Restore This Vital Function In Windows 8 - Now

Reblogged from Tech - for Everyone:

Enable Safe Boot Before You Need It (Or It'll Be Too Late) (And You'll Be Sorry)

If you have a computer running Microsoft's 'new' Windows 8, I strongly recommend you take the following (quick and easy) action - promptly. Don't dilly, or dally, do it now! Take it from a computer technician, you want to undo (one of) the incredibly stupid thing(s) Microsoft did to Windows 8 and, restore this advanced recovery and troubleshooting feature.

Read more… 341 more words

Tech Paul at Tech - for Everyone (a computer tech by trade) is telling us to make this adjustment to help preserve our sanity with Windows 8. If you need to get to "Safe Mode" in Windows 8, it is not an easy task, as in the past. Tech Paul provides easy steps to make getting into Safe Mode (when needed) the same way we always have.  I can tell you Windows 8 is a great operating system; however, I am still trying to figure Microsoft's thinking on some of the features added and removed in this version of Windows... Thanks  to Tech Paul for this heads-up! I know my readers (and visitors) will appreciate this.

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Create A Desktop Shortcut To Your Windows 8 Apps and Software

What many of you do not know is that I often use the blog to document tips, that I come across, for my own future reference. Today’s post is a good example of this. Recently I discovered that I can create a Windows 8 desktop shortcut that will launch the Windows 8 GUI (graphical user interface) menu for all of the apps and software that I have installed on my computer.

As you well know, if you are a Windows 8 user, there is no Start Menu. This shortcut, in essence, will go to serve the same purpose of the Start Menu; however, in appearance it does not look like the Start Menu you have been accustomed to. The good about this is, that once you click the shortcut and you get to the apps screen, you can simply start typing to search for the app or software program you are looking for. For example, let’s say I want to launch the calculator that is built into windows. I simply click on the shortcut that will launch the Windows 8 GUI menu or apps screen, then start typing calculator and very quickly the tile to launch the calculator will appear.

To create this desktop shortcut, here is what you have to do:

Right click on desktop and click New -> Shortcut

A dialog box will appear prompting for a location of the item.  Copy and Paste the following into the dialog box, then click Next:

%windir%\explorer.exe shell:::{2559a1f8-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}

After you click on Next, another dialog box will launch prompting you to give the shortcut a name. In this case, I named the shortcut Windows 8 Apps.  After you enter the name for the shortcut, click on Finish.

Click on your newly created shortcut, to launch the Windows 8 Apps Screen (menu)…

What I am finding, by using this shortcut technique, I am using the Windows 8 GUI menu (or apps screen) on a regular basis.

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Stardock Makes Windows 8 Easier With ModernMix

Stardock is currently working on a Windows 8 application called ModernMix, that is a must have application for Windows 8. ModernMix is in Beta; however, it has been released for public use.

We all know that Windows 8 has been challenge for most users due to the interface change. We have been trained, by Microsoft, for over 20 years; to open, close and minimize applications via the windows controls in the top right corner of a window. When you boot to the Windows 8 Start Screen, which is host to and the launching point for Windows Apps, your first instinct is to try and close an app by looking for those controls; only to find out that they do not exist. ModernMix changes all of that.

After you install ModernMix you will notice that any App you open there is now a set of controls. These controls, located in the top right corner of the app you have open, allows you to toggle the app into a Windows mode, toggle the app back to the Start Screen Mode, or close the app. When you are at the desktop level and you have a Windows App open you can open, close and minimize the window (containing the app) just as you always have.  Another cool feature is that you can pin the app to the Windows taskbar.

Once the app is open in a Window it will act as it normally does.  For example, using the screenshot above.  I opened a news app on the Windows 8 Start Screen, toggled the control to the Windows mode (which took me to the desktop) and was able to scroll horizontally through the news articles.

ModernMix is currently $4.99, and typically I only promote FREE software; however, this is one exception. ModernMix is the missing link to Windows 8 and I highly recommend it. Stardock has once again pushed the envelope and came up with a very useful software application that will make your Windows 8 experience a good experience.

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Most Descriptive Listing of Windows 8 Keyboard Shortcuts

What most people do not know about Windows; and, especially Windows 8, is that nearly every type of function in Windows can be controlled directly from their keyboard via keyboard shortcuts.

For example, in Windows 8 the classic Start Menu is missing. As a result of no Start Menu, people are at a loss when it comes to shutting down their computer at the Windows 8 desktop level. This is where having knowledge of keyboard shortcuts can come in handy. In this scenario, simply hitting the Alt + F4 keys in combination will ultimately lead you to the Windows Shutdown dialog box where you can select the shutdown option.

The reason I inserted the statement “ultimately lead you to” in the previous sentence is that each time you hit Alt + F4, and you have any programs open, that keyboard combination will individually shut down each open program until you reach the desktop level.

Another favorite of mine for shutting down my computer in Windows 8 is simply hit the Ctrl+Alt+Del keys in combination. That will take you to the screen where you can lock the computer, sign out, change your password, launch the task manager and where a small power button (bottom right of the screen) is located to power off the computer.  This keyboard combination will work from the Windows 8 Start Screen level and the desktop level.

Today I went on the hunt for a listing of Windows 8 keyboard shortcuts and found many; however, the most visual descriptive listing I found was at a site called, ShortcutWorld.

