Not sure if this is the correct place but here goes -
I belong to a couple of very local Facebook sites in which I rarely post but do look at what's going on. Have tried 3 times to post about a planning application but nothing has happened, no trace anyway, not even 'pending' on that particular site which usually happens. Anyway, getting annoyed at this I looked at my few posts on Profile and they weren't mine but someone who obviously uses the same name. I messaged one of the moderators (I think) two days ago and have had no reply. Can I just change my user name (if I can find out how to do it)? Seem to be getting nowhere on F/book. I am not computer-savvy obviously. Any suggestions, please, gratefully received - thanks.

I.T. Non-Techie help, information and tips
No advertising please. For the non-techie among us who may need a helping hand at times.
Open Loop 109
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There is an unresolved bug in Win 10, which has carried on to Win 11. This continuously creates temporary empty folders, which on one of my computers numbered 13,000. Temporary files and folders can take up very little room, and do no harm, but increase the time that scans take.
The names of these folders start with tw, and end with .tmp. To find and delete these folders, copy the text below, and paste it into the Windows search box on the taskbar. Then click 'Best match', or the entry at the top. You may then see the files as in the attached image. You can then select all of them to delete.
C:\Windows\System32\config\systemprofile\AppData\Local -
Chrome will now be supported until January 2023.Internet Explorer support will end in June 2022.Edge support will end in January 2023.
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Starting with this November feature update, Win 10 will now have only one per year. Until now there have been two per year. Normal updates will continue as usual.
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Secret Santa (Edited)
If you use your computer to buy presents, then any family members or visitors using your computer may see what you have been looking at, or buying. To avoid this, browse without leaving signs, by using the private/incognito feature of your browser, as below:
Firefox - open menu - New private menu.
Chrome - open menu - New incognito window.
Edge - open menu - New InPrivate window -
Support for OneDrive will cease on 1st January 2022, and from 1st March 2022, files will no longer sync between OneDrive and your computer.
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Note to all (Edited)
Morning all. We have lost some of the few knowledgeable helpers we had. As mentioned before, please remember to thank members and acknowledge their help; please don't post and disappear.
Please note the posting guidelines: https://www.scooploop.com/thread/posting-guidelines-please-read-before-posting-2This discussion is now closed.
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Available in W H Smiths in a choice of colours. Keep it next to the keyboard for easy access by children/visitors/tradespersons, or for a burglar to take at the same time as your computer. Why not get another copy to take out with you to lose, or get stolen.
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If there is something that you want to keep up to date with on the Web, instead of googling for the latest information, you can set up Google email alerts.
https://www.google.co.uk/alerts# -
Organizing your gmail messages
I've noticed many of our users use gmail as the mailing service. I've also had the impression not everyone is familiar with message filtering tool available on there.
So here's a quick guide how to organize/filter messages so they don't flood your mailbox.
1. Select an email message that you want to filer (or alike), let's say it's from Paypal (screen 1). Click on the 3-dotted options and click "Filter messages like this".
2. You will see a popup with some options (screen 2). You have several options to filter the messages by, but in most cases the "From" parameter is all you need. Hit "Create filter" button.
3. On the next popup you will see another set of options (screen 3). Select what you want to do accordingly.
4. I usually select the options you can see on screen 4. Remember to add a new label if you want to do the similar filtering. Then remember to hit "Create filter" again.
5. All message from given source will now reside under its own category menu (screen 5).
Hope this helps. Happy to answer questions if something is not clear. -
once again having problems with this, been on charge all day from 88% but still only at 90, yesterday charged in 1 hour.
Have tried 2 different chargers but same with both.
Vaguely remember someone saying something about silver paper but can't remember what. -
I need to buy a new laptop and am wondering if anyone can recommend a good one that is reasonably priced? I just need it to do all the usual, everyday functions but am not at all techy so anything too fancy is wasted on me. Can anyone suggest something suitable as it's ages since I've bought one and don't really know where to start. Thanks for your help.
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If you ever have doubts about a website address, go to Virustotal.com , select URL, and enter the address in the search box. It will then be scanned by many virus checkers.
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Wanted -- a charger that can handle THREE AAA batteries! (Edited)
This is a serious request. I'm hoping that someone in this loop, whether techy or non-techy, knows of a charger for NiMH rechargeable batteries that can charge a set of three AAA cells.
