Windows 8 Interface Sanity Tweaks--please share yours!

Cly

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I have Windows 8 running in VHD, and I am trying to learn how to use it. Keeping this objective and unemotional if possible.

Here are helpful tweaks I've adopted so far:

Shutdown keystrokes: Alt-F4 while right clicking on the taskbar. Very intuitive ;)

I pinned the Control Panel to the taskbar. That gives me access to a whole lot of things I previously used the Start Button for.

I will probably pin many more programs than I did in Windows 7.

I will create a folder with shortcuts to less often used programs and pin that folder to the taskbar.

Questions:

I would love to have one key stroke access access from Metro to Desktop and vice versa. Can a macro or something be written for that?

Is there a Class Desktop search utility that can take the place of Metro Search?

Please share any other tips or tweaks that you have discovered!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Built it myself
    CPU
    i7 2600K
    Motherboard
    Asrock Z77 Extreme4
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    XFX nVidia GT 420
    Hard Drives
    Crucial SSD
    3TB HDD
    2TB HDD
    PSU
    Seasonic 750W
Questions:

I would love to have one key stroke access access from Metro to Desktop and vice versa. Can a macro or something be written for that?

The windows key switches you back and forth from Metro to desktop and vice cersa !!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 CP
    CPU
    I7 -2600k @ 4.8 ghz
    Motherboard
    AZROCK Z77 Extreme6
    Memory
    8gig Corsair Dominator 1600 DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gigabyte GTX 680
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell Ultrasharp U3011
    Screen Resolution
    2560 x 1600
    Hard Drives
    1 x Crucial M4 256gb SSD
    2 x 1tb Western Digital Caviar Black
    1 x 2tb Western Digital Caviar Green
    1 x 2Tb Samsung Story USB 3
    1 Ready NAS NV+ with 4x2Tb Drives
    PSU
    Enermax MAXREVO 1350 Watts
    Case
    Antec Lanboy Air with NZXT Sentry LXE Controller
    Cooling
    Antec Kuhler 920
    Keyboard
    Roccat Isku
    Mouse
    Roccat Kova+
    Internet Speed
    12000 Kb/s
    Other Info
    Brother 6490CW Multifunction Printer
    Brother 2170W Laser Printer
    Fritz Box 7390 Modem / Router
    Logitech Webcam 500
    Logitech G25 Racing Wheel
    XBox 360 Controller
    Logitech Z4 Speakers
    WD TV Live
Win + D will bring you straight to the Desktop regardless if you're in an app or the Start Screen.

Funny, you're probably going to be pinning more to the Taskbar, I've less pinned to my Taskbar than in 7! :p The only thing I ever used the start menu for was power options and heading to a Library with the ocassional search.

I think if you just enter in a search query in the search bar in Computer, is should be relatively the same.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS
    CPU
    AMD FX 8320
    Motherboard
    Crosshair V Formula-Z
    Memory
    16 gig DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS R9 270
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Seagate Barracuda (starting to hate Seagate)
    x2 3 TB Toshibas
    Windows 8.1 is installed on a SanDisk Ultra Plus 256 GB
    PSU
    OCZ 500 watt
    Case
    A current work in progres as I'll be building the physical case myself. It shall be fantastic.
    Cooling
    Arctic Cooler with 3 heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K750 wireless solar powered keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Touch Mouse
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, but I might go back on KIS 2014
Windows 8 Interface Sanity Tweaks--please share yours!

