Thursday, June 25, 2020

Computer Class Notes 6-23-2020


NOTE: from now on the Computer Class will be on Thursdays from 2-4 and the Practice session will be twice a month on the 1st and 3rd Saturday mornings at 11.

How to Recall an Email in Gmail
We’ve all had moments where we’ve immediately regretted sending an email. If you’re in that position and you’re using Gmail, you have a small window in which to undo your mistake, but you only have a few seconds to do it. Here’s how.

Settings > General > Undo Send (choose time) > Save Changes

To recall an email, press the “Undo” button that appears in the “Message Sent” pop-up, visible in the bottom-left corner of the Gmail window on the web. Also on the right of the Sent line on your cell phone.
https://tinyurl.com/y9sran8n

From Mary Fleenor: You can also recall an email within the first 5 seconds after sending for Yahoo, Gmail and other email clients from a cell phone mail app.

And where is my Gmail Trash folder?
If you can't see the Trash folder follow along...



Click the Settings icon (the picture of a gear)



Click See all settings




Scroll down and stop on Trash and click on show. You will now be able to see the Trash folder and recover any emails found in there.

Why Am I Connected to Wi-Fi But Not the Internet?
It’s happened to all of us at some point. Your Wi-Fi signal is strong, but there’s no internet connectivity. That’s because Wi-Fi and the internet are two different things, and understanding the difference can help you troubleshoot future network problems.

Wifi is your in-house network, not the Internet. From your modem/router to your in-house devices you ar connect with RJ-45 or ethernet cable or WiFi. From the Modem to your ISp (internet service provider) you connect to the internet that they provide.
https://tinyurl.com/yatpzmny

Lost Internet connection





Click the WiFi icon in the lower right of your screen



That should show you a list of close by WiFi connections. Mine says Connected… This means it is connected to the router and other devices on the same internal network such as my wireless printer. If it also said No Internet then the connection to the outside network is not available and Internet access is not possible.

If no Internet, click Disconnect and try connecting again. If that does not work, I suggest turning off your router and your computer. Start the router and when all the lights are on, restart the computer.

How to Transfer Your Facebook Photos and Video to Google Photos
As part of the Data Transfer Project, Facebook has built a tool that allows you to send a copy of your photos and videos to Google Photos. The feature is available worldwide for anyone with a Facebook and Google account to use. Here’s how it works.
https://tinyurl.com/yde67m7r




Click the down arrow



Settings > Your Facebook Information



To the right of Transfer A Copy Of Your Photos Or Videos, Click View.



If asked, sign in to your Facebook account. Then you will be able to transfer a copy of your photos or videos to Google Photos and/or other locations.

Facebook Etiquette
Given how popular Facebook is, you’d think everyone would know how to use it properly. Sadly, that simply isn’t the case. While Facebook has many written rules, there are also plenty of unwritten Facebook rules. This is the Facebook etiquette we should all follow.
https://tinyurl.com/y8bmjorh

Luke 6:31 NKJV
And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise
  • Do Accept Requests From People You Know

  • Do Acknowledge Others’ Posts and Comments

  • Do Research Stories Before Sharing Them

  • Do Ask for Permission Before You Tag Someone

  • Don’t Post Too Often

  • Don’t send group PM’s

  • Don’t send junk mail in Messenger
In addition, eMail etiquette still stands.
  • ALL UPPER CASE means you are shouting.
  • No need to use greeting lines (dear…) or salutations. They know who sent the email and the fact you sent it to them negates the need for Dear xxxx
  • Do not “send to” a group of emails. Use BC (blind copy) so recipient addresses are hidden from all but the recipient. You do not need any address on the “send to” line if you have BCs.
Irfanview
This is a freeware image editor and viewer. I have used it to display a series of pictures as a looping slideshow. You can use it to resize those large pictures as well. It is available on the Ninite list of programs.

Create A Folder In Gmail




Click the Settings icon (the picture of a gear)



Click See all settings



Go to the Labels tab, then click Create new label




Name the label, then click Create.

Macrium vs EaseUS Files

The question was about the external drive. If they switch from Macrium to EaseUS do they need to reformat the drive? No, the Macrium image files (the actual backup files) can stay. You only need to remove the oldest files when you are running out of room on the drive. Most drives are 1-2 TB and will hold many months of backups.

