If you're not getting our InfoAve Daily newsletter, you're missing out on a lot of good stuff!

It's free and it only takes a few seconds to sign up. We'd love to have you with us. Visit this page to sign up for our Cloudeight InfoAve Daily Newsletter. 

We hope you're enjoying this Thanksgiving weekend. Today's edition of InfoAve Weekly is a review edition. On major holiday weekends, we publish a review edition featuring some of the best content from previous issues of Cloudeight InfoAve Weekly. This gives us some time off so we can enjoy the holiday weekend with our friends and family and gives you a chance to review some of the best questions & answers, tips & tricks and more from past editions of this newsletter.

We hope you enjoy this special edition of Cloudeight InfoAve Weekly. Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving weekend!

 
Cheryl wants to know if she has a wireless adapter
I have Windows 10. How can I tell if my computer has a wireless adapter installed?

Our answer
Hi Cheryl. You can tell if you have a Wireless adapter this way:

1. Type Network Settings in taskbar search
2. In Network Settings, under "Change your network settings", click on "Change adaptor options"



3. If you see a connection with the label Wi-Fi, you have a Wireless adapter. If you see only one adapter and it says, "Local Area Connection" and you see nothing else, you don't have a wireless adapter. If you see two and one of them says Wi-Fi -- then you do (see screenshot below):



If your computer does not have an  internal Wi-Fi adapter -- or your wireless adapter is not working - there's a very inexpensive way to give your desktop (or laptop) wireless capabilities without even opening the case or installing any hardware. In fact, all you have to do is buy a USB Wireless Adapter and plug it in. Some USB wireless adapters require you to install software from a CD before they'll work properly. In this case, the CD comes with the adapter. 

You can purchase a USB wireless adapter for $20-$70 at Wal-Mart, Target, BestBuy, etc. You don't need a high-end (expensive) USB wireless adapter. An inexpensive USB Wi-Fi adapter should work just fine for you.

Susan wants to know if she needs to use the software that came with her external hard drive
I LOVE your Newsletters! In this day and age of scams and fake news, your Newsletters are so refreshing, offering trustworthy programs and answers to great questions! Thank you EVER so much!  My question: I'm running Ashampoo for backup onto a Passport external drive. Is it safe to uninstall WD Backup as well as their toolkit, etc.? I don't see the need for it unless I start having trouble with Ashampoo? Thanks so much, please stay with us, we so need you!! :)

Our answer
Hi Susan. Thank you and thanks for being with us through the years! Yes, the western digital software is completely unnecessary and can be removed.

We are not going anywhere!
----
Susan wrote back: "So good to hear you'll continue to be helping us! Honestly, I don't know where we would all turn to without you. Thank you so much for doing what you do! Thanks for answering my question so quickly, you guys are amazing! Faithfully yours, Sue "

Bob forgot his router password
I can't remember my wireless router username and password. What can I do? Please help!

Our answer
Hi Bob. The first thing to do is to find the default username and password for your router make and model. It will be in its manual. If you don't have a manual, go to this site and find your router's default password by brand and model number.

You will have to reset the router back to factory settings. All routers have a reset button on the back or bottom. Normally it's quite small. You may need to use a pen or other object to press the reset button. But do see this page for the correct way to reset a router- pressing the reset button for a couple of seconds often does not work.

After you find your router's default username/password, reset the router and enter the default username & password to access it. After you've regained access, you can then change the username and password to whatever you want.

If you need any more help, let us know.
--------
Bob wrote back: "Thanks so much for this. I was able to get into my router settings and now have a new password. Thanks again! Bob"

Robert wants to wipe his hard drive and reinstall Windows 10
Is there a way to completely wipe your computer and reinstall Windows 10? What I mean is reformat the hard drive and install with new partitions. I still have a computer that had Windows 8 and still have the recovery partition to go back to Windows 8. I would like to wipe out that part and have the space to use in C. I'm not going back to Windows 8. Thanks, Robert.

