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Sharon wants the old Windows Paint program back
I used Windows 10 Paint a lot, but I really don't like the Windows 11 version. Can I download the older, simpler version of Paint, or is there an alternative that is very similar? Thank you!

Our answer
Hi Sharon. If you're using Windows 11, there's no way you can download the "old" Windows 10 Paint from Microsoft. But you can download the older Windows 7 version of Paint, which was also installed on the earlier versions of Windows 10. We have NOT tested it, but they claim it works on Windows 10 and Windows 11.

According to the info I researched, there is a popular and safe third-party project that packages the original Windows 7 version of Paint into an installer for Windows 10 and 11.

Ed wants to get rid of the clutter on a new Windows 11 laptop
Will be buying my wife a new computer in a week or two; it will come with Windows 11 Pro. Would like to know what you think is the best program to declutter all the junk Microsoft adds to new computers before I start moving all her programs and files.

Our answer
Hi Ed. Windows 11 now allows you to remove any Microsoft app or program you decide is clutter. The biggest clutter on new PCs isn't from Microsoft anyway; it's McAfee or Norton that comes installed on most new PCs. You can't uninstall either using the included uninstaller; you have to download a separate uninstaller from McAfee or Norton to remove them. Other than that, you can remove any app/program, or Microsoft installed app or program from Settings > Installed apps. No other software is necessary.

Hope this helps, Ed.

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!

Get more information about Cloudeight Direct Computer Care and / or get your repair keys here.

Our answer
Hi Margaret. Always keep in mind that neither Emsisoft nor any other antivirus can prevent you from being tricked into giving your credit card number to scammers. This is a common misconception most likely spawned by Norton and VPN commercials claiming they can prevent things like this... they can't. Emsisoft can prevent you from downloading malicious software. But the only way to prevent being scammed is to be extra careful when trusting sites with which you are not familiar with your credit card and other personal information - and always remember if something seems too good to be true, there's a good chance it is.

As long as you didn't click a link to download something from that site, then the chances that something was downloaded onto your computer without your knowledge, while not impossible is pretty slim. They were out to trick you into getting your personal info and your credit card number.

Just be careful about giving your personal information to sites you're not familiar with. Beware of deals that sound too good to be true. And check with your bank (or credit card company) to see if you can set up alerts anytime something is charged to your credit cards or withdrawn from your bank account.

 

I'm sorry this happened to you. Be careful out there!

Janis wants to colorize some precious old family photos

I want to colorize some precious black-and-white old family photos and then copy them to my computer, without cost if possible. Searching, I found sites that advertise quick, easy, and free AI processing (image colorization and restoration), but naturally, I need to be safe and confident first. Trusting Cloudeight for everything, is there some place on the Internet with which you have had experience and can recommend?

 

Our answer

Hi Janis. It's important to be direct: when you use a "free" online AI tool, you are often paying with your data. Many of these services process your images on their own servers, and their privacy policies may allow them to store your photos, share them with third parties, or even use your images to train their future AI models. So, I would avoid the "quick and easy" free websites that seem to pop up overnight. They are simply too risky for precious family photos.

 

If you want to use a free service, then use a trusted, major platform like Canva. They are stable, legitimate, and far less likely to misuse your data than a random "AI colorizer" site found in a search result.

 

If you want optimal safety and privacy, look into investing in purchasing a high-quality, locally-installed software, like Pixbim Color Surprise. It might cost a little money upfront ($40 one-time payment after a free trial), but it ensures that your family history remains in your possession, not in someone else's database. When you use software that runs locally on your own computer, your photos never leave your machine. It is processed by your own computer's hardware, meaning no server can store it, no hacker can intercept it, and no company can use it to train their AI or for advertising.

 

I hope this advice points you in the right direction, and good luck with those precious photos!

Uwe asks about Wi-Fi settings: Public or Private?
Hi folks, how do I make my Wi-Fi network private? It's listed as a public network. Thanks. Uwe.

Our answer
Hi Uwe. When it comes to Wi-Fi networks, Public and Private don't mean what you think.  'It may seem counterintuitive that your home Wi-Fi defaults to "Public," but there is a good privacy-based reason behind it. The  "Public" (default) setting is the safer setting because it makes your computer invisible to other devices on the same network.

When Windows classifies a network as Public, it tells your computer to "lock the doors." Your computer stops announcing its presence to other devices. This means other computers, tablets,  phones, or smart devices on the same Wi-Fi network cannot "see" your PC. Windows tightens its firewall, blocking incoming requests that aren't specifically requested by you. Microsoft assumes that if you are on a network, you might not know who else is connected to it (like a neighbor you don't trust, or someone else in an apartment building or other shared-living situation).

 

By remaining hidden, you reduce the number of ways someone could potentially try to reach into your computer. If you set your network to "Private," you open the doors to all devices on that network, including ones you may not know about. When you set a network to Private,  you are telling your computer that you trust everyone else on this network.

 

So, unless you want everyone and any device on your network to see your PC on the network, leave your Wi-Fi set to Public.

Now available: Reg Organizer 9.88

If you purchased or renewed Reg Organizer through Cloudeight within the last 12 months, you're entitled to a free version upgrade to Reg Organizer 9.88. Reg Organizer works great with Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Save $14 on Reg Organizer right now!

Reg Organizer - A Swiss Army Knife of Windows Tools - Works Great on Windows 10 and Windows 11.

How to Use Windows Storage Sense to Clean Up Your Computer
Windows 10 / Windows 11

There are dozens of free and paid programs that you can download to clean up your Windows computer. Windows even comes with Disk Cleanup, which Microsoft was supposed to deprecate some time ago but hasn’t—at least not yet. Of course, then there are PrivAzer and BleachBit, as well as the popular (but not popular with us) CCleaner, which we most strongly do not recommend.