I only use rechargeable batteries now (for AA/AAA sizes). I have several torches that are powered by three AAAs, but all the chargers that I have seen can only charge 2 or 4 cells, thus requiring faffing about when charging is needed.
Anyone?
[Update: The thread below offers a number of suggestions if you are looking for something like this. I am going to hunt down a discontinued version of Duracell's CEF22, as it seems to be ideal for my needs.] -
For days I was getting loads of junk mail in my in box, all of which I blocked/reported.
Now I am not getting emails that are expected and confirmed by senders. -
Is this genuine or just a way to access your computer's data?
https://safelifetips.com/1-incredible-computer-tip-you-must-know-slt/?cep=YZ1c5KT9-tC2wHxjTuOWnA4qkXDEWfb-9K0acN1bW21qBQXAx_wLXgdRtWY1kydSW6mkjDnyOxbKop4g9z0iyos2akvX4HygUCqDO-LwxA4G0oKbHJOZpw9GGx2WHHOyPSmJUmXsNEXRCmyatzaKTovKgssnOkR1_a4MgixyP1O4XUGX3xXQ8IjUaAdIvNfg-L0HdZV66d8Jfr_fmfqnZ857-VkbDmVjghqV2I3QVcv_zxNKBwom6wsKIQAzruNSpiTs9J4sH4H_0IPjg0mc7zokyz4wS9C_N8USGeX_aAohb4jM_qKVJMjHWCYYbsXfW8zH_Hk8WXYmyAsjxvKKfc74MDaNY6vcOH7QOf8qZJrNOqnOMkmIB9lwx9nnGrKLe5-gmoDo4VfwztpkMJwJDfhrWO7-sIKTocCGeNwe4ZG3thciTQo8LSmKo0lYLuSgEGUhcXiwhOdbT74Qee7x_ebQRRf7OnHjxtd4vNGiCBA_T8hbkN1kvaFG51UiQm6GB4IuwJeSAZCbC-Mf-7Jsk-PSYynHTcbl4_ZpPAUOaZG-65lH9bbrq0k-zV1jwrld9J7KZ6363avuaS_8mfKAsuL07d3RcxGaPU94XE0aqPENh2cCwBSeZASEEwMjx3AVO83FVqv0gLDgbxLs6Evgif6rJJkW_xZMZNqKkkdSsL9L5L8rHKEVfbnDW0PNJeyG-FPBM1zYQDAzNRvLu8nRoMimEJL_UIBtElaJljECJSZqDEn1iP9_Irew2YxPe9O1X_KI9RJlelPeoJab9IMrEQ&lptoken=16da365019fe409c7007§ionid=0079d45d13dbee8a758e06ddf169ecae2d§ionname=MSN+-+EN-GB+-+Windows+Task+Bar+-+PREMIUM+Header+Bidding&publisherid=00ca4f06a55254ac2832378a55557d4ca3&publishername=MSN+UK+%28PREMIUM+Header+Bidding%29&adtitle=This+Simple+PC+Tip+Will+Amaze+You+%28Do+It+Now%29&OutbrainClickId=v1-d8ce3f2357da1866397f31ab293998dd-00650bfeec662c5fc2d73f1fd1ec02e0ec-&dicbo=v1-d8ce3f2357da1866397f31ab293998dd-00650bfeec662c5fc2d73f1fd1ec02e0ec-
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Just a quickie, please. Was given a smart Samsung mobile a while ago which is so slow It's painful. I want now to dispose of it safely. Battery doesn't seem to charge to the 50% charge needed to go to factory settings. Is taking out the sim card the same thing. ie everything is on the sim card and not on the phone? Thanks
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Acknowledging members' help (Edited)
Looking through the posts, I see that some members are not acknowledging the help they have been given. Posting guidelines: https://www.scooploop.com/thread/posting-guidelines-please-read-before-posting-2
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See the Internet of the future
You may be familiar with the website Wayback machine*, which can take you back to how a website was in the past, they have now created the Web of the future as a warning as to what could happen: Regulation. Censorship. Paywalls. Government Interference. Massive popups blocking you from visiting your favourite sites: https://wayforward.archive.org
* https://archive.org/web/ -
Why are my headphones not working when I insert the ja k?
