spending money on fixing it if it's not working correctly. The hardware is old and probably outdated; the hard drive has already exceeded its projected lifespan.

Is she running Windows 10 or Windows 7? If she's running Windows 7, there are security issues.

I would recommend a refurbished desktop or an inexpensive laptop. If she just uses the computer for browsing the web, social networking, light gaming, and email, then a low-end new Laptop would probably be enough. Here's a brand new laptop with a 15" screen and a full-size keyboard for less than $300.

I think the important thing to remember is that if her current computer is not running well and she if she were able to get it fixed, there are other things in a computer that age that could fail soon - 10 years is old for a PC.

My advice is don't throw good money after bad - take the money you might spend on repairs, and put it toward a new inexpensive laptop or a refurbished desktop. Just remember to make sure she gets a good warranty with the refurbished computer.

I hope this helps you make a decision.

We can fix your computer while you watch. You never have to leave your home. Just sit back, relax, and watch us work. Get PC service from folks you trust at the best prices you'll find anywhere.

Bonnie has a USB problem
I have some direct repair keys...if you can help me with my problem. When I unplug a thumb drive, my computer shuts down. It may be a driver problem. I found a fix online but these online things usually don't work for me.

If you can help with this, I will go to your website and put in a proper request. Thanks in advance for your reply. I have been with Cloudeight for a long time as have most of your customers. Stay warm, stay safe, stay well, stay mighty. Bonnie.

Our answer
Hi Bonnie. Thanks so much for your kind words and your long-time support.

The article you sent me is not the solution to your problem - this article discusses the PC shutting down when you plug in a USB drive. You said your computer shuts down when you unplug a USB drive - additionally it seems the article focuses on drivers and is written to push a driver updater, something you should never install.

Here is the first paragraph of that article:

"It can be annoying when your PC shuts down unexpectedly while you’re in the middle of completing important work. It’s even more frustrating when you’re certain that you did not do anything wrong to cause the problem. For instance, a lot of users complained about their computers shutting down or restarting whenever they try to plug in their USB device..."

I did some research, and the sources I trust say it's most likely a problem with the motherboard, the USB port itself, or the USB drive itself.

Have you tried plugging in the USB to a different port? What's on the USB? Did you try shutting down your computer completely, removing all USB devices (except mouse & keyboard). Then leave your computer off for five minutes then restart your computer. Have you tried a brand-new USB drive - plugging it in and unplugging it?

Let me know and I'll have a better idea of what we can and cannot do for you. This may be strictly a hardware problem and not something we could fix. For example, we cannot plug in and unplug a USB flash drive to see what happens when we do.
--------
Bonnie wrote back: "Thank you for your help! I have a 5TB and 8TB external plugged into my computer. The problem occurred when I plugged in and used a thumb drive. When I disconnected the thumb drive, my computer would shut down. Following your advice, I disconnected these two externals, turned off my computer, waited awhile, then started my computer. I plugged in the 8 TB and a thumb drive. After a few minutes I disconnected the thumb drive...computer OK. Then I plugged in the 5TB which meant both were plugged in. Plugged in and used the thumb drive then disconnected it...computer OK. Thankfully, the problem seems to be solved. I don't always use a thumb drive...only when I want to share files with a friend. Hopefully, things will continue to work without problems. Thank you again...Cloudeight & TC to the rescue once again! Bonnie"

Pete lost his WiFi connection after a Windows Update
A few months ago, after a Windows update, my Asus Laptop lost its WiFi function. I can only access the internet by using a cable from my router. I've tried to locate the function, but I cannot find it. Can you help?

Our answer
Hi Pete. Try this. Open Settings > Network & Internet and click on WiFi in the menu on the left. At the top of the page that opens you'll see Wi-Fi and an on/off switch directly under it. Turn the switch to ON.

You can also try using your keyboard. Hold down the fn key and tap the F2 key. On most laptops this turns WiFi on and off.

