Transparent Image Turns Black When Pasted? Insert the File
A transparent PNG pastes with a black background? The plain bitmap copy drops transparency. Save the picture and insert the file, or paste Chrome copies into Word.
Informational
Remote Desktop Won’t Go Full Screen? Reset the Saved Size
Remote Desktop stuck in a small window with scroll bars? Press Ctrl+Alt+Break, set the Display slider to full screen and save, or start mstsc /f from Run.
Can’t Copy Text From a PDF? Tell a Scan From a Lock
Nothing highlights, Copy is grayed out, or the paste comes out as symbols? Those are three different PDFs. Word reads a scanned page; a locked one needs its sender.
Mac Tilde Key Types a Section Sign? Reset the Keyboard Type
Your Mac types the section sign or plus-minus where the tilde should be? It has filed your keyboard as ISO. Delete com.apple.keyboardtype.plist, restart and choose ANSI.
No Outlook Alert When a Rule Moves Mail? Add an Alert Rule
Outlook only alerts for mail that lands in the Inbox, so mail a rule moves arrives silently. Add a separate alert-only rule in classic Outlook; new Outlook needs a category.
No Shut Down in Remote Desktop? Use Alt+F4 or a Command
Windows 11 leaves Shut down out of Start in a Remote Desktop session. Go full screen and press Alt+F4 on the desktop, run shutdown /r /t 0, or use Ctrl+Alt+End.
USB Mouse Keeps Disconnecting? Check Power Saving First
USB mouse disconnecting and reconnecting with the Windows sound? Clear the power saving box on its USB Input Devices and hub, test selective suspend, then the port and cable.
Excel Changing Numbers to Dates? Set the Cells to Text
Excel turns 5-6 into 6-May and 12/2 into 2-Dec as you type or paste. Set the cells to Text first, and paste web tables as Unicode Text, or the Text format is lost.
Where Did chkdsk Put Its Results? Look in Event Viewer
chkdsk results vanish after a restart, but Windows keeps them: Event Viewer, Application log, Wininit event 1001 for restart checks, Chkdsk for the rest.
Mac Window Stuck Off Screen? Center It From the Menu
Mac window stuck off screen or on an unplugged display? Choose Window, Move and Resize, Center, or press Fn-Control-C. On older macOS, use Window, Zoom.