Cloudeight InfoAve Weekly Issue #1083 Volume 21 Number 38 July 12, 2024 Dear Friends, Welcome to Cloudeight InfoAve Weekly Issue #1083. Thank you very much for subscribing and for being a part of our Cloudeight family. We appreciate your friendship and support very much! Please share our newsletters and our website with your friends and family. 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. Help Us During our Summer Donation DriveWhen 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 InfoAve newsletters are from the email answers and help we provide 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. Please Help us keep up the good fight with a small gift. Would you be interested in making an automatic monthly gift?Visit this page. Help us to keep on helping you… and helping you stay safe on the Web. Sharon F. wants to make our start
page her home page on Microsoft Edge Our answer I've created a tutorial showing you how to set a home (start) page in Microsoft Edge and it's quite easy to follow.
#1:... Open Edge and click on the 3 dots in the top-right corner.
Then click "Settings".
2... On the page that opens, click on the 3 horizontal lines and
click on "Start, Home, and New tabs" (see below):
3. Under "When Edge starts" click the circle next to "Open these
pages". then click on "Add a new page".
4... Under "Add a new page" "Enter a URL" enter https://thundercloud.net/start/ and
click "Add"
5... Next, under the "Home button" next to "Show home button on the
toolbar" turn the switch to "On" (If it is not already turned on).
Click on the bottom circle and type in
https://thundercloud.net/start/ and click "Save". If the Home
button is already turned on, you'll see a Microsoft URL (web address
entered). Just highlight it, click on the Delete key (on your
keyboard) and then type in
https://thundercloud.net/start/ and click "Add". (See below)
Once you have done those steps, when you open Microsoft Edges it will
open our home page. And if you open other pages and lose our home
page just click the Home button on the Edge toolbar... (see below)
it will take you right back to our home page. I hope this helps
you, Sharon.
Linda says her router has WPA-3 security. Is her iPhone
secure?
Hi guys, a quick question for you. I am getting a (weak
security) message on my iPhone 2020 but my Xfinity router says I
have WPA-3 installed. Is my iPhone secure?
Our answer
If you're connecting your iPhone via your Wi-Fi you
shouldn't get any messages about weak security since WPA3 is
very secure. If you're using your cellphone carrier's
network to connect to the internet, you'll have to find out
from them why you're getting a "weak" security message.
We hope this helps you, Linda.
Sharon L. is locked out of her
WD external hard drive.
I have a question. I have a WD external hard drive.
Recently I had to reset my Windows 10 computer. I tried
accessing my external drive but it's asking for a
password. I don't remember setting a password at all but
it tells me what my secret clue is and I've tried
everything pertaining to that clue that I can think of
but none of them work. Is there a way of getting into it
without the password? Thank you.
Our answer
Hi Sharon. Your situation is a good example and one
of the reasons why we've always recommended that
people not install the software that comes with
external hard drives. Unfortunately, the WD Security
software uses your password to electronically lock
and unlock your drive. If you forget your password,
you will not be able to access the data saved on
your drive or write new data to it. You will have to
format (ease) the drive before you can use it again.
The only way in this case to “erase” the password is
to format the drive on your computer, and then all
data on the drive is gone. A Quick Format will
suffice. To format the drive, open File Explorer,
right-click on the WD external drive, and choose
"Format". You'll get a warning that all data on the
drive will be lost. You'll have to continue to
format the drive.
Unfortunately, when you install the WD software and
create a password, if the password "hint" does not
help you remember your password, then formatting the
drive and erasing all data is the only option you
have if you want to continue to use the drive. After
you format it, do not reinstall the Western Digital
software - it's not necessary to use the drive.
Sorry, Sharon.
