Windows 8/8.1 tips and tricks - post them here

By bdsams
in Microsoft (Windows)

 Share

Recommended Posts

Contributor

Varemenos

Posted
Posted

There's a bug if you take multiple screenshots very fast. Try to take 10 screenshots very fast and they will become darker until the last becomes 100% black!

its not actually a bug, each time you try to take a screenshot what it does is store what you see that time in the screen inside a file and since each time you try to take a screenshot it does a 'fade to black' animation you then take a screenshot of that fading.

Grand Master

Zain Adeel

Posted
Posted

Fastest way to shut down your PC.

Hit the power button

:laugh:

When you boot into Windows 8, on the Lock screen, you don't need to move the cursor upwards.

Just press any key from the keyboard, and it'll be unlocked

Shutting down is simple, if your machine has a "alternating switch"(i.e. it alternates between on/off on pressing,). Just hit it and the "shutting down......" screen appears and the OS will handle the rest. :laugh:

THIS.. i was just going to say the same. Go to ur BIOS. Change what the Power Button does. Change it to Shut down PC.

And then just press the power button and it will shut down the PC. Fastest way :s

And a way which makes the most sense btw.

Enthusiast

Proculsi

Posted
Posted

its not actually a bug, each time you try to take a screenshot what it does is store what you see that time in the screen inside a file and since each time you try to take a screenshot it does a 'fade to black' animation you then take a screenshot of that fading.

Yes I know, but I think it should be solved.

Veteran

Emon

Posted
Posted

Has anyone tried the "Refresh PC" option yet? I just tried it last night and it's neat. It kept all my data (pictures, music etc) and metro apps intact but removed everything else. It creates a file on the desktop called "apps removed.html" or something like that which will have the full list of app it removed. It keeps a backup of old Windows installation in "Windows.old" folder.

Grand Master

freak180

Posted
Posted

One surprising thing in Windows 8 is that it comes with two Task Managers.

%SYSTEMROOT%/system32/TM.exe launches the new, enhanced Task Manager.

While %SYSTEMROOT%/system32/Taskmgr.exe opens the older Windows 7-like Task Manager.

Veteran

~Johnny

Posted
Posted

My name is set properly on Windows Live but it's still not showing up on the start screen.

DId you upgrade from WIindows 7? There's a problem where if you try to attach a Microsoft account to your existing Windows 7 account it doesn't always work properly...

Experienced

Another Canuck

Posted
Posted

When you click the network icon in the taskbar, a side window opens showing your connections which are available.

If you right click one, and choose 'Show Estimated Data Usage', it'll show the data usage for the last three days

I take it this is for cellular modem connections only? I don't see the option for LAN.

Proficient

Anthonyd

Posted
Posted

One surprising thing in Windows 8 is that it comes with two Task Managers.

%SYSTEMROOT%/system32/TM.exe launches the new, enhanced Task Manager.

While %SYSTEMROOT%/system32/Taskmgr.exe opens the older Windows 7-like Task Manager.

It's because it's a beta ...

Veteran

migo

Posted
Posted

I am not sure whether many of these are tweaks or just discovery of non-so-hidden features.

Not everything is obvious thanks to the UI change.

I take it this is for cellular modem connections only? I don't see the option for LAN.

It's for LAN too, just it's only in the Metro view.

Grand Master

freak180

Posted
Posted

When you right-click the startmenu, a little menu with power user commands come up. I'm sure everything knows about this. But what I doubt anyone knows is that you can edit it I believe. Go to this path C:\Users\ javier arroyo\ AppData\Local\Microsoft \ Windows\ WinX You will see 3 folders listed as Group 1, Group 2, and Group 3. I already tried removing the shortcuts within the folders and than signing out. Once back in the desktop. Right click the taskbar again and some of those commands would missing. If someone can figure out a way to add new programs to that list, that would be great. As of right now they seem to not appear if you add different programs.

In the picture below you can tell I added more groups to separate the list differently

post-272310-0-78842800-1330987482_thumb.

This topic is now closed to further replies.
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Posts

