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Rose wants to know what her 500 GB hard drive isn't 500 GB
Morning TC. Okay, the C drive was supposed to be 500 GB. I can't understand why I only get 236. Yes, I did the storage clean-up. I deleted pictures I had more than one of. I deleted folders of old stuff to free up space, but somehow my space never gets bigger...

Also, about RAM usage. I do have more than 30 tabs open on Firefox. I know that when you restart your computer, when Firefox opens, all the windows open up with only one tab on each. Rose.

Our answer
Hi Rose. If you buy a computer with a 500 GB hard drive, you won't have 500 GB of space left even if you never touch your computer. 500 GB is the capacity, and Windows and certain other apps that a computer manufacturer puts on it at the factory use up more space. So when you take the computer out of the box at home before you ever use it, you won't have 500 GB to use. You'll never see 500 GB remaining on a 500 GB drive. Once you start using it and saving files and installing programs, you may only have 230 GB of hard drive space left. There's nothing wrong with the drive - it's still a 500 GB hard drive. If you have a 16-oz water glass and it's full of water, it will theoretically hold 16 oz. of liquid. Once you drink a quarter of it, your glass only has 12 oz. left, but it is still a 16 oz. glass.

236 GB is 236,000 megabytes. When Darcy and I started Cloudeight, computers came with 540 MB hard drives. Your computer will run just fine as long as you have around 50 GB of space left. You have a long way to go before you reach that plateau.

You don't check drive space in Control Panel; you check in File Explorer > This PC. Right-click on the drive C: and choose "Properties," and you will see this:

My hard drive is a 500 GB hard drive; but you can see in the yellow highlight it never really had 500 GB available. This computer is going on 3 years old and my drive shows 142 GB of my hard drive space is used just from Windows storing and deleting temp files, me installing programs, and saving files like documents, pictures, emails, music and video files etc. I never had 500 GB available to begin with. And even though I use OneDrive to save most of my files in the cloud (online), I have 333 GB.

A hard drive may have a 500 GB capacity but it will never have 500 GB available. My 16 oz. water glass analogy may also help you understand this concept:

As for Firefox, you need to change the setting to something other than when Firefox opens, restore the tabs that were open to something like open a new tab, or open a specific site. Having 30 pages open when Firefox opens is not a good idea; it's a waste of your computer's resources. And don't forget, any extension you install will show up in Task Manager as open instances of Firefox using up even more RAM.

Jess is looking for a quicker way to restart
Is there a quick and easy way to do a restart in Windows 11? I use the power button now.

Our answer
Hi Jess. I suggest that you create a dedicated "Restart" button right on your desktop. It's actually very simple to do. Here is how you can set it up in Windows 11:

In the box that says "Type the location of the item," copy and paste the following command exactly:

That's it! If you click on that shortcut your computer will restart immediately.

If you prefer, you can drag and drop that new shortcut from your desktop onto your Taskbar at the bottom of the screen.

Now, you’re just one click away from a restart anytime with the click of your mouse.

Sue may need help transferring files from one PC to another
A computer friend's computer whiz son was able to get into the BIOS (Greek to me) and find all of my documents, including my Photos file. He put it all on a high-speed transfer portable device. I've been afraid to do anything with it (for almost 2 yrs. now), trying to avoid the thought that maybe all the folders are empty, but it's time to bite the bullet. So my next request will certainly require a key (or TWO), which I bought some time ago, and I will ask you for help putting all my extracted stuff back together. Thank you for being here for us!! Honestly, I don't know what I'd do without you! Your grateful subscriber, Sue.

Our answer
Hi Sue. Thanks so much for all the nice comments!! just wanted to clear up a couple of things here and perhaps help you to understand how file transfer speed is affected.

The BIOS isn't a storage device like a hard drive or a thumb drive—you can't save your photos, music, or documents to it.

In the simplest terms, the BIOS is like the "wake-up call" for your computer. It is a small piece of software built into the computer's hardware that tells the machine how to start up. When you first push the power button, the BIOS is the very first thing to run. It checks to make sure the keyboard, screen, and memory are all working correctly, and then it goes and "wakes up" Windows so you can get to work.

