admin – Page 7 – Whycal’s Blog

Surface Pro 7 – Win 10 Version 2004 – New REGRESSED Cortana

At long last, my Surface Pro 7 has received the update to Win 10 Version 20 04.

My other computers received it weeks ago.

AND, as expected, my last fully functional Cortana is gone and I have the new “regressed” Cortana.

Also, Cortana is now a store App and no longer appears in “All Settings”.

New “regressed” Cortana is like a petulant teenager – Ask her to open Excel and you get told “Sorry, I can’t help with that”. I suppose that I should be grateful that she at least says “sorry” and she can still tell me the time and temperature in London.

FYI in London it is 6 am – Temperature is 18c – Mostly Clear ( 23c to 17c) – SUMMER

Here in South East Queensland it is 3 pm – Temperature 22c – Sunny (22c – 15c) – (our brutal) WINTER

Interesting I am sure – but I would prefer a Cortana that opens an App when asked – and, almost forgot – Cortana no longer responds to “Hey Cortana”. You have to open the App and click on the microphone icon to talk to her.

Surface Pro 7–Wi-Fi failing to turn on after sleep–FIXED

Please refer to my previous post https://whysun.com/computers-and-the-internet/surface-pro-7-wi-fi-fails-to-turn-on-after-wake-from-sleep/

I have still not yet received updated Win 10 version 20 04 on my Surface Pro 7 so I have been checking Windows Update every morning.

This morning I noticed a number of system updates involving various Intel components. After installation, I checked on the Intel Wi-Fi Network Adaptor and it has been updated to driver 21.80.2.1 (dated 25/2/20).

Therefore, I changed All Settings / System / Power & Sleep so that the computers goes to sleep after 10 minutes on both battery and when plugged in. Then I waited for about 30 minutes and on waking the computer the Wi-Fi was connected and worked correctly. I repeated this a couple of times throughout the day and it appears that the issue has been fixed.

The new driver number (21.80.2.1) is different from the one on the Intel site (21.90.3) so I am glad I had second thoughts about updating from the Intel site and waited for an update via Windows Update.

WINDOWS 10 MAIL APP – GMAIL PROBLEMS – FIXED

Refer previous posts regarding problems with Gmail on the Windows 10 Mail App.

https://whysun.com/computers-and-the-internet/windows-10-mail-app-problems/

https://whysun.com/computers-the-internet/windows-10-mail-app-problems-update/

https://whysun.com/computers-and-the-internet/windows-10-mail-app-problems-confirmation/

There was an update (issued via Store Updates) that seems to have fixed the issues with Gmail.

The update is dated 17^th July 2020 and I noticed it about a day later and re-installed my Gmail to the Mail/Calendar App. Since then, I have not had problems with Gmail.

Occasionally, I still have formatting issues with all Email accounts. The most common is when the text in the Email appears in a single one letter wide vertical line.

The quickest way to fix it is :

· Click “Forward” so that you get access to the “Format” Menu;

· Place curser in the body of the email and click Ctrl/A to select all;

· Then go to Format Menu – Drop Down and click the bottom “eraser” icon to remove the formatting.

You will then be able to read the Email. After, click “Discard” to delete the Forwarded copy of the email (or insert addresses and send it).

Surface Pro 7 – Wi-Fi fails to turn on after wake from sleep

This is a problem that I have only noticed recently and, as detailed later, it might be caused by a driver for the Wi Fi network Adaptor. (Although the current driver is over a year old and the ‘Wi-Fi drop out after sleep’ has only been a recent occurrence for me.)

After the SP7 has gone into sleep mode, the Wi-Fi fails to re-connect when the computer is activated.

The “no Internet” icon appears in the Task Bar when the SP7 is woken from sleep.

Initially, I ran Troubleshoot Problems (right mouse on the icon) and this fixed the problem. However, after I realised that it was an on-going issue, I looked for a better remedy. At first I thought that I would go to Network and Sharing Centre / Change Adaptor Settings / WiFi adaptor / properties / Power Management and turn off “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power”. However, the “Power Management” tab is no longer there.

