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I looked, after reading your post, to see if I have this problem. (I don’t often use the messaging system here so I could have the problem and not be aware of it). I don’t have your problem but I have NO directory! If I wanted to send the same IM to say 10 people and I can’t recall each person’s handle perfectly there is no way to send the message to all ten of them as there is no directory!

This happens in Firefox 91.13.0 ESR and Edge 105.0.1343.42. (I haven’t checked my other browsers).

Will Fastie wrote:

It’s a different project, and we haven’t gotten to it yet. We did change the background by removing the woodgrain, which helped us to increase contrast.

I remember the woodgrain! I was so happy to see it go. I’ll look forward to whenever you do tackle the fonts in the side bar. Thanks for the commitment to readability.

I was confused by this question as I thought most using AskWoody would know that the USER chooses the default font for websites in each browser they use. You also choose the colors for text and background and link colors in each browser. This site being a Webpress site causes me a few problems with link colors but still I will NEVER use Microsoft default garish blue that most sites use as default for any links!

I use Verdana font with Unvisited links in a very nice green shade and a purple shade for Visited links. Some web browsers work better than others if you choose your own colors but all usually honor the font you choose. Browsers usually have a setting to force websites to honor the users link colors only if the user is using high contrast themes (signaling a vision problem) but most sites honor the user’s choice even when they are using regular themes.

I won’t use a browser that will not allow me to choose the font and font size and link colors. I don’t usually visit websites that won’t honor my choices. My eyesight is too precious. I make an except for this website (or I open Edge and use it here). On Fx 91.13.0 ESR (my default browser), I see Visited links in the Purple shade I have chosen. However, for about 1.5 years or so this site (not Fx as other sites when using Fx honor my choices) has refused to honor my choice for Unvisited links which is a nice green and instead shows them in a greyish color which is hard to read. This site used to show my green color. Edge, to my surprise and Microsoft’s credit, does honor my link colors as well as my choice for the font. I hope Fx, in a few days, will also do this when Mozilla updates the ESR version of Fx (we are still on Fx 91.13. There is a newer ESR version on a completely different path but I wanted to wait for Mozilla to push the new version which I think happens in the next few days).

Hmmm..this site DOES use my chosen green for unvisited links but only for Options after I upload an attachment here! Where it does NOT honor my green color is in the rightside column that I use all the time to look at threads on my default Fx browser. Looking back in my screen captures about 1.5 years ago this site was showing the green color for unvisited links …let’s hope it is a Fx problem as then it should get fixed when Mozilla pushes the new path and version of Fx to us ESR users still on version 91.13.

If you research you will quickly learn that Times New Roman is the LEAST READABLE of all generally used fonts on compute monitors. It’s especially bad on wide screen desktop monitors which is what I have had for the past almost 13 years. But I haven’t used any font except Verdana since the early 2000’s. I dislike Segoe (Microsoft’s default font).

Rick Corbett wrote:

You would probably need to manually update the Defender service/engine but malware definitions should failback to downloading via BITS rather than Update Orchestrator (which requires the Windows Update service). (Works for me…)

I download Defender DEFINITIONS each day when I first get on my Windows 10 Pro computer. I don’t have this problem on my Windows 8.0 Pro machine which has the SAME setting for Windows Updates used in Sergei’s WinAero Tweaker on both machines. Microsoft has tried to thwart Tweaker for many years (I’ve had it since 2012 on two different versions of Windows – 8 Pro and 10 Pro) and partially succeeded a couple of years ago on the version of Windows 10 I had at the time. On Windows 8, disabling Windows Updates in WinAero Tweaker does NOT stop the daily auto updates but I think upgrading to 8.1 Pro does and was one reason I never upgraded that computer. (Of course, it may not be Microsoft still trying to mess with Tweaker on Windows 10 that has caused disabling Windows Updates in Tweaker to stop Defender new definitions from downloading and installing automatically as this started about two years ago immediately AFTER a Windows 10 big update and could be something did not go quite as intended on my computer which was about three years old at the time).

So, I have to bring up Tweaker from the taskbar each morning and scroll down to Disable Windows Updates and UNcheck the box to disable. Then I go to Virus Protection in Windows Security and manually have Windows Update check for new Defender definitions and install them. When I decide it is time to do other Windows updates on the Windows 10 Pro computer, I do the same action. After the updates are installed, I recheck the box in Tweaker to disable Windows Updates.

