Soluto.com – Help others with their PCs

Soluto.com

 

Came across this website, whilst watching Robert Scoble’s video on his YouTube Channel. Soluto is a real cool web app that lets you help out others (family, friends, etc.) with their PC problems. It is a non-invasive, very easy to use web app. Much better than other apps for remote desktop assistance, where privacy is a huge concern.

Here is the soluto.com intro video as seen on their website.

Soluto Intro from Soluto on Vimeo.

If you find this article helpful, you can always subscribe to our RSS Feed or follow us on Twitter &  Facebook for more.

How to install an ISO File

An ISO image (International Organization for Standardization) is an archive file (also known as a disc image) of an optical disc, composed of the data contents of every written sector of an optical disc, including the optical disc file system. In most cases ISO Images are used to contain the true digital copy of the original disk. So, if you’ve downloaded an ISO image, just keep in mind that it is not an ordinary data CD/DVD image. Especially, in case of Operating Systems, these ISO Images contain files that make CDs/DVDs bootable, therefore, you need a special software to write them on CD / DVD and then install them.

How to mount an ISO file on Windows 7

If you need to see the contents of an ISO file that you just downloaded, then you will have to mount it in your computer. Mounting an ISO image file is similar to inserting a CD / DVD ROM in your CD /DVD Drive, the only difference is that this would be done virtually. Mounting an ISO file has a lot of benefits. Before burning it on to a CD or a DVD, you’re able to check the contents and verify if everything is just as you want. Or, if you want to install a software or a video game but don’t want to burn the ISO image on a CD or DVD. This would come in handy if you don’t have a CD / DVD Drive altogether in your PC or netbook. Windows 7 doesn’t give native support for ISO files so you have to use third party tools.

Using Virtual Clone and Magic Disk

  • Virtual Clone Drive lets you mount almost all kinds of image files be it ISO, UDF, BIN or CCD.Make sure that you have Administrative privileges on your computer before you continue. Download the utility and install it. Through installation steps, it will ask you for file association and then it will install the Drive Software (Application Driver). Now just double click on your image file to mount it.

Virtual Clone Drive

  • Magic Disk is a similar program but it also gives you the option to set a number of multiple virtual drives and also change the drive letter of your existing virtual drive.

UltraISO Mount

Remember that all the ISO editing / manipulating applications like Magic ISO, PowerISO and UltraISO have built-in capabilities to create virtual drives and mount ISO files in them.

How to mount an ISO file on Windows 8

A feature added to the Windows 8 pre-beta by default. All you have to do is click on the image file and click ‘Mount’ to mount the image file. Your image would be mounted as a new drive in My Computer. Right click it to unmount.

Windows 8

How to install an ISO file / image without burning it on a CD/ DVD

Extract the ISO Image

Well, you can either mount them. Or you can extract them. As stated in the introduction, ISO files are archives so almost any archive extraction application like WinZip , WinRAR and 7Zip can extract the contents of the file. 7Zip is the recommended software here as not only it is free but it also supports almost all kinds of compression formats. It has also the support for checking an archive for malware or virus before extracting it. Just keep in mind that once you have extracted the ISO image file, you cannot get back the same image file by compressing the data again. So, be careful before deleting the original ISO image file.

Write it on a USB Flash Drive

If this ISO image file is a windows image, like Windows 8 pre-beta. Then you have the option to write it on the USB Flash Drive. Which is always a better option as it will be a faster installation than a CD /DVD ROM. Refer to our article on How to Create and Install Windows 8 from a Bootable USB.

How to install an ISO file / image by burning it on a CD / DVD

What you Need?

  1. The ISO Image file, it should be ending with an ISO extension at the end. You won’t see the extension if you have installed some compatible application.
  2. CD/DVD Writer/Burner.
  3. A CD/DVD ROM.
  4. Software to burn the ISO Image.  ISO Image Burner, other alternatives to this program exist too, like freewares ImgBurn, Free ISO Burner and a shareware UltraISO.

Steps to follow:

ISO Image Burner

ISO image burner

Free ISO Burner

fREEiso

Ultra ISO

UltraISO

Instructions:

The process is same for whatever application you use.

