Tutorial on getting started with Win8: Take the scary out of this new OS

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When you open Win 8 for the first time you will be very startled. You will be presented with what is called the Metro Start Menu. This replaces the well know Windows Start Menu. Do not panic! I could not post a screen shot, but almost any web site discussing Win 8 will show screen shots of the Metro UI.

The method to go to the Desktop is as follows:

Click the Win Key + D

OR

Click on the Desktop Tile

You will now be on the familiar Desktop. Whew, that was a scary start. Everything will get easier from here on.

To go back to the Metro Start Menu simply click on the Win Key (Win)

You can access all your apps from here. Many will already be pinned to this Metro Start Menu. For any that are not found on this Metro Start Menu you can Right Click anywhere on this desktop. You will see a banner at the bottom of the screen with All Apps at the right side. This will open a screen with all installed apps that scrolls from left to right.

Whenever you install an app you will find tiles to that app on the Metro Start Menu.

The remainder of this tutorial will be dedicated to the Desktop UI as this is where most of you will feel the most comfortable. All conventional PC’s (both desktops and laptops) with keyboards and a mouse will work on either the Metro UI or the Desktop UI, but most users of Win XP, Win Vista, or Win 7 will feel most comfortable initially on the Desktop UI.

Charms Bar[/B]

If you place you cursor in the Upper right corner or Lower Right corner you will open a Charms Bar. You can access many of the user customizable functions from this Charms Bar.

31454-Windows-8-Charms-Bar

Settings will take you to several areas of your PC to set options in Win 8. Play with these various settings until you feel more comfortable with them.

Devices does just as it sounds.

Start will take you to the Metro Start Menu

Share does just as it sounds

Search also does as it sounds

There is a separate Charms bar while in any Metro app, but that is beyond the scope of this tutorial.

Power Users Menu

To activate this menu move your cursor to the Bottom Left corner

OR

Select Win + X

This opens the Power Users Menu where you will access many of the System Controls and the Run and Search commands. Play with this a little to see how powerful it is.

32565-PowerUserMenu

TaskBar

This bar at the bottom of the screen is very powerful. It will be seen whenever you are on the Desktop UI.

You can pin items (almost any item) to this Taskbar. Commonly pinned items are shortcuts to browsers, email clients, folder, apps, etc.

To pin something to the Taskbar, Right Click on an item anywhere and select Pin To Taskbar. This will pin a shortcut to this item directly on the taskbar

32061-Taskbar

Toolbars

Some specialized items can be pinned here. Let’s say you want to access all your apps without going to the Metro Start Menu. Easy as pie.

Right Click on an empty space on the Taskbar and select Toolbars, New Toolbar

This will open File Explorer (Renamed from Windows Explorer in all other versions of Windows)

Drill down to C: Driver, Users, “User Name”, AppData, Roaming, Microsoft, Windows, Start Menu, Programs

Click on Programs and choose Select Folder. You will see a new Toolbar on the Taskbar called Programs. You can click on the >> to open the entire Programs Tree to go to any app you have installed.

I like to set up a specialized Shortcuts folder in My Documents that I place shortcuts to my most commonly used apps. I then use the above procedure to create a Toolbar of this Shortcuts folder. Easy!

32472-Win-8-Shortcuts

Start Orb alternative

OMG, when you go to the Desktop, the Start Orb you are accustomed to is missing, OMG! Never fear, using the above procedure, you can create toolbars to any folder you wish, Favorites, Links, etc.

OR

There are several alternatives to the Start Orb you have grown accustomed to. The one I use is Classic Shell V 3.5.1. Once you install this app, it will give you a Win XP, Vista or 7 Start Orb with all the same functions except it is more customizable. Right Click the Classic Shell Start Orb and choose settings. Advanced mode gives many more settings to customize.

This tutorial will get you started on customizing your Win 8 installation so it’s not quite so scary.

I’m sure many additions will be placed here to aid you in your customization efforts. I hope this start will help you get over your initial shock!

