Meeting Notes

Subject/Title	Meeting & Date
1-TETHERING A CELL PHONE--AN OVERVIEW: If your cell phone has a "data plan", you can use it to provide an Internet connection for a computer, a tablet, or another cell phone, or some routers. See http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/cell-phones/tethering/1-tethering-overview.pdf or http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/cell-phones/tethering/1-tethering-overview.pptx 1A-DATA CAPS FOR CELL PHONE PLANS FROM VARIOUS PROVIDERS: Most cell phone providers impose monthly "data caps" for mobile tethering and mobile hotspotting. See http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/cell-phones/tethering/1A-tethering-billing.pdf or http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/cell-phones/tethering/1A-tethering-billing.pptx 2-Using a Wi-Fi "hotspot" emanating from an iPhone to provide an Internet connection for a "Windows.." computer is available at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/cell-phones/tethering/2-tethering-iPhone-Wi-Fi-Win.pdf or http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/cell-phones/tethering/2-tethering-iPhone-Wi-Fi-Win.pptx 2-Using a Wi-Fi "hotspot" emanating from an iPhone to provide an Internet connection for a "macOS" computer is available at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/cell-phones/tethering/2A-tethering-iPhone-Wi-Fi-macOS.pdf or https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/cell-phones/tethering/2A-tethering-iPhone-Wi-Fi-macOS.pptx 3-Using a Wi-Fi "hotspot" emanating from an Android cell phone to provide an Internet connection for a "Windows.." computer is available at https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/cell-phones/tethering/3-tethering-Android-Wi-Fi-Win.pdf or http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/cell-phones/tethering/3-tethering-Android-Wi-Fi-Win.pptx 4-Using a USB cable so that a Android cell phone can provide an Internet connection for a "Windows.." computer is available at https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/cell-phones/tethering/4-tethering-Android-USB-Win.pdf or https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/cell-phones/tethering/4-tethering-Android-USB-Win.pptx 5-Using a Bluetooth connection so that an Android cell phone can provide an Internet connection for a "Windows.." computer is available at https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/cell-phones/tethering/5-tethering-Android-Bluetooth-Win.pdf or https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/cell-phones/tethering/5-tethering-Win-Android-Bluetooth.pptx 6-Using an "iPhone-to-USB" cable to so that an "iPhone"< can provide an Internet connection for a "Windows.." computer is available at https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/cell-phones/tethering/6-tethering-iPhone-USB-Win.pdf or https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/cell-phones/tethering/6-tethering-iPhone-USB-Win.pptx 7-Using an "iPhone-to-USB" cable to so that an "iPhone" can provide an Internet connection for a "MacOS" computer is available at https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/cell-phones/tethering/7-tethering-iPhone-USB-macOS.pdf or https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/cell-phones/tethering/7-tethering-iPhone-USB-macOS.pptx 8-Using a USB-C wired Ethernet adapter to so that an Android cell phone can provide an Internet connection for a "Windows.." computer, a macOS computer, or a router is available at https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/cell-phones/tethering/8-tethering-Android-USB-C-Enet-Win.pdf or https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/cell-phones/tethering/8-tethering-Android-USB-C-Enet-Win.pptx	Meeting of Wisconsin All-computer Users Club of Milwaukee on 07-10-2025 and Meeting of the PCBUG-Naples Technology User Group on 06-20-2024 and Meeting of the North Texas PC Users Group on 03-16-2024
Virtual Fax Machine inside Your "Windows.." Computer: 1-Basic information about using a data/fax modem in a "Windows.." or "Linux" computer is available at https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/add-ons/fax/1-fax-from-computer.pdf or https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/add-ons/fax/1-fax-from-computer.pptx 2-Fax modem installation is is described at https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/add-ons/fax/2-fax-modem-install.pdf or https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/add-ons/fax/2-fax-modem-install.pptx 4-"Windows Fax and Scan" is no longer bundled into "Windows 11.." computers. To get it installed, you can follow the instructions at https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/add-ons/fax/4-WFS-install-Win11.pdf or https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/add-ons/fax/4-WFS-install-Win11.pptx 5-Before you can start using "Windows Fax and Scan" to send or receive faxes, you have to configure it as described step-by-step at https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/add-ons/fax/5-WFS-configuring-Win.pdf or https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/add-ons/fax/5-WFS-configuring-Win.pptx 6-You can use HP's free "Fax Test" service to test any fax modem, stand-alone fax machine, or online fax service as explained at https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/add-ons/fax/6-HP-Fax-Test.pdf or https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/add-ons/fax/6-HP-Fax-Test.pptx 7-Using "Windows Fax and Scan" to send and receive faxes is explained at https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/add-ons/fax/7-WFS-using-Win.pdf or https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/add-ons/fax/7-WFS-using-Win.pptx 8-After sending a fax with "Windows Fax and Scan", you can create a detailed confirmation report as explained at https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/add-ons/fax/8-WFS-confirmation-reports.pdf or https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/add-ons/fax/8-WFS-confirmation-reports.pptx 9-You can can avoid paying monthly "long distance service" charges for faxing to fax machines outside of your local calling area by using a low-cost AT&T telephone calling card with your fax machine or fax modem as explained at https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/add-ons/fax/9-calling-card-faxing.pdf or https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/add-ons/fax/9-calling-card-faxing.pptx	Meeting of the PCBUG-Naples Technology User Group on 07-17-2025 and General Meeting of the Tucson Computer Society on 05-15-2023 and Windows 8 / Hardware SIG of the Tucson Computer Society on 05-01-2013
WIRED "ETHERNET" NETWORKING Comparing the speed of your Internet connection with the actual speed that your computer experiences is explained at https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/networks/Ethernet/speed-tests.pdf and https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/networks/Ethernet/speed-tests.pptx Comprehensive Information About Wired Ethernet Networking is explained at https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/networks/Ethernet/Ethernet.pdf and https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/networks/Ethernet/Ethernet.pptx Installing Cat 7 or 6 or 5 cabling is explained at https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/networks/Ethernet/Cat7-6-5-installation.pdf and https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/networks/Ethernet/Cat7-6-5-installation.pptx Installing Cat 8 cabling is explained at https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/networks/Ethernet/Cat8-installation.pdf and https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/networks/Ethernet/Cat8-installation.pptx	General Meeting of the Madison PC Users Group on 06-11-2025 and General Meeting of the Tucson Computer Society on 05-21-2024
Burglars around the U.S. have been using portable Wi-Fi jammers to prevent security cameras from recording their activities with your video cameras as explained in detail at https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/webcams/Wi-Fi-jammers.pdf To proactively prevent these criminals from succeeding, you need to install wired cameras that do not rely on Wi-Fi to connect to local "Digital Video Recorders", in-camera SD modules, and/or cloud-based video storage services. The most cost-effective way to counteract Wi-Fi jammers is to use "Power Over Ethernet" cameras with "Powerline Networking" kits, "Power Over Ethernet" network switch devices, and "Power Over Ethernet" injector devices. For an explanation of how these technologies work together, please see https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/webcams/PoE-cameras.pdf For an explanation of how you can place Webcams to look out of windows and record the outside without installing them outside, please see https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/webcams/Webcams-in-windows.pdf Powerline Networking is now sometimes as fast as wired Ethernet Cat 5e/6/7/8 cabling if: 1) you use the latest models of Powerline Networking adapters AND 2) you learn a little about electrical circult breaker panels, as explained at https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/windhardsig/networks/powerline/powerline.pdf with our latest "YouTube" video located at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeNoIeQl8BA If the lights on both ends of a "Powerline networking" link light up and your Windows.. computer is still not connected to the Internet, reset the Ethernet adapter in the "Network and Sharing Center" to get it working as explained at https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/windhardsig/networks/powerline/powerline-force-on.pdf A good example of a "Power Over Ethernet" camera which is bundled with a "Power Over Ethernet" injector device is the "Ring Stick Up Camera Elite" as shown at https://www.amazon.com/Ring-Ethernet-Security-Camera-Two-Way/dp/B07TC7D9CS/ A good example of a "Power Over Ethernet" Local Network Switch that can send DC power up to 100 yards away by means of a Cat 5e or 6 or 7 or 8 cable is shown at https://www.amazon.com/Ethernet-Unmanaged-Compliant-Shielded-TL-SF1005P/dp/B076PRM2C5 A good example of a "Powerline Networking Kit" is shown at https://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-Powerline-Adapter-Ethernet-Passthrough/dp/B0778Y6K6N/	General Meeting of the Tucson Computer Society on 05-21-2024
Addressing Envelopes in LibreOffice: https://ask.libreoffice.org/t/envelope-printing-the-easy-way/1396 https://ask.libreoffice.org/t/can-someone-please-help-me-print-an-envelope/19121 Free Alternatives to Microsoft 365 or Microsoft Office To avoid paying for "Microsoft Office..", you can use free office software "suites". For ease of use and compatibility with "Microsoft Office.." file formats, "SoftMaker FreeOffice" is the best. For "bells and whistles" features, "LibreOffice" is the best and it is bundled in with most distros of Linux. However, "LibreOffice" is not as compatible with "Microsoft Office.." file formats as "SoftMaker FreeOffice". For our detailed how-to advice, please see http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/software/office/alt-Office-suites.pdf or http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/software/office/alt-Office-suites.pptx Sample files for testing the compatibility of free office alternatives, can be downloaded from http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/software/office/sample-Office-files/sampleOfficefiles.zip Our comparisons of the free apps in "SoftMaker FreeOffice" and "LibreOffice" to the paid apps in "Microsoft Office" are described at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/software/office/office-suites-comparisons.pdf or http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/software/office/office-suites-comparisons.pptx Step-by-step instructions for installing "SoftMaker FreeOffice" are available at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/software/office/FreeOffice-install.pdf or http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/software/office/FreeOffice-install.pptx Issues and warnings about "WPS Office" are available at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/software/office/WPS_Office.pdf or http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/software/office/WPS_Office.pptx The "uninstaller" modules that are bundled with most "Desktop apps" (that "Programs and Features" in the Control Panel of "Windows.." utilizes to remove software) leave all sorts of junk in both the Registry of "Windows.." and on your C: hard drive: To do a really clean uninstall of a "desktop app" or a "Universal Windows Platform app" in a "Windows.." computer, including the removal of any malware that may have latched onto a legitimate app in your "Windows.." computer. Details on how to use the free "Revo Uninstaller Portable" program are available at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/software/utils/uninstaller/RevoUninstallerPortable.pdf or http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/software/utils/uninstaller/RevoUninstallerPortable.pptx When using any of the free office suites, it is best to make sure that "file extensions" are displayed in a Window.. or macOS computer to avoid confusion because most of the free office suites default to file formats that are not the same as the file formats that are used by "Microsoft Office" or "Microsoft 365" as explained at http://www.aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/win/easier/file-extensions.pdf or http://www.aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/win/easier/file-extensions.pptx	General Meeting of the Sarasota Technology Users Group on 06-04-2025 and General Meeting of the Tucson Computer Society on 11-15-2021
