1181. ONEDRIVE disappeared from PC

 I never used ONEDRIVE and removed it from my system awhile back. Now I am testing ONLINE FREE Microsoft 365 for my client who is visually impaired so I can use the dictate feature to write documents or do emails. The Online 365 uses ONEDRIVE to save it documents. Thus, you can see them on your PC to perform some operation by clicking on the ICON in the Taskbar. But, I still don't see ONEDRIVE the file in File Explorer.

I did Start > typed ONEDRIVE and selected it. It opened the ONEDRIVE folder located as a subdirectory of my user name. I then PINNED it in Quick Access. Now I am in business.

1180. Why did Google Drive G: disappear from File Explorer and it's ICON vanish from System Tray?

 Unfortunately, I can't tell you WHY the G: (i.e., Google Drive) disappeared from my File Explorer, but I can tell you how to get it back:

Solution: Start > type OPEN GOGGLE DRIVE and select it. After it runs the Google Drive ICON will appear in the Task Bar, albeit the additional ones not visible on your task bar (click "^") AND G: will again reappear in File Explorer under This PC.

Ah ....strike 2! Got on next day and gone again. Only similarities is that I made a completely different change to the taskbar both times, the 2nd added the Search field back, after which is must have disappeared. Thus, I just made a change to taskbar again hiding the Search field. So far so good: the GDRIVE ICON in tray and G: in File Explorer. Knocking on wood.

Strike 3, but I'm still here. Restart booted it again and this time Open Google Drive di NOT put the ICON and G: drive back! So, I uninstalled Google Drive and reinstalled it (had to uninstall and reboot becasee the version I had was the same as the download and it wouldn't install it). ICON is back in Tray and G: back in File Explorer, PLUS it is pinned to Quick Access like it was once before (that too disappeared). G: is populated, i.e., SYNCed with cloud Google Drive as once upon a time. Restart will now be done again to see it vanish! GONE!!! The ICON and G: are like Ralph Kramden and Betty --- and away we go! What I did notice this time was that the Google Drive name in the Quick Access became G: with a question mark preceding it. Hmmm. I unpinned that. Just hoping...restart now.

No Way Jose! ICON still missing and G: not in File Explorer. I did save Google Drive ICON on my Desktop when installing though, So, let's see what it offers since noting on the Internet has helped yet.

Double Clicking the desktop ICON for Google Drive rand something and returned with a popup showing "Your Files are up to date and checked "Everything is up to date". And, Woohoo, there is the G: drive again in FE along with Google Drive (G:) in my Quick Access. Is it supposed to be there/ Does Google actually create the entry in MY Quick Access? I'm unpinning it and restarting once again. But first, how do I get the popup off my screen? Eventually it disappears by itself, just like ICON and G:...lol. Ok RESTART

Forget it! 😖Nothing I tried fixed the problem. Fortunately the cloud is preserved. Sometime Google will fix this properly. Until then I just now double Click the Google Drive Icon on my Desktop to get everything back to normal.

If you have a Solution, please drop a Comment here. Thanks.

1179. Opening File Explorer and it always searches - why?

 Strange that when I open File Explorer a search precedes any file listings. Why? Easy to stop search by simply clicking on a folder on my PC. But, why is it even doing it?

The answer for me was that I had pinned a remote user's PC file, i.e., another PC's file on the network, to Quick Access. This causes File Explorer to search for it even when that user is not signed in on the network. Unpinning the networked file for that other user stops the unnecessary search and File Explorer comes right up with my Home files.

1178. Notice the Bookmarks change in Chrome from Other Bookmarks to ALL Bookmarks?

 This was just great! I used to save my not-yet-permanent bookmarks in Other Bookmarks in Chrome Browser. Then, mysteriously, Other Bookmarks disappeared and I had a choice to use All Bookmarks. So, I went to Bookmarks Manager and instead of finding an ALL BOOKMARKS I found Other Bookmarks. They appear to be one in the same! So, I decided to try to rename the ALL to Other, couldn't. Tried to rename Other to ALL and couldn't. 

