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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.

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Pierre asks about taskbar shortcuts in Windows 11
Hi Darcy and that other guy! (just kidding TC....).  I decided to switch to Windows 11 from Windows 10. Good to see everything came back except my PowerPoint. One question, how do I shortcut stuff from my desktop to my Taskbar like Windows 10 used to? Pierre.

Our answer
Hi Pierre. Windows 11's taskbar is a lot more restricted than Windows 10's was. But you can add shortcuts to almost any app or program to the Windows 11 taskbar.

Our answer

Hi Patricia. You cannot move desktop icons around if either "Auto arrange icons" or "Arrange icons to grid" are checked in Desktop Properties (right-click on the desktop and click "View" and uncheck both of them if they are checked).

 

You cannot change Windows 11 colors if your color options are set to their defaults. To change colors, you have to change your settings as follows:

 

Right-click on your desktop, choose "Personalize' to open Settings > Personalization > Colors change the mode from "Light" to "Custom". Then set your Windows mode to dark and select the color you want. You can set your app mode to light or dark depending on your preference.

 

 

To change your mouse and pointer colors, see our article here.

We hope this helps you, Patricia.

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

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

Three browser tips first…

1. Show recently viewed pages with a click

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

2. Drag-a-tab

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

3. Going Home

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

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

A Copy & Paste tip

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

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

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

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

What’s New in Windows 11 24H2?
Windows 11

It’s been a long, slow rollout, but by now, most of you have the Windows 11 24H2 update. The update brings several interesting changes and improvements to your Windows 11 computer, but unless you are an avid Windows fan, you might not have noticed them.

Here are some of the changes in the latest major Windows 11 update:

Smarter File Explorer
When you right-click on files, the options like “Cut,” “Copy,” and “Delete” now have words next to the icons, making what they do clearer.  

Compressed File Support Added
You can now easily create compressed files in more formats, like .7z and .tar, in addition to the usual .zip. However, you can’t password-protect these newly created archives yet.

PNG Info 
If you have pictures in the PNG format, you can now edit information about them (like dates or descriptions) directly within File Explorer.  

File Explorer Tab Improvements
Just like in a web browser, you can now right-click on a tab in File Explorer and choose to duplicate it.

Better Android Phone Support
If you have an Android phone, there’s a special place in File Explorer where you can easily see files you’ve transferred between your phone and computer.  

Enhanced Quick Settings
When you click on the Wi-Fi or sound icon in the corner, the panel that pops up lets you scroll down to see all the available quick settings. You can also drag and drop these buttons to arrange them as you like. A new “Energy Saver” mode is available here; it’s like a more powerful version of the old “Battery Saver,” working to reduce overall energy use, even on desktop computers.  

Copilot Changes
The Copilot AI assistant is no longer stuck on the right side of your screen. It now acts like a regular app with its own icon on the taskbar, so you can place it wherever is most convenient. And you don’t use Copilot, you can remove the icon from your taskbar.

Improved Phone Link (for Android)
If you have an Android phone, the connection with your Windows PC is improving. You can see your phone’s notifications in the taskbar, send and receive text messages, browse your phone’s files, and even use your phone’s camera as a webcam more easily.

HDR Wallpaper Support
If you have a fancy monitor that shows High Dynamic Range (HDR) colors, you can now set HDR images as your wallpaper to make your desktop look more vibrant.  

Better Bluetooth Hearing Aid Support
If you use hearing aids that connect via Bluetooth LE, you’ll have more control over sound settings and background noise.  

“Sudo for Windows”
This is a bit like a tool in Linux that lets you run commands with administrator privileges directly in the regular command line window, without opening a separate administrator command prompt.

Widget Updates
You can now customize which widgets show on your lock screen in the Settings app under “Personalization.”

There are a few more minor improvements, most are for “Copilot PCs”. Copilot PCs are special PCs that are more Copilot-intensive. And more expensive. If you want to know more about Copilot PCs, visit this page. 

What is TPM 2.0 and Why Does Windows 11 Require It?
Windows 10 / Windows 11

That’s a good question, and while the answer is quite geeky, we’ll try to answer that question without getting too technical.

So, what is TPM 2.0 and why is it so important?

TPM 2.0, or Trusted Platform Module version 2.0, is a hardware-based security chip that resides on a computer’s motherboard or is integrated into the processor (CPU). It acts as a secure cryptoprocessor designed to perform cryptographic operations to securely store sensitive information.

Here are some of the things TPM 2.0 does:

One of its primary functions is to securely store cryptographic keys, such as those used for drive encryption (like BitLocker), user authentication (like Windows Hello), and digital certificates. These keys are protected within the TPM and are much harder for malware or attackers to access compared to software-based storage.  

During the boot process, the TPM can take measurements of the system’s firmware, bootloader, and operating system components. These measurements are stored securely within the TPM. This allows the system to verify its booting with trusted and untampered software. This process is often referred to as “Measured Boot.”

The TPM 2.0 has a unique, hardware-bound key called the Endorsement Key (EK). This key can be used to cryptographically identify the specific hardware. This allows the platform to prove its identity to other systems and services in a secure manner.

TPM 2.0 includes a high-quality hardware random number generator, which is crucial for many cryptographic operations.

How TPM 2.0 benefits the user

TPM 2.0 can securely store the encryption keys for your hard drive. This ensures that if your computer is stolen, the data on the drive remains inaccessible without the correct authentication, which is tied to the TPM. It can also ensure that the system boots into a trusted environment before unlocking the drive.

By measuring the boot components, TPM 2.0 helps ensure that the operating system hasn’t been tampered with before it loads. This protects against bootkit and rootkit malware.  