0--Wi-Fi Extenders, Routers, and Mesh from the Viewpoint of a Wi-Fi Client Computer, Tablet, or Cell Phone is- described at http://www.aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/networks/routers/0-Wi-Fi-client-viewpoint.pdf ------------------------------------------- 1--Wi-Fi Extenders are described at http://www.aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/networks/routers/1-Wi-Fi-extender.pdf ------------------------------------------- 2--Routers-Basic Information is described at http://www.aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/networks/routers/2-routers-basics.pdf ------------------------------------------- 3--Wi-Fi Mesh is described at http://www.aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/networks/routers/3-Wi-Fi-mesh.pdf ------------------------------------------- 4-Router Security Vulnerabilities are described at http://www.aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/networks/routers/4-router-security-vulnerabilities.pdf ------------------------------------------- 5-Using Multiple Routers To Mitigate Router Security Vunerabilities is described at http://www.aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/networks/routers/5-routers-2plus.pdf	Meeting of the Ottawa PC Users' Group on 10-08-2025 and General Meeting of the Computer Users of Erie on 03-21-2024 and General Meeting of the Tucson Computer Society on 03-19-2024 and 11-20-2023 and Meeting of the PC Community Computer Users Group in Hayward, California, USA on 08-04-2021 and General Meeting of the Madison PC Users Group on 03-09-2022
ROUTER VULNERABILITIES: Use multiple routers to protect your home or small business network against the security vulnerabilities of "Internet of Things" ("IoT") devices: For a level of security that is better than a single router, use three routers as follows: Router 1 = "Border router" connects to the Internet provider. Router 2 = "IoT router" is used to connect to cloud-connected security cameras, cloud-connected motion detection devices, smart refrigerators, smart TVs, video doorbells, smart thermostats, cloud-based voice-operated assistants, etc. Router 3 = "Trusted router" is used to connect to your most-secure computers, Network-Attached Storage devices, home servers, etc. See http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/networks/routers/routers-2plus.pdf ------------------------------------------- For information and advice about router security vulnerabilites please see http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/networks/routers/router-security-vulnerabilities.pdf	General Meeting of the Computer Users of Erie on 03-21-2024 and General Meeting of the Tucson Computer Society on 03-19-2024 and Meeting of the PCBUG-Naples Technology User Group on 02-17-2022 and General Meeting of the Prescott Computer Society on 06-12-2021 and Meeting of Sterling Heights Computer Club on 04-06-2021 and General Meeting of Komputer Enthusiasts of Greater Seattle (KEGS) on 02-08-2016 and Virtual Technology Conference 18 of APCUG on 11-07-2015 and Windows 10/ Hardware SIG on 11-04-2015
Network Options for Wireless Wi-Fi Routers: Wi-Fi Extenders. Mesh routers, Mesh units, and Backhaul Options: An example of a Wi-Fi extender is provided at https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/networks/routers/network-strategies.pdf An example of two routers in a mesh configuration is provided at https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/networks/routers/network-strategies.pdf Network strategies for both wired local networking, "wired equivalent" networking, and wireless Wi-Fi networking are available at https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/networks/network-strategies.pdf Powerline Networking is now as fast as wired Ethernet Cat 5e/6/7/8 cabling if: 1) you use the latest models of Powerline Networking adapters AND 2) you learn a little about electrical circult breaker panels, as explained at https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/windhardsig/networks/powerline/powerline.pdf with our latest "YouTube" video located at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeNoIeQl8BA If the lights on both ends of a "Powerline networking" link light up and your Windows.. computer is still not connected to the Internet, reset the Ethernet adapter in the "Network and Sharing Center" to get it working as explained at https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/windhardsig/networks/powerline/powerline-force-on.pdf	Meeting of the PC Community Computer Users Group in Hayward, California, USA on 08-04-2021 and General Meeting of the Tucson Computer Society on 04-18-2022
Spring Cleaning- Where to Recycle (or Discard) Your Old Computers and Printers for Free please see https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/spring-cleaning-where-to-recycle-your-old-computers-and-printers-for-free/ar-BB1l1Wi5?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=1876d3b3d4db4625aae1a50a6c4856d5&ei=29 iMyFone "Screen Mirroring" is the best Windows.. app for allowing your iPhone to "AirPlay" its screen to a Windows.. computer. No additional app is needed for your iPhone since the "AirPlay" capability is part of the "iPhoneOS" operating system. A free, time-limited trial for iMyFone "Screen Mirroring" is available at https://www.imyfone.com/screen-mirror/?media=googleppc&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21642525979&gbraid=0AAAAACZMS_bbk24UzGV__kg-5sqFIDnLJ&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0LDBBhCnARIsAMpYlAo-d-eVX6rxV5HUMpaOZs74_h51-wZoJdF94I_WoMBvsdREtrRomWwaAnA9EALw_wcB The "iMyPhone" company is described at https://www.imyfone.com/company/	General Meeting of the Tucson Computer Society on 05-20-2025
USING "RESCUEZILLA" OR "CLONEZILLA LIVE" TO MAKE CLONES OR "IMAGE BACKUPS" OF YOUR COMPUTER'S HARD DRIVES OR SOLID STATE DRIVES: 000-"Drive Configurations in Personal Computers" is explained at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/linuxsig/backup/000-drive-configurations.pdf 00-"Rescuezilla" Versus "CLONEZILLA LIVE" is explained at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/linuxsig/backup/00-rescuezilla-vs-clonezilla.pdf 0-Cloning Versus Imaging: Two Ways To Back Up Your Digital Stuff is explained at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/linuxsig/backup/0-cloning-vs-imaging.pdf 1-Buying USB Thumb Drives, DVD Drives, or CD Drives for Booting Up a Computer with "Rescuezilla" or "Clonezilla Live" is explained at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/linuxsig/backup/1-buying-bootable-DVD-or-thumbdrive.pdf 2A- Making A "Rescuezilla" Bootable USB Thumb Drive is described at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/linuxsig/backup/2A-making-Rescuezilla-thumbdrive.pdf 2B- Making a "Rescuezilla" Bootable DVD Disc is described at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/linuxsig/backup/2B-making-Rescuezilla-DVD.pdf 3A-Buying External SATA Hard Drives is described at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/linuxsig/backup/3A-external-hard-drives.pdf 3B-External Hard Drive Enclosures is described at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/linuxsig/backup/3B-external-hard-drive-enclosures.pdf 3C-External M.2 SSDs and Enclosures is described at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/linuxsig/backup/3C-external-M.2-SSD-enclosures.pdf 4-Using a Bootable CD or DVD or a Bootable USB Thumb Drive to Start Up "Rescuezilla" or "CLONEZILLA LIVE" is available at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/linuxsig/backup/4-computer-boot-up-procedure.pdf 5-Determining Drive Serial Numbers For Using "Rescuezilla" or "CLONEZILLA LIVE" is available at - http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/linuxsig/backup/5-drive-identification.pdf 6A-Using "Rescuezilla" To Create A Clone Or An Image Backup Of A Drive In Your Computer is available at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/linuxsig/backup/6A-using-Rescuezilla.pdf 6B-If You Use Rescuezilla To Clone A Drive In A "Windows 10.." Or A "Windows 11.." computer And Connect Both Drives Connected By Means of SATA or M.2, And You Then Boot Up or Reboot the "Windows.." Computer, You Will Get A "Signature Collision" as explained in http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/linuxsig/backup/6B-signature-collisions.pdf ("Signature collisions" are "fatal" for bootable "Windows.." drives but fixable for non-bootable drives.) 8-How the cloning operations of "Rescuezilla" and "Clonezilla" differ from the cloning operations of "Macrium Reflect" and EaseUS "Partition Magic" is explained at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/linuxsig/backup/8-free-versus-not-free-cloning-apps.pdf 7-Using "CLONEZILLA LIVE" To Create Backups of Data and Digital Photo Files is available at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/linuxsig/backup/7-using-Clonezilla-Live.pdf Unlike "Rescuezilla", "Clonezilla" has a text-based user interface. "Clonezilla" can be used if you need to have more control over the settings of the cloning or imaging process than than those available in "Rescuezilla". You can avoid the costs of buying USB drive adapters or USB drive enclosures by installing long SATA data cables and SATA power extension cables from inside your computer to normally-internal SATA hard drives and SSDs that are located outside of a computer by following the advice at https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/harddrives/external/addiging-ext-internal-drives.pdf "Windows 11" activation and "Windows 10" activation is way different from any version of "Windows.." prior to "Windows 10" !! See http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/win11/activation/win11&10activation.pdf If you use a purchased a "Windows 10 product key" to activate a newly-installed or upgraded copy of "Windows 10", you will still have a "Digital License". If you use a Windows 7 or 8 or 8.1 product key to activate a newly-installed or upgraded copy of "Windows 10", you will usually also get a "Digital License".	General Meeting of the Madison PC Users Group on 08-14-2024 and General Meeting of TechEdConnect on 07-11-2024 and Wednesday Workshop of the APCUG on 04-17-2024 and General Meeting of the Tucson Computer Society on 04-16-2024
The Various Types of Malware are explained at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/malware/removal/malware-types.pdf 0-Malware Remediation--Proactive and Reactive is explained at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/malware/removal/malware-remediation-strategies.pdf 1- SSD and Hard Drive Cloning As A Proactive Defense Against Malware Infections is available at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/malware/removal/1-cloning-as-defense-from-malware.pdf If you buy a M.2 SSD to clone an existing M.2 SSD that is inside your computer, you can attach the newly-purchased M.2 SSD to your computer by means of an external M.2 SSD enclosure as explained at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/harddrives/SSDs/M.2/1-M.2-enclosures.pdf 2A-Generic Reactive Malware Removal Strategy is described at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/malware/removal/2A-generic-reactive-malware-removal.pdf 3A-Browser Notification Malware Removal is described at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/malware/browser-notification-malware/browser-notification-malware.pdf The "uninstaller" modules that are bundled with most "Desktop apps" (that "Programs and Features" in the Control Panel of "Windows.." utilizes to remove software) leave all sorts of junk in both the Registry of "Windows.." and on your C: hard drive: To do a really clean uninstall of a "desktop app" or a "Universal Windows Platform app" in a "Windows.." computer, including the removal of any malware that may have latched onto a legitimate app in your "Windows.." computer. Details on how to use the free "Revo Uninstaller Portable" program are available at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/software/utils/uninstaller/RevoUninstallerPortable.pdf If "Microsoft Edge" fails including when malware latches on to it, you can sometimes fix it from inside the "Settings" app of "Windows 10.." or "Windows 11.." as explained at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/malware/removal/Microsoft-Edge-repair.pdf There are three kinds of apps (= programs) inside your Windows 11, 10, or 8 computer: UWP Apps, Legacy Programs, and Portable Apps as explained at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/email/UWP-vs-legacy-apps.pdf The newer "Universal Windows Platform" Apps (such as the "Phone Link" app in Windows 11 or 10) will not allow you to right-click on them to place a shortcut into the Windows 11, 10, or 8 "Desktop". To create shortcuts to all apps in Windows 11,10, or 8, you can type shell:appsfolder in a "Run" command box as explained at https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/cell-phones/ pc-control/Making-Shortcuts-to-apps-in-Win11&10&8.pdf	Meeting of the PCBUG-Naples Technology User Group on 07-18-2024 and General Meeting of the Tucson Computer Society on 01-16-2024
Our detailed advice about over-the-air reception of ATSC television is available at: http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/add-ons/TV/ATSC3-tuner.pdf Three reasonably-priced over-the-air "NextGen" TV tuners were introduced at "CES 2024": "Zapperbox" tuner can receive BOTH unencrypted AND encrypted "ATSC 3.0" television channels. However, it is about $300. The "Zinwell ZAT-600B" tuner is $150 and, unlike the other two tuners, it does not require an Internet connection. "ADTH TV" tuner at about $100 is a surprisingly low-priced tuner model that can receive both unencrypted and encrypted TV channels. Using any of these three tuners, you can now receive all three types of free television channels: legacy ATSC 1.0 television channels, newer ATSC 3.0 "Nextgen" unencrypted television channels and even newer ATSC 3.0 "Nextgen" encrypted television channels. Our advice for installing the low-cost "ADTH NextGen TV Box" is available at: http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/add-ons/TV/ADTH-tuner.pdf Our advice for installing the low-cost "Zinwell NextGen TV Box" is available at: http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/add-ons/TV/Zinwell-tuner.pdf "Over The Air" television services compete with "Over The Top" television services. "Over The Air" televison services require tuners. "Over The Top" television services require devices such as Rokus, Amazon Firesticks, Google Chromecasts, or Apple TVs. A comprehensive description of various television serices is available at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/add-ons/TV/television-services.pdf Our detailed explanation about the simulcasting of both ATSC 1.0 television channels and ATSC 3.0 television channels (at least until July 17, 2027) for the San Francisco, California area is available at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/add-ons/TV/ATSC3-transition-SF.pdf Our detailed explanation about the simulcasting of both ATSC 1.0 television channels and ATSC 3.0 television channels (at least until July 17, 2027) for the Los Angeles California area is available at: http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/add-ons/TV/ATSC3-transition-LA.pdf	General Meeting of the Tucson Computer Society on 05-21-2024 and Meeting of the PC Community Computer Users Group of Hayward, California, USA on 04-05-2023
