Introduction
Well here we are, Windows 8, the operating system that was entering the planning stages as the finishing touches were being put on Windows 7. Right from the start Windows 8 was meant to be different. The change was to be revolutionary rather than evolutionary, the biggest change in Windows UI design since Windows 95. The challenges of something like this are immense, because no matter what you do with your UI there will always be someone out there who doesn’t like it and doesn’t think it will have any chance of succeeding.
With the release of the Windows Developer Preview back in September, I was one of the people who thought the UI paradigm in Windows 8 would never work on a mainstream PC. It was brilliant on tablet devices, but the experience was clunky at best on laptops and desktops. Fast forward to February 29th, the release of the “Consumer Preview”, and suddenly what was once clunky doesn’t seem to be so clunky anymore. Sure it needs work, but the improvements are huge. I decided to write this guide to show what I have done to optimize the Windows 8 experience for my own usage. I will be showcasing some useful tips as well as showing some cool tweaks that can make your daily workflow just that much easier. So without further ado, let’s jump in shall we?
Installation
The first thing I want to cover quickly is the install process itself. Any of you that have a newer PC which supports EFI should definitely consider installing Windows in UEFI mode. The benefits to this are many. Most obvious are quicker boot times and faster resumes from sleep states.
In order to do this do the following:
- Get a USB pen drive that is no less than 4 GB in size
- Format the drive in FAT32 (this is important)
- Extract the Windows 8 ISO to the pen drive
- Boot the pen drive in UEFI mode (you may have to enable UEFI in your BIOS/EFI firmware).
If you do not have a system that supports EFI, then create your bootable USB stick the same way in which you did for Windows 7.
Also, another quick tip for installation. I will list the product keys you will need to use here since you are required to enter a key during setup. There are two possible keys. One is listed on the ISO download page, and the other in the FAQ for the Windows 8 Consumer Preview:
DNJXJ-7XBW8-2378T-X22TX-BKG7J and NF32V-Q9P3W-7DR7Y-JGWRW-JFCK8
First Boot and Configuration
Upon the first boot, you are presented with the new OOBE experience. In this experience, you personalize your Windows install and configure certain options pertaining to your user state etc…
One of the cool new features in Windows 8 is the ability to sign in with your Windows Live ID and sync your settings across multiple PC’s. You can even tell Windows what to sync and what not to sync. So you can sync everything, or whatever you choose. If you don’t want this you can still sign in with your good old Local Account if you’d like. Domain users can also link their accounts to their live ID’s and sync their settings which is a very nice touch. It’s nice to see that domain users aren’t missing out on some very cool functionality in Windows 8.
One issue I have noticed with Windows Live ID sign in is that your password is limited to 16 characters. But the real funny part is that if your password is longer, you can enter the first 16 into windows and it will log in, but if you enter the full password it will tell you it’s invalid. Let’s hope this is fixed by RC.
Driver configuration in Windows 8 is extremely straightforward. Most of the drivers made for Windows 7 will work perfectly with windows 8 with the exception of a few Intel graphics drivers (because Intel specify to NOT install on win 8 in their INF). Unfortunately modifying the INF doesn’t work because Windows 8 checks the INF hash against the security catalog in the driver package.
One way I have thought of to combat this hash checking is to use the “Inf2Cat” tool. This tool will generate an unsigned catalog file off of your custom INF hash. This should theoretically work since the actual driver .sys files will still be signed, but I’m not 100% sure, so if someone could try and report back that would be great.
Start Screen and Metro
The first thing you see when you log in to Windows 8 is the new metro styled start screen. This is the single element of Windows 8 that has brought the most criticism from users and enthusiasts. This interface is one that makes perfect sense for a tablet, but how does it work for a standard laptop or desktop? Well believe it or not, the answer to that question is it works pretty darn good. Elements of the UI work exactly as you would expect them to, and it is relatively easy and intuitive to use, even if you have never seen it before. In this section I will cover some basic tips on how to optimize the start screen to fit your needs.
One of the first things you should know is that the start screen is highly customizable. If you can think of something to change, you can probably do it. You can change the background color, change the background design, and move tiles around in any arrangement you wish. You can even group tiles together and name the groups however you wish. Don’t want something on your start screen? Unpin it.
One of the first things I added to my start screen were shortcuts to my Documents, Pictures, Music, Videos and Computer folders. This adds the familiarity that I had in windows 7 where I can click Start and just click the desired folder I wish to access. One of my biggest gripes with the Developer preview was not being able to do this.