I have tried every setting possible but the computer audio is what works
I felt pretty silly wearing my headphones during a zoom meeting when the people in the room stared at me, then I realised they could hear every word while for me the sound was muffled. -
Facebook is changing its company name (Google changed its company name to Alphabet in 2015). (Edited)
Facebook is planning to change its company name next week to reflect its focus on building the metaverse: https://www.scooploop.com/thread/metaverse
Suggest a new name below. -
Please could someone explain in simple English what is a "metaverse", what does it do and what is it's use?
I have read 'Facebook plans to hire 10,000 people in Europe to build its metaverse'. -
Bugs have already appeared, so if you are thinking of updating, give it a miss for now.
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My husband has just new pc and has backed up all his stuff but wants to know if his calendar will still be there.
I don't use Windows live mail but I think it should just be a case of signing in to Windows Live on the new machine and his emails/calendar should still be ok. Is that right or do we have to back it up in some way? -
Windows 11 - if you have a 64 bit machine , see below for compatibility requirements. (Edited)
If your machine is 64 bit, see here to check: https://www.scooploop.com/thread/windows-11-quick-way-to-check-if-your-machine-could-be-capable-of-running-it , then visit Microsoft on the link below, and just before the end of the page, click to download the PC HEALTH CHECK APP: https://bit.ly/3uPXNeA
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Windows 11 - quick way to check if your machine is capable of running it. (Edited)
Click START, then SETTINGS, then SYSTEM. At the bottom on the left, click ABOUT. On the right look for SYSTEM TYPE. If you see 32 bit, your computer is not capable of running Windows 11. If you see 64 bit, then provided your machine can meet the other requirements, you will be able to install Windows 11 in the future. You'll find a link to the app to check this, at the end of this post: https://www.scooploop.com/thread/windows-11-if-you-have-a-64-bit-machine-see-below-for-compatibility-requirements
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Blue tooth speaker (Edited)
Is there a speaker that can be linked with a mobile phone for phone calls? Someone I know is finding using a mobile difficult at times even when using speaker on the phone.
Or can I just plug in a travel speaker? -
How to change your browser in Windows 11
Apparently, Microsoft have been a bit naughty, again, and Windows 11 is unhelpful if you want to use a browser other than MS Edge.
This Article was presented to me today and is straight forward to follow, so I thought it would be helpful for others. (The process isn't difficult, but it is tedious.)
I haven't needed this myself yet, but here it is for when we do.
https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-change-your-browser-in-windows-11/ -
Samsung can also kill your phone! (Edited)
As well as TVs*, Samsung can also kill phones. They recently had an offer of a Galaxy A52s 5G phone with a £100 discount if you traded in your old phone. Should you not send them the old phone within a certain time, they will disable your new phone.
* https://www.scooploop.com/thread/dont-buy-a-samsung-tv-from-del-boy -
Just a quickie but is it worth my getting it again at the new reduced price of £12.47? Keep reducing it as I haven't renewed ....
This discussion is now closed.
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Defragmenting Windows (Edited)
Remember the good old days when you could quite happily have watched your hard disk defragmenting for hours!? Someone said that if Bill had sold the program, he would have made even more money.
Hopefully you are aware that you should not/cannot defragment your SSD (Solid State Drive, but you may not be aware that you can optimize it by typing Defrag in to the search box, click 'Defrag and Optimise drives'. You will then see the usual optimise window that you see with a hard disk. You may see that optimise is not available, but if it is, click it, and your SSD will be 'Trimmed'. Avoiding technicalities, this makes your SSD faster.
https://bit.ly/3kxUW6z -
I'm researching desktop towers for a friend. My pc has an intel i7 processor but now I'm seeing Intel Gold and AMD Ryzen. Can anyone tell me whether they are good and worth buying?
Thanks. -
Don't buy a Samsung TV from Del Boy (Edited)
Samsung has revealed that its TVs come with a TV Block app, that kills a stolen* TV. When it is connected to the Internet, it sends the serial number to Samsung's server, which then permanently deactivates it.