So, I found an alternative by going to All Settings / Network and Internet / Wi-Fi and turning off the Wi-Fi, waiting a couple of seconds and turning it back on.

Although turning the Wi-Fi off then back on worked, I was curious to find a better answer and this article on the Windows Central site has another explanation.

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/windows-10-1803-and-above-why-wifi-disabled-after/36323a4b-050a-45a0-a32e-92a34dca8ddb

According to this article, it is a driver issue with the Intel AX201 Wi-Fi adaptor – driver version 21.40.1.3 – and hopefully it will be fixed soon.

I checked the date of driver 21.40.1.3 installed on my SP7, and it is dated May 2019 . However, in my case the problems have only become apparent recently (last month or so).

The Intel site has a newer driver 21.90.3 issued in May this year, but I am inclined to wait for a new driver via Windows Update particularly as the article advises against installing a non Windows Update driver.

In the meantime I have tested the suggested work around:

Hardware manager -> network adaptor -> Intel AX201 -> Advanced -> MIMO power save mode -> Change “Auto SMPS” to “No SMPS”.

This worked most of the time but was not 100% successful, particularly if the computer has been asleep for a lengthy period.

I then changed the power setting (All Settings/System/Power and Sleep) so that the computer “never” goes into sleep mode when plugged in and this seems to be working. Before, with Sleep mode activated, the Wi-Fi disconnected on sleep but turned back on after about 1 second delay in most cases but failed after long periods asleep.

I suppose setting “Sleep” to “Never” defeats the purpose of my tests, but I have downloaded driver 21.90.3 and I am thinking about installing it. In the meantime, I will continue to experiment and add to this post in a few days.

UPDATE – 13 Jul

The suggested work around of disabling MIMO power save mode is not working for me.

I have changed it back to Auto SMPS and altered Power and Sleep to never allow sleep when the SP7 is plugged in. Now I will wait to see what happens next Patch Tuesday. After Patch Tuesday, (Wednesday in Australia), I will check the network adaptor driver to see if it has been updated and, if not, will probably manually update the driver from the Intel site.

CARE – NOW FIXED VIA WINDOWS UPDATE OF DRIVER See my post https://whysun.com/computers-and-the-internet/surface-pro-7-wi-fi-failing-to-turn-on-after-sleep-fixed/

WINDOWS 10 Mail App Problems–Confirmation

Please refer to two previous posts:

Windows 10 Mail App–Problems Update

and

Windows 10 Mail App–PROBLEMS

I looks like it was not just me – See https://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonkelly/2020/06/28/google-gmail-serious-problem-deleted-emails-spam/#54bf33f2447c

(Thanks Greg for letting me know).

This is exactly what was happening with me – When forwarding Emails sent to my Gmail and dealt with in the Win 10 Mail App, the sent item “disappears and cannot be found anywhere including in Sent, Drafts, Outbox, Spam, nor on any folder in Gmail on the web (via Chrome Browser).” It just disappears and has obviously been erased from the server.

Gmail in the App is unusable and I deal with emails to that address either in the Chrome Browser and/or in the Outlook Mail program.

Outlook (mail program) is a great program, but it is “overkill” for a simple personal email user like me AND, I don’t like the browser Gmail client at all. I have retained the Win 10 mail App, as it is the default mail client, is simple to set up and operate and works OK with other types of Email (Microsoft, Yahoo, Bigpond and my own Domain) – APART from the occasional formatting issue that I can live with!!.

The obvious alternative is Mozilla Thunderbird and I was about to set up Thunderbird, but I will wait to see if the Win 10 Mail App gets fixed.

In the meantime, I have removed Gmail from the App and will access it via a browser or on my iPad.

A work around found online involves going into Gmail Settings / Filters and Blocked Addresses and creating a new filter to stop emails to your address being put into Spam. DON’T DO THIS. I tried and I don’t even know if it works. I had to immediately delete the filter as spam was ending up in my Inbox.