USING ZOOM'S "TAKE CONTROL" OR "MICROSOFT'S "QUICK ASSIST" OR MICROSOFT'S "REMOTE ASSISTANCE" TO HELP SOMEONE WITH THEIR "WINDOWS.." OR "LINUX.." COMPUTER You can use your Zoom's "Take Control" feature or Microsoft's "Quick Assist" or Microsoft's "Remote Assistance" app to help a "Windows.." or "Linux.." computer user without being physically present at their physical location: --For information on Zoom's "Take Control" feature please see http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/software/ remote-assistance/Zoom-remote-control.pdf Since "Zoom Workplace" gives you the ability to take control of both "Windows.." computers and "Linux.." computers, you can use it to also help someone install "Linux.." as a virtual machine running in someone's existing "Windows.." computer in three logical procedures: Procedure 1: Install in free virtual machine program such as "Virtualbox" or "VMware Workstation Pro Player". Procedure 2: Create a new empty virtual machine. Proceudre 3: Install "Linux.." into the new virtual machine. --For information on the bundled Windows' "Quick Assist" capability please see http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/software/ remote-assistance/Quick-Assist.pdf --For information on the bundled Windows' "Remote Assistance" capability please see http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/software/ remote-assistance/MicrosoftRemoteAssistance.pdf --The newer "Universal Windows Platform" Apps (such as the "Quick Assist" app) will not allow you to right click on them to place a shortcut into the Windows 11, 10, or 8 "Desktop". To create shortcuts to all apps in Windows 11,10, or 8, you can run "shell:appsfolder" in a "Run" command box as explained at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/software/remote-assistance/ Making-Shortcuts-to-apps-in-Win11&10&8.pdf	Wednesday Workshop of the APCUG on 04-10-2024 and General Meeting of the Tucson Computer Society on 04-16-2024 and General Meeting of the Pikes Peak Computer Application Society of Colorado Springs, CO on 06-04-2022 and General Meeting of the Tucson Computer Society on 11-15-2021
Our detailed explanation about the simulcasting of both ATSC 1.0 television channels and ATSC 3.0 television channels (at least until 2027) for the Los Angeles area is available at: http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/add-ons/TV/ATSC3-transition-LA.pdf Our detailed advice about over-the-air reception of ATSC television is available at: http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/add-ons/TV/ATSC3-tuner.pdf Three reasonably-priced over-the-air "NextGen" TV tuners were demonstrated at "CES 2024": "Zapperbox" tuner can receive BOTH unencrypted AND encrypted "ATSC 3.0" television channels. However, it is about $300. The "Zinwell ZAT-600B" tuner is $150 and, unlike the other two tuners, it does not require an Internet connection. "ADTH TV" tuner at about $100 is a surprisingly low-priced tuner model that can receive both unencrypted and encrypted TV channels. Using any of these three tuners, you can now receive all three types of free television channels: legacy ATSC 1.0 television channels, newer ATSC 3.0 "Nextgen" unencrypted television channels and even newer ATSC 3.0 "Nextgen" encrypted television channels. The advice for installing the low-cost "ADTH NextGen TV Box" is available at: http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/add-ons/TV/ADTH-tuner.pdf Use the free "CrystalDiskInfo Portable" Windows.. app to monitor the temperature of your internal and external M.2 SSDs as described at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/harddrives/SSDs/M.2/0-crystaldiskinfo-portable.pdf Internal M.2 SSDs either go into motherboard M.2 slots or External M.2 SSD Enclosures as described at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/harddrives/SSDs/M.2/3-Internal-M.2-SSDs-buying.pdf The easiest way to make an existing Windows.. computer dual boot between Windows.. and Linux is to insert an internal M.2 SSD into an external M.2 SSD enclosure that has a powerful fan. Then use a Linux installation CD or DVD or USB thumb drive to install Linux into the external M.2 SSD enclosure. When you want to boot up into Windows.., make sure that the external M.2 SSD enclosure is not attached to the computer. When you want to boot up into Linux.., attached the external M.2 enclosure is attached to the computer. as described at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/harddrives/SSDs/M.2/1-M.2-enclosures.pdf External USB M.2 SSDs will replace the current USB thumb drivess as described at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/harddrives/SSDs/M.2/2-External-M.2-SSDs-buying.pdf Adding Active Cooling To Keep An M.2 SSD from Overheating is available at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/harddrives/SSDs/M.2/M.2-upgrade.pdf	General Meeting of the Tucson Computer Society on 02-20-2024
0-Malware Remediation--Proactive and Reactive is explained at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/malware/removal/0-malware-remediation-strategies.pdf 1- SSD and Hard Drive Cloning As A Proactive Defense Against Malware Infections is available at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/malware/removal/1-cloning-as-defense-from-malware.pdf 2A-Generic Reactive Malware Removal Strategy is described at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/malware/removal/2A-generic-reactive-malware-removal.pdf 2B- Big Step 100-"Quick Scan" With "Windows Security" is available at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/malware/removal/2B-Quick-Scan-in-Windows-Security.pdf 2C- Big Step 200-"Task Manager" for Malware Analysis is available at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/malware/removal/2C-Task-Manager-for-malware-analysis.pdf 2D-Big Step 300-"Revo Uninstaller Portable" for Malware Removal is available at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/malware/removal/2D-Revo-Uninstaller-Portable-for-malware-removal.pdf If "Microsoft Edge" fails, you can ususally fix it from inside "Settings" as explained at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/malware/removal/Microsoft-Edge-repair.pdf	General Meeting of the Tucson Computer Society on 01-16-2024
Struggles With Failures of Windows.. Computers From A "Discount Warehouse Store" is available at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/hardware/case-histories/case-histories-Costco.pdf Adding Active Cooling To Keep An M.2 SSD from Overheating is available at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/harddrives/SSDs/M.2/M.2-upgrade.pdf Microsoft's advice on the three ways that you can install Linux into a computer is available at https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/linux/install	General Meeting of the Tucson Computer Society on 10-16-2023
"UBUNTU" HOW-TOs: 1-An Introduction to "Ubuntu" for Windows.. users is available at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/linuxsig/Ubuntu/1-Ubuntu-for-Win-users.pdf 2-To install "Zoom Meetings Client" into "Ubuntu" and other Linux distributions please see https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/204206269-Installing-or-updating-Zoom-on-Linux#h_75e1dc24-8db1-4b89-8db9-eb049f9b7987 Microsoft's advice on the three ways that you can install Linux into a computer is available at https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/linux/install	General Meeting of the Tucson Computer Society on 10-16-2023
Free Online Training for Using Computers: Hundreds of hours of free training and technical advice can be obtained online with an Internet-connected computer. To access our categorized folders of training hyperlinks as various "dot URL files" which can be opened with any Web browser, please follow the instructions at http://aztcs.apcug.org/training/training.pdf to access our archive of Websites which is actually located at https://app.box.com/shared/ff0p9m41h0 For macOS-specific instructions for accessing our categorized folders of training hyperlinks as various "dot URL files" which can be opened with the Safari Web browser, please follow the instructions at http://aztcs.apcug.org/training/dot-url-files-macOS.pdf For Linux-specific instructions for accessing our categorized folders of training hyperlinks as various "dot URL files" which can be opened with the any Web browser, please follow the instructions at http://aztcs.apcug.org/training/dot-url-files-Ubuntu.pdf The newer "Universal Windows Platform" Apps (such as the "Phone Link" app in Windows 11 or 10) will not allow you to right click on them to place a shortcut into the Windows 11, 10, or 8 "Desktop". To create shortcuts to all apps in Windows 11,10, or 8, you have to run shell:appsfolder in a "Run" command box as explained at https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/cell-phones/pc-control/Making-Shortcuts-to-apps-in-Win11&10&8.pdf The "uninstaller" wizards that are bundled with most "Desktop apps" (that "Programs and Features" in the Control Panel of "Windows.." utilizes to remove software) leave all sorts of junk in both your Registry of "Windows.." and on your C: hard drive: To do a really clean uninstall of a "desktop app" or a "Universal Windows Platform app" in a "Windows.." computer, use the free "Revo Uninstaller Portable" program. See http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/uninstaller/RevoUninstallerPortable.pdf	Meeting of the SouthEastern Michigan Computer Organization on 09-08-2023 and Meeting of the Seniors Computer Group of San Diego on 09-15-2018 and Joint Meeting of the Potomac Area Technology and Computer Society and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Computer User Group on 01-19-2013
0-Zoom Basics are explained at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/Zoom/Zoom-basics.pdf 1-Zoom's "Take Control" feature can be used to help a Windows.. computer user without being physically present at their home or business: please see http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/software/remote-assistance/Zoom-remote-control.pdf 2- Zoom's Auto-Answer Capability Can Be Used to Communicate with your Dog, Cat, or Small Child is available at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/webcams/Zoom-auto-answer.pdf Zoom's auto-answer capability is not available in their free accounts. Their auto-answer is only availabe in their "Pro", "Corporate", or "Zoom Room" accounts.	General Meeting of the Tucson Computer Society on 09-18-2023
10: STREAMING MEDIA BASICS: CAPTURE, AND SCREEN RECORDING is available at: http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/media/10-streaming_basics.pdf 91: FREE "SCREEN RECORDING" WITH THE BUNDLED "XBOX GAME BAR" IN "WINDOWS 11.." AND "WINDOWS 10.." is explained at: http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/media/91-free-screen-record-xbox-game-bar.pdf 71: INSTALLING THE "MEDIA CAPTURE" WITH THE "aTube Catcher" PROGRAM is explained at: http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/media/71-aTube-installing.pdf 72: USING "aTube Catcher" TO CAPTURE STEAMING MEDIA AT THE NETWORK STACK OF A "WINDOWS.." COMPUTER is explained at: http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/media/72-aTube-media-capture.pdf 73: FREE "aTube Catcher" TO RECORD STREAMING VIDEO AT THE GRAPHICS INTEFACE OF "WINDOWS.." is explained at: http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/media/73-aTube-screen-recording.pdf 81: FREE "SCREEN RECORDING" WITH THE "Free Cam" PROGRAM is explained at: http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/media/81-Free-Cam-screen-record-iSpring.pdf 201: MacOS SCREEN RECORDING AND MEDIA CAPTURE is available at: http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/media/201-MacScreenRecordandMediaCapture.pdf 301: LINUX SCREEN RECORDING AND MEDIA CAPTURE is available at: http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/media/301-LinuxScreenRecordandMediaCapture.pdf	General Meeting of the Central Florida Computer Society on 09-10-2023
The "uninstaller" wizards that are bundled with most "Desktop apps" (that "Programs and Features" in the Control Panel utilizes to remove software) leave all sorts of junk in both your Registry of "Windows.." and on your C: hard drive: To do a really clean uninstall of a "desktop app" or a "Universal Windows Platform app" in a "Windows.." computer, use the free "Revo Uninstaller Portable" program. See http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/uninstaller/RevoUninstallerPortable.pdf	General Meeting of the Brookdale Computer Users Group on 10-26-2017 and Windows 10 / Hardware SIG Meeting of the Tucson Computer Society on 10-04-2017
