Check memory on a Windows 10 computer.

Having issues with a computer I thought it was best to check the memory. I previously used programs I could run CDs or download, but for some reason I wondered if Windows 10 had a program which could test the memory.

As it turned out there is such a program called Windows Memory Diagnostic. To run this program type Windows Memory Diagnostic into the search field next to the Start button. Click on the Desktop app in the list. There's two options on when to run, now or next time you restart, but since I wanted to know now, I selected the option to restart and test the memory.

The good thing is I had no memory issues, or at least any found by this program and it was much easier to use than a third party program.

Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
IT support.

Turn off message/ads on Windows 10 lock screen.

Perhaps it's just me, but without notice I now get a bunch of messages on the Windows 10 lock screen that look like ads and self promotion. This feel it was just pushed on me and when that happens it tends to annoy.

The good thing is if you don't like the ads/messages on the Windows 10 lock screen you can get rid of them fairly easily as follows.

• Click on the Windows icon
• Click the Settings cog
• Select Personalisation
• Select Lock Screen

In the section Background you'll see Windows spotlight is selected in the drop down list. Change this setting to Picture and you'll see a few more options.

You'll see there's an option "Get fun facts, tips, and more from Windows and Cortana on your lock screen.

Turn this option off and the ads/messages will be gone.

Kelvin Eldridge

www.OnlineConnections.com.au

IT support.

Add Shortcut as tile on the Windows 10 Start menu

I don't know about others, but I have a number of shortcuts I've created which I run from my Desktop. For example, I have my own Microsoft Access application I use to run my business. Creating a shortcut is fairly easy. You just right click on the MS Access database file and select Create Shortcut. Rename the shortcut to something more meaningful. You can copy and paste the shortcut to the Desktop for easier access. You could also use the option Send to -> Desktop (Create Shortcut) to save a step.

However, there's no obvious way to add the shortcut as tile on the Windows 10 Start menu. Here's how to add the shortcut to the Windows 10 Start menu.

First right click on the shortcut and select Copy.
Now in the Type here to search field at the bottom left type Start menu and you'll see the folder Start Menu as an option.
Select the folder Start Menu
Paste your shortcut into this folder

If you have a particular icon you'd like to use for the shortcut, now is a good time to assign the icon. Right click on the shortcut and select Properties, then click on the Change icon tab, and select either one of the icons shown, or browse to the location of an icon file you've previously created for your own custom icon. The advantage of selecting an icon is you can more quickly identify your application from the icon.

That's it. You can now add your own shortcuts as a tile to the Windows 10 Start menu, and further, you can also use an icon of your choice.

Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
IT support.

Gmail not receiving emails to a contact it previously had no problem with. Check your SPAM folder.

For years I've been sending a person emails to their Gmail account without a problem. Then around the 10th of January 2019, I sent in email containing a link for www.PavingCalculator.com.au (a calculator I'd written) and the person didn't receive the email. We were sitting in the same room.

 I thought that was weird. Over the next week or so I realised the person was not receiving most of my emails.

I forwarded one of the emails to myself and sure enough, Gmail was treating the emails I sent as SPAM.

I did some reading and found Gmail recently introduced some new technology to further reduce SPAM and unwanted emails. As this was done recently perhaps this change is what caused the false positives.

https://cloud.google.com/blog/products/g-suite/ridding-gmail-of-100-million-more-spam-messages-with-tensorflow

I turn automated SPAM filters off in my email client as I've found whilst the amount of SPAM I get is large, inconvenient, and annoying, it's certainly more of an issue not to receive an important email. For others I've found Gmail filters quite well and can add a level of protection that assists users, so there really isn't a single one size fits all solution.

No matter what the reason, this is a reminder that you should regularly check your SPAM folder with your email client. None of the automatic SPAM techniques I've seen work 100% of the time, and worse, often they'll treat email you want as SPAM and you won't be aware you've received possibly an important email.

More importantly this recent change in Gmail has affect myself and people I know, so it's a good time to monitor your SPAM folder a little more closely.

Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au