I found this article which tells you how to Remove All from the top tight of Chrome where Other once appeared. Well, it did, but replaced it with Other. So, it simply renamed it. Here's how:

In Chrome, go to about://flags and disable "Power bookmarks side panel" allows enable, disable of the so-called Power Bookmarks.

So, someone had a "quicker" way to make ALL disappear (don't do it before reading on):

hit Ctrl+Shift+B on the keyboard to toggle it to show or hide.

MAYBE, this works if it is still ALL Bookmarks. But if you changed it the first way back to Other Bookmarks, this does NOT make it disappear. At least I'm back to something I have used for decades!

1177. "Dark Dive" by Andrew Mayne – 5 Stars

 

Dark Dive by Andrew Mayne – 5 Stars

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

ISBN: 9781662506451

 

As always, Andrew Mayne blends crime solving and science, so, I become a little smarter while being entertained.

Great characters make a story great and there are plenty of fascinating ones here. Sloan is daring, courageous, and smart. Her family is loving and a bit quirky. Her team is supportive and close knit. There is a group of people who dive into sink hole for fun.

The plot has a recent cold case and an ancient one, exciting action, history and geology of Florida and a missing person.

Two things stood out for me. One, what AI can do to assist in underwater investigation. The other, the vivid description of the remote areas of Florida that are filled with wildlife and huge interconnecting sinkholes.

The Underwater Investigation Unit series is my favorite of Andrew Mayne’s series and this one is the best.

 

Reviewer: Nancy

1176. Return of the Dish Hopper 3 Demon

 I posted a while ago here about memory conflicts causing issues with the Dish Hopper3 that had an OTA attached and used its PRIME interface instead of switching directly to it. Well, this time Dish added channels 151 and 152 to respectively present multiple viewing of some sports channels and the other to find current sports of you liking where you can use its options to customize you favorite sports and teams.  Real nice and desired function. HOWEVER, what came with are the Hopper3 crashes like before. I won't be pursuing this with Dish because they never honored my technical expertise on the other issues in post above and I had to find a workaround. This implementation of the two channels are immediately obvious because they are like other channels. Once there, you can't simply press channel up/down to get off it. You have to back out. That was the first clue that they set up special memory to handle the multiple showings (channel 151) and customized finds (Channel 152). After about 10-12 uses of these I started to have crashes again -- that's what happens when you don't know how to manage dynamic storage needed as required and how to release it and ensure no other operation collides with the active/inactive memory used. Been there, seen that in my career! No workaround for this, so it can have its channel 151 and 152! You can use PIC viewing to show 2 games at a time -- good enough for me for I don't even use it. And the game scores, scheduling, and recording I can handle a different way. Thanks Dish, but no Thanks. Crashing is NOT acceptable. But, if your Hopper3 does crash, try the Satellite button on the left side of the remote to get it back up. I also go to settings to reboot the Hopper3 when this happens to clean up memory.= and any lingering issues

1175. Accessibility: Reconnect Internet after a network crash - SONY TV and Fire Stick

 Dear Jack (not the real name of my visually impair client) once again got bitten by technology. If you followed previous posts re me installing his Fire Stick onto his Sony Smart TV, along with an OTA to pull in FREE local channels, you would have noticed a SUCCESS yell. Until yesterday when his network crashed for some unknow reason. Thing is, mine did too. We are on different Fiber Internet services, mine AT&T, his Vexus. Interesting that both crashed the same time. Since they have separate local fiber to houses I would have though the entire system was too exclusive to the organization. Sure seems like Vexus did a piggy-back somewhere down the line and when an AT&T service was disrupted, it also caused Vexus to hiccup. Could possibly, like before Fiber, some of the smaller companies would address the customer interface but pay to use a larger companies facilities and services to perform the backend functions? I'm going to address that here - speculate as you will.

