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

Margaret gets a notice on her computer and wants to know if it's legitimate
I just opened my laptop and there was a notice from Outlook or seems to be, with a multi-blue background to the notice which says 'Microsoft respects your privacy' and has my Hotmail address. Among other things, below that, it says 'Required diagnostic data.' 'Your privacy settings' and then a 'Next' button. Is this legitimate?

Our answer
Hi Margaret. Yes, it is legitimate. Apparently, when you first set up you used your Hotmail address to set up your laptop but you then skipped the Microsoft account setup part. You can either do the setup or skip it again. It's just Microsoft trying to get you to set up your settings the way they want you to set them up. You can change them at any time from within Settings. In Windows 11 all of those settings are in Settings > Privacy & security.

We hope this helps you. If you have more questions, let us know.

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Ramona is seeing DSUB-DVI message across her screen
On my computer, I keep seeing DSUB-DVI in black coming across my screen. What does this mean and how can I stop it?

Our answer
Hi Ramona. This sounds like a hardware problem - not a Windows problem so it's a bit out of our field of expertise. But we will try to get you on the right track.

Generally, if you see a message with "DSUB-DVI" appearing on your screen, it means that your monitor is not receiving a signal from your computer. This could be caused by many things, including:

A loose or disconnected cable.
A faulty cable.
A faulty monitor.
A faulty video card.

Before you do anything, turn off your computer and leave it off for at least 5 minutes. Next, turn it back on. If you still see the DSUB-DVI message on your screen, try the following:

1. Check the cable connecting your monitor to your computer to make sure it is properly connected at both ends.

2. Try using a different monitor cable.

3. Try connecting your monitor to a different computer, if possible. This will help you to determine if the problem is with your monitor or your computer.

We hope this gets you pointed in the right direction and helps you find and solve the problem, Ramona.

Rosa lost a folder
I had trouble opening a picture folder named "Moxie" and suddenly it disappeared. I have looked everywhere trying to find it. Can you help?

Our answer
Hi Rosa. Moxie is not a Windows folder so I would not know where it is. What I would do if I were you, is use the Windows search feature to see if you can find it that way. Type MOXIE in the taskbar search. If you're using Windows 11 click on the "Files" icon to force Windows to search your computer and not the web.

If you are using Windows 10, use taskbar search and click on the folder icon to limit the search to files and folders on your computer.

If you still can't find the folder you're looking for, install Everything Search (it's one of our freeware picks). See this page. If the folder Moxie exists on your computer, Everything will find it quickly.

I hope this helps you, Rosa!

Patsy wants an external CD/DVD player
I need your advice. I need an external DVD player for my HP laptop but there are so many that I don't know which one to purchase. I don't want to pay a lot of money. I need it to install a couple of programs that I have on a DVD/CD from a previous laptop. Can you tell me which one I should choose? Thanks.

Our answer
Hi Patsy. Here is a brand name (LG) external CD/DVD player/writer for $25 from Amazon. There are so many good ones it's hard to choose just one. There are less expensive ones than this LG, but I think I'd pay an extra few dollars and get a brand name like LG, ASUS, HP, etc.

I hope this helps you make a good decision, Patsy.

We can fix your Windows computer... check out our low prices here!

Cloudeight InfoAve Premium -Tips & Tricks

How to Make Text Bigger on Windows 10 or Windows 11
Windows 10 and Windows 11

There have been some incremental changes made to Windows 10 and Windows 11 and those of you who have been looking for a way to make the text bigger on your Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC will be happy to know that changing text size has gotten easier to do.

How to Make the Text Bigger

We’re going to use screenshots from Windows 11 for this tutorial, but changing the text size in Windows 10 is virtually the same. In Windows 10 the text-size slider is located in a different section of Settings specifically: Ease-of-Access > Display.

To get started, press and hold down the Windows key and tap the U key. (This shortcut will open Ease of Access on Windows 10 and Accessibly on Windows 11. )

How to make fonts bigger on Windows 10 or Windows 11 - Cloudeight InfoAve

As you move the slider to the right you’ll see the text size increase. The smallest text size is 100% and the largest you can make your text is 225%. But be cautious, making your text too large can cause problems. When the text gets too large it might not fit inside a fit inside a program window or dialog, and you don’t want that.

How to make fonts bigger on Windows 10 or Windows 11 - Cloudeight InfoAve

My normal text size setting is 120%.

Make Text Bigger on Windows 11 - Cloudeight InfoAve Now I’m going to move the slider up to 180%. Notice the text size on the webpage behind the Start menu at 120% (above) versus 180% below. Also, note the text labels on the Start menu at 120% and 180%.

