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Robert has a new computer and the screen occasionally goes blank for a microsecond
Hi TC & Darcy. My Windows 10 Desktop PC is nine years old and still working well. Since I have been using personal computers starting in 1995, every PC I have owned has given me 8 to 12 years of good service. I read your article on what to look for in a new PC and read where you thought a Windows 11 PC with 8GB of RAM and 512GB of storage was a safe bet. I found a good deal on a brand-new one and purchased it. When it arrived I “uninstalled” the McAfee and installed my “Cloudeight Endorsed” Emsisoft Anti-Malware. I am happy with the purchase. About 3 times over a two-week’s period of time I noticed the monitor “blink.” For just a microsecond the screen goes black and comes right back to where it was. Would you give me a clue as to what is causing it if you know? As I said, the PC works well and the blink is very infrequent and nothing gets lost. Thank you very much. Sincerely, Robert.

Our answer
Hi Robert. This sounds like a video card issue to me. It may not be a big deal now and it may never be, but it may get worse as time goes by. I'm only guessing, of course, but if this is a new PC I'd get in touch with the manufacturer right away. I assume the computer is still under warranty. Little things now may be big things later if it turns out to be a hardware issue. I'm not trying to worry you but hardware issues are hard to diagnose. It's better to be proactive than reactive. I hope this helps you, Robert.

Jack wants to know how to print a list of installed programs on his computer
Hi Darcy and TC. I was wondering if there is a way to print a list of all programs installed on my computer. Thanks in advance for your help!

Our answer
Hi Jack. There are several ways to print a list of programs installed on your computer. We'll show you two...

Here’s one way to print a list of installed programs on your Windows 10 or Windows 11 computer

1.) Type CMD in the taskbar search.

2.) When Command Prompt appears in the search results click “Run as administrator”

3.) At the prompt type… wmic

then press Enter.

List installed programs

4.) Next type (exactly) or copy & paste:

C:\InstalledPrograms.txt product get name, version

5.) Press Enter. It may take several minutes to generate the list of installed programs.

List installed programs

6.) Close the Command Prompt window.

Now, open File Explorer (Windows key + E) and look in the root of the C:\drive for the file named “InstalledPrograms.txt”.

You can open it with Notepad, but it looks neater if you open it with WordPad. Just right-click on InstalledPrograms.txt and choose “Open with” > “WordPad”.

List installed programs

Keep in mind this may not be a complete list. You may have some programs, for instance, portable software won’t show up on this list.

If all that seems like too much work...

Download UninstallView from Nirsoft (Free).

Unzip the file and click on UninstallView.exe (application). Wait for the program to scan your computer. Once it’s done scanning, you’ll have a complete list of programs installed on your PC. You can list them from A to Z or Z to A.

UninstallView Cloudeight

Once you have the programs in the order you want them, click on “View” on the toolbar, then click “HTML Report — All items”.

UninstallView Cloudeight

A copy will be saved in the folder where you extracted UnistallView with the name of Report.HTML.

UninstallView Cloudeight

Also, as soon as you click on “HTML Report — All items”, a copy will open in your default browser. So you can either print it directly from your browser or you can click on Report.HTML in the folder where you extracted UninstallView and print it later.

Either way, you’ll get a nicely formatted list of all the installed programs on your computer.

UninstallView Cloudeight

Betty wants an alternative to Cookiebro
I’ve been using Cookiebro to whitelist some sites so they don’t get removed when deleting cookies in Chrome. Chrome deactivated this extension because it’s no longer supported. I’ve been looking for a new extension in the Chrome Web Store to replace Cookiebro; however, the ones I’ve found all have a Google message that says, “This extension is no longer available because it doesn't follow best practices for Chrome extensions.” Do you perhaps have a recommendation for an alternative to Cookiebro?

Our answer
Hi Betty. We barely mention cookies or give them much thought, so we have not tried any programs or apps to whitelist any cookies you want to keep. But I did some research for you and found a reliable source of alternatives to Cookiebro. Here is that list of alternatives. We hope this helps you, Betty.

