Category: Uncategorized

Cleanmgr +

Technology Tips – Published June 2019 in the Guide and Digest

By Don Trauger – Kennett

Cleanmgr + is a new app developed by Mirinsoft (mirinsoft.com) which builds on the venerable Microsoft Disk Cleanup app that was introduced with Windows 98 in 1998. Disk Cleanup and Cleanmgr + are both safe file deletion programs (apps) designed to rid your computer of unneeded files of all types. Microsoft has indicated that they may remove Disk Cleanup in future versions of Windows 10 in favor of Storage Sense. Storage Sense is presently available under Settings > System > Storage. Presently Storage Sense doesn’t do much but Microsoft has said it will be improved to do the things Disk Cleanup does now. We’ll see if that works out.

Meanwhile, Cleanmgr + performs everything that Disk Cleanup does plus it removes many more items. I have found, after cleaning with Cleanmgr + then running CCleaner, that CCleaner had virtually no work to do. CCleaner is another good disk cleanup program and it can still be used to cleanup the Registry.

For now I’m recommending Cleanmgr + for those of you that are familiar with downloading apps from the Internet, creating new folders and customizing programs. Additionally, you need to run Cleanmgr + in administrative mode to allow it to function properly.

To download Cleanmgr + go to: https://www.mirinsoft.com/cleanmgrplus/summary/11-cleanmgr/50-cleanmgr. Create a new folder preferably on the Desktop screen. Right click your Desktop screen, move to New and click Folder. Right click then click Rename to name it something else besides New folder. Open File Explorer and navigate to your Downloads folder and right click Cleanmgr +.zip and then left click Extract All. In the window, click Browse and then navigate to the Desktop and highlight your newly created folder and click Select Folder. Finally click Extract and the files should appear in your folder. Now you are ready to run Cleanmgr +

To run, right click Cleanmgr +.exe and left click Run as administrator. If you see a warning that says “Windows protected this PC” just click More info and click Run anyway. This will open the app. It is safe to ignore the warning.

With the app open you have over 40 choices available for deletion and they are all safe to choose. However, under the Disk Cleanup tab, I highly recommend the following to be unchecked: Windows Components Store, Thumbnails, Recent Documents (If you use that feature in MS Word or LibreOffice), Windows Upgrade Log Files, System Hibernation File and Compress System Installation. Under the + More tab the following should be unchecked: Windows Downloads, Windows Font, Icon and Installer Caches. The app remembers your choices after closing and reopening the app.

Click Preview and it will analyze, without deleting anything, how much can be safely deleted or cleaned up. When you click Cleanup it will then perform the cleanup of your system based on what you have checked or selected.

This app performs what Disk Cleanup and CCleaner do, so you only need to run Cleanmgr + to perform an unneeded file cleanup. Run CCleaner Registry after you run Cleanmgr +.

We will discuss this app at our PC Club meeting on June 18 at 7 PM.

Yardley Council Meeting History

April 2020 Online Annual Meeting with 2019 Year End Financials

(No mtg in Sep.)

April HO 2019 Open Meeting

March 2019

January 2019

December HO 2019 Budget Meeting

Yardley Village Annual Meeting & Elections – April 19, 2017

April 2017

February 2017

January 2017

2017 Budget Presentation on 12/7/2016

YARDLEY VILLAGE ANNUAL BUDGET & GENERAL MEETING of 2016

June 2016

May 2016

Council Meeting: APRIL 13, 2016 + ANNUAL MEETING/Elections: April 20, 2016

April 2016

February 2016

January 2016

December 2015 – Annual Budget Meeting

2016 Budget and Remediation Presentation

November 2015

October 2015

October 2015 Exec Session

April 15th Annual Mtg and 22nd Council Mtg 2015

March 25th 2015

March 24th 2015 Towne Meeting Minutes

March 24th 2015 Special Towne Meeting Presentation

February 25 2015

February 03 2015

January 2015

December 2014 Annual Budget Mtg

2014 Budget Mtg & Stucco Presentation

April 2014 Annual Mtg, Elections, Council Mtg

March 2014

February 2014

January 2014

December 2013 Annual Budget Mtg

June 2013 Village Mtg Declarations

May 2013

April 2013

April 2013 Annual Mtg. & Elections

March 2013

February 2013

January 2013

December 2012 Annual Budget Meeting

LibreOffice (Apr 2019)