Make Text Bigger on Windows 11 - Cloudeight InfoAve

When you change the text size, you must click “Apply” to make the change. When you click apply you’ll see a blue screen telling you to “Please wait” while the changes are being made. When the blue screen disappears your news settings have been applied. And they’ll remain that way unless you change the text size settings again.

Keep in mind that not all programs will be affected by this change but many will. If you’re like me you’ll have to play with this setting to get the text size that works the best for you and the way you use your computer. The nice part about it is, it’s quick and easy to change. So, experiment and see how you can make the text on your computer easier to read.

Four Slick Quick Tips for You
Windows 10 & Windows 11 + all popular browsers

These four tips are easy and quick. But more than that they’re useful and time-saving. Three of them are browser tips for Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and almost any other browser — and one is a “copy and paste” tip.

Three browser tips first…

1. Show recently viewed pages with a click

Did you know you can show a list of recently visited pages from the current tab? You can. All you have to do is right-click on the “Back” button and you’ll see a list of recently visited pages. Keep in mind the back button may not be visible (or grayed out) when you first open your browser since there’s nothing to go back to, right?

2. Drag-a-tab

Did you know you can drag any tab and rearrange the tabs showing at the top of your browser? And, if you drag a tab off the edge of the browser, it will open that tab in a new browser window. Just drag the tab outside the active browser window. You can also add it back to the original browser window too. Just drag it and drop it where you want it.

3. Going Home

Most of you have a Web page you call your home page. In case you’re wondering, the browser’s home page or “Start” page is the page that opens when you first start your browser. Of course, we’re sure it’s https://thundercloud.net/start/ because you like us so much. Alas, it’s probably not though… but we can always hope.

Anyway, when you’re surfing the Web and have several tabs open, and you decide you want to return home page quickly here’s how to do it fast! All you have to do is press the Alt key + the Home key to return to your home (start) page. The next time you want to return to your home (start) page quickly, give your mouse a rest and use the Alt + Home shortcut.

A Copy & Paste tip

This tip works in any version of Windows, including Windows 11.

How do you copy? Do you copy text and links from the left to right or right to left? Did you know if you copy text from left to right, Windows will automatically add a space to the beginning of the first line when you paste what you copied?

While that’s not a problem most of the time, it can be if you are copying and pasting passwords, usernames, a line of computer code, a registry entry, etc. That space at the beginning of the first line can cause you problems.

So, from now on try to get used to copying from right to left and avoid that extra space at the beginning of the first line that Windows adds automatically.

Copy that?

Make Scrollbars on Windows 10 or Windows 11 Easier to See
Windows 10 and Windows 11

I just got a new laptop to replace my El Cheapo laptop. And setting up a new computer isn’t as hard as it used to be. But some things need to be adjusted if you’re getting old like I am. For instance, the mouse cursor and pointers on a new Windows 11 PC are tiny – it was annoying to have to look for them. But I looked up one of our handy tips and fixed that.

And with a new computer, I was annoyed at how Windows, by default, hides scrollbars. The scrollbars on Windows 10 and Windows 11 are nearly invisible until you hover over them. While this is supposed to be a cool GUI feature, it makes scrollbars harder to see. But it’s easy to change if you know how.

Here’s how to make your scrollbars visible all the time, and much easier to see

Windows 11

1. Press & hold down the Windows key and tap the U key to open Accessibility.

2. In Windows 11 >Settings > Accessibility look under “Visual effects”. Next to “Always show scrollbars” turn the switch on.

See the screenshot below.

Cloudeight InfoAve

Windows 10

Press & hold down the Windows key and tap the U key to open Ease of Access.

Under Ease of Access, locate the “Simplify and personalize Windows” section and turn the switch next to “Automatically hide scroll bars in Windows” to “Off”. See the screenshot below.

Cloudeight InfoAve

And that’s all there is to making scrollbars easier to see and your Windows a little less “cool” and a lot less frustrating.

Want more tips, tricks, and information?

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Reg Organizer: Cloudeight recommended and endorsed.

Now available: Reg Organizer 9.30

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 9.30. 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 and Windows 11!

Cloudeight InfoAve Premium -Tips & Tricks

Animated GIFs Made Easy with Sceen2Gif

Sceen2Gif is a free program for Windows 10 and Windows 11 that can record your screen and webcam and save whatever you record as an animated gif. It also comes with a sketch board that you can use to create animated drawings and more.

You can record whatever is on your screen, edit your creations, and then export them as animated gifs. You can also create your own original animated gifs using the sketch board.

Screen2Gif is 100% free. It’s 100% free from malware and tricks too. It is very easy to use and has many advanced features that experienced users will love. Yet Screen2Gif is so easy to use that beginners will be able to start using it right away.