  1. Choose your ISO image file.
  2. Select your CD / DVD ROM Drive.
  3. Burn or Write.

 

If you find this article helpful, you can always subscribe to our RSS Feed or follow us on Twitter & Facebook for more updates.

Repairing a Malware-Damaged PC

Introduction:

The process of malware removal is a seemingly candid one; it is only a matter of two to three clicks and all the defected material goes out of the window in just few minutes, courtesy of a decent antivirus tool. However, it must be noted that even if these few security packages, targeting malware-damage that your PC might have been going through, make your PC seem a bit ‘well-off’, in actuality they might be doing the opposite. Yes you heard that right, these security packages can actually cause some programs to work slower or; in fact, not function at all (Talk about adding insult to..malware-damaged).

Now then, question is what is the way out? We shall come to that in a bit but before that first we need to redeem the PC to a virus-free condition via restoration of a pre-infection full complement backup or re-installation of Windows. Yes it is time-consuming and even a bigger hassle for some of you, but better be safe than sorry, correct?

Antivirus

Second, although a more cumbersome, method is to manually sort and scold all those areas that the malware may well have damaged in the PC. Personally, the former is more preferable and most probably the one you shall choose as you may just be spending loads of time on trying to sort malware-damaged areas of the PC and finally find yourself reinstalling Windows anyway. As evident in the aforementioned paragraphs, repairing a malware-damaged PC can be a nuisance more often than not. However, this post shall guide you on how you may safely resist the temptation of dumping your good ol’ PC pal and help your PC get rid of any malware that decides to stick to it.

Getting Started

There are often times when, upon completion of a brief system scan, the antivirus installed on your PC indicates that there is no malware detected; however, the PC continues to function, unusually strange. No, we will not call it forgery on part of the PC; there are chances of malware stuck in there, afterall. Just to be on the safe side and to make sure that there is no active malware, run a full system scan on the PC with all detection options checked. Of course, it is always advisable to try other solid security packages, like G Data’s antivirus (trial). Otherwise, if you are looking for an efficient giveaway product, Malwarebytes Anti-Malware may well be a good option to try.

Malware Bytes

Do bear in mind that having more than one security packages installed on your PC might as well contribute towards the misbehaviour of your PC. Therefore, you would want to make sure that in an attempt of repairing malware, you do not end up slowing down your PC (Conflict between two antivirus packages tends to do that). You should also have Windows check itself for missing or damaged files within the system: it is easy. If you have Windows XP installed on your PC, click  Start > All Programs > Accessories > Command Prompt. On the contrary, in case of Windows 7 Start > All Programs > Accessories. Now, right click a Command Prompt couple and then, Run As Administrator. Following this, a new window will open up, whereby you will be required to type SFC/ SCANNOW and press ENTER.

Restoring Default Settings

How often do we get fooled in our lifetime-aplenty. Well, a malware damage might just be another entry into the records. Why I say that is because what seems like a malware damage could be a corollary of some unapproved tweaks to some key settings in the PC. In such a case, restoration of system default settings easily resolves the issue. It is important to note here that all the customizations applied shall be lost on doing this, so you would want to make sure that these tweaks are applied only to areas that are genuinely causing problems.

Explorer is rather vulnerable to malware, so do not be ruffled if the settigns on your PC’s explorer get messed up as a result of malware or otherwise. The solution is simple: Click Tools > Folder Options > General/View/Search tab > Restore Defaults.

Malware Issues

If a desired program seizes to load while you are, say, trying to send an email, click Start > Default Programs. Choose ”Set program access and computer defaults”  and it will allow you to chose your default web browser, email program, media player and much more. On the contrary, the latter would allow you to make an application a default selection for all file types and protocols, so you won’t have to repeat the process everytime.

In case, Internet Explorer seems to be a cause of concern amidst all the malware-damaged PC speculation, click Start > Control Panel > Network > Internet. If you have the slightest of ideas about what might have gone wrong , try your hand at restoring the settings pertinent to the issue.