Technology Tips – Published April 2019 in the Guide and Digest

By Don Trauger – Kennett

Back in 2011 a project to circumvent Microsoft’s Office program was made available for PC users at no charge. Called LibreOffice it was a very usable program that easily did most of the same things that Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel performed. The following year another program called OpenOffice entered the field. It was based on the same programming code so it had many of the same features. However, in the last year or so, OpenOffice has lagged behind LibreOffice in updates to its program. If you still use OpenOffice I recommend uninstalling it and downloading and installing LibreOffice. Get it here: https://www.libreoffice.org/download/download/

Look for it in your Downloads folder then double click it to install it. Choose the Typical installation and follow any screen prompts.

LibreOffice is faster and the text appears a little sharper on the screen. Because it’s free you don’t have to pay for MS Office. If you are thinking of buying a new computer, you don’t have to buy MS Office 365’s installed and annoying subscription program. This marketing item comes on most new computers.

LibreOffice installs easily and runs without glitches. When you open It, all the functions are listed on the left. Writer mimics Word and Calc mimics Excel. When you open a function you will see many icons at the top. Simply hover the mouse arrow over them to see what they do.

Two settings need to be changed in the program. The default file saving format for Writer and Calc is different from Microsoft’s. Microsoft uses .DOC or in their newer format .DOCX. You need to change the default file format so you can save your created documents in the Microsoft format so other email recipients can read your LibreOffice attachments. Microsoft Word or Excel users will then be able to open and read your documents.

After you have installed LibreOffice click Tools at the top. In the menu, click Options and click the + sign next to Load/Save then click General. Under “Default File Format and ODF Settings” and across from “Document type:” click the little down arrow to select “Text document”. Just below and across from the “Always save as: click the down arrow and select “Word 2007-2019 (*.docx). Click Apply. Now, go back to the “Document type:” and click the down arrow to select “Spreadsheet”. Across from “Always save as: click the down arrow and select “Excel 2007-2019 (*.XLSX). Click Apply then click OK to complete the process. You can “X” out of the Options window. That’s it!

I feel confident this program will fulfill your Microsoft Office needs.

We will cover LibreOffice installation and show you how to proceed on setting the proper file format settings. The PC Club meets every 3^rd Tuesday at 7 PM upstairs in the Community Center. Due to pending Community Center construction we may be relocated. Watch the TV Bulletin Board, Channel 1971, for updated information.

Spoofed Telephone Calls (Mar 2019)

Technology Tips – Published March 2019 in the Guide and Digest

By Don Trauger – Kennett

A spoofed telephone call can be described as an unknown caller using a fake name and telephone phone number to contact you to obtain your personal information so they can scam you. Previously I have written about enabling Nomorobo at http:\\\\www.hersheysmill.org//?s=nomorobo in your Verizon account to handle annoying robo calls. Nomorobo is based on using established fake phone numbers in their database. The problem is Nomorobo can’t keep up with spoofed calls. These types of calls are generated very quickly, often changing their name and caller ID number with every call. Nomorobo is still effective but less so now compared to spoofed calls.

Unfortunately some HM residents have been victimized by two types of calls loosing thousands of dollars. Both types are out to separate you from your money and, worse yet, they may have your personal information if you have given it to them. One of the most common types revolves around computer security problems. You can see computer security intrusions by a pop-up window on your computer or by an incoming phone call with caller ID purportedly from Microsoft, Apple and other fake companies. No legitimate company will ever call you about your computer whether you’re having a problem or not. The only exception could be that you called them first and asked to be called back. Computer intrusions (malware) can be detected and removed by Malwarebytes Free at https://www.malwarebytes.com/.

Years ago we used to answer almost all phone calls as there were hardly any scams out there. Now we need to be vigilant against such scam calls. If you answer the phone beware that these people are very slick. They are experienced in dealing with others and are convincing in their dialog. My advice is to not answer any incoming calls if you don’t recognize the name or number. If it’s an important call, but you don’t recognize it, let it go to your voice messaging system. The best part here is that incoming scam calls rarely if ever leave a message.

Now for more good news. The FCC has mandated all telecommunications companies (Verizon, Comcast, etc.) must implement techniques in 2019 to insure incoming calls come from legitimate sources, making sure that the calls are not spoofed. More on caller ID Spoofing at https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/spoofing-and-caller-id and https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/finally-the-fcc-is-cracking-down-on-caller-id-spoofing.

