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Susan asks about Windows Live Essentials for Windows 10
Quite a while ago you mentioned a place we could download Windows Live Essentials. Can you tell me the link? Thanks so much, Susan.
 
Our answer
Hi Susan. The article we wrote about Windows Live Essentials was written about downloading and installing Windows Photo Gallery and Windows Movie Maker (part of Live Essentials). You can read that article here. Remember that Windows Movie Maker and Photo Gallery are no longer supported by Microsoft. But we did test them both on Windows 10 and they worked fine at the time we tested them.

We hope this helps you, Susan.



Tom has problems finding Gmail's Spam folder
I cannot find any Spam folder in my Gmail account. Help! Thanks in advance, Tom.

Our answer
Hi Tom.  Gmail is the same for everyone and everyone with Gmail has a spam folder. But not everyone has the same folder list - some have more folders than others.  If you don't see the spam folder, click "more" at the bottom of the folder list on the left-hand side after you log in to your Gmail account. Here's a screenshot to help you.



When you click on “More” you’ll see more folders and items, one of them will be your Gmail Spam folder. See below:




Hope this helps you.

Reggie has a problem with Windows 10 File History
I have been backing up my computer using File History as you recommended and it's been working great. All of sudden now I'm getting a message that the File History drive has been disconnected. I have unplugged and plugged in my external drive and even tried different USB ports, but I still get the error message. I'm hoping you can help me - I really need my backup to work Thanks, Reggie.

Our answer
Hi Reggie. We suggest that you reset File History. We've uploaded a couple of files to help make this easy for you - and anyone else who has this problem.

Download this Cloudeight zip file.

Unzip the file. There are two files inside. One is a batch (.bat) file and one is a Visual Basic script (.vbs). You should only need to run the batch file (double-click it to run)

So, here are the complete instructions.

1. Unplug the external drive
2. Unzip the file above and double-click on the batch file.
3. Restart your PC
4. Plug in your external
5. Try setting up file history.

If this does not work, then go back and follow the instructions above, only this time double click on the VBS script (in the zip file) instead of the batch file.

Let us know if this solves your problem.
------
Reggie wrote back..."Thanks so much for your help! File History is working perfectly again! Thanks again, Reggie."

Rita says the wrong pages open when she starts her browser
I used quickpayportal.com to pay a medical bill and now that site pops up every time I sign on as a start page instead of your Cloudeight start page that I have been using for a long time. How do I get rid of the quick pay site?

Our answer
Hi Rita. You'll need to reset your Start page. Luckily we have a tutorial on how to set a start page on the most popular browsers. Click the link below.

Our Updated Tutorial on How to Set a Start Page in Your Browser & More – Cloudeight InfoAve

This tutorial shows you how to set a home/start page in your browser - but you can use it to change or reset your start page as well.

We hope this helps you, Rita.
--------
Rita wrote back: "Got it! Thank you so much for helping me once again. Rita"

Diane needs help and is willing to reinstall Windows if necessary
Hi TC or Darcy. I noticed a problem in a 'Word' type program 4 or 5days ago, thought it was the program so I switched but I still have the problem. Then, yesterday when I decided to try a System Restore, it told me I have no restore points even though I created one not long ago. And .now, when I plug in my external drive, where I keep my backups, my laptop doesn't recognize it. I hate to send this off anywhere, so I figured maybe you can help me. If you suggest a re-install of Windows for me, that's ok. I don't keep much on here anyway. I download/save everything to an external drive...so I wouldn't mind losing what is on here. I'd just have to re-install programs, which isn't hard. I appreciate any help you can give me!  Dianne.

Our answer
Hi Dianne. If you don't mind doing a reset that would be the fastest and more certain fix. The only thing you'd lose by doing a reset would be any programs you installed. A reset saves all your files. A reset takes about an hour and it's easy to do.

I can get it started for you - but I would not be able to stay connected to your PC through to the conclusion because it Windows Reset disconnects from the internet and then restarts the PC several times during the process.

Here's our tutorial on doing a Windows 10reset...

How to Reset Windows 10 and Keep All Your Files, Apps, and Programs.

If you would feel more comfortable if we started the reset process for you, I'd be glad to help you with it - it only takes a few minutes to start the process.
-----
Dianne wrote back: "Thank you, TC! I was able (finally!) to make a flash drive with Windows on it--and did the reset. Had to choose the whole thing...so it will take me a while to add some apps. But it's all good now! I'm going to post more praise in the NOTH computer group, want everyone to know you helped me figure it out. Dianne." 

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Ed wants to know if he should reinstall SuperAntiSpyware
I will be setting up a new computer for my wife since hers died the other day. I was wondering  in your opinion, is it worth reinstalling SuperAntiSpyware? I have had the program (lifetime key) on our computers since 2011 and I have had a slight problem with it since my new computer, asking me to upgrade every time I boot my machine and was not very happy with their customer service to try and remedy the problem, seems they did not want to bother since I paid for it so long ago. We have had Emsisoft for many years and are happy with that program. So I'm not sure about installing SuperAntiSpyware on hers and open her up to the same annoying popup.

