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Susan gets a graph instead of a blank page in Microsoft Word
I don’t know how I did it, and don’t know how to undo it or fix it. Microsoft won’t help as usual. In my Word program, when I open a page, a graph-like page appears. It looks like this:

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I can not get a blank page. Could you fix it for me? Thanks, Susan

Our answer
Hi Susan. It sounds like you accidentally turned on the Gridlines feature. This is a common "oops" in Microsoft Word—it's meant to help people align images or shapes, but to a regular writer, it just looks like the page has turned into graph paper.

Here is a simple fix for you:

Open Microsoft Word so the "graph-like" page is visible.

I am using Word with a dark theme, but the settings are the same regardless of whether you're using the light theme.

At the very top of the program, click on Draw.

In that tool, click on "Format background." See screenshots above and below:

In the Format Background dialog (above), click on "None" (see below):

The grid should vanish instantly, leaving you with a clean, blank page.

I hope this helps you, Susan.

Wendy wants to create a recovery drive and also back up her BitLocker key

I have a new HP Laptop with Windows 11 (the last one crashed badly). Can we create a USB recovery drive or somehow find a BitLocker key for it in case it is needed?

Our answer

Hi Wendy. First, recovery drives are outdated. With Windows 11, you can create a Windows installation USB that you can use to recover your computer. Also, Windows 11 allows you to reset your computer without losing anything. You can read more about that here. This allows you to reinstall Windows without losing your programs or files.

If you want to make a Windows 11 installation USB that you can use to boot your computer and do recovery operations, see this page. It's under "Create Installation Media.

Here's the best way to back up your BitLocker key:

Press the Windows Key and type Manage BitLocker, then press Enter.

Find the drive you want to back up (usually C:).

Click Back up your recovery key.

Choose your preferred method:

Save to your Microsoft account: (Recommended) Uploads the key to Microsoft's secure servers tied to your email.

Save to a file: Saves a .txt file. Important: Windows will not let you save this file to the same drive you are encrypting. Use a separate USB drive or network location.

Print the recovery key: Creates a physical copy. Store this in a safe or filing cabinet, not with your laptop.

Save to a USB flash drive: Saves the key directly to a thumb drive.

We hope this helps you, Wendy.

Uwe wants to know what "Network Discovery" is
Hello TC: What is network discovery, and what does it do? Can it affect the other devices that I stream with? Thanks. Uwe

Our answer
Hi Uwe. In Windows, Network Discovery is just a simple setting that controls whether your computer can "see" (and be seen by) other devices on your local network. When you turn Network Discovery ON (usually on your home Wi-Fi or a trusted office network):

Your computer can find others: You can see and connect to other computers, shared printers, smart TVs, and network storage devices (like a NAS) that are connected to the same Wi-Fi or router.

Others can find your computer: Other devices on your network can see your Windows computer and access any files or printers you have specifically set up to share.

This makes sharing things at home or work very easy.

Unless you're streaming something from your computer to another device on your network (in your home), it does not affect streaming.

I hope this answers your question, Uwe.

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Sue says all of her desktop icons have vanished
All my icons have disappeared from my desktop. When I used Google Chrome, it was easy to do, but now that I have EDGE its not very easy. Is there an easier way to put them back on my desktop? Thanks for all your help. Keep up the good fight. Sue.

Our answer
Hi Sue. The browser you use doesn't affect your desktop icons. Try this:

Right-click on your desktop.

From the drop-down menu that appears, click "View."

Then make sure "Show desktop icons" is selected.

I hope this helps you, Sue.

Linda installed a driver updater (malware) and can't get rid of its pop-ups.
Hi guys, I'm having a problem with this website that keeps popping up, it's called PD Helpsoft Driver Updater Pro. I've uninstalled it, but it keeps popping up on my PC. Help!

Our answer
Hi Linda. This is something that often happens when you download malware or a PUP supported by advertising. While you can remove the program, the pop-ups and advertising will still appear because they emanate from your browser. You will need to clear your browser's history and cache and then restart your computer. If you're using Firefox, Chrome, or Microsoft Edge, you can follow the instructions on this page to clear your browser's cache and history. It's important to remember that after you do this to restart your browser, or better yet, restart your computer. Once you do, all the pop-ups should disappear.

