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Eileen asks about LastPass and BitWarden
A while ago, you had an article about password managers. TC had been using Last Pass for a while but found a new one called Bitwarden, I was not happy with LastPass, apparently, they have stopped the free one. Do you think Bitwarden will work well with different devices? I have Windows 10 computer an iPad and now an android phone. Do you think it would connect with all three?

Our answer
Hi Eileen. LastPass still has a free version and you can use it on more than one Windows computer - you just can't use it on Windows and other non-Windows devices (like Android or Apple smartphones or tablets). BitWarden has free versions for all of your devices.

For Windows, see our article here. The article shows you how to move from LastPass to BitWarden. I suggest you do this first as once you have your passwords imported from LastPass, then you'll be able to login to BitWarden on your other devices and all your passwords will be available to you.

Download BitWarden Password Manager and use it on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. ... This app is available only on the App Store for iPhone and iPad. See this page.

BitWarden for Android is available from the Google Play Store here.

We hope this helps you, Eileen.

Bonnie wants to change the password on her modem/router
I got a new modem/router last week and I would like to change the password if I can. Also, when the tech set it up, I didn't get it put on my Galaxy watch. I may have to have you do it if I can't get it done alone. So sorry to have to bother you two kids again, I know, I'm a pain or complete computer illiterate. God's blessings, Bonnie

Our answer
Hi Bonnie. No problem...we're here to help if we can.

I don't what brand of modem/router you're using but generally, you can log in to your router's control panel by opening a browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox) and typing 192.168. 1.1 in the address bar and press Enter. However, some brands don't work that way. Here's a page showing how to access most brands of routers' control panel - from there you can change the router's password.

Changing the router's password does not affect your WiFi password though so you don't have to change it on any of your connected devices.

Did you mean you want to change your WiFi password? If that's what you meant, let me know and we'll send the instructions on how to do that.

As far as your Galaxy watch goes, that's something we can't help you with.
--------
Bonnie wrote back..."Thank you so much, TC. You're always so willing to help me and others. Have a great weekend. God Bless, Bonnie."

Debbie wants to know how to extend the time to go back to a previous version of Windows
I know you've addressed this before, but I can't find it anywhere, I apologize. When I do a Windows update or install a new version of Windows 10, 21H2 for example, how do I extend the time that I can reverse it? 

Our answer
Hi Debbie. Here's our article on extending the amount of time you have to back to the previous version of Windows 10. You can extend the time you have to go back to the previous version from 10 days to as many as 60 days.

We hope this helps you, Debbie.

Colin just can't get rid of all those pesky temporary files
When trying to clear my temporary files on drive c after using the run command %temp% I found I could not as there were "mat-debug" files present and in use by Microsoft Teams. I tried the net for clues as to how to get rid of these files and found what I thought was a solution but that didn't work when I tried it. It suggested that after using Safe Boot I use disc cleanup which I did on drive c only to find those annoying mat debug files still there. It also suggested that if the files were still there that I close them individually. I couldn't find a way of doing this, however. Can you help me in this regard?

Our answer
Hi Colin. You can never clear all temp files using %Temp% as long as Windows is running. We cover that in our article here. In that article, you'll find this..."You can never delete all temporary files because as long as Windows is running, temporary files are constantly being created..."

If you're expecting the %temp% command to clear all temp files, that's never going to happen as long as Windows is running.

I think if you look in Task Manager/Processes or Services.msc you'll find some MS Team processes and/or services running in the background. But even if you end all of those processes, you still won't be able to delete every single temporary file.

We hope this helps you, Colin.

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Gloria asks about special characters
A while back you gave some "special characters" using the alt key and 4 numbers to activate characters. Of course, my Windows 11 isn't cooperating and I can no longer do the alt thing plus numbers. Can you help, please?