For a discussion on this subject please attend the PC Club meeting on the 3^rd Tuesday March 19, 2019 at 7 PM in the Community Center or other location designated if construction starts in the Community Center.

Ransomware (Feb 2019)

Technology Tips – Published February 2019 in the Guide and Digest

By Don Trauger – Kennett

You may have heard the term but what is it? It’s a specialized form of malware that takes control of your computer and encrypts (locks) your personal files. Unlocking those files requires you to pay the hackers in Bitcoin which is a digital form of currency also known as cryptocurrency. After you pay them, often thousands of dollars of Bitcoins, they may give you the key (password) to unlock the files. To say the least it’s a bad situation.

Ransomware has been around for a long time. This has given anti-virus companies time to improve their detection against Ransomware. For home users detection is comprised of the usual anti-virus methods plus a vaccination applied to your personal Documents, Pictures, and Music folders. Different anti-virus companies may alter the approach of how this accomplished. They embed the protection deep into the Windows operating system but we can easily check to see if it’s working properly.

Click the white icon in the lower left corner of of the screen then click the “gear” icon (second icon above the white icon). This will open the Settings window. Next, click “Update & Security” and click “Windows Security” on the left. At the top click “Open Windows Defender Security Center”. Click “Virus & threat protection”. Scroll to the bottom and look for “Ransomware protection” and “No action needed”. If you see it you are set. If you don’t see it click the little up arrow to the right of “Windows Defender Antivirus options” and turn on “Periodic scanning”. “Ransomware protection” should now appear 1 item above.

The preceding information is based on using another anti-virus such as Bitdefender Free (my choice) or Avast. Other anti-virus programs may have similar results. If using Windows Defender as your only anti-virus program the procedure is slightly different. Click “Ransomware protection” and turn on “Controlled folder access”.

The combination of another antivirus program and enabling “Periodic scanning” is the best protection against ransomware.

Be sure to attend our PC Club meetings on the third Tuesday of each month at 7 PM in the Community Center “A” room. (Construction may change the location). We will cover this topic, update you on the Microsoft Updates issue and answer questions you may have.

FIOS Router Password (Jan 2019)

Technology Tips – Published January 2019 in the Guide and Digest

By Don Trauger – Kennett

FIOS Router Password – (Updated from July 2018 Guide & Digest)

When connecting a new wireless device such as a wireless printer, laptop or tablet to the internet you need to utilize the FIOS router password during the setup phase. You will also need the password when a guest arrives at your home and wishes to use his/her device to connect to your Internet service. Do NOT use the WI-FI password that is on the label of the router. The password on the label may be wrong. Many routers used in the HM installation were refurbished units and the label may still contain the original password. When the router was installed in your home the Verizon tech used a different password. If you have it written down then you should be fine. To access the correct Verizon router WI-FI password use your TV remote and proceed with the following instructions:

Turn on the FIOS set top box and TV then press the Menu button. Using the arrow buttons scroll up to Customer Support. Click OK. If you haven’t set up your personal pin number in Parental Controls Scroll down to Getting Started and scroll across to Set Parental Controls. Enter a 4 digit pin number then follow the screen prompts. You can set various age levels for Parental Controls. 18+ is for adults. A green check will appear in the Parental Controls block when completed successfully.

Next click My Dashboard if seen or press Menu again, navigate back to Customer Support and press OK. Select My Dashboard and press OK. Select MY-WI-FI and click OK. Enter your new pin number and press OK. You should now see SSID, Password and Encryption type. The password is needed by your wireless devices to work properly with each other and to connect to the Internet. Press Exit then select Exit to live TV and press OK.

Be patient as there are pauses in response from the system.

The PC Club meets on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 7 PM upstairs in the Community Center’s Ardmore room. Bring your computer and FIOS questions and we’ll try to answer them.

Windows Update Reliability (Dec 2018)

Technology Tips – Published December 2018 in the Guide and Digest

By Don Trauger – Kennett

I don’t often make negative comments about anything PC related but in this article I will make you aware of very serious shortcomings with Windows Update.