If your Wireless card is not working and you cannot get it work you can buy a USB Wireless Adapter for less than $25 and that will fix your problem. My wireless card in this old Dell laptop has not worked in 2 years - I'm been using a USB Wireless Adapter for a long time and it works great. See this page to learn more about USB WiFi adapters.

I hope this helps you, Pete.

Ann's computer freezes -- but not all the time
Enjoy your articles every Friday, have learned many tips that were most useful. I have a question for you regarding my laptop freezing when it is in use, this does not happen all the time, just once in a while I may have a recipe up ready for use and an article I have googled, when It is time to use the recipe, the mouse has frozen and nothing will move, I have no option but to turn it off manually. I hope you or one of your readers has experienced something similar. The laptop in question is a Lenovo. Thank you.

Our answer
Hi Ann. Thanks for your nice comments.

I'm afraid there no simple answers to your questions. Computers freeze for a lot of reasons, but here are the two most common ones.

1. Too many programs starting with Windows

What starts with Windows runs in the background constantly using up resources affecting your computer's performance.

2. Not enough RAM (memory)

If your computer has 4 GB of RAM or less, your ability to multitask will be limited.

There are many other causes, of course, including malware, Windows problems, Windows corruption, etc.

And if Web pages freeze, it could be too many browser extensions - or you added a malware or PUP extension. It could also be a problem with your Internet connection.

Without looking at your computer there's no way I can guess. With our Cloudeight Direct Computer Care service we can look at your computer and see what's going on and fix it. See this page for more information about Cloudeight Direct Computer Care.

Linda is having problems with her 12-year-old computer
Hi. I have a Windows 10 version 20H2. My HP Desktop is around 12 years old. My problem is I have to turn it on twice to get it going. The first time I turn it on I get the blue window show up but no turning wheel under it. So I turn the computer back off using the on button and hold it for a few seconds till the computer shuts off. Then I turn it back on and the blue window shows up along with that turning wheel. Then I'm okay to go. Do you have any idea why I have to do this? Do you have a fix? I don't like turning it off that way in case I do something to the computer. Would appreciate any advice you have. Love your daily and weekly newsletters. Thanks in advance, Linda.

Our answer
Hi Linda. If your computer is 12 years old and you're still using it, that's a real bonus. There are not many computers built in 2009 that are still up and running. I'm using one built in 2012 and I don't expect it to last much longer - I'm prepared :)

There is no easy answer to your problem and I'm not sure even if we looked at your computer, we could fix it. My first guesses would be a BIOS problem or a hardware problem, but not a Windows problem. Blue Screens are almost always caused by hardware problems or BIOS problems. Unfortunately, we can't fix hardware issues using our remote repair service. For example, we would never see your Blue Screen. We would not be able to see your computer until it finally booted into Windows and you were connected to the Internet.

Although I don't think it's a Windows problem, it would be worth your while to try doing the SFC & DSIM scans on this page just to be sure it is not a Windows problem. If it is a Windows problem, those scans should help.

Thanks so much for your nice comments.

Darlene wants safe download sites and how to copy text from a touchscreen
...Thanks so much for all the time and effort you spend giving us the images to illustrate what you are telling us to do when you answer all our questions. With all the problems that can come with aging, reading print can sometimes be impossible. The visual screens are a blessing because countless times over the past 20 years when following directions telling me how to fix something, the screen that I am supposed to see doesn't turn up. With your illustration to follow, we will know immediately that the program is at fault and that this fix isn't going to work. I know it will save *me* a ton of frustration.

I am having a great time reading back issues of the InfoAve Weekly and relearning a lot of neat stuff that my Swiss Cheese brain had allowed to escape, but I have two questions I haven't seen addressed so far.

Is there a place (or maybe more) where we can safely download Freeware without a bunch of unwanted programming being bundled in with it? The only site I remember you warning us about was CNet, but I think there were more. (I think you also warned us about some anti-virus programs coming with extras added.)