If you are sick and tired of going through the motions and would like to go the wham, bam and thank you ma’am way click, Internet Options > Advanced > Reset. This will fully restore all Internet Explorer defaults and clear everything that was previously saved in the IE settings.

Recovery Tools

We understand that you are only just human (No, no puppy faces please) and going through such long PC recovery procedures might just be an exercise too much for your liking. Good news is that there are even more substitutes, free recovery tools. Yes, we treat as somewhat our final resort but trust me they work like a charm if they are really required that is. However, worth-noting here is the fact that these are to be tried only if a full system back up is available with you. If you think you are good to go, Complete Internet Repair is quite a bit of a starter (Yeah, very much like the one that you get for breakfast). Not only will this repair networking issue but repairing Internet Explorer is also a plus involved.

SMART Recovery

 

Moreover, SMART is as smart a tool as the name suggests. It helps reset the Windows services to defaults and allow safe repairs. Moving on, the Windows Repair Tool may be the last but definitely not the least of all Recovery tools that makes repairing  an easy task. Whether it is about solving Registry and file system problems or repairing icons and making changes to proxy settings, it is one utility that surely worth a try.

If you find this article helpful, you can always subscribe to our RSS Feed or follow us on TwitterFacebook  and Google + for more.

How to take Ownership (Full Control) of Files or Folders in Windows

Taking ownership or permissions for a file or folder is necessary when it comes to changing the system files. Most of the time it is the themes, skins, other customization or just patching a host file. Even if you are an administrator, you won’t have permissions to edit or even rename the system files. In this article, we’ll show you how to take the ownership of these files or folders, in case you want to modify or replace them.

Take Ownership of a file or folder automatically:

This is a very simple method to take ownership of a file or folder. Just download this file to your computer, extract it and merge the Add Take Ownership Option.reg file in your registry by double clicking it.  Click Yes, when asked for permission. As soon as you’re done with this, you’ll see an option added to the right-click context menu. Right Click on a file and folder and from there you can take the ownership of it.

Ownership Context Menu

 

Manual way to take the ownership of a file or folder:

If you are getting problems with the automatic way, follow these instructions to get this ownership and full permissions to files or folders manually.

Keep in mind the following method works for almost every version of Windows. Administrator accounts in Windows 8 already have full permissions to the files.

  • Go to the folder which contains the file or folder on which you want to take ownership. In this case it was C:\Windows\System32 , Right-click on the file and select Properties.
  • In the Properties dialog, go to Security tab, select your username from the given list. Notice that you don’t have Full Control of this file.

Taking Permissions

  • Click on “Advanced” button and go to “Owner” tab. You’ll see that the owner would be set to “TrustedInstaller“.

TrustedInstaller

  • Click on “Edit” button, select your username given in “Change owner to” section and click on “Apply” button. It’ll ask for confirmation, click on OK button.

CurrentOwner

Windows Security

  • Exit from both Ownership dialog boxes and come to the first Properties window again. Now select your username again and click on “Edit” button.

Editing Permissions

  • Select your username and click on “Allow” checkbox given for “Full control” option. Click on “Apply” button and then OK. It’ll ask for confirmation, click on Yes button.

Get Permissions

Windows Security2

  • Now you’ll have full permission on the file or folder.

Full Permissions

That’s it, now you can modify, replace or delete a system file without a problem, just make sure to take a backup of that file before modifying it.

What Is Windows 8 – The Complete Guide

Second part of the Windows 8 – All You Want To Know Guide.

Jump Menu:

 

How to use Control Panel in Windows 8

How to add users and create picture passwords in Windows 8

New Changes in Windows Explorer in Windows 8

How to view Folder Options in Windows 8

How to hide the ribbon in Windows Explorer inside Windows 8

How to Repair Your Windows 8

 

 

How to use Control Panel in Windows 8

The control panel in metro interface is there not only for tweaking your settings but also for customizing the feel and look of the Metro Interface as a whole. When you click on the Control Panel tile in the Metro Interface you immediately start the customization process.

