Jill says all her icons disappeared from her taskbar more than once
A couple of weeks ago, the icons in my taskbar suddenly went blank, i.e., no icon. Three of them are Windows apps: Outlook, Word, and Excel and there are four non-Windows apps.

This is the 2nd time this has happened, and I believe that Windows updates cause this. I don't remember how I got the icons back from the first time ... and I don't know how to fix it 'again'. I've read articles on Microsoft, but they don't write about this particular situation.

Help, please... Jill

We hope this helps you, Jill.



Terry says he cannot set up one of his Gmail accounts in Outlook
Hello Cloudeight... Don't when or how, but I cannot add a Gmail account to the Outlook 365 desktop client.  Have searched the web and have found some info but don't know what to do. I have added two other Gmail accounts and have no problem with them. I share Outlook 365 office under my son's account. Don't know for sure but have an inkling this all started after the November Windows Tuesday update.  Hoping for an easy fix! Terry.

Our answer
Hi Terry. I'm not a fan of Outlook and don't use it, but it sounds like you may not have that Gmail account set up for IMAP.

Here's how to turn on IMAP in Gmail:

Sign in to your Gmail account: Go to gmail.com and log in with your Google account credentials.

Open Settings: Click on the gear icon in the top right corner of your screen.

Go to Forwarding and POP/IMAP: In the Settings menu, click on the "Forwarding and POP/IMAP" tab.

Enable IMAP: In the "IMAP Access" section, check the box next to "Enable IMAP."

Save Changes: Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the "Save Changes" button.

After you do this, try setting up that Gmail account in Outlook.

Using the End and Home Keys
Windows 10 and Windows 11

Darcy reminded me this morning to remind you about the End and Home keys and how handy they are and how much time they can save.  But it seems that many people don’t know they even have End and Home keys on their keyboards or how those 2 keys can save you time.

First of all, you’ll have to locate the End and Home keys on your keyboard. There are so many different keyboard layouts and the location of the Home and End keys varies between laptops and desktops and even between computer manufacturers and models.

We’re going to show you a couple of places to look. However, keyboards vary, so you may have to look closely at your keyboard to find the End and Home keys.

Here are 2 examples:

Once you find the Home and End keys on your keyboard…

The Home key takes you to the top of a web page or document; the End key takes you to the bottom of a web page or document.  In some programs, you will need to use CTRL+Home and CTRL+End to move to the top or bottom of a document. Some laptop keyboards require you to use the fn key + CTRL + Home or fn key + CTRL+ End key to access the Home and End keys.

Anyway, using the Home and End keys (or CTRL+Home and CTRL+End) saves you time by taking you directly to the top or the bottom (or the end) of a webpage or document instantly.

If you want to get to the top or bottom of a page or document quickly, this is a little trick you won’t forget.  

Why You Need More Than One Email Account
Anyone who uses email

And Why At Least One of Them Should Be a Webmail Account

We have been fortunate to have had the opportunity of working with many people  and helping them with their computers – whether it be a quick checkup, optimization and cleanup, computer repairs, both simple and complex, or helping them remove malicious browser extensions and malware. Over the last few months, we’ve noticed that many people still rely solely on the email account provided by their Internet Service Provider (ISP). Those of you who use email addresses that end in @att.net, @charter.net, @cox.net, @twc.com, @rr.com, @comcast.net, @bellsouth.net, etc. are using ISP email addresses.

EVERYONE should have at least one alternate email address

Email has become an essential part of our lives, and having a single email account is no longer enough. There are many reasons why everyone should have more than one email account, with one of them being a webmail account.

A webmail account is an email account that you access through a web browser, such as Gmail, Hotmail, Outlook.com, et. al. Most webmail accounts are free. We’re here to tell you that having at least one webmail account is essential.

One of the most significant advantages of a webmail account is that you can access it from any device with an internet connection. This means that you can check your emails on your desktop, all-in-one, laptop, smartphone, or tablet, making it easy to stay connected while on the go.

