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Windows 8 can take some getting used to. While the desktop app works very much like Windows 7, there are plenty of new shortcuts, options, and tricks built into the operating system. Think you know how to use it like a pro? Here are a few Windows 8 features that you probably haven’t found yet.
1. The Secret Start Menu
Microsoft has replaced the old Start orb with an animated, tiled page of apps, but there’s still a Start menu of sorts in place – right-click in the lower left-hand corner of the screen to bring up a menu of quick links to the Control Panel, Task Manager, programs list and other key areas of the system. From here you can search for files, launch the Run box, open the File Explorer and more.
2. Automatic Backups
New in Windows 8 is File History, which works in a similar way to Apple’s Time Machine technology, automatically logging older versions of your files that you can restore as and when required. The feature isn’t enabled by default though, so you’ll need to open up the System and Security screen in Control Panel to get it up and running. You’ll also need a second hard drive on hand—whether internal, external or networked—to save your file version history too. Once everything is set up, it works automatically, and can prove a lifesaver if you lose your holiday photos or a week’s worth of work.
3. Mix Metro and the Desktop
Windows 7 allowed you to snap windows to the sides of your screen, but Windows 8 goes further—Metro-style Start page apps (like People and Weather) can be docked to the left or right edge of the display, and they will switch to a special mini mode at the same time. This means you can check on the forecast while working in Photoshop, or keep an eye on your Twitter feed while crunching some numbers in Excel. Click and drag the top of any Windows 8 app to the side of the screen to dock it, then drag out the black border bar to restore the full-screen view. It’s also possible to have two Metro Windows 8 apps show at once.
4. Sync Everywhere
If you’ve just upgraded to Windows 8, then you might still be using your old user accounts—and you may not realise the features available with the new Windows IDs. Sign in with this ID (it’s the same one you use for Microsoft services like SkyDrive and Hotmail/Outlook.com). It will make syncing emails and photos easier, and it will transfer your Windows 8 settings and preferences instantly to any other location you sign in from. If you have Windows 8 machines in the home and in the office, for example, then this is a quick and painless way of keeping your preferences, desktop wallpaper, Internet bookmarks and other data consistent across machines. You can also specify what is and what isn’t synced in the Windows 8 settings, if you want to keep your personalisations without syncing your passwords.
5. Take the Shortcuts
The Snipping Tool introduced in Windows 7 is still present in Windows 8, but there’s an even easier way to get a screenshot of your display—hit the Windows button and PrtScrn at the same time to save a PNG screengrab to a Screenshots folder in the Pictures library. Press Win+C to bring up the Windows 8 Charms. Use Win+X to display the secret Start menu we mentioned earlier. Hit Win+D to switch to the desktop app from anywhere else in Windows 8.
If you’re using a full-screen Windows 8 app, right-clicking the mouse brings up the app’s menu, or if you’re on the Start page a link to all the software on your system. Left-click in the lower right-hand corner of the Start page to arrange your tiles and apps into columns. Those are my favorite shortcuts—Kyle shares several others in his Windows 8 survival guide.
6. The Easy Reinstall
Reinstalling Windows used to involve messing around with product keys, DVDs and backups. It could take up half your day. Windows 8 streamlines the whole process, which can be completed with just a few mouse clicks.
Head to the Change PC Settings link from the Settings charm. Under the General tab, you’ll find you can “Refresh your PC” or “Remove everything.” Use the first option to restore Windows to its factory setting while leaving your personal documents, files and personalisations intact. If Windows is running sluggishly, or there’s a problem with the OS settings, or something has gone wrong with your hardware/software setup, then this is the choice to go for.
The second option performs a full reinstall, clearing out all your files and wiping the hard drive (so you’ll need to make sure you have everything backed up). Use this when you have a serious problem with Windows (such as a virus or a ton of spyware) or when you’re putting your PC up for sale on eBay and need to get back to square one.
Do you have your own tips to share? Let us know!
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What I did was throw that diseased SSD with Windows 8 out and install Windows 7 on a Brand New one.
Are you sure it was dead. Windows 8 doesn’t play well with SSD’s. I ended up removing it and installing on a sata drive due to the constant crashing, but the drive works well with Windows 7
I just meant I don’t want to use a drive that had Windows 8 on it, would rather live next to a Pedo.
Nasty OS that adds like 10 more steps to do anything. You cannot use the excuse of it’s more intuitive and how I don’t like change either. I installed it on my Mothers Laptop and she struggled so much, that whole Metro UI does not work well with a Laptop mouse pad. She called me up asking how to turn the thing off……. like yeah Mother what use to be a two click thing is now 4 clicks and a weird mouse gesture :\
I’ve got 8 on my PC and haven’t had any issues with my SSD or any crashes for that matter. If you dislike metro so much use Sart8 like me.,
Win8 doesn’t seem to like my SSD.
Start8, fucking hell. I have it on my rents PC as well with a totally different brand ssd. Maybe you need a fw update?
Seriously, this is the first post? This.
Some tard jumps into an instructive guide filled with tips and solutions, most of which cover the main issues people have with windows 8, and bashes it.
This idiot didn’t read the post. He just saw the headline and then brain farted his total lack of intelligence all over the interwebs.
Can a mod delete this as obvious trolling and drop a 24 ban on his stupid ass.
chill out bro’
ONE GOLD STAR FOR YOU <3
I can’t seem to get No. 3 to work.
What’s your screen resolution? it’s got to be at least 1366 x 768 to snap apps.
“The Snipping Tool introduced in Windows 7 is still present in Windows 8, but there’s an even easier way to get a screenshot of your display—hit the Windows button and PrtScrn at the same time to save a PNG screengrab to a Screenshots folder in the Pictures library. Press Win+C to bring up the Windows 8 Charms. Use Win+X to display the secret Start menu we mentioned earlier. Hit Win+D to switch to the desktop app from anywhere else in Windows 8.”
Win8 being ‘easier’ = some sort of 3rd dan keyboard ninjitsu…
I’ve been using Windows 8 a few months now and don’t miss the Start menu at all. The Start page reacts pretty fast so I just changed my mouse habits to get at it via the Charm bar instead of the old place at the bottom left. The Start screen is pretty fast to react, so is usually there and gone before I even think about it.
Attaching apps to the side of your screen is pretty useful though, I often have TuneIn sitting at the side of my desktop. Most of my programs are still desktop-bound though so I can’t do that with many of them and so have been hoping for app versions to come along eventually.
Although I don’t hate the UI, it still has a few issues that don’t go well with me.
The search: If I search for ‘Add or remove programs’ it defaults to the apps section which returns 0 results. It would be better if all 3 of the search sections were together (Maybe not files).
Shortcuts: Adding shortcuts to the start menu is painful at the very least, getting them on there with a decent looking icon is even harder. (If anyone else is annoyed by this google ‘OblyTiles’)
Incompatibility: Anything involving apps flat out doesn’t work for me, after some research its due to issues with my graphics card. This annoys me but even if I could use them I probably wouldn’t as I dislike full screen applications.
Beyond this I don’t hate it all that much, probably because I use Fedora 17.
Now then I should probably mention something to do with the article. Am I the only one who knows about all of these and doesn’t use any? Also how are they hidden?
May I offer a suggestion – when articles are being reposted from the US site, as well as changing dollar amounts to GBP might it be an idea to tone down the hyperbole? As an example the headline above could be rewritten to “Six hidden windows 8 features that you may find useful”.
I cant get No3 to work at all. I have Start8 installed, will this prevent me from doing this? On the Start screen i try and drag the weather app to the side but it just stays there and when i go back to the desktop its not there.
I have a screen resolution of 1920×760 I think