Personalize in Control Panel

You can change the lock screen image in right there in the first screen with User Tile that is shown at the login screen. (Swap up the screen or drag it up if you are using a PC.) User tile is the ‘picture’ that represents your account. You can also grab a fresh image using your webcam.
User Tile in Control Panel

Keep in mind that if you are using ‘Live Account’ as your login credentials then by default your Live Account Picture would be used as a ‘User Tile’ at the login screen.

Back to Top

How to add users and create picture passwords in Windows 8

Creating-a-Picture-Password-GIF

 

To create a picture password in Windows 8, all you have to do is choose a picture, draw a pattern on it, repeat and you’re good to go. Be careful with those patterns and draw something that you’ll remember afterwards because you’d be allowed to login only, if you can draw the correct pattern. To create a picture password go to Control Panel > Users > Create Picture Password

 

Picture Password

Another good way to login to your computer (for touch surface users only) is to create a pin number.  Below the Pin Logon, there is a + button with Users text on it. Click on it to add a user to your Windows 8 operating system. As soon as you’ll click on Add User button it will ask you for two options. Windows Live ID, will allow you to add a user with a windows live email address. This is very handy as it allows you to sync your favorites, browsing history, shortcuts, languages and passwords for different services across different computers that are using the same Windows Live ID. The second option is of course the usual Local Account.  Keep in mind that Windows Live ID account has all the features of a Local Account, plus the look and feel of being it your own account.

Back to Top

New Changes in Windows Explorer in Windows 8

Ribbon

The biggest change that you’ll notice with the new Windows Explorer 8 is the Ribbon added to the top of it. This ribbon is a replica of the one already available in other applications of Microsoft such as, Microsoft Office and Windows Live Writer. And it also works like one. A complete context-sensitive ribbon allows you to display different sections according to your selection of file or what you are doing inside the explorer itself.

Shortcut tools in Windows Explorer

 

For example if you click on something in Library, it will give you the ‘Library Tools’, click on an application and it will show you a new ‘Application Tools’ section. Same goes for the pictures and there is also a ‘Shortcut Tools’ section which does nothing but allows you to open that shortcut location. These tools are very nice addition to the explorer as they would allow you to Manage Files, Run them as Administrator or even let you pin them to the taskbar.

Quick Access Toolbar in Windows Explorer

Quick Access Toolbar

 

The added feature besides the ribbon in Windows Explorer is the Quick Access Toolbar. This toolbar allows you to quickly access the features that were previously hidden in a context menu. With this features like, Undo, Redo or Delete and Rename are easily accessible. If you want these more accessible, just check mark on them and they will be visible on the toolbar. You can also customize this toolbar more or add more buttons to it too. For example if you move your files a lot and want to add ‘Move To’ button to the quick access toolbar, just right click on it and select Add to Quick Access Toolbar. It definitely has to be enabled (not greyed out) for it to work. It also allows you to change the position of the toolbar or minimize the ribbon.

 

Add buttons to quick access toolbar

File Copying

The file copy/more dialog is enhanced, it gives more information about the status of the file transfer but also allows you to pause the transfer.

File Copying Dialog

 

The file replacement dialog has also improved so its easier now for the user to decide which files to keep and which to replace.

 

 

Replace or Skip Files

Back to Top

 

How to view Folder Options in Windows 8

Since there is no file menu in new Windows Explorer, you can view the folder options by following one of these methods:

Go to File > Change Folder and Search Options

 

Folder Options

 

You can launch Folder Options by going to classic Control Panel and then double clicking ‘Folder Options’. Some quick and most used Folder Options, like File Name Extensions and Hidden Items are also available in the ribbon.

Back to Top

 

How to hide the ribbon in Windows Explorer inside Windows 8

If you are working on a low resolution, or you like to have some space on your explorer, then you can also hide the Ribbon on Windows Explorer.

  • Open the Run box (WIN+R) and type gpedit.msc and press Enter. This will open the group policy editor.

Run Group Policy

 

  • Now go to  the Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Explorer section of the tree.

 

Configure Minimized Ribbon

 

  • Double-click “Start Windows Explorer with the Ribbon minimized“, set the value to Enabled and click OK.

 

Enable The Ribbon

 

Now if you start Explorer, the ribbon won’t be displayed by default. Click the Down arrow to the left of the Help icon if you’d like to see it.

