Windows 8 Tricks
Worked out something in 8 today that had been driving me crazy.
I've started using a few Metro apps (the new Plex one is nice, and quite cheap at only $3) and was always stuck using Metro apps on my main screen, which meant the main desktop taskbar was obscured, which drove me a bit crazy. Winkey+arrow did nothing. SO I took the time to look it up and found a blog that mentions proper multi-monitor support in Metro. Turns out you can move a Metro app to any monitor if you move the mouse to the top of the window and drag it when it turns into a 'hand'. Anyone else have any tricks? Seems like there's a fair bit of secret sauce here. |
05:00pm 19/01/13 Permalink
www.classicshell.net/
Classic Shell is a collection of usability enhancements for Windows. The main features are: |
05:13pm 19/01/13 Permalink
Posted on Gizmodo a couple weeks ago:
http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2013/01/six-hidden-windows-8-features-you-cant-live-without/ |
05:32pm 19/01/13 Permalink
I found this pretty handy, adding a shutdown and restart tile to "metro"
http://www.ampercent.com/add-shutdown-restart-buttons-windows-8-metro-start-screen/10031/ Ive found that Windows Explorer has a great toolbar/ribbon and status bar once you turn it on, in built and gives you fast access to things like control panel. I have avoided any 'classic' or 'start bar' utility, because that just slows your adoption down, especially when you have to jump on a PC without it for say, a co-worker and you start fumbling around like a fool besides you can just right click where 'start' used to be for almost the same thing. |
05:33pm 19/01/13 Permalink
http://winaero.com/comment.php?comment.news.30
Win-x Extender (Right click start menu) I usually use metro, but added power shortcuts to the right click start menu and a few other programs, so depending on what I'm doing I don't get the full screen takeover. http://win8tiles.com/Home/OblyTile Oblytile You can make your own icons so you can make it look a little better. Go to control panel> default programs and give the programs you actually use all of their defaults instead of the 'most of the defaults' they install with (I don't like metro picture viewer for instance). That's about it. Winkey + W searches for settings Winkey + F searches for files (when you hit winkey and start typing it searches for apps, don't think there is a way to consolidate them yet). |
06:00pm 19/01/13 Permalink
2nd time I've posted this - it's my go-to video for Win 8 newbies.. |
07:22pm 19/01/13 Permalink
All these tricks and replacement/addon apps come across as just band-aids for poor UI decisions.
On a related note I installed MS Visio 2013 the other day, and they're going for the Metro look. It felt more like I was browsing Facebook rather than using a professional business application, and the default Save-As destination was their cloud service! I almost had a brain aneurysm. Unfortunately even if I wanted to, a switch to Win8 won't work for me yet due to lack of driver support from peripheral manufacturers (whether or not they are to blame is irrelevant to the end-user). You get that with each generation of the OS, so Win7 + IPv4 for now it is ... http://users.on.net/~deadsimple/images/vis.png |
08:45pm 19/01/13 Permalink
I got Win8 a week ago, and I gotta say, it's pretty weird - maybe should have got Win7, but I was hungover as s*** and didn't even think about it :/
That 4 min vid showed some things I didn't know. I might suss some others out.... |
09:59pm 19/01/13 Permalink
Not liking Win8. F*****g changes. Luckily the dude that made my system put the task bar and start menu and stuff but i hate it when that overlay pops up or appears for s*** like PDF, AVI etc. Got the file allocations sorted with adobe reader, VLC player etc.
Also, windows seems to often crash when browsing random folders. Screen goes blank then appears a moment later with everything as it was but all windows explorer tabs gone. |
11:25pm 19/01/13 Permalink
To deugly Win8, I have installed:
Classicshell to avoid that Metro bulls*** (which is unusable in a practicle way on a 3 monitor arrangement) Chrome browser with a nice Lamborghini theme on it and an OSX them by this guy so I have a nice interface again with drop shadows (its the small things I miss from Win 7) http://zeusosx.deviantart.com/art/Aqua-World-os-x-style-Theme-for-Windows-8-rtm-335025767 |
10:42am 20/01/13 Permalink
Are there any tips not relating to Metro?
