{"id":30970,"date":"2025-10-25T10:02:27","date_gmt":"2025-10-25T14:02:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thundercloud.net\/infoave\/new\/?p=30970"},"modified":"2025-10-25T10:02:27","modified_gmt":"2025-10-25T14:02:27","slug":"saturday-bonus-questions-and-answers-102525","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thundercloud.net\/infoave\/new\/saturday-bonus-questions-and-answers-102525\/","title":{"rendered":"Saturday Bonus Questions and Answers \u2013 102525"},"content":{"rendered":"

Saturday Bonus Questions and Answers \u2013 102525<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Happy<\/p>\n

Halloween is nigh, and that means winter and the holidays are too. And we just keep on keeping on with our Saturday Bonus Questions and Answers. That’s right, my friends, t<\/span>oday, as we do every Saturday, 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

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Please consider giving us a helping hand!<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

If our computer support & help, or our tips and tricks, have helped you or made your computer life easier or more productive, please consider helping us with a small donation. Your gifts enable us to continue helping you.\u00a0 Take a moment and help us if you can.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Help<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Donate today and help us to keep helping you!<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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Saturday Bonus Questions and Answers \u2013 102525<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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Diane is looking for a free or cheap MS Excel Replacement
\n<\/span><\/strong>I am looking for a free or cheap Excel program.<\/span><\/p>\n

Our answer<\/span><\/strong><\/span>
\nHi Diane. We don\u2019t know of any standalone programs like Excel, but we have recommended several free office programs that include programs nearly identical to Microsoft Excel. Please see this Cloudeight article<\/a> for all of our recommended free alternatives to Microsoft Office.<\/span><\/p>\n

We hope this helps you, Diane.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Tim has a new PC and wants to move files, etc., from his old PC<\/span><\/strong><\/span>
\nHi boys and girls\u2026 from an \u201cold\u201d reader. Well, I\u2019ve finally bit the bullet and bought a new PC. At my age, this may very well be my last. And I\u2019m looking for a \u201chow to\u201d on getting my stuff (files, etc.) from the old to the new. I\u2019m sure you folks must have addressed this at some time, but as I didn\u2019t need it, I didn\u2019t save it. So, please direct me to your article concerning moving to a new PC. And I am moving from Win 10 to Win 11- from old to new. Thanks, and thanks for the invaluable help you offer to thousands of nongeeks like me! Tim<\/span><\/p>\n

Our answer<\/span><\/strong><\/span>
\nHi Tim. Thanks so much! OK, we\u2019re going to give you a short (well, kind of) tutorial on how to move to a new PC.<\/span><\/p>\n

First, don\u2019t try to move programs.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s possible, but we do not recommend moving programs from one computer to another, let alone moving programs from computers with different operating systems. There are programs like PC Mover<\/a> that claim to move everything from one computer to another \u2013 but if you use it, you use it at your own risk. It can create a huge mess on the new PC. It is always best to reinstall the apps and programs you need on the new computer and avoid trying to move programs from one PC to another.<\/span><\/p>\n

You\u2019ll need an external hard drive.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Using an external hard drive, it\u2019s easy to copy\/move files from one computer to another even if one has Windows 10 and the other has Windows 11.<\/span><\/p>\n

You can easily move documents, pictures, music, videos, and other personal files from one computer to another by using an external hard drive to copy the C:\\Users\\your username folder from the old computer to the external drive and then plugging the external drive into the new computer.<\/span><\/p>\n

Then, on the new computer, open the Documents folder on the external drive, select everything in I,t and copy it to the Documents folder on the new computer. Do the same with the Pictures, Music, and the other user folders you copied to the external drive.<\/span><\/p>\n

But heed this warning! Never move entire folders from the old computer to the new one. For instance, don\u2019t just copy the entire Documents folder to the new computer, or you\u2019ll end up with Documents\/Documents and have to open two folders to get to your files.<\/span><\/p>\n

Open the Documents folder on your old computer, select one of the files or folders inside, and use the CTRL + A shortcut to select all files and folders inside. Once they are all selected, copy them to the Documents folder on the new computer. Do the same with the Pictures, Music, Video, and Favorites folders.<\/span><\/p>\n

