1130. Disable TOUCHPAD on Lenovo AND fix reenabling issue

 Just how many times did my hand accidentally touch the TOUCHPAD on my Lenovo and screw up what I was typing? Countless. I learned that the key marked F6 also has the Touchpad symbol to disable it or enable it. But can this always be disabled across Restarts? YES. Go to START button then type in Mouse Settings. Select "Touchpad" in menu on left. Now UNCHECK the "Leave touchpad on when a mouse is connected". This will disable it so no more accidental touches will occur. when the mouse is attached. Of course, you will have it enabled automatically when the mouse is not attached. I also see a switch that can be turned off instead to turn off the touchpad. I want it enables when no mouse is attached, so don't think I want it always turned off. I don't know how that function works, but I do know the method just explained to disable it when mouse is connected works AND allows me to go back in to check it again if necessary.

Another option is to just use the F6-Touchpad Toggle whenever desired. This doesn't protect you from accidental touches if enabled, but will disable it for periods you know you can't afford an accidental hit. I did this for a long time before I searched other alternatives like the one above.

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To set off permanently, change the Registry:

Here is what you need to do to disable the touchpad via Registry:

1. Press Win + R to open the Run command box.
2. Type "Regedit" and hit OK.
3. Allow user control access by tapping Yes.
4. Navigate to the PrecisionTouchPad status folder using the following path. (You can also copy-paste it into the Registry.)

   Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\PrecisionTouchPad\Status

5. Double-tap on Enabled entry to change Value data.
6. Set Value x  to 0 instead of 1.

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FIX enabling Touchpad:

Settings ... type TOUCHPAD SETTINGS ... ensure Touchpad is enable by switch on right AND, most importantly if you want to test whether it is on, press the DOWN arrow and check the box to ensure it is on when mouse is connected. Immediately, you can now use the touchpad.  BUT BEWARE: I already lost what I was typing -- the text moved elsewhere in the Blog because I accidentally touched it when typing. 'tis the reason I set it permanently off. Now I must remember to use the F6 key to turn it on and off too. No more accidents when F^ toggled it off! Why am I back to using it? Had to help a fellow and needed my Laptop, but forgot the Mouse! This way I can use it via F6 toggle. lol. 

1129. How do you reduce murders by use of guns?

 Gun control laws have been argued forever! Why punish the noncriminal gun owners who have guns for protection or hunting? Can't we just create a law that makes it a mandatory death sentence for anyone convicted of murder-1? Maybe that would deter the criminal owners who usually have illegal guns, i.e., no valid ownership and/or serial numbers removed. Would this not deter some of the criminals? Why argue which guns should be banned or restricted? Just kill the killers - Mandatory death sentences.

THEN we can argue whether assault weapons should be banned/restricted. I'm all in favor of my constitutional rights to own a gun. BUT, it must be LEGAL and owned for PROTECTION or sporting use. I personally see no use for assault weapons. I personally rely and depend on law enforcement and the military for defense and protection where such weapons would be required. But, discussion can come after the above control! Hopefully that enforcement will deter assault weapons too. 

Of course people could argue why stop there. That is, why stop if just a gun is used? We already have laws for murder-1 and the states have the right to determine sentence of death or other. Let the states govern non-gun murders as they do now. Let's just make it impossible for criminals to escape a death sentence when a gun is used -- one of the easiest, quickest, and most effective ways to kill someone. How about a grenade or other explosion you ask? Or some way even worse than a gun? Then I would call that terrorism! If someone or more dies because of terrorism, I would think laws are already present to get rid of them! But, I wouldn't hesitate to add these weapons/causes to the gun mandatory sentence.

Come on legal system. We need to control this level of crime. The legal defense lawyers should not be given a crack to defend. Mandatory is mandatory...Period!

1028. Windows 11 Upgrade Notes - Won't be doing it.

 11/16/21 Update - I decided to stay with Windows 10 . Why? First, I don't want to manage multiple operating systems and as long as the old Dell works I am stuck on Windows 10. Second, I don't want to mess with my setup and daily usage of the Start Menu, Task Bar changes, and the like. I feel like when windows 10 came out and the issue with the Start Menu and tiles were unstable, Microsoft came up with a solution that worked. Since then my tiles are wonderfully set up and useful as is. Do I need to change that! Also noticed some user ramblings lately respect to the task bar icons being grouped that turns me off since I have exactly what I want now. Third, I got bitten on Microsoft Word 2003 not being able to be reinstalled (had Windows 10 come preinstalled on a new PC without it) and had to purchase a 2007 level (quite cheap though). I often regret having to do so though since 2002 was again all I needed and I could fly around with it. 2007 has some strange changes and causes me to constantly go to help or Google for solutions, still, after 2-3 years of using it. Fourth, I have 2-3 Registry hacks that I always need to reapply. Fifth, I have another program that I always need to reinstall and don't want to take the chance that I will not be able to reinstall it, like Word 2003, which I also must maintain on the old Dell too. Sixth, just the time and to get everything back to where I want it. Thus, I'm in the Windows 10 camp until it is no longer viable. Why fix something that is not broken and may even outlive me?

With that, I am retiring this post until years from now or to when Microsoft allows me to keep thing as they are.

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 Today I am preparing for Windows 11 update. The System Update process still says it is not ready for my PC, but it is being prepared. I'll be updating this post as I proceed.

10/25/21 - First I need to backup my critical, personal data files. I use SyncBackFree for this and do so semi-annually to two, alternating, flash drives. Today I created a backup of the personal data to my Toshiba USB drive in addition to the 2 flash drives. That being done, I am now creating a System Image of my entire PC in case I need to use it to recover any damage by the W11 install. I am following instructions at https://www.windowscentral.com/how-make-full-backup-windows-10. Done successfully.

Next is to consider things that required action on my part after previous version upgrades and specific to the changes in W11:

1. Ensure my encryption application (AxCrypt) works and the hack to make the date of the encrypted envelope equal to the file inside. This Registry change needs to be done every time since a windows installation wipes it out. My hacks are in a Hacks Folder. This one is called "Axcrypt KEEPTIMESTAMP Hack.txt".

2. DisableCapsLock. I hate the Caps Lock which I always accidentally hit. I sooner disable it. This is another Registry Hack that gets wiped out.

3. I usually write down or print screen the Start up menu with all the tiles to ensure I get them back in the groupings and order desired. W11 completely redoes the Start so I have no idea how to organize them with new WIDGETS to simulate what I had in W10. I depended on hitting the Startup and then quickly selecting a tile to get to things rather then to mess with taskbar pinning or other means! Still I need to document my critical apps (tiles) and somehow get them together for selection.

4. The Pinned of apps will also be lost and need to be redone. I have Thunderbird, File Explorer, Calculator (this may disappear), Everything, Chrome.

5. Likewise with System Tray where I have ICONS for Defender, my Brothers Printer Control Center 4 for scanning, Power, Internet, Speaker Volume. Surely the date and time will still be there.

6. When installing I must remember DO NOT SET UP LOGIN TO WINDOWS USING MICROSOFT LOGIN!!! Instead, use the PC Login. This needs to be caught during the install.

7. The last upgrade, to Creator Version I believe, wiped out my Office 2003! It could NOT be installed any more! I had to find a new Microsoft Office. What will happen this time? I do have another Office product installed in addition - LibreOffice. Just in case MSFT screws me again. The Office product consists of both Word and Excel which I live by. Fingers crossed.

8. Review previous version update posts on this blog for any other things that I forgot here. 

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