 

Expand The Ribbon Button
Back to Top

 

How to Repair Your Windows 8

Troubleshoot

Windows 8 didn’t crash even once in our one week long trial but if you are having some troubles and it is likely that you would face some as this is a pre-beta version of the Windows then there are some easy solutions to the problems. Metro Applications Not Running: Minimum resolution should be 1024 x 768. If you’re running a lower resolution, chances are that some of your metro applications won’t start at all.

For all other problems, try resetting or refreshing your Windows. Refreshing, installs your windows again but retains your personal files, whereas resetting is essentially similar to reinstallation the Windows again. Just go to Metro Control Panel, Select General and then choose your preferred option.

Back to Top

If you find this article helpful, you can always subscribe to our RSS Feed or follow us on TwitterFacebook  and Google + for more.

Windows 8 – All You Want To Know

A two part comprehensive guide to Windows 8. Its got everything that you need to know about the preview of next gen operating system from Microsoft.


Jump menu:

The Metro Interface

Start Menu in Windows 8

Search for Applications in Windows 8

Switching between Applications in Windows 8

How to close an application in Windows 8

How to shutdown or restart your computer in Windows 8

Internet Explorer in Windows 8

How to Change the City in Weather app in Windows 8

How to Hibernate / Sleep Windows 8

How to Login Automatically in Windows 8

Keyboard Shortcuts you must know in Windows 8

How to add a quick launch shortcut in Windows 8

Add Shutdown / Hibernate shortcuts on Taskbar in Windows 8

How to use Microsoft’s Hyper-V in Windows 8

 

The Metro Interface

When you logon for the first time in Windows 8, the metro interface is first thing that you’d be greeted with. Metro Interface is very similar to the one already included in Windows 7 mobile. Just like the mobile version, it is packed with all kinds of applications by default. These applications are called ‘tiles’ and you’d be itching to swipe the screen to the left in order to see what is on the far right side. You can swipe on your tablet but on a regular computer you would have to rely on the scroll bar at the bottom or you can use the scroll wheel on your mouse to scroll through the tiles.

Metro Interface in Windows 8

Tiles can be changed from the original arrangement. Just click on a tile and drag it to the left, right, up or down to your preferred place, as you’ll do this, you’ll see other tiles moving and giving way to the tile being dragged.

Moving the tiles in Windows 8

Go through the apps by clicking on them to know more about them, you can always come to the original point by pressing the ‘Windows Key’ or moving your mouse to the left bottom corner of the screen. (Keep in mind that if you had an app open and you didn’t close it, pressing ‘Windows Key’ would take you back to that app. This also goes for the desktop too, goto ‘Desktop’ from your metro interface, press ‘windows key’ and it will take you back to the metro interface and vice versa!)

 

Right clicking on an app would put a check mark on it and selecting ‘unpin’ would remove that from the metro interface or you can make them smaller. You can also choose to uninstall it from your computer too.

UnPinning an app in metro

Back To Top.

 

Start Menu in Windows 8

Start to the original

This is one of the most talked about new feature of Windows 8. As Microsoft said, “The start menu in Windows 7 is gone”, it is replaced by a more ‘simplified’ version of start menu. Settings, Devices, Share and Search are the only options in this one. You can access it by moving your mouse to the bottom left corner of your screen. Follow our article to get back the old classic Windows 7 start menu.

Back To Top.

 

Search for Applications in Windows 8

Windows 8 lets you search for your applications right from the metro interface as an alternative to the ‘Program Files’ of classic start menu that was present in Windows 7. (Remember no start menu in Windows 8.) To run an application, press ‘Windows Key’ and start typing the name of the application. A search windows will open up in the left page and there’d also be a list sorted alphabetically, to let you choose an app. You can run this dialog by pressing the search keys ‘Window + F’. (WIN+Q for the Applications). This is comes in handy when you want to see all the installed applications in your computer, if you want to start an application from a list.

Search Applications in Windows 8

Back To Top.