Only thing of concern was the network crashed so the simple solution is to cut the power on the router and bring it back up again. This worked fine for his computer, but not his TV and Fire Stick. The SONY gave an appropriate message that the Internet wasn't available and to check it, but also wanted to connect to a cable or satellite service which he gave up in lieu of a Fire Stick (big You Tube user for UFOs and History) and Local Channels off an OTA (over-the-air antenna) connected to the SONY. (Simple voice switching between the two using the Fire Stick remote works like a charm (see This Post and also this one). Now he has free TV (Go Cowboys) and all the applications available to the Fire Stick.)

Back to the subject. How did I get him past the SONY message. rial and error. Actually hit the right button on the SONY remove (TV button) which connected him. Who would have thought? I don't know if the SONY was confused because it always expected either a cable/satellite service. I don't think any research would have told me to hit the TV Button on the remote! One for the Good Guys. 

1174. BAD MICROSOFT: PHOTOS APP and GALLERY slipped into FILE EXPLORER

 PHOTOS APP and GALLERY slipped into FILE EXPLORER

So what's so bad about the new Photos App? Probably nothing. From what I saw on my visually impaired client was that he had Photos App as the default .jpeg, etc. picture viewer and it looked fine. The problem was when "Gallery" showed up at the top of his File Explorer window on the left side. His vision is so bad that he would select things based on their location. So, what was just his "My Pictures" that led him to his pictures now was below the "Gallery" word Microsoft just stuck there. When he hit Gallery, he got his pictures, or at least he thought, as before. Instead, he was now looking (and not seeing), a list of all pictures on his system that he could select or to scroll over to see what folder they were in (no help to the blind). Since his current project is to take new pictures and place them into existing folders which he knew how to locate because he divided them up into categories (sub-folders) -- only took a month or so --, but first wanted to eliminate duplicates, the Gallery item really screwed him up. He began thinking that he could add/delete/move pictures from that "Gallery" and didn't realize it was no more than what a PIN is in Quick Access, meaning, just a pointer to where it actually is. So, he deleted an item from what he thought was a source folder thinking that the destination folder he put it in was where he wanted it, only to find out that a delete via Gallery actually deleted the file in the destination! I probably didn't justice explaining this, but that delete was only the tip of the iceberg for him. He began to notice that his pictures AND folders in Quick Access were also being screwed up and by the time I got there he had duplicates and triplicates of some folders and their sub-folders, most of which were now empty! He thought he lost everything, including his backups. Fortunately I made two backups of his files because he was taught to backup first and when he did that he simply propagated the empty folders to the Backup folders! 

It took me 2.5 - 3 hours to get him restored to original folders which also reminds me that he kept visiting the Recycle folder to find his pictures that disappeared. Since he didn't understand that the Recycle Bin was NOT a picture folder where a picture file could be displayed but only an entry to restore it to the original place, he now became totally confused. He can make out picture images, but the Recylcle Bin is only text. Thank You Microsoft for beating a guy that was already down!

First corrective step was to get rid of "Gallery" on left side of File Explorer window. The best article I found was Here. Poof, it's gone! No more confusion. Remember, it uses Regedit to do its trick, so backup up the Registry (Export) before running it. It also gives you the Regedit file to put it back to Gallery if you ever want to do so.

I personally have no use for Gallery in File Explorer. I'm appalled that Microsoft just stuck this onto my client's system just because he had a Microsoft Account logon into Windows 11. Well, that changed. I now have him on a Local Account logon (see This Post). If you are on a Microsoft Account, expect PREVIEWS  to show up automatically onto your system. See other BAD MICROSOFT issues by searching on BAD MICROSOFT on the search field on top of this blog. Also note that as soon as Microsoft changes things like this it also removes the procedures you have become accustomed to and all the help to get back to normal. This change in procedures makes most articles posted on the Internet to become obsolete, requiring those authors to keep up with the changes. Impossible I am sure you have notices many times that the procedure documented no longer works as is. Now, if I were only charging my client for all this work (NEVER) I'd be making a living.

Here's a tip for a senior in High School or College student that wants to start up a business: You can make a living consulting in just IMPLEMENTING and consulting of Accessibility features on computer systems, particularly Visual Impairments. Think Larger text, text-speech apps, simplified use and instruction on File Explorer, maintenance, eMail, etc. I have included several Accessibility posts that you can use to spark your career. Comment re this and I can help you out at my rates (ZERO at the moment). 