Our answer
Hi Robert. Our advice is for you to use Windows 10 Reset to wipe your hard drive and reinstall Windows. It's simple and easy. Once you've done the reset (to wipe everything completely may take a few hours), you can use Windows Disk Management to format the recovery partition and merge it with the main partition. It may even be easier to format a partition and merge it using a free program like EaseUs Partition Manager (free version). Not only will this way save you time, but you'll end up spending less time.

To do a Windows 10 Reset and remove everything from your hard drive and reinstall Windows 10, see our tutorial here.

We hope this helps you, Robert.

Check our special Holiday prices on SeniorPass, Cloudeight Direct Computer Care Keys, Emsisoft & more.

Mary wants to run file defrag on Windows 10
HI, could you please let me know how I can find "Windows Defrag" on Windows 10? I have looked under Windows Accessories but can't find it. Thank you, Mary

Our answer
Hi Mary. Windows 10 automatically defragments your hard drives, so generally, you don't need to do so.

However, if you want to defragment your hard drive, you can do it manually this way:

1. Type Defrag in taskbar search.

2. Press Enter.

3. Select the drive you want to defragment.

4. Click "Optimize" to defragment the drive. If you just want to check to see how fragmented the drive is, click the "Analyze".

& You'll most likely find that your Windows drive (usually C:\) most likely does not need to be defragmented since Windows 10 does it automatically.

If you have an SSD (Solid State Drive) it does not need defragmenting and running defragmenter on it could damage the drive. So, make sure you have a regular hard drive (HDD) and not a Solid State Drive (SSD).

The best suggestion is just to let Windows automatic maintenance take care of this for you. Then you won't have to worry about it at all - and that's our advice.

Hope this helps you, Mary!

Pam wants to know how to keep browser history from showing when using another person's computer
I use Chrome. Sometimes, I sign into my Gmail account on another person's computer and then sign out. When I do all of my history stays on that computer. How can I stop this from happening? I count on you guys!

Our answer
Hi Pam. Whenever you use computers, other than your own, always use Google Chrome's Incognito Mode. Chrome's incognito mode doesn't save browsing history or login information. While it really does not make you "incognito" on the Internet, it does prevent your history from being saved on the computer you're using, so it is perfect for your situation where you're checking your Gmail on someone else's computer - and it's good for some other things as well. See our article on Google Chrome's Incognito mode here. Please note that our article also covers private browsing on other browsers like Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge and Firefox too.

When you use Incognito Mode (or private browsing on browsers other than Chrome) nothing is saved to the computer - no cookies, no temp files, no browsing history, no log-ins, no links, etc.

To open Chrome in incognito mode, right-click on the Chrome shortcut and choose "New incognito window".



We hope this helps you, Pam.
--------
Pam wrote back: "Thanks so much! This is exactly what I was looking for! Pam"

Lee says his username is not listed in the Users folder on Windows 10
Hi TC and Darcy. Don't want to sound thick but having read your recent reply to Clint regarding backing up folders to move to a new computer, where do I find the "C: \Users \Your Username\ folder"? I have found the Users folder but not one with my username. I currently use an external drive to back up my files and folders. Thanks for your help and advice over the past years, especially this terrible last year. Best wishes, Lee.

Our answer
Hi Lee. Your user account name may not be the same as the name you see on your log-in screen.

To see the username of your user account is, do this...

Type COMMAND in the taskbar search and press "Enter" when you see Command Prompt in the search results.

At the prompt type WHOAMI (that's who am i - all in one word).



You can see my computer name is syndey28 and my username is thunder. And though it says Thundercloud on my log-in screen, my username is thunder. And the Pictures, Documents, Desktop, Music, etc. folders, as well as all my files are located at C:\Users\thunder.

Hope this helps you, Lee.

Check our special Holiday prices on SeniorPass, Cloudeight Direct Computer Care Keys, Emsisoft & more.