Want to name your start screen groups? Here’s how:
(Click to enlarge)
- Create your groups of tiles how you want them by dragging them around apropriately.
- Use the Semantic zoom function by either clicking the icon in the lower right of the start screen or by using the ctrl + – key combination on your keyboard.
- Right click in the desired group to select it and click “Name Group”
- Fill in your desired name and click “Name”
- Repeat these steps for all of the groups you wish to name.
Want customize your start screen background? Do the following:
(Click to enlarge)
- At the start screen hover your mouse in the upper or lower right corner to bring up the charms (you can bring up charms with the winkey + c key combo as well).
- Click “Settings”
- In the pane that slides out from the right, click “More PC Settings” at the bottom
- Right away you will see the “Personalize” section. From here you can customize your start screen background, Lock screen background, and your User Tile.
- Explore this experience, this encompasses all of the customization options for the start screen and metro style apps.
One thing I should probably mention is hot corners. Each corner of the screen has a specific function, and below is a list of what they do:
- Lower Left: This shows a preview of the start screen, and clicking it will bring you to the start screen. You can also RIGHT CLICK the thumbnail and you will see a new “Power User” menu that gives you quick access to some of the most used places in Windows for techies and enthusiasts.
- Upper Left: This will show a thumbnail of any other metro style apps that are open, and clicking will bring you to that app. Repeatedly clicking will cycle you through all of your open apps. Additionally, if you hover in the upper left and slide your mouse down a bit you will see an entire list of all open metro style apps and you can click the specific one you wish to jump to.
- Upper and Lower Right: Both of these corners will activate the charms, where you can access share, search, devices and settings functionality.
Some people have also been asking how to properly close Metro style apps. There are actually two ways to do this:
- While you are in the app, move the mouse to the top of the screen, click and hold, and drag the mouse to the bottom of the screen and let go. The app is now closed.
- Another way is to move your mouse to the upper left corner, right click the app you wish to close and click “close”.
Useful Keyboard Shortcuts
One thing about Windows 8, there is a keyboard shortcut to do just about anything. And in some cases it’s a bit quicker than the mouse functionality to do the same thing. Here is a list of shortcuts that was posted by Paul Thurrott over at his supersite for Windows:
NOTE: Bolded items are new to the Windows 8 Consumer Preview.
Metro Shortcuts:
WINKEY (tap)- Toggles between the Start screen and the foremost running app (Metro-style) or the Windows Desktop.
WINKEY + 1, WINKEY + 2, etc. – Switch to the (classic) Windows desktop and launch the nth shortcut in the Windows taskbar. So WINKEY + 1 would launch whichever application is first in the list, from left to right.
WINKEY + B – Switch to the (classic) Windows desktop and select the tray notification area.
WINKEY + C – Display Charms and time/date/notification overlay.
WINKEY + D – Switch to the (classic) Windows desktop and toggle Show Desktop (hides/shows any applications and other windows).
WINKEY + E. Switch to the (classic) Windows desktop and launch Windows Explorer with Computer view displayed.
WINKEY + F – Display File Search pane
WINKEY + H – Display Share charm.
WINKEY + I – Display Settings charm.
WINKEY + J – Swaps foreground between the snapped and filled apps.
WINKEY + K – Display Connect charm.
WINKEY + L – Lock PC and return to Lock screen.
WINKEY + M – Minimize the selected Explorer window.
WINKEY + O – Toggle orientation switching on slate and tablet PCs.
WINKEY + P – Display the new Project (for “projection”) pane for choosing between available displays.
WINKEY + Q – Search (within) Apps using the new Search pane.
WINKEY + R – Switch to the (classic) Windows desktop and display the Run box.
WINKEY + U – Switch to the (classic) Windows desktop and launch the Ease of Access Center.
WINKEY + V – Cycles through Notification toasts.
WINKEY + W – Display Settings Search pane
WINKEY + SHIFT + V – Cycles through Notification toasts in reverse order.
WINKEY + X – Access the advanced context menu on the Start preview tip.
WINKEY + Z – Access the App Bar.
WINKEY + ENTER – Launches Narrator.
WINKEY + SPACEBAR – Switch input language and keyboard layout
WINKEY + TAB – Cycle through apps in Switcher.
WINKEY + SHIFT + TAB – Cycle through apps in Switcher in reverse order.
