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Our answer
Hi Steven. While NoScript sounds like a grand idea, it can break websites. JavaScript by itself is not a threat, and many sites use it to provide site navigation and other important features. Blocking JavaScript in many cases would break sites that use it. Because NoScript blocks JavaScript by default, it can break many websites that rely on it for functionality. This can lead to:

> Missing content
> Broken forms
> Non-functioning interactive elements

Plus, users must then manually allow scripts from specific domains, which can be tedious.

I have never used it and would not use it. I recommend using a good Adblocker like uBlock Origin, a good antimalware like Emsisoft, and reasonable common sense and caution when visiting websites with which you're not familiar.

That's my take on NoScript, Steven.

Sandy needs to change her Wi-Fi password

Hi Experts, just wondering if it's possible to change the password for my Wi-Fi. I gave it to someone I shouldn't have. Do I have to contact my carrier for my Wi-Fi?

Our answer

Hi Sandy. Thanks! Great question!

To change the password for everyone in the house, you must log in to your router's web interface.

First, find your Gateway: Open the Start menu and type CMD at the top, click on Open when Command Prompt appears...

In the Command Prompt, type IPCONFIG and press Enter.

Look for Default Gateway (usually something like 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1).

Open a web browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, etc.) and type or copy/paste that number into the address bar and press Enter.

You will need the router's admin username and password (usually found on a sticker on the physical router).

Look for a section labeled Wireless, Wi-Fi, or Security. Change the "Passphrase" or "Shared Key," then click Save/Apply.

IMPORTANT: Once you save the new password on the router, every phone, computer, and smart device in your home that is connected to your Wi-Fi network will disconnect until you enter the new password on each device.

If you need more help, let me know.

Barbara says her LastPass stopped working
My Last Pass is not working. Do you know if something is wrong with it? It is black instead of red. I can open it, and it wants a username and a master password, which I have had for many years, and that doesn't work.

Our answer

Hi Barbara. If LastPass turned black, it could be because you changed your Windows app theme from light to dark. However, that would not stop it from working correctly. While we have recommended LastPass (and many other programs) in the past, we can't provide support for all the programs we recommend; most have their own tech support and help departments.

For help with LastPass, go to the LastPass Support Center.

If you're using the paid version, you can request a callback from LastPass support by going to Go to the LastPass Support Center. https://support.lastpass.com/

Log in to your account (this is required to verify your paid status).

Scroll to the bottom of any help article and click Contact Support.

Select Request a Callback. An agent will call you back—usually within a few hours.

But since you're locked out of your account, you won't be able to log in there. So you'll need to go to the Account Recovery Page. https://lastpass.com/identity-verification

Request Help Logging In: On the Contact Us page, look for the "Can't log in?" section. You can submit a specialized ticket to help reset MFA or verify your identity without being logged in.

I hope this helps you, Barbara.

We've helped hundreds and hundreds of you with your computers since we started our Cloudeight Direct Computer Care Service! If you're having computer problems - we CAN help you!

We all know that sooner or later our computers are going to start having problems. We can help you with any computer need -- from diagnosing and fixing Windows problems - to cleaning up malware and viruses - to cleaning up your computer and optimizing it -- and more. We can do just about anything need done and we guarantee our work - you're either satisfied or we'll refund your money.

We will connect to your computer via the Internet and fix any problems you may be having. You can watch us work and chat with us while we do. If you have any computer questions you'd like to ask we'll be glad to answer them for you. We don't just fix your computer, we explain what we're doing and why we're doing it and we are right there with the entire time. Since we've started we've helped hundreds of you with your computer problems and we've received dozens of referrals and testimonials from our readers and customers.

We offer many other computer services too! If you have a problem with your computer - we can fix it!

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Sharon wants to know our recommendations for a new computer
In the last few months, I've gotten the blue screen telling me an error has occurred and the computer needs to be shut down and restarted. It does it on its own. Is it telling me I should get a new computer? I don't remember and can't seem to find how old my computer is. I'm using Windows 10 and have checked and it isn't able to support Windows 11. I know you have told us many times what to get in a new computer, but I don't remember what they are. Can you please tell me, or tell me where to find what to look for in a new computer? I prefer a desktop, not a laptop. Thank you so much.

Our answer

Hi Sharon. First, blue screens are caused by hardware errors and are usually caused by installing incorrect drivers. Folks who have installed "Driver updater" programs seem to get more blue screens than anyone else... which is one reason why we don't recommend them - the other reason being that most of these "updater" programs are bundled with unwanted software or even malware.