Rick Corbett wrote:

I never do OTA updates for many reasons… battery drain whilst unpacking is just one of them. I always use iTunes

Ahh…I don’t like iTunes and never even thought about using it! I did use it when the iPhone was new. I tried it just now and that process reminded me of how irritating even logging into iTunes is on a Windows 10 computer. Thank goodness, I don’t have a long or especially complicated Apple password because there is no way that I know of to get iTunes login to let me type the actual password in the field (not obscure that with astericks) so I can see if I made typos. (I had to try three times to get a short password typed correctly as I can’t see the characters I type and there is no “peek” to click on after typing to see if I typed it correctly…grrrr).

I have a tech friend (with Windows computers mostly) whose password with Apple is almost 60 characters and he agrees that Apple and Microsoft should get along better as one typo in 60 characters would be very easy. Usually with Windows and website passwords on Windows you can see what you typed in if you want. I think that should be default especially for anyone on Desktops as you are not carrying them around in public and logging in where others might see your typed password over your shoulder. Especially, if you are at home alone why can’t you default to seeing the characters for a password as you type them in for a password?

Plus, I can’t see a way to stop the continuous animation roll of the images at the top of iTunes Store for new albums…very distracting and irritating.

Guess I am not communicating well tonight. I certainly didn’t knowingly press the screen that initiates the wiggling for the apps so you can uninstall some. My point was that it just suddenly activated for no reason that I could see.

Apple DOES say there is more powerful sleep tracking in this version of iOS for the watch. I was just commenting that I cannot wear the watch at night because of all the bright lights that wake me up frequently and lamenting that Apple adds more powerful sleep tracking to this version of iOS but does nothing for those of us that would like to wear the watch when sleeping but cannot because the light and wrist pressure wake us up frequently all night.

BEWARE! my iPhone just finished installing iOS 16 and for no discernible reason it keeps wiggling all the app icons and invites me to uninstall them. There seems to be some spot on the bottom half of the phone where my fingers were holding it that incorrectly activates the wiggling icons. UPDATE: I’ve been holding the phone in different ways and the wiggling is not activated. Good!

I have full telephone, etc tech support on both the phone and watch so, if it is still acting odd tomorrow, I’ll call Apple. As soon as the watch update completes, I’ll turn the phone off and then restart it and maybe that will fix it.

Hmm…wonder if this version of iOS turns on auto updates on the watch? I had that turned off but I just opened Watch on the phone and it was updating! (It is on its charger in another room so maybe that’s why it is auto updating). The update says I will be able to get a great deal more information about aFib attacks and that would be very welcome and I guess you don’t need the latest watch version for that as I have version 5.

Apple says WatchOS 9.0 has more powerful sleep tracking…it says nothing about improvement in keeping the watch face from lighting up and the back of the watch emitting periodically a very bright, intense white or green light. I can’t wear the watch to bed as it used to wake me up constantly with the bright lights and a periodic mild buzzing feeling on my skin (no matter how I set it). I called Apple more than once about it when the watch was new and they were puzzled as evidently I’m the only person that is awakened by bright lights and the buzzing and pressure on your wrist too.

While my iPhone XR is “preparing” the update to iOS 16, I read this:

https://www.apple.com/ios/ios-16/features/

I think Apple needs to offer a scaled down version of iPhone as 90% of the new features (and updated older features) I will never use. I mean, geez, I have two powerful Dell desktop computers for most of that! Along with a Dell ultrasharp 24″ wide screen monitor. Why would I use features on a tiny iPhone that gets really HOT in my hand when I have powerful computers right next to the iPhone? I guess I am at home too much to see the benefit in all the new features, etc. But then I rarely use the iPhone when away from home. A lot of the time, I forget to take it with me even. Forget the watch? No way! IT is important and far more useful than the iPhone for me.

I do really like iWatch but resent that I can’t purchase just the watch. The important features for iPhone IMO are also on the iWatch so it would be so nice if I just could have the watch and no phone! Let’s hope I change my mind as I start using updated iOS 16 which just started to install.

I read your post, opened my iPhone XR on 15.6 and I wasn’t sure if I could skip iOS 15.7 and go directly to iOS 16 or if I should first download and install the zero day for 15.6. I decided to install iOS 15.7 first. Was that the best decision? Does it matter or could I have skipped over 15.7 and gone directly to iOS 16?

Hmmm…. 15.7 is installed on my iPhone and, even with it plugged into my computer while updating, it drained the battery enough that I need to charge it more before installing iOS 16.