Our answer
Hi Gloria. We have not written a specific article on special characters since 2012 and as far as ALT key+ 4 digits, we once featured Microsoft special characters using the ALT key from this Microsoft page. You'll find quite a few ALT+ numbers to access Windows special characters on that page.

Here are some alternate ways of accessing special characters

Charmap

You can access and use special characters by typing Charmap in the taskbar search and locating the character(s) you want to use by finding them in the Character Map and clicking on them.



Windows Emoji pad

Windows Emoji pad offers an even easier way to use special characters in your emails and documents - you can read more about that here.

We hope this helps you, Gloria.
-------
Gloria wrote back..."THANK YOU. I got more than the character map and the Emoji keyboard was a plus!"

Sandi asks about Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable
I had to go back and reinstall Windows 11 with my files and folders intact before I got eM Client back to what it should be. Thank you for all of your help in this matter. I do have one more question if it's not too much trouble. I have a list of programs that Windows took out that weren't originally installed. Do I have to install Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable again if there's already Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2019 installed? Thank you again for being so good and prompt with those of us with computer problems.

Our answer
Hi Sandy. Thank you.

The Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable is a version of NET Framework. It's included with Windows Updates. The Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable Package installs runtime components of Visual C++ Libraries required to run applications developed with Visual C++ on a computer that does not have Visual C++ 2008 installed. Unless you have problems running a particular program you don't need to reinstall it. Generally, newer versions of NET include older updates. Simple answer - you don't need it.

The list of programs that you see after a reset are programs that were removed during the reset; it's just a guide. You don't have to reinstall everything on that list. Just reinstall what you want/need.

We hope this helps you, Sandi.

Frank says the taskbar icons are too small on Windows 11
Last week I bought 2 HP laptops for my wife and myself there both windows 11. My problem is the taskbar, the icons are so very small and hard to see. I did find a program I thought would help me, but only part of the taskbar icons got larger. On the right side is where the battery, sound, internet, and the cloud icons are. They might be 1/8" tall also the clock and date are very small can you look into this problem? You have been very helpful since 1998 when I first found your website.

Our answer
Hi Frank. Thanks! Have you adjusted your screen resolution? On both of my Windows 11 PCs, the taskbar icons are quite large.



I have one small laptop (13.5" screen) and one large laptop with a 19" screen and on both the icons are plenty large for me.

Many tech sites show registry edits for increasing the taskbar icon size, but these do not come without risk. We don't recommend them.

We recommend you try this:

> Right-click on an empty space on the desktop.
> Select Display settings from the contextual menu.
> Move the slider under "Change the size of text, apps, and other items" to 100%, 125%, 150%, or 175%.
> Click Apply at the bottom of the settings window.

You can try different percentages until you find the one that suits you.

If that does not give you the results you want open Settings > Display and try changing the "Scale" settings or the "Screen Resolution settings.

We hope this helps you, Frank.

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Two Quick & Helpful Tips for Windows 11
Windows 11

Windows 11 is built on Windows 11 and although they look different, under the hood they are a lot alike. Because of this basic similarity, most of our tips are for both Windows 11 and Windows 10.

Today, we have two quick tips for Windows 11 although Windows 10 users have the same basic features, they look and work somewhat differently on Windows 11.

Windows 11’s Win X Menu

Windows 11’s Windows Key + X menu is similar to Windows 10’s, however since Windows 11 does not have the option to right-click on the taskbar to open Task Manager the Win X menu offers a quick way to open Task Manager as well as a quick way to uninstall apps and programs.

Just hold down the Windows key and tap the X key to open the Win X menu on Windows 11.

As you can see you can open the Task Manager, Shut down, restart, sign out, and open “Installed apps” to quickly uninstall a program or app.  Once “Installed apps” opens, find the program or app you want to remove, click on the three-dot icon next to it, and click “Uninstall”. That’s all there is to it.

Oh, and one more thing, did you know you can open the Task Manager on Windows 11 (or Windows 10) by using the CTRL+SHIFT+ESC keyboard shortcut?