Another reason why having a webmail account is important is that it offers more storage space. With a webmail account, you can store your emails in the cloud, freeing up space on your device. This can be especially helpful if you have multiple devices and want to access your emails from all of them.

Webmail accounts come with more features than traditional email accounts. For example, Gmail provides superior and accurate spam filtering. You’ll find that most webmail providers offer features such as advanced spam filtering, automatic sorting, and integration with other applications, making it easier to manage your emails.

Webmail allows you to control your email, rather than allowing your ISP to delete and censor email based on whatever criteria they decide to use to filter junk mail and to censor/delete mail based on rules only they know. Once an ISP decides to block or censor an email you lose control. With a webmail account, some emails may go into your spam folder, but you can move email from the spam folder to the inbox by marking it as “not spam” or “not junk” and you – not your ISP – control your email. Unlike ISP email services with arcane censorship and incomprehensible mail blocking, webmail does not block or delete emails based on arcane rules.

And the most important reason is that webmail frees you from your ISP. If you’re using, let’s say, Comcast (Xfinity) all your mail depends on you using Comcast as your ISP. If you want to switch ISPs, you cannot take your Comcast (or other ISP) email address with you. But with a webmail account, you have access to your email and all you need is an internet connection; you’re not bound to your ISP with the “email tether”. And if you get a new computer and you have a webmail account, your email comes with you to your new computer, new smartphone, or new tablet.

And even if you plan to stick with your ISP forever, having more than one email account is essential. And at least one of those should be a webmail account. Whether you choose Gmail, Outlook.com/Hotmail, or Yahoo for your free webmail account(s) is up to you.

If you have just one ISP email account, we hope you’ll take our advice, sign up for a webmail account and start using it. Webmail accounts have many excellent features:

They free you from your ISP.

They allow you to get your email from any Windows device, Apple device, Android device, or Linux device including desktops, laptops, tablets, and smartphones.

You can get a free Gmail account here.

You can get a free Outlook.com/Hotmail.com account here.

You can get a free Yahoo.com account here.  

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.

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

Make Your Own Christmas Cards at Greetings Island

We were looking for a site that allows users to upload pictures and use them in their Christmas cards. We also wanted a site that gave users many Christmas card templates to help get them started. After being disappointed many times by sites claiming to be free and then wanting to charge users for the good stuff, we found Greetings Island.

Not only did Greetings Island offer everything we were looking for but they also allowed users to send eCards by email. And they’re even animated. They offer all kinds of cards, birthday cards, Valentine’s cards, friendship cards, sympathy cards, and more. But the Christmas season is here (almost), so we’re focusing on Greetings Island’s Christmas cards.

First, you’ll notice that you’ll have the option of creating a folded card – as you would buy in a store or a flat card you can download as an image. Unless you have a reason not to, we suggest you choose “Folded”. Not only can you download and print your card, but you can also send it as an eCard. And the eCards are very nice — as we’ll soon show you.

Greetings Island has a nice selection of templates to choose from, making it easy to start your Christmas card project.

We’ll tell you this, to use Greetings Island, you have to create a free account. You will need to provide a name and an email address and that’s it. We created an account and then dug right into making a Christmas card.

We picked the cute snowman template.

Then I added some text – in our case, I wrote a little poem. You can write anything you want, choose different fonts, font sizes, and colors – and even add your own images.

If you like you can add your own creative touches to the back of the card. See?

The templates offer many customizable options, for example…

When you’re all done creating your masterpiece, you can download it and print it. Or you can choose to send it by email as an eCard… and not just any old eCard — but one with cute animation as well.