Backup, Maintenances, And More
A number of questions we answered have been covered in various DCT articles I have written over the last few months. Here is a list you might want to check out:

Microsoft Word

https://davescomputertips.com/how-to-format-paragraphs-in-word/

https://davescomputertips.com/how-to-hyphenation-in-word/

https://davescomputertips.com/word-the-three-nevers-and-more/

Maintenance

https://davescomputertips.com/wise-care-365/

https://davescomputertips.com/how-to-use-glary-utilities/

https://davescomputertips.com/how-to-use-wise-disk-cleaner/


Easeus Backup And Restore And Create Emergency Disk

https://davescomputertips.com/how-to-lets-talk-backups/

https://davescomputertips.com/how-to-lets-talk-restore/

Other Articles

https://davescomputertips.com/how-to-use-quick-assist/

https://davescomputertips.com/how-to-find-safe-mode/

https://davescomputertips.com/how-to-use-ninite-installer/

https://davescomputertips.com/how-to-make-an-unforgettable-password/

https://davescomputertips.com/better-than-adblocking/

Slow Computer
There are a number of reasons for a slow-going computer. There could be some updates being downloaded in the background by Microsoft. You could also have some malicious software hiding and running. This is why it is important to run the maintenance program so we suggest on a regular basis. Malwarebytes is one such program.

You could be running more programs at the same time then the amount of memory you have can support. When this happens the operating system creates some virtual memory using your hard disk drive. Access to this virtual memory is painfully slow.

Microsoft has said for a long time if your computer is running slow buy more memory. I find that even if Windows 10 works with 1-2 GB of memory, it is very slow. 4 GB is sufficient, but can also be a little slow. 8 GB or more seems to be the best. An older computer may not take 8 GB or more. Single or eventual core computers can be slow as well. So the best option may be a new computer with plenty of memory and multiple cores.

If the slowness is when you are on the Internet I suggest running speedtest.net to see if you are getting the speed you are paying for.

Start In Safe Mode
If you cannot isolate the problem, I suggest starting in Safe Mode so only the minimal set of programs is running. Is it still slow? If not then there is a program running causing your issues. If it is still slow you may have hard disk issues. Glary Utilities does a good job of checking the disk drive and if it finds issues it will force a check disk operation at the next system restart. While you are in Safe Mode, run your maintenance programs.
https://davescomputertips.com/how-to-find-safe-mode/

Do I Need A New EaseUS Emergency Disk Every Time I Backup?
No, you do not need a new disk for every backup. You only need it when you have crashed and need to recover your hard drive from the backup on your external drive. If you do not have a boot disk, you can create one on another computer. But I suggest you make one before then and keep it on hand just in case. Onc, you have created it, you can use it for any version of backups you may have. This could change in the future so it is not a bad idea to create a new disk whenever you update the backup software. But the new backup will read the old backup images, in my experience.

Locknote For Passwords
Do I use a password manager? No, I use Locknote and keep a simple notepad file called to keep a password-protected note. I use it for my passwords so they are all in one place and protected instead of being in a Word file called passwords! I save it in my OneDrive so I can access it from anywhere. Here is a link to download that program: http://sourceforge.net/projects/locknote

DSL vs Cable
DSL uses the telephone lines and Cable uses higher speed coaxial cable. The local DSL company here is Century Link. Their connection is a good one but is sold as download speed up to 25 MPs. That speed is fine and I have found I can stream Netlfix at 5 MPs. However, I do not to know many who are actually getting 25 MPs. The further away from the central station, the slower the speed. And the upload speeds are usually very slow, like under 1 MPs.

The local cable company is Comcast (AKA Xfinity). They insist everyone needs speeds in excess of 100 MPs to be able to stream. And for that, you pay a pretty penny. I dropped my service to their slowest and am quite happy with the 25 MPs speed. I wish the upload was faster but it works for me.

In both cases, you will save $10+ a month if you purchase your own modem/router instead of renting theirs.