LOCKDOWN – DOOMSDAY PREPPERS (NETFLIX)

Like many other people, I have spent a lot of time under lockdown watching Netflix.

I had watched Season 1 of Doomsday Preppers previously, but I noted that the second season is now on Netflix Australia and I am up to the last episode of this season.

I know many people tend to dismiss and ridicule preppers, but I don’t.

There is nothing wrong in being prepared. Moreover, relying on other people and/or governments in a crisis is not wise.

I have been through natural disasters (cyclones) that resulted in large scale destruction of buildings with food, water and other shortages as well as power outages for extended periods, so it is common sense to be prepared.

Whilst I have neither the capability nor the money to have a “bug out” location and facility, it does not hurt to have arrangements in place to deal with emergencies.

In other words, be a prepper.

The recent panic buying that caused shortages of some essentials has reminded me to always be prepared and, to borrow from the TV series, I am prepping for events that result in temporary shortages of essential supplies and moderate periods without electricity.

Because of prior experiences, I usually have reserves of some essentials. For example, I did not run out of toilet paper during the big TP drought of early 2020 as, out of habit, I keep plenty in reserve.

Therefore, I am going to work on a formal plan to set up a system of reserves using oldest first and replacing with new so that I always have enough for 3 to 4 months on hand. This will apply to everything apart from fresh food.

Before I can consider reserves of fresh food, I will have to explore purchase of a generator to run a small fridge / freezer. The generator will need to run on unleaded petrol like the car, mower etc.

I already have a portable solar charger for my phone.

One thing that many people forget about is cash. We have become very reliant on electronic payments that fail completely when the power goes down. Many businesses cannot even accept non-electronic credit card payments. It is almost all “chip and pin” and/or “tap and pay”.

A moderate amount of cash (and a safe to store it in), ought to be part of any plan. The cash should be in small denominations as, even in the best of times, small businesses can’t change a $100 note.

This, therefore, is my prepper plan. It might not be much but is practicable and reasonable. The “experts” on the TV show would probably only give my plan a low score, but at least it is better than nothing. (Comment – the experts who score the preppers on the show can be hard markers, and I sympathise with some of the participants who complain about their scores.)

I am not one to gloat (cough), BUT a person I know, who had ridiculed me for saying that I liked and watched “Doomsday Preppers”, had to ask me for toilet paper during the big TP drought. I wish that I were man enough to report that I did not say ‘I told you so’ – but I cannot!

Lockdown Video Games–Far Cry 3

Please refer to my previous two posts about how I am spending my time under lockdown replaying old favourite video games.

I have completed Far Cry 3 – or at least climbed all the radio towers, captured all the outposts and finished the campaign. I did not do many of the side missions as, from this weekend, the lockdown is being partially lifted in Queensland and I want to get onto Far Cry 4 and 5.

I had forgotten what a great game Far Cry 3 is! Although it is an X Box 360 game, it plays very well on X Box One.

There are no fortresses in Far Cry 3 but the outposts get more difficult to capture as you explore the map, particularly the ones on the second island with multiple alarms and “Heavies” among the defenders. Also, unlike the subsequent games, you don’t get told how many alarms there are and the difficulty rating of an outpost.

My method is to find an observation position and tag as many defenders as I can see and note the number of alarms and the positions of the alarm boxes. My next task is to shoot out the alarm boxes with a silenced sniper rifle so that they cannot call for back up. Then, still with the silenced sniper rifle, I pick off as many defenders as I can before they become aware that they are under attack. Although, in cases where it is not possible to get a clear shot at each alarm box, I resort to the easier method of sneaking in and disabling all the alarms at once via interaction with one box.

But it is now onto Far Cry 4 with one of the best villains in any game – Pagan Min.

Video Games : Far Cry – Controller Sensitivity Problems – X Box One Backwards Compatible

Refer to my last post “Lockdown-Video Games”.

I finished playing the Uncharted series and decided to start the Far Cry series.

I have the disks for 5 Far Cry games and a digital version of “Far Cry New Dawn”. I started with the first game “Far Cry Instincts Predator” but I did not buy “Far Cry Primal”.

