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Increase Startup Performance in Windows 8

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 09:00:00 -0500

The new task manager in windows 8 provides a lot of useful performance information about your pc. One of the new features that is often overlooked is the Startup tab that displays all applications scheduled to automatically start when your pc boots up. This list is very important because each application listed, affects your startup performance. But how do you know which...

Disable Java Browser Plugins for Improved Security

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 10:31:35 -0600

The Java Runtime Environment has become one of the most exploited components of any operating system. Even the US Department of Homeland Security warns users to disable java unless they have a really good reason to use it. For most of us the days of Web sites requiring you to run Java applets has long passed. However, there still are a good number of desktop applications written in...

How to download the official Windows 8 DVD ISO

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 09:47:42 -0600

If you have a valid Windows 8 product key from a giveaway, online purchase or other source but need the official media this article is for you. Don't risk downloading the ISO file from a torrent, there is a chance you will be installing a copy of Windows 8 infested with malware. Instead, Microsoft offers a free download that is much safer. Simply download the Windows 8...

Tabbed Windows Explorer

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 10:22:37 -0600

Tabs in our Web browsers have become a critical feature so much that I can't imagine using a browser without tabs. They have made browsing the web easier and more productive, yet for some reason we don't have tabs in the second most used browser, Windows Explorer. Tabs have finally made their way to Windows Explorer thanks to a free utility called Clover. Head over...

Boot into Safe Mode with MSConfig

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 22:44:12 -0600

Hitting the F8 key at the right moment while your PC is starting up is much more difficult on fast modern hardware. With boot times as low as a few seconds, the window hit the F8 key and bring up the safe boot menu is very small. Practically impossible for most users unless you have the reflexes of a ninja. In the event that you need to enter Safe Mode to troubleshoot a problem...

Clean Temporary files on iPhone and iPad

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 06:01:21 -0600

Like most operating systems, iOS and the apps that run on the iPhone and the iPad creates temporary files during normal operation. There is nothing wrong with this behavior as it helps the performance of the operating system and the apps. However, over time these files can add up taking up a significant portion of your storage. iOS does not have an effective mechanism to clean up these...

Generate Windows 8 Battery Report

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 11:12:47 -0600

Windows 8 includes a very useful feature for laptop users that lets you see the charging history and capacity of your battery. Over time batteries hold less and less of a change so this report is very helpful to identify if it is time to buy a replacement. Generating the report is very simple, just open up a command prompt, type in powercfg /batteryreport and hit Enter. A report will...

Enable Hibernation on Windows 8

Mon, 03 Dec 2012 10:27:36 -0600

Hibernation is enabled but hidden by default on the new Metro style power menu. You can hibernate at command prompt by typing in shutdown.exe -h but sometimes clicking a button is much easier and faster. This article will help you display the Hibernate option next to the Sleep, Shutdown and Restart options. Open the Start Screen and type in powercfg.cpl and hit Enter. On the...

Disable Metro View of Google Chrome

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 04:48:02 -0600

Google Chrome on Windows 8 can be viewed two different ways. The traditional desktop view that we are all familiar with and also a Metro inspired view that runs Google Chrome full screen just like a Metro Style app. If you prefer the desktop the Metro view can be disabled so that no matter what shortcut or app you use that launches a web page, the desktop view of Google Chrome is...

Tweak the Windows 8 Lock Screen Colors

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 10:24:44 -0600

Microsoft provides a Metro style control panel to personalize the color scheme of accounts on Windows 8 but never provided an interface to customize the lock screen colors where you select accounts and log in. The lock screen colors can be customized just like the rest of the Windows 8 Metro interface but you must edit the registry. Log into any account with administrative rights...

Change the Default Lock Screen Image in Windows 8

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 08:13:36 -0600

With the November 2012 cumulative update, Microsoft included a new feature for Windows 8 Pro and Windows 8 Enterprise Edition that allows users to customize the default lock screen. Best of all the change is made using group policies which means you can easily deploy it across all Windows 8 machines on a domain. If you do not have a domain you can still use local group policies to apply the...

Eight Essential Tweaks for Windows 8 Desktop Users

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 04:08:14 -0600

Windows 8 offers a lot of new features that are easy to use and will make you more efficient. Some of the changes Microsoft made are clearly for users with touch compatible devices. Those changes can often make it annoying or difficult for desktop users so I have put together this collection of tweaks that I use to improve my Windows 8 desktop experience. Recover the Start...

How to Delete Wireless Profiles in Windows 8

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 06:21:59 -0600

Missing in Windows 8 is the ability to view and delete all wireless profiles from your PC. For some unknown reason Microsoft removed that feature which is very problematic if you ever need to edit a saved profile or delete one. I recently had an issue with a wireless access point that had a hidden SSID. I had to manually setup the connection but I forgot to check the box to...

Launch File Explorer with Drive List

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 06:52:20 -0600

In Windows 8 when File Explorer is launched via the Taskbar shortcut, Libraries are shown by default. This is useful if you actually use the Library feature but many prefer the traditional behavior of My Computer where the drives are listed instead. This behavior can changed by editing the shortcut target. Right click on the taskbar icon for File Explorer. Then, right click on File...

How to Install Windows 8 without a Product Key

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 17:35:42 -0600

For the first time since Windows XP, Microsoft is forcing users to enter a product key before Windows can be installed. This can be very annoying for legitimate users that simply want to install Windows 8 for testing. I find myself installing Windows 8 frequently and this is one of my primary annoyances while writing my new book on Windows 8. It is not clear if this change was an...