What Are The Numbers Above The Time?
This is part of Wise Care 365. It is a display showing the amount of memory in use and a graph of the CPU activity. If you open Taskmanager you will we the same numbers.




How To Set Up The Quick Launch On The Taskbar

Right-click on the Taskbar

Click Toolbars > New toolbar…



Paste the following into the box at the top. Then click Select folder.

%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch

Read the full article here: https://tinyurl.com/z4qmjxu

Wednesday, June 17, 2020

Computer Class Notes 6-16-2020

By Dick Evans, www.rwevans.com

No practice session this week. The next one will be on the 25th.

Link to the video of today’s class https://tinyurl.com/y94w5hgd

I am considering changing the class day back to Thursday. Is this a problem for anybody?
Windows 10 Version 2004, May 2020 Update:
New Features And Changes
Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) Windows 10 version 2004, May 2020 Update, is the ninth major refresh releasing on May 27, 2020, with new features and enhancements to improve performance, security, and productivity.

If your device is compatible, similar to previous releases, you’ll receive a notification to download the feature update manually through Windows Update. If you’re a “seeker,” you can force the upgrade.
https://tinyurl.com/y74bawn9

How To Free Up Space On Google Drive
Many of the projects I work on require video editing and teamwork. Since videos are so large, I needed a way to share the videos (and their edits) online without trying to crash my email. Rather than using Dropbox or OneDrive, I like to use Google Drive. Since the majority of people I work with have a Google account, this file-sharing program works well for me. Google Drive makes it easy to share folders and files and they give you 15 GB of free space to use.
https://tinyurl.com/ybzl55me

The Sound of Colleagues is a white noise machine that emulates the sound of an office (minus some of the annoying sounds). It’s a straightforward free tool with adjustable sounds and ambient effects. Want to hear the sound of an open window? You got it. Tired of listening to the office dog? Mute him.
https://tinyurl.com/yc4w4j9g

The Quick Launch Bar
Introduced in Windows XP, it sat on the far left side of the Taskbar next to the Start button. It provided a quick and easy way to access programs and your desktop. In Windows 7, the Quick Launch bar was removed from the Taskbar, but it’s still available in Windows 7, 8, and 10 if you know how to add it back.

%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch

https://tinyurl.com/z4qmjxu

How to Create A Custom Zoom Background
People often use Zoom for work meetings and conference calls, but it doesn’t have to be all work and no play! You can create your own custom background image and stand out from the crowd while remaining professional.
https://tinyurl.com/yc4v5pqp

My Computer Is Running So Slow
Something is running that needs to be closed.
Hard drive is probably at 100% because of something.
I would start in safe mode and then run Superantispyware and Malwarebytes.

Win+R and then type msconfig. Then OK.



Click the Boot tab

Check Safe boot.

Click Apply

Click OK

Restart the computer and it will start in safe mode

Windows 10 May 2020 UpdateThe Update Assistant can help you update to the latest version of Windows 10. Before updating, please refer to the Windows release information status for known issues to confirm your device is not impacted. To get started, click Update now.

First Step should be to do a complete image backup before updating!
https://tinyurl.com/y9a6xepx

Import Contacts Into Office Outlook

At the top of your Outlook 2013 or 2016 ribbon, choose File. ...

Choose Open & Export > Import/Export. ...

Choose Import from another program or file, and then choose Next.

Choose Comma Separated Values, and then choose Next.

In the Import a File box, browse to your contacts file, and then double-click to select it.

Dochub
Easily create, import, edit and fill PDF forms on any computer. Annotate documents, whiteout text, append pages, merge files, add fields and more.
https://tinyurl.com/yckpknvt

Create Shortcuts On The Desktop
Instead of having an entry in the shortcut bar in Chrome, you can easily create an icon on the desktop that will open the site directly.




Open Chrome to the website
Click the ellipsis (three dots)

Click More tools

Click Create shortcut

Name the shortcut

Click OK



A shortcut is now on your desktop to go directly to that site.
https://tinyurl.com/ybvcursl



Recuva is a free program from Piriform.com that will scan your hard drive and locate deleted files. Yes, the ones you deleted and then removed from the recycle bin.