And finally, how can I highlight text to *copy* with a touchscreen laptop? One set of directions told me to touch the first and last words, but that did nothing. I am still googling. I hope you have the answer in your magical hat!

I'm hoping you can come up with the answers! Muchas Gracias! Darlene.

Our answer
Thanks for your long-time support and your kind words.

Rather than giving you a list of all the bad sites, we'll give you the download sites we trust the most...

1. Snapfiles
https://www.snapfiles.com/

2. MajorGeeks
https://www.majorgeeks.com/

As for your question about copying from a touchscreen device. First for Windows 10 Touchscreens. Tap and hold the first word of text you want to copy until you see a circle icon, then move your finger to highlight the text you want.

On tablets and a smartphones, touch the first word you want to copy and then drag you finger across the text you want to copy and when you stop a menu will appear with "Copy" "Select all" and "Share" to copy and a menu appears "Copy" "Select All" (on Smartphones & Tablets you'll all see "Share" in that menu.

I think that should answer your questions, but if not, let me know.

Attention Cloudeight SeniorPass Holders! Announcing our new SeniorPass Telephone Hotline Service

Search Like A Pro

Do you ever search for things using a search engine and find yourself scrolling through page after page of irrelevant search results until you finally get to what you were searching for?

Here are some search engines tips and tricks that we use that work in almost all search engines. We use Google, but these work in Bing, DuckDuckGo, and most other popular search engines too.

We’ll use an example to show you some of our favorite tips: Let’s say you’re looking for sports cars and all you’re getting is information on football, baseball, basketball and all kinds of cars. Try some of the try some of these tips for defining your search.

1. Search for: sports + cars
Most search engines will interpret this as meaning you only want results that have both the word “sports” and “cars” in them.

2. Exclude terms: sports+cars -football.
The minus sign tells the search engine to exclude the term with the minus sign preceding it. Just be sure you don’t put a space after the minus sign. As in the example above if you want to exclude “football” from your results type -football.

3. Most search engines have an “advanced search” option that gives you a web-style way to help you accomplish the same thing as the tips above. The “advanced search” option gives you multiple choices via drop-down menus and other choices to help you narrow your search so that your results are more targeted to what you’re looking for. Although the advanced search option is easier, using + and – in your search terms is almost always faster and produces much the same result as the search engine’s “advanced search” option.

4. You can also try being more specific. Instead of typing sports cars, try using specific names. For example, sports+cars+mercedes or sports+cars+vintage (you get the idea). The possibilities are virtually endless. The more you narrow your search terms the more likely it is you’ll find exactly what you are looking for the first time and on the first or second page of search results. If you narrow your search terms, you're not likely to find yourself scrolling through eighty pages of irrelevant search results just to get the results you want.

5. Another good tip. Quotes will often help search engines define your terms. If you’re searching for sports cars, try typing “sports cars”. The words between the quotes are interpreted as a phrase by most search engines. If you’re looking for knitting supplies, try typing “knitting supplies”. Try it both ways. Many times, you’ll see different results. You should only get results that match your exact phrase in the exact order you typed them. So, type them in the order that is most likely to give you the results you want.

Remember too, that the above tips work with most, but not all search engines. These tips work well in Google. It’s worth a try if you're using Bing or another popular search engine. If these tips work for you, you'll save yourself some frustration and time.

Don’t you just love people who claim to be power users? What the heck is a power user? Anyway… in Windows 10 there’s an extra menu that you can access by right-clicking the Start button or by pressing the Windows key + X that has some very useful items on it that non-power-users will use often.

For instance, did you know that the only easy way you can sign out of Windows 10 is by using the so-called “Power Users' menu”. It’s true. See?

Power-smour– to heck with power users! This is a menu that anyone can use. It puts features commonly used by almost everyone powerful or powerless like TC, at your fingertips — things like Device Manager, Disk Management, Control Panel, Programs & Features, Run, Command Prompt (Admin) and more. Yes, EB, I know they can read, but I wanted to point out some of the more useful items on the menu.