I'm not sure what a "High-speed transfer portable device" is. I've never heard of it. Any USB stick or External Drive is generally connected to a computer via a USB port. The speed of the storage drive is not determined by the type of device (external hard drive or thumb drive), but by how that device is connected to the computer.

USB 3.0 / 3.1 (The Standard):
These run between 5 Gbps and 10 Gbps. This is what most people use for everyday tasks like moving documents or photos to a thumb drive.

USB 2.0 (The Slowest):
This runs at only 480 Mbps (Megabits per second). It’s perfectly fine for a mouse or a keyboard, but you would never want to use it to back up your hard drive—it would take all night.

So, it's not the storage media or device that makes the difference; it's the connection type. Hopefully, he did not compress (zip) the files. That would be a mess.

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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.

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Larry wants a new Windows 11 computer, but doesn't want to spend a fortune
I always look forward to the help you folks send out to us. I do have one question that maybe you can answer. I am going to have to get a new computer soon, one that will run Windows 11. Can you recommend a good computer that meets the requirements, is reliable, but not too expensive? Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you so much for all the work you do!

This is essentially a "tuned-up economy car." It doesn't have the leather seats or the fancy badge of a luxury vehicle, but because it has a solid engine (the N95) and plenty of fuel in the tank (the 16GB RAM), it’ll get you down the highway just as fast as the expensive models!

I love mine, and mine is very similar to this one. Mine runs better than the $700 ASUS I had. I hope this helps you, Larry.

Maureen is still looking to replace Picasa
Hi Darcy, thanks for the encouraging words re the laptop. Unfortunately, Google has disabled Picasa, which I have loved and used for many years, managed to find some photos, but would like a program similar to that so they can be organized like before, free if possible, or a one-off payment. Many thanks. Maureen

Our answer
Hi Maureen. I completely understand why you miss Picasa. It was one of those rare programs that stayed out of your way and just let you look at your pictures! Even though Google retired it, the good news is that you don’t have to settle for anything complicated.

This is the one most former Picasa users end up loving. It’s totally free and very fast.

Daniel read our tip on using Chrome's new PDF editing capabilities -- but he doesn't see them
TC and Darcy, So recently you talked about Chrome’s New “Secret” PDF Power Tool: No Adobe Needed! When I do what you said to bring up the built-in PDF viewer, it doesn't have a built-in typewriter, and it doesn't really look like the picture you put up, and the drop-down doesn't have any of that stuff on it. I checked to make sure I had the most current version of Chrome, and I'm all up to date, so I don't know why it doesn't have the things that your picture shows. I went to the Edge browser, and it had all the things you talked about. What am I doing wrong?

Our answer
Hi Daniel. I read a bit of confusion here about those new PDF tools. Maybe I didn't do a very good job of presenting how it works. There is no need to go hunting for a new icon on your desktop or a separate app to download—they are actually built right into the Google Chrome browser you already use.

To get started with these features, you just need to make sure the PDF is open inside a Chrome tab. Here are the two easiest ways to do that:

The Drag-and-Drop: Grab your PDF file from your folder and drag it directly into the address bar (the long box at the top where you type websites) of an open Chrome window.

The Right-Click: Right-click the PDF file on your computer, select "Open with," and then choose Google Chrome.

Once the file is open in the browser, you'll see the new toolbar pop up, letting you edit, annotate, or organize your document without ever leaving your web browser. It’s all in one place.

Most users click the Start button to find their apps, but the most useful menu in Windows 11 is actually hidden behind a Right-Click.

By right-clicking the Start icon—or pressing Win + X on your keyboard—you open the Power User Menu. This is a "no-nonsense" shortcut list that bypasses the colorful interface of the standard Start menu and gives you instant access to the system’s most vital tools:

It is the ultimate power-user shortcut for anyone who wants to skip the hunting and pecking of the Settings app and manage their PC with more efficiency.