Here are a few words from the folks at Greetings Island:

Christmas cards by Greetings Island

When it comes to celebrating the most wonderful time of the year, our collection of Christmas cards offers something special for everyone. Whether you’re looking to send warm wishes to family, spread holiday cheer to friends, or show appreciation to colleagues, our carefully curated selection of Christmas cards ensures you’ll find the perfect design.
Personalize your Christmas greetings with custom messages, photos, and unique touches that capture the spirit of the season. Shopping with us means you'll have access to exclusive designs and instant downloads, ensuring your holiday cards arrive on time.

If you want to have some Christmas fun and you’re feeling creative, visit our Cloudeight site pick “Greetings Island” right now.

A Thanksgiving to Remember

When I think of Thanksgiving, I think of myself as a boy, watching the Thanksgiving parade on television, my mom busy in the kitchen preparing our Thanksgiving dinner, and the feeling of love all around. I remember gray, cold, and cloudy days and the steamy windows that cooking made. And I remember Thanksgiving snowflakes in the air.

My best Thanksgiving ever came when I was 9 years old. It would become the Thanksgiving Day to which all my other Thanksgiving days would be compared. It was also my mom’s last Thanksgiving, although none of us knew it then.

In my memory, I can see my dad in his chair, reading the newspaper, my sister, all seven years old, helping mom in the kitchen, and me in my innocence, unaware of what precious memories were unfolding.

And as I remember that Thanksgiving Day, I feel the warmth of the love that only a family can give. Life was so simple then. My entire world consisted of a tiny house, on a quiet street, in a very peaceful little village, situated quaintly on the shores of Lake Erie. My world, that world, was all I needed then. Everything was perfect in that very small house on Thanksgiving Day. A day that now seems so long ago — and so far away.

One year later, my world would be turned upside down...

Please read the rest of this essay here.

 

Some Basic Computer Terms Defined

1. CPU

CPU means ‘Central Processing Unit’. More commonly known as "the processor, a CPU is not a desktop tower... a CPU is the brain of your computer.

2. Hardware

Hardware means all the physical parts of a computer system. It includes the monitor, the keyboard, the mouse, and the computer or laptop case itself. Other connected hardware devices such as printers are generally referred to as peripherals.

3. RAM

RAM stands for “Random (or Ready) Access Memory". RAM chips are installed in slots on the computer's motherboard. RAM acts like a notebook on which information is stored temporarily. "Random access” means that memory locations in RAM are accessible in any order. Think of RAM as your computer's short-term memory because that's what it is.

4. HDD and SSD

HDD means Hard Disk Drive. These are the venerable old platters that have been around for years. They were invented by IBM in 1956. Although they have greatly evolved over the years, they still work as they always did. They are mechanical. They have moving parts - the disks or platters which spin around up to 7200 times a minute and are paired with magnetic heads, arranged on a moving actuator arm, which reads and writes data to the platter surfaces.

SSD means Solid State Drive. An SSD has no moving parts. It uses NAND... think of a flash drive. If you're seriously interested in NAND, here's some technical information from Wikipedia...

"... NAND flash... uses floating-gate transistors, but they are connected in a way that resembles a NAND gate: several transistors are connected in series, and the bit line is pulled low only if all the word lines are pulled high (above the transistors' VT). These groups are then connected via some additional transistors to a NOR-style bit line array in the same way that single transistors are linked in NOR flash..."

Now, do you see why we simplified and said, "no moving parts... like a flash drive"?

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

Cloudeight Direct Computer Care: Single Keys, SeniorPass, or Season Tickets - 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.

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 that 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 received hundreds of questions for possible use in IA news. Please keep in mind that we cannot publish all questions and answers in our newsletters, but we try to answer every single question. We can only use a few in each week's newsletter. 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 Thanksgiving weekend and a happy Holiday season!

Darcy & TC
Cloudeight InfoAve Weekly - Issue #1155
Volume 23, Number 6
November 28, 2025 

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



"Cloudeight InfoAve Weekly" newsletter is published by:

Cloudeight Internet LLC
PO Box 73
Middleville, Michigan, USA 49333-0073

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

Copyright ©2025 by Cloudeight Internet