Recover your deleted files quickly and easily. Accidentally deleted an important file? Lost files after a computer crash? No problem - Recuva recovers files from your Windows computer, recycle bin, digital camera card, or MP3 player!
https://www.ccleaner.com/recuva

Wednesday, June 10, 2020

Computer Class Notes 6-9-2020

By Dick Evans, www.rwevans.com

The Video from the class https://tinyurl.com/y6wlan3y

Windows Task Manager Tricks
Most Windows users only pull up the Task Manager when a program is frozen and they need to kill it. While it’s perfectly fine to use the Task Manager this way, you’re also overlooking some handy features if you never look deeper.
https://tinyurl.com/y8wspbk4

Photo Story 3



This is the presentation I did last Friday during the Practice Session.
https://tinyurl.com/y8s36zmb



From Rosemary: Here is the PowerPoint link to which I referred last week for recording the screen.
https://youtu.be/KCi7z-bJJXw

YouTube TV
Two of my NC friends are super excited about cutting the cable cord and going with YouTube TV - $49 per month. We have stayed with Direct here and Spectrum in NC - but the prices keep going up.



https://tinyurl.com/y6564nrz

Youtube TV Details
YouTube TV costs $49.99/month for 1 membership with up to 6 accounts. Memberships include your local ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC streams, ESPN, regional sports networks, and more. Also included: free unlimited cloud DVR storage space. No hidden fees, equipment rentals, or installation appointments required. Add on sports and premium networks for an additional monthly charge, including Fox Soccer Plus, SHOWTIME, STARZ, and more.

You will need a smart tv or a smart device like Roku or stream to tv from phone or computer. May need Chromecast.



If you have Windows 10, you have Office--for free.

Win+Q > type “office” > press “Enter”



Click the App you want to use. These are cloud apps that are not the full versions of any of the programs but 99% of users will find them just what they need without having to purchase Office 365.

Select The Right Orientation
From https://tinyurl.com/y8uxo9k5


Landscape or portrait? That’s the first question. With phone cameras, the right orientation can make all the difference between an average photo and a great one.

If you’re trying to capture a faraway shot of a farmhouse, landscape mode can be a good choice. But if you’re trying to capture a tall structure such as a windmill, portrait might be a better option.

The right orientation also depends on the platform where you’re planning to publish the photo. For example, if you want it for your Facebook timeline, you’ll need to click it in landscape mode.

Where are Windows 10 icons located?
Whether you want to change the default icon of a certain folder or the icon of a shortcut you have created, you might wonder where you could find new icons. While there are lots of websites that offer custom made icon sets, you might, however, prefer to use icons that are already found on your Windows 10 computer.
https://tinyurl.com/ycpxyxuf

GIMP vs. Photoshop
Photoshop is the most popular image-editing app on the market, and GIMP is the best free alternative. However, deciding between the two can be difficult. Both Adobe Photoshop and GIMP have their pros and cons, so which is right for you? Essentially, which image editor you choose to use depends on what you need it for.
https://tinyurl.com/ydyltyvw

How to Change the Height/Width of the Taskbar
Did you know Windows 10’s taskbar can be resized? With a few clicks, you can make it even taller, giving you more room for application shortcuts. If you’re using a vertical taskbar, you can make it wider.
https://tinyurl.com/jux93xo

Windows 3.0 Is 30 Years Old
Thirty years ago this month, Microsoft released Windows 3.0, a graphical environment that represented a dramatic leap over its predecessors in terms of capability and popularity. Here’s what made Windows 3.0 special.
https://tinyurl.com/yak4ztvg

Enable and Use Clipboard History
Windows 10 takes copy and paste to another level with a feature called Clipboard history, which lets you see a list of items you have copied to the clipboard recently. Just press Windows+V. Here’s how to turn it on and view your clipboard history.
https://tinyurl.com/y9t6bpvh

WiFi Signal Strength
We had a discussion about being able to pick up WiFi single in another building on your property. One answer was to have a WiFi extender that uses the power line in your home. It sends your internet signal over the power line. Another is to get a WiFi Range Extender (I use one of these in KY)
https://tinyurl.com/ycq8ju7q


An app on your cell phone can help figure out how strong the WiFi signals are. Use it out in that outbuilding to see if your signal is strong enough to how strong your neighbors are.