I don't really use Metro - I can see it would be useful for a class of users, but i am not one of them. I basically never see the Metro interface. Aside from that I'm finding W8 basically the same as W7 (which I am new to as well at the same time on my home PC). Still adapting from XP. |
06:41pm 20/01/13 Permalink
Not really, apart from metro everything else is pretty much the same as 7. I can remember if it was in xp, but I turn 'combine' on the taskbar off.
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06:46pm 20/01/13 Permalink
When you're in the native PDF/Image viewer, go to the top right with your mouse, then devices and there is where you CAN F*****G PRINT. Nothing normal like pressing CTRL-P or expecting a Print option when you right click.
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07:13pm 20/01/13 Permalink
Here's the best windows 8 tip.
Put the windows 7 DVD into the drive Reboot the computer Format C: Install windows 7. ??? Profit. |
07:51pm 20/01/13 Permalink
Fark TicMAn is that where it is. I'd go back to Win 7 but Win 8 is heaps faster :(
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07:54pm 20/01/13 Permalink
Here's my tip Windows 8 is the new vista, wait until the new windows 7.
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08:35pm 20/01/13 Permalink
Modern UI will still be there, hopefully they fix it up a bit, but it isn't that hard to get used to.
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08:39pm 20/01/13 Permalink
Hey hoggy, keyboard shortcut to switch metro between screens is Win+Page up/down.
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10:21pm 20/01/13 Permalink
Are there any tips not relating to Metro? Not that haven't already been covered by the vids listed I'm afraid. The only other 'tips' I have are to do almost exlusively with the 'Metro' interface (not that I use it often, but there are a few quirks I've found useful). Someone mentioned the 'drag and drop' nature of Metro when being used in Multiple monitor setups (that is, if you have a 'metro-app' (if that is the term) up, by clicking and holding the mouse where traditionally the 'title bar' would be, you can switch it between screens (be aware that it'll relocate the entirety of the 'Metro interface' to recurr on that monitor. Also, to 'close' a metro app (without Alt-F4ing) simply 'grab' where the title bar would be and drag the app to the bottom of the screen. (and then there's the 'right-click' for more options in any 'Metro-app'.) Other Metro features I've noticed is you can easily 'switch apps' by 'throwing' the mouse cursor into the top right corner of the screen and clicking (aim high, because if you've got a multiple panel desktop setup, you'll simply scroll to the next screen). Similarly once you find that little gem, you can 'flick' to the top right, and then bring the cursor down to show an 'interactive' App-switching interface. One 'quirk' I've noticed is that there isn't a straight forward way to 'shut down' in Win8. The two quickest ways I've found are straight-up 'Alt-F4'ing once all apps are closed (or you 'select the desktop' before doing so); and the other is to 'lock' the screen (WIN+L) and then select 'shutdown' from there. There are a lot of Win8 haters ITT, whilst for the most part I can't say I'm stoked at having a 'touch screen interface' jammed down my throat where I'd prefer a more conventional desktop approach, if everyone stopped crying about what MS considers 'progress' and just passed on info about how to use the interface we could all move on. The sad part is that I think MS have done a stellar job (for a change) at correcting the screwups they've had previously by creating 10 'Windows products' where you only really need 1 (ok, in this case they still have '4' (pro and non-pro, x32 and x64) but there's no more 'Windows mobile' which has gotta be a good thing right?). I'm not fond of MS' retail packaging options or the concept of even remotely trying to use a 'touch screen interface in a desktop setting'. I kind of envisage that last part as a pseudo 'Minority Report' type way, sitting at my desk and swiping furiously at the 24" monitors I have ~1 metre away from me on my desk looking like more of a 'window licker' than a 'windows user'. I'm LOVING how quick Win8 is, and both the file transfer and task manager interfaces have had an EPIC overhaul! |
02:56am 21/01/13 Permalink
This annoyed the tits off me but I've really gotten used to just hitting the power button. On my Win8 VM it's a little bit tedious having to go into the Parallels menu and hitting shutdown but both start a graceful shutdown of the OS. Still would like a menu item to do it though (and reboot/lock/etc). |
07:54am 21/01/13 Permalink
Kinda my point exactly Ticman.