We have an updated buying guide if you're interested in buying a new computer. It was updated last year, and I went over it this morning, and it is still correct. These recommendations apply to desktops, all-in-ones, and laptops -- although we favor laptops. You can find our new computer buying guide here:

https://www.thundercloud.net/infoave/new/an-updated-guide-to-buying-a-new-computer-on-a-budget/

We hope this helps you, Sharon.

Tim has a few questions about Windows 11 and Gmail
Thanks again for your endless help to us!!! A couple of things are nagging me:

1- I have done the suggested steps to return to the legacy right click on the screen, but it only works about 1/2 of the time! Is there really a permanent fix for such a frustrating thing?

2- When I compose and email in Gmail, my contact list gives me names in order of the FIRST name- but when I go to my contact list, all are in LAST name order - can I change it so that when composing a Gmail message, I get the list last name first?

3- Waiting patiently to get the boss's (Wife Annie) Gmail changed as you suggested, so she doesn't have her name in the address. Are they still "rolling this out"? God bless you both! SIOTW! (Spring is on the way).

Our answer

HI Tim. I don't know what you mean by Legacy. Right-click on the screen. If you mean the context menu in Windows 11, you can always see the entire (full) menu if you hold down the SHIFT key while right-clicking. There are also registry edits, but the problem with those is that oftentimes Windows updates remove them, and you're back to square one. SHIFT+RIGHT-CLICK always works.

On the Gmail contact list. Sorry... We hate to be the bearers of "blah" news, but Google doesn't actually provide a "switch" inside Gmail to change how those names pop up in the To: field. When you start typing, Gmail’s "Auto-complete" feature looks at the "Display Name" field of your contacts. It prefers the "First Last" format because that’s how most people think of their friends.

But don't lose heart! There are two ways to get around this, so you can find your contacts the way you want to.

1. The "Search" Trick

Even though Gmail shows you the first name first in the list, its search box is actually pretty smart.

You don't have to type the first name!

If you want to email John Smith, just type "Smi" into the To: box. Gmail will still find him, even if "John" is the first thing it displays. You can always search by last name, and it will filter the list correctly.

2. The "Formal" Contact Workaround

If it really bothers you and you want the list to alphabetize by last name when you type, you have to change how the name is saved in your Google Contacts.

Go to contacts.google.com.

Open a contact and click the Edit (pencil) icon.

Instead of putting "John" in the First Name box and "Smith" in the Last Name box, put "Smith, John" all in the First Name box.

Leave the Last Name box empty.

Now, when you type "S" in a new email, Gmail will see "Smith, John" as the first name and list it exactly how you want it!

Yes, that's an awful lot of work if you have hundreds of contacts; there is no easy fix

Finally, Gmail will be rolling out the name change feature slowly through the spring and summer. I don't have direct contact with Google, so all I can tell you is what I read on the Google blog and other tech news sources. Be patient.

I hope this helps a bit and answers your questions.

Carol turned on Mail Merge in Microsoft Word and can't turn it off

I turned on Mail Merge in a Word Doc by mistake. Tried to turn it off, but nothing worked. Auto save is off.

The printer won't print until the Mail Merge is completed or cancelled somehow. Somehow, there are several in the print queue. I can't delete them. All searches were so confusing. Don't know what to do. Need to print out the document and post it in the Clubhouse very soon, and can't print it until Mail Merge is GONE. I really need your advice! Thanks in advance. Carol

Our answer

Hi Carol. MS Word makes it easy to accidentally turn on Mail Merge, but hard to find the "off" switch.

Here is a quick fix to turn the document back into a "Normal" Word file:

Click on the Mailings tab at the top of the screen. Find the button that says Start Mail Merge (it usually has a little icon of a letter and a document). Click the small arrow on that button to open the dropdown menu. At the very bottom of that list, click "Normal Word Document."

Immediately save the file. By clicking "Normal Word Document," you're telling Word to "forget" the connection to any address lists or data files. All those weird brackets like <<Address_Block>> or <<Greeting_Line>> will stop trying gather data and go back to being regular text (or you can just delete them now).

I hope this helps you, Carol.

How to Fix a Printer That Has Stopped Printing
Windows 10 / Windows 11

How to fix a printer that has stopped working - Cloudeight InfoAve We get a lot of emails asking us how to fix a printer that was printing and suddenly stopped printing for reasons unknown. It may have stopped printing due to a power outage, a Windows update, an internet connection problem, or something else. While frustrating, it usually can be fixed by reinstalling your printer the same way you would if it were a new printer.

Before we get started, we want to point out that most printers with touchscreens have a test mode. So most printers, even one that is not connected to a computer, will print using its touchscreen. That’s the printer’s test mode; it has nothing to do with printing things from your computer.