Mark has a tip for us (and
you)
In Issue #1080 you discuss options for filling in PDF files. For security reasons, I prefer not to upload personal information (including my signature) so I use a desktop application. I don't do much but the best application I have found so far is the Sejda-desktop free limited version. For just the occasional use I have not run up against the limit. That has included filling in a 10-page document for buying a house and extracting the photos from the monthly school newsletter so that I can save the pictures of my grandchildren. I haven't the skills to check it out like you do but it seems to be safe and reliable. I appreciate your work and I hope this helps. Our answer Hi Mark. Thanks for your suggestion. We've just learned that Microsoft is working on a Windows feature that will enable filling in PDF forms and editing them. See this article. From other sources, it seems this feature will be included in a future Windows Update later this year. I will certainly mention your suggestion in case anyone else asks the question about filling in PDF forms. Thanks again for your suggestion and your kind words, Mark. 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.Patricia has problems with her Internet phone My home phone uses my internet connection (VOIP). I have had problems with the phone calls dropping on me. VOIPO, my phone company, sent me a speed test to run, which I have run many times. I could download but I could not open the program. I wrote to the company and they asked me to run some individual tests. The first one I was able to run. The 2nd one was downloaded as unconfirmed. When I tried to open it, it said unconfirmed 4722. I have been with this company for several years and have run the test the way they wanted it done. I am assuming Emsisoft is blocking it, how do I clear this with Emsisoft? Our answer
Also, I'm not sure what the company is having you download. You
don't need to download anything to check your internet connection.
You can check it at
https://www.fast.com/ or
https://speedtest.net (and there are many others as well). I am
pretty sure the problem is not Emsisoft, I'm almost certain the
problem is with your internet provider. You need to work with your
provider to make sure you have a stable and fast internet
connection.
I hope this helps you figure out the problem, Patricia.
Lee has a question about moving
files, sub-folders, and folders
Dear Darcy and TC. I have both files and folders within my Documents Video, Music, and Pictures folders. When transferring them to a new computer you say to open the Documents/Video/Pictures/etc. folders on the external hard disk and then move the Files within to the Documents/Video/Pictures/etc. folders on the new computer. I assume when you say move files you also mean folders within. Thanks for your help. Lee.
Our answer
Hi Lee. You want to recreate the folder structure on the
computer to be the same as the folder structure with the
Documents/Pictures/Music/Video, etc. folders on the external
drive.
So let's use the Documents folder as an example. The folder structure is DOCUMENTS > Myfiles & Subfolders on the external drive. So, open the folder on the external drive and use CTRL+A to select all the files and subfolders and copy them to the corresponding Directory (Documents/Music/Pictures, etc. on the PC. You want to transfer subfolders along with the files in the backup directories. You just don't want to copy the main directory (folder). For example, you don't want to copy the Documents folder on the external drive and copy it to the Documents folder on the computer. Doing so will cause you to have duplicate Documents folders - for example Documents > Documents > My files & subfolders, instead of just Documents > My files & subfolders. When you do it the way we advise then your directory structure on the new PC is the same as in the backup on the external drive. I hope this makes it clearer, Lee.
Candace wants to know about the Print
Screen key & Snipping Tool problem
Hi there. Your Questions and Comments page shows no area to enter information, so I'm sending my questions via email. I understand that the Print Screen button has been altered to take you directly to the Snipping Tool, and I'm reading that a lot of people are not pleased with the change. I read that this was done after the latest Windows update and that a fix would be coming out soon. I'm not familiar at all with the Snipping Tool. Have you researched this subject and/or do you know whether a fix is available? I'll need step-by-step instructions with the Snipping Tool until this is fixed. Thanks much for your help. Candace. Our answer We wrote a tip about opening the Snipping Tool with a single keystroke that you can read and comment on here. As you will see in the article, using the Print Screen key to open the Snipping Tool is an option that you can turn on and off.
I hope this answers your question(s).
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." Why Do I Get So Much Disgusting Spam?