Reliability with these updates has been in decline for months now. Patches on patches has been the routine for Microsoft. They have had to issue 2 or 3 patches to correct errors that the first one had. It’s obvious to me that Microsoft does not have control over their updates. They force these updates on your computer with no way to stop them or selectively allow only certain ones. It’s not just 1 or 2 updates issued that have problems and are cleared up with a new patch, it’s more like 4 or more that accumulate over months. HP laptops were affected by the faulty October updates but other manufacturers were also affected. Tried and true Windows 7 has also been affected. Strangely, Windows 8.1 has dodged almost all of the serious faulty updates. One of the October problem updates wiped out the contents of the Documents folder including Pictures, Music and Videos. Fortunately this faulty update only went out to power users that have joined Microsoft’s Insiders group but it came perilously close to world-wide distribution.

I no longer trust Microsoft to update my computers nor should you. If you think malware is a more serious problem then you need to rethink how to secure your computer in view of Microsoft’s inability to effectively control their update process. Of course use Malwarebytes free to scan for malware and Bitdefender free is the best anti-virus for your PC. That said, I have tested and recommend Windows Update Blocker V. 1.1 from Sordum.org. It’s a free program that effectively blocks any Windows Update from Microsoft. Other program updates, your browsers (Chrome, Firefox, etc.) for example, will continue normally.

To download this program go to sordum.org and click Windows Update Blocker which is 8^th in the list on the right under Our Software. Read through the information about the program if desired and scroll near the bottom of the page and click the Download button. The program will be in your Downloads folder with the name Wub.zip. Double click it then double click the Wub_v1.1 folder to open it. Next, click Wub.exe to open the program. It comes ready to run – no installation needed. Click the Run button instead of the Extract all button. You should see the program window that displays a green shield with a white check. All you need to do is to select Disable Service and click Apply Now. The shield turns red with a white X. You are now blocking these faulty updates from Microsoft. To turn the updates on simply select Enable Service and click Apply Now. You are now in control of Windows Updates to your computer.

I’m not totally against the concept of Windows Updates but the current situation demands more control by the user.

The following is my recommendation to control Windows Updates. With the Windows Update Blocker set to disable updates, wait for at least 2 months to install a major Spring/Fall update after it’s released to the public. This will allow time for major bugs to be corrected. To receive new updates open Windows Update Blocker and click Enable Service and click Apply Now. Click the Menu button and click Update Options then click Check for updates to download new updates. Normally, updates are issued starting the second Tuesday of the month with corrective patches on the following 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th Tuesdays as needed. Remember to disable the Windows Updates in the blocker after you have received all the updates. Timing your updates is best done in the first week of the month following after the updates and corrections have been issued or 2 months after a major Spring or Fall update.

The major Fall update (1809) has been withheld by Microsoft since October 6, 2018 because of the aforementioned update problems. By the time you read this they probably will have corrected it and hopefully you will keep all of your documents. It’s always a good idea to back up your personal files. Use File History located in the Control Panel to back up your files.

For information on the Windows Update Blocker please attend our monthly meeting on the 3^rd Tuesday of the month at 7 PM in the Ardmore room of the Community Center.

Note added Dec 31 2018
Tech Tips Special Report – Dec. 31, 2018.
by Don Trauger – Kennett

Windows Update Blocker for Windows 10 (December 2018 Issue of the Guide & Digest)

It is now safe to update your computer but only to get updates that you may be missing. It’s not recommended to install the “October” Feature update (V.1809) although I haven’t seen anything negative about it recently. I have tested the updating process on 3 computers and all completed their updates without a hitch.

Here’s what to do: Open Windows Update Blocker, click “Enable Service” then click “Apply Now”. Close Windows Update Blocker. Reboot the computer, click the 4 pane white icon (lower left corner) and click the “Settings” icon (gear) just above the “Power” icon. Click “Update & Security” and click “Windows Update” if necessary. Click “Check for updates”. You can then watch the automatic updating process. After the updates are installed open Windows Update Blocker, click “Disable Service” and click “Apply Now”. This will block future updates until further notice. Close Windows Update Blocker.

DO NOT CLICK THE “CHECK FOR UPDATES” BUTTON MORE THAN ONCE! If you do you will receive other updates that are not fully tested along with the October (V.1809) Feature update. Perform this procedure before January 8, 2019.

Malwarebytes Version 3.6.1 (Nov 2018)

Technology Tips – Published November 2018 in the Guide and Digest

By Don Trauger – Kennett

Malwarebytes is a free anti-malware program. If you have it installed the program should update itself automatically to the latest version 3.6.1. By the time you read this, the version number may be higher.