Les says his laptop does not shut down when he closes the lid

HI Darcy & TC. My quandary: I am using an HP ProBook laptop, approx. 6 years old & Windows 11 ( up to date). It has been working nicely until the last few weeks and has intermittently failed to "shut down" fully when closing the lid. It has been so set forever to do so. I noticed this problem when after using the laptop away from home, packing it in itd carry bag & going about my errands for several hours, by car. When removing it from the car I noticed it was fairly warm, though it should have been shut down. So I called my technician to inspect for possible hardware failure & remove of any accumulated internal dust build-up. However whilst it is away I continued to ruminate over the occurrences & have now realized it only does this errant shutdown after doing Skype video conservations. I think it might be related to a recent update to this Skype program. The screen & all display is unlit barring the on/off switch button backlight itself & approx. 50% battery charge has been used. I had made no changes to my power settings, having happily used them since day one. In summary, I am wondering if other readers have experienced similar behavior. Best regards, Les.

Our answer
Hi Les. It sounds to me like you have your computer set to go to sleep when you close the lid. Windows sleep mode has been buggy since Windows 7. If you have Power Options set to sleep when the lid is closed, change the settings to "Shut down" instead of "Sleep". If you have those settings set to sleep and there is a program that is running in the background, it could cause your PC to wake up.

Also, Windows Wake Timers may be set to wake your PC from sleep to perform Windows functions such as maintenance routines or updates. Changing your "When I close the lid" settings to "Shut down" instead of "Sleep" would ensure your computer doesn't wake up until you powered the laptop on manually.

I have never had any problems with any of my laptops since I leave them running and just dim the screen without closing the lid. My laptops never get hot... but we'll publish this in our weekly newsletter and see if anyone else has had an experience with a laptop similar to Les, let us know.

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Lee wants to use a PIN but can't set one because Windows wants a password

Dear Darcy and TC. Could you please advise me on how to set up a PIN to sign into my laptop? I have signed in to my Microsoft Account (thanks to your help) but when I go to System, Accounts it says PIN(Windows Hello) - this sign-in option is currently unavailable. Then when I go to the next screen it says- you must add a password to use this option -and the setup box is greyed out. What password do they want and how do I add it? I can't seem to move on from this page. Thanks again for all your help. Best wishes, Lee.

Our answer
Hi Lee. You can't set up a PIN unless you know your Windows password. If you're using a Microsoft account then the Windows password is the password you're using for your Microsoft Account email. You can see your Microsoft account email address by going to Settings > Accounts. Whatever the password is for that email address is your Windows password. Once you have the password you'll be able to set up a PIN.

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

Kerryn, Bev, and many others ask if the Windows 11 24 H2 update is safe to install
Kerryn asked... "My question today is "Do you know if the new Windows 11, 24H2 update is safe to install yet, please? Many thanks once again for all your help over the years. Kerryn."

Bev asked... "Will you be letting us know when to update to Windows 11 24H2?

And many others have asked similar questions about Windows 11 24H2.

Our answer
Hi Kerryn, Bev, and friends... There won't be a certain date when it will be "safe" to install the Windows 11 24H2 update. Right now I'm waiting until February to update my business laptop. I updated my personal laptop last month and now I have to reset my network adapter every time I reboot or update it.

So, we won't be giving an exact date when it will be safe to install the 24H2 update. If we did set a date and anyone had trouble we'd feel responsible. But our best guess is that it should be fairly safe to install 24H2 the first or second week of February would be safe... can't guarantee it though

You'd think by now Microsoft would make sure updates are thoroughly tested before they release them - after all, it's been more than 30 years since Darcy and I were using Windows 95! Boy! The horror stories we could tell you about the problems we faced using Windows 95... maybe someday...

Ed got a scam email from his own email address... how can this happen?
I received a scam email today that appeared to be sent from my own email address to my own email address. When I hovered over the sender's address, it didn't reveal the true origin of the email. I'm curious how this is possible. Thanks, Ed

Our answer
Hi Ed. Forging email headers is as old as email. Senders of spam or scam emails would never use their real email address to send spam or scam emails, so they choose a random address or make the "From" and "Send to" addresses the same to hide the sender's identity, and to create a sense of urgency or familiarity. Spammers can make the "from" and "to" addresses the same in spam emails through a technique called email spoofing.

Here's how it works: The spammer doesn't actually need to have access to the email account listed in the "from" field. They can simply manipulate the email header to make it appear as if the email originated from that address.

