If you have been using Scooploop for a long time, you will be aware of how many members are no longer around. Some of these will have passed away, but others have left or given up posting due to the recent influx of racists, trolls and stalkers. This has caused much blocking, resulting in many posts/comments not being visible.
We are all aware of the current position concerning staff and need for finance, and we can do our part by keeping the site active by using the available loops, some of which will avoid the aforementioned troublemakers. Don't forget to post/comment, or there will be nothing to read!

I.T. Non-Techie help, information and tips
No advertising please. For the non-techie among us who may need a helping hand at times.
Open Loop 110
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Abusive PMs/stalking/trolling/personal comments - Updated 26/6/25
https://www.scooploop.com/thread/abusive-pmsstalkingtrollingpersonal-comments-70f03
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How to access a NAS drive at a different location.
Hi
I have two Western Digital EX4100 NAS drives. One as a main drive and one as a backup. Both are currently in my home office but I’d like to keep one unit in my dad’s house round the corner in case of any disaster that affects my house.
Each unit has four drives configured as JBOD, with one NAS acting as a copy of the other. Mirrored RAID would have covered me for drive failure but wouldn’t allow me to locate the mirrored drives at a different location.
OK, I admit it, I’m a pessimist when it comes to data.
I could do periodic updates by copying new files to a USB drive and wandering round to my dad’s to copy them over, but I’m wondering if there’s some way that I can access the NAS at my dad’s from my home computer over the internet, ideally with an automatic sync between the two boxes.
Do any of you have any advice about how I might do that?
I’m sure it should be possible but I’m just not sure how.
My dad doesn’t have a computer but he does have reasonably fast internet access for his smart TV and tablet. If necessary I have a spare small i5 desktop which I could connect to the NAS.. That might allow me to transfer via Dropbox, although it doesn’t seem a particularly elegant solution. -
Just had my desktop out of action for a day - 'not connected to internet' - tried every plug and still didn't work, unplugged, etc. Kept mentioning Ethernet (?) cable, knew I had a box of computer cables then remembered I'd given them all away as would never use ..... Same again this morning and then - miracle! This is the second time it has happened, connection doesn't seem that good, so ordering another cable from Amazon this morning. Before I do, are they all the same, just varying in length, please?
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I'm on a local neighbourhood watch group and it can be quite busy so I have muted notifications but I'm still getting them buzzing me. I've tried unmuting and re-muting but it's still happening. Is there anything else I can try?
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More stalking and abuse - personal this time - by @RyanT
@RyanT, I await your apology
https://www.scooploop.com/thread/stalkingabuse -
If you haven't tried AI yet, give it a go; you will be amazed at what it can do. Instead of typing a search into Google, then looking through the results, it can give you an instant detailed reply to your verbal or typed question. Try Gemini on your Android phone, google for a choice of AI for iPhones. The Edge browser has Copilot.
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I see that clicking links is still causing members problems - you should click the link, not the image.
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The right sidebar on my Outlook email is always halfway down - how can i get it to stay upto the top ?
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I see there is concern about the need to update Chrome. Chrome updates automatically while you are using it, and the next time you open it, it will have the latest version.
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The ransomware attacks can happen to anyone. Windows has ransomware protection available in Settings - in 'Find a setting' type ransomware. Ransomware and other viruses can be protected against by having backups. A complete backup of a computer is called a 'System image', this will enable a computer to be taken back to its state before an infection, or other problem.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMVeLDk4r-I -
New loop - Friendly alternative to the Anything loop
In light of racist posts/comments, personal insults and trolling etc., in the Anything loop, all of which have not been dealt with by the moderator, the chat loop below has been set up with the cooperation of Scooploop who are aware of what is happening. Admission to the loop will take into account a member's posting history. There will also be invitations to join.
scooploop.com/loops/anything-friendly... (less)This discussion is now closed.
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This device will appear as an advert when viewing Youtube videos. See Trustpilot.
https://go.getthephotostickomni.io/HP/UK/x-34/?ci=22378415753&ai=176422188905&de=c&dm=&cr=741927017249&ts=ytv&kw=&ac=8848364058&gad_source=2&gclid=CjwKCAjwiezABhBZEiwAEbTPGNrqD0ljEdzh-RD3IY9bA62hbbY3bmhexyMyK5z0Z8aYhJGFaHnmwBoCyXkQAvD_BwE -
If you are in the habit of using cleaning programs to remove files/folders, be sure not to remove a recently added empty folder called inetpub. This is in the Windows folder, and is an important addition.
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Racism and personal abuse in the Anything loop
@CliveF has now been missing for three months, does anyone know if he is still around?
https://www.scooploop.com/thread/racism-on-scooploop-9b5d5 -
Using Windows 10 Edge. I can play videos on You Tube etc but they don't play if I'm reading a newspaper article. How can I resolve it? Thanks.