The disks for the first 3 are for X Box 360 but all are on the list of Xbox One backwards compatible games.

However, the first two (Far Cry Instincts Predator and Far Cry 2) are almost impossible to play on X Box One due to issues with controller sensitivity. I set sensitivity at the lowest point but it does not make any difference. An internet search revealed that this is a well known problem with no solution.

I was really looking forward to playing these games again, but I have no choice but to start at Far Cry 3. Luckily I kept my old X Box 360, so I will have to get it out and set it up if I want to play the first two.

Far Cry 3 (also on a 360 disk) works as it should.

In the meantime I am getting back into Far Cry 3 and, if memory serves me correctly, the best weapon for me is a silenced sniper rifle. So far, I have climbed 3 radio towers to earn the sniper rifle but I need to get a silencer and additional weapons slots before I venture out further in the map.

These are great games and, as with the Uncharted series, the on-going improvement in the quality of the graphics is dramatic. The same thing applies for the Artificial Intelligence (AI). The enemies in the first games are really dumb, but AI continually improves so that by the time you get to Far Cry 5, I recall that the enemies are really smart and don’t give up easily in chasing you down.

Lockdown–Video Games

I haven’t posted about video games for a long time but with the current lockdown, I have had the time to play a lot more.

I have progressed through the Uncharted series from the beginning and am now well into the last release – “Uncharted: The Lost Legacy”.

The first in the series “Uncharted: Drakes Fortune” was released in 2007 and the most recent (The Lost Legacy) in 2017.

The one thing that really stands out is the improvement in the graphics with each release. In fact, with The Lost Legacy, it is easy to forget that you are not viewing real actors on film, particularly in the cutscenes. It is the same for most new games.

I can easily see a time in the near future when actors will not be needed with only a much smaller number relegated to off screen motion capture tasks.

I now play these action adventure type games almost exclusively rather than first person shooters. I’m not as agile as I used to be and this makes it hard to get kill streaks in the shooter games. On the other hand, I enjoy solving the puzzles and other things required in the action adventure games. Also, Nathan, Chloe, Lara etc still get to kill plenty of baddies and there is no end to the wanton vandalism and destruction of valuable ancient artifacts and buildings. Naturally, the aforementioned Nathans, Chloes and Laras are trying to save this stuff and defeat the baddies but still, they leave a trail of destruction (and dead bodies).

As I have played these games a number of times previously, I don’t have too much difficulty remembering the solutions to the puzzles and (for Lara Croft) the locations of the tombs.

But the one I still have a problem with is in The Lost Legacy. To release the Queen’s ruby, Chloe has to collect tokens scattered around the map. To retrieve one of the tokens, she has to climb up on a ruin to activate 7 fountains located on top of 7 different elevated structures. Then she uses her rope to swing from structure to structure to deactivate each fountain before returning to the starting point to get the token. She only has a limited time to do this and I always fail by making her jump too early and miss the next target. The tension is made worse with a clock ticking down the seconds and increasing in volume as time runs out.

However, I managed to get it on the 4^th try this time, so I’m improving.

Leaving aside the many real and serious problems caused by the lockdown, I have to say that I don’t mind being “forced” to play video games.

Windows 10 Mail App–Problems Update

Refer previous post.

I reset the App (All Settings / Apps / Apps and features / Mail and Calendar / Advanced options / Reset) a bit over 2 weeks ago. It seems to be better. However, sync problems with G Mail occurred again after a couple of days, but I deleted and re-installed G mail and it has worked OK since then. The only other issue was one time when I forwarded an Email. When I clicked “Forward” the text changed to one letter wide in a long descending column of single letters. However I selected the text and removed the formatting and that fixed it.

This how to remove formatting in Win 10 Mail App. First select the area (highlight) or Ctrl/A to select all and:

After the Reset, the App is working well enough. So, I will keep using the App rather than Outlook and post again if there are any more issues.

5th April. Issues with Gmail are continuing. Gmail stops syncing and the formatting issues seem to also be with Gmail. I give up.