Showing posts with label Windows 8. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Windows 8. Show all posts
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Desktop Fun: Dark Skies theme for Windows 7
Add some dark colors, mystery and foreboding to your computer desktop with the Dark Skies theme for Windows 7.
This set of wallpapers comes with 10 high-resolution images of dark horizons and flocks or birds burst forth across the sky, seeming to portend doom, and also cows.
Did you know that dark colors in your screen will save energy in your computer? This is the right set of wallpapers that can help you save battery in your laptop. Use the download link below to get this dark wallpapers.
This set of wallpapers comes with 10 high-resolution images of dark horizons and flocks or birds burst forth across the sky, seeming to portend doom, and also cows.
Did you know that dark colors in your screen will save energy in your computer? This is the right set of wallpapers that can help you save battery in your laptop. Use the download link below to get this dark wallpapers.
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How to enable God Mode on Windows [Trick]
In this Windows How-To you’ll learn how to enable God Mode on Windows. And this method of accessing the operating system settings is compatible with Windows 8, Windows 7 and Windows Vista.
Before getting started, do you know what Windows God Mode is? God Mode is a mode on Windows that you enable by creating a special folder and it allows you to have access all Windows configuration settings with one-click (e.g., mouse, display, Internet options, network and much more), without having to hop between different windows to change a specific setting.
1While in the Windows’ desktop do a right-click and select Create a new Folder, then rename the folder using the following string and press Enter:
2The folder will change its icon to the Control Panel icon with the name of God Mode. Now just double-click it to open it. That’s it!
If you thought you knew every Windows configuration setting, think again. God Mode will provide you, which I could say, with every configuration setting you can think of; all in one place with one-click access. And also you can access a lot of How-Tos for many of the OS settings.
Alright, I hope you enjoy this little trick on Windows, not real magic here but it is really cool to have access to every Windows configuration setting.
Source ToThePC
Before getting started, do you know what Windows God Mode is? God Mode is a mode on Windows that you enable by creating a special folder and it allows you to have access all Windows configuration settings with one-click (e.g., mouse, display, Internet options, network and much more), without having to hop between different windows to change a specific setting.
ENABLING GOD MODE ON WINDOWS
1While in the Windows’ desktop do a right-click and select Create a new Folder, then rename the folder using the following string and press Enter:
GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}
2The folder will change its icon to the Control Panel icon with the name of God Mode. Now just double-click it to open it. That’s it!
If you thought you knew every Windows configuration setting, think again. God Mode will provide you, which I could say, with every configuration setting you can think of; all in one place with one-click access. And also you can access a lot of How-Tos for many of the OS settings.
| Note: Everybody knows it as the God Mode, but when creating the new folder, you can choose another name for it such as AllTask.{“the above string here”}. |
| Warning: Be careful if you are using this on Windows Vista x64 as there has been cases of issues with some users. |
Alright, I hope you enjoy this little trick on Windows, not real magic here but it is really cool to have access to every Windows configuration setting.
Source ToThePC
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Windows 8 Startup menu: Troubleshoot boot issues in developer preview
Windows 8 Startup menu is the right place to start troubleshooting boot issues. This handy tool can help you to troubleshoot issues in cases where Windows 8 developer preview does not boot properly, when it goes into a boot-loop (constantly rebooting), and in many other scenarios — that we’ll be exploring in future articles.
In this article I am going to guide you through the steps using Windows 8 Startup menu to troubleshoot and repair boot issues.
In order to get to the Windows 8 Startup menu in developer preview, you’ll need to reboot your computer, as soon you see that the computer starts (before the POST finishes), hit F8 in your keyboard and the system will go into the new Startup menu — that also has a Metro style user interface, it is touch enabled and you can even use the mouse. Pretty cool, right? –. Then you’ll be presented with 3 options, click Troubleshoot (Refresh or reset your PC, or use advanced tools).
Click on Advanced options from the menu to get into the Automatic Repair menu.
Next, click the Automatic repair (Fix some problems that keep Windows from loading) from the menu.
Now Windows 8 Developer Preview — Automatic repair will ask you to choose an account to continue.
Enter the account password and click Continue.
Now Windows will search for problems and if any is found it will be repaired.
Then a report will be shown to you — Startup Repair. If Windows wasn’t successful finding any problems, you will get a notification that says: Startup Repair could not repair your computer. At this point you can click Restart to boot into Windows 8 or click Advanced options to keep troubleshooting.
