It’s the last full week of spring here in the good ol’ northern hemisphere. Next week we’ll all celebrate the summer solstice when the sun’s rays shine directly down on the invisible line we call the Tropic of Cancer… on that day, summer begins. And, of course, it’s Saturday and time for another edition of our Saturday Bonus Questions & Answers.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Sometimes, the best tips and tricks are hidden in the published questions and answers. And rarely do we post questions and answers on this website. Today, we\u2019re featuring some of the questions and answers from past issues of our InfoAve Weekly<\/a> newsletters.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n These questions & answers were selected at random from past InfoAve Weekly newsletters.<\/span><\/p>\n Please help us to continue to help you with your Windows computer questions and help you to stay safe in the crazy world of the Internet. We need your support – even the smallest gift helps us. Please… help us by donating.<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Saturday Bonus Questions and Answers – 061023<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Aria has a failing hard drive<\/strong><\/span> Our answer<\/strong><\/span> The error you\u2019re getting has nothing to do with Windows \u2013 it occurs before Windows starts.\u00a0The error means that the S.M.A.R.T. hard drive system has detected that your hard drive at port 0 (main hard drive) is failing and the drive\u00a0may not be accessible. It indicates also that your hard drive may fail at any time.\u00a0 You can try pressing F1 to try to boot into Windows.\u00a0 If you do get lucky and boot into Windows, you should back up your files and replace the hard drive (or have someone replace it). A new 1 TB hard drive is not that expensive, you can get a brand name for around $50\u2026 or less. And these days they are very easy to install.<\/span><\/p>\n If you have access to another computer, you can use our Windows 10 page to download an ISO file and make a Windows 10 DVD<\/a>. You can use that DVD to boot your computer.\u00a0 Then you can try using the disk repair tools and\/or other troubleshooting tools on the Windows 10 DVD. But even if you get Windows started, if your hard drive is failing, you\u2019re going to need to replace it \u2013 in which case having that Windows 10 DVD will be very handy.<\/span><\/p>\n If you must get a new hard drive, you can use the DVD to install Windows 10. You will not need a new product key if you install Windows 10 on the same computer. Microsoft hard codes the Windows product key to your hardware (motherboard), so if you put a new hard drive in and reinstall Windows, you\u2019ll not need a Windows product key.<\/span><\/p>\n We hope this helps you.<\/span> CJ wants to stop Bing from being his default search engine<\/strong><\/span> Our answer<\/strong><\/span> First, ensure you have no Bing extensions in your browser. Read our article here<\/a> on how to check your browser’s extensions. If you have a Bing search extension or an extension that hijacks your search engine, any changes you make will be overridden by that extension. <\/span><\/p>\n CHROME<\/span><\/p>\n Type (or copy & paste) the following in Chrome’s address bar:<\/span><\/p>\n chrome:\/\/settings\/search<\/span><\/p>\n then press Enter.<\/span><\/p>\n Then scroll down to the “Search engines” section. Look to the right of the search engine you want to use, click on the 3-vertical dots, and select “Set as default”.<\/span><\/p>\n FIREFOX<\/span><\/p>\n Type (exactly) or copy & paste the following in the Firefox address bar <\/span><\/p>\n about:preferences#search<\/span><\/p>\n then press Enter. <\/span><\/p>\n Under “Default Search Engine” click on the down arrow next to the displayed default search engine to open the drop-down menu. Select the search engine you want to use from the list by clicking on it.<\/span><\/p>\n We hope this helps you, CJ.<\/span><\/p>\n Kevin is having major problems with Chrome — and he even uninstalled and reinstalled it<\/strong><\/span> Our answer<\/strong><\/span> Before you go back and uninstall Chrome again, I suggest you remove any questionable Chrome extensions, clear your browsing history & cache<\/a> and then try your bank’s site again. <\/span><\/p>\n If that doesn’t work, you’re going to need to uninstall Chrome completely, including the Google folder in C:\\Users\\your username\\AppData\\Local then reboot your computer before reinstalling Chrome. If you don’t back up your bookmarks you’re going to lose them so be sure to back up your Chrome bookmarks before you completely remove Chrome & its data folder. See our article here<\/a> showing the correct way to uninstall Chrome and its folder(s). <\/span><\/p>\n We hope this helps you, Kevin. If you need more help or have more questions, just let us know.<\/span> sed.<\/span><\/p>\n John is looking for an easy way to find all our tips and tricks<\/strong><\/span> I save all of your newsletters but am beginning to crowd the PC. How can I go search for any problem I have seen discussed in a newsletter, maybe even a couple of years ago? I am sure it is possible, but again, my feeble old mind is drawing a blank. I could then delete the saved letters, freeing up valuable space.<\/span><\/p>\n Thank you so much for all the excellent help you provide. A customer for life \ud83d\ude42 John<\/span><\/p>\n Our answer<\/strong><\/span> Everything in our newsletters is archived on our website at https:\/\/thundercloud.net\/infoave\/new\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n On the top right side of the page, there\u2019s a great site search engine. Just type what you\u2019re looking for and if we have written about it, you\u2019ll find it in seconds!<\/span><\/p>\n See this page for more information on using our site search to find what you\u2019re looking for.