Author Topic: Tips for Windows 8 (got any?) (Read 90,644 times)

tomos · « **Reply #25 on:** November 21, 2012, 11:59 AM »

thanks erikts -
I presume that's valid for all software used on 8 so I struck a line through Metro :-)

Quote from: tomos on November 15, 2012, 08:41 PM

Tweaks / etc:
...
How to Delete Your ~~Metro~~ Application's Usage History in Windows 8 [howtogeek.com] (erikts #24)

fenixproductions · « **Reply #26 on:** November 22, 2012, 05:39 PM »

Little spam for ya…

Free ebook: Introducing Windows 8: An Overview for IT Professionals (Final Edition)
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/microsoft_press/archive/2012/11/13/free-ebook-introducing-windows-8-an-overview-for-it-professionals-final-edition.aspx

phitsc · « **Reply #27 on:** November 23, 2012, 08:50 AM »

I followed these instructions to boot directly to desktop and it works:

http://winaero.com/blog/how-to-skip-start-screen-natively-without-using-any-third-party-tool/

(note that it's not the same as mentioned in comment #8, although also from winaero)

tomos · « **Reply #28 on:** November 23, 2012, 09:50 AM »

^ sounds good

I added it to first post

tomos · « **Reply #29 on:** November 24, 2012, 06:32 PM »

Quote from: phitsc on November 23, 2012, 08:50 AM

I followed these instructions to boot directly to desktop and it works:

http://winaero.com/blog/how-to-skip-start-screen-natively-without-using-any-third-party-tool/

(note that it's not the same as mentioned in comment #8, although also from winaero)

all the options I've seen for boot-to-desktop are quite, eh, 'heavy' for want of a better term.

This one (from phitsc) where you have to re-activate the OS
The one that uses sheduler to change the setting on each reboot,
and then they have an app that does this - it has to start with windows (which also disables the popup edge panels on the desktop)

Seems MS have made it quite difficult to change - but it is good to know when they work

tomos · « **Reply #30 on:** November 24, 2012, 06:54 PM »

Added to "Tweaks" in post #1

How to disable the edge panels (Charms Bar and Switcher) - this is a registry tweak that disables the edge panels (Charms Bar and Switcher) - but still allows them to be called via hotkey. (also from winaero.com)
[...]
Various Tweak Apps from winaero.com who seem in general to have a good reputation.

phitsc · « **Reply #31 on:** November 24, 2012, 07:45 PM »

Quote from: tomos on November 24, 2012, 06:32 PM

This one (from phitsc) where you have to re-activate the OS

It was really easy though. Download. Copy/Paste product key into supplied text file. double-click. Done. The script does everything, including the re-activation.

tomos · « **Reply #32 on:** November 26, 2012, 06:27 PM »

Quote from: phitsc on November 24, 2012, 07:45 PM

Quote from: tomos on November 24, 2012, 06:32 PM
This one (from phitsc) where you have to re-activate the OS
It was really easy though. Download. Copy/Paste product key into supplied text file. double-click. Done. The script does everything, including the re-activation.

this one took a bit more work for me because I have a pre-installed (OEM) Windows 8. The serial number is no longer accessible anywhere. (It's in the bios, but apparently even there it's hidden.)
I came across this little app (*not* a 'tiles' app - the word app is being stolen from us...)
Windows 8 WDP Product Key Viewer´
http://forums.mydigitallife.info/threads/30363-Windows-8-WDP-Product-Key-Viewer
(My Digital Life forums)

it seemed to have a lot of happy users so I tried it and added the key number to the winaero fix.
Rebooted and, yes

it went straight to desktop.

Stoic Joker · « **Reply #33 on:** November 26, 2012, 07:41 PM »

Quote from: tomos on November 26, 2012, 06:27 PM

this one took a bit more work for me because I have a pre-installed (OEM) Windows 8. The serial number is no longer accessible anywhere. (It's in the bios, but apparently even there it's hidden.)
I came across this little app (*not* a 'tiles' app - the word app is being stolen from us...)
Windows 8 WDP Product Key Viewer´
http://forums.mydigitallife.info/threads/30363-Windows-8-WDP-Product-Key-Viewer
(My Digital Life forums)

Cool little app man, thanks for sharing. But I gotta ask where you got the impression the product key was stored in the BIOS? I've never heard anything about that move, and there is nothing in the pkeyui.exe binaries import list that implies that it is accessing the BIOS to decode the key. I appears to be a straight registry query-->decode process.

tomos · « **Reply #34 on:** November 26, 2012, 08:00 PM »

Quote from: Stoic Joker on November 26, 2012, 07:41 PM

But I gotta ask where you got the impression the product key was stored in the BIOS? [...] It appears to be a straight registry query-->decode process.

maybe that's why people couldnt find it in the BIOS

It's something that was romoured at least - couldnt tell you where exactly, but I've read it a few places $:-\$

Arizona Hot · « **Reply #35 on:** November 27, 2012, 05:45 PM »

Quote from: Giampy on November 17, 2012, 01:31 AM

Windows 8 is too young. It's probably still full of bugs.
It’s a little mad buying immediately a new OS. It’s wise instead waiting for some years before buying it, so in the meantime many bugs will be fixed.

