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

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

Happy Memorial Day Weekend

As always, on major holiday weekends, we publish a review edition. Publishing a review edition allows us to take some time off to spend with our families and friends and gives us a chance to feature some of the best questions/answers, tips, and other content from past issues of Cloudeight InfoAve Weekly.

To all our friends in the USA, remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice to preserve our way of life and our freedom. And have a happy and safe Memorial Day weekend.

To all our friends in other countries around the world - have a great weekend!

And to everyone, everywhere, we hope you enjoy this special review edition of Cloudeight InfoAve Weekly.

THANK YOU FOR HELPING US!

When you support us with a small gift, you help us continue our mission to keep you informed, separate the truth from the hyperbole, and help you stay safer online. Plus, our computer tips make your computer easier to use.

Did you know that we provide support to thousands of people? Every week we help dozens of people via email at no charge. The questions and answers you see in our newsletters are from the email answers and help we provide to everyone free of charge.

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 help us keep you safe on the Web.

Richard says his computer stutters and we give him our best advice
As always Darcy, you folks are very conscientious about the work you do. Your response to my issue of a slow/stuttering computer was comprehensive.

1. I will follow up on your suggestion to look at Task Manager/performance to see which item may be hogging more than it should.

2. The STARTUP trimming is a good suggestion which I have done, but like family values, one seems to keep more than one should. Guilty here, as charged. I am trimming more ...to the bone.

After doing #1, and #2, I will see if I run into the issue of slow response again...I am optimistic your advice is on target.

What would be an appropriate donation for your help, advice, and work? I have to tell you, whenever I ask for donations on my site, or my newsletter, the response is dismal even when I ask for less than the cost of a small cup of coffee....I think people don't appreciate the work that goes on behind the scenes in your work and mine. But I respect your work and feel you deserve an appropriate donation.

Thank you. Please get back to me once more. And you better tell me how to donate. Thanks, Richard.

Our answer

Hi Richard. If the suggestions I gave you don't work, then you probably have a Windows corruption issue in which case you'll need to consider doing a Windows reset & keep personal files and folders.

You should be able to look in Task Manager/Processes and order the processes from those that use the most resources to those that use the least:

a.) Memory (RAM)

b.) CPU (Processor)

c.) Disk (Activity)

High disk activity can be just as impactful as high memory or high CPU usage. if you see a process using 80 or 90% or more of CPU/RAM/DISK, right-click on the process and click "END TASK".

We help people free of charge and don't expect donations. Those who want to donate because we took the time to help them can donate whatever they want. The smallest listed donation is $5. But we don't expect donations every time we answer a question or provide a tutorial or work, via multiple emails to help someone. If everyone donated that we help (50 to 100 a week or more) we'd be in a lot better financial shape. So we provide the same help to everyone - and that is always our best help. If you want to donate, you can do so from our donation page here.

I hope this helps you find the culprit causing the problems with your PC.

Thanks for your support & your nice comments.

Eileen has tried (almost) everything to fix her PC
Well, I got to the Advanced Boot Menu and tried both options and neither of them worked. It went through diagnosing my PC, Auto Repair, and Reset PC. Response: "Auto Repair couldn't repair your PC" and "Startup Repair couldn't repair your PC". What's next? Can I buy some kind of disc that will fix my problem? Eileen

Our answer
Hi Eileen. Once you get to the advanced boot menu. click "Troubleshoot" then click 'Reset" and choose the option to keep your files.

Resetting your PC and choosing the option to keep your files is the quickest and easiest way to fix it. A reset will wipe out Windows and all programs you installed, save your files, reinstall a fresh copy of Windows, and then put your files back where they were. The only thing you have to do after the reset is re-install any programs you need.

Please let us know if you need more help.

Jim says his Dell PC with Windows 10 won't wake up from Sleep
Hello everyone... I have a Dell desktop computer that does not wake up after being in energy-saving mode. I have to turn it off and wait for a few minutes before restarting. Most of the time it restarts fine but occasionally when it restarts it freezes at the hello screen and will proceed to the sign-in screen. So I have to turn it off again and go through the same process. I tried changing the settings to allow the screen saver to run all the time. Unfortunately, this does not make any difference. It freezes and will not wake up to allow me to sign in to Windows. I ran the command prompt for SFC but there were no issues. I am at a loss as to fix this issue and I was hoping you could help me. Thanks for all you do for us. It's really appreciated.