How To Download Dropbox Videos


Thanks, Mary
Click to add the extension to Chrome https://tinyurl.com/pzwf69w

Start the video from the dropbox (or other video location) link, then click the VDH button



Choose the resolution your want (smaller is faster) and follow the rest of the prompts to save it on your computer.



Adsblock.org to block adds on Facebook in Chrome

How to move icons from desktop to the startup menu
The cleaner your desktop, the quicker your PC starts up
  • Right-click the icon to be moved
  • Click Pin to Start (if it reads unpin then it is already there)
  • Right-click the icon and click Delete
The icon is now in your start menu (in all the square that display when you click the Start button) an the icon is gone from the desktop.

Thanks to Donna for the topics she sent. They came from a weekly Zoom session called Tech For Seniors that can be joined on Mondays at 11:00 AM EDT.

Join the Zoom Meeting link (This is the meeting link/URL you will use every Monday.)
Join our Cloud HD Video Meeting now

Down For Everyone Or Just Me
This is a site you can go to if a site you're trying to get to doesn't seem to be available. It will tell you if the site is down or if it's just you having the problem.
https://downforeveryoneorjustme.com/

Scam Spotter
Google is teaming with the Cybercrime Support Network in an effort to crack down on Internet and phone fraud – which has surged during COVID-19 scammers are expected to steal over $2 billion in 2020. We can thwart their efforts with the three golden rules.
https://scamspotter.org/

Clever PDF
Cleverpdf.com is a free converter site that has 27 conversion tools. You can change a pdf document to an editable Word document and h completely change the entire document - fonts, sizes, inserts, etc.

Let’s Talk Credit Cards
Using PayPal vs using your credit card (even at your local establishments). Why not cash? What advantage is a credit card. And never use a debit card for online purchases.

Wednesday, June 3, 2020

Computer Class Notes 6-2-2020

You can view the entire class at https://tinyurl.com/yanagq92







What’s New in Windows 20.04 updated
Windows 10’s May 2020 Update launched on May 27, 2020. Code-named 20H1 during development, this is Windows 10 version 2004. It’s much bigger than Windows 10’s November 2019 update but still feels like a collection of useful improvements.

Make sure to backup your computer before installing 2004 just in case something goes wrong. I have successfully upgraded three computers with no issues.
https://tinyurl.com/y55dljzk

How To Know What Version Of Windows I Have
The simplest answer is to run WINVER. That is what I ran to display the above 2004 screen from one of my computers




Win+R > type WINVER > click OK

Another way is to go to Settings



Win+I > System > About

Then find Specifications on the right side

What is Libre?
Windows 10 is an operating system and does not come with Office programs (word processor, spreadsheet, and presentation programs). Microsoft provides a trial version of Office 365. You can sign up for it for $69 a year for one computer. Libre Office is similar to Open Office and both are free. Google also has a suite of apps including Docs, Sheets, and Slide. I prefer to use the Google Apps. They are free and all cloud based.

How To Save A Document File So Anyone Can Read ItPrint the document as a Microsoft PDF or save it as a RTF (Rich Text Format) file. PDF files can be opened on anyone’s computer and are read-only. RTF files can be opened and changed in any Word Processor.

AT&T Yahoo
If you are one of those email users that come from Prodigy, ATT Mail, or another that was switched to Yahoo, you might want to check this notice from AT&T.
https://tinyurl.com/y9lnuycw

Adblock Extention
I have stopped using the Adblocker extension in Chrome. It was giving me too many issues with blocked sites. I now use uBlocker and it seems to work better for me.

How Do I Download A Youtube Video?
What I have been doing is opening the video in YouTube, then Ctrl+L to jump to the URL in the Address Bar. Using the left arrow on the keyboard I move to just after tube and insert the letters pp and press the Enter key.

This opens a website allowing me to download video or jus audio in many formats.



Thank to Mary we have another extension to make it easy to download the videos. Add Video Downloader extension and you will have a bitton on the browser bar (to the right of the Address Bar) to click while you are at the YouTube video.