Preparing to Sell or Give Away a Windows 10 Computer
Windows 10 (all supported versions)

It’s the time of year when people get new computers and don’t know what to do with their old ones. Well, lots of things come to mind: You can give it to a church or school, you can give it to a relative or a friend, you can sell it.

If you’re going to be giving away or selling your Windows 10 computer, you’ll be glad to know that you don’t need to download any third-party software to wipe your personal information from your computer before you give it away or sell it. Now we’re not saying that this would pass NSA, CIA, or FBI forensics scrutiny, but for most of us ordinary souls this method will work great.

Here’s what you need to do:

1. Right-click on the Windows 10 start button & click Settings.

2. In Settings > click on Update & Security.

3. In Update & Security > click on Recovery.

4. In Recovery under Reset this PC” > click on “Get started”.

5. When you click on “Get started”, you’ll have two options:
     a. Keep my files – Removes apps and settings but keeps your personal files.
     b. Remove everything – Removes all of your personal files, apps, and settings.

6. Click on Remove everything.

7. Windows will ask if you want “Just remove my files” or “Remove files and clean the drive”. Since you’re not keeping the computer, choose “Remove files and clean the drive” Selecting this option completely wipes the C:\ drive and then reinstalls Windows 10. After you do this, when you give the computer away or sell it, it’s like a computer that has never been used.

Once you click on “Remove files and clean the drive” Windows will warn you and ask you to confirm you want to proceed with this operation. After you confirm that you want to do this, Windows will start the process of wiping the drive and reinstalling Windows 10. This could take a few hours – but you don’t have to hang around while this is being done; it’s automatic. When Windows has wiped the drive and reinstalled Windows 10 it will be like a new computer. Whoever you give it or sell it to, will set up time zone, language, user accounts, etc. – Just like they’d do with a new computer
.
So. now you know what to do if you’re planning to sell or give away a Windows 10 computer… and how easy it is to do it.

How to Check Your Installed Browser Extensions
Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Firefox

We recently learned that some folks are not sure how to check what browser extensions they have installed. So today we’re going to show you a quick and easy way you can find out what browser extensions are installed in your favorite browser. We’ll also show you how to turn extensions on or off – or remove them.

If you use Google Chrome…

Type Chrome://Extensions in Chrome’s address bar and press Enter.

When Chrome Extensions opens you can turn any extension on or off – or remove it.

If you use Microsoft Edge…

Type Edge://Extensions in the Edge address bar and press Enter.

When Edge “Installed Extensions” opens, you can turn any extension on or off – or remove it.

If you use Firefox…

Type about:addons in the Firefox address bar and press Enter.

When Firefox “Manage Your Extensions” opens you can turn any extension on or off – or remove it.

Force Chrome to Always Show Full URLs
Google Chrome

Here’s a question for all you Google Chrome users. Have you ever noticed that Google Chrome takes a minimalistic approach when it comes to showing the full URL (website address) in the address bar? By default, Chrome shows the URL sans the www or the http:// or https://.

If you want to see the full URL all you need to do is double-click in the address bar. The URL will return to its shortened version when you click anything on the page.

But what if you, like me, would rather always see the full URL in Chrome’s address bar, it’s easy to do. All you need to do is right-click in the address bar and choose “Always show full URLs ” from the menu that appears.

And then, from now on, you’ll always see the full URL in Chrome’s address bar.

Why does all this matter anyway? Well, if Chrome always shows the full URL, you can instantly see if it says https:// (secure) or http:// (not secure). If a site deals with money or personal information – be sure you see the https:// (secure site) at the beginning of the URL.  Even though Chrome alerts you anyway – I still like to see the https:// or http:// with my own eyes! 

 Want more tips, tricks, and information?

We have thousands of Windows tips, tricks, and more on our InfoAve website.

Subscribe to our free InfoAve Daily newsletter.

