The Desktop
Going Straight to the Desktop When the Computer Starts
If you have the 8.1 update then it is possible to set your computer to stop automatically showing the Start Screen when you turn it on.
1. Go down to the Taskbar at the bottom of the Desktop and right click. Select Properties from the menu.
2. Click on the Navigation tab. It’s the second one from the left. Navigation has two sections; the lower section is Start Screen.
3. Click on the very first box in the Start Screen section to put a check in it. The box should say When I sign in or close all apps on a screen, go to the Desktop instead of Start.
Accessing All Programs from the Desktop
While the Start Screen gives us access to programs through the All Apps button, getting to things from the desktop can be a little trickier. We’re going to get around that by creating a special shortcut on the Desktop, one that will give us a list of all the programs on the computer.
1. Go to an empty part of the Desktop and right click. On the right click menu, select New and left click on Shortcut. It should be the second item on the list.
2.In the box that opens, type: Explorer Shell:AppsFolder
3.Click Next in the lower right corner.
4.When it asks you to name your shortcut, type: All Programsand click Finish in the lower right corner.
5.You should now see the shortcut on your desktop. Double click to open All Programs. Once the shortcut opens, you can right click on an empty area to sort and group the programs.
Turn Off the Computer Without Using the Charms
You can also set up shortcuts for other useful things like the power and restart buttons so you don’t have to keep going to the Settings Charm every time.
1. Go to an empty part of the Desktop and right click. On the right click menu, select New and left click on Shortcut.
2.In the box that opens type: shutdown.exe-s -t 0
3.Click Next in the lower right corner.
4. When it asks you to name your shortcut, type: Shutdownand click Finish in the lower right corner.
5.Right click on the Shutdown button and select Properties from the menu. Click on Change Icon at the bottom to choose an appearance for your button.
6.If you would like a Restart button instead, then replace the –s with –r. Using –h instead of –s will make a Hibernate button and replacing the –s –t 0 with –l will make a Log Off button.
Making a Master Control Panel
There are a whole lot of settings you can customize in Windows 8. The main problem with them is that they’re divided up and scattered all over the place. Using the Search charm to find settings helps a little, but there is an easier way. You can gather all your settings into one place on your desktop with the Master Control Panel.
1. Open the File Explorer and click on the View tab. Make sure the Hidden Items box is checked, then close the File Explorer.
2.Go to an empty part of the Desktop and right click.Select New and left click on Folder.
3. Name the folder Master Control Panel.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}
4. It is the long string of letters and numbers in the brackets that makes this work, so type them in very carefully. If the icon does not change from a folder icon to a control panel icon after you have finished naming it, you will need to go back and check the character string in the brackets to make sure it was all typed in right.
DIY Start Menu
One of the things a lot of people miss in Windows 8 is the Start Menu. While the Start Menu doesn’t show up anywhere obvious or easy to find, a folder for it does still exist. Two of them, in fact. And you can make them accessible from your Taskbar.
1.Open the File Explorer and go to the View ribbon. Make Sure Hidden Items is checked.
2.Bring your pointer down to the Taskbar and right click. SelectToolbarsfrom the menu and click on New toolbar….
3. This will open a window in the middle of your screen. You need to tell the computer what folder to use for this new toolbar.
4.OpenC:>Users>Your Username>AppData>Roaming>Microsoft>Windows.
5. Your Start Menu folder should now be visible near the bottom of the list. Left click on it once to select it, then click the Select Folder button in the lower right. You now have a little Start Menu on your Taskbar.
What the Start Menu has in it to begin with is fairly limited, but you can add more things.
1.Use your File Explorer to trace your steps back to the original Start Menu folder: C:>Users>Your Username>AppData>Roaming>Microsoft>Windowsand double click on the Start Menu folder to open it.
2. Items that are already on your Desktop, like your Power button and All Programs, will be the easiest to add. You can just drag them over to the Start Menu folder.
3. This is also where our second Start Menu folder comes in. This second one is associated with the whole computer rather than just your account, so it often has more programs available.
4.Go toFile Explorer in the lower left corner and right click on it. On the menu that comes up, click on File Explorer. This opens a second File Explorer window.
5. In this new File Explorer window go to C:>ProgramData>Microsoft>Windows.
6. Right click on the Start Menu folder you see there and select Copy from the menu.
7. Go back to the first Start Menu folder you opened and right click. Select Paste Shortcut from the menu, then close both windows. The shortcut will now be available on your Start Menu.