Show me a sane man and I will cure him.
~ Carl Jung

Upon boot WinKey/D takes you to the desktop. Thereafter,
The windows key switches you back and forth from Metro to desktop and vice cersa !!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer T690
    CPU
    Intel Pentium D Dual Core
    Motherboard
    Acer/Intel E946GZ
    Memory
    2GB (max upgrade)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3000 - PCI Express x16
    Sound Card
    Integrated RealTek ALC888 high-definition audio with 7.1 channel audio support
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer AL1917W A LCD
    Screen Resolution
    1440 X 900
    Hard Drives
    350 GB Seagate Barracuda 7200.10
    Thumb drives
    PSU
    Standard 250 watt
    Case
    Desktop 7.2" (183mm) W x 17.5" (445mm) L x 14.5"
    Cooling
    Dual case fans + CPU fan
    Keyboard
    Acer Windows PS/2
    Mouse
    Wireless Microsoft Arc
    Internet Speed
    54mbp/s
    Browser
    IE11
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    Office Pro 2013 / Nokia Lumia 1520 Windows Phone 8.1DP GDR1
Oh! I don't know if I have mentioned this, but right clicking on a folder or Library and I believe a hard drive will allow you to pin it to the Start Screen. The context entry is "Pin to Start." It makes a tile on the end of the screen and you can drag and drop to please your person. I honestly think if Microsoft had done that initially by default, I bet some of the nags people have would be less since it is easier to get to a Library when it's pinned already to the Start Screen.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS
    CPU
    AMD FX 8320
    Motherboard
    Crosshair V Formula-Z
    Memory
    16 gig DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS R9 270
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Seagate Barracuda (starting to hate Seagate)
    x2 3 TB Toshibas
    Windows 8.1 is installed on a SanDisk Ultra Plus 256 GB
    PSU
    OCZ 500 watt
    Case
    A current work in progres as I'll be building the physical case myself. It shall be fantastic.
    Cooling
    Arctic Cooler with 3 heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K750 wireless solar powered keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Touch Mouse
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, but I might go back on KIS 2014
I have Windows 8 running in VHD, and I am trying to learn how to use it. Keeping this objective and unemotional if possible.

Here are helpful tweaks I've adopted so far:

Shutdown keystrokes: Alt-F4 while right clicking on the taskbar. Very intuitive ;)

I pinned the Control Panel to the taskbar. That gives me access to a whole lot of things I previously used the Start Button for.

I will probably pin many more programs than I did in Windows 7.

I will create a folder with shortcuts to less often used programs and pin that folder to the taskbar.

Questions:

I would love to have one key stroke access access from Metro to Desktop and vice versa. Can a macro or something be written for that?

Is there a Class Desktop search utility that can take the place of Metro Search?

Please share any other tips or tweaks that you have discovered!

Hey cly, first congratulations you could get windows 8 running in vhd.
I have already answered your problem in that other thread. I am giving you the link:
www.eightforums.com/general-discussion/7663-my-top-2-reasons-upgrade-windows-8-share-yours-5.html

And answering your question, there is no other search utility for desktop mode.
You can easily search everything pressing the windows key+q. You will find everything including desktop mode files from there. Other option is just press the windows key. You will be taken to the metro start screen. From there just start typing. You will automatically get the search results.

Hope it helps. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1, Windows 7, Linux Mint 14
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavillion g4
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i3-2330M CPU @ 2.20GHz
    Memory
    4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    1 GB Radeon Graphics
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Generic PnP Monitor
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    500 GB HDD
Oh! I don't know if I have mentioned this, but right clicking on a folder or Library and I believe a hard drive will allow you to pin it to the Start Screen. The context entry is "Pin to Start." It makes a tile on the end of the screen and you can drag and drop to please your person. I honestly think if Microsoft had done that initially by default, I bet some of the nags people have would be less since it is easier to get to a Library when it's pinned already to the Start Screen.

Thanks, Coke! Great find! :thumb: I will use most definitely.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer T690
    CPU
    Intel Pentium D Dual Core
    Motherboard
    Acer/Intel E946GZ
    Memory
    2GB (max upgrade)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3000 - PCI Express x16
    Sound Card
    Integrated RealTek ALC888 high-definition audio with 7.1 channel audio support
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer AL1917W A LCD
    Screen Resolution
    1440 X 900
    Hard Drives
    350 GB Seagate Barracuda 7200.10
    Thumb drives
    PSU
    Standard 250 watt
    Case
    Desktop 7.2" (183mm) W x 17.5" (445mm) L x 14.5"
    Cooling
    Dual case fans + CPU fan
    Keyboard
    Acer Windows PS/2
    Mouse
    Wireless Microsoft Arc
    Internet Speed
    54mbp/s
    Browser
    IE11
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    Office Pro 2013 / Nokia Lumia 1520 Windows Phone 8.1DP GDR1
Questions:

I would love to have one key stroke access access from Metro to Desktop and vice versa. Can a macro or something be written for that?

The windows key switches you back and forth from Metro to desktop and vice cersa !!


