Stoping WIndows 10 Microsoft Compatibility Telemetry/Remote Telemetry

I noticed I had a process taking 7% of my cpu time, it was called Microsoft Compatibility Telemetry. A search indicated that this was probably sending info to MS and it would not be a big harm to stop it. I found a way of easily doing that on the link below:
https://www.drivereasy.com/knowledge/windows-10-microsoft-compatibility-telemetry-high-disk-usage-solved/
I used Method 1 below, (taken from that site as is, please use at your own risk! All credit goes to the original authors of the above page!)
=============================================:

1) On your keyboard, press the Windows logo key  and R at the same time to invoke a Runcommand.

2) Type gpedit.msc and click OK.
Note: If you cannot find gpedit.msc on your Windows 10, here is the method to got it.

3) Go to Computer Configuration >  Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Data Collection and Preview Builds.

4) Double-click Allow Telemetry.

5) Select Disabled, then click OK.

How to fix the mouse drifting on Windows 10 on a Toshiba Portege Z30-A

I have been struggling with this problem on and off for years (3 years of ownership) and have fixed this in the past by updating drivers, changing ports, etc. It seems that the problem is fixed and then someday, the same thing happens all over again!

In summary, it seems that the problem is related to the accupoint device (that blue dot in the middle of the keyboard). The way the problem seems to be fixed now is by disabling it all together. How? Follow the instructions below:



How?
Double click the touchpad icon on your system tray. (the one with the red cross)

Then, unmark the Use AccuPoint. Please note that if you tap the left top corner of your touch pad you can turn the Touch Pad on and off. and when you turn it on after unmarking the Use Accupoint, it can also turn the AccuPoint back on! So, go ahead, and see the Use Accupoint turn on and then select it off again. After that turning the touchpad on and off will not affect the AccuPoint. (or at least until it happens again and they you will need to repeat this procedure. Good Luck!

Managing iPhone pictures on Windows (10) - How to consolidate content from multiple folders into one?

So you have finally synced your pictures from your phone into your computer (100s or 1000s pictures) and now you have all these folders with multiple pictures in it so you have to go into each and every folder to see its content?

If you are like me and would like to put all of them in one folder (or a smaller number of folders organized by Year or Month)?  In this way, you can can go through those pictures all at once and not need to open one by one.

I am pretty sure someone may have created a command batch for that but this is how I did it:
1) First of all, you need to be careful to not lose data. Think about the situation where multiple folders contain files with the same name, if you simply move those to the same folder while they are in fact different pictures/files you will lose data. So I did check my folder tree first checked my folder first for duplication. I suggest you to do this outside of file explorer. I have used "Duplicate Cleaner" freeware from DigitalVolcano (found on CNET)  The software is free and very fast. Please read the instructions well since you do not want to make any mistakes here.
2) Once you are sure there are no duplication this is how I have consolidated all the pictures into one directory by:

  - Opening the parent folder which has the pictures/sub-folders. Use search to find all the files you want to copy. For that just click on search box (below ribbon on right top side)  (use an operator like *.jpg or click on the ribbon and choose a kind type, for instance kind:=picture). This will do a search on that head folder and all sub-folders and find the pictures or movies, or file (depending on your search). Now, click on Home-ribbon and Select all. This will select all the files. Now you can just click on Move or Copy on the ribbon and transfer the files to the new directory you are creating.

I hope this is clear enough, if not please ask a question on  your comments.

I have compiled this from multiple sources but mainly from an answer I found here and here. If/When I have more time I will try to add some pictures to this instruction.

Solving problem: Windows snipping tool freezes when controlling screen and you can not kill it since task manager does not stay on top

I use Windows snipping tool quite a lot and never had problems before but after I upgraded to Windows 10 I am getting this problem quite often,

The snipping tool freezes when taking control of screen and you can not kill it since task manager does not stay on top of snippingtool. You still have access to taskbar but can not control any window since snipping tool is blocking that.

It took me a while but I found a work around that at least gives you a way to kill snipping tool in the future. You will need to change the setup of task manager first, to make sure it stays on top when running. You can do that by:
1) Hit Ctrl+Shift+Esc to invoke TaskManager
2) On TaskManager menu, select Options-Always on top

In this way if the same problem happens in the future you can still open taskmanager and try to kill snipping tool. I have note tested this yet but will do so and update this blog.

If you have a way to change the stay on top setup while you have the problem please let me know since this would be an even better way. Someone posted this option on the same link I show below but I could not make sense of the instructions:

This happened to me today on Windows 10 when the Snipping Tool froze while making the capture selection. I was able to get the Task Manager to show up by the following:

1. Press the Windows key, then type Task Manager + Enter to open the Task Manager
2. Press the Windows key again to get the Taskbar in focus
3. Right click the system tray icon for the Task Manager and select "Always on top"

BTW, I have compiled this answer based on discussions and suggestions posted here: How to terminate program that takes over the screen.

I found other options but not sure they really work like this recomendation:

Snipping Tool Freezes
Run this command in command-line, and it will work Again:
C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /c echo off | clip

iOS10 Problem - Can not edit a contact found using spotlight search

iOS10 Problem

Not sure if there is an specific option set up for that but I have noticed that I can not edit a contact found using spotlight search as I used to do prior to upgrade to iOS 10.

Before, when clicking on the contact, after search, I would be on the actual contact app and could then edit as needed. Now I can only see the contact and start a call or message or video, or mail or share but not Edit the actual record!

To me this is a pain, since it forces me to go back to contact app, search for the contact again before making any changes to it.

iPhone 6s Plus, iOS 10

Posted on Sep 16, 2016 2:20 PM

I wish I had an answer to this question but I don't. I have posted this to Apple forum here;
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7669223
and will let you know when / if I get a solution.

How to solve: Windows 10’s lock screen time is too short!

By default Windows 10's lock screen times out in 1 minute, what I consider extremelly short specially when plugged in!

As this was too short for me, I tried to change it by modifying the power options but I had not luck, I could not find the appropriate settings for that.

I am glad I found out why and how here.

It seems very odd to me but lock screen time setup is not accessible by default so you will need to use regedit to enable access to this setup. Quite odd but true and if you do it works!

So, now, thanks to How to Geek solution I managed to set my lock screen to whatever fits my preference!

Can not embed a pdf file on a Word document - Error message: "The program used to create this object is AcroExch ...To edit this object, you must install a program that can open the object"

When trying to insert a pdf file as an object on Word I was getting the following or similar message over and over:
 "The program used to create this object is AcroExch. That program is not installed on your computer. To edit this object, you must install a program that can open the object"

I thought the problem was with Word since I had recently updated it to Office 2013 but in fact the problem was related to an ADOBE update and security setting. I am not sure what are the bad security risks take bymaking this change but at least I now can insert a pdf object /file on my word documents. 

The process to Disable Protected Mode in Adobe Reader DC (this option may be on General tab on other versions) is below: 


1.Open Adobe Reader X.
2.From Edit menu select Preferences, Preferences dialog box appears.
3.Select Security category on the list, uncheck or remove tick mark for “Enable protected mode at startup”
Adobe Reader’s Protected Mode will be turned off and now this problem is solved.

I would prefer not to change on this security setting and if you have a better solution please let me know.