Hidden Tools
Shortcut Keys
Win : Opens and closes the Start Screen
Win + C : displays the Charms
Win + F : opens the File Search pane
Win + Q : open the App Search pane
Win + W : open the Settings Search pane
Win + H : opens the Share pane
Win + I : opens Settings
Win + K : opens the Devices pane
Win + Tab : switch between running apps
Win + D : launches the desktop
Win + E : launches File Explorer
Win + Z : displays the menu in an app
Win + X : opens the Quick Access Menu
Win + M : minimizes all open programs
Win + L : locks your PC
Win + U : open the Ease of Access Centre
Win + R : opens the Run box
Alt + F4: Closes programs
Win + PrtScn : Save screen as a picture
Ctrl + mouse wheel: Zoom In and Out
Win + + : launch Magnifier and zoom in
Win + - : zoom out
Quick Access Menu
If you go down all the way down to the lower left corner and right click the Quick Access Menu will open. A number of very useful tools have been gathered here, including but not limited to: the Control Panel, Power Options, Event Viewer, Command Prompt, and Task Manager. It works from both the Start Screen and the Desktop.And if you have the 8.1 update there is also a shutdown command here.
The Improved Task Manager
The Task Manager has gotten a bit of an upgrade and can now provide you with some extra information as well as shut down programs that get out of hand. It can be found on the Quick Access Menu or by using Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
The old Applications tab has been merged with the Processes tab and currently running programs are now shown in the Apps section at the top of the Processes tab. The processes themselves have been split in two for easier management. Windows processes have now been separated out from the Background processes being run by other programs. The Performance tab has also been split to make it easier to look up individual types of system information. And the new App History tab allows you to track how much of your resources an app uses over time.
Knowing how much strain a program or service is going to put on your resources can be an important factor in choosing what to keep. It is also something to consider when choosing which of several similar programs to use.
Set Program Defaults
Windows 8 has made a few changes to how certain file types, like pictures, music, and videos are opened. Sometimes this is helpful, but sometimes it isn’t. Here, we’ll be looking at where the default program to open a file is selected.
1. Open Control Panel from the Quick Access Menu.
2. Left click on Default Programs, then left click on Set Your Default Programs.
3. Scroll down the list on the left and click on Windows Photo Viewer.
4. Select Set this program as default, then click on OK in the lower right corner.
This will only work for photos opened from the Desktop. If you go into the Photos App or another Start Screen App it will still open pictures in its usual full screen mode.
Action Center
The Action Center is a place you can check on your computer’s status, review alerts, troubleshoot, and manage maintenance. It can be opened from the Control Panel or from the right end of your Taskbar. The icon is shaped like a little triangular flag.
Smartscreen Settings
One of the options along the left side of the Action Center is the Windows SmartScreen Settings. The SmartScreen checks downloads and new apps to see if they are anything Windows recognizes. If it does not recognize them, it may require administrator approval before the app or download can run. From the settings you can change it so that the SmartScreen only warns you when it does not recognize something, but no longer requires administrator approval.
This can make it a lot easier and more convenient to download Apps you like from places other than the Windows Store.
The Monitor
Alternative Passwords
If you’re sick of having to type in the likes of f74DrW52$ just because you were distracted a few minutes too long and the computer brought up the lock screen again, then you’re not alone. And you do have a few alternatives.
If you’re tired of typing, you can set up a Picture Password instead. Picture passwords work best with touchscreen devices, but they are still useable with a mouse.
1. Go to the Settings charm and click on Change PC Settings at the bottom.
2. Once you are in the settings, click on Accounts>Sign-in Options. Then click on the Create a picture password button on the right half of the screen.
3. Type in your current password as proof you are the owner of the account.
4. Click the Choose picture button on the left half of the screen. This will take you into your picture library. Select one of the pictures by left clicking on it, then click Open in the lower right corner. Then click the Use this Picture button on the left half of the screen.
5. You are now ready to set your password. You will draw three marks on your picture. They can be straight lines, circles, or dots. The direction you draw the lines and circles in matters. Once you have drawn the three, you will be asked to confirm your new password by repeating them. Once the picture password has been confirmed, click the Finish button at the bottom left of the screen.
There is also the Pin option. The Pin button is below the Picture Password button. You can choose a four digit number to serve as your way to log in. Just remember that, while it’s convenient, it is going to be a lot easier to guess then a longer, more complicated password so it doesn’t provide quite the same level of security.
Power Settings
Another thing that can help with how often you have to log back in is your Power Options. They are the second option on the Quick Access Menu. The two standard plans are Balanced and Power Saver. Either plan can be adjusted by clicking the blue Change Plan Settings at the right end. From here you can decide how long it takes for the monitor to power down and lock.