How to add a new user to your Windows 10 device

Today I wanted to add a new user to my Windows 10 machine.  On the "normal" Windows 10 Settings for adding a user, I could NOT find a way to add a local user.  The only options available required adding a Microsoft account.  You know I don't like those accounts because it logs you into the Microsoft Cloud at login and I don't use Microsoft.  Early on, it was frustrating because the login took so much time.  That's how I discovered the Local User option, which works like a pre Windows 8 user account.  That's the way to go if you don't want to be just a client to the Microsoft Cloud.

Anyway, Microsoft help was no help.  It was wrong!  But I did find a web page that definitely works.  So go here if you want to create a new user account on Windows 10.

For those who have delayed switching to Windows 10

Windows 10 capability has, to date and in general, been released in bits and drabs:  updated features here, fixes there.  This past week was the first very major refresh, meaning that the complete operating system was pushed out by the Update facility.  At this point, it is probably reasonable for most non-business users to switch to Windows 10.  Microsoft will continue to add features and fix bugs before the next complete reissue of the operating system, which will probably be in June, 2016.  Most of the activity will be in the business side of the Windows operating system, so I expect only bug fixes for the non-business user (other than Edge).

The new browser, Edge, now seems to work most of the time, but I still wouldn't rely on it as my only browser.  If you insist on using a Microsoft browser, go to the start button, left click, and then type "iexplo" in the search bar.  iexplore.exe should pop up as the result of the search.  This is the "old" IE 11 browser.  Left click to start the browser.  Then right click on the browser's icon on the task bar and click on "pin to taskbar" to keep the icon for easier access from that point on.  In general, I am an advocate of the "three browser" approach:  whatever Microsoft provides that works, Google Chrome, and Firefox.  Each browser has its advantages.

I would recommend a few minutes of 'handholding' during the installation process.  There are a number of "traps" associated with the default install process that could be unwelcome to most users.

Editorial comment:   Microsoft has "commercialized" Windows... literally... why do you think it is free?  The normal process ties you to logging in to the Microsoft Live Cloud environment at the time you log in to your computer.   The action is one and the same.  It is perhaps reasonable to have an email service that logs you into "commercialization," but I don't expect it with what is supposed to be (to me) an agnostic operating system.

The way around it kind of hidden in wording that suggests you shouldn't "go there" during installation.

Interesting Phishing Technique: Dangerous!

I got this email today concerning jobs at Amazon:

The link has an interesting url:  web.jameye.allaboard.com.  Plus some gibberish after that.  I'd like to know what is at the other end, but could get nothing off the internet.  It is certainly a phisher and could be a trojan as well.  Beware of job ads like this.  

Computer Death by Stink Bug

This is a real computer bug story.  You know those smelly flat bugs that are into everything this time of year.  They seem to be able to get into airtight, watertight, whatevertight spaces and wait to emit their patented odor.  Well, I think I have the first documented case of computer death by stink bug.  I got an ailing computer in and, as I was cleaning the main fan, out popped a stink bug.  It is likely the stink bug was limiting air circulation in the computer and one or more of the computer components succumbed to the lack of cooling.

Conclusion- check your computers; clean out the cooling system and all the pathways.  You just might find a stink bug!

DSL service down at Glassy

As of 9 am, my DSL service is down, with  a comment that  "it will be restored within 24 hours."   OK, for those who say that 4G wireless service is unrealiable,  by 4G service has never been down.  DSL goes down several times a year.  No storms this time.  Storms will cause DSL outages.  In national disaster events, FEMA relies on satellite uplink trucks as a  worst case scenario and cellphone as the next most reliable.  Cable next.  DSL last.

Oh, that's right, you can't read this blog entry because you don't have internet.  Dah!  Well, this can be an historic record.   Wait a minute!  If you have a data plan on your cellphone, then you can read this in "real time." I stand corrected to my correction.

More Problems with Phone Calls- watch out for these... calls from your own phone

I have several blog entries on phishing and scam phone calls.  This entry is that your own phone number is being spoofed.  You will get a call from your very own phone.  That is, the caller ID says your phone number and the caller name is your name.  Answer the call and it will hang up (phishing for active number) or there will be a scammer on the other end.

The actual phone call is from an entirely different number.  It is the Caller ID that is being changed.

How do the spoofers do it?  You can google "caller ID spoofing."  There are a number of free programs that do this.

What do you do now?  Used to be you could ignore any numbers that didn't provide a recognizable caller ID, but now the caller ID has been hijacked.   What if you are in a business where potential customers might call from any number?  How do you know if it is a customer or a spoofer?  You don't.  What if the spoofer is using your home phone number?

Clearly, the technology has lagged behind the ingenuity of the criminal mind.  For now, we have to not answer any calls and await a phone message.  Of course, I listen to the phone message, it is someone I know, so I call them back.  Of course, since they are in the same boat I am, they won't answer the call back.  So we don't communicate at all except through phone messages.

This is pretty bad and the phone companies should fix it using some sort of security mechanism that does not allow caller ID changes.  I would go so far as to say that if the calls are coming from a foreign country and they don't fix the problem ASAP, all calls from that country should be blocked until they do.

Or I guess we go to texting.  What is your experience and do you have a way around the problem?

South Carolina State Support for Rural Communities to Evaluate Rural Broadband Solutions and Manage Projects

This note is intended to kick off a discussion, using the discussion box below, on how a state can facility implementing the optimum broadband solution for rural and even suburban communities.  In general, it assumes that fiber distribution to all homes is too expensive per home and that current service is judged by members of the community to be inadequate for home use or for current or future business use.

I'll start by listing three possible proposals that could be turned into bills at the state level:

- 0 interest loan or a grant to evaluate the best option (pay project manager to manage community or geographic area through RFI and RFQ process)

- tax rebate or tax deduction for installing equipment for the rural type initiatives- transmitters for companies; antennas for houses

- team with Small Business Admin through their small business loan process

Any other candidate proposals?