Now available: Reg Organizer 8.80

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!

 dictation.io  

This is my first attempt at using dictation to write a freeware pick article with my voice. Here it goes.

This will be shorter than had I typed it because I don't what to say. But if you use Chrome or Microsoft Edge and you like to talk more than you like to type, then this site is for you. It's pretty self-explanatory so I don't have to do a lot of yammering here.

Just open Chrome or Edge and go to https://dictation.io/speech/. You'll see a little notepad with a greeting from the website's developer. Just click on Clear to clear the developers greeting, then click on Start.

 Once you click on Start, you'll see a permission box pop up asking for permission to use your Microphone. Allow Dictation.io to access your microphone and start typing. Note: You can also click the little microphone on the right to start or stop using your device's microphone.

Dictation.io has its own set of commands and you can find them all by clicking on the "Speech recognition commands" link on the right. You can say things like

• Insert a new paragraph New paragraph, insert sentence, add new para, Add paragraph, New line
• Turn on listening mode Start dictation, Start listening, wake up, Begin dictation, Microphone on
• Turn off listening mode Go to sleep, Stop listening, Microphone off, End dictation
• Delete the typed text Clear everything, delete all text, Remove everything
• Copy text to clipboard Copy to Clipboard

You can even insert smileys, special characters and more.

Dictation.io is the most accurate dictation app I've ever used. I don't know if you'll find it works as well for you as it did for me, but it's worth a try, right?

If you like to talk more than you like to type - or you're a hunt & pecker on the keyboard and type slowly, give https://dictation.io/speech/ a few minutes of your time. It might end up saving you hours!

Check our special Holiday prices on SeniorPass, Cloudeight Direct Computer Care Keys, Emsisoft & more.

A Magical Thanksgiving

When I think of Thanksgiving, I think of myself as a young boy, watching the Thanksgiving parade on television; mom busy in the kitchen preparing our Thanksgiving dinner, and the feeling of love all around. I remember a gray, cold, and cloudy day; the steamy windows that cooking made and snowflakes in the air. This was my best Thanksgiving ever. I was 9 years old. It would become the Thanksgiving Day to which all other Thanksgiving Days would be compared. It was also to be my mom’s last Thanksgiving, although none of us knew it then.

In my memory I can see my dad in his chair, reading the newspaper, my sister, all of seven years old, helping mom in the kitchen, and me in my innocence, unaware of what precious memories were unfolding. And as I remembered that Thanksgiving Day, I felt the warmth of the love that only family can provide. Life was so simple then. My entire world consisted of a very small house, on a very quiet street, in a very peaceful little town on the shores of Lake Erie. It was all I needed then; everything was perfect in that little house on that Thanksgiving Day… a day that seems now so long ago and so far away.

One year later my world would be turned upside down and it would never quite be the same again...

We hope you'll read the rest of this holiday essay here.

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

Cloudeight Stationery works great with OE Classic!

Read more about OE Classic here!

Sales of the following products and services help support our newsletters, websites, and free computer help services we provide.

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.

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.

MORE IMPORTANT STUFF!

Your InfoAve Weekly Members' Home Page is located here.

Print our Cloudeight Direct Computer Care Flyer and spread the word about our Cloudeight Direct Computer Care repair services.  Get our ready-to-print flyer here.

Help us Grow! Forward this email newsletter to a friend or family member - and have them sign-up for InfoAve Weekly here!

Get our free daily newsletter! Each evening we send a short newsletter with a tip or trick or a computer-related article - it's short and sweet - and free. Sign-up right now.

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!

Help us by using our Start Page.  It costs nothing, and it helps us a lot.

Print our Cloudeight Direct Flyer and spread the word about our computer repair service! If you want to help us by telling your friends about our Cloudeight Direct Computer Care service, you can download a printable flyer you can hand out or post on bulletin boards, etc. Get the printable PDF Cloudeight Direct Computer Care flyer here.