Here are just a few of the many features of Screen2Gif:

Add captions, text, drawings, or shapes
Add keystrokes and mouse clicks
Add borders, and shadows and obfuscate (pixelate)
Add watermarks using your own images
Undo, redo, or reset your edits
Copy, cut, and paste frames
Select multiple frames or browse to a specific frame
Preview the playback of the animation
Capture the mouse cursor and mouse clicks
Remove duplicates
Reduce framerate
Delete all previous or all next frames
Import frames
Resize, crop, or flip/rotate
… and many, many more

The Screen2Gif website has an excellent help section showing how to use all the features of the program. You’ll find guides and screenshots to help you get the most out of the program.

The ways you can use Screen2Gif are limited only by your imagination. You can use it for presentations, show people how to do computer-related tasks, use it to make interesting content for your social media posts, and more.

Cloudeight freeware pick

Screen2Gif is completely free and works on Windows 10 and Windows 11. Yes, we tested it on both Windows 10 and Windows 11. You can download it with an installer or as a portable version. Both the installer and the portable version are clean and free from tricks, PUPs, and malware.

Look Out Below!

I had some fun trying out Screen2Gif.

Cloudeight freeware pick

Above: After downloading the portable version and extracting the zip file, I created shortcuts on my Start menu and the taskbar.

Below: I use my artistic ability to show you my portrait of EB. While I’m not an artist, I did get the eyes and hair right!

Cloudeight freeware pick

THE ONLY CLOUDEIGHT-ENDORSED EMAIL PROGRAM

OE Classic is the only Cloudeight Endorsed Email Program - Very Similar to Windows Mail & Outlook Express!

If you're looking for an email program that feels familiar and works much like Windows Mail & Outlook Express, OE Classic might be exactly what you've been looking for!

Read more about OE Classic here!

Cloudeight InfoAve Premium - Essays , Rants, etc.

On Her Sixth Birthday

I’ve been thinking about you a lot. Maybe because today you would have been celebrating your sixth birthday. And had you not been taken from us, by now you would have learned to sit up, crawl, walk, talk, and grow into a beautiful little girl.

You would be in kindergarten this year.

But you missed all of that. And we missed all of that.

We all lost so much when we lost you. Words can’t begin to express the sorrow I feel. No words can express how much I wish I could pick you up, hug you, and tell you how much I love you – and wish you a very happy birthday today.

Your little lifetime didn’t even last one single day. Yet the number of days your life will affect all of those who love you is infinite. I know there will never be a day I won’t think of you. There won’t be a day when your mom and dad won’t think of you. There won’t be a day when any of us who met you during your short life will ever forget you.

It’s so hard to believe it has been six years since you were born – and six years since you were taken from us.

Read the rest of this essay here.

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What is an external hard drive?

Every computer comes with some kind of internal hard drive - it's built into the computer and connected to the motherboard. It may be a regular hard drive or an SSD (solid-state drive). On the internal hard drive is your operating system - for most of us that's Windows. Normally on this drive are all your programs, documents, pictures, music, email messages, Windows system files, and more. Unless you take your computer apart, you never see your internal hard drive.

An external hard drive is a hard drive that plugs into a USB port on your computer. External drives vary in size and shape, but these days, many are about the size of a deck of cards but much thinner... while some are the about size of a paperback book. There is nothing on your external hard drive by default - however, most companies that make external hard drives encourage you to install their own proprietary software. We don't recommend that you do this. You don't need the software that comes with the drive to use the external drive.

Why do you need an external hard drive? If you have important data, pictures, files - anything you don't want to lose - then you need to back it up. If you don't have an external hard drive, your only choices of backup locations are your Windows drive (your internal drive) or a cloud storage service like OneDrive, Dropbox, etc. There are even cloud storage services that will charge you monthly or annually to back up your entire hard drive. This is not only expensive but also problematic. If you have hundreds of gigabytes of data on your hard drive, it will take you a long time to recover that data - and if your hard drive has failed what are you going to download it to?

Enter our hero: The external hard drive. They are inexpensive and durable, and your data is always nearby.

Cloudeight InfoAve

Above: Examples of external hard drives.

You can buy a 1 terabyte (1024 gigabytes) external hard drive for around $45 and a 2 TB external drive for around $60.

External drives require no setup. Just plug the external into a USB port and it's ready to go. AND... we remind you again,, that you're better off not installing the software that comes with external drives.

An external hard drive and a good backup plan is the best and least expensive way to ensure that your data is safe.

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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.

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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 #1042
Volume 20 Number 48
September 29, 2023

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