We have all been there. You reboot your computer, and suddenly Windows Update appears. You see a notification, “100%, Complete. Please don’t turn off your computer,” and you think, “Great, almost done!”

Then, you wait. And wait. The little circle spins for fifteen minutes while Windows insists it is 100% finished. Suddenly, your laptop reboots, only to greet you with a blue screen announcing that “Updates are underway.” It feels like being told you’ve reached the finish line of a marathon, only to realize there are another five miles to go.

If you’ve ever wondered why this process takes so “freaking long,” there is actually a method to the madness.

The first thing to understand is that in the world of Windows, 100% does not mean “Finished.” Usually, that percentage only tracks the Staging phase. This is when your computer is simply moving files from the internet into a temporary folder on your hard drive.

While that circle is spinning at 100%, your PC is doing some heavy-duty file processing behind the scenes:

You might wonder why it needs to reboot at all. Think of it this way: it is impossible to change the tires on a car while you are driving 60 mph down the highway. Similarly, Windows cannot replace core system files while it is currently using them to run your desktop.

When your computer reboots and says “Updates are underway,” it has entered a “pre-boot” environment. Since the main operating system isn’t fully active yet, the files are “unlocked.” Windows can finally replace the old files with the new ones and perform a final verification to ensure all the new code is communicating correctly.

As frustrating as it is, the “15-minute rule” is a good sign. If your laptop eventually reboots and the screen changes, the update is working—it’s just being a turtle. As long as that little circle is spinning or the percentage is ticking up (no matter how slowly), do not force your computer to shut down. Cutting the power during the “committing” phase is the fastest way to corrupt your files.

Take a deep breath, grab a cup of coffee, walk away from the computer – you sitting there watching is like waiting for a pan of water to boil – and let Windows finish its chores. It’s annoying, but it’s the price we must pay for a stable and secure system.

Windows is full of little features that Microsoft seems to want to keep secret. Here are two of our favorite arcane Windows 11 tips to help you get more done with less clicking.

If your screen is cluttered with multiple windows and you just want to focus on one, you don’t have to manually minimize them all. Just click and hold the title bar of the window you want to keep, and give it a quick shake with your mouse.

Windows will instantly minimize every other open program, leaving only your chosen window on the screen. If you want them all back again, give the window another shake!

(Note: If this doesn’t work on your PC, head to Settings > System > Multitasking and make sure “Title bar window shake” is turned on.)

Have you ever tried to copy text from a weird error message or a dialogue box that won’t let you highlight the words? Instead of typing it out manually, just click on the window and press CTRL + C.

Even if there is no “Copy” button and the text doesn’t turn blue, Windows will often copy the entire contents of that dialogue box to your clipboard. You can then paste it (CTRL + V) into Notepad or an email to see exactly what that error message said.

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.

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

Aye, Me Mateys! The Truth is Stranger Than Fiction!

Aye, Me Mateys! The Truth is Stranger Than Fiction! Cloudeight Internet

Once in a while, we like to take a break from the tips and tricks and fix-em-up business and have a little fun. Nothing wrong with that, right? So, mateys, once in a while, we create our own “site pick” for you to peruse. And today, we’re going to do just that – create our own “site pick” or “page pick” (if you will), and share with you some examples of how the truth is often stranger than fiction.

#1 Did you know that a glass of milk has more sodium than a serving of potato chips?

#2 Russia has more surface area than Pluto. (Russia covers about 17 million sq. km, while Pluto covers about 16.6 million sq. km.)

#3 Oxford University is older than the Aztec Empire. (Teaching existed at Oxford in 1096; the Aztec Empire was founded in 1325.)

#4 The national animal of Scotland is the Unicorn.

#5 Nintendo was founded while Jack the Ripper was still at large. (Nintendo was founded in 1889 as a playing card company.)

#6 A day on Venus is longer than a year on Venus. (It takes Venus 243 Earth days to rotate once, but only 225 Earth days to orbit the Sun.)