Never POP If You Can IMAP – All About Your Email Setup
All email programs

POP Vs. IMAP

We’ve been setting up a lot of OE Classic email programs lately, and we’ve learned that many people don’t realize there’s a big difference between POP3 email protocol and IMAP email protocol.

Whenever you set up an email app or program on any device, always set it up using IMAP instead of POP3 protocol. And if your ISP is still living in the dark ages and does not offer IMAP, get yourself a Gmail or Outlook/Hotmail account and use IMAP.

We’re going to put everything in a nutshell for you – and make it as clean, neat, and understandable as we can.

POP Protocol (usually POP3)

Downloads emails from a mail server for permanent storage on your computer or other devices. If your computer crashes, you will lose all your email that you don’t have backed up.

IMAP Mail Protocol

Leaves all your emails on the server. IMAP allows you to use different devices to check your emails. In other words, you can check your email from your Windows PC, your smartphone, or your tablet from anywhere. Your emails are always synchronized and will instantly appear in your webmail inbox no matter which device you use. If your computer crashes, you won’t lose your email, even if you don’t have them backed up.

So, now you know why you always want to use IMAP protocol when setting up your email on your Windows PCs and other devices including smartphones and tablets.

And remember: Never pop if you can IMAP.

WinDirStat was recommended to us by Mike R. Thanks so much for your recommendation.

WinDirStat is a free drive space tree mapper that uses directory treemaps that show you each file or folder as a colored rectangle. This allows you to see immediately what files and folders are using your hard drive space and how they are distributed across the drive.

File types are color-coded. You can click on them or right-click on them, and show the file name, type, and more details. You can also access any file or folder via Windows Explorer, or copy the path, and/or even delete the file.

WinDirStat examines all your hard drives and all external drives that are connected to your computer; it is not limited to your Windows drive.

If you’re interested in how your drives are being used, or you want to find out what files and/or folders and hogging your drive space, WinDirStat can help you.

WinDirStat is safe and useful freeware. You can read more about WinDirStat from the program’s website, but we recommend you download it from SnapFiles as it’s much easier to find the correct download link.

I’ve seen statues of great men: Lincoln, Washington, Roosevelt, Pasteur, Churchill, and others. They were all heroes in their time.

I’ve met famous politicians. But I have never considered any of them my heroes though. Politicians today are a breed apart from ordinary folks. That’s a good thing, I think. Whenever I hear a politician speak, I watch their eyes as they read the teleprompter and I wonder if they have any sincerity at all in their hearts. They’re reciting words. Just words. Is it just me? It’s my jaded mind I bet. Whatever they may be, I don’t consider any politician that I know a hero or great man. They may be a lot of things, but “hero” isn’t one of them.

I see kids, and even grown men and women, wearing the jerseys of their favorite sports heroes...

What does the lock icon next to the Web address in my browser's address bar mean?

The lock icon in your browser's address bar means that the traffic between your computer and the website you're viewing, is encrypted. In plain language, it means the site you are on is secure and anything you type into your browser on that site is encrypted and cannot be read by anyone else but you the Web site.

The lock icon means your data is safe. If you don't see a lock icon on a site where you're entering credit card information or other sensitive data, don't enter it.

Web sites that display the lock icon are using secure servers with 128-bit or 256-bit) encryption. The encryption code is generated randomly for your particular browser session and only you and the web site have the encryption key for that session. Once you log out or your session expires, the encryption code used during that session becomes invalid. Each time you log into that secure site a new encryption code is generated and passed to your browser along with a key valid for that session only.

And if you want to know more about encryption because you've got an inquiring mind, here you go...

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.

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

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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 recommended 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.

OE Classic Email program. The email program that is most like Outlook Express. We can even set it up for you. Get more details here.

Reg Organizer: 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.

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!