+1(I presume). This is why I expect to get a Win 7 machine. Timing is everything.

erikts · « **Reply #36 on:** December 10, 2012, 09:40 AM »

How to Pin Any File to the Start Screen in Windows 8
http://www.howtogeek.com/129493/how-to-pin-any-file-to-the-start-screen-in-windows-8/

Quote

By default Windows 8 only allows you to pin a few file types to the Start Screen. Read on to find out how you can change that by editing the registry.

[attachthumb=#]

erikts · « **Reply #37 on:** December 11, 2012, 09:11 AM »

How to Do a Full Shutdown in Windows 8 Without Disabling Hybrid Boot
http://www.howtogeek.com/129021/how-to-do-a-full-shutdown-in-windows-8-without-disabling-hybrid-boot/

Quote

Windows 8 comes with a new Hybrid Boot feature, which decreases boot times. But from time to time you may find you need to do a classic, full shutdown. Here’s how to do just that without disabling Hybrid Boot.

[attachthumb=#]

In short: Shutdown using shutdown.exe /s /t 0

Curt · « **Reply #38 on:** January 03, 2013, 03:12 AM »

https://windowssecrets.com/langalist-plus/with-windows-8-off-isnt-really-off/

Quote

With Windows 8, “off” isn’t really off

Win8′s default shutoff and startup processes are unlike those of any previous Windows version. Completely shutting Win8 down — or doing a truly cold boot — requires a few extra steps!

Windows 8 doesn’t really shut down when you click the shutdown icon (or go to Power via the Charms bar/Settings). Instead, Win8 goes into a sort of ‘deep sleep’ mode, similar to hibernate.

You must hold down the Shift key while clicking the shutdown icon — and continue to hold Shift until the machine fully powers off. Only then was I able to enter the BIOS during system startup.

phitsc · « **Reply #39 on:** January 03, 2013, 09:59 PM »

I'm using the method described here to open the Windows Shutdown dialog from FARR.

Basically, you just have to put a shortcut to a text file called e.g. Shutdown.js with the following line

(new ActiveXObject("Shell.Application")).ShutdownWindows();

somewhere where FARR can find it.

Curt · « **Reply #40 on:** January 19, 2013, 01:19 PM »

Thanks to Gizmo for telling about this free ebook from Microsoft on Windows 8:

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/microsoft_press/archive/2012/11/13/free-ebook-introducing-windows-8-an-overview-for-it-professionals-final-edition.aspx

[attachimg=#]

ewemoa · « **Reply #41 on:** January 20, 2013, 12:20 AM »

Quote from: phitsc on January 03, 2013, 09:59 PM

I'm using the method described here to open the Windows Shutdown dialog from FARR.

Basically, you just have to put a shortcut to a text file called e.g. Shutdown.js with the following line

(new ActiveXObject("Shell.Application")).ShutdownWindows();

somewhere where FARR can find it.

Nice tip

On a side note, it appears to work in Windows 7.

Carol Haynes · « **Reply #42 on:** January 21, 2013, 06:47 PM »

CTRL + Shutdown does the same job too. Hold CTRL until the lights go off!

Josh · « **Reply #43 on:** January 21, 2013, 06:56 PM »

Or you can add an alias (no javascript or batch files required) with the command: c:\windows\system32\shutdown.exe -s -t 0 which will shut the computer down immediately.

phitsc · « **Reply #44 on:** January 21, 2013, 09:54 PM »

That will make a complete shutdown though, not a "Windows 8 Shutdown".

f0dder · « **Reply #45 on:** January 21, 2013, 10:03 PM »

Quote from: phitsc on January 21, 2013, 09:54 PM

That will make a complete shutdown though, not a "Windows 8 Shutdown".

Doesn't that require adding "/hybrid"? (On my win7 workstation right now, so can't check shutdown.exe arguments

).

Josh · « **Reply #46 on:** January 21, 2013, 10:06 PM »

Yes, /hybrid will do it. Forgot that one! Thanks f0dder

erikts · « **Reply #47 on:** October 31, 2013, 02:52 AM »

Why can't Windows 8 find the Startup Folder?
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2806079

Win+R
Type the following text in Run dialog box and click OK: shell:startup

TaoPhoenix · « **Reply #48 on:** October 31, 2013, 03:28 AM »

Quote from: erikts on October 31, 2013, 02:52 AM

Why can't Windows 8 find the Startup Folder?
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2806079

Win+R
Type the following text in Run dialog box and click OK: shell:startup

Can you make that into something like a desktop shortcut?

Vurbal · « **Reply #49 on:** October 31, 2013, 04:04 AM »

Quote from: TaoPhoenix on October 31, 2013, 03:28 AM

Quote from: erikts on October 31, 2013, 02:52 AM
Why can't Windows 8 find the Startup Folder?
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2806079

Win+R
Type the following text in Run dialog box and click OK: shell:startup

Can you make that into something like a desktop shortcut?

That should be possible. Just remember you can't make shortcuts directly to shell locations. You have to make a shortcut to explorer.exe with the shell folder as an argument. Like this:

explorer.exe shell:startup