Windows 11 Action Center

In Windows 11 the Action Center is split into two separate panels.

Notification center & the Calendar

Click on the Time and Date on the taskbar to open the Notification center and the Calendar.

Now we hope you know Windows 11 a little bit better! 

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Private Browsing
A tip for everyone

It’s not private but it’s good for some things

While private browsing is anything but private, there are some good reasons to use it, but none of them are related to hiding your activities, as you aren’t going to hide anything by using private browsing. Every site you visit is logged by your ISP and most of the time by the site you’re visiting. Your IP address is being logged; private browsing does not hide your IP address. Yet many people think they’re skulking around the Internet anonymously when they are using private browsing, but alas anonymity requires a lot more than using a browser’s private browsing mode. If it’s not really private, then what good is it?

Some things private browsing is good for…

1. Use Private Browsing when you don’t want cookies or temp files from sites you’ve visited stored on your computer. Using private browsing doesn’t store cookies or the site URLs you visit on the local computer. If you’re a lady looking for a new husband, you don’t have to worry about your husband looking through your temp files and finding photos of your new prospective husband or cookies from www.soyourelookingforanewhusband.com – or EB’s favorite “www.sugardaddy4ubaby.com”. I only know EB frequents that site because I snuck up on her while she was ogling a gaggle of shirtless, fat, rich, old men. (She has a fat, poor, old man for a business partner…) 

2. Logging into multiple accounts from the same computer: If you’re logged into, let’s say one of your Gmail accounts, when you try to log into another it will make you sign out of the account you’re logged into (there’s a way around this but that’s for another issue). If you want to open another Gmail account, etc. just open private browsing and log into the other account. If you want to log into 5 Gmail accounts, for example, at one time just open 4 private browsing windows.

3. Search without cookies that identify you: You can search Amazon or PayPal etc. from a private browsing window without seeing it come up on searches you perform when you’re logged into a site. Since cookies are not carried over from a private browsing session, sites cannot use them to identify you when you search using the private mode, then log into the site to purchase. This also provides you with a means whereby you can check the contents of a site as a new user and compare prices to make sure aren’t getting better prices than members. Hey, it happens all the time.

4. Checking email or browsing from someone else’s (or a public) computer. When need to check your email, check an account or browse on someone else’s computer may want to use private browsing for that because browsing history, email provider, and accounts are not saved to the computer. Private browsing never saves web history, cookies, or web data.

So private browsing is useful for some things, but not for hiding your identity from your ISP, FBI, NSA, EB, or any of the sites you visit, I tells ya.

You can launch a private mode window by clicking on the settings icon at the top-right corner of your preferred browser and choosing:

“New incognito window” (Chrome)

“New InPrivate window” (Edge)

“New private window” (Firefox)

Or use the following keyboard shortcuts to launch a private window (incognito mode in Chrome).

Google Chrome: CTRL+SHIFT+N

Microsoft Edge:  CTRL+SHIFT+N

Mozilla Firefox:   CTRL+SHIFT+P

If you want to know even more about private browsing, see the rest of this article here

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

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Now available: Reg Organizer 9.0

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 9.0. Works great with Windows 10 and Windows 11!

Save $14 on Reg Organizer right now!

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

Elliot Advocacy – One of the most useful Cloudeight site picks ever!

Have you ever had a problem with a big corporation and spent countless hours in many futile efforts to resolve your problem only to give up in frustration? Sure you have. I have too.

I was dealing with a problem with Lowe’s. They charged me for an item I never received and trying to get them to take it off my bill led me to spend hours on the phone pushing buttons just to speak to a human being.

After being sloughed off by several of their customer “service” specialists and being lied to and promised that the charge would be taken off my bill (it never was), I decided to take the nuclear approach. I would send an email to every corporate executive I could find an email address for.

But the problem was finding those email addresses.