10: STREAMING MEDIA: BASICS, CAPTURE, AND SCREEN RECORDING is available at: http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/media/10-streaming_basics.pdf 12: ENDLESS STREAMING MEDIA is available at: http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/media/12-streaming-endless.pdf 13: SINGLE FILE STREAMING is available at: http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/media/13-streaming_single_file.pdf 14: STREAMING SEQUENTIAL CHUNKS is available at: http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/media/14-streaming_chunks.pdf 20: MEDIA CAPTURE (AT THE NETWORK STACK) is available at: http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/media/20-media_capture.pdf 21: "TORTURE TEST" FOR "MEDIA CAPTURE" SOFTWARE is available at: http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/media/21-media_capture_test.pdf 31: "SCREEN RECORDING" WHEN "MEDIA CAPTURE" IS BLOCKED" is available at: http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/media/31-screen_recording.pdf 41: "MEDIA CAPTURE" VERSUS "SCREEN RECORDING" is available at: http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/media/41-media_capture_vs_screen_recording.pdf 103: "REPLAY MEDIA CATCHER" --OVERVIEW is available at: http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/media/103-ReplayMediaCatcher-overview.pdf 104: USING "STREAM DOWNLOADER" IN "REPLAY MEDIA CATCHER" FOR "MEDIA CAPTURE" is available at: http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/media/104-ReplayMediaCatcher-media_capture.pdf 105: USING "DIGITAL VIDEO RECORDER" IN "REPLAY MEDIA CATCHER" FOR LIMITED "SCREEN RECORDING"" is available at: http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/media/105-ReplayMediaCatcher-screen_record.pdf 106: "REPLAY VIDEO CAPTURE" FOR FULL-FEATURED "SCREEN RECORDING" is available at: http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/media/106-ReplayVideoCapture.pdf	Meeting of Wisconsin All-computer Users Club of Milwaukee on 07-11-2019 and Meeting of CPUser Group of Pennsylvania on 06-11-2019 and Meeting of the Winners Windows Users of Irvine, California on 09-29-2018 and Windows 10 / Hardware SIG of the Tucson Computer Society on 09-05-2018
The "uninstaller" wizards that are bundled with most "Desktop apps" (that "Programs and Features" in the Control Panel utilizes to remove software) leave all sorts of junk in both your Registry of "Windows.." and on your C: hard drive: To do a really clean uninstall of a "desktop app" or a "Universal Windows Platform app" in a "Windows.." computer, use the free "Revo Uninstaller Portable" program. See http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/uninstaller/RevoUninstallerPortable.pdf	General Meeting of the Brookdale Computer Users Group on 10-26-2017 and Windows 10 / Hardware SIG Meeting of the Tucson Computer Society on 10-04-2017
2: Cell Phone Navigation Apps: See http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/cell-phones/2-cell-phone-map-apps.pdf 9: Android Cell Phones Versus iPhones See http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/cell-phones/9-Android-cell phones-vs.pdf 10: Cell Phone Problems See http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/cell-phones/10-cell-phone-problems.pdf 11: Cellular 911 See http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/cell-phones/11-cellular-911.pdf Using an iPhone: See http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/cell-phones/iPhone-using.pdf Using an Android phone: See http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/cell-phones/AndroidPhone-using.pdf Cellular Service Analysis: See http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/cell-phones/cellular-analysis.pdf Use the "nPerf" app or Web site to get a street-level map to show which cell carrier has 5G/4G/3G/2G service at a specific location: See http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/cell-phones/5Gvs4G-maps.pdf Determining of a 5G cell phone is running 5G or 4G: See http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/cell-phones/cell-phone-running-5G-or-4G.pdf Cell Phone Screenshots: Most small cell phones let you take a photo of the entire touch-screen. This let's you make a permanent record of what you saw on the screen at a certain point in time at a certain location. See http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/cell-phones/cell-phone-screenshots Cell Phone to Camera Adapter: A cell phone to camera adapter is an external add-on device that connects to your cell phone. The adapter then provides you with a USB port that you can use to connect to a camera, a USB-to-Ethernet adapter, or an SD/SDHC reader. See http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/cell-phones/cell-phone-to-camera-adapter.pdf Cell Phone Wallet Apps: A wallet app lets you make both in-person "Point of Sale" purchases and online purchases. See http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/cell-phones/cell-phone-wallet-apps.pdf Print from a Cell Phone: You can print from a cell phone to a printer that is connected to your local network: See http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/cell-phones/print-from cell phone.pdf Tethering A Cell Phone : If your cell phone has a "data plan", you can use it to provide an Internet connection for a computer, a tablet, or another cell phone, or some routers. See http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/cell-phones/cell-phone-tethering.pdf You can tether an Android cell phone to another device so that it provides Internet access for the other device if your Android cell phone has a data plan, a Wi-Fi connection to a Wi-Fi router, or both a data plan AND a Wi-Fi connection to a Wi-Fi router. You can only tether an "iPhone" cell phone that has a "data plan" to provide Internet connectivity for a computer, tablet, or another cell phone. If you "iPhone" does not have a "data plan" and it only connects to the Internet by means of Wi-Fi to a wireless router or a "hotspot", you cannot tether it to provide Internet connectivity for a computer, tablet, or another cell phone. Burner Phones and Burner Phone Apps: A "burner phone" is either a cheap, throwaway cell phone or a not-free app that gives you temporary, no-caller-ID phone numbers for your existing cell phone. See http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/cell-phones/burner-phones.pdf Vertical Service Codes: "Vertical service codes" have various functions such as: --suppress the display of your phone number at the caller ID device or cell phone of the called party --determine the radio frequencies that your cell phone is transmitting and receiving at. See http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/cell-phones/vertical-service-codes.pdf Cell Phone Problems: When the call center agent of a cell phone carrier configures your new cell phone, they can misconfigure it and turn your shiny new cell phone into a useless brick. Therefore, you need to run a few tests of any cell phone that has been recently configured by a cell phone carrier. See http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/cell-phones/cell-phone-problems.pdf "Sideloading" Apps into Cell Phones: See http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/cell-phones/Sideloading.pdf	Meeting of the SouthEastern Michigan Computer Organization on 06-11-2023 and General Meeting of the Computer Booters of Sun Lakes, AZ on 03-09-2022 and Cell Phones & Tablets Meeting of the Wisconsin All-computer Users Club on 02-25-2021 and General Meeting of the Central Florida Computer Society on 12-13-2020 and Meeting of the PCBUG-Naples Technology User Group on 07-16-2020 and Windows 10 / Hardware SIG of the Tucson Computer Society on 07-16-2020 and Meeting of the WINdows usERS Computer User Group of Costa Mesa, California on 03-20-2019
0-Virtual Machines--An Overview is available at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/virtualmachines/virtualnetworks/0-virtual-machines-overview.pdf 1-A Comparison Of Free "Virtual Machine Programs" For Your Real "Windows.." Computer is available at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/virtualmachines/virtualnetworks/1-comparison-vm-programs.pdf 2-Installing Free "Virtual Machine Programs" For Your Real "Windows.." Computer is available at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/virtualmachines/virtualnetworks/2-installing-vm-programs.pdf 3-Installing "Virtual Machines" via virtual hard drives from osboxex.com is available at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/virtualmachines/virtualnetworks/3-installing-virtual-machines-osboxes.com.pdf 4-Installing "Virtual Machines" via the virtual machine program is available at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/virtualmachines/virtualnetworks/4-installing-virtual-machines-generic.pdf Virtual Networks In Virtual Machine Programs is available at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/virtualmachines/virtualnetworks/virtualnetworks-Windows.pdf Copying or Moving VMware Virtual Machines is available at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/virtualmachines/virtualnetworks/movingVMwareVMs.pdf Copying or Moving VirtualBox Virtual Machines is available at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/virtualmachines/virtualnetworks/movingVirtualBoxVMs.pdf	General Meeting of the Madison PC Users Group on 08-09-2023 and General Membership Meeting of the Dayton Microcomputer Association on 05-25-2021 and General Meeting of the Western New York Computer Society on 06-24-2014 and Windows 8 / Hardware SIG of the Tucson Computer Society on 05-01-2013 and Computer Technology Conference on 04-04-2013
The "uninstaller" wizards that are bundled with most "Desktop apps" (that "Programs and Features" in the Control Panel utilizes to remove software) leave all sorts of junk in both your Registry of "Windows.." and on your C: hard drive: To do a really clean uninstall of a "desktop app" or a "Universal Windows Platform app" in a "Windows.." computer, use the free "Revo Uninstaller Portable" program. See http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/uninstaller/RevoUninstallerPortable.pdf If you ever need to remove "VMware Workstation Pro" or "VMware Workstation Player" or "Oracle Virtualbox 7.." from a "Windows.." computer, please use the free "Revo Uninstaller Portable" app to remove them from your computer. Using the Free "Windows 11 Enterprise Evaluation": See http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/win11/win11enteval.pdf To extend the trial duration of "Windows 10 Enterprise Evaluation" for a second 90-day time span see http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/win11/extendingwin11eval.pdf Using the Free "Windows 10 Enterprise Evaluation": See http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/win10/win10enteval.pdf To extend the trial duration of "Windows 10 Enterprise Evaluation" for a second 90-day time span see http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/win10/extendingwin10eval.pdf When running virtual machines in a "Windows.." computer, you need to speed up both your host computer's "Windows.." operating system AND any copies of "Windows.." that you are running inside a virtual machine: "Speeding Up Windows 10" is available at https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/speedupWindows/win10speedup.pdf "Speeding Up Windows 11" is available at https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/speedupWindows/win11speedup.pdf In addition to the above version-specific procedures, the following procedure applies to any "Windows.." computer: "Turn Off Startup Programs to Speed Up Your Windows Computer"	General Meeting of the Brookdale Computer Users Group on 10-26-2017 and Windows 10 / Hardware SIG Meeting of the Tucson Computer Society on 10-04-2017
5G "Fixed Wireless Access" for low-cost Internet is explained at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/cell-phones/FWA/fixed-wireless-access.pdf Our how-to advice for installing a "T-Mobile Home Internet" gateway is available at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/cell-phones/FWA/Installing-T-Mobile-gateway.pdf Our how-to advice for installing a "Verizon Home Internet" gateway is available at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/cell-phones/FWA/Installing-Verizon-gateway.pdf Our speed comparison of "T-Mobile Home Internet" and "Verizon Home Internet" is available at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/cell-phones/FWA/T-Mobile-vs-Verizon-FWA.pdf To get a quality Internet connection from an MNO or an MVNO, you need to be located less than 3 miles from one of their cell towers. Use the two mapping sites together, as explained at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/cell-phones/FWA/cell-tower-maps.pdf You can spend some money and follow the instructions at the waveform.com Web site to procure and retrofit an external "donor antenna" for a "Fixed Wireless Access" gateway device to get it to work, if your current location does not have enough of a 5G cellular signal as explained at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/cell-phones/FWA/donor-antennas.pdf As the data signals from your computer leave your home or business and they travel to their final destination out in the Internet cloud, you can track first few routers that your data signals travel through by following the instructions at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/cell-phones/FWA/tracking-Internet.access.pdf You can have both a regular broadband Internet provider AND a tethered cell phone or a 5G Fixed Wireless Access Internet connection connected at the same time to your computer, if you follow the guidelines at https://apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/networks/multihoming.pdf	General Meeting of Wisconsin All-computer Users Club of Milwaukee on 04-06-2023 and General Meeting of the Tucson Computer Society on 03-20-2023
