Wednesday 22^nd July 2020

File History

Margaret found that File History on her Windows 10 PC was not backing up to the correct drive. You can manage File History by going to:-

Start, Settings, Update & Security, Backup

If you are using File History, the slide-switch here will be On.

Just under this switch you can click on More Options.

You will then see, under the Overview heading, the name and drive letter being used for backups. Verify that this is correct. If not, scroll right down to the bottom of this screen to the heading Back up to a different drive. Here, you can click on Stop using drive and then you can start File History over again, using a new drive.

Burn File To Disks

Margaret asked about copying files to a CD/DVD on Windows 10. Provided the disks have been correctly initialised, you can copy and paste files to them. Since the Club, I have found this article which explains a little more about the process:-

https://www.groovypost.com/howto/burn-files-data-dvd-cd-windows-10/

However, many modern laptops do not have optical drives to read CD/DVDs, so it would perhaps be better to save the files to a USB drive, rather than an optical disk. As Brian pointed out, it is difficult to physically label USB drives - you might need to store them in small plastic bags with a paper list of their contents.

Shared Experience Settings

Cherry had a problem on her Windows 10 PC saying there was an issue with the account settings in her Shared Experience Settings. Cherry has repeatedly verified her account details with no effect. My suggestion was to go to:-

Start, Settings, System, Shared experiences

There are a couple of switches here - one under Nearby sharing and another under Share across devices. As its unlikely that either of these are required, I suggest turning them both off.

Pop-ups in Chrome

Cherry had a further issue with pop-ups in Google Chrome. In Chrome, you can do the following:-

Click on the 3-dots (top right)

Click Settings, Privacy and security.

Click Site Settings and scroll down and click Pop-ups and redirects.

Ensure the switch is set to Blocked (rather than Allowed)

PUP

Phil suggested this might also be caused by a PUP - Potentially Unwanted Program. PUPs sometimes get inadvertently installed when you are downloading other software. I suggested downloading and installing Malwarebytes from:-

https://www.malwarebytes.com/

Select the free trial. Once installed, run a full scan and, if any suspect software is detected, then remove it.

Having done that, I recommend uninstalling Malwarebytes so that it does not take over from Windows Defender as the antivirus package.

Control What Happens to Your Google Data

If you want to plan what happens to your Google data when you die or cannot access your account yourself, here is what you can do:-

• Go to https://myaccount.google.com/inactive and sign in with your Google Account credentials.
• Click the Start button and complete the form, pressing Next between each section.

You can choose a period of inactivity on your account before the plan is triggered. The default is 3 months, but you can extend this up to 18 months.

You need to add a mobile number where you can be contacted, together with email addresses which Google will use to try to contact you before the plan is triggered.

You can then add the email address(es) of the person(s) to be contacted when the plan is triggered.  If you choose to share your data, these people will receive a link enabling them to download it.

Alternatively, you can decide if you want your data to be deleted at that time.

At any time, you can return to the above address and modify or turn off this plan.

Google Takeout

Some of you may remember that we looked at another Google feature called Takeout at the Club in November last year. This lets you download copies of any or all your data that Google stores. See the blog for more details:-

https://computerclub100.blogspot.com/2019_11_10_archive.html

Browser Tabs

We mentioned one tip about pinning Tabs in web browsers at the Club on 27^th May 2020:-

https://computerclub100.blogspot.com/2020_05_24_archive.html

Another tip that might be useful on a Windows PC – if you have several tabs open, you can drag a tab away from the Tab Bar and it will become a separate window. In effect, this creates a second instance of the same browser, so you now have 2 windows running the same browser (e.g. Edge, Chrome, Firefox, etc). If you have a second screen attached to your PC, this can be handy, so you have an instance of the same browser on each screen.

Another way to open a second instance of many Windows applications is by use of the Shift key. This is easiest to use if you have the relevant app pinned to the Taskbar. So, let’s say you have Edge pinned to your Taskbar – a single click will open Edge. Now, hold down the Shift key and click on the Edge icon on the Taskbar again and another instance of Edge will open in another window. Alternatively, you could right-click on the Taskbar icon and click on Microsoft Edge. This can be useful for side-by-side comparisons of web pages. This works for many other programs including Word, File Explorer, etc.

Task View Issue - Resolved

Last time, Margaret mentioned an issue with Task View on Windows 10 - see blog for last meeting:-

https://computerclub100.blogspot.com/2020_07_05_archive.html

She found that deleting items from Task View left a 'ghost image' rather than removing it completely. However, Margaret reported that, after a recent Windows update, this issue was now resolved.

Windows 10 - 2004 Update

Phil raised the issue where some systems indicate they are not yet ready for the 2004 update. As far as I know, this is still happening, although the update is gradually being released to additional systems. The advice is still to wait until the update system says it is ready for your machine.

There will be another update in the autumn, currently designated as 20H2 - i.e. 2020, 2nd half of the year. This will be a fairly simple update that does not introduce new features.