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n And \u2013 just a reminder: If you want to print something, make a PDF from an article, or share it by email, just click the green Print Friendly button near the top of each article.<\/span><\/p>\n We hope this helps you, John.<\/span><\/p>\n Nick says one of his email addresses has been breached<\/strong><\/span> Our answer<\/strong><\/span> Just because your email address was found on the dark web, or anywhere else, doesn\u2019t mean it was breached or compromised. \u201cHave I Been PWNED\u201d is a legitimate site, but we don\u2019t see any advantages of subscribing unless you want to receive mail from them.<\/span><\/p>\n If you suspect one of your email accounts has been compromised, the best thing to do is change your password and make sure it\u2019s a strong password. We offer password advice in many tips, here is one<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n Strong passwords are the key to your security. They are just as important as your security software\u2026 maybe even more. If your passwords are weak \u2013 or worse \u2013 if your passwords are weak and you use any of your passwords on more than one site, you\u2019re just asking for trouble.<\/span><\/p>\n Our advice: Change your password right away on the account you think might have been compromised\u2026 and make sure you use a strong password. And then even if it were breached the hackers\/criminals would no longer be able to access it.<\/span><\/p>\n Don’t have a Cloudeight SeniorPass? It’s a great deal. Learn more here.<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Our Cloudeight SeniorPass is a great deal. You get unlimited support for one full year from the date you first use your SeniorPass. We can help keep your computer running well, fix all kinds of computer problems, clean up malware, and a whole lot more. Our SeniorPass is like having insurance for your computer. And it’s only $99 for an entire year.<\/span><\/p>\n Get your SeniorPass today for just $99.\u00a0 It’s just like having insurance for your computer – only better!<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n To learn more about our SeniorPass, please see this page.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Carolyn\u2019s Windows 10 computer updated, and a user account turned up missing <\/strong><\/span> Our answer<\/strong><\/span> What happens if you press Windows Key + L. How many accounts do you see on that screen?<\/span><\/p>\n I\u2019ve heard a lot of things happening when Windows updates, but I\u2019ve never heard of it wiping out a user account. If this was not a version update, you won\u2019t have the option to roll back to the previous version. And if a user account was wiped out, you\u2019re not going to get it back. But you can create a new user account and import files from the old user account (assuming the old account is still in C:\\Users\\Name of lost account. However, this will not bring back the programs that were installed \u2013 all programs would have to be reinstalled if you created a new user account and imported data.<\/span><\/p>\n But before you do anything, try Windows Key + L to bring up the login screen. Let us know what you find out.<\/span><\/p>\n \u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2013<\/span> Luana has trouble reading some articles because the text is too small<\/strong><\/span> Thanks so much for your help. Blessings, Luana.<\/span><\/p>\n Our answer<\/strong><\/span> https:\/\/www.thundercloud.net\/infoave\/new\/zooming-back-to-zoom-zoom-zoom\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n That tutorial shows you how to make text bigger or smaller whenever you need to by using the Ctrl key and mouse well as well as using only your keyboard. Your choice. <\/span><\/p>\n We hope that helps you, Luana.<\/span><\/p>\n Cindy wants to know what we think of IObit Advanced Computer Care<\/strong><\/span> Our answer<\/strong><\/span> The advanced malware scanners we use, find and remove Advanced System Care as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Program).<\/span><\/p>\n Hope this answers your question, Cindy.<\/span><\/p>\n Richard’s new PC does not have a CD\/DVD drive; how can he set up his printer?<\/strong><\/span> Our answer<\/strong><\/span> 1. You can just download the installation software for your Canon 2900 printer directly from Canon here<\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n Once you’ve downloaded it, run it to set up your printer on your new computer. Canon says it’s for 64-bit Windows 10, but Windows 10 software works on Windows 11 as well.<\/span><\/p>\n or <\/span><\/p>\n 2. You can buy and portable CD\/DVD and plug it into a USB port anytime you find you need a CD\/DV drive. Here’s one on Amazon for less than $20.00.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n I wouldn’t buy the portable CD\/DVD drive just to set up your printer, but if you have a lot of CDs\/DVDs it might be worth the money to buy one.<\/span><\/p>\n We hope this helps you, Richard.<\/span> Please make\u00a0a small donation and help us help you!<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Would you be interested in helping us to keep on helping you by making an automatic monthly gift? Visit this page<\/a><\/span>. Please help us keep helping you… and help us to keep you safe on the Internet,<\/span><\/p>\n
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\nDonate today and help us to keep helping you!<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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\nMy PC does not boot. When I turn it on, I get an error: AHCI Port0 Device error press F2 to set up when I press F2 I get CMOS set up utility. several options there but have no idea what to do. Can you help? I had Windows 10 version 1703. Please let me know my options. Thanks!<\/span><\/p>\n
