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Windows 8 tips and tricks - post them here


254 replies to this topic * * * * - 4 votes

#16 DARKFiB3R

    .::2133520::.

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  • OS: Windows 8 Pro x64
  • Phone: Lumia 800

Posted 02 March 2012 - 00:09

Unzip and copy this folder to...

%appdata%\microsoft\windows\Start Menu\Programs\

http://ge.tt/3DbsjSE/v/0?c

I made these shortcuts so that I could quickly shutdown/restart my computers while logged in via remote desktop, but they work well here too :)


#17 micro

    Neowinian Senior

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Posted 02 March 2012 - 00:59

Anyone have a way to remove water mark? This site looks a bit sketch..http://www.smoothblo...nsumer-preview/

#18 V23

    Neowinian²

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Posted 02 March 2012 - 01:07

View PostIce_Blue, on 01 March 2012 - 12:54, said:

To close Metro apps easily from both the desktop and start screen:

Put your mouse on the top left corner of the screen.
The most recently opened Metro app will appear. Move the mouse down to see all running apps.
Move it over the app you want to close, and right-click on the app, then select close.

You can also just middle click (scroll wheel click) to close the apps.

---

When on the start screen you can use semantic zoom, then right click on a group of apps and set a name for each.

Does anyone know how to pin the "computer" shortcut to the taskbar? I have it pinned to the start screen but would prefer it pinned on both. The work-around I used in Windows 7 doesn't seem to work anymore.

#19 ~Johnny

    Earthling

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Posted 02 March 2012 - 01:14

Not exactly a Win8 tip, but if people want it -

Posted Image Posted Image

A kind-of start menu, just using http://lee-soft.com/vistart/ , and you still have the immersive start menu enabled if you want to use it. Note that the program is a little buggy, and does come up with a crash message when you try and shutdown Windows (I've also pinned Windows Speech Recogniton to the taskbar behind it to make sure the other programs offset properly). Although saying that, I don't use it anyway, I just put it there because it looks nice. I prefer the start screen :p

#20 AvarN

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Posted 02 March 2012 - 04:33

To disable Aero or transparency (doesn't make a big change, but oh well):

Right-Click on desktop > Personalize > Window Color > Uncheck "Enable transparency"

#21 Ultravires

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Posted 02 March 2012 - 06:00

View Postyikes, on 01 March 2012 - 13:48, said:

For those who want easier way to shutdown:
1) Create a shortcut (new->shortcut) on a classic desktop.
2) Direct it to shutdown.exe -s -t 0
3) Put a nice icon on it
4) Pin it on start screen

Here you go, easy shutdown button :)

What would the settings be if i wanted it to reset instead of a shutdown?

#22 ArialBlue

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Posted 02 March 2012 - 06:27

If you made a dual boot setup, to avoid reinstalling all applications,
Most applications will simply work without actually getting installed (just copy from your W7 Program Files to your W8 Program Files)
Things like Firefox / Thunderbird profiles (and settings / profiles for applications) generally lurk in %APPDATA% folder - so just copy those over.

Now you have your W7 apps in W8 without waiting for dead-slow installers and without getting nasty startup entries or Bing Toolbars.

Edited by _Heracles, 02 March 2012 - 06:28.


#23 contextfree

    Neowinian³

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Posted 02 March 2012 - 07:45

When using the Metro style apps switcher (on the left edge) or the charms bar (on the right edge) with the mouse, instead of doing it in two discrete motions (move to top/bottom corner, then move down/up), try just swinging your mouse pointer around the corner in one fluid motion. With a bit of practice it becomes a lot faster and actually kinda fun and addictive (or maybe I'm a weirdo). I wish the animation for the charms bar appearing was a little faster though.

#24 Muhammad Farrukh

    The End is Nigh

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Posted 02 March 2012 - 07:52

View Postcontextfree, on 02 March 2012 - 07:45, said:

With a bit of practice it becomes a lot faster and actually kinda fun and addictive (or maybe I'm a weirdo). I wish the animation for the charms bar appearing was a little faster though.

Wow. That actually works pretty great.

Big thanks man (Y)

#25 Another Canuck

    David

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Posted 02 March 2012 - 07:56

View Postcontextfree, on 02 March 2012 - 07:45, said:

When using the Metro style apps switcher (on the left edge) or the charms bar (on the right edge) with the mouse, instead of doing it in two discrete motions (move to top/bottom corner, then move down/up), try just swinging your mouse pointer around the corner in one fluid motion. With a bit of practice it becomes a lot faster and actually kinda fun and addictive (or maybe I'm a weirdo). I wish the animation for the charms bar appearing was a little faster though.

Good tip, that actually is a lot easier.

You're right about the charms bar lag though.

#26 WizardCM

    Matt

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  • OS: Windows 8 Pro x64

Posted 02 March 2012 - 08:23

View Postcontextfree, on 02 March 2012 - 07:45, said:

~snip
I wish the animation for the charms bar appearing was a little faster though.

View PostAnother Canuck, on 02 March 2012 - 07:56, said:

~snip
You're right about the charms bar lag though.

There's actually a nice suggestion for this on the first page:

View PostRoberticus, on 01 March 2012 - 22:40, said:

~snip
This next one made it more smooth (especially hovering the mouse over corners for menus):
HKEY_CURRENT_USER>Control Panel>Mouse
There change "MouseHoverTime" to 0-20 (from 400)



#27 trek

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Posted 02 March 2012 - 10:06

View PostUltravires, on 02 March 2012 - 06:00, said:

What would the settings be if i wanted it to reset instead of a shutdown?
shutdown.exe -r -t 0

#28 efjay

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Posted 02 March 2012 - 12:34

With music playing hit your physical volume button for music controls similar to Windows Phone.

In IE10 immersive using a keyboard and mouse move the mouse pointer to the left or right edge for a virtual back or forward key.

#29 DARKFiB3R

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Posted 02 March 2012 - 15:00

View PostDARKFiB3R, on 02 March 2012 - 00:09, said:

Unzip and copy this folder to...

%appdata%\microsoft\windows\Start Menu\Programs\

http://ge.tt/3DbsjSE/v/0?c

I made these shortcuts so that I could quickly shutdown/restart my computers while logged in via remote desktop, but they work well here too :)

forgot the batch file that the LogOff shortcut points to :/

Attached File  LogOff.zip   143bytes   53 downloads

#30 Ultravires

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Posted 02 March 2012 - 16:48

Can someone explain what the -s and t 0 represent in "shutdown.exe -s -t 0" Also the r in "shutdown.exe -r -t 0 "