1173. BAD MICROSOFT: Use the LOCAL ACCOUNT logon to Windows instead of MICROSOFT ACCOUNT logon

 Are you tired of running into Microsoft changes to your Windows 11 system without being told about them? Are you seeing new PREVIEW ICONs appearing on you Task Bar and wondering how they got there? Are you losing functions that you had in Windows 10 that you depended on?

Well, it’s probably because you are using the Microsoft Account to logon to windows when you start/restart your system instead of a Local Account. What's the difference? Microsoft wants you to believe that there is a reason to use a Microsoft Account. Years ago, I was nailed when I had to do a SAFE boot to do some repair work. I believe it was related to doing a system restore or something recommended by Microsoft. Only problem was that it always failed. Searching the web, I learned that I would have to use a Local Account logon to fix the issue. That worked like a charm. Since then, I have been leery of the Microsoft Account and reasons why I needed it. Now, I have learned that Microsoft can slip a new function onto your system without your acknowledgement under the guise of a PREVIEW. First time I saw this was when I was helping another user who used a Microsoft Account logon Windrows, i.e. Start/Restart Windows on your pc system. It was an AI Search Icon installed onto the Task Bar. Well, I tried it out and on the first several tries I could NOT get it to locate anything that I could locate via a simple Goggle search! Plus, for my client who is essentially legally blind, this was just one more annoyance to a routine he had learned to find things via a browser search which was as much as he needed. He did NOT need an AI search, particularly one that didn't produce results! You can read yourself about the AI PREVIEW Search Icon on the Task Bar to learn how it got there and its purpose. I found it useless and even more so for my blind client. Then I had to search for quite a while to find out how to remove it! I really need these interruptions, hurdles, and delays! Another PREVIEW that apparently went onto his system before I started working with him was the new PHOTOS APP that replaced PHOTOS and its GALLERY index to all your pictures that appears at the top of your File Explorer window. You can read about that at this post. I recommend an additional link there for information so I don't have to explain these and couldn't explain it any better It used Regedit to make a change to the Registry, so,  but I want to first caution you to ALWAYS back up the Registry when you need to use REGEDIT! Either EXPORT the entire Registry by selecting the top entry or go ahead and traverse the tree to get where you need to make changes and EXPORT just the part that you are changing. That way, should something not work, you can simply double-click the saved .reg file to put it back together the way it originally was before your changes.

But for now, get off Microsoft Account and gain control back to how YOU want to manage your system.

First BEWARE. Microsoft has made it difficult to return to a Local Account once on a Microsoft Account. That’s why every time I install a new Windows version I make sure I don’t blindly follow the instructions up front that lead you to a Microsoft Logon! Select Local Logon instead there. Microsoft removed all the ways you used to be able to do so with another interface (as of 10/6/2023). You can find ways by doing a search that give Instructions to go to Settings > Accounts > Your Info > then simply:

1. Select "Sign in with a local account instead"
2. Followed by Type the user’s name, password, and password hint for your new account.

 

NO MORE!  Now instead go to Settings > Accounts > Your Info > Select "Stop signing in to all Microsoft Accounts Automatically"

The rest of the instructions also do not apply. When I "TRIED" the above out of desperation since no really current nor correct solutions could be found, it returned immediately and changed the Settings text above the selection from "Microsoft Account" to "Local Account". That was easy, but It did NOT let me choose a User Name, password, and password hint for your new account as the incorrect search article stated. Knowing from MY system that a name should be assigned, as well as a password, etc. prompted me to find out how to do that, but I had little patience by this time and simply wanted to get a Local Account up and running. Probably I could have determined what to exactly do, but  I was in a rush for what turned out to be another 3-hour repair of what my blind client messed up because of the Preview Photos App and Gallery (Go Here  to read about it). Thus, I settled on just how to use the existing account name "User" (Yes, whoever created his system didn't even create a name different from the default which shows up as "User User" in file explorer as the lead in all file paths. Fine, I could live with that initially -- just needed to assign a password which he never had making his PC vulnerable to anybody getting onto! Of course, Microsoft changed all its procedures to do that too! In other words, Microsoft does NOT want you to use Local Account! Luckily, I found this "How to Change a Windows Password Using Command Prompt" that is invoked in a basic DOS via Start > CMD > Run as Administrator :