Unfortunately, spam is a fact of life online. But it doesn’t have to rule your inbox. If you receive a lot more spam than others, here are some of the reasons that your email address has become a spam magnet. Email address exposure: If your email address has been exposed or leaked through various sources, such as online forums, social media, or data breaches, it is more likely to end up on spam mailing lists. Spammers often collect email addresses from different sources to send unsolicited messages. Email activity: If you frequently use your email address for online registrations, sign-ups, or subscriptions, it increases the chances of your email address being captured by spammers. Some websites or services may sell or share user information with third parties, potentially leading to increased spam. Malware or phishing attacks: If your computer or device becomes infected with malware, it can compromise your email security. Attackers may gain access to your email account and use it to send spam emails to your contacts and beyond. Use a good antivirus/anti-malware like Emsisoft. Poor email security practices: Weak passwords, not using two-factor authentication, or failing to update your email client or operating system can make your account vulnerable to unauthorized access. Spammers may hijack your account and use it to send spam messages. Unsubscribing from questionable emails: Sometimes, when you unsubscribe from some spam emails, it doesn’t unsubscribe you – it actually confirms that your email address is active and monitored, which can make it even more valuable to spammers. Random targeting: Spam emails are often sent randomly to a large number of email addresses, hoping that some will be valid and receptive to their messages. If you have a common email address format (e.g., john.smith@example.com), spammers may target addresses similar to yours, resulting in more spam for you. Don’t use your name in your email address especially if it’s a common name. And there are other reasons too, perhaps you can add some to this list. To minimize spam, consider some of the following measures:
Limiting your email address’s exposure online can greatly reduce the amount of spam you receive. If you’re receiving a barrage of spam every day, it may be time for the nuclear option and start over by getting a new email address. When deciding to get a new email address, remember you’ll need to notify those in your address book as well as the newsletters and the online services you trust and want to keep in contact with. Don’t delete your old email address until you’re sure everyone who should have your new email address has it. We have found Gmail to be particularly good at filtering spam emails from good emails. But if your email address has already been exposed online or is included on spam lists of verified email addresses that are sold online, even Gmail might not be able to keep up and keep your inbox relatively free of spam. How to Quickly Clean the Windows Temp
Folder Here’s a quick way to see how many files have accumulated in your Windows Temp folder Right-click on the Start button and click “Run”. In the Run box type %temp%
You’ll see the contents of the Windows Temp folder,
If you want to clean up the Temp folder, hold down the CTRL key and tap the “A” key to select all the files in the Temp folder.
Once all the files are selected, tap the Delete key. Some of the files in the Temp folder may be in use by programs running on your computer and therefore can’t be deleted. If you see a message that a file can’t be deleted because it’s in use, just skip that file. As you can see from the screenshots, before cleaning I had 93 files & folders in the Windows 10 Temp folder, after cleaning there were 8 files & folders. As long as Windows is running, new temp files will continue to be created so it’s unlikely you’ll ever see nothing in the Temp folder.
Will this improve your computer’s performance, probably not, although it could. Think of it as good housekeeping. There’s no sense in keeping useless files and folders, right? Now you know how to do a little quick computer housekeeping you may not have known before. 11 Keyboard Shortcuts That Will
Make Your Computer Life Easier The world gets more complicated every day. But we’re minimalists and big fans of saving time and making things as simple as possible. Nothing makes your computer simpler to use than keyboard shortcuts. But we’ve noticed that many people don’t use them. Why not? Unlock some features and save some time by using these 11 Windows keyboard shortcuts. All of these shortcuts work in Windows 10 and Windows 11. 1 > Lock Your Computer / Hide your Screen
Whether you’re leaving your computer for a few minutes or want to hide what’s on your screen quickly using the Windows key + L shortcut is a great way to lock and hide your screen. Remember that this shortcut only works if you use a password or PIN to log into your computer. 2 > Quickly Show Your Desktop
Using the Windows key + D shortcut will instantly bring your desktop into focus without disturbing any running programs or anything you’re working on. 3 > Search Your Computer