*From a warehouse etc., not a burglary. -
From 1st November, WhatsApp will stop supporting Android version 4.0.4 or older. To find which version you are using, tap 'Settings', then 'About phone'. To avoid losing all your chat history, make sure you back up as late as possible before the deadline. To continue to use WhatsApp, you will have to upgrade your phone.
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Windows 11 to be released 5th October 2021
Some Windows Insiders* are being removed from the program because their machine no longer meets the needs of Windows 11, and are no longer eligible. They are being told to reinstall Windows 10, and continue with the Insider Program for that version.
Windows 11 will be released on 5th October, firstly to those machines that were specially built for Windows 11, then to machines that Microsoft thinks will be able to cope with the upgrade.
*The Windows Insider Program is an optional service provided by Microsoft to let users experience the next version of Windows before public release. The program is aimed at early adopters and the "enthusiast" crowd, or people who enjoy beta(*) testing new software. Besides just using the software, Microsoft encourages testers to send feedback on their experiences through a specialized app, which includes ratings and a place to leave notes to the Windows development team.
(*)User testing or customer validation, beta testing aims to ensure that end users are satisfied with a software product before it is made generally available. -
Look out on your phone for the offer to install a new version which has the ability to connect multiple devices. The new version is in Beta*, and will allow you to connect your WhatsApp account on up to 4 devices at once. The new system will operate even if your phone is switched off.
*A beta version is a limited release of a product or service with the goal of finding bugs before the final release. -
One of my regular emails from a friend always come up with tiny writing and i have to enlarge to read it - all others are normal sized and more easily read.
Why just these ones ? -
How personal is a home IP address? (Edited)
Having always been the only person using my home internet connection, I was startled to find that my IP address had been blocked by Wikipedia.
When I explained that to them and asked how to unblock it, they introduced me to the unexpected concept of a dynamic IP address, which might previously have been allocated to someone who misused it on that site and triggered the block.
Since I don't use mobile internet at all, I'd assumed that my IP address was static - but it turned out to be dynamic, instead.
Hunting around in search of clarification, I found this useful guide to finding out whether one's IP address is static or dynamic. (It works, although getting into Command Prompt entailed some lateral thinking.)
https://www.techbout.com/check-ip-static-dynamic-4135/ -
National Cyber Security Centre password advice (Edited)
The National Cyber Security Centre is advising that it is best to use passwords containing three random words, and if possible not to add special characters , as attackers are aware of this, and use programs to spot them. They say that three random words are strong and easy to remember, and that this will make people less vulnerable to cyber criminals: https://bit.ly/3zbSKGy I have been doing this for years, with JohnHSecretWords on all my sites, and for banking I add a £ sign!
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Changing battery in a Fire tablet
How difficult is it to put a new battery in a Fire tablet ?
All the Youtube how to demos are American and it shows different tools you need from a kit you have to buy, then you have to buy the battery.
Is it worth it or just get a new tablet ? -
Still struggling to adapt to Windows 10
I've been trying to get rid of tiresome electronic clutter and unintended consequences, on and off ever since having to begin using Windows 10.
Today's main bugbear was the apparent impossibility of stopping the 'hover click' problem. I don't want the cursor's hovering over a list of what's in my e-mail inbox to result in the computer's deciding to open a message, for instance. I thought that I'd opted out of that, early on - but it's become very active recently.
It turned out that what the Start button on this computer offers when one tries to alter any settings is an app, not the traditional control panel. Some useful geek identified the distinction and how to use the control panel instead of the app - but I lost the reference. The Geek Page approach (at https://thegeekpage.com/how-to-disable-hover-select-in-windows-10/) doubtless makes sense to techies but it's not easy for those unaccustomed to using code to reach what they need. Is there any simpler way of searching the computer for what it actually does (as in Windows 7), as opposed to being presented with a long and confusing list of unwanted apps and web search possibilities?
My searches did result in a useful post about getting rid of background apps - including the one that only exists to try to sell one unwanted subscriptions to Microsoft Office - at https://www.howtogeek.com/241752/how-to-stop-windows-10-apps-from-running-in-the-background/ . (Sadly, the list of apps that one can turn off didn't seem to include one that produces the nagging McAfee subscription pop-up.) -
Should I do this and what are the benefits ? - I already remove cookies.
Will it delete stuff i don't want deleted like saved passwords/messages/photos ?