Our answer
Hi Jim. Thanks! Sleep mode has been an issue with Windows 10 for some time. We don't even use it on our computers anymore and haven't for years. It's not necessary.

Right-click on the Start button, click on "Power options" and set "Sleep" to never (when plugged in - if using a laptop) and set "Turn off my screen" to "After 10 minutes" (when plugged in if using a laptop). When you set up your computer that way, the screen goes dark after 10 minutes, and the computer idles but does not sleep. When you're ready to use your computer again just touch a key or move the mouse (or touch the touchpad).

It will use slightly more electricity this way - but the screen is what uses up most of the power and when it dims after 10 minutes it will be the same as if you chose sleep mode.

Another way to fix sleep mode (the only sure way) is by doing a Windows reset while keeping your files). However, that's a time-consuming option when it's much easier just to stop using Sleep mode at all.

If you're using a desktop it may not be a Windows issue at all, it may be an issue with your monitor. If the suggestions above don't help, consider testing your PC with a different monitor. If you don't have another monitor, you can use your flat-screen TV as a monitor - all you need is an HDMI cable to connect your computer to the TV.

We hope this helps you, Jim.-

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.

David wants to know if we still recommend RoboForm
Some years ago, you advocated RoboForm as - among other things - a 'Log-In' saver. I have recently been encountering problems with this and RoboForm help has only really told me to make sure RoboForm was enabled in 'Edge' even though my present Browser of choice is Google Chrome. Are you still promoting RoboForm for saving 'log-ins' or do you suggest something different? Your reply will be greatly appreciated as always!

Our answer
Hi David. Edge and Chrome can use the same extensions - they are both Chromium browsers. Here is the Google Store page for the free version of RoboForm for Google Chrome.

Darcy still uses RoboForm and it's one of three password managers we recommend. I use Bitwarden on my newer laptop and LastPass on my older laptop although I'm switching the old laptop to Bitwarden also since I can use the free version of Bitwarden on my tablet and smartphone too.

The three we recommend are...

RoboForm
Bitwarden
LastPass

We hope this helps you, David.

Annette wants to copy/move files on Windows 11
Hello. Is there a copy to / move to for Windows 11? I am unable to transfer the files out of the downloads. Any help you can give I would appreciate. Thank you, Annette.

Our answer
Please take a look at our article here. It's a tutorial on adding "Copy to folder" and "Move to folder" to the right-click menu in Windows 11. You can do it the same way as you did in Windows 10... but it won't show up on the main right-click menu, you have to click on "Show more options".

Cloudeight InfoAve

Cloudeight InfoAve

We hope this helps you, Annette.

Janice can receive emails but cannot send emails
I can receive email but can not send it. Can you help me?

Our answer

Hi Janice. Your problem is not your computer or email program, it's your email provider. Since Charter bought out Time-Warner (Roadrunner) and became Spectrum, most of those with rr.com email addresses have had problems. I am one of those who had Roadrunner and a rr.com address and I got fed up with the email problems and now I use Gmail and Outlook.com.

I suggest you switch to a Gmail or Outlook/Hotmail.com address - otherwise, there is a good chance you'll keep having email problems. If you don't want to get a Gmail account your only other option is to reach out to Spectrum and ask them to help you with your SMTP settings (the settings that "Send" email).

You can get a free Gmail account at https://www.gmail.com or a free Hotmail/Outlook.com email account at https://www.outlook.com/.

I'm sorry I don't have a better answer for you, but since this is a Spectrum (RR) email server problem and not a computer problem, the best I can do is give you my best advice, and hope it helps you.

Reg Organizer: Cloudeight recommended and endorsed.

Now available: Reg Organizer 9.40

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 9.31. 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!!

A customer testimonial from Marjorie... "I just want to say that I love the Reg Organizer I purchased. It has so many features to help clean and organize my computer and does the job quickly. It's a great piece of software and I'm glad you recommended it! Marjorie."

Cloudeight InfoAve Premium -Tips & Tricks

Save Time: Use These CTRL Key Shortcuts
Windows 10 / Windows 11

Today, we’re going to remind you about one of the most basic time-saving things you can use in your daily computing life. Shortcuts.

In today’s post, we’re going to remind you how handy Ctrl Key shortcuts can be — and why you should use them whenever you can. They will save you time. And what’s more basic than time? We either have too much of it or not enough of it. And, not to be morbid, but we’re all going to run out of it. So, why not save as much time as you can?