Use the Windows key + S shortcut to quickly open up the Windows search dialog. Interestingly, the Windows key + Q shortcut does the same thing. 4 > Open a Print Dialog
Want to print something on your screen without fumbling around looking for a “Print” button? Use the Windows key + P shortcut to open up a print dialog. 5 > Quickly Close a Program
To quickly close a program you’re using, press the CTRL key plus the F4 key. This shortcut comes in handy if you’re browsing the web and you run into a tech support scam or other kinds of malicious websites. Using the ALT + F4 shortcut will immediately close your browser. 6 > Quickly Undo a Mistake
Have you ever accidentally typed over something you wanted to save or even accidentally deleted an entire page? We’ve all been in a situation when we’ve deleted something we wanted to save or typed over something wanted to keep. Use the CTRL key + Z shortcut to restore whatever you deleted. 7 > Show the Hidden Taskbar Icons
Windows automatically hides some program icons in the notification area section of the taskbar (the area near the clock). You can show these icons quickly by using the Windows key + B shortcut. Press the Windows key + B and you’ll see this…
Just click the little highlighted arrow to see the hidden icons on your taskbar. You don’t need to use the Windows key shortcut to get here, but if you don’t know that little arrow exists, now you know and you know what it is for. 8 > Select All
If you need to select all items in a folder, just highlight one item and use the CTRL+A shortcut to select them all. Quick and easy! 9 > Open the Hidden Windows Start Menu
Use the Windows key + X shortcut to open the hidden Windows start menu…the one that looks like this:
You can also open this menu by right-clicking on the Start button. 10 > Open the Windows Emoji Panel
If you’re a fan of emoji then you should know that Windows has, what we call, an Emoji panel that you can access by using the Windows key + period key shortcut, And you can also use the Windows key + ; (semi-colon) key to open the Emoji panel.
11 > Tell Microsoft What You Think
If you’re logged into Windows with a Microsoft account, you can make a suggestion, issue a complaint, or just tell Microsoft what you think by using the Windows key + F shortcut to open the Windows Feedback Hub. 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.
Let’s Wander Around the Forest with ForestWander Who doesn’t like beautiful pictures of nature, besides EB? She doesn’t like anything. But really, who doesn’t like looking at beautiful photos of forests, mountains, flowers, wildlife, landscapes, etc.? This Cloudeight Site Pick features hundreds of high-resolution photos of nature — by category – from Forest Trails to Mountains to Wildlife to the unusual. It’s too bad this site’s design isn’t as pretty as its pictures. But there’s something to be said for that old homemade website look. EB and I remember when most sites looked like this.
Kind of homey, isn’t it? So be forewarned, when you first gaze upon our site pick, don’t take off and go somewhere else or you’ll be shortchanging your eyeballs. Take some time to browse through the hundreds of great nature photos. When you find one you like, click on it and you’ll see the high-resolution version that you can download and muse over or use as your desktop wallpaper. The site’s design could use some help, but the content more than makes up for what the site’s design lacks. We’re telling you: don’t be put off by the way this site looks. There are many magnificent photos here and you will want to spend some time browsing through them.
Here’s a little blurb from the site’s founders that will warm the cockles of your heart:
And you thought I was verbose! Anyway, our thanks to InfoAve reader Carol for suggesting this site. Great job, Carol. It’s time to go bucolic. Take some time to visit ForestWander and wander through this huge collection of nature photographs. It will be time well spent. THANK YOU FOR HELPING US! 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. 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. Being Honest About Being
Old 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!! Ten Internet Slang Terms You Can Use to Sound Wavy Fire: Used to describe something as cool, impressive, or amazing. No cap: Means you're telling the truth, "not lying. Finsta (Fake Instagram): A secondary Instagram account, often used to post more private content to a smaller circle of followers. BAE (Before Anyone Else): Significant other Bruh: Expressing disbelief or frustration Wavy: This describes something stylish, smooth, or overall impressive. Flex: Showing off or bragging Bussin': Primarily used for food, but gaining traction for anything extremely good. Big oof: Expressing disappointment or blunder Cringe: Something awkward or embarrassing Sales of the following products and services help support our newsletters, websites, and free computer help services we provide. 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, 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 #1083 - July 12, 2024 Not a subscriber? Subscribe to our FREE Cloudeight InfoAve Weekly Newsletter here. "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 |