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Linda wants to know if we still have a website
I'm sorry, I cannot remember if you have a web page I need a password to access. I receive emails from you and can click on links to see specific info. I've had Cloudeight for 25 years but it seems to me that I used to be able to go to a web page of yours. Please help me clear this up. - Thank you.

Our answer
Hi Linda. Our website does not require a password and is updated every day. All you have to do is go to this page and once there press CTRL + D to bookmark it. We also have another page called our Start Page where we post new tips and tricks almost every day and also have the latest world news, tech news, and important links. You can visit our start page at https://thundercloud.net/start/. Again, to bookmark it, go to that page, and while on it, press CTRL + D.

Dianne is fed up with Microsoft and might switch to Apple

Because Microsoft is forcing us to pay them for updates or buy a new computer in 2025. I am seriously considering purchasing an iMac. I'm sure many others are thinking the same way. So that being said, would you consider adding tips and tricks to your newsletter regarding Apple computers? I have learned so much from you two and hate the idea of leaving. Thanks so much for all you do. Dianne.

Our answer
Hi, Dianne. You can buy a new Windows 11 15.6" laptop with a fast processor, 1 TB Solid-State Hard Drive (SSD), and most importantly 16 GB RAM (Memory) for less than $500. Here's a Dell with the same specs for less than $500. By the time Windows 10's end of life comes (10/14/25), it will be ten years old. Microsoft has supported Windows 10 since July 2015. Remember, Windows 11's PCs will be upgradable to Windows 12. So for less than $500, you can buy a nice computer that will be supported for at least 10 years.

Let's compare that to an Apple laptop. Here's an Apple laptop (MacBook Air 15") with half the RAM and half the hard drive space for $1300. So, you can spend $700+ more for a less powerful computer with less hard drive space which might last 10 or 12 years. You won't have to worry about obsolete operating systems, but computers have a lifespan -- even Apple.

My advice: You could buy 2 Windows laptops (or desktops) for the same price as one comparable Apple laptop. That doesn't seem like a good deal to me. But it's up to you.

Another option to consider is keeping Windows 10 and using 0Patch. You can keep using Windows 10 safely for at least 5 more years after October 2025 for about $27 a year. See our article here.

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

Lee has several questions.
Hi Darcy and TC. I have a few queries I hope you can help with. I have recently bought a new laptop with Windows 11 and am slowly getting used to it! However could you please tell me:

1. How can I open MSG files with Outlook? (I used to have Microsoft Office on the old laptop).

2. Does Windows 11 have a toolbar? My old laptop had one at the top of the page.

3. Finally, I am not sure just how Passkeys work instead of Passwords. Do you have any info in plain English that we can follow?

Thanks for all your help. Incidentally, your advice on what to look for in a new laptop was very helpful. Take care. Lee.

Our answer

Hi Lee. Thank you. MSG files are email message files used to store email messages, attachments, and other related information. If you have Microsoft Outlook installed, you can easily open these files. Here's how:

Find the MSG file you want to open on your computer. Double-click the file and if Outlook is associated with MSG files, it should automatically open. If Outlook doesn't open automatically, right-click on the MSG file, select "Open with," and then choose "Outlook."

Windows 7/8/10/11 all have taskbars. In Windows 11, the taskbar is at the bottom of the screen and it's centered. While you can move it to the left if you prefer, you cannot move the taskbar to the top of the screen in Windows 11.

Passkeys are a new type of login credential that aims to replace traditional passwords. Passkeys are stored on your device like your tablet, smartphone, or computer. Passkeys are generated uniquely for each account and are always strong, unlike passwords that can be weak or reused. To sign in using a passkey, you'll use a biometric method (like fingerprint or facial recognition) or a PIN to verify your identity. Passkeys are based on public-key cryptography, making them almost invulnerable to phishing attacks and data breaches. Not all sites accept passkeys yet, but if they do you might want to consider using a passkey instead of a password.

How you set up passkeys varies by website. The underlying technology is similar, but the specific steps and setup user interface might differ. You'll usually need to pair your device (smartphone, tablet, or computer) with the website or app. This involves scanning a QR code or following specific instructions. You'll be prompted to set up a biometric method (like fingerprint or facial recognition) or a PIN for authentication. The website or app will generate a unique passkey for your account. You might need to verify your identity using a traditional password or other method before the passkey is activated.

I hope this answers your questions, Lee.