Extending USB 2, USB 3, and USB C with active extension cables: Active USB extension cables have chipsets at the equipment end and sometimes in the middle of the cable. These chipsets clean up and regenerate the digital USB signals to prevent errors from occuring. If you have USB 3 devices such as USB 3 Webcams USB 3 flash drives USB 3 Ethernet adapters USB 3 over-the-air TV tuners or cell phones that act like USB Ethernet adapters for tethering, do not connect them to active USB 2 cables. USB 3 devices will often cause active USB 2 extension cables to overheat. Instead, connect USB 3 devices to active USB 3 extension cables. See http://aztcs/meeting_notes/winhardsig/USB3/USB-extending.pdf USB 3 extension cables work fine for extending USB 2 devices such as USB keyboards, USB mice, USB Webcams, USB 2 flash drives, USB 2 external hard drives, and USB 2 external hard drive ures with a standardized total cable length of 5 meters written into the USB 2 standards and a standardized total cable length of 3 meters (9.8 feet) that was originally written into the USB 2 standards. However, for USB 3 external hard drives, USB 3 external hard drive enclosures, and other USB 3 devices, you will have to determine if a specific USB 3 device works with a specific total length of USB 3 extension cable and a specific USB 3 port on your computer or USB 3 hub. To do so, you can use the free "USBTreeView" program to view the stablity and signalling rate of a specific USB 3 external hard drive or a specific USB 3 hard drive enclosure. To download "USBTreeView", go to the bottom of the Web page at http://www.uwe-sieber.de/usbtreeview_e.html "USBTreeView" is especially useful for detecting problems with USB 3 ports and USB 3 devices: When you have a USB 3 device attached to a USB 3 port and the port type changes from "3.0" to "2.0" or a USB 3 device disappears from view entirely, a failure of the attached USB 3 devices, or the connecting USB 3 cable or the USB 3 port is imminent. You can determined which of these three items is about to fail by substituting with a "known good" USB 3 port, a "known good" (or shorter) USB 3 cable, or a "known good" USB 3 device. Wi-Fi 6E will alleviate RF congestion by providing new channels in the 6 Gigahertz radio band: http://aztcs/meeting_notes/winhardsig/networks/Wi-Fi6E.pdf Wi-Fi 6 versus Wi-Fi 5 versus 802.11n versus Gigabit Ethernet: http://aztcs/meeting_notes/winhardsig/networks/Wi-Fi6vs5vs4vsGigEnet.pdf Using the free "Speedtest.net" apps or Website to measure Internet Speeds To Remediate Bottlenecks In Your Local Network: Your broadband Internet download and upload speeds will usually be much slower than the speeds at which the network devices on your local network run at. However, many home and business networks have old, tired network components that bottleneck your actual Internet speeds below what the Internet provider is providing at the broadband modem which is actually available at the Internet "point of entry" . To prevent the components of your local network (routers, switches, powerline links, etc.) from bottlenecking the Internet bandwidth that your Internet Service Provider (ISP) provides you, measure the Internet bandwidth speeds and the local area network speeds at various locations in your Local Area Network (LAN) as described in http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/networks/bottlenecks/bottlenecks.pdf	Computer Pros SIG Meeting of the Tucson Computer Society on 12-18-2020 and Meeting of the WINdows usERS Computer User Group of Irvine, California on 07-28-2018 and Windows 10/ Hardware SIG of the Tucson Computer Society on 08-01-2018
0-Free Video Editing Apps for "Windows..", "macOS", and "..Linux.." Computers is available at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/videoedit/0-video-edit-options.pdf 1-A Rigorous Evaluation Process for Evaluating Video Editing Apps is available at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/videoedit/1-video-edit-eval.pdf 2-Media Files For Testing Video Editing Apps are described at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/videoedit/2-videoedit-media-files.pdf The actual media files that we used are available as a ZIP file at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/videoedit/SampleMediaFiles.zip 3-Basic Information for Using Video Editing Apps is available at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/videoedit/3-videoedit-basics.pdf "Microsoft Clipchamp" is a very powerful program that has a watermark-free free version for "Windows 11", "Windows 10", "macOS", and ..Linux.. Information about using "Microsoft Clipchamp" in "Windows.." is available at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/videoedit/Clipchamp/Clipchamp-Windows.pdf --------------- Information about using "Microsoft Clipchamp" in "Ubuntu" Linux is available at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/videoedit/Clipchamp/Clipchamp-Ubuntu.pdf --------------- Information about using "Microsoft Clipchamp" in a "ChromeOS Flex" computer is available at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/videoedit/Clipchamp/Clipchamp-ChromeOS.pdf --------------- Information about using "Microsoft Clipchamp" in "macOS" is available at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/videoedit/Clipchamp/Clipchamp-macOS.pdf "Kdenlive" is a very powerful video editing app that works in Windows.., ..Linux, and "macOS". Basic information about using "Kdenlive" is available at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/videoedit/Kdenlive/Kdenlive-basics.pdf NCH's "Videopad" app is a user-friendly program that is free for non-commercial home use as described at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/videoedit/VideoPad/VideoPad.pdf	"Wednesday Workshop" of the APCUG on 07-26-2023 and General Meeting of the Durham PC Users Club of Oshawa, Ontario, Canada on 07-13-2020 and General Meeting of the Tucson Computer Society on 02-17-2020
If you have a spare computer that is tool old or slow for Windows.. or Linux.., you can install the free "ChromeOS Flex" into it to turn it into a "do-it-yourself "Chromebook" as explained at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/linuxsig/chromebooks/ChromeOSflex.pdf	General Meeting of the Tucson Computer Society on 02-21-2022
1-Data Recovery from Hard Drives and SSDs is explained in detail at https://aztcs.apcug.org/winhardsig/harddrives/recover-data/1-recover-data.pdf ------------- 2-USB adapters for connecting various types of Hard Drives and SSDs are described at https://aztcs.apcug.org/winhardsig/harddrives/2-USB-adapters-to-connect-drive.pdf ------------- 3-Not-Free Professional Software and Cleanroom Operations For Recovering Data Files From Failed Hard Drives: If the above procedures fail to restore the hard drive and the hard drive has data that you or the end-user deem worth spending one to five thousand dollars to recover, On-Track's not-free software for recovering data from hard drives is described at https://www.ontrack.com/en-us/data-recovery/software If their proprietary not-free software fails to recover the data files, you then have the option of ship the hard drive to their clean room operation in Minnesota where they will open it up, read each platter in specialized equipment. Then they use their proprietary computers to reconstruct the data files on the hard drive. Then they ship the recovered data back to you on external hard drives or DVD-R discs. See http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9022458/Surviving_a_home_data_disaster_How_Shirley_got_her_files_back?pageNumber=1 where Ontrack's software was used successfully and the author was able to retrieve 10 years of data files from a failed hard drive without having to send the drive to Ontrack's clean room in Minnesota. ------------ Driversavers is a highly-rated cleanroom service for recovering data from failed hard drives. They do not have any proprietary software to sell you but their clean-room operation is very competent. Their Website is locate at http://www.drivesaversdatarecovery.com	Meeting of the SouthEastern Michigan Computer Organization on 07-09-2023 and Windows 10 / Hardware SIG Meeting on 09-04-2019
RESTORING DATA FROM EXTERNAL HARD DRIVES AND EXTERNAL SSDs External hard drives and external SSDs usually fail faster than internal hard drives and internal SSDs because of the horrible "USB-to-SATA"controller boards that are placed inside them. For external hard drives that have "USB-to-SATA" controller boards, you can take advantage of this by "shucking" the entombed internal hard drive or SSD and using a separate USB-to-SATA adapter to extract data from the embeded hard drive as explained above at https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/windhardsig/harddrives/external/recovering-ext-drives.pdf "CrystalDiskInfo Portable" is available for free at https://portableapps.com/apps/utilities/crystaldiskinfo_portable For videos that show you how to disassemble specific models of external hard drives and external SSDs please see https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/windhardsig/harddrives/external/disassembly-external-drives.pdf If removing the "USB-to-SATA" controller board of an external hard drive or an external SSD does not resolve the problem, you can then go through the logical steps for recovering data from the formerly-embedded internal hard drive or SSDs as described at https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/windhardsig/harddrives/recover-data/1-recover-data.pdf You can build your own external USB hard drives that can outlast the ones that are currently sold at retail by following the advice at https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/harddrives/external/DY-ext-drives.pdf You can avoid the costs of buying USB drive adapters for do-it-yourself external USB drives by installing long SATA data cables and SATA power extension cables from inside your computer to normally-internal SATA hard drives and SSDs that are located outside of a computer by following the advice at https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/harddrives/external/addiging-ext-internal-drives.pdf	Meeting of the SouthEastern Michigan Computer Organization on 07-09-2023 and General Meeting of the Madison PC Users Group on 02-08-2023
Radical "Surgery" to Extend the Life of Failed Hard Drives: If you are unable to recover the data files from a failed hard drive and it's platters are still spinning, you can sometimes use "Disk Management" in "Windows" to create partitions to "block out" the bad sections of the hard drive, in order to extend the userful life of the hard drive. See Perform Radical Surgery on a Hard Drive in Order to Extend Its Useful Service Life at https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/harddrives/repairing/080-HDradicalsurgeryrepair.pdf"	Meeting of the SouthEastern Michigan Computer Organization on 07-09-2023 and Windows 10 / Hardware SIG Meeting on 09-04-2019
WIPING "WINDOWS.." HARD DRIVES TO PREPARE THEM FOR DONATION OR GIFTING is available at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/harddrives/wipe-free-space/hard-drive-wiping.pdf: If you want to give away a computer and/or it's hard drive, you have a choice of whether to give away the hard drive with the computer. If you decide to give away the hard drive with the computer, you have to decide if you want to give away the legal copy of Windows.. on the hard drive. If you want to give away the legal copy of Windows.. that is on a hard drive, then you also need to remove your data files and photos and then "wipe free space" on the hard drive to make sure that the recipient of the computer cannot recover any data files are lurking in the "free space" of the hard drive. The "uninstaller" wizards that are bundled with most "Desktop apps" (that "Programs and Features" in the Control Panel utilizes to remove software) leave all sorts of junk in both your the "Registry" of "Windows.." and on the C: hard drive: To do a really clean uninstall of a "desktop app" or a "Universal Windows Platform app" in a "Windows.." computer, use the free "Revo Uninstaller Portable" program. See http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/uninstaller/RevoUninstallerPortable.pdf	Meeting of the PCBUG-Naples Technology User Group on 06-17-2021 and Windows 10 / Hardware SIG of the Tucson Computer Society on 11-21-2019
"Windows 11" activation and "Windows 10" activation is way different from any version of "Windows.." prior to "Windows 10"!! See http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/win11/activation/win11&10activation.pdf If you use a purchased a "Windows 11 product key" to activate a newly-installed or upgraded copy of "Windows 11", you will still have a "Digital License". If you link your Microsoft Account to your Windows account, you get the ability to use the "Activation Troubleshooter" in "Windows 11" to activate after changing out your computer's motherboard. However, you then have to log into "Windows 11" with your "Microsoft Account". If you go back to logging into "Windows 11" with a "Local Account", you lose your ability to use the "Windows 11 Activation Troubleshooter" to change your computer's motherboard. Activation for product versions of "Windows.." prior to "Windows 10.." is much more complex as explained at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/win/windows-activation.pdf The activation process for "Windows 11.." differs depending on the "Product Key Channel" that a specific copy of "Windows 11.." is sold from. For the end-user of a "Windows 11.." computer, their are three possible "Product Key Channels": Retail channel, OEM_DM channel (= "Original Equipment Manufacturer_Direct to Manufacturer") and OEM_COA_NSLP channel (="Original Equipment Manufacturer_Certificate of Authenticity_Non-System Locked Pre-installation" = "OEM System Builder") For details on how each one of these "channels" result in an activated "instance" of "Windows 10", see http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/win10/activation/win10-channels.pdf where we explain that the 25-character "Activation Keys" that are stored in the Registry in "Windows 10.." are of no actual use to the user of a "Windows 10.." computer. For organizations that buy lots of copies of "Windows..", there are two volume licensing channels: "Volume_MAK" channel (= "Multiple Activation Key") and "Volume_KMS" channel (="Key Management Services")	Meetings of the WINdows usERS Computer User Group of Costa Mesa California on 03-20-2019
For more details on how activation works for both "Windows 11" and "Windows 10" please see http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/win11/activation/win11&10activation.pdf	General Meeting of the Tucson Computer Society on 06-19-2022 and General Meeting of the Tucson Computer Society on 06-19-2022