I have the issue and do NOT have Audio Enhancements. I use builtin Realtek sound for my Logitech speakers. I had to uninstall KB5016616 to get sound back. For some odd reason recently Windows 10 Pro has insisted I have nVidia sound on my monitor. This is an almost 5 year old desktop computer and it has never had nVidia sound although I do have an nVidia video card. The monitor is a Dell Ultrasharp 24 inch widescreen monitor (used for both Windows 10 Pro and Windows 8 Pro computers) that has no sound. Windows 8.0 Pro computer is better in that it knows that my monitor has no sound capabilities.

I too am wondering when Microsoft will have a fix.

I had no problem opening the Microsoft Store just now from Start/Universal Applications/Microsoft Store. I’m in Hawaii if that matters.

ShowKeyPlus is neat. I got it recently from MS Store but getting it from GitHub is a good suggestion.

Without Firefox ESR there were be zero reason to even have a computer. The internet is NOT a place one wants to go UNLESS one has PRIVACY and only Fx ESR provides it. I’m a Netscape over IE person from way back in the late 90’s. I haven’t even moved to the Fx ESR 102 branch. I am still on 91.13 for a few more weeks. A browser is the LAST thing I update (except for security patches) and the only other browser I have used and liked besides Netscape, Mozilla Suite, and Fx from its inception is Basilisk. I still have Basilisk as my default browser even though it is no longer developed. It is forked off Fx 52.9 ESR and that was the last Fx that was really great. Still, newer Fx versions are a million times better than other browsers. I can’t get used to Brave as it can’t hold a candle to Fx 91 ESR and Vivaldi I abandoned a year or so ago when it got so extremely cluttered and irritating. As for Google Chrome browser, you couldn’t pay me to use it.

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Bob99 wrote:

Just went to look at that article linked to, and that article is no good for 21H2, as there’s no option to hide any apps listed in the Library. Right clicking on the ellipsis(…) only provides a link to share the app or to pin to the taskbar, pin to the desktop or share

I hadn’t been in MS store recently (it installed a new version the moment I lifted my block on Windows Updates temporarily) but decided to look for new themes. I looked at my Library and wanted to uninstall a theme I had tried a few minutes ago (I HATE that previewing themes full screen hasn’t been possible since I think XP or Vista). The theme I tried is UGLY and the ellipsis only lets me WRITE A REVIEW! Geez and UGH. That ellipsis doesn’t provide the options you mention.

Another gripe about the Store Library…I did NOT purchase that ugly theme yet that is what Microsoft Store claims when I look at the list in the Library. Plus, the Store library says I have THREE versions of Dell Mobile Connect installed! I have the LATEST version installed and the others I would like gone but nope they are not in Apps and Features so there is no way to uninstall them. Plus, why do MS THEMES and Desktop Background show up in Settings/apps and features? MS Themes did not used to show up there! Settings/apps and features is one BIG MESS now. It’s way too long a list and doesn’t group anything…Like MS Themes should be listed all together in ONE GROUP if put there. Apparently there is no coordination between what shows in the MS Store library and what shows in Apps and Features and no way to uninstall old versions of apps and themes that show in your Store library. SLOPPY, SLOPPY, SLOPPY of Microsoft.

Hmmm….I wonder if different stuff will show up in MS Store library if I switch MS account to another of the 4 Microsoft accounts I have acquired over the years?

It’s a neat app. It shows current status and prevous Windows installations. The latter is under Upgrades tab and was a bit confusing at first. It shows four upgrades for this Windows 10 Pro machine and each time I clicked on that tab it showed a different upgrade for 4 upgrades in total. They are not shown in chronological order though which seems a bit odd and was confusing until I circled through them a few times. The key remained the same throughout the upgrades shown. This is a Dell XPS 8930 desktop.

My understanding is that you MUST have the Pro version of Windows 11 to be able to use a local account instead of a Microsoft one. (I’ve been reading some on this issue as my current Windows 10 Pro Desktop will be 5 years old in December and machines don’t last well in non airconditioned high humidity climates where I am). I’ve always chosen the Pro version of Windows so it’s not a big deal for me.

“By default, Windows 11 enforces the use of a Microsoft account

When you install or personalize a new PC with Windows 11 (both Home or Pro), Microsoft asks you to use a Microsoft account, and you don’t see any mentions about creating a local account instead. If you’re installing or using Windows 11 Pro, you do see a link named “Sign-in options”. If you click or tap on it, you then have the option to choose an Offline account – a standard local account, like the ones used in Windows 7. However, on Windows 11 Home, the Sign-in options are missing, and you can’t go ahead unless you create a Microsoft account.”

https://www.digitalcitizen.life/install-use-windows-11-with-local-account/

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