If everything worked out fine, your computer will now boot properly. Now in the case you got the error below:
Windows Recovery Environment
Your PC needs to be repaired
Windows failed to load because a requred file is meassing or curropt
File NDIS.SYS
Error Code: 0xc0000221
Your PC doesn’t have the Windows Recovery Environment installed. You’ll need to use the recovery tools on your installation media. If you don’t have any installation media (like a disk or USB device) contact your system administrator or PC manufacture.
Press Enter to try again.
You can try Windows Repair Environment using your installation media (e.g., DVD or USB drive). Just insert the media into the computer, restart — make sure your system is configured to boot from the media you are using –. Let Windows 8 Developer Preview load the files. Once you are in the graphical interface environment, click Next, and instead of clicking Install Now, click on Repair your computer link that is located in the bottom-left hand corner of the window. Then just follow the normal repair steps I mentioned above.
Hopefully this will help you to repair any boot issues in this early release of the next Microsoft’s operating system Windows 8.
In this article I am going to guide you through the steps using Windows 8 Startup menu to troubleshoot and repair boot issues.
STEP #1
In order to get to the Windows 8 Startup menu in developer preview, you’ll need to reboot your computer, as soon you see that the computer starts (before the POST finishes), hit F8 in your keyboard and the system will go into the new Startup menu — that also has a Metro style user interface, it is touch enabled and you can even use the mouse. Pretty cool, right? –. Then you’ll be presented with 3 options, click Troubleshoot (Refresh or reset your PC, or use advanced tools).
STEP #2
Click on Advanced options from the menu to get into the Automatic Repair menu.
STEP #3
Next, click the Automatic repair (Fix some problems that keep Windows from loading) from the menu.
STEP #4
Now Windows 8 Developer Preview — Automatic repair will ask you to choose an account to continue.
STEP #5
Enter the account password and click Continue.
Now Windows will search for problems and if any is found it will be repaired.
Then a report will be shown to you — Startup Repair. If Windows wasn’t successful finding any problems, you will get a notification that says: Startup Repair could not repair your computer. At this point you can click Restart to boot into Windows 8 or click Advanced options to keep troubleshooting.
THE ALTERNATIVE
If everything worked out fine, your computer will now boot properly. Now in the case you got the error below:
Windows Recovery Environment
Your PC needs to be repaired
Windows failed to load because a requred file is meassing or curropt
File NDIS.SYS
Error Code: 0xc0000221
Your PC doesn’t have the Windows Recovery Environment installed. You’ll need to use the recovery tools on your installation media. If you don’t have any installation media (like a disk or USB device) contact your system administrator or PC manufacture.
Press Enter to try again.
You can try Windows Repair Environment using your installation media (e.g., DVD or USB drive). Just insert the media into the computer, restart — make sure your system is configured to boot from the media you are using –. Let Windows 8 Developer Preview load the files. Once you are in the graphical interface environment, click Next, and instead of clicking Install Now, click on Repair your computer link that is located in the bottom-left hand corner of the window. Then just follow the normal repair steps I mentioned above.
Hopefully this will help you to repair any boot issues in this early release of the next Microsoft’s operating system Windows 8.
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How to boot in Safe Mode or access the Recovery mode in Windows 8
Learn the four ways in which you can boot Windows 8 in Safe Mode or access the Recovery mode.
Safe Mode in Windows is a troubleshooting mode that loads a limited set of device drivers and some others Windows processes, just enough to run the operating system. This allows users to diagnose many hardware and software problems that may occur and apply the corresponding fixes. Even though, Windows 8 comes a new built-in tools to fix problems such as, System Refresh and Restore, and System repair; Safe Mode still necessary for a variety of troubleshooting procedures and is not included as a quick option.
Did you realize that hitting F8 on Windows 8 Consumer Preview won’t bring up the “Safe Mode” menu, like in previous versions of Windows, or access to the Windows 8 “Recovery” mode to troubleshoot problems? What’s up with that, right? Let’s just get this out in the open, F8 doesn’t do anything anymore on Windows 8, now you should use the Shift+F8 keyboard shortcut at boot instead to bring the Recovery mode to access the “advanced repair options”.
