Posts

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Windows 11 Bug Fixes

This post will document fixes as I do them.

Issue 2026-03-04

Can’t remember when it started but this happened for me too.

After Windows 11 update Start Menu does not work. Right click on Start Menu does work but not standard click.

Step 3 is what seems to have solved the problem for me. Although another Win11 issue cropped up during the repair. DISM RestoreHealth stuck at 62.3% [Info / Resolved]

Issue 2026-04-06

TIA-232 communications unreliable on older USB to TIA-232 adapters.

Only solution is to buy new adapters that are Win11 compatible.

Issue 2026-04-10

Running executables from mapped network drives is not reliable.

Change to local only exes 😦

Issue 2026-04-14

Windows spotlight only shows stock Win11 background

Tried everything @ https://www.howtogeek.com/windows-spotlight-not-working-fixes/ with no sucess

Issue 2026-04

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Kate Editor Configuration Backup

I had not known that on December 29th Kate updated itself via the Windows App Store on my Win 11 PC. On January 1st Kate started silently crashing on open and a Settings -> Installed Apps >- Repair did not fix it. So I did the Settings -> Installed Apps >- Reset which allowed Kate to start but all my customizations and projects vanished 😦

So I spent way more time than I should have needed to figuring out what configuration files need backing up and where they are stored for the Windows Store App. The following command backs up all the files containing my customizations.

XCOPY %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Packages\KDEe.V.Kate_7vt06qxq7ptv8\LocalCache\Local\*kate* C:\Temp\kate_backup\ /S

If you have created custom syntax highlighting, you will also need to backup all the files in: %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Packages\KDEe.V.Kate_7vt06qxq7ptv8\LocalCache\Local\org.kde.syntax-highlighting\syntax\

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20th Birthday

No way, not me, I recently turned over 3 times that age.

The time stamp on this post corresponds to 20 years since I setup and made my first ever blog post.

Here’s a list of my posts that have turned out to be enduringly popular although some probably shouldn’t be:

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Pixel 9 No Notification Sounds

Just switched over from a Pixel 6a to 9 Pro and was not getting any sounds for notifications, just vibrations on my Pixel watch. Turned out the “Mute notification on phone” setting in the watch app was turned on. Not certain, but I think this must be the 9 Pro default setting and my setting from the 6a didn’t transfer to the 9 Pro.

Hat tip to this post which gave me the solution.

Pixel 9 Pro: No Notification Sounds– Any Fixes?
byu/cesargueretty inpixel_phones
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Rhode Island 2025 – 2026 Hunting Season Fluorescent Orange Requirements

The state of Rhode Island requires all visitors to wear safety orange during the busiest hunting seasons. For the 2025-2026 season the regulations are:

All other users of State Management Areas and designated undeveloped State Parks, including but not limited to: hikers, bikers, and horseback riders are required to wear 200 square inches of solid daylight fluorescent orange from the second Saturday in September to the last day of February and the third Saturday in April to the last day in May.

500sq. in. by all hunters (including archers) and all users of management areas and undeveloped state parks during all portions of shotgun deer seasons.

A sign detailing Rhode Island safety regulations requiring all users of state management areas to wear fluorescent orange during specific hunting seasons, with penalties for non-compliance.
Typical sign seen at state management areas

Here’s my publicly available Google calendar showing the 200 & 500 sq. in dates.

Note: the calendar dates only apply to Zones 1 & 2 which is the vast majority of the state. For Zones 3 (Patience & Prudence Islands) & 4 (Block Island), refer to the regulations for the dates.
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Pixel Watch Icon Reference

Quick Settings Icons

Google Home
Open the Google home automation app
Touch Lock
Tap to disable the touch screen.
Long-press (2 seconds) the Watch Crown to re-enable the touch screen.
Flashlight
Open the flashlight app.
Wallet
Open the Google wallet payments app.
Airplane Mode
Turns off all radios on your watch: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, LTE, GPS/GNSS. You can turn each of these on independently.
Find My Phone
Tap and wait for your phone to ring.
Brightness
Open the brightness settings app.
Bedtime Mode
Start bedtime mode.
Theater Mode
Turn off your screen and suppress notifications and incoming calls temporarily.
Battery Icon
Battery Saver Mode
Start battery saver mode.
Press and hold to open the battery settings app.
Settings
Open the settings app.
Not Silenced Icon
Ring & Notifications On
Tap to turn off.
Press and hold to open the sound settings app.
Phone Connected Icon
Connected to phone
WiFi Connected Icon
Connected to WiFi

Watch Face Status Icons

Battery Saver Icon
Battery saver mode is on.

While constructing this chart my Pixel Watch (V1) screenshot feature stopped working. When screenshots work again I’ll add more icons.

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Attack of the Deer Keds

In October 2023 I was bitten by two of these introduced biting flies. The Deer Ked (Lipoptena vcervi)

My first Deer Ked photo 2021-10-16
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Rhode Island 2024 – 2025 Hunting Season Fluorescent Orange Requirements

The state of Rhode Island requires all visitors to wear safety orange during the busiest hunting seasons. For the 2024-2025 season the regulations are:

All other users of State Management Areas and designated undeveloped State Parks, including but not limited to: hikers, bikers, and horseback riders are required to wear 200 square inches of solid daylight fluorescent orange from the second Saturday in September to the last day of February and the third Saturday in April to the last day in May.

500sq. in. by all hunters (including archers) and all users of management areas and undeveloped state parks during all portions of shotgun deer seasons.

A sign detailing Rhode Island safety regulations requiring all users of state management areas to wear fluorescent orange during specific hunting seasons, with penalties for non-compliance.
Typical sign seen at state management areas

Here’s my publicly available Google calendar showing the 200 & 500 sq. in dates.

Note: the calendar dates only apply to Zones 1 & 2 which is the vast majority of the state. For Zones 3 (Patience & Prudence Islands) & 4 (Block Island), refer to the regulations for the dates.