Our answer
Hi Ed. SuperAntiSpyware used to be one of our recommended programs. But the company that makes it was sold many years ago and SuperAntiSpyware isn't the same anymore.

These days, spyware is grouped in with the general category of malware. One of the reasons we recommend Emsisoft is because it replaces things like SuperAntiSpyware, Malwarebytes, etc. So, we recommend that you DO NOT install SuperAntiSpyware. And we would also recommend you uninstall it from the other computer.

Walter wants to change the name on the Windows log-in screen
Hi. How do I change the name on the Startup screen from "Owner" to another name? We found out how to change the picture in the circle but not the name below it. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Respectfully, Walter.

Our answer
Hi Walter. You can change the name on the log-in screen by doing this:

Right-click on the Start button and click "RUN"

In the run box type

CONTROL USERPASSWORDS2

then press Enter.

This will open the User Accounts dialog.

Select the account you want to rename and select Properties...

Look next to "Full name". If it says OWNER there, change it to what you want.

We hope this helps you, Walter.
-------
Walter wrote back: "Hi TC. Your suggestion was excellent and worked like a champ. Thank you ever so much for taking the time to help me with my problem. You guys are the best. Respectfully, Walter."

Marian has lost the search bar and wants to know how to run System Restore on Windows 10
I have lost the search bar on the bottom left of my laptop taskbar. Can you tell me how to replace it, please?

Also, I recently lost all the saved pictures on my laptop after taking Microsoft's advice and backing them up to the cloud, so I typed "System restore" into Cortana, and received the following response: "I am sorry I don't know the answer to that". I did finally get them back but had thought System Restore would be the quickest and easiest way out of my dilemma. Does this option no longer exist? Thank you for all your tips, tricks and advice over the years. Fantastic help.

Our answer
Hi Marian, thanks so much. If the search box or search icon isn't showing on your taskbar, you can still use the taskbar search by holding down the Windows key and tapping the "S" key.

To put the search bar back on your taskbar do this:

1. Right-click on a blank area of your taskbar.

2. From the menu that appears choose "Search"

3. From the slide-out menu that appears choose "Show search box".

See the screenshot below:

The fastest way to run System Restore is this:

1. Windows key + R and type RSTRUI into the run box and press Enter.

2. Type RESTRUI into the taskbar search and press Enter.

You can also access System Restore from Settings.

Open Settings.
Click on System.
Click on "About" on the left.
Click on System Protection on the right.

We hope this helps you, Marian.

Jim wants to know how to tell if his computer is ready for Windows 11
How do I know if I am ready for Windows 11? If not ready, how do I get ready? Regards, Jim

Our answer
Hi Jim. You can't "get your computer ready" for Windows 11; either your computer can run it or it cannot. Generally speaking, if your computer is more than three years old, you won't be able to run Windows 11. I have a four-year-old ASUS with an i5 Intel processor and 8 GB of RAM. It meets all the requirements except the processor. The processor is a 5th generation Intel processor and Windows 11 requires a 7th generation or newer processor or equivalent. Windows 11 also requires your computer to have a TPM 2.0 chip on the motherboard and that it be enabled. And your computer needs to be UEFI Safe-boot capable and have Safe-boot enabled.

If your want to see if your computer will be able to run Windows 11 when it's released on October 5, 2021, please see this page:

A New and Better Way to Find Out Why Your PC Can or Cannot Run Windows 11

If your computer is capable of running Windows 11, it will be offered to you via Windows update.

Keep in mind that until June of this year, Windows 11 was going to be Windows 10 version 21H2.

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Microsoft’s Simplification of Windows 11 Removes Customization Options
Windows 10 users

Microsoft shows how making something simpler makes it harder to use.

In Microsoft’s attempt to simplify Windows, they’ve made it harder to customize the taskbar and Start menu in Windows 11. As of now here are things you can do in Windows 10 that you won’t be able to do in Windows 11.

1. You can’t resize the start menu.
2. There are no live tiles on the Windows 11 start menu. Maybe you didn’t use them, but some did especially for photos, news, and weather.
3. You can’t move the taskbar to the top of the screen.
4. You can’t use small icons on the taskbar.
5. There is no setting to “show all icons” in the Notification area.
6. You can’t create custom start menu groups (See our tip for organizing the Windows 10 Start menu with groups here).
7. There is no option to use the Start menu full screen.
8. The Start button and the Start menu are in the center of the taskbar. There is now an option in “Taskbar settings” to move the Start button and the Start menu to the left edge of the taskbar where it has been in all previous versions of Windows.

Windows 11 makes it more complicated to choose default apps.

Additionally, Windows 10 makes it easy to choose and change default apps. For instance, changing from Edge to Chrome or Firefox, etc. is quick and easy. Just open Settings > Apps> Default apps and change your default browser under “Web browser”.