The Windows key is helpful, but it's more complicated than that. If you're in a Metro app, the Windows key takes you not to the Desktop but to the Start screen.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Built it myself
    CPU
    i7 2600K
    Motherboard
    Asrock Z77 Extreme4
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    XFX nVidia GT 420
    Hard Drives
    Crucial SSD
    3TB HDD
    2TB HDD
    PSU
    Seasonic 750W
Put your mouse in the top left corner, click the desktop thumbnail.
You will also get a thumbnail list of all metro apps open, and the desktop if opened.
Right click any thumbnail and you can close the app.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro x64/ Windows 7 Ult x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    76~2.0
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-3570K 4.6GHz
    Motherboard
    GIGABYTE GA-Z77X UD3H f18
    Memory
    8GB (2X4GB) DDR3 1600 CORSAIR Vengeance CL8 1.5v
    Graphics Card(s)
    Sapphire HD 7770 Vapor-X 1GB DDR5
    Sound Card
    Onboard VIA VT2021
    Monitor(s) Displays
    22" LCD Dell SP2208WFP
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    Samaung 840Pro 128GB, Seagate 500GB SATA2 7200rpm 32mb, Seagate 1TB SATA2 7200rpm 32mb,
    PSU
    Corsair HX650W
    Case
    Cooler Master Storm Scout
    Cooling
    Corsair H80 w/Noctua NF P12 12cm fan, case fans 2X14cm
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wave
    Mouse
    CM Sentinel
    Internet Speed
    Abysmal
    Browser
    Opera Next
    Other Info
    Dell Venue 8Pro: Baytrail Z3740D, 2GB Ram, 64GB HDD, 8" IPS Display 1280 x 800, Active Stylus.
    Haswell laptop: HP Envy 17t-j, i7-4700MQ, GeForce 740M 2GB DDR3, 17.3" Full HD 1920x1080, 16GB RAM, Samsung 840 Pro 128GB, 1TB Hitachi 7200 HDD,
    Desktop: eSATA ports,
    External eSATA Seagate 500GB SATA2 7200rpm,
Put your mouse in the top left corner, click the desktop thumbnail.
You will also get a thumbnail list of all metro apps open, and the desktop if opened.
Right click any thumbnail and you can close the app.

That is helpful.

Shut-down is really awkward. Does any one disagree? I have the computer's power button disabled. It is too easy to hit by accident by me or people around me. Alt-F4 right click on the taskbar--oddly that's the one I use.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Built it myself
    CPU
    i7 2600K
    Motherboard
    Asrock Z77 Extreme4
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    XFX nVidia GT 420
    Hard Drives
    Crucial SSD
    3TB HDD
    2TB HDD
    PSU
    Seasonic 750W
Hey cly, first congratulations you could get windows 8 running in vhd.
I have already answered your problem in that other thread. I am giving you the link:
www.eightforums.com/general-discussion/7663-my-top-2-reasons-upgrade-windows-8-share-yours-5.html

And answering your question, there is no other search utility for desktop mode.
You can easily search everything pressing the windows key+q. You will find everything including desktop mode files from there. Other option is just press the windows key. You will be taken to the metro start screen. From there just start typing. You will automatically get the search results.

Hope it helps. :)

Installing in VHD was pretty smooth, and you were right it is the way to go. I have to say I am liking Win 8. I am not impressed with the startup time, compared to Win 7 on SSD. (The VHD is on a mechanical drive.) Maybe the funky hibernation shutdown is disabled when booting from VHD?

I am really surprised that MS endorses hibernation on shut-down. Doesn't that screw up the computer over time, as memory isn't freed up etc.? Maybe they use some kind of partial hibernation of just parts of the memory? I have this engrained idea, from the days of Windows XP, that you have to really shut down a computer when you shut it down or else it will act up on you. Plus it's more secure.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Built it myself
    CPU
    i7 2600K
    Motherboard
    Asrock Z77 Extreme4
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    XFX nVidia GT 420
    Hard Drives
    Crucial SSD
    3TB HDD
    2TB HDD
    PSU
    Seasonic 750W
Put your mouse in the top left corner, click the desktop thumbnail.
You will also get a thumbnail list of all metro apps open, and the desktop if opened.
Right click any thumbnail and you can close the app.

That is helpful.

Shut-down is really awkward. Does any one disagree? I have the computer's power button disabled. It is too easy to hit by accident by me or people around me. Alt-F4 right click on the taskbar--oddly that's the one I use.