Ted

Note: For a more complete Tutorial you can go to Forums Windows 8 Forums. The Lounge limits the number of Screen Shots![/SIZE]

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Do you find it difficult to Shutdown, Restart or Log Off from Win 8. There are many ways. this is just one of those.

Right click an empty spot on the desktop and select New, Shortcut

Copy and Paste the following in the Window that pops up:

Shutdown:

C:WindowsSystem32shutdown.exe -s -t 00

Restart:

C:WindowsSystem32shutdown.exe -r -t 00

The only difference in the 2 commands is the character in red.

Click Next and Name the shortcuts Shutdown and Restart. Real original, huh!

Click Finish. Right click and choose properties and change icon to select a nicer icon than the default.

Log Off:

C:WindowsSystem32logoff.exe

These are the exact commands I used to produce the Shutdown, Restart and Log Off icons you see below: I have actually pinned them to the Taskbar as described above.

31461-ShutdownIcon

Now it will be a little easier to perform these chores.

There are other methods as well. I am sure they will be posted.

Edit: Add a Sleep icon as follows:

rundll32.exe powrprof.dll,SetSuspendState 0,1,0

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To choose what apps to use as Default apps go to Control Panel, Default Programs, Set Default Programs:

31466-SetDefaultPrograms

If your Program is listed, for example FireFox, highlight it and choose Set this program as default.

If your program is not shown, for example Chrome does not display here, then Default Programs, Associate a file type or protocol with a specific program, then scroll down to the file type or program you wish to change and choose the program:

31467-SetDefaultProgramsFile-Association

For example the file types shown here, one at a time highlight a particular protocol and choose Change Program

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So you’ve heard of this new Picture Password and would like to check it out, but don’t know how.

First, what the heck is a Picture Password? Win 8 RP has the ability to use any picture located on your PC combined with 3 gestures that you set up using either you mouse or finger (on a touch screen) instead of a conventional password. This is a neat feature because after entering your password once, you set up the picture gestures, and then from that point on Win 8 opens the picture you have chosen, you enter the 2 gestures in the order and place you set them up, and the PC signs on to your account. Neat!

First go to the Charms Bar and select Settings, Change PC Settings.

Next Select User tab and you will see the Password section. Choose Picture Password. You will be asked to enter your password once, then you will need to choose a picture on your PC. Once you choose a Picture, you will have to do 3 gestures on the Picture, then repeat the 3 gestures a second time to set the Picture Password. That’s all it takes.
Now each time you boot, the sign on will go to the chosen picture and you repeat the 3 gestures and you are signed on.

The instructions will show you the excepted gestures. These include clicks, straight lines in any direction, and circles. The gestures have to be made in approx. the same place and same order each time.

31480-PicturePassword

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There are several ways to go through Metro UI quickly to the Desktop UI.

1) Ensure the Desktop tile is in the upper left hand position on the Metro UI. When you enter your password, instead of tapping the Enter button, hold it down for a couple of seconds. Holding the Enter button after entering your password activates whichever tile is the upper left hand tile. If this is desktop, then voila, you go to the desktop. If this is IE then IE opens.

2) After entering your password, tap Enter, then as soon as the Metro UI opens, tap Enter again. Which ever tile is in the upper left hand tiles will activate. If that’s the Desktop tile then you will go to the Desktop UI.

3) Click the Desktop tile in the Metro UI

4) When on the Metro UI, click Win + D

5) Install Classic Shell. On the General Behavior tab, put a check mark in Skip Metro UI.

OK, so there are 5 easy ways to go to the Desktop UI.

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All the above can be done in about 1/2 hour or less. For those that think Win 8 is too different, or too scary to use, just try these things and let me know how they worked for you.

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Ted: let me know how they worked for you.
All great stuff, thanks.

Darn if I can now, I used to be able to get a shortcut for the Control panel on my Desktop, I just can not remember now how I did it. Light my candle, svp. Jean.