By making the "from" and "to" addresses match, spammers can try to mimic a notification, a password reset request, or a message from a trusted contact. This tactic can sometimes help spam emails bypass spam filters or trick users into falling for scams.

I hope this answers your question, Ed.

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Cloudeight InfoAve Premium -Tips & Tricks

The Windows Cipher Command
Windows 10 / Windows 11

Wipe free disk space with a simple command and make deleted files unrecoverable

By now you know that when you delete files or folders in Windows, they’re not really deleted. Not even close. Deleting a file or folder merely tells Windows that the space occupied by the file or folder that you deleted is now available for use, and Windows considers it free space – that is – space it can use.

So everything you delete is still on your computer, but the hard drive space it used shows as free space. Of course, this means any of those files you deleted are recoverable at least for a while. In fact, with the right software, everything you’ve ever had on your computer, every word you’ve typed, every picture you’ve saved and deleted, and everything else is recoverable.

But did you know there’s a hidden utility in Windows that will overwrite all the free space, thus making the files you’ve deleted unrecoverable – or at least nearly impossible to recover? There is — and all it takes is a simple command to run it.

Press the Windows Key plus the “R” key and type:

cipher /w:C (where C is the letter of the drive you want to wipe). So, for example, if you want to wipe the free space on drive C, type:

cipher /w:C

If you want to wipe drive F, type

cipher /w:F

Please note the space between the word cipher and the forward slash.

Don’t worry. Wiping the free space on your drives does not affect any of your data or programs. It merely wipes the space Windows shows as free to use that was once occupied by files you deleted. So you won’t lose anything by doing this.

One more thing: If you have a very large hard drive with a lot of free space, this process is going to take a long time, so be prepared. Also, closing all open applications while the free space is being wiped, helps speed up the process. So it’s best to do this when you’re not actively using your computer.

And yes, we know… there are plenty of free programs that claim to wipe free disk space and make files unrecoverable. But now you know how to wipe free space with a simple Windows command – no third-party software needed.

Windows Magnifier: Make Things Easier to See
Windows 10 / Windows 11

One thing we all share besides this blue planet is getting old. And getting old comes with its frustrations, most of which I won’t get into here. However, one of the things most older people have is trouble seeing things on a computer screen. Sometimes, it gets frustrating. Windows Magnifier can help.

Until recently, I thought Magnifier was for the severely sight impaired, but I was wrong. It’s for anyone who has trouble seeing some things on the screen. It’s very customizable and you may want to play with the settings to get it to work exactly as you need it to work. This tutorial was written for Windows 11. If you’re using Windows 10 the instructions are the same except Accessibility is called “Ease of Access in Windows 10.

Using Magnifier in Windows 11

1. Turn on Magnifier

Keyboard Shortcut: Press the Windows logo key + Plus sign (+).

Or you can press Windows Key + U to go to Accessibility settings:
In Accessibility turn on the Magnifier switch.

Windows Magnifier - Cloudeight InfoAve

2. Adjust Magnification

Zoom In: Press the Windows logo key + Plus sign (+).

Zoom Out: Press the Windows logo key + Minus sign (-).

Windows Magnifier - Cloudeight InfoAve

3. Change Views:

Keyboard Shortcut: Press the Windows logo key + Ctrl + M to cycle through the views.

Settings: Go to Settings > Accessibility > Magnifier and select a view from the Change Magnifier view dropdown menu.

4. Turn Off Magnifier

Keyboard Shortcut: Press the Windows logo key + Esc.

If you want to use your mouse, open Accessibility (Windows Key + U click on Magnifier, and turn off the Magnifier switch.

We’ve covered the basics of Windows Magnifier and how to use it. To learn more see this Microsoft page.

Simple but Useful Tips for Gmail, Outlook.com & Hotmail Users
For everyone using Gmail, Hotmail or Outlook.com

In an age where personal privacy is being attacked from every direction, Gmail (yes, that’s right, Gmail) offers its users a way to find out who is sharing or selling their email addresses. If you use Gmail, you should be using this trick.

Let’s say you want to sign up for email updates from Home Depot and McDonald’s (I’m just sayin’ now). You may want updates from Home Depot and McDonald’s (maybe they’re having a BOGO?), but you sure don’t want Home Depot or McDonald’s sharing or selling your email address, right?