And remember, these shortcuts can be used in any version of Windows including Windows 11.

OK ready? Let’s save some time with Ctrl Key shortcuts!

Let’s say you’re reading a page on the Web and you’re looking for a particular word. Do you:

a.) Scan the page manually for the word?

b.) Use the browser’s search feature in the browser toolbar?

c.) Press Ctrl + F to open the page search dialog?

d.) None of the above.

The answer is C. If you’re looking for a word on a page in your web browser, word processor, text editor, or PDF viewer (and many other programs) just press Ctrl + F to open the “Find” dialog. Type in the word(s) you’re looking for and press Enter. That’s it! Just remember F stands for Find. Sure, you can use the program’s search feature too, but why? The CTRL + F shortcut is faster and easier.

OK. If you’re on a page you want to print, do you search for “print” on the toolbar, look for the printer icon, or just press Ctrl + P? Right! You press Ctrl + P to print the page. It’s the fastest way to print.

OK now… you’re using your browser and you want to open a new window? Do you just click the browser’s shortcut to open a new browser window? Nah, just press Ctrl + N. Same thing if you’re using an email program and you want to open a new email compose window. Ctrl + N and type your email.

If you’re working on a document and you want to save it, you can press CTRL+S instead of clicking ‘File’ and ‘Save’. If you want “File” > “Save as” you’ll find that Ctrl + S/ works in many applications.

If you want to view your browser’s history, with your browser open use the Ctrl key shortcut, Ctrl + H.

And if you want to view a list of things you’ve recently downloaded, with your browser open use the Ctrl + J.

Let’s review:

Ctrl + F = Find something on a page – in a browser, text editor, PDF editor, eBook, etc. To remember this easily, think F = FIND.

Ctrl + P = Print the document you have open. Whether it’s a web page, a Word doc, a PDF file, a text file, etc. Think P = PRINT.

Ctrl + N = Opens a new window in the program that’s running. Think N = NEW.

Ctrl + S = Saves the document you’re working on. Think S = SAVE.

Ctrl + H = Shows your browser’s history. Think H = History

Ctrl + J = Shows a list of downloads in your browser. Think J= ? I give up! J=Downloads! Junk?

And let us not fail to mention these Ctrl Key shortcuts:

Ctrl + A = Select All

Ctrl + C = Copy

Ctrl + V = Paste

Ctrl + X = Cut

Ctrl + Y = Redo (Reverses a previous undo.)

Ctrl + Z = Restores a deleted file instantly when used immediately after deleting a file. It also restores accidentally changed or deleted text in a document.

How to Use QR Codes to Share Webpages
Windows 10/ Windows 11 and Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge. Firefox

QR Codes have been around for a long time, but unless you have a smartphone you probably have never used them. But if you do have a smartphone, then you know you can point your camera at a QR code and scan it to go to a webpage and get more information about a product, service, company, etc.

Chrome, Edge, and Firefox have a QR generator built-in. You can create a QR code for any site. You can copy the QR code or download it to your computer as a PNG image file. You can share QR images by email or text instead of sending a link. Or send them to your smartphone. Then scan the QR code with your smartphone’s camera to open the link.

To generate a QR code for a web page with Chrome or Edge, right-click on a blank area of any webpage and choose “Create QR code for this page”.

Let’s create a QR code using Google Chrome…

Chrome QR Codes - Cloudeight InfoAve

QR Codes - Cloudeight InfoAve
Above: The QR code for our Start page.

Let’s create a QR code using Microsoft Edge…

QR Code Microsoft Edge - Cloudeight InfoAve

QR Code Microsoft Edge - Cloudeight InfoAve
Above: The QR code for our InfoAve website.

You can create a QR code for any page in Firefox the same as you do with Chrome or Edge.

Oh and lest we forget, you can also create QR codes for any image in Chrome or Edge by right-clicking the image and choosing “Create QR code for this image”.

So, now you know how to create a QR code for any webpage (or image). Once you create the QR code you can share it by email or text, or download it to your computer.

The Quick & Easy Way to Show Hidden Files, Folders, and Drives
Windows 10 / Windows 11

By default, Windows hides certain files, folders, and drives. But often, the Windows tips we write and others you find online assume you can view hidden files, folders, and drives.

