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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.

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Mary has no internet connection on her all-in-one computer
I have no internet on my all-in-one computer. It says the Ethernet adapter is disabled. Says update or get a new card. Cost? My computer is only 2 years old. Mary

Our answer
Hi Mary, if you can't enable your Ethernet adapter on Windows 11 (I'm assuming you're using Windows 11 since your computer is only 2 years old).

The most direct way to manage adapters in Windows 11 is to use Settings.

Open Settings (Press Win + I).

Click Network & Internet in the left sidebar.

Scroll down and click Advanced network settings (this is where adapter options are now hidden).

Under the "Network adapters" list, find your Ethernet adapter.

Click the Enable button next to it.

Note: If it says "Disable," it is already on. Try disabling and re-enabling it to reset the connection.

If the Ethernet adapter cannot be enabled, you can buy a USB Ethernet adapter that you can plug into any open USB port. You can buy them at Best Buy, Walmart, Amazon, Staples, etc. Here's one at Amazon for $12.00. They're easy to set up - just plug them into a USB port and plug your Ethernet cable from your PC into the open end.

You can also buy a wireless USB adapter ($15 or less) and use a wireless (Wi-Fi) connection instead of an Ethernet (cabled) connection. See our article here to learn more about USB Wi-Fi adapters.

I hope this helps you, Mary.

Sidney asks what happens if a PC does not support biometrics and the user is not keen on face recognition. Can you still use passkeys?
I keep reading about passkeys, but I only see the options of fingerprint or face ID. My computer doesn't have a touch screen, so a fingerprint is out of the question. I don't really like the idea of my face ID. Is there another option?

Our answer
Hi Sidney. Every passkey I've created or that I have ever seen always gives me at least three options:

Jim says his Dell PC with Windows 10 won't wake up from Sleep
Hello everyone... I have a Dell desktop computer that does not wake up after being in energy-saving mode. I have to turn it off and wait for a few minutes before restarting. Most of the time, it restarts fine but occasionally when it restarts, it freezes at the hello screen and will proceed to the sign-in screen. So I have to turn it off again and go through the same process. I tried changing the settings to allow the screen saver to run all the time. Unfortunately, this does not make any difference. It freezes and will not wake up to allow me to sign in to Windows. I ran the command prompt for SFC, but there were no issues. I am at a loss as to fix this issue, and I was hoping you could help me. Thanks for all you do for us. It's really appreciated.

Our answer
Hi Jim. Thanks! Sleep mode has been an issue with Windows 10 for some time. We don't even use it on our computers anymore and haven't for years. It's not necessary.

Right-click on the Start button, click on "Power options", and set "Sleep" to never (when plugged in - if using a laptop) and set "Turn off my screen" to "After 10 minutes" (when plugged in if using a laptop). When you set up your computer that way, the screen goes dark after 10 minutes, and the computer idles but does not sleep. When you're ready to use your computer again, just touch a key or move the mouse (or touch the touchpad).

It will use slightly more electricity this way - but the screen is what uses up most of the power and when it dims after 10 minutes it will be the same as if you chose sleep mode.

Another way to fix sleep mode is by doing a Windows reset while keeping your files. However, that's a time-consuming option when it's much easier just to stop using Sleep mode at all.

If you're using a desktop, it may not be a Windows issue at all, it may be an issue with your monitor. If the suggestions above don't help, consider testing your PC with a different monitor. If you don't have another monitor, you can use your flat-screen TV as a monitor - all you need is an HDMI cable to connect your computer to the TV.

We hope this helps you, Jim.

We can fix your Windows computer... check out our low prices here!

David wants to know if we still recommend RoboForm
Some years ago, you advocated RoboForm as - among other things - a 'Log-In' saver. I have recently been encountering problems with this and RoboForm help has only really told me to make sure RoboForm was enabled in 'Edge' even though my present Browser of choice is Google Chrome. Are you still promoting RoboForm for saving 'log-ins' or do you suggest something different? Your reply will be greatly appreciated as always!

Our answer
Hi David. Edge and Chrome can use the same extensions - they are both Chromium browsers. Here is the Google Store page for the free version of RoboForm for Google Chrome.

Darcy still uses RoboForm and it's one of three password managers we recommend. I use Bitwarden on my newer laptop and LastPass on my older laptop although I'm switching the old laptop to Bitwarden also since I can use the free version of Bitwarden on my tablet and smartphone too.

The three we recommend are...

RoboForm
Bitwarden
LastPass

We hope this helps you, David.