 

Switching between Applications in Windows 8

Since you’re on the Metro Interface most of the time in Windows 8 and there is no taskbar, you are bound to loose the track of applications that you will run. Cycling between applications is pretty easy in Windows 8. Just like all previous versions of Windows, pressing ‘Alt + TAB’ would cycle through the applications that are currently running with the thumbnails of those applications. ‘Win + TAB’, unlike Windows 7 will let you switch between the next running application. And just like the mobile version of Windows 7, you can click on a tile to open an application again, if that application is already open and you still clicked the tile to open it, it will open the the previous instance of that app. As stated earlier, pressing the ‘Windows’ key on your keyboard repeatedly will cycle between the current running application and the metro interface.

Switching between Applications

Want to know which application you used last? Just move your mouse to the end on the left side and a small thumbnail of that application will appear.

Back To Top.

 

How to close an application in Windows 8

You can not close an application in windows 8, well technically because there is no ‘Cross’ or ‘Close’ button in application of the Metro Interface. Applications are suspended, just like any mobile OS and they will be closed if you’re low on resources or some other application needs some more memory. If you really want to get rid of an application, just fire up the Task Manager by pressing ‘Ctrl + Shift + Esc’ and ‘End Task’ your application.

Back To Top.

 

How to shutdown or restart your computer in Windows 8

This is no more the job for the ‘Start’ button. To shutdown, restart or put your computer to sleep, you need to move your mouse to the left corner, click on settings and then click on the ‘Power’ icon. This can be done while you are anywhere in the windows, be it the Metro Interface or the Desktop.

Shutdown your computer in Windows 8 a

However, when in Desktop mode, you can press ‘Alt + F4’ and then choose the appropriate option in the dialog.

Shutdown your computer in Windows 8 b

Back To Top.

 

Internet Explorer in Windows 8

Using internet explorer 10 in windows 8 Metro Interface is a little bit tricky if you have no experience of touch interfaces or browsing internet on mobile devices. IE10 in metro is completely touch friendly but if you’re using a desktop computer or laptop without touch capability, it should still be pretty easy for you to operate. Just fire up the browser by clicking on the Internet Explorer tile in metro.

Internet Explorer in Windows 8 a

It will open a full screen browser with a toolbar at the bottom, not visible by default. Right click on the empty space and you can view the thumbnails of tabs and that bar at the bottom again. You can open a webpage by typing in the address and it will remember your frequently used websites and you can also pin a specific most used website to it too, using this button. Internet Explorer in Windows 8 pin

Internet Explorer in Windows 8 b

However, if you prefer the more classic internet explorer, it is available in the desktop. Switch to the desktop mode and click on the shortcut on the taskbar. You can also use the this button Internet Explorer in Windows 8 switch on the metro version of internet explorer to switching the current browsing page over to the desktop version of the internet explorer. I never imagined that I’d say this but for on the fly internet browsing, the metro version of internet explorer is pretty sleek and super fast.

Back To Top.

How to Change the City in Weather app in Windows 8

Weather Application b

Weather Application a

By default the weather app is pre configured with the current conditions in Anaheim, California,  but if you can add your local city too in the list. Just click Weather to launch the app, right-click and select Add City,
type the name of your nearest city, and choose it from the list, when it appears. For a detailed overview, take a look at the following video. (View it in full screen HD.)

Weather Application in Windows 8

Back To Top.

How to Hibernate / Sleep Windows 8

The option to hibernate a Windows 8 computer is not available in the ‘Shutdown’ dialog, but you can restore it by following these steps.

  • Go to Desktop and type (powercfg.cpl) in the RUN box (WIN+R) to launch the Power Options window and click “Choose what the power buttons do” in the left
    hand pane.

Hibernation Options

  • If you see a “Change settings that are current unavailable” link, then click it, check the Sleep and Hibernate
    options, click Save Changes, and the new options should now appear in your shutdown dialogs.

Hibernation Options b

Also in the same window, check on ‘Show Sleep’ option. (These options are greyed out by default.)

Hibernation Options c

Back To Top.

 

How to Login Automatically in Windows 8

If you are a single user on your computer or you don’t want to give password, every time you login to Windows then follow these simple steps to enable ‘Auto Logon’:

  • Press WIN+R, type netplwiz and press Enter to launch the User Accounts dialog.