Some files and folders in Windows are automatically marked as hidden because Windows doesn’t want you messing around with them. But, leaving them hidden hinders your ability to make changes that can enhance your Windows experience. As we’ve mentioned, many of our tips and tricks and others you find online assume you can view hidden files.

For example, if you need to access the AppData folder in your users’ directory, you must unhide hidden files, folders, and drives. We think it’s a good idea that you be able to see all files, folders, and drives on your computer, and here’s an easy way to do it.

Windows 10

1.) Open File Explorer (Windows key + E is a great shortcut).

2.) Click on the “View” tab at the top.

3.) Tick the box next to “Hidden items”.

Cloudeight Windows 10 tips

4.) Close File Explorer.

Windows 11

1.) Open File Explorer (Windows key + E ).

2.) Click on the “View” tab at the top.

Cloudeight Windows 11 tips

3.) Tick on “Show” in the drop-down menu.

4.) Click on “Hidden items”.

5.) Close File Explorer.

That’s it! From now on, you will be able to see all your files, folders, and drives including the ones that Windows was previous

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.

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.

Cloudeight InfoAve Premium -Tips & Tricks

Anti-Twin Classic: Still the Most Accurate Duplicate File Finder of All

After years of trying and rejecting all kinds of duplicate file finders, either because they were distributed with garbageware, bundled with malware, or were too aggressive thus leaving reeling users with tears rolling down their faces because the files that some duplicate file finders found were not dupes at all, there is only one duplicate file finder we recommend. Anti-Twin has not changed since 2010 yet runs great on Windows 10 and Windows 11. It’s been the best duplicate file finder we’ve tested for over a decade. So if you’re looking for the most accurate duplicate file finder that gives you the best chance of cleaning up duplicate files without risking deleting files that are actually duplicates, then Anti-Twin is for you.

Now, that does not mean you can throw caution to the wind and delete every file that might be a duplicate. You still have to exercise good judgment. But Anti-Twin does a great job of finding duplicate files and then letting you compare the duplicates so you can make an informed decision if the duplicate is really a duplicate and if you want to delete it.

Anti-Twin is the fastest, coolest, most accurate, and safest (when used according to directions and with reasonable care) free duplicate file finder on this side of Mars. I can’t tell you what’s beyond Mars, but I have a feeling I might find out someday if EB’s size 10 boot ever finds my posterior.

Anyway — Anti-Twin Classic is a small (less than one megabyte) program that will find duplicate files in any folder and help you eliminate the mess that duplicates can cause. Anti-Twin compares files in all sorts of ways to ensure the files are really duplicated. You sure don’t want to delete Aunt Emily by accident.

But lest I ramble on too long and start being redundant, let’s allow the Anti-Twin’s author, Jörg Rosenthal, to tell you all about his program Anti-Twin:

Anti-Twin first appeared in 2003 and was maintained until 2012. However, the program still runs on current Windows versions such as Windows 10 or 11 and can therefore still be downloaded here.

Anti-Twin Classic

* Byte-by-byte comparison of user-defined files (file content)
* Search for identical or similar file names
* Pixel-based image comparison, e.g. search for similar pictures

Free for private use

Anti-Twin is a small software application which compares files, i.e. it searches for duplicate or similar files on your hard disk drive. All similar or identical files that were found can either be sent to the recycle bin or directly deleted. This will increase the hard disk space on your computer.

Select the option “Compare file content” to compare the entire binary content of the files. This means that the file names are irrelevant. Here, the basic principle is: “Name is but sound and smoke – size matters! And never lose sight of the inner values.”

Anti-Twin is an excellent application to e.g. find and delete duplicate MP3 files in a download folder or to find similar images. Apart from that, Anti-Twin helps you clean up employees’ chaotic file repositories in company networks, e.g. by searching for unnecessary file copies and redundant data back-ups.

Anti-Twin is freeware and can be downloaded from the Download page…. Please also read the instructions and note the warnings.

Anti-Twin works on Windows 10 and Windows 11. We created the screenshots below on Windows 10.

Cloudeight Freeware Pick Anti-Twin -Duplicate File Finder

Above: The Anti-Twin Classic program interface. A little dated, but still intuitive.

Cloudeight Freeware Pick Anti-Twin -Duplicate File Finder

Above: The default setting in Anti-Twin makes sure suspected duplicates are not deleted without your review. You get the final say… but only if you leave the default setting alone.

