Windows 8/8.1 tips and tricks - post them here

By bdsams
in Microsoft (Windows)

 Share

Recommended Posts

Proficient

dafin0

Posted
Posted

it always worked for me so long as

1- both machines are either AHCI or IDE (otherwise it would Bsod)

2- both being Intel based or AMD as dafin0 said (you have 50%/50% chance for that )

With Win 8 i have had it work from a AMD to a Intel but it hard to tell if i just got lucky (only got one AMD system). ill try it with Windows 7 later on tonight and see what happens

Grand Master

Ice_Blue

Posted
Posted

it always worked for me so long as

1- both machines are either AHCI or IDE (otherwise it would Bsod)

2- both being Intel based or AMD (you have 50%/50% chance otherwise )

But won't that cause Windows to ask you to re-activate?

  • 2 months later...
Grand Master

Aergan

Posted
Posted

it always worked for me so long as

1- both machines are either AHCI or IDE (otherwise it would Bsod)

2- both being Intel based or AMD (you have 50%/50% chance otherwise )

1. Can be fixed prior to swapping drives by modifying this key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\msahci

I do this quite a bit when restoring VHD's built on VM's to physical machines.

2. Sysprep it before hand, it will redetect drivers etc on next boot (Re-activation required):

sysprep /generalize

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc721973%28v=ws.10%29.aspx

Unless it's for a specific reason though I would just rebuild it.

Grand Master

Ci7

Posted
Posted

1. Can be fixed prior to swapping drives by modifying this key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\msahci

I do this quite a bit when restoring VHD's built on VM's to physical machines.

2. Sysprep it before hand, it will redetect drivers etc on next boot (Re-activation required):

sysprep /generalize

http://technet.micro...v=ws.10%29.aspx

Unless it's for a specific reason though I would just rebuild it.

last time i swapped AHCI => IDE

booted perfectly , No need for the fix with Release Preview :)

  • 4 weeks later...
Apprentice

LEXX911

Posted
Posted

Askvg came up with the solution to customize the "WinX Start Menu"(right click on desktop bottom left corner), turnes out to be quite complicated and involves editing twinui.dll:

http://www.askvg.com...u-of-windows-8/

This is good. Better than the Windows 7 Start Menu. Accessing your main APPS nice and quick.

  • 2 weeks later...
  • 2 weeks later...
Apprentice

rorrr

Posted
Posted

when Microsoft announced* the removal of Aero glass, they said Windows 8 would allow users to choose a taskbar color that was different from the window color. in the RTM Windows 8 Enterprise leak, this is not present in the GUI. however, you can keep achieve this look by changing EnableWindowColorization to 0 in regedit. example: http://i48.tinypic.com/qzhm3q.jpg

*see section: Updating the visual appearance of the desktop

Apprentice

rorrr

Posted
Posted

in the RTM leak, you can set the window color black and have a different color taskbar. this isn't particularly elegant, but maybe someone can use this to discover some better tweaks.

2uj5p4n.jpg

I've found that the taskbar color will usually be darker or lighter than whatever you choose, or even a completely different color based on the ColorizationColorBalance value

some more screenshots:

http://i50.tinypic.com/ivipmp.jpg

http://i49.tinypic.com/b67zgy.jpg

http://i47.tinypic.com/20jredf.jpg

how to:

- select your desired color in Personalize under Control Panel

- open regedit

- find ColorizationColorBalance entry in regedit (\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\DWM)

- right click ColorizationColorBalance. choose modify. make sure hexadecimal is selected

- to make the active window black and inactive windows white, set ColorizationColorBalance to ffffffff

- to make the active window black inactive windows grey, set ColorizationColorBalance to 80ffffff

- sign out and sign back in

you can also set the taskbar color using hex code

- find a hex color code: http://web.njit.edu/~kevin/rgb.txt.html

- or find an rgb color code http://www.tayloredmktg.com/rgb/ and convert it using this hex tool: http://tweaks.com/windows/39028/change-color-of-glass-with-regedit-with-decimal-to-hex-argb-converter/

- right click ColorizationColor. choose modify. type the hex code into the value field, make sure hexadecimal is selected

- sign out and sign back in

  • 3 weeks later...
Veteran

Shane Nokes

Posted
Posted

Is there anyway I can make the scale of the metro screen smaller so I can fit more on it without that scroll bar at the bottom?