How To Upload From A CD


Open photos.google.com to get into your photos in the Google cloud. In the upper right click the Upload button. This will open a File Explorer window for you to choose the location of your photos to be uploaded. They can be on any device connected to your computer--hard drive, USB flash drive, external hard drive, and even a CD/DVD drive.

No CD/DVD Drive
Many of the laptops being sold today are missing a CD/DVD drive. This is not surprising as very little is coming out in that format any more. But what about all those you already have with music, movies, and even backups of your data and photos? You can purchase an external drive that plugs into one of your USB ports. No software required. Just plug it in and you are ready to read and write CDs and DVDs. There are many to choose from.
https://tinyurl.com/yc39t2er

Change App Defaults



You double click on a file in File Explorer and expect to have it open in the correct application. A DOCX file should open in your word processing program like Microsoft Word or perhaps LibreOffice, a TXT file in Notepad, etc.

Win+I > Apps > Default Apps > Choose default apps by file type



Click the current default ICON and then choose what you want that file type (extension) to default to.

Another way is to right-click on the file and select Open With. Choose the program to open the file with. If you want it to become the default way for that type of file, click Choose another app.


Check the Always use… box and then click the app you want to be the default.

EaseUS Todo Backup
This is the program I use to create an image of my hard disk. I suggest you do this at least once a month. The more often you create an image the better off you will be if you have to restore from it. Here are two articles I wrote for DCT to explain backing up, the creation of an emergency disk, and restoring.
https://tinyurl.com/y5zvphmf and https://tinyurl.com/y35lxqex

Can’t Remember WiFi Password: SOLVED
If you forgot your Wi-Fi network password, you can find it if you have another Windows 10 PC already connected to your Wi-Fi network. After you find your password, you can use it on another PC or device to connect to your Wi-Fi network.

https://tinyurl.com/y9a95l82 for my DCT article on this

Ooops…
The instructions I included in last week’s notes was NOT for Windows 10. It was for Windows 7 and before. This is the correct way to create a shortcut to clear the Clipboard History

Clear Windows 10 Clipboard History Using Shortcut
The new Windows 10 Clipboard lets you save multiple items in the clipboard so that you can use it later. You can also pin the required items in the Clipboard history panel so that they’re not discarded by the system, or accidentally deleted by the user.
https://tinyurl.com/ybnb6ewv

Notepad Is Still Awesome for Taking Notes
In a world where fancy, hyper-connected, note-taking apps litter the landscape, one app stands alone in its lightweight simplicity: Windows Notepad. Here’s why it’s still a great choice for taking notes.

Notepad and Wordpad are Two of the go-to programs I use on a daily basis.
https://tinyurl.com/y8v29x3b

Creative Hobbies for Adults
In today’s productivity-driven culture, many of us suffer from stress. Too many people are stressed at work, at home, or when we’re running errands. And if this stress seeps into our personal lives, we can become depressed.
https://tinyurl.com/ycqd2qnq

I use Google Docs for almost all of my wordsmithing and
these are a couple of good articles about features in docs.


Use Google Docs Brochure Template
You can create a brochure easily and for free in Google Docs. Better yet, you don't even need to start from scratch because there are all sorts of different templates you can choose from. One such template is the Google Docs brochure template. Here's how to use to create a brochure you can collaborate on, share, and print.
https://tinyurl.com/y7mh3528

Table of Contents in Google Docs
Adding a table of contents (TOC) to a Google Doc is a great way to organize a long document and add easy navigation, as you can click on each heading to go straight there. You can edit the table of contents and add more items as well as move them around. There are five levels of headings so that you can add subsections to subsections for complex documents.
https://tinyurl.com/ybwf2ha9



Thanks to Rosemary for allowing us to look at some of her work at her rosemarysextonfinearts website



Fixing Audio Problems
From Donna: I tried about four different fixes that I found via google and then found this one and it has all the fixes. My speaker does not crackle as much as before..
How to Fix Crackling or Popping Audio Problem on Windows 10



And thanks to Bob for sharing about the app you have on your Firestick to access over 4,000 channels for $40 a year
www.itvrus.com




Thanks, Mary for the information on fast chargers.
https://tinyurl.com/yaggc68s and https://tinyurl.com/yd9fb8sc