OK… So Let’s Get Started!

First, unplug your printer from its power supply.

Next, type PRINTERS AND SCANNERS in the taskbar search. Press Enter when you see Printers & Scanners appear in the search results. In Windows 10, find your printer in the list and click on it, then choose “Remove device”. In Windows 11, the default printer shows at the top. Click on the “Remove” button.

Restart your computer – this is an important step – don’t skip it.

Once you have done the steps above, go to the printer manufacturer’s site. For instance, www.hp.com. You’ll need to know your printer’s model number. When on the manufacturer’s site, search for the full installation software for your printer model. For example, search for “Installation software for HP Envy 5565 Printer”.

Once you find the full installation software for your printer brand and model, download it to your computer, but do NOT install it yet.

Plug the printer into its power source and run the installation software you downloaded above. If this sounds familiar, it is. It’s exactly how you set up your printer when it was new.

If you cannot find the printer’s installation software, let us know, and we’ll help you find it. NEVER search for “Printer drivers” or “Printer installation software” because if you do that, you’ll almost always end up with a bunch of fake sites trying to get you to download malware.

OK…we’ve featured Windows key shortcuts several times, but sadly not enough to convince some of you just how much of a time-saver Windows key shortcuts can be.

Just last evening, I was using my laptop and wanted to watch something on TV via my Roku player. When I watch a particular streaming service (I’ll call it Zulu for convenience) on my TV, I have to watch all of the commercials because I’m too cheap to pay the extra $6.95 a month to buy the ad-free version of “Zulu.”

I discovered, however, that if I log into “Zulu” on my laptop and “cast” it from my laptop to my TV, good old uBlock Origin (or if using Chrome, uBlock Origin Lite) blocks all the ads on “Zulu” and effectively gives me the ad-free version at no extra moolah. Is this cheating? I don’t know – it was accidentally discovered, so I think not.

What the heck does this have to do with Windows key shortcuts? A lot, actually. I use the Windows key + K shortcut to open the “Cast” dialog in Windows 11 (it works on Windows 10 too). When the Cast dialog opens, I can see my 3 Roku players (2 Roku Express and 1 Roku Ultra).

Using the Windows key + K shortcut opens the “Cast” dialog immediately. And I use the Windows key + K shortcut just about every evening. Or whenever I want to stream something without ads and without paying extra because "I am just a poor boy...".

And not many days pass by that I don’t use the Windows key + R (Run box), Windows key + I (Settings), the Windows key + V to paste from the extended clipboard, Windows key + X to open the Start button right-click menu, Windows key + S to open a search box, and many others.

Let this be a reminder that using Windows key shortcuts can save you a lot of time, and the more you use them, the more you’ll remember them, and the more you remember, the more they’ll become part of your computer skill set.

We’re glad you asked. Some of you are afraid to ask where the Windows key is because you think it’s a stupid question. But you know, the only stupid question is the one you don’t ask.

The Windows key is on the bottom of the keyboard between the Ctrl key and the Alt key… or if you’re using a laptop, it is usually between the Fn key and the Alt key. You can find it easily as it’s the only key with the Microsoft Windows logo on it.

And when we say, for example, Windows key + R (or Winkey+R), what we mean is that you hold down the Windows key while tapping the “R” key. So, Windows key + means holding down the Windows key while tapping the key after the “+” (plus) sign. To further shorten our Windows key shortcuts, we use “Winkey” instead of “Windows key” – but they are the same. Easy peasy, right?

Pressing the Windows key (Winkey) by itself opens the Windows Start menu
Winkey + E opens File Explorer
Winkey + C opens Copilot
Winkey + D shows the Desktop no matter how many windows are open.
Winkey + G activates the Xbox Game Bar to let you record games or take screenshots.
Winkey + H opens Microsoft speech services (Dictation)
Winkey + I opens the Windows Settings app
Winkey + K activates the Connect (Cast) feature to stream to wireless displays/audio devices
Winkey + L locks your computer
Winkey + M minimizes all open Windows
Winkey+Ctrl + M opens Windows Magnifier settings
Winkey + R opens a Run box.
Winkey + S opens Search
Winkey + U opens the Ease of Access Center on Windows 10 and Accessibility on Windows 11
Winkey+ PrtScr key takes a screenshot of your computer screen
Winkey+ Fn + PrtScr key takes a screenshot of your computer screen (some laptops)
Winkey + X opens the power user menu (Same as right-clicking the Windows Start button.)
Winkey + Ctrl + D creates a new virtual desktop
Winkey + Ctrl + F4 closes a virtual desktop
Winkey + Ctrl + Left or Right arrow switches between virtual desktops

Now, That’s What You Call “Refreshing!”
Windows 10 / Windows 11

To understand why refreshing a webpage ensures you’re seeing the current version, it’s essential to grasp the concept of “caching.”