Automatically Logon b

 

  • Clear the “Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer” box and click OK.

Automatically Logon

  • Enter the user name and password of the account that you’d like to be logged in automatically (you may have to click on a specific user account that you want to change from the list), click OK,
    reboot, and you shouldn’t be prompted for your login details again.

Automatically Logon c

Back To Top.

 

Keyboard Shortcuts you must know in Windows 8

  • Win + C : displays the “Charms”: all those Settings, Devices, Share and Search options in new improved ‘Start Menu’

Windows 8 Charms

  • Win + D : launches the desktop
  • Win + E : launches Explorer
  • ‘How to search for files in Windows 8?’ Just press Win + F : and start searching.

Search Files in Windows 8

  • Win + I : opens the Settings, also where you go to shutdown your computer.

Settings in Windows 8 Metro

  • Win + L : locks your PC
  • Win + P : switch your display to a second display or projector

Switch to other display in Windows 8

  • Win + R : opens the Run box
  • Win + U : open the Ease of Access Centre

East of access center

  • Win + W: Similar to ‘Search Files’ but this shortcut will take you directly to let you search for your system settings.

Search for settings.

For example, if you type ‘wallpaper’, it will return you settings related to ‘changing your desktop background’.

Search Results for Wallpaper Settings

  • Win + Q: It will let you search for the Windows Programs both for Metro and Desktop Interfaces. Really good alternative for the search bar on classic Windows 7 Start Menu.

Search Applications in Windows 8b

  • Win + Z : This will display the right-click context menu when in a full-screen Metro app. For example, the right-click menu in the weather application.

Rightclick menu shortcut

  • Win + + : This will let you zoom in at any part of your Metro Interface as well as Desktop Interface. Adds a pretty cool magnifier icon which lets you change the magnify settings.

Magnifier in Windows8

  • Win + - : zoom out
  • Win + Tab : switch between running apps, works like ‘Alt+Tab’ in previous Windows.

Back To Top.

How to add a quick launch shortcut in Windows 8

What do you do to launch your favorite application in Windows 8? You definitely go to the Desktop Interface to open the shortcut on the desktop OR you search for the file using the WIN+F shortcut. This short tutorial will let you add a quick launch shortcut to your favorite application in simple steps. This is the windows 8 default shortcut, so if you press the Windows key plus a number, it will let you open your favorite app that is on the quick-launch on the Desktop. For example, by default there are two icons, Internet Explorer and Windows Explorer on the task bar. So if you press WIN+1, it will launch Internet Explorer and pressing WIN+2 will open the Windows Explorer. The good thing about this trick is that it also works on the Metro Interface. That is pretty much the trick to it. For example:

  • Start Windows Media Player by searching for Apps.

Adding a shortcut in Windows 8

  • Pin it to the task bar.

Adding a shortcut in Windows 8 b

  • Move it to the left of Internet Explorer, if you want this to be your number one shortcut. The one that will be launched by pressing ‘WIN+1’.

Adding a shortcut in Windows 8 c

Back To Top.

Add Shutdown / Hibernate shortcuts on Taskbar in Windows 8

Follow these simple steps to add quick launch shortcuts that will appear in ‘WIN+F’ search box.

  • Go to C:\Users\<AccountName>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs folder in Windows Explorer. Where <AccountName> would be your username of Windows. You can go there using the windows explorer but keep in mind that ‘AppData’ folder would be hidden by default. So either you have to ‘Unhide’ the hidden system files and folders or you can use the run dialog. Just press WIN+R and copy/paste the above address. (Don’t forget to replace <AccountName> with your username.)

Program Menu in Windows Explorer

  • This will open the Programs folder, just add a new shortcut by Right Clicking on an empty space and choosing ‘New > Shortcut’. Then type shutdown –s –f –t 00 for shutdown, shutdown –r –f –t 00 for restart and shutdown –h –f –t 00 for hibernate-f is to force the applications to close, –t is the time before the current task will be executed so 00 would execute it at one. You can also use the time switch to schedule a shutdown.