#7 Sharks have been around longer than trees. (Sharks have existed for 400 million years; trees for about 350 million years.)

#8 There are more life forms living on your skin than there are people on the planet.

#9 Bananas are berries, but strawberries are not.

#10 Saudi Arabia imports camels from Australia.

#11 Vending machines are statistically deadlier than sharks.

#12 The total weight of all the ants on Earth is roughly equal to the total weight of all the humans on Earth.

#13 There are more trees on Earth than stars in the Milky Way. (3 trillion trees vs. 400 billion stars.)

#14 You can’t hum while holding your nose. (Go ahead, try it.)

#15 Cleopatra lived closer to the invention of the iPhone than to the building of the Great Pyramid of Giza.

#16 Wombat poop is cube-shaped.

#17 Honey never spoils. Archeologists have found 3,000-year-old honey in Egyptian tombs that is still edible.

#18 The state of Maine is the closest U.S. state to Africa.

#19 A single cloud can weigh more than a million pounds (453,593 kg).

#20 There are more possible iterations of a game of chess than there are atoms in the known universe.

#21 The first oranges weren’t orange—they were green.

#22 A jellyfish is 95% water.

#23 If you fold a piece of paper 42 times, it would be thick enough to reach the Moon.

#24 The tongue of a blue whale is so large that 50 people could stand on it.

#25 Mammoths were still alive when the Egyptians were building the pyramids.

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A Free Breakfast at Epiphanies

I lost my job. I lost my family. I lost my home. I lost everything. Last year was not a good year. In fact, the last couple of years haven’t been so hot.

I’m doing the best I can. Living on the streets of Memphis isn’t easy at any time—but it’s really tough in winter. It’s January now, and the winds blow through downtown like a wind tunnel. The buildings amplify the wind, and the wind amplifies the cold.

Almost all I own I carry with me in a plastic Walmart bag: some clean underwear, a bar of soap, a couple of pictures of my daughter, a few dollars, and an old cellphone that doesn’t work. I carry the cellphone that doesn’t work because it contains so many precious memories. Voicemails and text messages—bits and pieces of a life torn apart—are all locked in that little black phone.

I own one other thing, too. I will get to that later.

I take most of my meals at the food bank; I like the free meals...

Read the rest of this short story here.

The "What on Earth Did You Just Say?" Translator

If you’ve spent any time around a Gen Z-er lately, you’ve probably realized they aren't actually speaking English—they’re speaking a high-speed dialect of internet memes and vibes. If you want to try to understand what your grandkids are saying or why your grandkids are laughing), here are four terms currently dominating the "cool" Gen Z-er scene:

1. Rizz
The Translation: Charisma.
The Context: Derived from the middle of the word "cha-rizz-ma." If someone has "unspoken rizz," it means they are effortlessly charming or smooth. If they have "L rizz," well, they probably just tripped over their own shoelaces while trying to say hello.

2. Skibidi
The Translation: Honestly? It’s a total wildcard.
The Context: This one is the ultimate "Gen Alpha" litmus test. Originating from a bizarre YouTube series about singing heads in toilets (don't ask), it’s now used as an adjective for anything "bad," "weird," or sometimes just as a random exclamation. If a teenager tells you your dinner is "skibidi," you might want to check the expiration date on the milk.

3. Fanum Tax
The Translation: Stealing a bite of someone else’s food.
The Context: Named after a popular streamer, Fanum, who is known for "taxing" his friends by swiping a portion of their snacks. If you reach over and grab a single fry from your friend’s plate, you have officially levied the Fanum Tax.

4. Delulu
The Translation: Delusional.
The Context: Usually used in the phrase "Delulu is the solulu" (Delusional is the solution). It’s a humorous way of saying that having unrealistic confidence or a "fake it till you make it" attitude is the only way to get through life.

Beware: Don't try to use these around young people or you might cause them to physically recoil in cringe. Use with extreme caution, I tells ya!

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Cloudeight InfoAve Weekly - Issue #1178
Volume 23 Number 29
May 8, 2026

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