Cloudeight Freeware Pick Anti-Twin -Duplicate File Finder

Above: Some duplicate images were found in my Pictures folder. Note by clicking on each duplicate I can compare the images, image sizes, and type… and be certain they’re duplicates.

You can read more about and/or download Anti-Twin Classic from http://www.joerg-rosenthal.com/en/antitwin/. You can download it with an installer, just the executable, or as a zip file. We recommend you download the installer. All files are clean and green – free from any garbage, tricks, or malware. If you want to go directly to the download page, here’s the link:

http://www.joerg-rosenthal.com/en/antitwin/download.html

Oh, and one more thing: Please do as Jörg says and take a moment to read the instructions and the warnings. Anti-Twin is easy enough to use you’ll be tempted to skip the instructions and that means you’ll be tempted to skip the warnings but please don’t. Use Anti-Twin only as directed.

Please Help us keep up the good fight with a small gift.

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

Cloudeight InfoAve Premium - Essays , Rants, etc.

Avoiding the D Word

The other day I was talking to one of my sons and I said something like “If something happens to me”. I told him something I wanted him to do in the event of my demise.

The older I get the more references I make to my eventual demise. I really don’t know if my demise is eventual, imminent, or impending. I’m an old man – but even the young don’t know. All I know is we’re all given so many days on this earth and none of us know how many days we have — which at least makes it interesting. It would be awful – for me at least – to know the date of my demise. I mean I think I’d waste too much time focusing on that date or putting things off if the date was in the distant future.

One thing is for sure, I’m an old man and I don’t have a “distant future”. As I’ve said, my demise is eventual, impending, or imminent and I can only hope it’s still in the eventual category.

But what I want to talk about today is our use of euphemisms when it comes to our own demise or the demise of others close to us. We go to extreme measures to avoid the use of the words...

Read the rest of this essay here.

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!!

Get more info here.

Two Back-to-Basic Tips

Are you having a problem finding the Print Screen key?

On many keyboards, especially laptops, it is abbreviated as PrtScr, and on others PrtSc.

When you see two commands on one key, the shift key enables the lower command. That kind of seems backward, doesn't it? I think the reason is that your eyes tend to focus on the top command first, and the top command is the command that would most likely be used most often. For example, the question mark is on top with the slash below it on the same key. You would have to use the Shift key and click the question mark key (? ) key for a slash. The keyboard powers-that-be think that people would use the question mark more than the slash. Before the Internet, they may have been right, but now? ¿Quien sabe?

Changing Your Email Address

We get a lot of emails informing us of an email address change. Here are a few tips to remember when changing your email address:

1. Don't use the old address to tell people that you are changing your email address. Use the new one.

2. If you have a PayPal account, be sure you log in to PayPal, add the new address, and remove the old one.

3. Most newsletters have a way to change your address and can usually be found at the bottom of the newsletter.

Cloudeight InfoAve Premium

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

Cloudeight Direct Computer Care: 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, and 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.

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.

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.

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.

We'd love to hear from you!!

If you have comments, questions, a tip, a trick, a freeware pick, or just want to tell us off for something, let us know.

If you need to change your newsletter subscription address, please see "Manage your subscription" at the very bottom of your newsletter.

We receive hundreds of questions for possible use in IA news. Please keep in mind we cannot answer all general computer questions. We try to personally answer as many as we can. We can only use a few in each week's newsletter, so keep this in mind. If you have a support question about a service or product we sell, please contact us here.

Subscribe to our Daily Newsletter! Get computer tips & tricks every night. Our daily newsletter features a computer tip/trick or two every day. We send it out every night around 9 PM Eastern Time (USA). It's short and sweet, easy to read, and FREE. Subscribe to our Cloudeight InfoAve Daily Newsletter,

Cloudeight InfoAve Premium

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!

Darcy & TC
Cloudeight InfoAve Weekly
Issue #1076 - May 24, 2024

Not a subscriber? Subscribe to our FREE Cloudeight InfoAve Weekly Newsletter here.

Cloudeight InfoAve Premium

"Cloudeight InfoAve Weekly" newsletter is published by::

Cloudeight Internet LLC
PO Box 733
Middleville, Michigan USA 49333-00733

Read our disclaimer about the tips, tricks, answers, site picks, and freeware picks featured in this newsletter.

Copyright ©2024 by Cloudeight Internet