Ted, you can now disregard this request, I found the way. JP.:rolleyes:

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JP, I have found it easier to set the CP to a menu format in Classic Shell. This way all I have to do is hover my cursor over CP and it opens as a menu. Very easy for me.

31720-ControlPanelClassicShell

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[INDENT]

For those (of us) that want to stay on the old familiar Desktop when using Win-8, having the charms bar pop up when we touch the right corners of the screen, is just not acceptable.
Here’s a fix that removes that activity.

How to disable the Edge UI panels aka Charms Bar and Switcher in Windows 8
1. Open Registry Editor (press Win+R, type regedit.exe in Run dialog and press Enter) and go to key
2. HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurre ntVersionImmersiveShell
3. Create here a new key “EdgeUI“.
4. Select the EdgeUI key in the left pane and create two new DWORD values in the right pane of Registry Editor.
⦁ DisableTLcorner – stands for “Disable Top-Left corner”. Set it to 1, and Switcher will not appear when you move your mouse to the top-left corner of the screen. Note that it will still appear if you move the pointer to the bottom-left corner and then move it upwards along the left edge of the screen.
⦁ DisableCharmsHint – Set it to 1 to disable the Charms bar when using the mouse. It will not appear when you move the pointer to the top-right or bottom-rights corners. But as above, if you move the pointer to the top-right corner and then move it down along the right edge of the screen (or from the bottom-right corner up to the screen center along the right edge), it’ll appear again.
http://winaero.com/blog/wp-content/u…y_settings.png

both settings prevent the Edge UI panels from appearing accidentally. They will take effect immediately – you do not need to restart Windows Explorer or log off. You will still be able to show them when you actually want to use them.
If you want to enable the default behavior of Switcher, simply set DisableTLcorner value to 0 or delete it. Same goes for DisableCharmsHint value – set it to 0 or delete it to enable the Charms Bar popup.
For those who prefer ready-made registry files:
Download Edge UI Tweaks, found here:
http://winaero.com/blog/wp-content/u…/08/edgeui.zip

Now we can enjoy our Desktop in peace.

Now we can enjoy our Desktop in peace.

Very Cool!. The Charms Bar is still available, but does not pop up until you actually put your cursor in the Top, Right or Bottom Right corner and slide it along the right edge, then Charms pops up. Gives a way to not have Charms pop up when you do not want it, but still have it easily available when you wish to use it. This is a hack many were asking for.
[/INDENT]

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Thanks. This looks good. (So far the Classic Shell solution alone hasn’t worked; if a finger is near the right side of the touchpad, the &*^&% charms bar pops up.)

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How To Geek shows how to add items to the Power User Menu (Win + X). Take a look here.

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How to remove login password from windows 8 logon and login automatically without entering it

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Thanks Clint. I thought briefly about adding that, then started working on something else and it completely slipped my mind. I guess that’s what happens when you start getting more experienced (I’m almost 61 years more experienced)

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I’m just getting started with the Windows 8 install and run through, thanks for all the info you guys have provided. It definitely helps.

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Glad I could help. This (Win 8 Pro) has actually become fun for me. I’m still discovering new things about this OS. And this is ALL on conventional PC’s. We do not own and touch enabled stuff at all.

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Bypass Windows 8 UAC while keeping Metro

Microsoft’s User Account Control (UAC) has had a bad reputation among the tech community since the launch of Windows Vista. In Windows 8, this nuisance has found a way to spite all tech geeks alike. Now, “disabling” UAC via Control Panel doesn’t actually disable it. If you edit a system file you’ll find that, you, the Admin, have no power (and are still pestered by UAC).
If you’re reading this, chances are that you’ve tried taking disabling UAC via the EnableLUA registry hack. Although this method works, Microsoft has placed a kill switch on Metro apps. In other words, you won’t be able to use Metro apps if you disable UAC with the registry hack or with Account Policy clp. Microsoft gives you 2 options; deal with UAC and enjoy the Metro UI or disable UAC and lose Windows 8′s signature feature.
In this tutorial, you will learn how to semi-disable UAC while maintaining access to Metro apps. This hack should prevent ~90% of all UAC pop-ups and grant you access to your entire C drive.