Somewhere, along the way, Windows Storage Sense has been forgotten. So, we’re going to remind you about the benefits of Windows Storage Sense. We’ll cover Storage Sense in Windows 10 and the more streamlined Storage Sense in Windows 11.

Windows 10 Storage Sense

Right-click the Start button and choose Settings. In Settings, choose System > Storage.

If you have not done so already, turn on Storage Sense by sliding the switch to the “On” position.

If you want to run a quick cleanup, click “Configure Storage Sense or run it now."

Under “Temporary Files, ” check the selection box next to “Delete temporary files my apps aren’t using”. And then check to make sure you have “Never” selected under “Delete files in my downloads folder if they haven’t been open for more than:”. You can easily clean up your Downloads folder manually.

Next, under “Free up space now”, click the “Clean now” button.

That’s all there is to using Storage Sense in a basic cleanup. If you’re an advanced user and like to tinker with settings, you can fine-tune Storage Sense and customize it to your liking.

Windows 11 Storage Sense 

Right-click the Start button and choose Settings from the menu. Then click on System > Storage. Yep! Just like Windows 10.

When Storage opens, click on “Storage Sense”…

In the System > Storage > Storage Sense section, turn the switch to “On” under “Automatic user content cleanup.”

Next, scroll down and click “Storage Sense”…

We recommend that you change the settings for “Run storage sense” and “Delete files in my recycle bin…” as follows…

“Every week” and “14 days” respectively

And once you get Storage Sense customized so it runs every week and automatically cleans up your recycle bin every 14 days, you can go ahead and run it now. Just scroll down and click on “Run Storage Sense now”.

And if you want to do some fine-tuning…

Storage Sense in Windows 11 allows users to fine-tune and customize Storage Sense cleanup settings.  To access these settings, go back to System > Storage > Storage Sense and click on “Cleanup recommendations”…

Windows 11 will also let you know which files are safe to clean.

Now you know another way to clean up your Windows 10 or Windows 11 computer.

How to Bring Back “Copy To” and “Move To” in Windows 11’s Right-click Menu
Windows 11

Many of you have been asking how to restore “Copy to” and “Move to” to the Windows 11 right-click context menu. If you’re one of those folks who are missing the classic “Copy To” and “Move To” options in your right-click menu, we’ve got good news for you.

You can bring “Copy to” and “Move to” back to your right-click menu with a simple, safe registry tweak.  Here is how to do it.

Right-click here and choose “Save link as”. Save the zip file to your computer and unzip it. You’ll see a file called c2m2.reg.  Double-click the c2m2.reg file. You’ll receive two warnings; the file is safe, so you can click away both.

If you’re using Emsisoft, you may get a warning from it because the file will modify your registry (that’s what it’s supposed to do). Click on “Wait, I think this is safe.” (or similar).

The registry file will change your registry so that “Copy to folder” and “Move to folder” appear on your Windows 11 right-click context menu. To use it, you’ll need to right-click on the file(s) or folder(s) you want to copy or move and choose “Show more options” before you can see “Copy to folder” and “Move to folder” on your right-click context menu.

Happy right-clicking! 

Ctrl + X, Y, and Z: The Magic Trio
Windows 10 / Windows 11

Once you begin to use these 3 keyboard shortcuts, they will become 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 most programs on your computer.

Ctrl + X: The “Cut” Command

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 different from “Copy” (Ctrl + C), which leaves a duplicate behind.

Ctrl + Z: The “Oops” Button (Undo)

This is one of the most important shortcuts ever invented. Did you accidentally delete a whole paragraph? Did you move a folder into the wrong place or delete the wrong file? 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.

Ctrl + Y: The “Redo” Button

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.

Now you know your XYZs; use them on your PC…please!

Want more tips, tricks, and information?

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Subscribe to our free InfoAve Daily newsletter.

Your gifts help us continue our mission to keep you informed, separate the truth from the hyperbole, and help you stay safer online. We provide support to thousands of people. Every week we help dozens of people via email at no charge. Thanks to donations, 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 and help you get more out of your PC. Help us keep up the good fight with a small donation.

After you donate, you will receive an invitation to become a Cloudeight Booster.

Help us keep up the good fight with a small donation.

Interested in making an automatic monthly gift? Visit this page.

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

Now, about six months into the semi-ambulatory stage of my old age, I have rediscovered a favorite old pastime of my younger days: reading. It provides another escape, besides sleeping, from the inescapable torments of aging.

Sleeping is easier during the day when the pain pills are in full vigor, and the buzzing of life is all around. Sleeping at night is more challenging since it is quieter and therefore easier to hear my bones creak and crack when I toss and turn as I attempt to find the most painless position for sleeping. I’ve discovered there is none, but I try just the same. It’s become a ritual by now.

The racing thoughts of an old man seem to become stranger and harder to ignore at night. The cascading cacophony of thoughts, combined with the creaky, muffled sounds of the night, makes for a terrible night...

Read the rest of this essay here. 

Use Your Favorite Browser to Browse Files on Your Computer

Did you know that you can use your favorite browser (Firefox, Chrome, Edge, Brave, etc.) as a file explorer? Yes, you can.

Open your favorite browser right now. Open a new, blank tab, and press the Ctrl key plus the O key (that's an O, not a zero).

You will see a File Explorer window open in your browser. We use this trick all the time. It's sometimes quicker than opening File Explorer, especially if your browser is already open.

Even if it's not, at least now you know you can do it. Try it. You just might like it as much as we do! 

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