Adding a shortcut in Windows 8 d

  • Click Next and give your short cut a name. You can pin this to the taskbar by right clicking on the short cut and selecting ‘Pin to taskbar’. Click on the icon to shutdown your computer or Now when you’ll press WIN+Q and type ‘shutdown’ it will show you the app shortcut you just added. Click on it to shut down your computer.

Adding a shortcut in Windows 8 e

Back To Top.

How to use Microsoft’s Hyper-V in Windows 8

Microsoft has added support for Virtual Machines in Windows 8. It will be installed by default when you install Windows 8 on your computer. Follow these two steps to enable it:

  • Press Win+Q and search for OptionalFeatures.exe, it will be shown on the right side as you type it.
  • In ‘Turn Windows features On or Off’ window, click to check Hyper-V and click OK.

Enable HyberV

  • Now press the windows key, go back to metro and you’ll see that Hyper-V tiles have been added at the end.

Enable HyberV b

Back To Top

If you find this article helpful, you can always subscribe to our RSS Feed or follow us on TwitterFacebook for more updates.

How to get classic Windows 7 start menu back in Windows 8

“The Windows 7 start menu is gone”. This is what Microsoft said in developer conference while introducing the ‘Windows 8 developers preview’. They replaced it with the new ‘Metro Interface’, that resembles to the mobile version of ‘Windows 7’.  A one week test run of ‘Windows 8’ and its turning out to be a little bit annoying. It could be the twelve years of love talking, clicking on Start and finding a large menu, all those browsing for ‘Program Files’ or just clicking ‘Start’ to ‘Shutdown’ the computer (Oh, the irony.)

Right now, metro interface is not providing the deserved replacement to the original ‘Start Menu’, adding programs to the tiles or re-arranging them is good on the mobile but not on a full fledged desktop computer. Currently, when you hover your mouse on the bottom left corner of your screen in Windows 8, it will show you a menu similar to the following

Original Start Menu

Where as when you click on the ‘Start’ button on the desktop, it will take you back to the ‘Metro Interface’ and vice versa. (Take a look at the following video.)

If you’re one of those people who are annoyed by not seeing their beloved ‘Start Menu’ in Windows 8, follow the instructions below to get it back.

 

Method 1

  • Press WIN+R to open the Run dialog box and type in regedit.exe

Runbox Regedit

  • Click Yes on the UAC (User Account Dialog) box.

UAC Check

  • While inside the Registry Editor, navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Mic­rosoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\­Explorer
  • In the right pane, double-click on the entry named RPEnabled and change its value from 1 to 0 to enable the Windows 7 Start menu in Windows 8.

Registry Editor Change Settings

If you want to restore default settings, change the value to 1 again.

 

Method 2

~Solo-Dev on Deviant Art made this neat tool to toggle the registry settings between the ‘Classic desktop’ and ‘Metro Interface’.

Deskto Toggle Tool

 

Method 3

Above methods will also disable the ‘Ribbon’ inside the Windows Explorer. If you want to keep that ribbon and also want the classical start menu (yea, its called classical in Windows 8), then run this utility. It is called ‘MetroController’ and it allows you to enable or disable some or even all Metro features in Windows 8 .

  • Clicking on ‘Disable all new features’ will disable everything that Microsoft has been working on with so much dedication. Ribbon Explorer, Lock Screen and the Metro Start Screen.
  • ‘Disable Only Metro Features’ will disable the ‘Metro Interface’ but will let you keep the ‘Ribbon Explorer’ and classic start menu.

Download MetroController.

 

That’s it, now when you’ll click on the ‘Start’ icon in Windows 8, you’ll see the menu similar to Windows 7.

Start Menu

Don’t be surprised when you confront a bug, and there are many glitches/bugs, when you’ll do this. A common one is that when you’ll hover your mouse over the Windows Icon at the bottom left, it will open up the default menu, suggesting it is never removed in the first place when you edited the registry. You’ll have to click away and the again click on the windows icon to get the start menu, otherwise it will take you to the Metro Interface.

 

Start Menu and Hover Menu

 

If you find this article helpful, you can always subscribe to our RSS Feed or follow us on TwitterFacebook for more updates.