Make it easy on yourself!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Having Copy to \/ Move to on the right-click menu on the old computer will make it a snap to copy files. If you don\u2019t see Copy to\/Move to on your right-click menu, you can easily add it by following this Cloudeight guide<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you do not have an external hard drive, you can get a 1 TB external drive for around $50 at Best Buy, Amazon, Walmart, etc.<\/span><\/p>\n

We hope this helps you, Tim.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Peter & Shirley ask about TotalAV<\/span><\/strong><\/span>
\nHi. I just saw an advertisement for something called TotalAv. It\u2019s a Microsoft App to clean and maintain a computer\u2019s working life. What do you think?<\/span><\/p>\n

Our answer<\/span><\/strong><\/span>
\nHi, Peter & Shirley, you have to be really careful when reading ads on the Internet, as many of them, like the one you\u2019re asking about, are deceptive.<\/span><\/p>\n

TotalAV is a scam, and while they may claim to be \u201cMicrosoft Certified,\u201d so have had many other malware and scam programs over the years. Anyone can earn the \u201cCertified Microsoft\u201d seal if they pay the money. Certified Microsoft does not mean it\u2019s a Microsoft product \u2013 TotalAV certainly is not a Microsoft Product. The only antivirus that Microsoft makes comes free with Windows 10 and Windows 11 \u2013 it\u2019s called Microsoft Defender.<\/span><\/p>\n

See the article here exposing Total AV for what it really is.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\"CLOUDEIGHT<\/a><\/p>\n

We can fix your Windows computer\u2026 check out our low prices here!<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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\"Help<\/a>
\nDonate today and help us keep on helping you!<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Would you be interested in making an automatic monthly gift?\u00a0Visit this page<\/a>. Please help us keep on helping you\u2026 and help us keep you safe on the Web.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Paul wants to know how to make his computer ask for a password after waking it from sleep mode<\/strong><\/span>
\nWhen my computer goes to sleep and I wake it up, it does not require me to sign in with my PIN. How can I change this so it asks for my PIN before using my computer?\u00a0 I hope you can help. I\u2019ve looked for the answer everywhere. I found a lot of answers but none of them worked.<\/span><\/p>\n

Our answer<\/strong><\/span>
\nHi Paul.. Assuming you\u2019re not using a screen saver, do this:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2014 Right-click on the start button and click \u201cSettings\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2014 In Settings, click on \u201cAccounts\u201d and then click \u201cSign-in options\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

Under Sign-in Options, under \u201cRequire sign-in,\u201d make sure under \u201cIf you\u2019ve been away, when should Windows require you to sign in again?\u201d \u201cWhen PC wakes up from sleep\u201d is selected. See the screenshot below.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Cloudeight<\/span><\/p>\n

If you are using a screen saver, do this:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2014 Type Screensaver in the taskbar search. Press Enter when \u201cChange Screensaver\u201d appears in the search results.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2014 Make sure the box next to \u201cOn resume, display logon screen\u201d is checked. Then click Apply\/OK.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Cloudeight<\/span><\/p>\n

We hope this helps you, Paul.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Rex asks about Linux <\/strong><\/span>
\nHi Darcy\/TC. No one has given so much to keep Windows users in the loop and computing way beyond their time, enjoying the use of their computers and being able to keep in touch with their friends and the world.<\/span><\/p>\n

For myself and on their behalf, I send you a million thanks. I know our initial investment in Windows got us many free version updates, and it\u2019s time for Microsoft to cash in on its invention.<\/span><\/p>\n

I hesitate to suggest that instead of us planning to stop computing in five years if you start a section on the use of LINUX, the little I have researched so far shows it will do most everything a Windows user does now and at little or no cost so we can continue to stay with the world if we are hard pressed to afford a PC with Windows 11 and all the costly Office software which I admit is good for the young business users.<\/span><\/p>\n

I don\u2019t know how you manage to keep us all going up to now. Adding new demands seems selfish, but I thought I would ask. Take care and thanks for the many years of extra computing you have made possible for all of us. Regards, Rex.<\/span><\/p>\n