Lee asks about BulkCrap uninstaller
Hi Darcy and TC. I have used Geek Uninstaller for several years and like it very much. However, I have just come across one called BulkCrap Uninstaller, another free app recommended by a national newspaper. Do you know anything about it? Would appreciate your comments. Thanks Lee

Our answer
Hi Lee. There are literally dozens of uninstallers out there. We try hard to recommend programs we trust and either use or would use. Bulk Crap Uninstaller seems a little too aggressive, so unless you're careful, you could end up removing the wrong registry keys.

I use HiBit Uninstaller, and have for years, because it's safe and thorough enough, plus it also allows you to remove multiple programs at once. I've been using it not only on my computers, but also on computers I've worked on remotely. I don't see any advantages to using Bulk Crap Uninstaller.

But if Bulk Crap works for you, then that's what you should use. We will continue to use and recommend HiBit Uninstaller not only because of its uninstaller function, but because of its startup cleaner, temp files cleaner, browser extension cleaner, and other features usually not found in other uninstallers. You can read more about HiBit Uninstaller here.

Hope this gives you some food for thought, Lee.

Our answer
Hi Marty. Here is some information from Bitwarden that I think will help you.

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 9.8.8. 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 Manage Your Browser Extensions
Windows 10 / Windows 11 and Firefox, Chrome, or Edge

I think all of us get a little extension crazy sometimes. Sometimes you think you need an extension, and so you add it to your browser, and before you know it, you have 10-15 browser extensions. Most people can’t even remember the extension they’ve added. There’s nothing wrong with extensions – at least not the legitimate ones – but having too many extensions can slow down your browser. So, we recommend that you take a look at your browser extensions every so often and remove any that you don’t use or don’t need.

There’s an easy way to do it, too, regardless of which browser you use. And it’s all thanks to the puzzle-piece icon that almost all popular browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, have adopted.

Manage your browser extensions the easy way.

1 > Open your browser and locate the “puzzle-piece” icon in the toolbar.

2 > Click on the puzzle-piece icon and click on “Manage extensions” in the drop-down menu.

And you’ll see this:

Above: Chrome extensions

Above: Microsoft Edge extensions

Above: Mozilla Firefox extensions

All browsers give you the option to turn off extensions or remove them – either option has the same effect. The fewer extensions you have, the faster your browser will be.

So, take some time today to check out the extensions you’ve installed and turn off or remove any that you don’t use.

Driver Updater Programs: Poison for Your Computer
Windows 10 / Windows 11

Most driver updater programs are no better than malware – and many come bundled with malware

Consider this a reminder from your old pals, TC & Darcy…

I don’t know how many times we’ve told you to avoid driver updater programs, but the last time we did was three years ago. I can’t remember what I did three days ago, let alone three years ago. So we are going to remind you that Driver Updaters are poison for your PC.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve helped folks who were having problems with their computers, from Blue Screens of Death to unexplained crashes. But I’ve learned over the years to look for driver updater programs first, because plenty of times folks with BSODs and unexplained, unexpected crashes, had driver updater programs installed.

Driver updaters often recommend updates for drivers that are already functioning correctly. Installing unnecessary updates can lead to instability, performance issues, or even hardware malfunctions. Installing unnecessary drivers can lead to a range of problems, including system crashes, blue screens of death, and even complete system failure.

So, we want to remind you to check your installed programs for driver updater programs, and if you find one (or more), uninstall it (them) before your computer has big-time problems.

Darcy and I have been using Windows since Windows 3.1 (yes, there was such a thing), and we can’t remember when driver updater programs were necessary.

We can tell you this as well. Driver updaters are popular. They are consistently among the most downloaded programs. And they rank among the most useless (and trouble-causing) programs you can install on your Windows computer.

You don’t need third-party driver updater programs to tell you that you need a new driver. You only need to update a driver (or drivers) when a hardware device (printer, sound card, wireless card, etc.) is not working properly or the manufacturer recommends an update. Installing new drivers just because new drivers are available is unnecessary and many times can be a recipe for disaster.

Windows 10 and 11 are very good at updating drivers when necessary. But should you have a hardware device that is not working properly, you can download the correct driver from the device’s manufacturer’s website. Just make sure you know the version of Windows you’re using and the name, model, and manufacturer of your hardware device. Then go ahead and download and install the correct driver directly from the device manufacturer.

If you’re not having problems with your hardware devices, there’s no reason to update your drivers, even if new drivers become available.

Don’t be tempted to install a driver updater because you think it’s going to make your computer run better, run faster, or it’s going to make it easier for you to keep your drivers updated. Driver updaters are unnecessary and often cause serious problems with your computer. Think of driver updaters as poison for your PC.