Windows, Mac, Chromebooks

We had some discussion about the pros and cons of these systems. In general, if you are getting a new PC, it might be wise to stick with what you know.

For a lot of users who spend most of their computer time in a web browser, a Chromebook is worth considering. I wrote a document a couple of years ago about Chromebooks which you can find here:-

bit.ly/CE-Chromebook

Chromebooks can also now run Android apps.

Brian asked about getting photos from a camera onto a Chromebook. Chromebooks have limited storage, so you would probably not want to store them on the device, but rather to store them on Google Drive. After the meeting I have found this Google article on that topic:-

https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/6206527?hl=en-GB

Laptop or Desktop

Brian raise this issue which we discussed. They both have the same capabilities, so it comes down to factors such as portability, screen size, keyboard size, etc. 

As Phil mentioned, desktop systems can now take the form of an "All-in-One" which consists of a large screen with the computer, storage drive etc attached to the rear of the screen.

No single device fits every need, so some users may, for example, choose a desktop with a large screen, together with an iPad for portability.

Can You Spot A Scam?

We had a brief discussion about scam messages, calls, texts, etc. I suggested looking at this site:-

https://takefive-stopfraud.org.uk/

The site is operated by UK Finance which represents the UK banking industry.

Scroll down the page and look for "Are You Scam-Savvy" and click on the Let's Go button. This takes you through 9 questions based on sample email/text messages. You have to decide which are scams - you will be told if you are correct or not.

In general, be cautious if you get a phone call, text, email or even a knock on the door that you are not expecting. Do not be panicked into action. Use a known contact number or email, to contact the organisation to verify anything you are being told.

Pinterest Notifications

Linda was getting unwanted email notifications from Pinterest, which she had signed up to. You can edit the notifications by logging in and following these instructions:-

https://help.pinterest.com/en-gb/article/edit-notification-settings

I think the above applies to the mobile app. If you are using a browser on your PC do the following:-

Click the down arrow at the top right

Go to Settings, Notifications

Edit the notifications to disable them all.

Next Session

Wed 12th August 2020 at 2pm by Zoom.

Wednesday 8^th July 2020

Passwords Saved in Browsers

It can be convenient to allow your web browser to store usernames and passwords for various web sites that you log into. But be aware that someone with access to your system may be able to see these credentials. Generally, by signing into Windows, your browsers and their stored passwords will be visible.

So, be EXTREMELY cautious about letting anyone have remote access to your PC, e.g. by TeamViewer or similar. Also, if, for example, you took your PC somewhere for repair and gave them your Windows logon details, they too could see all your store usernames and passwords held within your web browsers.

Just to confirm a comment made by Phil, you do NOT need to be signed in to the browser for it to store these usernames and passwords - they are stored locally on the PC. Signing in to a web browser (e.g. Chrome, Firefox, Edge, etc) allows you to sync these saved credentials and other things including bookmarks and browsing history with other devices were you use the same browser.

Chrome

Chrome offers to save passwords by default. To change this:-

1. Click on your Profile picture circle (top right).
2. Click on the key symbol.
3. Turn Offer to save passwords on or off as required.
4. If you are saving passwords, you can also choose to sign-in automatically here.

If you have saved passwords, you will see them here too. Click the ‘eye’ symbol next to a password to see it – the first time you do this after opening Chrome, you will have to enter the Windows password/PIN.

Edge (New Chromium version)

Edge offers to save passwords by default. To change this:-

1. Click on your Profile picture circle (top right).
2. Manage profile settings.
3. Make sure Profiles is selected (left-hand column) and click Passwords.
4. Turn Offer to save passwords on or off as required.
5. If you are saving passwords, you can also choose to sign-in automatically here.

If you have saved passwords, you will see them here too. Click the ‘eye’ symbol next to a password to see it.

Firefox

Firefox offers to save passwords by default. To change this:-

1. Click the 3-bar symbol (top right).
2. Options.
3. Privacy & Security.
4. (Un)tick Ask to save logins and passwords for web sites.
5. (Un)tick Autofill logins and passwords.
6. Click Saved Logins to see saved user names and passwords – click the eye symbol to reveal passwords.

Safari on iPad

Safari will offer to save passwords. To view/edit the saved passwords:-

1. Tap the Settings app.
2. Tap Passwords & Accounts.
3. Tap Website & App Passwords.
4. You will need to use your fingerprint/passcode to proceed.
5. Tap any item in the list to see the username and password.
6. Tap Edit (top right) to change or delete.

Safari on iPad and Chrome both require a fingerprint/password to view the saved passwords, adding a level of security.

You might want to look at all the web browsers on your system(s) to see if they are set to store usernames/passwords and, if so, to check what details they have stored and modify them if required.