"To change a password in the Command Prompt, type "net user [username] [new password] and press "Enter." For a more discreet option, you can type "net user [username} *" and press "Enter." Then enter the new password twice. You must have administrative access to change a password using the Command Prompt.Apr 26, 2023"

Note, that when you type the password, it does NOT display while typing. Confused me at first. Just enter it and you'll be prompted to enter it again (not displaying) for confirmation. That did it. I restarted, the user account poppet up, entered the password and now home safe for once, never to be bothered by Microsoft's experimental PREVIEW functions.

1172. BAD MICROSOFT: Return to using Windows 10 Context Menu instead of dumb-downed Windows 11 version

 

Return to using Windows 10 Context Menu out of the chute instead of the so-called simplified Windows 11 Context menu where you need to take an additional step to see all your options.

I have additional functions that I use constantly already added to my od Windows 10 version of the right-click context menu. For example, I I want to encrypt or decrypt a file I want to immediately select that option when I right-click the file name. Other things, how about Scan a file with Defender (now called Windows Security), or run a Slideshow of pictures in a folder, or Share a folder/file via Goggle share, etc. There are so many other options on the Windows 10 version of the Contest Menu to choose.

To get the Windows 10 Context Menu back, you have to go way down the Regedit route! This RegeditLink explains the details.  BUT, first ALWAYS EXPORT the entire Registry or the portion that is being changed before you mess with Regedit. Should the article disappear, here are the steps thanks to the originator at the link above.

Type “regedit” on the Run window,  press enter, and navigate to Computer > HKEY_CURRENT_USER > Software > Classes. > CLSID folder.  Right-click it and Click New when the menu appears. Now, select Key and name (copy below and do paste) it to 

{86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}.

Under that new key, Create another key and name it: InprocServer32 

Open InprocServer32 and double-click on “Default” at the right pane. A window should appear after you do this step, but ignore the fields in the opened window and just click Ok.

When you now Restart your PC the legacy W10 context menu should appear providing you all the options on this FIRST and ONLY menu to do your business.

1171. BAD Microsoft: Index to other posts to prevent MSFT from controlling what it wants on your system

BAD MICROSOFT Index

Maybe you never noticed how Microsoft has impinged on you with Windows 11 system, particularly with changes to it, and neither did I, UNTIL I began my volunteer work with my visually impaired individual. Now several times I (We) was nailed by PREVIEW features slipped onto his system without his knowledge AND a Microsoft application that called PHOTOS APP that replaced the original PHOTOS that came with Windows 11.

Being legally blind makes it extremely difficult to keep track of what is happening to your Windows system by someone else. When you use the Microsoft Account as your logon to Windows you just opened yourself up to allow Microsoft to throw install so-called PREVIEW features/functions onto your system without warning you. Worse yet, they become permanent sometime (I have yet to discover when or how).  

So, you think you trust Microsoft? Well, read all the posts labelled BAD MICROSOFT and become aware! You can simply SEARCH for “BAD MICROSOFT” at the top of the Blog to find them or jump to a specific one via my Index to them below. 

There are too many things that I consider detrimental-to-progress and eventually-damaging already on my client's system. I’ll try to keep an index to the posts here to allow you to jump to the one that interests you most. I would suggest starting with (1) which eliminates unknown surprises slipped on to your system, then look at details of the specific ones.  

(1) Use the LOCAL ACCOUNT logon to Windows instead of MICROSOFT ACCOUNT logon (Click Here)

(2) Return to using Windows 10 Context Menu instead of dumb-downed Windows 11 version (Click Here)

(3) PHOTOS APP and GALLERY slipped into FILE EXPLORER (Click Here)

(4) AI Task Bar search

(5) Slideshow your photos to your display (Click Here)