This program will detect and remove most malware that anti-virus programs miss. It’s available at malwarebytes.com. Open your web browser and type malwarebytes.com in the address field and press the Enter key. Click the “Free Download” button at the upper right of the Malwarebytes window to download. It comes with a 14 day free trial of its premium features.

Double click the mb3-setup-consumer file in your Downloads folder to install it. When the window opens click “Advanced Options” at the bottom and put a check next to “Create a desktop shortcut”. Next, click “Agree and Install” and click “Finish” when the installation is complete. Click the “X” at the top of the pop-up window to close it which explains the 14 day free trial that starts now. Although Malwarebytes comes with the 14 day free trial, I recommend that you select the free version. To select the free version click “Settings”, then “Account Details” at the top and click “Deactivate Premium Trial”. The reason for this is that Malwarebytes protection can interfere with your anti-virus program.

After you have deactivated the license, updating Malwarebytes free is manual. Click the tiny up chevron on the Taskbar (Windows 10) and double click the blue “M”. When Malwarebytes opens, click the “Scan Now” button to start a system scan. This will also update Malwarebytes before commencing the scan. You can also click the Desktop Malwarebytes icon to perform the update and scan as described above. Scanning should be done weekly or as needed.

Other program options can be found when you click Settings and by clicking the tabs at the top. However, I find that the factory settings are appropriate for most users.

AdwCleaner, another anti-malware product, is a great compliment to Malwarebytes. It’s good to have another assessment tool on your system and it’s also available from Malwarebytes. Click here (https://www.malwarebytes.com/adwcleaner/ ) to download it or copy the link to your browser. Double click the adwcleaner download to open it then click “Scan Now”. Follow any screen prompts. There is no formal installation.

Please come to the PC Club meetings. We’ll show you how to install and run Malwarebytes and AdwCleaner. Also, there will be time for your general questions. We meet on the 3^rd Tuesday of each month at 7 PM in the Ardmore room of the Community Center

Correcting FIOS Set Top Box Problems (Oct 2018)

Technology Tips – Published October 2018 in the Guide and Digest

By Don Trauger – Kennett

Often a problem can arise from misuse of the remote control. A common problem occurs when the set top box (STB) is turned on by pressing the STB button but the TV may not turn on. Make sure you point the remote directly between the TV and the STB and hold it steady making sure both turn on. If the TV doesn’t turn on press the TV button. Conversely, pressing the STB button should turn off both the TV and the STB. Pressing the TV button separately will turn off the just the TV. Another common remote problem occurs when the TV signal input is accidentally switched from the typical HDMI operating mode. Almost all HD TV’s use the HDMI mode. Other TV’s may use coax or other audio/video cables to produce the picture. The TV Input button is at the lower left of the Verizon remote but if it’s not set to match your cable configuration between the STB and the TV you will not see a picture.

Still having a problem? You should check the cables to make sure they are connected securely. If that fails to produce a fix the next step is to disconnect the power cord from the STB and allow about 20 – 30 seconds before plugging it back in. The STB will go through a reboot procedure, similar to a computer, that may restore proper operation. If it doesn’t work on the first try, repeat the procedure. If it fails on the second try to restore proper operation, check another STB in your home to see if the problem exists on that STB. If it does then disconnect the power cord from the Verizon router, wait 20-30 seconds, and plug it back in. Wait until the you see the 2 white lights on the router then see if your STB problem is resolved.

At this point you may think that if you have had no success then a call to Verizon is in order, but hold on for one more tip. The following procedure applies if you have more than 1 STB box in your home and it is not the digital adapter type. With the TV on and assuming the box is functioning to some degree, press the Menu button. Navigate to Settings, press OK then go to System and press OK, and move down to the last item which is Import Settings. Follow the screen prompts to load settings from another box in your home. Press OK after making a selection. This procedure can correct odd problems like no sound on TV channels but sound is still heard on the Music Choice channels. This procedure is also very handy for tweaking one STB then applying all the new settings to the remaining STB’s in your home. Remember that you have to import the tweaked settings to each STB separately.

More information about FIOS and Windows 10 is available at our PC Club meetings on the 3rd Tuesday of every month at 7 PM upstairs in the Community Center.

FIOS

These are the Technology Tips articles published monthly in the Guide and Digest. You may also be interested in out Telecommunication Update page which mainly addresses the transition for Comcast of FIOS or the FIOS tips page which has additional “tips” for those who have switched to FIOS.

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