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Just had an update installed and now all my thumbnails have gone,
How do I find out Scooploops URL ? -
I haven't got a clue about it. Just for fun, I want to upload a picture of my garden and have it re-designed. Where do I start?
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Donald Trump is currently removing USA websites, or changing their contents. The removed websites/contents have been stored by the Internet Archive:
https://archive.org/ -
https://www.bbc.co.uk/send/u193491675?at_campaign=crm&at_medium=emails&at_campaign_type=owned&at_objective=conversion&at_ptr_name=salesforce&at_ptr_type=media&at_creation=[85826_PANUK_SER_2025_CHARTERSURVEY_ALL_11APR]-20250415-[bbcaccount_chartersurvey2025CTAen_corporate]
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Due to the absence of an active moderator, it is not possible to join the Hornchurch or Romford loops. If you are already a member, depending on your membership settings, you may not be able to make a post. There is a loop for Havering, which you can join by clicking the link below:
https://www.scooploop.com/loops/havering -
Having back up everything I want on my phone, do I just do a factory re-set when I come to sell it or is there anything else I need to do? I've already transferred everything to a new phone and kept copies of photos on a hard drive.
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Google's TV Streamer can now get iPlayer
Google's TV Streamer can now get the iPlayer app, and BBC1 & 2 have been added to the Channels tab.
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284 million email addresses/passwords hacked (Edited)
284 million hacked email addresses/passwords have been posted on line. To check if your email address is included, go to http://haveibeenpwned.com.
To check if your password has been hacked go to http://haveibeenpwned.com/Passwords.
To be notified if your email is hacked in the future, click 'Notify me' at the top. -
Site status for new and current members.
https://www.scooploop.com/thread/site-status-for-new-and-current-members
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Fed up with Mr Musk's X - Bring back Larry (Edited)
If you use or view the old Twitter, and would rather see Larry (the blue bird) instead of X, then click below to install the extension* called Freebird X. It will reinstate Larry, 'New post' back to Tweet, Retweet and the old browser tab icon. You can add this to all Chromium browsers, so that does not include Firefox.
*An extension is a small program that you can add to a browser to get it to do additional functions.
https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/freebird-x-twitter-logo-r/obopljmdbiaalaffaaijniobhfhfnild/related -
Information, tips and myths - No.51 - Ad-blocker uBlock Origin
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Ad-blocker uBlock Origin no longer works on Chrome, but does on Firefox because it has no connection with Google. You can install the lite version of the extension in Chrome from here: https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/ublock-origin-lite/ddkjiahejlhfcafbddmgiahcphecmpfh?hl=en-GB&pli=1 -
Information, tips and myths - No.50 - Getting a new router?
You may be changing to EE from BT (nightmare!), changing provider or just getting a new router, if so, consider changing the password to something easier to enter. If you have many Internet connected devices, and the router has a very long or complicated password, you can avoid the labourious task of entering it, and perhaps being told it is incorrect and having to start again!
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Please do not post and disappear.
Some members are asking for help and not replying to help given. They are also not posting how the problem was resolved.
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What you see on Scooploop depends on whether you are a member and which member you are. To see the hidden Scooploop, you need to use a browser that does not remember who you are. Doing so means that you cannot be blocked from seeing a member's posts. You can also see parts of Scooploop not visible to members, such as the new Business page shown below. The current Business page is here: https://www.scooploop.com/business-directory/
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How to install WhatsApp on a Windows or Apple Laptop or desktop
https://faq.whatsapp.com/1513589699119080/?cms_platform=windows-desktop
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I f you are using version 24.8, you should upate to the latest version 25.2.1. To check which version you have, go to Help/about LibreOffice.
https://www.libreoffice.org/ -
Microsoft bought Skype in 2011 for $8.5 billion.
https://www.dailysabah.com/business/tech/end-of-era-skype-to-ring-for-last-time-in-may -
Do you love your iPhone/Apple Mac?
If it wasn't for Bill Gates of Microsoft, these would never have existed. In 1997 Apple was on the verge of bankruptcy, when it was saved by an investment by Bill Gates.
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Note that OneDrive and Google Drive are not backups, they are synchronisation programs. Backups are permanent records that cannot be altered.
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iPhone storage no longer private (Edited)
https://www.thesun.co.uk/tech/33499682/iphone-advanced-data-protection-icloud-encryption-uk-shut-down/
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I haven't used my tablet for a while. I've forgotten my password - can anyone help me get in by avoiding pin or resetting in?
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Switching to EE from BT was a nightmare. If you have a landline number and want to keep it, check that the deal includes it.
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Microsoft is offering extended yearly protection for which you must pay.
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/whats-new/extended-security-updates -
Scooploop phone apps - more information
Scooploop apps have been withdrawn. If you try to reinstall the apps on your current phone or a new phone, you will see the images below. Therefore you should not remove your current app.
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