If nothing else it suggests how single mindedly MS has pursued this as a 'tablet solution'. |
08:08am 21/01/13 Permalink
.One 'quirk' I've noticed is that there isn't a straight forward way to 'shut down' in Win8. I'm on my work computer so I'm going from memory but move mouse to bottom right (or top right) -> settings -> power -> shut down. It's just one extra click than windows 7 *shrug* other option is just to create a shutdown shortcut. and I've been prefering windows 8. big change but it took all of half a day to get used to it. |
09:37am 21/01/13 Permalink
Yeah my trick is I got some app to disable metro and add a start menu. I never use any of the 'apps' either. Save that nonsense for your polyphonic ringtone phone.
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09:45am 21/01/13 Permalink
I've really gotten used to just hitting the power button. I have two batch files on both the desktop and metro interface, one for restart and one for shutdown. Its now quicker for me to shutdown Win 8 than it was with Win 7. |
09:59am 21/01/13 Permalink
I like it except of the f*****g 6 mouse movements to shut down.
Seriously it's freaking annoying. Gotta be arsed making a batch file I guess. |
11:11am 21/01/13 Permalink
Use win-x extender so it becomes right click on start tile > shutdown
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11:22am 21/01/13 Permalink
The biggest thing I liked about Windows 8 was that I only paid 15 bucks for it.. oh and that it was easy to reinstall Windows 7. With my super fast SSD I find that Windows 7 loads no slower Windows 8. The only thing I'd like from Windows 8 in 7 is the File Explorer/file copy dialog.
Looking forward to the version of Windows that is next designed for desktop PCs and keyboard and mouse. |
01:10am 22/01/13 Permalink
Looking forward to the version of Windows that is next designed for desktop PCs and keyboard and mouse. Ahh so Windows 8 SP1 :P (Seriously, this is (and possibly a few exploit corrections) about what I envisage for SP1.) |
05:44am 22/01/13 Permalink
I really doubt they'll bring the start menu back, best you can hope for is minor improvements.
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08:19am 22/01/13 Permalink
I like it except of the f*****g 6 mouse movements to shut down. Shutting down, I like win+d (show desktop) then alt+f4 and enter key. I'm not a big fan of mousing a lot, have some mild RSI on my mouse hand as it is so avoid touching the thing. This is probably why the lack of a traditional start menu doesn't phase me, the new one is arguably better for keyboarders, certainly not much worse. You can also create a shutdown button like so and put it wherever you like: http://blog.laptopmag.com/how-to-shutdown-windows-8-in-just-one-click I get the rage at 8 I guess, but I don't find it that bad personally, and as my next work computer is very likely (more like certainly) to be a tablet hybrid the touch features will be quite welcome. For my gaming computer I don't give a f*** as long as it plays games and loads Steam. The improved file copy, performance monitor and task manager more than make up with the lack of the menu, I'd probably install a 3rd party one rather than go back to 7 if I cared that much about it. |
03:13pm 23/01/13 Permalink
I just noticed that you can get an upgrade for $39 until the end of January: http://windows.microsoft.com/EN-AU/windows/buy?ocid=WL_r_january13_na_hero_1_1
I'm considering buying it so that I can whinge about everything wrong with it. |
05:17am 26/01/13 Permalink
So here's something I worked out today. I caved in to multiple client requests and got Skype. Ugh.