Remember these two nuggets of sage advice from both of us:

1. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
2. In the world of computer software, less is more.

Be smart and leave driver updaters alone. And if you find one has sneaked onto your computer via those nefarious software bundles that are all too common — or you were tricked into installing one — uninstall it with much alacrity… we tells ya!

3 Time-Saving Tips
Windows 10 / Windows 11

Tip #1
Let’s say you are filling out a Web form and you make a mistake - you typed in the wrong email address or whatever. Instead of backspacing to remove the incorrect address, put your cursor in the form field and press the CTRL key plus the A key and then the Delete Key. CTRL + A highlights everything in the form field. The Delete key deletes all the highlighted text.

Tip #2
Now, imagine you’re viewing a very long web page and you want to go back to the top. Instead of scrolling all the way back up, press the HOME key. If you want to go to the bottom of the page, instead of scrolling all the way down to the bottom, just press the END key. It’s simple, I tells ya!

Tip #3
OK, last one: Here’s a really easy way to highlight a large block of text. Put your cursor at the top of this tip and left-click. Now, put it at the bottom of this tip and click while holding down the SHIFT key. Pretty cool, huh?

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.

Pine Tools – A Treasure Chest of Useful Online Tools

This Cloudeight website pick is a treasure chest of online tools – a toolbox extraordinaire. There are so many tools on the Pine Tools site that we’re not even going to try to list them all.

To give you some idea of the kinds of online tools you’ll find in this virtual treasure chest of online tools, we submit the following for your perusal:

MATHEMATICS

Calculator
Area calculator
Percentage calculator
Single rule of three direct
Single rule of three inverse…and more.

COLORS

Color picker, tools for modifying or generating colors

Lighten color
Darken color
Change color saturation
Greyscale/desaturate a color
Invert a color…and more.

TEXT AND LISTS

Work with lists and texts, sort, randomize, reverse

Reverse list
List randomizer
Sort list
Add text to each line
Remove extra whitespaces…and more.

NUMBERS

Work with numbers, generate, filter, sort

Generate a list of numbers
Filter numbers
Sort numbers
Minimum and maximum of a list
Average of a list…and more.

DATE AND TIME

Measure time, calculate distance between dates, chronometers

Date/time difference
Add to a date
Subtract from a date
Timer
Stopwatch…and more.

IMAGES

Resize images, crop, optimize, and more

Invert colors
Flip image
Darken image
Lighten image
Change brightness…and more.

RANDOMNESS

Generate random numbers, randomize lists, common distributions

Random number generator
Coin flipper
Dice roller
Gaussian random number generator
Password generator…and more.

PROGRAMMING

Tools for programming and web development

Syntax highlighter
CSS Inliner
JSON formatter
CSS beautifier
HTML beautifier…and more.

FILES

Convert, compress, join or split

Split files
Join files
Base64 encode
Base64 decode
Random file generator…and more.

What more can we say? If looking at the partial list of online tools above does not make your fingers twitch to click and visit Pine Tools, there’s nothing more we can do.

If you’re looking for one place to find dozens and dozens of useful online tools that can help you do just about anything, visit this Cloudeight Site Pick – Pine Tools. It is an amazing site!

The Tragic Twilight of the Life of Howard Hughes

Howard Hughes once embodied the exhilaration of mid-century America: a Hollywood magnate who discovered stars, an aviation pioneer who pushed speed records, and one of the world’s first billionaires.

To the public, he seemed invincible. Yet when he died in 1976, the spectacle of his end revealed a different truth—immense wealth could not spare him a slow collapse into isolation and untreated mental illness.

The crash that changed everything

On July 7, 1946, Hughes piloted an experimental XF-11 reconnaissance plane that suffered a catastrophic propeller failure and tore into a Beverly Hills neighborhood. He survived but with catastrophic injuries: a crushed collarbone, shattered ribs, severe burns and a traumatic brain injury.

The physical pain that followed was relentless...

Read the rest of this article here.

How to Copy and Paste

Copy and paste is something that we often mistakenly think every Windows user knows how to do. But, we know that many Windows users still don’t know how to copy and paste.

Copy & paste is a very basic Windows skill. It’s a real time saver, and it can help prevent common mistakes when trying to type registration keys, email addresses, website URLs, etc. Copy & paste eliminates the potential for errors.

So here’s a simple tutorial on how to copy & paste – probably the single most useful Windows feature ever.

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

Cloudeight Direct Computer Care: 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.

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