USING YOUR WINDOWS.. OR LINUX COMPUTER, YOU CAN TAKE CONTROL OF AN ANDROID CELL PHONE Using two no-cost software apps, an Android cell phone will show up in a Windows 11 or 10 computer or in a Linux computer as a window that looks exactly like the screen of the Android phone. From this window, you can make and receive phone calls and text messages and operate all of the apps that are inside the cell phone: 1--CONTROLLING AN ANDROID CELL PHONE FROM A WINDOWS.. OR LINUX.. COMPUTER: http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/cell-phones/pc-control/1-control-android-from-Win-or-Linux.pdf 2A--CONTROLLING AN ANDROID CELL PHONE USING "PHONE LINK" IN A "WINDOWS.." COMPUTER WITH THE CELL PHONE CONNECTED VIA Wi-Fi TO A LOCAL ROUTER: http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/cell-phones/pc-control/2-a-PhoneLink-via-Wi-Fi-to-router.pdf 2B--CONTROLLING AN ANDROID CELL PHONE USING "PHONE LINK" IN A "WINDOWS.." COMPUTER WITH THE CELL PHONE CONNECTED WITH AN ETHERNET DONGLE TO A LOCAL ROUTER: http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/cell-phones/pc-control/2-b-PhoneLink-via-enet-to-router.pdf 2C--CONTROLLING AN ANDROID CELL PHONE USING "PHONE LINK" IN A "WINDOWS.." COMPUTER, WITH THE WITH THE "WINDOWS.." COMPUTER AND THE CELL PHONE CONNECTED TO EACH OTHER OVER THE INTERNET, AND WITH THE CELL PHONE CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET USING IT'S "DATA PLAN": http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/cell-phones/pc-control/2-c-PhoneLink-via-DataPlan.pdf 3--CONTROLLING AN ANDROID CELL PHONE USING "scrcpy" IN WINDOWS.. OR LINUX: http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/cell-phones/pc-control/3-control-android-with-scrcpy.pdf The newer "Universal Windows Platform" Apps (such as the "Phone Link" app in Windows 11 or 10) will not allow you to right click on them to place a shortcut into the Windows 11, 10, or 8 "Desktop". To create shortcuts to all apps in Windows 11,10, or 8, you have to run "shell:appsfolder" in a "Run" command box as explained at https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/cell-phones/pc-control/Making-Shortcuts-to-apps-in-Win11&10&8.pdf	PC-Tech Users Group of Burnt Hills, NY on 06-15-2022 and General Meeting of the Central Florida Computer Society on 06-12-2022 and General Meeting of the Tucson Computer Society on 11-15-2021
For more details on how activation works for both "Windows 11" and "Windows 10" please see http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/win11/activation/win11&10activation.pdf You can run Ubuntu Linux or another other distribution of Linux inside a virtual machine inside various configurations of "virtual machine program" and host operating systems as explained at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/linuxsig/Ubuntu-as-VM-guest/Ubuntu-as-VM-guest.pdf Real Uses For A "Ubuntu Desktop" Linux computer Or Virtual Machine: 1. If you want to connect a Ubuntu Linux computer to a Wi-Fi "Wireless Access Point", you will have to install a Wi-Fi adapter as described at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/linuxsig/networks/Wi-Fi-adapter-Ubuntu.pdf 2. Printing to printers with an "Ubuntu.." Linux computer. 3: Scanning paper documents and hard copy photos with a "Ubuntu.." Linux computer, using the free "XSane" app or the not-free "VueScan" app. 4: Sending and receiving faxes with a "Ubuntu.." Linux computer, using the free "efax-gtk" app is explained at https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/add-ons/fax/fax-Ubuntu.pdf 5. Watching over-the-air television with a "Ubuntu.." Linux computer, using the free "Kaffeine" app	General Meeting of the Tucson Computer Society on 06-19-2022
Using Your Computer to Scan Paper Documents and Photos You can turn paper documents and photos into high-resolution computer files by using a flat-bed scanner to scan them into the hard drive(s) of a computer. Detailed information about scanning with a "Windows.." computer is available at https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/add-ons/scanners/scanning-Win-GIMP.pdf Detailed information about scanning with a "Ubuntu" Linux computer is available at https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/add-ons/scanners/scanning-Ubuntu.pdf	General Meeting of the Tucson Computer Society on 05-15-2023
A video of the George Harding's report on "CES 2023" is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5yA94LPPeE A video of the Pre-CES 2023 "Technology Trends" keynote speech is available at https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/2023-01-03-CES2023.mp4	General Meetings of the Tucson Computer Society on 03-20-2023 and 02-20-2023
"WINDOWS SUBSYSTEM FOR LINUX" (WSL) is described in step-by-step detail at https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/linuxsig/WSL/WSL.pdf	General Meeting of the Tucson Computer Society on 01-16-2023
Physical Security for Computers and Network Equipment: Three Models of Security Slots on Laptops as explained at https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/windhardsig/physical-security/physical-hardware.pdf	General Meeting of the Tucson Computer Society on 11-21-2022
Relocate Your Document and Photo Files to a Bigger Drive is explained at http://www.aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/win/easier/known-folders-relocate/to-another-drive Simple techniques for making your "Windows.." computer easier to use are explained at http://www.aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/win/easier/win-easier1.pdf You can dispense wih the complexity of dual-booting by installing Linux on an extenal USB hard drive or an extenal USB SSD. Then, if you set USB drives to have a higher boot priority relative to the existing Windows hard drive, you computer will boot up into Linux whenever the USB drive that has Linux installed in it is attahed to a USB port of the computer as explained at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/linuxsig/boot-up-options/Linux-boot-up-Win-PC.pdf: A detailed description of the Four Types of Software Apps in a Windows.. computer is available at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/software/program-types-win.pdf The "uninstaller" wizards that are bundled with most "Desktop apps" and "Windows Apps" leave all sorts of junk in both your Registry of "Windows.." and on your C: hard drive: To do a really clean uninstall of a "desktop app" or a "Windows app" in a "Windows.." computer, use the free "Revo Uninstaller Portable" program. See http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/uninstaller/RevoUninstallerPortable.pdf To make a desktop shortcut to a "Windows App", you have to use the shell:appsfolder command from a "Run" box, as explained step-by-step at https://www.techrepublic.com/article/how-to-use-the-shell-command-to-view-all-your-applications-in-file-explorer/ Malware often "hides" in hidden files and folders so please make sure that your computer is displaying hidden files and file extensions by following our procedure in how how-to document called "Some Simple Techniques For Making 'Windows..' Easier To Use" at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/win/easier/win-easier1.pdf	General Meeting of the Tucson Computer Society on 09-19-2022
To do any serious work with an Android app, you will probably have to run it inside a "Windows.." computer: Here are the ways that you can do it now and in the future as explained at https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/windhardsig/Android-emulate/AndroidAppsInWindows.pdf.pdf	General Meeting of the Tucson Computer Society on 04-18-2022
"Windows.." Operating System Numbering is explained at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/win11/WindowsOSnumbering.pdf The "uninstaller" wizards that are bundled with most "Desktop apps" (that "Programs and Features" in the Control Panel utilizes to remove software) leave all sorts of junk in both your Registry of "Windows.." and on your C: hard drive: To do a really clean uninstall of a "desktop app" or a "Universal Windows Platform app" in a "Windows.." computer, use the free "Revo Uninstaller Portable" program. See http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/uninstaller/RevoUninstallerPortable.pdf Simple techniques for making your "Windows.." computer easier to use are explained at http://www.aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/win/easier/win-easier1.pdf There are three kinds of apps (= programs) inside your Windows 11, 10, or 8 computer: UWP Apps, Legacy Programs, and Portable Apps as explained at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/email/UWP-vs-legacy-apps.pdf To make a desktop shortcut to a UWP app, you have to use the shell:appsfolder command, as explained step-by-step at https://www.techrepublic.com/article/how-to-use-the-shell-command-to-view-all-your-applications-in-file-explorer/	Program Meeting of the Rochester Computer Society on 12-14-2021 and General Meeting of the Tucson Computer Society on 10-18-2021 and Meeting of the Sun City Center Computer Club of Florida, California on 10-13-2021 and Meeting of the SouthEastern Michigan Computer Organization on 10-10-2021
For basic general instructions on how prepare "target" files and/or folders in your Windows.. computer so that other computers that are connected to the same router can access your "target" shared files and/or folders, see http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/FileSharing/0-prep-file-or-folder-sharing-in-Win.pdf For basic general instructions on how to use a "Windows.. " computer to access files and/or folders that are shared from another "Windows.." computer that is connected to the same router, see http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/FileSharing/1-basics-share-Win.pdf	General Meeting of the Tucson Computer Society on 09-20-2020 and Meeting of the WINdows usERS Computer User Group of Irvine, California on Feb. 24, 2018
For detailed advice on Troubleshooting Printer Problems in a "Windows.." computer, see http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/printers/printer-fix-win.pdf For our advice on Troubleshooting Printer Problems in a "MacOS" computer, see http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/printers/printer-fix-mac.pdf Issues and Workarounds for Setting Up Printers: See http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/printers/printers--workarounds.pdf If you are unable to make changes to a printer in a printer inside "Devices and Printers" in Windows 7, 8.1, or 10, locate and click on the "Change Properties" button for the printer: See http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/printers/Change-Properties-button-Win.pdf If your printer is backed up with a stack of print jobs, here is a procedure for you to clear out the pile of pending print jobs in a Windows.. computer: See http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/printers/Print-queue-win.pdf	General Meeting of the Wisconsin All-Computer Users Club on 07-05-2018 and Meeting of the WINdows usERS Computer User Group of Irvine, California on 04-28-2018 and Windows 8 / Hardware SIG of the Tucson Computer Society on 01-02-2013
Free Up The C: Drive in "Windows 10" or "Windows 11" us explained at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/win10/free-up-C-drive/win10-free-up-C-drive.pdf	General Meeting of the Tucson Computer Society on 06-21-2021
Linux Distributions: Usage Share Versus distrowatch.com "Interest Level" Rankings are explained at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/linuxsig/Linux-usage-share.pdf	General Meeting of the Tucson Computer Society on 01-18-2021 < br />
WAYS TO RUN REALLY OLD SOFTWARE PROGRAMS INSIDE YOUR "WINDOWS 10.." OR "WINDOWS 7.." COMPUTER see http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/win10/old-software.pdf USING "VMWARE WORKSTATION PLAYER" TO RUN A FREE, TIME-LIMITED COPY OF "WINDOWS 10.." IN A "VIRTUAL MACHINE" INSIDE THE FREE "VMWARE WORKSTATION PLAYER" PROGRAM INSIDE A REAL "WINDOWS.." COMPUTER: "Big Step 100": Install the free "VMware Workstation Player" program into a "Windows.." host computer, see http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/virtual machines/vmware-1-installing.pdf "Big Step 200": Create a new "virtual machine" by using the "VMware Workstation Player" program, see http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/virtual machines/vmware-2-createVM.pdf "Big Step 300": Install "Windows.."into a "virtual machine" , see http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/virtual machines/vmware-3B-install-Win10EntEval.pdf "Big Step 400": Install "VMware Tools" into a "Windows.." "virtual machine" , see http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/virtual machines/ vmware-4B-install-VMwareTools-to-Win10.pdf	Meeting of the WINdows usERS Computer User Group of Irvine, California on 03-20-2019
Using A Cell Phone to Provide a Video Camera for a Computer: See http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/cell-phones/cell-tether-plus-cam-for-Win.pdf Using "Skype" As a "NannyCam": You can set up a computer with a copy of Skype that auto-answers the calls that you make to it as described at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/Skype/Skype-auto-answer.pdf	Meeting of the WINdows usERS Computer User Group of Irvine, California on 07-12-2014
RESOLVING SOUND ISSUES IN "WINDOWS.." "Windows 11", "Windows 10", "Windows 8.1", and "Windows 7" computers have many sound-enabled devices that automatically re-configure themselves as "default" when you do not want them to do so. Our explanation of how you can tame this "beast" is available at http://www.aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/win/easier /win-sound.pdf Some computer sound equipment that I recommend is described at http://www.aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/win/easier/computer-sound-equipment.pdf	General Meeting of the Madison PC Users Group on 02-10-2021 and Windows 10 / Hardware SIG of the Tucson Computer Society on 09-06-2017
"Google accounts" and YouTube "..channels": To make the most effective use of a YouTube channel, you need to know the relationships between "Google accounts", Google "Brand accounts", and the two types of YouTube "channels". See http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/Google/Google&YouTube.pdf	East-Central Ohio Technology Users Club on 01-17-2021 and Columbus Computer Society on 01-20-2021