I hope this helps you, Linda.

Margaret's browser's start page has been hijacked
I have been using Google Chrome for the internet. I did uninstall it and reinstall it, but the same website keeps coming up, and I have to click on a star at the top of the screen to get Google. The website is msofcryingfora.com. Do you know of a way to get rid of it?

Our answer
Hi Margaret. Somehow, you've installed a browser hijacker that has changed your Chrome start page.

Here's how to fix it.

Copy and paste (or type) the following in Chrome's address bar.

chrome://settings/onStartup

Press Enter.

I don't have any malicious or unwanted sites starting with Chrome, so this is just to guide you.

Look for msofcryingfora.com under "Open a specific page or set of pages." Click on the 3 vertical dots.

Then click "Remove."

Next, go to the top, tick the circle to the left of "Open the New Tab page".

Close Google Chrome and reopen it. You should go right to the Google New Tab page. Your problem should be solved.

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Cloudeight InfoAve Premium -Tips & Tricks

This Simple Tip Could Speed Up Your Windows Computer
Windows 10 / Windows 11

SysMain was called “SuperFetch” back in 2018. Microsoft has since changed its name but not its function.

SysMain is supposed to be a system optimization feature to help speed up your PC’s performance. However, SysMain can often cause high disk, CPU, or Memory (RAM) usage that can make your PC run slower. Luckily, you can easily turn off SysMain without harming your computer or Windows installation.

Here’s how to disable SysMain on your Windows 10 or Windows 11.

1. Type SERVICES.MSC in the taskbar search and press Enter.
2. Locate SysMain and double-click it.
3. Next to “Startup type,” click on the down arrow to expand the list and choose “Disabled.”
4. Click the “Stop Button.”
5. Click Apply/OK

Cloudeight InfoAve Windows 10 Tips

6. Restart your computer.

If your computer is running slowly, turning off SysMain is one of the things that might help speed it up without causing any problems.

Make Things Easier to See With Windows Magnifier
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.

What’s Your Computer’s Reliability Score? Let’s Find Out!
Windows 10 / Windows 11

The Windows Reliability Monitor is one of the most useful “hidden” tools in Windows. Instead of a vague star rating, it gives you a Stability Index from 1 to 10 based on how your specific PC has performed over the last few weeks.

Here is how to find your rating and what those numbers actually mean for Windows 10 and 11.

How to find your Reliability Rating

Both Windows 10 and 11 hide this app deep in the Control Panel, but you can find it in seconds:

Press the Windows Key.

Type “Reliability” into the search bar.

Select “View reliability history.”

All About the “Stability Index” (1–10)

The graph shows a blue line that fluctuates daily. The blue line tells your computer’s reliability score for each day.

What's Your Computer's Reliabilty Score? Let's Find Out! Cloudeight InfoAve
As you can see in the screenshot above, my laptop score averages around 7 – so I’m in good shape – or at least my laptop is!

What’s your computer’s reliability score?

10 (Perfect): Your system has had zero “critical” events (crashes, forced restarts, or hardware failures) for several days.

5–9 (Normal): You’ve had a few “Application Failures” (like a web browser closing unexpectedly), but the Windows “Kernel” (the brain of the OS) is stable.

1–4 (Critical): Your system is likely experiencing “Blue Screens of Death” (BSODs), driver failures, or unresponsiveness.

Understanding the “Critical Events” Follow the little blue line!

Below the graph, you will see icons for each day. Clicking on a day reveals the culprit:

Red X (Critical Event): A program or Windows itself crashed.

Blue “i” (Information): A successful update or installation.

Yellow Warning: A non-fatal error (like a driver that failed to load but didn’t crash the PC).

Also, be sure to look for any items in the list that say “Check for a solution” in the status column. If you seen one, click that link, and Windows will “phone home” to Microsoft’s servers to find a solution for that particular issue. If it finds one, follow the prompts to install it. This is often the fastest way to fix a Windows stability issue.