Something I have wanted for a chat / communications window was for it to only take a small part of my screen. I just need to know when people are messaging me, right? Well, Skype in Metro doesn't exist in the Desktop space which is normally a pain in the arse, but has its uses: http://i.imgur.com/fIxAWe5.png This is on my right hand monitor. Because the skype messenger is in Metro, it basically takes a small sliver of my screen when .. leftinised ... and the rest of it works as a full desktop space - maximise, windowskey-snap etc all works properly, just around that dedicated sidebar for skype so I can easily see notifications etc. without my important s*** like QGL being obscured. |
10:15am 17/04/13 Permalink
I installed Pokki so when I pressed the windows button I didn't get taken back to the stupid metro page, instead I have a start menu!!
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11:34am 17/04/13 Permalink
I always use skype like that Hoggy. The most annoying thing and somewhat surprising is how much functionality has been stripped from the Win8 version of Skype, can't transfer files, share screens etc. Not sure when they plan to fix this.
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11:52am 17/04/13 Permalink
Skype on win8 keeps crashing for me even after I updated to latest version.
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11:57am 17/04/13 Permalink
Yeah installed that Pokki program yesterday, was just getting sick of not being able to just hit one button for shutting down. It is actually quite nice in that it still contains the "favourite" pins so I have everything I need at the click of a button.
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12:15pm 17/04/13 Permalink
www.classicshell.net/ This. also is that what that hand thing is for. I found that out by accident but only have one monitor so I always wondered just what the hell the purpose of it was. Skype on win8 keeps crashing for me even after I updated to latest version.metrosexual version or desktop version? I deleted the metrosexual version and installed the standalone client, not that I have anyone to talk to :( I installed Pokki so when I pressed the windows button I didn't get taken back to the stupid metro page, instead I have a start menu!!Classicshell does this too but also enables you to have hotkeys in case you DO want to get back to the metrosexual menu. I've got it set for win key = start menu and shift + win = metrosexual. |
05:36pm 17/04/13 Permalink
I love how you can have a Metro app stuck to a corner of the screen and then the rest is treated like your typical desktop. Almost like its not there.
The only think I would love is if I could customise it a bit more. Notably width and it would be great to be able to have two different things running too. |
06:30pm 17/04/13 Permalink
Not a fan of classic shell (but its good that its there for those that need it).
Had to work with the classic menu on a couple of workstations for a week or so recently and hated it now that I've gotten used to Metro.
Yeh the hand thing allows you to drag the ... Window .. around. Stupidly though after so much gushing about the winkey+arrow snapping stuff in Windows 7 that doesn't work lolol I think that having one app in the leftinised spot is the only way to show 2 apps on one screen at the same time in metro. Which is stupid I must admit and makes it not appealing for a keyboard / mouse productivity environment. Maybe if/when when they decide to make Metro the Desktop environment it will be less clunky. |
06:31pm 17/04/13 Permalink
Word on the street is Microsoft may be bringing back the start menu and boot to desktop options with Windows Blue (Win8.1) later this year.
http://www.techspot.com/news/52255-microsoft-yields-boot-to-desktop-start-menu-options-in-windows-81.html |
06:41pm 17/04/13 Permalink
I will happy if they do that tspec. I like Windows 8's snappyness it runs quite well for me and my games work well with it too. So I put up with some things, like the stupid app screen and no start button.
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07:27pm 17/04/13 Permalink
I use win-x heaps more than I used to use the start menu, so if they improve that, or make it a more fluid transition would that be enough for you guys?
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07:31pm 17/04/13 Permalink
I always use skype like that Hoggy. The most annoying thing and somewhat surprising is how much functionality has been stripped from the Win8 version of Skype, can't transfer files, share screens etc. Not sure when they plan to fix this. I just manually downloaded skype from the site and installed it so it runs on the desktop instead of that metro bulls***. Works like the good old days. |
07:56pm 17/04/13 Permalink