Stay Signed In

Some web sites which require a login have a tick-box to select “Stay signed in”. This does not rely on the browser remembering usernames and passwords as described above. When you sign into a web site, a unique secure token will be stored in a cookie for that site. This token identifies you and confirms that you are signed in. This token will have an expiry time, which will usually be a few minutes after you leave the site. This allows for a brief break in your internet connection without the need for you to sign in again.

If you tick the “Stay signed in” box, the expiry time of this authentication token in the cookie will be extended from a few minutes to, maybe, a couple of weeks. So, if you return to the same site within the expiry time, you won’t need to sign in again.

This can be very convenient, for example, for accessing your email on the web. But NEVER, use “Stay signed in” on a public machine or any machine other than your own. Even on your own machine, ensure there is a password/passcode required to access the machine, just in case it gets lost or stolen.

Windows 10 File History

Linda raised a query regarding the File History backup system on Windows 10. File History is a backup function built in to Windows 10. It requires an external hard drive to be connected and it will backup the main system folders (Documents, Pictures, etc) every hour (by default). It backups up just the files which have changed and it retains previous versions of those files. Linda's external hard drive appeared to be getting full. There are some changes to the settings which might help.

Go to Start, Settings, Update & Security, Backup

Here you can turn on and set up File History. If it is already set up, you can click on More options where you can change the following:-

• Adjust the frequency of backups from every 10 minutes to daily (default 1 hour).
• Adjust how long files will be retained from 1 month to Never (default Never).

Reducing how long backups are retained will, of course, influence how full the hard drive might get.

If you scroll further down this settings screen you can click on See advanced settings. This takes you to File History in Control Panel. Here, you can click on Advanced settings (on left) where you will find the above two options repeated. In addition, you can click on Clean up versions. This allows you to delete versions of files or folders which are older than a chosen period of time which can be from 1 month to 2 years.

There is a description of File History and other Windows 10 backup functions in my "Backup in Windows 10" document which you can find on the Computer Essentials tab at:-

bit.ly/rogersdocs

iCloud Photo Library/Google Photos

Linda queried why using Free up space in the Google Photos app on her iPhone resulted in a message asking if these photos should be deleted from iCloud. The Free up space function in Google photos will check that photos are safely backed up to Google Drive and then, if so, delete them from the mobile device to free space. In Linda's case, she also had iCloud Photos enabled which also synchronises photos on the phone with iCloud. Because Google deleted photos from the phone, iCloud Photos wants to sync these deletions with iCloud.

In general, it might be simpler to use just one photo/cloud syncing function, rather than both iCloud Photos and Google Photos. iCloud Photos can be disabled on the iPhone by going to:-
Settings, tap on your username, iCloud, Photos.
Here you can turn off iCloud Photos.

You will notice there is also My Photo Stream here in the Settings. This is a separate system from iCloud Photos. Photo Stream holds photos for just 30 days so they synchronise to other Apple devices with the same Apple ID.

Windows 10 Task View - Deleting Items

Margaret raised a question about Task View on Windows 10. You can read more about Task View on page 9 my Windows 10 - In-Depth Guide which you can find on the Computer Essentials tab at:-
bit.ly/rogersdocs

Clicking on the Task View icon on the Windows 10 Taskbar will show all the apps and web sites (that are Task View compatible) that you have used/visited over the last 30 days. You can right-click on an item in Task View and remove it or remove all items from that day. However, on one of Margaret's PCs, removing the item left a 'ghost image' rather than completely removing it. I have not seen or heard of this issue before. I can only suggest that this is a bug in that particular version of Windows 10.

Syncing in Edge

Margaret raised a query about syncing in Edge. Like other browsers, Edge can sync your search History, Bookmarks/Favourites and saved login credentials (as described above) to Edge on other devices, provided they are all signed in to the same account. To activate/modify this syncing process in Edge, click on the Account Circle and select Manage profile settings as shown here:-

Then click on Sync and Turn on Sync to activate.

As mentioned above, all the web browsers have an option to sign in and sync browser information between devices. This equally applies to browsers on mobile device as well as PCs. For example, you can sync between the Edge browser on your PC and the Edge browser on your iPad (which you can install from the Apple App Store).

Photos - Editing Meta Data

Brian asked about editing things like the 'Date Taken' information. In particular, when scanning old negatives taken many years ago. This information, known as metadata, is stored with the photo file. It is also called EXIF data - Exchangeable Image File Format. I don't have any personal experience of editing this metadata, but programs exist to do this. I found this site which lists 6 free tools:-
https://www.geckoandfly.com/7987/how-to-change-exif-data-date-and-camera-properties-with-free-editor/

Photo Image Quality on iPhone
Margaret mentioned that she gets better quality photos from her iPhone than from a Nikon camera. The iPhone, and other smartphones, have a very powerful processor and very clever software that can process and improve image quality. While the actual lens quality on a dedicated camera might be superior to the smartphone, the extra processing power more than makes up for that.

Next Session

Wed 22^nd July 2020 at 2pm by video conference.