Caching does speed things up, but sometimes it can cause problems. When you visit a website, your browser saves copies of certain elements (like images, style sheets, and other files) on your device (cache). This is called “caching.”

The next time you visit that website, your browser loads these saved files from your device instead of downloading them again from the web. Caching significantly speeds up page loading, but sometimes you see the page as it was, not the way it actually is. Refreshing a page ensures you’re seeing the most updated version of it.

Every browser has a refresh function on its toolbar. Here are samples of the refresh function and its icon on four popular browsers…

Refresh a page in Chrome - Cloudeight InfoAve
Above: Refresh icon – Google Chrome

Refresh a page in Edge - Cloudeight InfoAve
Above: Refresh icon – Microsoft Edge

Refresh a page in Firefox - Cloudeight InfoAve
Above: Refresh icon – Mozilla Firefox

Refresh a page in Brave - Cloudeight InfoAve
Above: Refresh icon – Brave browser

Are you seeing a pattern here? Every browser has a refresh icon (or refresh button) on its toolbar. It’s usually located to the left of the address bar. When you click the refresh icon, the page you’re viewing will be refreshed, and you’ll see the page as it really is on the web, not the page stored in your browser’s cache.

Another way to refresh a web page

You can use the F5 function key to refresh any web page you’re viewing. The F5 function key is usually located on the top row of your computer’s keyboard.

Standard Keyboard Layout - Showing the F5 key - Cloudeight InfoAve

When viewing any web page, regardless of the browser you use, tapping the F5 key while viewing the page will refresh it instantly.

F5 Key BONUS TIP

Here are some other functions you can perform with the F5 key:

Reload a document in a word processing program
Restart a slideshow in a presentation program
Open the “Find and Replace” window in a spreadsheet program

Back to refreshing a web page…

You can also refresh the page you’re viewing by putting your cursor at the end of the website URL (address) in the address bar and pressing the Enter key to refresh the page. But using the browser’s refresh button (icon) or using the F5 key on your keyboard are easier and faster ways to refresh the page you’re viewing.

When you refresh a webpage, you’ll always be sure you’re viewing the newest version of that page.

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Help us keep helping you and helping you stay safe on the Web. Thank you so much!

This week's essay is not an essay, but a transcript of a "conversation" between TC and Google's Gemini chatbot...

The world is going nuts over AI. Many people distrust and dislike AI, while many others embrace it, and still others find it quite concerning. Put me in that last group. The biggest problem with AI is that unless you are sure of the answer you're looking for – or at least have a general idea of what the answer might be- AI can be wrong, and when it is wrong, and you try to correct it, AI will make excuses or even try to gaslight you.

AI is not always right; it makes errors. Sometimes it makes a lot of them. The following is a little chat I had with Google’s Gemini – one of the top AI agents- on a simple question. It led to quite a discussion between Gemini and me. This will demonstrate why you cannot always trust AI chatbots to provide accurate answers or correct information. My questions and responses are in blue italics.

GEMINI: This is a classic kitchen showdown. If we’re strictly talking about “health,” the answer has shifted over the years as food processing has changed. Currently, lard is generally considered the “healthier” option of the two, primarily because it is a natural, minimally processed fat, whereas vegetable shortening is a highly engineered product...

These three keyboard shortcuts will be your best friends. We use them multiple times almost every day. Best of all, they not only work on Windows 10 and 11, but they also work in almost every program on your computer!

Think of this as picking up an object to move it. When you highlight text or a photo and press Ctrl + X, it disappears from its current spot and waits on your computer's Clipboard until you're ready to "Paste" it (Ctrl + V) somewhere else. It’s much tidier than "Copy," which leaves a duplicate behind!

Ctrl + Z: The "Oops" Button (Undo)

This is, in our opinion, one of the most important shortcuts ever invented. Did you accidentally delete a whole paragraph? Did you move a folder into the wrong place? Don’t panic! Just press Ctrl + Z. It’s like a "Time Machine". It takes you back exactly one step to before the mistake happened.

Sometimes I "Undo" something and then realize... wait, I actually liked it better the other way! That’s where Ctrl + Y comes in. It "Undoes the Undo," taking you one step forward in time again. In many programs, it can also be used to repeat your last action, like bolding several different headers in a row.