Wednesday, September 10, 2025

Alternative PDF viewer

As an alternative to the bloated and AI-interrupting PDF readers from Microsoft and Adobe, the SumatraPDF is a streamlined and free PDF viewer from Microsoft Windows. 

Download the latest Sumatra PDF release.

Most Windows users will likely choose the "Installer" so it integrates with the Start menu and file name extensions. The "Portable version" is a self-contained program that simply runs. 

After download, run the installer. 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I usually choose Options for making files searchable and for preview.


 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I prefer to not have the "Home" blank page, so I disable that in the Menu -> Settings -> Advanced Option. In the configuration file change item "NoHomeTab" from "false" to "true". Save the configuration file and restart Sumatra PDF.

Sunday, September 07, 2025

Remove "Start" menu folders in Micrsoft Windows

If there is a folder you can't remove with Uninstall, you may remove it by hand. For example, let's remove the "Acer" folder. 

Press Microsoft Windows 10 Start button. 


 


 

 

Open the File Explorer. In the location area enter: %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs
You will see the list of folders displayed when pressing the Start button.


 


 

 

 

Within File Explorer, right-click on the folder to remove and select DELETE. The folder should be removed.


Press the Start button to verify the folder was removed.


Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Yahoo email summaries and privacy

Yahoo mail recently introduced email summaries which are auto-generated and display above the email. This was a surprising change which is intrusive and annoying. From the settings in email, there does not appear to be a method to disable the summaries.


The Yahoo brand owns "oath" which provides security and privacy settings. Go to yahoo.mydashboard.oath.com and you may need to log in again.


Turn off "Automated email analysis". 




 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There may be a privacy option specifically for your location. Review the other privacy and marketing settings.