At  ShortcutWorld you can find every Windows 8 keyboard shortcut you can think of in the following categories:

1. Getting around Windows 8 Start Screen and Desktop
2. Windows 8 Charme Shortcuts
3. Switch between Apps and Windows
4. Power User Commands Shortcuts
5. Managing Windows 8 Desktop Windows
6. Windows 8 Taskbar
7. Navigating Desktop
8. Windows Explorer
9. The Rest

Also, ShortcutWorld has put together a very nice PDF download of all of the Windows 8 shortcuts [HERE] …

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A Free Software Utility To Edit The Windows 8 Quick Access (WinX) Menu

Recently I posted the article, A Must Learn Windows 8 Tip: How To Get To The Quick Access Menu And To The Windows 8 Start Menu. In summary, this menu appears when you place your mouse pointer in the bottom right corner of the screen and when the the Start Screen thumbnail (or tip) pops up, right mouse click on the thumbnail and the Quick Access menu will appear. This menu serves as a convenient and quick launching point to the advanced system functions on your computer. This menu is also known in the Windows 8 environment, as the WinX menu.  If you hit the Win key on your keyboard plus X (Win + X), this menu will appear.

The WinX menu, I have found to be quite convenient and began thinking it would be a real plus if I could add my own items to the WinX menu. I began researching this and found that there is a folder on your computer called WinX which holds shortcuts, in groups, to the program items you see on the menu. At first, I thought I could add or remove the shortcuts and found that they are basically locked in place by the operating system; so, that option was ruled out.

I then started thinking that someone out there probably has developed software that will allow you to edit the WinX menu and sure enough I found a FREE software utility called Win+X Menu Editor for Windows 8.

With Win+X Menu Editor for Windows 8 you can edit the WinX menu without system files modification. You can rename, move items, add programs, add presets, add control panel items, create additional groups and remove items.

This little program is portable, works on a 32bit or 64 bit system, and is by the same developer of a program I featured in an article yesterday, called SimpleSndVol .

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A Must Learn Windows 8 Tip: How To Get To The Quick Access Menu And To The Windows 8 Start Menu

Many of the articles I post are often as a result of real world experiences. Recently, through conversation with a co-worker about Windows 8, they were expressing their dismay about not knowing an easy way to access the more advanced power user or system management functions in Windows 8 such as Control Panel, File Explorer (formerly called Windows Explorer), Search, etc… Their dismay soon turned to WOW, after I showed them how to access what is called the Quick Access Menu in Windows 8.  I consider knowing this tip as a must learn tip to accessing these key computer functions; plus, a HOW TO tip to accessing Windows 8’s version of the Start Menu (see below).

You actually have two options to accessing this menu:

1. Hover your mouse pointer over the lower left corner of your screen and when the small (square) thumbnail screen appears, simply right mouse click and voila’ the Quick Access Menu will appear. This method of accessing the quick access menu is my favorite and can be accessed from the Windows 8 Start Screen and from the Window 8 desktop level, even if you have a program open. Learn to find and use this menu by practicing and before you know it, accessing the menu will become second nature.
2. The second method, if you are into using keyboard shortcuts (which I am not) is simply hit the Winkey plus X (Windows Key + X).

What the Quick Access Menu gives you, is access to the following system management components:

Programs and Features
Power Options
Event Viewer
System
Device Manager
Disk Management
Computer Management
Command Prompt/Command Prompt (Admin)
Task Manager
Control Panel
File Explorer Search
Run
Desktop

Windows 8 Start Menu

Also, as an added bit of information. Many people think that the Start Menu is gone in Windows 8; whereas, it really is not. It just looks (a whole lot) different.  If you follow the steps I outlined above to access the Quick Access Menu, and click on Search, the convoluted Metro version of the Windows Start Menu will be launched. This definitely looks different than what we were used to in the previous Windows version; but, in essence, this is the Start Menu that lists, categorizes and will launch any of the programs on your computer.

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You Have Until January 31st To Upgrade And Save On Windows 8

I was in a conversation with a fellow about Windows 8 and I realized that he was unaware that money can be saved on the Windows 8 Pro upgrade if you purchase and download it directly from the Microsoft Store by January 31, 2013, (for $39.99). The DVD copy is available for $69.99. As a result of that conversation with this fellow, I thought I would let the reader’s of the blog know that the deadline for the savings on the upgrade is January 31st.

I know many are going to stick with their Windows XP, Vista or 7 setups; but, I can tell you I went the upgrade route to download Windows 8 and found it to be very stable, and an improvement over the previous versions of Windows. Yes, this version of Windows can present some challenges, but once you overcome the challenges you will ultimately be ahead of the curve and will soon be on the hunt for your own collection of Windows apps (which are being developed and posted on a daily basis).

Upgrading to Windows 8

If your PC is running Windows 7, your files, programs and settings will easily transfer to Windows 8 Pro. If your PC is running Windows XP or Windows Vista, you will need to reinstall your apps. Some features such as touch may require a new PC. To check compatibility, visit your PC manufacturer’s website and check out www.windows.com/upgrade to run the Upgrade Assistant to check for compatibility and get more details on system requirements.

Also, if you are a Windows Media Center user, you will have to download the Windows Media Center Pack as a separate download.  This download is free, only for a limited time (until January 31, 2013).

If your PC is running Windows 8 Pro and you’d like to get Windows 8 Media Center Pack so you can watch and record live TV with Windows Media Center, you can take advantage of the following special offer [click here]

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