Shutdown is awkward in 8. I designated Ctrl/Alt/s to command shutdown (with 10 second delay) via a desktop shortcut no matter where I'm at. I also have restart, sleep, and hybernate shortcuts. You may find these helpful:

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/7025-shut-down-shortcut-create-windows-8-a.html?ltr=S

I hate the mouse so I use a lot of these:

http://www.eightforums.com/general-discussion/2355-windows-eight-keyboard-shortcuts.html
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer T690
    CPU
    Intel Pentium D Dual Core
    Motherboard
    Acer/Intel E946GZ
    Memory
    2GB (max upgrade)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3000 - PCI Express x16
    Sound Card
    Integrated RealTek ALC888 high-definition audio with 7.1 channel audio support
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer AL1917W A LCD
    Screen Resolution
    1440 X 900
    Hard Drives
    350 GB Seagate Barracuda 7200.10
    Thumb drives
    PSU
    Standard 250 watt
    Case
    Desktop 7.2" (183mm) W x 17.5" (445mm) L x 14.5"
    Cooling
    Dual case fans + CPU fan
    Keyboard
    Acer Windows PS/2
    Mouse
    Wireless Microsoft Arc
    Internet Speed
    54mbp/s
    Browser
    IE11
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    Office Pro 2013 / Nokia Lumia 1520 Windows Phone 8.1DP GDR1
Move your mouse ALL THE WAY to the bottom left, right-click.

You get a list of helpful tools: control panels, command prompt with admin rights, disk management, etc.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 Ultimate 64
InstantSesame said:
Move your mouse ALL THE WAY to the bottom left, right-click.

You get a list of helpful tools: control panels, command prompt with admin rights, disk management, etc.

There doesn't seem to be a touch based equivalent...
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Sony Vaio Duo 11
    CPU
    i7
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel 4000
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    11.6" touch screen w/ digitizer & Asus 27" external monitor
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    256 GB SSD
    Cooling
    Internal fan
    Keyboard
    Slider keyboard
    Mouse
    Logitech T650 Touchpad & Microsoft Touch Mouse
Installing in VHD was pretty smooth, and you were right it is the way to go. I have to say I am liking Win 8. I am not impressed with the startup time, compared to Win 7 on SSD. (The VHD is on a mechanical drive.) Maybe the funky hibernation shutdown is disabled when booting from VHD?

I am really surprised that MS endorses hibernation on shut-down. Doesn't that screw up the computer over time, as memory isn't freed up etc.? Maybe they use some kind of partial hibernation of just parts of the memory? I have this engrained idea, from the days of Windows XP, that you have to really shut down a computer when you shut it down or else it will act up on you. Plus it's more secure.

Things have moved on since XP.

Windows 8 is all about overturning ingrained ideas about how computers running Windows are used. Not just in appearance and multifunctionality, but in general operation too.

The power button is programmed to do what you want in your power options.

Management is carried on as background tasks, stopping faulty processes from crashing the machine, usually exiting these gracefully if there is a problem (and reporting errors via WER to help improve future performance).

Memory and disk fragmentation undergo continuous maintenance, especially in 64-bit Windows on multicore machines with plenty of memory.

Regular updates fix problems you were unaware of, based on over 12 years of automatically collected data. Updates now even allow you 2 days before automatically restarting your PC.

Redundant stores of Windows System components can replace corrupt system files on the fly.

It's not perfect yet - but it is getting there.

VHD installations do provide different challenges for the system - the swapfile (pagefile.sys) lives outside the VHD, and there is no hiberfil.sys or swapfile.sys in the root folder of the VHD. Thus hibernation is not possible and there is an extended boot time due to a 30-odd GB VHD file being mounted, but it is still a huge improvement when compared with like-for-like installations of earlier Windows versions.

Security comes down to two things; in order of importance:

1. The user.

2. The techniques applied to secure the computer.

With a knowledgeable user that is aware of the dangers, avoids the worst scenarios, and takes minimal precautions in the infrastructure of their system, there is very little that can go inexorably wrong.

With a fool or ignorant user running the most secured system possible, there will be a fatal problem before long.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP COMPAQ Presario CQ57
    CPU
    AMD E- 300 APU with Radion HD Graphics 1.30GHz
    Motherboard
    inbuilt
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI
    Sound Card
    High Definition Audio on-board
    Monitor(s) Displays
    notebook
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    Seagate ST9500325AS
    Google drive 15GB
    Skydrive 25GB
    BT Cloud
    PSU
    external 20v
    Case
    Laptop
    Cooling
    pretty good
    Keyboard
    inbuilt
    Mouse
    touchpad
    Internet Speed
    BT Infinity Unlimited - 80 up 20 down =70/16 really
    Browser
    Chrome Canary usually
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender and Malwarebytes
    Other Info
    no Start menu modifications
    Upgraded with no issues to 8.0 and to 8.1
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