People with large lists of email subscribers can make oodles of money by selling email addresses to others. We’re not saying Home Depot will sell your info to Menard’s, Lowe’s, or anyone else. And we’re not saying that Micky D’s will sell your information or share it with Burger King or Longhorn Steakhouse (heaven forbid) or anyone else. We’re just saying, OK?

And sometimes you don’t even want to sign up for email updates, but stores ask for your email address at checkout. Let’s use Ace Hardware for example (and again, we’re not saying Ace Hardware is doing this – we’re just sayin’). Let’s say you buy something at Ace Hardware and, as part of the checkout process, they ask for your email address. And you give them your Gmail address.

So, what’s the trick?

OK. Let’s go back to sayin’. Let’s say you do sign up for a Home Depot credit card or to receive email updates from Home Depot. For this tip, let’s say your name is Wembly Mingler III (I’m sorry) and your Gmail address is WemblyMinglerIII@gmail.com.

When you sign up for a Home Depot Credit Card or you sign up to receive their email alerts use WembleyMinglerIII+HomeDepot@Gmail.com. See? Lucky for us, Gmail automatically ignores any characters that follow a plus sign. So, if Home Depot is sharing your email, you’ll start seeing emails from other places addressed to WemblyMinglerIII+HomeDepot@Gmail.com, and then you’ll know for sure that Home Deport sold or shared your email address. Gotcha!

One more example…. we’re sorry about this Wembly.

Let’s say you sign up for updates from McDonald’s — because you want to know when McDonald’s is giving away Big Macs or large fries. Instead of giving them your WemblyMinglerIII@Gmail.com address, you give them WemblyMinglerIII+McDonalds@Gmail.com. Then, down the road, if you start seeing emails from Ruth’s Chris or Taco Bell showing up addressed to WemblyMinglerIII+McDonalds@Gmail.com you’ll know Micky D’s has been selling or sharing your email address. Gotcha, Micky!

This trick has other uses too. Let’s say you’re the president of a Wembly’s Chess Club. And you want a way to sort all the emails about your chess club quickly. You could create a WemblyMinglerIII+Chess@Gmail.com to easily keep track of and find all those chess-related emails with a simple search.

If you have an Outlook.com and/or Hotmail.com Address, here’s a tip for you…

Do you have an Outlook.com or Hotmail.com address? You can use this tip with any Outlook.com or Hotmail address too!

WemblyMinglerIII+HomeDepot@Outlook.com

WemblyMinglerIII+McDonalds@Outlook.com

WemblyMinglerIII+Lowes@Hotmail.com

WemblyMinglerIII+Chess@Hotmail.com

Now you got it, right?

Looking for a GIF? GIFs and stickers are quite popular – as if you didn’t know. If you own a smartphone you already know this. Even old stodgy Microsoft is getting into the stickers as there are stickers in the Windows 11 emoji panel.

While most smartphones come with plenty of gifs and stickers you can add to text messages, emails, and social media posts, our site pick offers many more.

Adding spice to your posts and emails is a fun way to grab attention and even make a point.

When you visit GIPHY you can search for the stickers or gifs you’re looking for using the site’s excellent search feature. Once you find the GIF or sicker you want to use, hover over it and click the link icon to copy the link to the image to your clipboard.

It’s time to say goodbye so you can go hunting for gifs and stickers to add pizazz to your social media posts or emails.

Exploiting Senior Citizens

We’ve been doing computer repair work since 2011. In the past 13 years, we have worked on thousands of computers and we’ve seen just about everything. All too frequently we’ve seen computer repair services taking advantage of senior citizens.

Far too often we have learned of people paying hundreds of dollars for unnecessary computer work that didn’t repair anything. Far too many times we have helped people who were frightened by some computer repair crook who told them that their computer was corrupted, infected with viruses, or “hacked”. We see now, more than ever, companies that most consider legitimate preying on and scaring folks with the “dark web” threat, knowing full well that most people don’t know much at all about the dark web. Nothing frightens people more than the unknown.

We’ve watched dishonest companies prosper; we’ve seen crooks become wealthy. We’ve seen people scared into spending hundreds or thousands of dollars unnecessarily by one tech support scam or another...

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