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Repair/rescue CD/DVD and or USB repair stick:
How to create a Windows 8 system repair disc

Recovery Drive – Create with USB Flash Drive in Windows 8

How To Install Windows 8 From a USB Device
Instructions on Using a USB Flash Drive To Install Windows 8

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Thanks for the post!!
It really helped…I just bought a new laptop which is updated with windows 8 and had no clue how to use it…
But this post really helped!!!
keep posting

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Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!! I can see I will be bust trying nearly all of these much needed “fixes” to Win 8. Maybe I will even like what’s left?

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Windows 8 Refresh: A great feature, if you know the limitations
Windows 8 Refresh lets you restore your Windows 8 PC to earlier state without destroying data, but beware hidden gotchas
By Woody Leonhard | InfoWorld

32384-Untitled

mkdir C:RefreshImage
recimg -CreateImage C:RefreshImage

Replace the above drive letter “C” with whatever drive letter represents the location
you wish to store CustomRefresh.wim

Another tut from the WindowsEightForums:
Refresh Windows 8 – Create and Use Custom Recovery Image

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Clint, thanks for some excellent additions to this tutorial. This is becoming a fairly in depth tutorial. This was my wish when I started it.

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I am glad I was able to help. Enjoy your Win 8 experience, and welcome to the Lounge.

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If your new to using IE10 you may have noticed that it’s a real pain to start posting here.

The best workaround for that compatibility issue is to click on the small broken icon between
the magnifying glass and the refresh icon shown in the picture below.
32704-IE-10-compatability-view

It’s much easier than pressing F12 and setting compatibility, as it will only be active for as long as the specific window is open.
32705-F12

It’s just one of the annoyances I kept stumbling upon with each fresh Windows 8 install and first time IE10 usage here on the lounge.

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Put the power Options back on the desktop.
32758-Apower

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This is a very nice and very easy mod. Thanks Clint.

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I am about to buy a windows 8 laptop and this thread is a boon for people like me.I know there are many problems with W8 but finally i have decided to go with it.Thank you for this amazing tips and tricks

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Dell are offering free downloads of “Windows 8 For Dummies”. However, in order to obtain it you need to supply your name and contact details for marketing purposes. IMHO this is a very useful book full of useful information.
http://marketing.dell.com/windows-8-ebook

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@jacksparrow, you are welcome. Glad I could help.

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I also had the need for a new laptop and facing the hassle of the rep of Win 8 a daunting task…..until I read this thread and dived in, setting it up the way I wanted.

Thanks Medico and CLiNT……

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Jack, I’m glad my little tutorial could help you with this very exciting new OS. Yes it can be set up to make using Win 8 easier for everyone.

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A previously available YouTube video from Microsoft that is getting more exposure – Get to know Windows 8.

A downloadable Windows 8 brochure – [http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=39055%5DWindows 8 End User Training Brochure[/url].

These may help some get acquainted with Windows 8.

Joe

--Joe

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A downloadable Windows 8 brochure – [http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=39055%5DWindows 8 End User Training Brochure[/url].

Corrected link:

A downloadable Windows 8 brochure – Windows 8 End User Training Brochure.

(I’ll delete if you want to edit yours.)

Bruce

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I just bought a new laptop with Windows 8.

Without this forum, I would really have struggled as it is so different from Windows 7.

Having installed Classic Shell and de-appified as much as possible, I now have the machine generally operating as I would like.

My opinion of Windows 8, or rather the way it was foisted upon the public, is not very high to say the least.

Sincere thanks to Medico for taking the trouble to start the thread, in which he and others like Clint shared their considerable expertise and experience.:clapping:

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I am glad to have helped Trev.

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Thankz much helpful

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