WINKEY + CTRL + TAB – Cycle through apps, snapping them as you go.
WINKEY + , – Peeks at the Windows desktop.
WINKEY + . – Snaps application to the left.
WINKEY + SHIFT + . – Snaps application to the right.
WINKEY + PGUP – Moves the Start screen to the display on the left.
WINKEY + PGDN – Moves the Start screen to the display on the right.
Explorer Shortcuts:
WINKEY (tap)- Toggles between the Windows desktop environment and the new Start screen.
WINKEY + 1, WINKEY + 2, etc. – Launch the nth shortcut in the Windows taskbar. So WINKEY + 1 would launch whichever application is first in the list, from left to right.
WINKEY + B – Select the tray notification area.
WINKEY + C – Display Charms and time/date/notification overlay.
WINKEY + D – Toggle Show Desktop (hides/shows any applications and other windows).
WINKEY + E. Launch Windows Explorer with Computer view displayed.
WINKEY + F – Search Files using the new Windows Search pane.
WINKEY + I – Display Settings pane for Windows Desktop (also provides access to Networks, Volume, Screen Brightness, Notifications, Power, and Language).
WINKEY + L – Lock PC and return to Lock screen.
WINKEY + M – Minimize the selected Explorer window.
WINKEY + O – Toggle orientation switching on slate and tablet PCs.
WINKEY + P – Display the new Project (for “projection”) pane for choosing between available displays.
WINKEY + Q – Search (within) Apps using the new Windows Search pane.
WINKEY + R – Display Run box.
WINKEY + U – Launch Ease of Access Center.
WINKEY + W – Search Settings using the new Windows Search pane.
WINKEY + X – Access the advanced context menu on the Start preview tip.
WINKEY + ARROW KEYS – Aero Snap.
WINKEY + , – Peeks at the Windows desktop.
Default Apps Configuration
One of the first things I noticed about the Windows 8 Consumer Preview is that the “Default Programs” applet in the control panel was finally becoming more widely used by the operating system. I actually first noticed this when I installed Google Chrome and did not get the standard prompt asking me to make Chrome the default browser, but rather the Default Programs UI came up to ask me what file types I wished to associate with Chrome.
I also noticed that by default pictures opened up in the Metro “Photos” app. Since I know some of you don’t like that I will show you how to change it back so your pictures open on your desktop picture viewer. Refer to the screenshot below to see the UI I am referring to:
(Click Image to enlarge)
- Right click in the lower left of your screen (or press winkey + x) and click “Control Panel”
- Click “Default Programs”
- Click “Set your default programs”
- Select your desired programs and click “Set this program as default”
I personally did the above for Windows Media Player, Windows Photo Viewer, and Google Chrome. This way my pictures open on the desktop app instead of the Metro Photos app. Don’t worry though, the metro apps can still view your pictures, so you can have your slideshow live tile going just fine.
Windows SmartScreen Settings
Most of you are already familiar with what Smartscreen is thanks to Windows Live Messenger. It’s that annoying net nanny thing that warns people that links might not be safe. It’s one of those features designed for people who don’t really have any idea what they’re doing and don’t take the time to read and learn about things.
Well this feature is now integrated into Windows 8. It will pop up and warn you about apps that it thinks might be unsafe. The problem is it tends to do this for apps that are perfectly safe as well. If you wish to disable this functionality so you are no longer net-nannied on your own PC, here’s how:
(Click to enlarge)
- Click the Action Center flag in the system tray.
- Click “Open Action Center”
- Click “Change Windows SmartScreen Settings”
- In the window that pops up select “Don’t do anything (turn off Windows SmartScreen)
After you do this, Action Center will come up with a message about Windows SmartScreen being disabled, simply click “Turn off messages about Windows SmartScreen” and you won’t be nagged again.
There you have it, now you can enjoy your PC without prompts that you might be at risk. I only recommend doing this if you know for a fact that what you are installing on your PC is safe.
Conclusion
With the release of the Consumer Preview, we finally have a clear look at where Windows 8 is going. We can expect that most of what we are seeing is final, although minor tweaks will be made before RC and RTM. Overall this is a solid OS, not to mention it is crazy fast. The new UI elements will take people a bit to get used to, as this is the biggest change that Microsoft has made to Windows since Windows 95 hit shelves. So here’s to the future of Windows, and hoping that this re-imagining of Windows turns out the way Microsoft intends it to