That’s when I discovered today’s site pick. I was able to get the email addresses of all the head honchos and fired off an email to six of them -and using the CC line so they all would know who else I sent the email to. Lo and behold, four days after sending that email, I was contacted by someone from Lowe’s Executive Customer Relations and the charge was removed from my account. After weeks (months) of frustration, I finally got the problem resolved.

So, today’s site pick, Elliot Advocacy, will be of great benefit to those of you who are stuck on the corporate merry-go-round trying to get a problem resolved. Not only can you find the email addresses of the CEOs and vice presidents of most major corporations, and you can get free help from Elliot Advocacy too.

Well, let me let them speak for themselves…

About Elliott Advocacy

Elliott Advocacy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit consumer advocacy organization that empowers consumers to solve their problems and helps those who can’t.

We do it through direct consumer advocacy, journalism, and by maintaining the largest database of executive contact information on the Internet for consumers.

Here’s a little more information about our mission and our causes. Elliott Advocacy has received a “Top-Rated nonprofit” award from Great Nonprofits every year since becoming a nonprofit. You can read all of our 5-star reviews here on Great Nonprofits.

What’s Your Problem?

Elliott Advocacy is a nonprofit organization that offers free advice and advocacy for consumers. If you need help with any problem, please contact us through this form https://www.elliott.org/help/. We’re always here to help…

So, if you’re having a problem with a big corporation and you’re tired of getting treated poorly and tired of being lied to, you’ll find a friend by visiting our Cloudeight site pick Elliot Advocacy.

And even if you don’t need them now, it would benefit you to visit their website right now, take a look around, and bookmark it for future reference.

The Best Computer Care and Repair - Anywhere!

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.

Get more information here.

The Real History of TC and EB by Darcy (EB)

(Darcy (EB) wrote this in 2008 — I cannot being to tell you how much things have changed over the last fourteen years — but our history is still the same. We hope you all enjoy this little trip back to the beginnings of Cloudeight when EB and TC first met. TC 8/03/2022)

We have had many ask us to tell the story about how Thundercloud and I met and how we developed Cloudeight… so the story begins.

It all started in a land far, far away.. well, actually it started in Michigan when I met my friends Orca and Ldy on the old IRC (Internet Relay Chat) Michigan Chat lines. We had a regular group of people who came to chat. Then sometime in 1996, TC came snooping around one day... even though he was not from Michigan! It made him stand out, so naturally, I began chatting with him. He was making a web page and was a newbie, so I took him under my wing, shared all my store of knowledge from the two months I had accumulated, and taught him how to put some images on a page. We started emailing and chatting about new things we were learning, and found that both of us were eager to learn all we could! Wow.. a cyber match made in heaven!

OK… on with the story. One day I was searching the web for something new

Read the rest of Darcy's 2008 essay here.

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If you don't need any of our products or services right now, please help us with a donation. Even the smallest gift is appreciated. Every donation helps us to provide useful information that helps you with your computer as well as helping to keep you safe on the Internet. We offer free help to thousands of people every year... and we offer an honest and inexpensive computer repair service too. We do everything we can to help you with your computer and keep you safe too.

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Thank you so much for your support! 

How to get that window out of the way, the right way

Instead of moving a window to the side or resizing it to see a window that is behind it, just click minimize on the window. It can be found in the upper right corner - it is a minus sign. We notice that a lot of folks drag the window over to the side to see our chat box during Cloudeight Direct Care sessions; it's easier to just minimize the window on top. Or better yet, just click the icon in the taskbar of the item you want on top. It's back to basics, we tells ya!

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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 and Windows 11! 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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We hope you have enjoyed this issue of Cloudeight InfoAve Weekly. Thanks so much for your support and for being an InfoAve Weekly subscriber.

Have a great weekend... be safe!

Darcy and TC
Cloudeight InfoAve Weekly - Issue #982
Volume 19 Number 40
August 5, 2022 

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