Since "Windows 10..", Microsoft has gradually "deprecated" the ability for you to use "netplwiz" or "control userpasswords2" or "regedit" to make "Windows 11" or "Windows 10" log in automatically. At the present time, the only reliable way to make "Windows 11" or "Windows 10.." log in in automatically during a power-on bootup or a restart is to use Microsoft's "Autologon" utility which can be obtained at https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/autologon	Windows../ Hardware segment of the General Meeting of of the Tucson Computer Society on 01-18-2021 and Windows 10 / Hardware SIG of the Tucson Computer Society on 06-06-2018 and 03-07-2018 and Meeting of the WINdows usERS Computer User Group of Irvine, California on Feb. 24, 2018
CLOUD STORAGE SERVICES is available at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/cloudstorage/cloudstorage.pdf USING THE "GOOGLE DRIVE" CLOUD STORAGE SERVICE is available at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/cloudstorage/GoogleDrive.pdf USING THE "ONEDRIVE" CLOUD STORAGE SERVICE is available at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/cloudstorage/OneDrive.pdf USING THE "DROPBOX" CLOUD STORAGE SERVICE is available at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/cloudstorage/Dropbox.pdf USING THE "BOX" CLOUD STORAGE SERVICE is available at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/cloudstorage/Box.pdf USING THE "SYNC.COM" CLOUD STORAGE SERVICE is available at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/cloudstorage/Sync.com.pdf The "uninstaller" wizards that are bundled with most "Desktop apps" (that "Programs and Features" in the Control Panel utilizes to remove software) leave all sorts of junk in both your Registry of "Windows.." and on your C: hard drive: To do a really clean uninstall of a "desktop app" or a "Universal Windows Platform app" in a "Windows.." computer, use the free "Revo Uninstaller Portable" program. See http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/uninstaller/RevoUninstallerPortable.pdf	Meetings of the PC Community Computer Users Group at Hayward in California, USA on 01-08-2021 and 07-16-2019 and General Meeting of Wisconsin All-computer Users Club of Milwaukee on 09-03-2020 and Meeting of the Under the Computer Hood Users Group on 08-05-2020 and Four Seasons Computer and Technology Club in Beaumont, California on 05-12-2020 and Windows 10 / Hardware SIG of the Tucson Computer Society on 05-21-2020 and Meeting of the Villages Computer Club at Lynx Creek at Dewey, AZ on 07-16-2019 and General Meeting of the Sarasota Technology Users Group on 07-10-2019 and General Meeting of the Sun City Shadow Hills Computer Club on 03-04-2016 and Windows 10 / Hardware SIG of the Tucson Computer Society on 03-08-2016
Image backups of Hard Drives in "Windows.." Computers Our objective advice about image backups and restores for internal hard drives of Windows.. computers is available at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/software/utils/image-backup/image-backup.pdf	Window 10 / Hardware SIG Meeting of the Tucson Computer Society on 04-23-2019
Free Photo Editing Apps for "Windows..", "macOS", "iOS", "iPadOS", "Android", and "..Linux.." are described at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/photoedit/photoediting-free-basics.pdf Adjustments for Improving Digital Photos is available at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/photoedit/photoedit-adjustments.pdf Photo Editing Apps: A Rigorous Evaluation Process" is available at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/photoedit/photoedit-eval.pdf Photo Editing Apps for "Windows..": A Capabilities Comparison is available at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/photoedit/photoedit-free-Win10-compare.pdf Microsoft's "Photos" App can be used without cost since it is bundled in any "Windows 11.." or "Windows 10.." computer as described at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/photoedit/Photos-app-in-Win10.pdf Google's "Google Photos" can be used without cost in any "Windows.." computer as described at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/photoedit/GooglePhotos.pdf "GIMP" is a very powerful program that is also free as described at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/photoedit/GIMP.pdf Creating JPG Photo Files versus Creating RAW Photo Files is described at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/photoedit/photoedit-jpg-vs-raw.pdf	General Meeting of Wisconsin All-computer Users Club of Milwaukee on 11-05-2020
USB-C USB-C ports started showing up in computers about 4 years ago. A "USB-C" port is an ovoid rectangle that is about one quarter the size of a USB 3 Type A port. However, it is actually a USB 2 port, a USB 3.1 port, a Thunderbolt 3 port, an HDMI port, an audio port, a Displayport port, a charging-only port or any combination of the previously-listed port types. The exact capabilities of any specific USB-C port in any specific computer that you buy will be determined by the manufacturer of the computer. These wonderful new features or horrible complexities (depending on your point of view) are explained at http://www.aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/USB3/USB-C.pdf USB-C's "Audio Adapter Accessory Mode": USB-C's "Audio Adapter Accessory Mode" allows USB-C ports to accept audio signals from wired headsets that have TRS plugs or a TRRS plug when an "Audio Adapter Accessory Mode" converter is used to connect the TRS/TRRS plug(s) of the analog headset to the host's USB-C port. This capability is used on some of the less-expensive Android cell phones. This analog signal mode for USB-C is explained at http://www.aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/USB3/USB-C-AudioAdapterAccMode.pdf Thunderbolt 3 devices are not always plug-and-play: You sometimes have to fire up the "Thunderbolt" app in a computer and click on a problematic "Thunderbolt" device to turn it on. If you do not know this, you might get the impression that a newly-inserted Thunderbolt 3 device is defective. For step-by-step instructions on how to jump-start a problematic Thunderbolt 3 device, please see http://www.aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/USB3/Thunderbolt3fix.pdf	Meeting of the Under the Computer Hood Users Group on 08-05-2020 and Windows 10 / Hardware SIG of the Tucson Computer Society on 09-06-2017
A detailed overview of FREE SOFTWARE FOR A "WINDOWS.." COMPUTER is available at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/software/software-free.pdf A detailed description of the FOUR TYPES OF APPS IN A "WINDOWS.." COMPUTER is available at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/software/program-types-win.pdf:	Program Meeting of the Rochester Computer Society on 11-12-2019
We have discovered that you can build a much more reliable "external hard drive" by buying and the assembling the following parts, which are sold separately. If you "home brew" your own external hard drives, you will also save money relative to the cost of buying either an external hard drive enclosure or buying an external hard drive. Here are the parts that you need to buy: An internal SATA hard drive, a fan assembly that bolts onto the internal SATA hard drive, and a SATA-to-USB 3.x adapter. Our how-to instructions for "growing your own" external hard drives or external hard drive enclosures can be found at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/harddrives/external/DYU-ext-USB-drives.pdf When they break, most external USB hard drives can be repaired or recovered from if you follow the brilliant technical advice at https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-6121 When a part inside an external hard drive or an external SSD breaks, you can save money and end up with a more reliable device if you substitute quality third-party parts as described at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/harddrives/external/Parts-for-external.pdf You can use the free and non-intrusive "CrystalDiskInfoPortable" to check the S.M.A.R.T. readings for most internal and external hard drives as described at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/harddrives/CrystalDiskInfoPortable.pdf	Windows 10 / Hardware SIG of the Tucson Computer Society on 09-05-2018 and Meeting of the WINdows usERS Computer User Group of Irvine, California on 04-28-2018
You can use the free and non-intrusive "CrystalDiskInfo" to check the S.M.A.R.T. readings for most internal and external hard drives as described at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/harddrives/CrystalDiskInfoPortable.pdf Using the free "Speedtest.net" apps or Website to measure Internet Speeds To Remediate Bottlenecks In Your Local Network: Your broadband Internet download and upload speeds will usually be much slower than the speeds at which the network devices on your local network run at. However, many home and business networks have old, tired network components that bottleneck your actual Internet speeds below what the Internet provider is providing at the broadband modem at the Internet "point of entry" . To prevent the components of your local network (routers, switches, powerline links, etc.) from bottlenecking the Internet bandwidth that your Internet Service Provider (ISP) provides you, measure the Internet bandwidth speeds and the local area network speeds at various locations in your Local Area Network (LAN) as described in http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/networks/bottlenecks/bottlenecks.pdf Getting into the UEFI (formerly called BIOS) configuration screens in "Windows 11" or "Windows 10": Two ways to get into the UEFI configuration screens in "Windows 11" or "Windows 10": METHOD ONE: Use the computer manufacturer's proprietary key sequence during the power up of the computer. METHOD TWO: Use the buttons inside the "Settings" function inside "Windows 11" or "Windows 10.." as follows: Use the left mouse button to click on the "Start button". The "Start Menu" will show up. Click on the "Settings" icon. (It looks like a gear wheel.) Click on "Update & Security". Click on "Recovery". Click on "Advanced startup". Click on the "Restart now" button. Click on "Troubleshoot--Reset your PC or see advanced options". Click on "Advanced options". Click on "UEFI Firmware Settings". Click on "Restart".	Meeting of the WINdows usERS Computer User Group of Irvine, California on 07-28-2018 and Windows 10/ Hardware SIG of the Tucson Computer Society on 08-01-2018
Most power supplies in Windows and Linux desktop computers conform to or are close to adhering to Intel's ATX and ATX 12V standards. For our advice on replacing ATX.. power supplies, see http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/ATX/ATX-PS.pdf	Windows 10 / Hardware SIG of the Tucson Computer Society on 03-07-2018 and Meeting of the WINdows usERS Computer User Group of Irvine, California on Feb. 24, 2018 and
For our advice on how you can fix "Windows Update" in a "Windows 7" computer, See http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/WindowsUpdate/Win7UpdateFix.pdf For our advice on how you can fix "Windows Update" in a "Windows 11" or "Windows 10" computer, See http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/WindowsUpdate/Win10UpdateFix.pdf For our advice on how you can fix "Windows Update" in a "Windows 8.1" computer, See http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/WindowsUpdate/Win8.1UpdateFix.pdf	Meeting of the WINdows usERS Computer User Group of Irvine, California on 01-27-2018 and Windows 10 / Hardware SIG of the Tucson Computer Society on 02-07-2018
Super Secure Web Surfing with a Virtual Machine and a Two-Router "DMZ" Configuration At Your Home or Business: SECURE WEB ACCESS WITH A "VMWARE" VIRTUAL MACHINE AND A TWO-ROUTER "DE-MILITARIZED ZONE" (DMZ)	Windows 10 / Hardware SIG of the Tucson Computer Society on 11-01-2017 and 04-05-2017
The United States' Federal government information resource for identity theft is located at https://www.usa.gov/identity-theft Identifying and Managing Suspicious Email Messages See http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/email/email-suspicious.pdf To check out suspicious buttons and hyperlinks at Web sites and in email to see the URL that the button or hyperlink is trying to take you to. You might have to turn on the bottom status bar and/or maximize the browser or email Window in order to see the bottom status bar. Use the "Task Manager" in "Windows.." to close down a stuck or suspicious browser display by either pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc or right-clicking on unused space on the Task Bar and then selecting "Task Manager". Use the "Force Quit" function in MacOS by pressing Command + Option + Esc in MacOS to close down a stuck or suspicious browser display.	Windows 10 / Hardware SIG of the Tucson Computer Society on 09-06-2017 and 04-05-2017
Email Basics Email--Advanced Techniques "Google Takeout" Website Allows You to Download All of Your Gmail Into a Single Mbox File	Meeting of the WINdows usERS Computer User Group of Irvine, California on 08-26-2017 and Main Meeting of the North Orange County Computer Club on 08-06-2017 and Windows 10 / Hardware SIG of the Tucson Computer Society on 08-02-2017
For our advice on how you can silence your noisy computer, See http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/computer-noise/computer-noise.pdf	Meeting of the WINdows usERS Computer User Group of Irvine, California on 05-27-2017 and Windows 10 / Hardware SIG of the Tucson Computer Society on 06-07-2017