    • Microsoft Edge 149.0.4022.80

      By Copernic · Posted

      Microsoft Edge 149.0.4022.80 by Razvan Serea Microsoft Edge is a super fast and secure web browser from Microsoft. It works on almost any device, including PCs, iPhones and Androids. It keeps you safe online, protects your privacy, and lets you browse the web quickly. You can even use it on all your devices and keep your browsing history and favorites synced up. Built on the same technology as Chrome, Microsoft Edge has additional built-in features like Startup boost and Sleeping tabs, which boost your browsing experience with world class performance and speed that are optimized to work best with Windows. Microsoft Edge security and privacy features such as Microsoft Defender SmartScreen, Password Monitor, InPrivate search, and Kids Mode help keep you and your loved ones protected and secure online. Microsoft Edge has features to keep both you and your family protected. Enable content filters and access activity reports with your Microsoft Family Safety account and experience a kid-friendly web with Kids Mode. The new Microsoft Edge is now compatible with your favorite extensions, so it’s easy to personalize your browsing experience. Microsoft Edge 149.0.4022.80 changelog: Fixes Fixed an issue that prevented QR code generation from working. Feature updates Intune MAM Protected Downloads. The protected downloads feature for Intune MAM will now save downloaded files to the Documents > Microsoft Edge > Downloads folder in OneDrive. Extensions monitoring in the Edge management service. The Microsoft Edge management service now allows admins to gain visibility into extensions installed across their managed users. From the extensions monitoring page, admins can see which extensions have been installed as well as manage user requests for blocked extensions. For more information, see Microsoft Edge Extensions Monitoring. Validate Edge builds early with enterprise preview. Enterprise preview provides a simpler way for admins to flight pre-release Edge builds to their users. To reduce friction and bolster usage, users will receive pre-release builds directly inside of their Stable Edge application. Admins can allow users to easily opt-out of the preview experience, using built-in rollback to switch between their pre-release and stable channels with ease. Microsoft 365 admin center users can configure the feature, view their flighting population, and receive personalized recommendations all in one place. For more information, see Get started with Enterprise Preview in Microsoft Edge. Download: Microsoft Edge (64-bit) | 193.0 MB (Freeware) Download: Microsoft Edge (32-bit) | 170.0 MB Download: Microsoft Edge (ARM64) | 188.0 MB View: Microsoft Edge Website | Release History Get alerted to all of our Software updates on Twitter at @NeowinSoftware
    • Waymo recalls self-driving software after cars enter closed freeway work zones

      By Slugsie · Posted

      The machines are starting to fight back any way they can.
    • Linux 7.1 arrives with an NTFS overhaul and major hardware performance boosts

      By Accuphase · Posted

      No news articles about the Arch Linux repo being majorly infected with malware?!?
    • Waymo recalls self-driving software after cars enter closed freeway work zones

      By zikalify · Posted

      Waymo recalls self-driving software after cars enter closed freeway work zones by Paul Hill Waymo, the self-driving car maker owned by Alphabet – the parent company of Google –, has recalled some of its fifth-generation Automated Driving Systems (ADS). It did so after some of its cars drove through closed construction zones. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the affected vehicles were capable of driving through a closed freeway construction zone and continuing to drive at speed. The listing on the NHTSA website says that Waymo is currently developing a solution to fix this issue, but in the meantime, freeway driving is being restricted. Waymo will update its ADS software so that vehicles can detect when they can avoid entering construction zones. According to the Safety Recall Report, on April 20, 2026, Waymo’s Field Safety Committee began meetings reviewing an event from April 11, 2026, and five events from April 19, 2026, where Waymo’s autonomous vehicles didn’t recognize and drove past ramp closure signs into the pre-planned freeway construction zones. This took place in Phoenix, Arizona. Separately, on May 18, 2026, seven Waymo vehicles entered freeway lanes with active construction in the San Francisco Bay Area by driving between cones that were placed to show the lane was closed. On the back of both of these events, Waymo restricted freeway driving until it could address the issue. In June, Waymo’s Safety Board reviewed the issue and additional information related to ADS performances around construction zones; then, as a result, it decided to conduct a recall. This development is not good for Waymo as it adds to a growing list of technical hiccups its cars have experienced. Ultimately, it will lead to more scrutiny from lawmakers around the world who will be more cautious about letting autonomous vehicles on their roads without tighter regulation. For readers in areas where Waymo operates, does this news make you more wary about stepping into one of these vehicles?
    • Microsoft confirms Recycle Bin bug across all versions of Windows

      By snowy owl · Posted

      I'm still on Windows 10 22H2 because I didn't want to deal with all the issues in Windows 11, so I waited almost a week before installing the latest Patch Tuesday update (KB5094127), I went ahead and did it, and it was a huge mistake—ever since then, my File Explorer has seen a performance drop of about 30% when transferring large files... Once again, Microsoft has outdone itself! This update cannot be uninstalled, either through the Control Panel (via Settings) or by accessing Advanced Startup Options. The only possible alternative would be to use system restore points, but I’d have to reinstall all app and driver updates (and there’s no guarantee it would work). Or there’s the “nuclear option” of a in-place repair without losing files or apps, but even then, all my customizations would be lost! Microsoft just can’t help but mess everything up! Way to go, Microsoft! But I still don’t want your c****y Windows 11!

  • Recent Achievements

    • Week One Done
      Eurosoft10 earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • One Month Later
      Eurosoft10 earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • One Year In
      Skeet Campbell earned a badge
      One Year In
    • One Month Later
      Sharbel earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • First Post
      BizSAR earned a badge
      First Post

  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      599
    2. 2
      +Edouard
      190
    3. 3
      PsYcHoKiLLa
      79
    4. 4
      Michael Scrip
      77
    5. 5
      Steven P.
      69
    Show More

  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!