Kathy is locked out of her Hotmail account
I have been a fan of yours almost since you started) & desperately need help. I am locked out of my Hotmail account. I am nearly 80, frustrated and angry at Microsoft! I have paid for MS 365 for many years and have always been able to work my way through glitches. Neither changing passwords nor entering my recovery code gets me back in. MS only allows resets 2x a DAY! I've been unsuccessful now going on 3 days. Every time I reset the password, I get told it's wrong. Same problem with the MS Authenticator on my cellphone (so fed up with the same problem, I uninstalled it because it, too, wouldn't accept my passwords.). I finally created a new, free Hotmail account and password (a Microsoft suggestion ---only to be told it doesn't exist after receiving their welcome email at that new address! ... What is my next step to freedom? Kathy

Our answer

Hi Kathy. Thanks for your long-time support. Unfortunately, we cannot reset your password for you since it will require you to prove your identity. But a Hotmail account is a Microsoft account and there's only one way to reset it. Here is the right way to reset your Hotmail password.

Go to the Microsoft account recovery page:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/account-billing/reset-a-forgotten-microsoft-account-password-eff4f067-5042-c1a3-fe72-b04d60556c37

Enter the email address associated with your Hotmail account.

Click "Next" and follow the on-screen instructions to verify your identity. You might be asked to provide additional information like your phone number, security codes, or answers to security questions.

Once your identity is verified, you'll be able to create a new password for your Hotmail account.

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Sandy wants to know how to measure her screen size
I want to get a bigger monitor. How do I tell what size I have now, so I won't get the same size? Thank you for being here when I need you.

Our answer
Hi Sandy. It depends on if you have a laptop or desktop with a monitor. If it's a desktop monitor, you might find the screen size on a sticker on the monitor. If you can't find the size otherwise, you can measure the diagonal length of your monitor's screen. Keep in mind that the actual viewing area might be slightly smaller than the measured diagonal size. For example, a 24" monitor might measure 24 1/2". Monitor size is almost always measured in inches. If it's a laptop, it's usually in the name of the laptop, for example, Dell 17" Laptop or HP 15.6" Laptop.

I hope this helps you, Sandy.
----------
Sandy wrote back: "Awesome, thank you so much. It's a desktop and with my tape measure, diagonal way, it is a 32". Thank you. I need to buy another one just like it. Great help as usual. Thanks. Sandy."

Mary wants to know about Incogni
Have you ever heard of Incogni? What is your opinion? Thank you for allowing us to pick your geeky brains.

Our answer
Hi Mary. Incogni is a personal data removal service that helps protect your online privacy. It works by automatically sending requests to data brokers and other entities to remove your personal information from their databases.

You can do what Incogni does yourself, but it's time-consuming, while Incogni can help remove personal data from data brokerages automatically. It's not cheap - only you can decide if it's worth it.

Here's our article explaining data brokers and how your personal info is collected and sold.

I hope this answers your question, Mary.

Laura wants to encrypt drives/files using Windows 10 Home
Hi TC! I want to protect external disk access with a password as in an Excel file for example. In the Microsoft forum, they said it can be added with BitLocker which comes with Windows 10 Pro, but not Windows 10 Home. I want to know if there is a way to add a password with Windows 10 Home. Thank you!

Our answer
Hi Laura. I'm not sure if you are asking how to protect a drive or a file. So, I will cover both. You can protect files or drives but there are different ways of doing it.

For instance, if you want to password-protect an Excel file you can do it this way:

Open the Excel file you want to encrypt.
Go to the Review tab and click Protect Workbook.
Choose Encrypt with Password.
Enter a strong password and confirm it.
Click OK.

If you want to password protect (encrypt) the entire external drive and you are using Windows 10 Home, you can use encryption software like VeraCrypt to encrypt the drive and its contents. VeraCrypt is free. You can read more about it here.

Remember if you encrypt a file, folder, or drive, you must have the password to open it. Without the password, you will not be able to open a password-protected (encrypted) file, folder, or drive.

I hope this points you in the right direction, Laura.
--------
Laura wrote back: "Hi TC! I wanted to protect a drive, and as usual, you have the answer for everything! I'll take a look at VeraCrypt. Thanks so much! Laura."

