What is the first thing you should do with your latest Windows 8? Well, exploring some cool tricks and tips would be quite wise in order to use it even more efficiently. You can do this by either checking all the changes in setting and making some manual registry tweaks for opening up hidden elements of Windows 8; or you can just simply go through this list of 10 Awesome Tips and Tricks for Using Windows 8 Efficiently and start getting the best out of your Windows! This is a really cool list which provides you with some amazing tips and tricks, which are easy to perform but would definitely make your life a lot more easier. Check the list out!
Shut Down Easily and Quickly.
An annoying thing about Windows 8 is the fact that Microsoft has literally hidden the shutdown button within its Metro UI. You can always switch to Desktop mode to achieve a quicker and easier shut down by pressing the classic alt+F4. Or you can create a shutdown tiles that does the same thing in Metro UI. Within the Desktop mode, simply right-click the desktop in order to create a new shortcut. Type the following for its 'location': shutdown.exe -s -t 00. Then name the shortcut whatever you want. Once you see it on your desktop, launch Windows Explorer and then shift this shortcut to C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs directory. The go back to your Metro UI and there you will see the Shutdown button as a brand-new tile. This will allow shutting down your PC in a single Click!
Un-install Apps Quickly and Easily.
Want to get rid of all the unwanted Windows Apps or third-party apps quickly and easily? Here is a way to do it: Right-click on the app's icon within Windows' Metro UI and choose 'Uninstall.' Third-party apps will direct you to the Windows 'Programs and Features' menu which will let you go through the usual Windows un-installation routine you are familiar with. Apps from the Windows Store will vanish!
Cool Hotkeys.
If you don't have a touchscreen PC, then using your mouse for going around the Metro UI can be irksome. So, how to navigate then? By simply using the keyboard. Below are given some really handy hotkeys that allow managing elements:
Windows Key + Tab : Opens the left-hand 'Switch List'
Windows Key + C : Opens the right-hand Charms Bar
Windows Key + I : Opens Settings Menu
Windows Key + T : Brings you back to Desktop Mode and cycles through your open windows on the taskbar.
Windows Key + Shift + . : Docks the app to the left, middle, or right side of the screen with each press.
Windows Key + M : Takes you to the Desktop and minimizes all applications
Windows Key + Q : Opens up Windows 8's global search utility within Metro.
If you don't like Metro UI, then you can get rid of it simply and easily by using this little yet useful trick. Launch Windows Explorer and head over to Windows directory. Search for 'shows desktop,' then simply copy the shortcut that you see into the following location: C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup. This would ensure your Windows 8 always booting to the 'Classic Desktop' instead of its Metro UI.
How To Be an A-one Administrator in a Single Click
This is a really cool trick which will definitely make your life easy. Navigate your cursor to the lower-left corner of your OS's Metro or Desktop mode till the live thumbnail of the to-be-switched-to environment pops up. Just right-click. You will see a menu that provides you a shortcut to many handy power user options, such as Command Prompts, Disk Management window and System menu etc.
Yes, please don't forget to install the drivers for your devices on your Windows 8 configuration. Just remember to get the most up-to-date system drivers you can from your devices' manufacturers. Most important drivers are that of the motherboard, video card, and other drivers for your input devices (if are using a non-standard keyboard and mouse). Windows 8 establishes a working baseline of drivers post-installation quite nicely.
Type Whatever You Wish to Find!
This one is a really handy trick. When you wish to open an app, don't even bother moving your mouse, simply type the name of the app. Don't open the search, just simply type it and Windows 8 will find it for you! For instance type 'Control Panel' on your keyboard, and voila, it would be found by your new OS!
What To Do If Windows 8 Not Working Properly Anymore?
So somehow you have managed to make your Windows 8 not work properly – maybe installed some faulty app or done some wrong settings. Now what do you do? In previous Windows you would simply have to reinstall your Windows. In Windows 8 you can try something else before doing that. You can try to fix a broken OS by simply clicking on the General tab within the 'More PC Settings' menu and then clicking 'Refresh' option. Doing this would simply get rid of all the third-party apps you have installed and restores it to factory-default settings, but keeps your User files. Or you can utilize the 'Reset' option which gets rid of all the data and restores your OS to Windows 8's factory-default settings and makes it good as new!
Get Around to Windows' Default App Choices.
The default apps of Windows 8 are good, but some of them can be annoying, for instance the Video app. It is also quite irksome to use the 'open with this app' command every time you want to open a thing. So what to do? Well, we have an awesome tweak which allows editing your file-opening preferences. Just type 'default programs' within Windows 8's Metro UI followed by clicking on the corresponding link that shows up. Choose the 'Set your default programs' option and then every single program will show you the number of extensions it can open and how many it is opening. And this will let you accomplish your batch processing.
Do Not Upgrade.
Please keep in mind not to install Windows 8 as an upgrade to your present OS. Why? Well, there are a lot of reasons for that. It is quite tough to understand for new users, thus bringing down your productivity. It also has many incompatibilities and glitches which will affect your software, games, and the existing "test version" apps in Windows 8. So do not upgrade!