In Windows 11, switching default apps can be confusing, For example, rather than setting a default “web browser” as you do in Windows 10, Windows 11 asks users to set defaults by file type. So, setting Chrome as your default browser means having to select at least four file types and links: HTM, HTML, HTTP, and HTTPS, and then selecting Google Chrome to open them.

Recently Mozilla Firefox has made this change automatic for those installing Firefox on Windows 11, so let’s hope other companies follow Mozilla’s lead.

And… keep in mind we’re still weeks away from the official public release of Windows 11, so (hopefully) some of these things will change.

Are you anxious to switch from Windows 10 to Windows 11?  

Want more tips, tricks, and information?

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Now available: Reg Organizer 8.76

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 8.76.

Save $14 on Reg Organizer right now!

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

BCUninstaller: An Exceptional Free Advanced Uninstaller

Uninstall one program… or uninstall as many as you want, all at once!

Sometimes we’re amazed by the free software that is still being developed. There’s not nearly as much as there once was, and a lot of the new freeware that is being created is developed only as a ruse to get malware on your computer – there are still some good people around making great software. Today, we’re going to feature some great free software.

BCUninstaller is an advanced uninstaller that has some advanced features for advanced users, but also many simple, elegant features for non-techy users as well. It’s a great uninstaller and a freeware program with something for everybody.

BCUninstaller (Bulk Crap Uninstaller) is an uninstaller designed to help you uninstall a single program or a large number of programs quickly, easily, and completely.

After you download and install the program (or choose the built-in Portable option), BCUninstaller will scan your computer for a few minutes digging deep to find all of your programs and their associated files and registry entries.

You can choose to remove as many programs and apps as you want, and BCUninstaller will launch each uninstall process and all you have to do is confirm the deletion. Or you can choose “Quiet uninstall” which will attempt to uninstall all the programs and apps you’ve selected without any user interaction.

BC Uninstaller has many other useful features, like an excellent (and configurable) startup manager, and advanced options that show system components, protected items, and other options included mainly for advanced users.

There’s an excellent video on the BCUninstaller home page. If you plan on downloading BC Uninstaller, you’ll find the video helpful.

During setup, you can choose from Standard or Portable installation. Each is explained in the dialog to help you choose.

BCUninstaller will scan your computer during setup – this takes a few minutes.

BCUninstaller’s setup dialog. The default language is English (U.S.). 

Programs and apps are color-coded for your convenience. Green means the program has a verified certificate, blue-gray means it has an Unverified certificate, pink means the application is not registered, and light blue means it is a Windows Store app.

You can select as many apps as you want to uninstall and remove them all in one session.

You can read more about BCUninstaller, see more screenshots, and download it from the BCUninstaller home page.

BCUninstaller is also available for direct download from Snapfiles here..

Please note: Revo Uninstaller (free), HiBit Uninstaller (free), and Geek Uninstaller (free) are all excellent free uninstallers. BCUninstaller is yet another great uninstaller and gives you another excellent choice.

Thirty-Six Minutes

This is not going to be anything like “60 Minutes”. Well, maybe a tad influenced by Andy Rooney. So anyway… the older I get the more skeptical I get. I can’t help it. Once you’ve seen it all before, you’ve seen it all before and it gets harder for hooligans to pull the wool over your eyes. If you’re younger than sixty, you won’t get this, but trust me you will. There are so many things going on in the world today… I sit here and roll my eyes. If I say “rolling my eyes” everyone knows what that means. It’s the universal sign of incredulity. I spend most of my time being incredulous. And I write this with an incredulous gasp and a grain of salt.

How did the phrase, “rolling my eyes” come to mean what it does? How did “with a grain of salt” come to mean what it does? You think I’m a windbag, don’t you? Where did the term “windbag” come from?

Anyway…

The pandemic and the political scene and a whole bunch of other things have caused me to stop watching the national news. Whatever happened to Huntley & Brinkley? Walter Cronkite? Whatever happened to the news? Anyway, I stick with my local news where I can actually get the news, hear about lost puppies, courageous firemen, and ice cream socials in the park… and not somebody trying to tell me what I should believe.

That reminds me of a Rolling Stones song…

“When I’m watchin’ my TV and a man comes on and tells me
How white my shirts can be,
But he can’t be a man ’cause he doesn’t smoke
The same cigarettes as me…” The Rolling Stones (Jagger/Richards)

So, by now you’re wondering where the heck this screed is going. Well, I’m getting to it. But I had to do a little foreshadowing, you see. Because what I’m about to tell you comes from the deepest part of the well of things that make my eyes roll. 

The other day, I read a report, from a university study...

Please read the rest of this essay here.

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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.

SeniorPass - One year of Cloudeight Direct Computer Care - unlimited sessions! Get more information here.

Windows 10 Customization: Make Windows 10 look and work the way you want it to. Learn more.

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