The computer industry's "elegant solution" to secure remote access is called "Virtual Private Network" (VPN). Almost every medium-to-large sized company, government entity, and not-for-profit institution including educational institutions uses privately-created and privately-hosted VPNs to provide employees, students, and contractors with remote access to their internal and cloud-based computer resources. VPNs were originally intended to provide secure remote access into local area network resources such as servers, printers, and mainframes. This technology has been adapted for private computer users as "VPN services": "VPN services" give you an extra measure of security by protecting you from the more common hacks such as "man in the middle" spying, "Evil Twin" wireless access points, and WiFi over-the-air recordings with free tools such as "WireShark". "VPN services" reduce most of the risk of using public Internet access by encrypting the near end of the Internet connection-- where you first connect to a public Internet service. However, with the exception of the VPN that is part of the "Opera 40" Web browser, all "VPN services" reduce data throughput relative to what a "raw" Internet connection is capable of. The terms "VPNs" and "VPN Services" are often used interchangeably so you have to figure out from the context in which these terms are used to determine whether someone means the original VPN (which is a secure remote connection into a Local Area Network" or a "VPN Service" (which is a secure remote connection into the Internet which uses a local area network as an intermediary). Web Sites For Testing Virtual Private Network Services: http://whatismyipaddress.com/ http://www.ip2location.com/ http://www.tracemyip.org/ http://showip.net/ http://www.iplocationfinder.com/ https://www.dnsleaktest.com/ https://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2 Using VPN Services As Temporary Workarounds For Slow Broadband Internet Access: Sometimes you can use free VPN services as a temporary workaround for download and upload slowdowns in broadband Internet access: For example, Comcast cable modem Internet in the Tucson area was very slow on Friday August 9, 2013 through Saturday August 10 with download and upload speeds so slow that they are unmeasurable. When we used the free version of "Hotspot Shield" VPN , we obtained usable Internet download speeds above 20 Megabits per second and upload speeds above 1.5 Megabits per second (via our Comcast cable modems located in Tucson).	Windows 10/ Hardware SIG of the Tucson Computer Society on 05-03-2017 and 10-05-2016 and 06-05-2013 and Meeting of the WINdows usERS Computer User Group of Irvine, California on 09-24-2016 and 09-27-2014
Simple techniques for making your "Windows.." computer easier to use are explained at http://www.aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/win/easier/win-easier1.pdf A YouTube Video of the February 11, 2017 version of the above presentation is available at https://youtu.be/AbNTOcvkBNA More-advanced techniques for making your "Windows.." computer easier to use can be found at http://www.aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/win/easier/win-easier2.pdf	Meeting of the WINdows usERS Computer User Group of Irvine, California on 02-25-2017 and Virtual Technology Conference 23 of the Association of PC User Groups (APCUG) on 02-11-2017 and Windows 10 / Hardware SIG of the Tucson Computer Society on 04-01-2015
Getting into the UEFI configuration screens in "Windows 11" or "Windows 10": Use the left mouse button to click on the "Start button". The "Start Menu" will show up. Click on the "Settings" icon. (It looks like a gear wheel.) Click on "Update & security". Click on "Recovery". Click on "Restart now". (It is in the "Advanced startup" section.) Clock on the Troubleshoot" button. Click on the "Advanced options" button. Click on "UEFI Firmware Settings" button. Click on the "Restart" button.	Meeting of the WINdows usERS Computer User Group of Irvine, California on 01-28-2017 and Windows 10 / Hardware SIG of the Tucson Computer Society on 02-01-2017
Our how-to documentation on "What to Do When Your Computer Will Not Boot--Part 1-The Basics" is available at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/will-not-boot/will-not-boot-part1.pdf	Virtual Technology Conference 22 of the Association of PC User Groups (APCUG) on 11-05-2016 and Meeting of the WINdows usERS Computer User Group of Irvine, California on 12-19-2015
Our how-to documentation on Computer Management in "Windows.." is available at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/computer-management/computer-management.pdf Here are some rigorous, logically-ordered procedures for speeding up any "Windows.." computer: "Speeding Up Windows XP" "Speeding Up Windows Vista" "Speeding Up Windows 7" "Speeding Up Windows 8 and Windows 8.1" "Speeding Up Windows 10" is available at https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/speedupWindows/win10speedup.pdf "Speeding Up Windows 11" is available at https://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/speedupWindows/win11speedup.pdf In addition to the above version-specific procedures, the following procedure applies to any "Windows.." computer: "Turn Off Startup Programs to Speed Up Your Windows Computer"	Meetings of the WINdows usERS Computer User Group of Irvine, California on 10-31-2015 and 06-28-2014 and General Meeting of the Lake Monticello Computer Users Group (LMCUG) on 01-10-2013 and General Meetings of the PC Rams Computer Society on 04-11-2012 and 03-14-2012 and General Meeting of the Boca Raton Computer Society on 12-21-2011 and Windows 8 / Hardware SIG of the Tucson Computer Society on 01-04-2012
Testing USB Ports, Cables, and Devices USB 3 Adapters For Adding USB Ports To An Existing Computer	Meeting of the WINdows usERS Computer User Group of Irvine, California on 04-25-2015 and Windows 10/ Hardware SIG of the Tucson Computer Society on 05-06-2015 and General Meeting of Western New York Computer Society on 10-25-2011
"Speeding Up Windows 10" See http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/speedupWindows/win10speedup.pdf Using the Free "Windows 11 Enterprise Evaluation": See http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/win11/win11enteval.pdf	General Meeting of the Los Angeles Computer Society on 07-12-2016 and Meeting of the California Southland Chapter of the Association of Information Technology Professionals (AITP) on 10-28-2015 and General Meeting of the Tucson Computer Society on 10-19-2015 and Meeting of the WINdows usERS Computer User Group of Irvine, California on 07-25-2015 and Windows 10/ Hardware SIG of the Tucson Computer Society on 09-02-2015
For a general overview of free software and services from the Internet, please see http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/free/free-software-services.pdf	Meeting of the Pikes Peak Computer Application Society on 07-02-2016 and General Meeting of the Tucson Computer Society on 03-21-2011
Sample data files for testing office suite software: samples-TCS.zip contains sample .doc, .docx, .xls, .XLSx, .ppt, and .pptx files samples-Final.zip from OpenXMLDeveloper.org sample_doc.file.doc passworded_sample_doc.file.doc (The password for opening this file is "password". This file was created with "Microsoft Word 2002 SP3"). sample Powerpoint ppt file sample Powerpoint PPSX slide show file	General Meeting of the Tucson Computer Society on 03-21-2011
Macs Versus "Windows.." Computers: For an explanation of how Mac "OS X" computers differ from "Windows.." computers, see http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/mac/OSXvsWindows.pdf: Basic Differences Between Macs and PCs Models of Macs Pricing of Macs User Interface of Macs Two Ways To Run "Windows.." Inside Macs	General Meeting of the Rochester Computer Society on 04-12-2016
Our how-to document on "Using the Task Manager in a Windows Computer" is available at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/Task_Manager/Task_Manager.pdf	Virtual Technology Conference 20 of the Association of PC User Groups (APCUG) on 05-07-2016 and Meeting of the WINdows usERS Computer User Group of Irvine, California on 11-28-2015
Circle.gif is a file for checking the aspect ratio for a computer monitor.	General Meeting of the Tucson Computer Society on 03-21-2011
Our how-to documentation on "Moving Your Monitor-Keyboard-Mouse Farther Away From Your Computer" is available at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/Redmere/redmere-etc.pdf USB 3 extension cables work fine for extending USB 2 devices such as USB keyboards, USB mice, USB Webcams, USB 2 flash drives, USB 2 external hard drives, and USB 2 external hard drive enclosures. However, for USB 3 external hard drives and USB 3 external hard drive enclosures, you will have to determine if a specific model works with a USB 3 extersion cable. To do so, you can use the free "USBTreeView" program to view the stablity and signalling rate of a specific USB 3 external hard drive or a specific USB 3 hard drive enclosure. To download "USBTreeView", go to the bottom of the Web page at http://www.uwe-sieber.de/usbtreeview_e.html Then read the rest of the Web page for instructions on using this useful software utility. "USBTreeView" is especially useful for detecting problems with USB 3 ports and USB 3 devices.	Windows 10 / Hardware SIG of the Tucson Computer Society on 03-02-2015
Email in "Windows 11" and "Windows 10": See http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/win10/win10-email.pdf	General Meetings of the Tucson Computer Society on 10-19-2015 and on 09-21-2015 and General Meeting of the Tucson Computer Society and Meeting of the WINdows usERS Computer User Group of Irvine, California on 07-25-2015 and Windows 10/ Hardware SIG of the Tucson Computer Society on 09-02-2015
Malware often "hides" in hidden files and folders so please make sure that your computer is displaying hidden files and file extensions by following our procedure in how how-to document called "Some Simple Techniques For Making 'Windows..' Easier To Use" at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/win/easier/win-easier1.pdf	Meeting of the WINdows usERS Computer User Group of Irvine, California on 05-23-2015
ENERGY MANAGEMENT FOR YOUR "WINDOWS.." COMPUTER: A COMPARISON OF SLEEP, HYBRID SLEEP, AND HIBERNATE: See http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/energy-mgt/energy-mgt-Wiin.pdf	Windows 8 / Hardware SIG of the Tucson Computer Society on 07-02-2014
Temporary Workarounds For Accessing Inaccessible Web Sites With A Web Browser: Sometimes you can use free or not-free Virtual Private Network (VPN) services to tunnel around your broadband Internet provider's router throttling, blockages and slowdowns. Here in Tucson, Arizona, when our Comcast Cable broadband has slowdowns in their Pima, Arizona router node, we have a 50 percent chance of partially restoring our download and upload speeds by using the free version of "Hotspot Shield" to tunnel past this occasionally-problematic router node. Sometimes when a Website is inaccessible with a Web browser, we can temporarily access it using the Web site's IP address instead of its regular URL address, as described in our "how-to" document entitled Workarounds For Temporary DNS Failures On The World Wide Web.	Windows 8.1 / Hardware SIG on 09-04-2013
Virtual Fax Machine inside Your Computer: FAX TRANSMISSION AND RECEPTION FROM MAC "OS X" FAX TRANSMISSION AND RECEPTION FROM "UBUNTU" GNU/LINUX FAX TRANSMISSION AND RECEPTION FROM "WINDOWS.." Television inside Your Computer: TV INSIDE YOUR "WINDOWS.." PC OR "OS X" MAC TV INSIDE YOUR "UBUNTU" GNU/LINUX COMPUTER Virtual Machines Inside Your Computer: INSTALLING AND USING VIRTUAL MACHINES	Windows 8 / Hardware SIG on 05-01-2013 and Computer Technology Conference on 04-04-2013
For some free printable rulers, see http://www.vendian.org/mncharity/dir3/paper_rulers/ (Do not set your printer for "fit to page" prior to printing these rulers!)	Windows 8 / Hardware SIG Meeting on 06-06-2012
Circle.gif is a file for checking the aspect ratio for a computer monitor. "LillyPond" music notation and "engraving" software was recommended by Board member Paul Scott. "MuseScore" music notation software was recommended by Board member Paul Scott.	General Meeting of the Tucson Computer Society on 03-21-2011
Our detailed explanation about the simulcasting of both ATSC 1.0 television channels and ATSC 3.0 television channels (at least until 2027) for the San Francisco, California area is available at: http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/add-ons/TV/ATSC3-transition-SF.pdf Our detailed advice about over-the-air reception of ATSC television is available at: http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/add-ons/TV/ATSC3-tuner.pdf Three reasonably-priced over-the-air "NextGen" TV tuners were demonstrated at "CES 2024": "Zapperbox" tuner can receive BOTH unencrypted AND encrypted "ATSC 3.0" television channels. However, it is about $300. The "Zinwell ZAT-600B" tuner is $150 and, unlike the other two tuners, it does not require an Internet connection. "ADTH TV" tuner at about $100 is a surprisingly low-priced tuner model that can receive both unencrypted and encrypted TV channels. Using any of these three tuners, you can now receive all three types of free television channels: legacy ATSC 1.0 television channels, newer ATSC 3.0 "Nextgen" unencrypted television channels and even newer ATSC 3.0 "Nextgen" encrypted television channels. The advice for installing the low-cost "ADTH NextGen TV Box" is available at: http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/add-ons/TV/ADTH-tuner.pdf Use the free "CrystalDiskInfo Portable" Windows.. app to monitor the temperature of your internal and external M.2 SSDs as described at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/harddrives/SSDs/M.2/0-crystaldiskinfo-portable.pdf Internal M.2 SSDs either go into motherboard M.2 slots or External M.2 SSD Enclosures as described at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/harddrives/SSDs/M.2/3-Internal-M.2-SSDs-buying.pdf The easiest way to make an existing Windows.. computer dual boot between Windows.. and Linux is to insert an internal M.2 SSD into an external M.2 SSD enclosure that has a powerful fan. Then use a Linux installation CD or DVD or USB thumb drive to install Linux into the external M.2 SSD enclosure. When you want to boot up into Windows.., make sure that the external M.2 SSD enclosure is not attached to the computer. When you want to boot up into Linux.., attach the external M.2 enclosure is attached to the computer. as described at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/harddrives/SSDs/M.2/1-M.2-enclosures.pdf External USB M.2 SSDs will replace the current USB thumb drivess as described at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/harddrives/SSDs/M.2/2-External-M.2-SSDs-buying.pdf Adding Active Cooling To Keep An M.2 SSD from Overheating is available at http://aztcs.apcug.org/meeting_notes/winhardsig/harddrives/SSDs/M.2/M.2-upgrade.pdf	General Meeting of the Tucson Computer Society on 02-20-2024