TPM 2.0 enhances the security of biometric authentication, like facial recognition and fingerprint scanning, by securely storing the biometric data and cryptographic keys used for authentication.  

Credential Guard is supported by TPM 2.0. This Windows feature uses virtualization-based security to isolate and protect sensitive credentials, leveraging the TPM for secure storage of encryption keys.  

TPM 2.0 can contribute to creating isolated and secure environments for sensitive computations.  

While controversial for some users, TPM 2.0 can be used to enforce DRM policies by securely managing keys and verifying the integrity of content playback paths.

TPM 2.0 can be used as a secure access point for passwordless authentication methods, reducing the reliance on traditional passwords.

TPM 2.0 acts as a hardware root of trust, providing a secure foundation for various security features. By performing cryptographic operations in dedicated hardware and securely storing sensitive information, it greatly enhances the overall security of a computer against software-based attacks and physical tampering.

The requirement for TPM 2.0 in Windows 11 highlights its importance in modern operating system security. It provides a crucial hardware-backed layer of protection that software alone cannot achieve.

So, you can see that the TPM 2.0 requirement in Windows 11 is more than a Microsoft ploy to get you to upgrade to Windows 11. On the other hand, Windows PCs from Windows 1.0 through Windows 10 didn’t have TPM 2.0, and nobody seemed to care.

But anyway, now at least you know what TPM 2.0 is and what it does. If your current Windows 10 computer won’t run Windows 11, will you rush out and buy a new computer with TPM 2.0 to run Windows 11? Or will you stick with Windows 10 and use something like 0patch to keep security patches up-to-date after Microsoft ends support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025? 

We have thousands of Windows tips, tricks, and more on our InfoAve website.

Subscribe to our free InfoAve Daily newsletter.

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.

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 

Search Over 2 Million Recipes Instantly

Today’s site pick is a recipe search engine called “Instant Search 2 Million Recipes“.

This recipe search engine searches over 2 million recipes in the blink of an eye. It’s a fantastic way to search a lot of recipe sites and get instant results. Results are presented in easy-to-read boxes. Clicking the “Read cooking directions” link presents a pop-up that shows you the ingredients and cooking instructions, so you can tell right away if the recipe interests you without dodging ads, pop-ups, photos, etc.  If the recipe looks like one in which you’re interested, you can go directly to the web page containing the recipe.

Here, we’ll show you!

Type your recipe search and press Enter.

See? I was looking for fried chicken recipes.

The search turned up more than 4200 recipes. I found one I thought sounded good, so I clicked on “Read cooking directions” and this popped up.

Search by the type of recipe you’re looking for, or search by specific ingredients

You can also search for recipes by type, for example, Healthy, Low Carb, Low Sugar, Diabetic, Keto, etc.  You can search recipes by specific ingredient(s) as well. For example, if you’re looking for a sugar cookie recipe that contains both sour cream and nutmeg, no problem! Instant Search 2 Million Recipes came up with 65 sugar cookie recipes that contained both nutmeg and sour cream. Here’s one for you…

Cooking directions? Sure!

Bake at 375° to 400° for 15 minutes.
Makes 60 cookies.

(Send us some!)

If you are looking for recipes, be sure to add this Cloudeight Site Pick to your recipe collection – you’ll be glad you did.

Here are some of the recipe sites that “Instant Search 2 Million Recipes” searches instantly…

recipeland.com
cookeatshare.com
cookpad.com
kraftrecipes.com
recipes-plus.com
foodandwine.com
yummly.com
tasteofhome.com
tastykitchen.com (Pioneer Woman)
food52.com
foodnetwork.com
epicurious.com
allrecipes.com
myrecipes.com
vegetariantimes.com
cookeatshare.com
and many more.

Are ya hungry?

If you want to get right at it and start searching for recipes, go to Instant Search 2 Million Recipes right now and find something good to make.

Oh, and a few more things…

For printing recipes without all the extraneous stuff – just the recipe and ingredients – a browser extension like Print Friendly comes in mighty handy.

Print Friendly for Chrome

Print Friendly for Microsoft Edge

Print Friendly for Firefox 

Now,  go search over 2 million recipes and then go forth and cook up something good!  

The Essay that Started it All: Nitrogen Blue Skies

Introduction

We began including essays in our newsletters in the autumn of 2006. They would later become a feature of our weekly newsletters. But today, we thought you’d like to take a walk down memory lane with us and read the very first essay we published in what was then called “Cloudeight InfoAve Premium” and now called “Cloudeight InfoAve Weekly”. The essay was called “Nitrogen Blue Skies”. The title came from Carl Sagan’s TV series, “Cosmos”.  And this was written, as the summer slipped into autumn, when trees were ablaze with color. May this essay serve as a reminder to us all of how quickly time passes and how much we all need to stop and enjoy the beauty and wonder that surrounds us and remember that our time on this Earth is limited...

Nitrogen-Blue Skies

“Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree.” (Emily Bronte)

“Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” (John Lennon)

I woke before dawn this morning. It was chilly and very quiet; my favorite time of day to work. As I always do, I made a cup of coffee, sat down at my computer, and began to answer the business email that had come while I slept.

A few hours later, I noticed the first brightening of the eastern sky; dawn was approaching.

I continued to answer emails and browse the Web. As always, I was looking for news and ideas for Cloudeight and Information Avenue.

I should have spent more time browsing and reading, but just then morning broke and shattered the bonds of night, I glanced out my window at the brand-new day; I was captivated. To my surprise, autumn had suddenly arrived...

Read the rest of this essay here. 

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