There is if you're running at a high enough resolution. When you're on the start screen press Win+I and click on tiles. If your screen is at a high enough resolution it will allow you to change the setting to show more tiles. :)

Veteran

+Tyranade Subscriber²

Posted
  • Subscriber²
Posted

There is if you're running at a high enough resolution. When you're on the start screen press Win+I and click on tiles. If your screen is at a high enough resolution it will allow you to change the setting to show more tiles. :)

Im at 1920x1080 and all I have is the option to show administrative tools.

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

  • Posts

    • Apple CEO Tim Cook confirms looming price hikes due to memory shortages

      By Hamid Ganji · Posted

      Apple CEO Tim Cook confirms looming price hikes due to memory shortages by Hamid Ganji Image via Apple Memory and chip shortages have led to significant price increases for electronics over the past year, and it seems that more hikes are on the way for upcoming smartphones and computers. Apple CEO Tim Cook has confirmed that the company is planning to increase the prices of some of its products due to the ongoing memory and storage shortages. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Cook confirmed the looming price hikes for Apple’s future products, adding that “Unfortunately, price increases are unavoidable.” He also said the company is doing its best to “mitigate the huge increases that are being passed to us, and we’ve been trying to shield our customers from the increases, but the situation has become unsustainable.” The Apple CEO also noted that the allocation of a large portion of memory chips to AI companies has contributed to shortages in the market, resulting in lower supply at a time when demand for devices remains high. “We definitely need memory pricing and supply to return to reasonable levels for consumer products. That’s the bottom line,” Cook said. Cook also added that Apple is ready to use its vast cash reserves to help boost supply in the market because additional production capacity is needed. While he declined to specify how Apple plans to do that, he said the company will not build its own memory and storage factories despite its financial resources and silicon expertise. Cook did not provide further details on the scale of the price increases or which Apple products would be affected, though iPads and Macs could see higher prices sooner than other products. Apple’s next product launch event is scheduled for September, when the company is expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and its first foldable iPhone. It remains unclear whether the upcoming iPhones will be affected by the price increases, but given the current memory shortage, higher prices seem increasingly likely. There is currently no clear timeline for the end of the memory shortage. Samsung, one of the world’s three largest memory chip manufacturers, recently said the shortage could persist for several more years.
    • Samsung is shutting down yet another app used by millions

      By AgusL · Posted

      Downloads does not equal actual usage, even less when the app is pre-installed in some Galaxy phones.
    • Mozilla highlights Firefox Nova 2026 redesign and more upcoming features with new roadmap

      By AgusL · Posted

      +1000 to this, don't understand why they added that margin around the top bar, even the close button is a PITA to click without aiming. Ofc, this is just preview and hopefully they will revert such odd UX decision before hitting final version.
    • Rockstar gives last-gen GTA V players free upgrades tomorrow

      By THE END · Posted

      so the people who bought this will get a refund?
    • Nearly half of American adults now use AI, but concerns are also growing

      By Jose_49 · Posted

  • Recent Achievements

    • One Month Later
      eurospharma62 earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • Week One Done
      With What earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • Week One Done
      Harris Gilbert earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • One Month Later
      Vincian earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • First Post
      Jocimo earned a badge
      First Post

  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      542
    2. 2
      +Edouard
      167
    3. 3
      PsYcHoKiLLa
      86
    4. 4
      Steven P.
      64
    5. 5
      ATLien_0
      64
    Show More

  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!