\nHi Aria. The AHCI device error you\u2019re getting is generated from the BIOS\u2019 S.M.A.R.T. hard drive detection. Hard drives can fail at any time. We\u2019ve had them fail when they were less than a year old and we\u2019ve seen hard drives last for 10-12 years. The S.M.A.R.T. feature is a warning system that hard drive failure is imminent.<\/span><\/p>\n
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\nAria wrote back and she replaced the hard drive and reinstalled Windows from the DVD and she\u2019s now in the process of getting her computer set up. Good job, Aria!<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n
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\nDear Darcy and TC. Bing wants to be my default search engine and I don’t want it or at least have the choice. When I go into Chrome and Firefox Bing is there so how do I rid myself of this troublesome priest? I am waiting for our exchange rate to pick up and will make a donation as I love your work. CJ<\/span><\/p>\n
\nHi CJ. Thanks!<\/span><\/p>\n![\"Cloudeight](\"https:\/\/thundercloud.net\/infoave\/images\/2022\/chrome-search1.png\")
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\nJust recently this started happening on my laptop only, the other computers work fine with Chrome. When I try to log in with Chrome on my laptop to my bank it tells me that the page I am looking for is not available, and to try later. But on my desktops (2) it works just fine with Chrome. I have disabled all security features and ad blockers, I even deleted Chrome and reinstalled it, but still, it gives me the same message…” the page you’re looking for is not available. Try again later”. But on the same laptop using Firefox or Edge I can log in. Would you have any Ideas? Thanks, Kevin<\/span><\/p>\n
\nHi Kevin. Uninstalling Chrome is not quite as easy as it sounds. If you uninstalled Chrome and didn’t remove the Google folder at C:\\Users\\Your Username\\AppData\\Local\\Google, then everything that was in Chrome before you uninstalled it (Bookmarks, extensions, cache, history, settings) is still there. So, if you didn’t delete the Google folder in AppData\/Local then all you did when you reinstalled it was replace the Chrome executable. <\/span><\/p>\n
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\nKevin wrote back…“Yes! I followed your instructions and now that laptop login to my bank is working fine, Thank you.”<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n
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\nHello Everyone at Cloudeight. I have been reading your awesome letters for years and have a question I should know but am drawing a blank.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nHi John. Thanks so much for your long-time friendship and support.<\/span><\/p>\n
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\nThanks for the article on Phishing is the Internet\u2019s Most Successful Con. I read it through and in one part it suggests a site called \u201cHave I Been Pwned\u201d. I tried it and it says that one of my email addresses was breached. It asks me to \u201csubscribe\u201d. I need your advice on this. Thanks, Nick<\/span><\/p>\n
\nHi Nick. We featured \u201cHave I Been PWNED\u201d in our newsletters and on our InfoAve website before. See this article<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n
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\nMy husband has a laptop that he does not use regularly. He turned it on today and Windows did an update. We were both users of that laptop. NOW the only user that appears is me. How do we get it back the way it was with both users?<\/span><\/p>\n
\nHi Carolyn. What kind of Update? Version update? If it was a version update you can roll back to the previous version of Windows 10 by going to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Go back to the previous version of Windows.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nCarolyn wrote back: \u201cThank you so much, The Windows(key) plus L did the trick. You have come to our aid again. I knew I could depend on you\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n
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\nHi TC. In many of the articles I am receiving the text is too small to read. My eyes are not as good as when I was younger. I remember there was a way to use the mouse to make the text larger and I have forgotten that. Can you please tell me how to do that?<\/span><\/p>\n
\nHi Luana. Sure thing. See our article here… <\/span><\/p>\n
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\nWhat do you think about a program called Advanced System Care by IObit?<\/span><\/p>\n
\nHi Cindy. Our opinion of IObit products is not very good. We think IOBit software programs border on being PUPs. Advanced System Care is particularly bad since it also includes a very poor antivirus and claims to be a one-click computer fix. In our option, Advanced System Care is almost as bad as some of the one-click-fix scams we\u2019ve covered in the past.<\/span><\/p>\n
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\nI have a new HP Laptop but it does not have a CD Drive or Optical Drive. My printer is a Canon 2900 that came with a software CD to set it up. Is there any way I can set it up without a CD\/DVD drive or do I need to buy a new printer? And then how do I set up the new printer? Thanks for your time.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nHi Richard. Many computers, especially laptops, no longer come with CD\/DVD drives. There are two things you can do: <\/span><\/p>\n
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\nRichard wrote back...”Thanks so much for your help. Richard”<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n
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