Our answer<\/strong><\/span>
\nHi Rex. Thanks for your nice comments. There\u2019s no reason to stop computing in five years. Just because Windows 11 is coming out, and Windows 10 will no longer be supported after October 14, 2025, does not mean you have to give up your computer. It\u2019s a far less steep learning curve to go from Windows 10 to Windows 11 than from Windows 10 to a Linux Distro. And some very inexpensive computers can run Windows 11. I bought one for less than $350 with 12GB of RAM and a 256 GB SSD. And so far it makes my old Windows 10 computers look like they\u2019re in slow motion. Plus, you have options to continue to run Windows 10 safely after October 14, 2025, for instance. 0patch.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Windows 10 was a free upgrade to Windows 7 and Windows 8 users. Windows 11 is a free upgrade for Windows 10 users.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Windows 11 will run on most computers 5 years old or newer. And even newer budget computers can run Windows 11.<\/span><\/p>\n

Consider this. By the time Windows 10 is no longer supported, those computers that won\u2019t run Windows 11 will be 8 to 10 years old or older. Ten years is a long time for a computer \u2014 at some point, if you want to keep on computing, you\u2019re going to have to buy a new computer because eventually, all hardware wears out. The average lifespan of an HDD (standard hard drive) is about 7 years. Motherboards, graphics cards, sound cards, network cards, wireless cards, etc., don\u2019t work forever, and over time, display screens fade and eventually stop working. Installing Linux won\u2019t fix your aging hardware.<\/span><\/p>\n

Windows 11 is much more like Windows 10 than most people have been led to believe. And it\u2019s far closer to Windows 10 than any available distro of Linux is.<\/span><\/p>\n

We like to think we\u2019re Windows experts. We don\u2019t write much about Apple devices or Android devices \u2013while we use them but we are not experts with them.<\/span><\/p>\n

And while I am familiar with Linux, I am certainly not an expert with it and I don\u2019t have the time to put into becoming a Linux expert. I do know most average Windows users would not be happy with Linux. If someone is an advanced Windows user they may be able to make the transition. But there are tens of thousands fewer freeware programs available for Linux than there are for Windows, which is another drawback.<\/span><\/p>\n

We have written tutorials on how to install Linux on Windows machines before. I read that there\u2019s a new version of Linux (Linuxfx) coming that uses WINE to run Windows programs. From the previews I have seen, it looks like Windows 11\u2014but it\u2019s still in development and won\u2019t be released for a while yet. Should that Linux distro see the light of day, we\u2019ll be glad to look at it and write articles about it.<\/span><\/p>\n

I guess, Rex, after all these years, we are still trying hard not to be \u201cjacks of all trades and masters of none\u201d\u2026so we\u2019ve stuck with what we know best, and that is Windows.<\/span><\/p>\n

There are many great free alternatives for Microsoft Office that run on any version of Windows, including a free web version of MS Office that includes Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. You can read about some of them here.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Thanks again for your long-time support and your nice comments.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Tammy wants to know what PDF conversion site we recommend<\/strong><\/span>
\nThere are so many sites that convert PDF files to work. I\u2019m afraid to try them without some guidance. What website do you recommend for converting PDF files to Word? Any help is appreciated. Thanks, Tammy.<\/span><\/p>\n

Our answer<\/strong><\/span>
\nHi Tammy. There are many PDF conversion sites online. I tried three of them today and this one seems to me to be the easiest to use and works very well.<\/span><\/p>\n

https:\/\/simplypdf.com\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Just click on \u201cSelect a file to convert,\u201d and Windows Explorer opens. Navigate to the PDF file you want to convert and click \u201cConvert\u201d. When it\u2019s done, you\u2019ll see a download link to download your Word document. You can do as many as you like, just click \u201cDo another conversion.\u201d I did 3 PDF to Word conversions in less than 2 minutes.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you’re looking for a good free PDF program that you can install on your PC, we recommend PDF Gear<\/a>. It can do PDF conversion and a lot more.<\/span><\/p>\n

We hope this helps you, Tammy.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\"Reg<\/p>\n

Now av<\/strong>ailable: Reg Organizer 9.88<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

If you purchased or renewed Reg Organizer through Cloudeight within the last 12 months, you\u2019re entitled to a free version upgrade to Reg Organizer 9.40. It works great with Windows 10 and Windows 11!<\/span><\/p>\n

Save $14 on Reg Organizer right now!<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Reg Organizer \u2013 A Swiss Army Knife of Windows Tools \u2013 Works Great on Windows 10 and 11!<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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