Want more tips, tricks, and information?

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Cloudeight InfoAve Premium -Tips & Tricks

The Internet Archive “Wayback Machine”: Time Travel Made Easy

All Aboard the Nostalgia Express

The Internet Archives Wayack Machine... Cloudeight Site Pick

Do you remember Rocky & Bullwinkle? If you do, then you’ll remember the “Wayback Machine.” That was one of my favorite parts of the Rocky & Bullwinkle show – along with “Fractured Fairy Tales”.

If you’ve been on and around the Web for as long as we have, then you, too, have seen tremendous changes to the way the Web looks and works. Back in the mid-90s, when we first laid eyes on the Internet, it was a far different place than it is today. Back then, if someone asked what you did last night and you said “I surfed the web,” you were labeled a geek, a kook, or worse. The Internet was an oddity. And back then, I don’t think even Darcy & I, who both loved the Internet the minute we first laid eyes on it, ever thought it would develop into what it is today. The Internet grew from an oddity to a necessity in less than twenty-five years.

For those of you, like us, who sometimes find yourself longing for the good old days of the web, there’s a website that can transport you back in time – back to the days when the web was a simpler place – a place where almost everything was free and the term “web designer” was used to describe spiders – the kind with eight legs.

Let’s go back nearly 22 years and take a look at Cloudeight Stationery. Back in those days, our site was ranked in the top 1000 most popular sites. Here is what Cloudeight Stationery looked like on June 2, 2004.

If you go back farther than that, you’ll get the “Netscape version” of our site, no matter what browser you use. Back in those days, only Internet Explorer rendered our site and stationery correctly – but that was OK then, over 95% of everyone using Windows and browsing the Internet used Internet Explorer – there was no Firefox or Chrome.

How about Microsoft circa 1998?

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Or Amazon in 1999?

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How about Yahoo? Here’s Yahoo circa 1998.

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And one of my favorite sites of all time – unfortunately long gone from the Web: DaveCentral.com – The first thing I’d do every morning is get up, go to DaveCentral, and download all the new freeware he recommended for that day. Darcy used to laugh at the stuff I’d put on my computer. I ran into problems being so aggressive and installing new programs so prolifically, but I also discovered some really great programs, too, by trying Dave’s recommendations. RIP DaveCentral!

Here’s DaveCentral in 1999

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Do you have favorite sites that have faded away or sites that you once loved that have changed for the worse? Are you just curious about what the Web used to look like way back when?

Our site pick today, The Internet Archive: Wayback Machine, has over ONE TRILLION web pages archived and ready for your perusal.

Are you ready to hop in the Internet time machine and go back to another place and time? If you are, click here to visit The Internet Archive: Wayback Machine ….

Have fun!

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Cloudeight InfoAve Premium - Essays , Rants, etc.

Meditation on Continuation

When a loved one dies, they disappear forever... or so we think. But no one we’ve ever loved disappears; they change form. Just because we can’t see them as we could before doesn’t mean they don't exist.

Think about the wind. We can’t see it, yet it exists.

Tulips waving in the spring breeze. The summer wind rustles the summer trees. The autumn leaves, gold and brittle, let go of a brittle branch to spin softly to the ground on a soft and gentle autumn sigh. Snowflakes dancing on winter's cold breath.

The wind that we cannot see touches you and touches me.

We search for a familiar face and find a flowing field of wildflowers swaying just beyond the forest.

Read the rest of this essay here.

What is the Windows kernel?

The Windows kernel is the hidden "manager" of your computer. It acts as the bridge between your software (apps) and your hardware (parts like the CPU and RAM). It translates app requests into hardware actions, like telling the screen to display a pixel or the drive to save a file. It keeps apps organized so they don't crash each other or steal each other's data. If the kernel fails, the whole computer fails—this is usually what causes a Blue Screen of Death. Windows is literally "built around" the Windows kernel.

And now know the difference between the Windows kernerl and The Colonel.

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Cloudeight InfoAve Weekly - Issue #1161
Volume 23 Number 12
January 9, 2026

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