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Cloudeight InfoAve Premium -Tips & Tricks

How to Quickly Rename All Files In a Folder
Windows 10 / Windows 11

Here’s a quick, easy, and useful tip. If you have a folder full of files with arcane names that do not describe what the files are, you can quickly rename all files in a folder with descriptive names. This trick is very handy when you have a folder of photos from your phone or camera. Most times files that come directly from your camera or phone have obscure names that don’t describe the photos. But you can fix that by quickly renaming all the files in the folders using this tip.

Open the folder where the files you want to rename are located. Highlight one file and then press CTRL+A to select them all. Next, press the F2 key to rename one of the files in the list and give the file a new name. Then press Enter. Windows will automatically rename all the other files in the folder with the name you typed, appended with (1), (2), (3), and so on after the file name.

For this example, I chose a folder full of files with names that meant nothing to me. But suppose these were all pictures from a special trip to Niagara Falls. It would be useful to at least have the word “Niagara” in the file name, right? So, I pressed F2, renamed one file “Niagara'” then pressed “Enter” and watched as Windows renamed the rest...

It’s easy – see?

Cloudeight InfoAve Windows Tips & Tricks

Four Mouse and Keyboard Tricks for You
Windows 10 / Windows 11

Here are four seldom-used mouse and keyboard tricks that can save you time.

1. Use your mouse wheel to close a browser tab.

You can do it, yes you can. Most of us use the mouse wheel to scroll pages and other common mouse wheel stuff. But if you press down on your mouse wheel you’ll notice it depresses just a bit. Well, did you know that just a bit is enough to allow you to close a browser tab (among other things)? Try it and see. Position your mouse pointer in the middle of a browser tab and press down on the control wheel. See?

2. Use the Shift key + the right mouse button to extend the Context Menu.

When you right-click on the desktop document icon, you will see a context menu. But did you know there’s another context menu called the extended context menu? To see the extended context menu, just press and hold the Shift key and then right-click on an icon to open the extended context menu. Here’s an example from Windows 11.

In the screenshot below, on the left, you can see the standard Windows 11 context menu, but by using the Shift key and the right mouse button you can open the extended context menu. See?

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3. Use the Shift key to select text.

Most of you know that you can select files and folders by holding the Shift key and clicking on the first and then the last file/folder. But this also applies to selecting text in documents like MS Word docs as well as text files (and Web pages).

All you have to do is click on the first character in the text you want to copy, then hold down the Shift key and point to the last character you want to copy. All the text between the first click and the last click is selected. Now just press CTRL + C to copy the selected text and CTRL+V to paste it wherever you want…like a Word doc, an email, or a text file.

You can practice the tip above right here. Just click on the Y at the beginning of this paragraph, then hold down the Shift key and click on the period at the end of this sentence.

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4. Maximize any program window with a double-click.

Instead of fumbling around looking for the maximize button between the – and the X in the top-right corner of most program and file windows, just double-click anywhere on the title bar (or top bar) to maximize or minimize the window.

The title bar or top bar in Firefox (also referred to as the menu bar.

The top bar or title bar (Microsoft Edge)

The top bar or title bar (Google Chrome)

The title bar (OE Classic)

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The title bar (Microsoft Word)

That’s enough, you get the idea. You can maximize or minimize a program window by double-clicking on the title bar, menu bar, or top bar.

Do You Have a Standard Hard Drive (HDD) or a Solid State Drive (SSD)? Here’s How to Find Out.
Windows 10 / Windows 11

Whether you’re using Windows 10 or Windows 11, here is an easy way to find out if you have a standard hard drive (HDD), a solid-state hard drive (SSD), or maybe both.

How to find out if you have an HDD (Standard Hard Drive) or a SSD (Solid State Hard Drive)

Right-click on the Windows Start button. Click “Run” (or press (Windows key + R). In the Run box which appears type dfrgui and press Enter.

Cloudeight InfoAve

Look under “Media type”. Standard hard drives (HHDs) show up as “Hard disk” drives and Solid State Drives (SSDs) show up as “Solid state” drives.

And what the heck does Retrim mean?

If you have a sharp eye, you saw on the last screenshot “3 days since last Retrim” In case you’re wondering what that means…

Retrim is often used interchangeably with TRIM when referring to solid-state drives (SSDs).

TRIM is a command that informs the SSD which data blocks are no longer in use.

This allows the SSD to efficiently manage its internal storage by marking these blocks as available for reuse. This process helps maintain the optimal performance and longevity of the SSD.

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.

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What Should I Read Next?

Both of us are voracious readers. We both love books and reading is one of our favorite things to do. Nothing like sitting outside under a shady tree in the summertime, reading a good book, and sipping an ice-cold beer. Sorry, EB. I meant a nice big tall frosty glass of chocolate milk.

Do you know what the biggest problem with reading is? It’s when you finish reading an exceptionally good book. Super-good books make it difficult to find the next good book to read. Why? Well, because if you just finished reading an amazing book, how do you find one that could ever measure up to it?

We normally stumble around and find the next great book eventually, but sometimes not without a few misfires in between. Usually, this means downloading sample books from Amazon and sometimes slogging through the first few chapters hoping the book gets better. But I don’t like slogging through chapters in slow-starting books. I like to be smacked in the noggin right from the opening sentence.

“Jackie wouldn’t put up with him… not for one more second! So she took an egg and a candle and put them both inside a large, dirty, smelly, red sock. As she raced toward his man caved she slathered..."I'll teach that nincompoop"...

Why can’t authors think of opening sentences like that one? I just made that up, but I bet you’d love to know where that was going, right?

As usual, I’m wavering off-topic, so I digress.

The problem with great books is that it makes it hard to find the next great book. Expectations run high. We have found a site whose sole purpose is to give you tons of suggestions for your next great read.

Just type in the title of the book and click and voila!

Cloudeight Site Pick - What Should I Read Next

You’ll find suggestions for other books to read. You can sift through the list — each suggestion has keywords about the book’s content. You also have an option to click “Info/Buy” to read more about the book and get reviews on Amazon. Now, just because it has the word “Buy” in it does not mean you have to buy anything.

I just get the titles from here and then flip on my tablet, head to Amazon, and get the book for Kindle. Almost always you can get a free sample of the book with the first chapter or two. If you’re an avid reader you already know that you can’t always tell how good a book’s going to be by reading the first couple of chapters, but more often than not, if I’m sleeping before the end of chapter one, that book’s not going to wake me up later.

Enough of this. This site is so simple to use that I bet I could teach a chimpanzee to use it in less than 5 minutes – if he/she already knew how to type.

The name of the site is “What Should I Read Next?”.

If you love to read as much as we do, visit our site pick, type in the name of a book you like, and in a few seconds you’ll (usually) you’ll get several — or sometimes dozens of suggestions for books to read next. Hop to it. Find your next great read and get reading!

Visit our site pick “What Should I Read Next” right now!

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Cloudeight InfoAve Premium - Essays , Rants, etc.

Try to Remember the Sound of the Rain

Have you ever taken the time to listen to the rain? Have you closed your mind to everything but the sound of the rain falling from the sky on the roof, on the streets, on the trees?

Right now it is a sunny day and for all the world it looks like summer, feels like summer, smells like summer, yet it won’t be long before that ridge of trees just over there – beyond the old wooden fence – will blaze with beautiful autumn colors.

Time is passing quickly - summer's death rattle can be heard everywhere. Summer will soon die and give birth to autumn. And it is autumn’s summer teasing that takes the mind backward. The day is so sunny and so bright -- so much so that the colors of autumn already glow brightly in my mind amid the waning summer's sunshine.

Now I go back and try to remember the sound of the rain. Can I? Can I picture the lowering clouds...

Read the rest of this essay here.

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What is a Shell Extension?

Sometimes a crab will crawl up on land and try to reach low-hanging fruit. But it can't quite reach it because its shell is so limiting. The crab needs a shell extension!. Nah!

Shell extensions are usually very small programs that you install like a regular program but which do not appear on the start menu. You "run" these programs by right-clicking on a file or folder. When you do, the shell extension displays an additional menu..

Shell extensions are one of our favorite types of software because they are most often focused on performing useful tasks. For instance, one of our favorite shell extensions is called "ContextMagic" which allows the user, simply by right-clicking on a file, to move or copy the file to any other location on the computer, to copy the "file path" to the clipboard and several other useful things - all accessible by a simple right-click.

ContextMagic is a great example of a useful shell extension - but there are hundreds of others. Try ContextMagic and you'll be hooked on Shell Extensions like we are. Shell Extensions - small, useful utilities that you run simply by right-clicking on a file or folder!

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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!

Darcy & TC
Cloudeight InfoAve Weekly
Issue #1092 - September 13, 2024

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