So, how do you enable Safe Mode in Windows 8? Because Microsoft has buried this option even more for the next version of Windows — possible reason being that the new Recovery mode may help the average users better –, you are going to need to do some steps before you can access these advanced options.
Now with this new version of Windows, you can access Safe Mode in at least four different ways:
The easiest would be by restarting the PC and at boot press and hold Shift+F8 to bring the Recovery mode, click See advanced repair options, and continue with step 3 in “#2 Booting in Safe Mode within Windows 8″.
1Move the mouse pointer to the top-right or bottom-right of the screen to bring up theCharms Bar, click Settings, and then click More PC settings.
2In PC settings navigate to General, scroll-down and under the Advanced startup, and click Restart now. This will bring the new “Advanced Options” graphical user interface menu.
3From here, click Troubleshoot to access Refresh or reset your PC, or use advanced tools.
4Then click the Advanced options.
5Now click Windows Start Settings.
6Finally, click Restart. Now when the computer reboots again, you’ll be presented with the“Advanced Boot Options” page from where you can select Safe Mode option.
Alternatively to the steps shown before, you can boot your computer into Safe Mode by modifying the Windows 8 boot loader.
1Bring up the Run command with the
+R keyboard shortcut, type msconfig and clickOK.
2Navigate to the Boot tab, and under Boot options, click on Safe boot. Then click Applyand OK.
If you are wondering:
After you done choosing, click Apply and OK, and then test the new configuration by clicking theRestart button.
Then when the computer reboots it will automatically start in Safe Mode.
This last option is a little bit more advance for the average user, proceed with cation.
1To enable Safe Mode, open the Windows Command Prompt by typing cmd in the Start Screen, right-click it and select Run is an as administrator.
2In the Command Prompt type the following and press Enter:
3Copy the “identifier” value, e.g {ab123-abcd-fffff…}, this will be from the Windows Boot Loader menu, where the description value is “Windows 8 Consumer Preview”.
4Now type the following command and press Enter:
5Use the+R to bring up the Run command, type msconfig and click OK.
6 Navigate to the Boot tab, select Windows 8 Consumer Preview Safe Mode and under Boot options, click on Safe boot. Then click Apply and OK.
Then click Restart, and at boot you’ll have the option to either boot normally or boot into Safe Mode.
In this last process, what you’ve done is to add another entry to start Windows 8 in Save Mode (or Safe Mode) to the Windows boot loader menu, which will now be triggered when the computer restarts.
As you can see Microsoft seems to want users to move away of the Safe Mode to troubleshoot Windows, because now this options is so much buried than it was before, but there still plenty of ways to access it.
Safe Mode in Windows is a troubleshooting mode that loads a limited set of device drivers and some others Windows processes, just enough to run the operating system. This allows users to diagnose many hardware and software problems that may occur and apply the corresponding fixes. Even though, Windows 8 comes a new built-in tools to fix problems such as, System Refresh and Restore, and System repair; Safe Mode still necessary for a variety of troubleshooting procedures and is not included as a quick option.
Did you realize that hitting F8 on Windows 8 Consumer Preview won’t bring up the “Safe Mode” menu, like in previous versions of Windows, or access to the Windows 8 “Recovery” mode to troubleshoot problems? What’s up with that, right? Let’s just get this out in the open, F8 doesn’t do anything anymore on Windows 8, now you should use the Shift+F8 keyboard shortcut at boot instead to bring the Recovery mode to access the “advanced repair options”.
So, how do you enable Safe Mode in Windows 8? Because Microsoft has buried this option even more for the next version of Windows — possible reason being that the new Recovery mode may help the average users better –, you are going to need to do some steps before you can access these advanced options.
Now with this new version of Windows, you can access Safe Mode in at least four different ways:
#1 ACCESSING SAFE MODE FROM BOOT
The easiest would be by restarting the PC and at boot press and hold Shift+F8 to bring the Recovery mode, click See advanced repair options, and continue with step 3 in “#2 Booting in Safe Mode within Windows 8″.
#2 BOOTING IN SAFE MODE WITHIN WINDOWS 8
1Move the mouse pointer to the top-right or bottom-right of the screen to bring up theCharms Bar, click Settings, and then click More PC settings.
2In PC settings navigate to General, scroll-down and under the Advanced startup, and click Restart now. This will bring the new “Advanced Options” graphical user interface menu.
3From here, click Troubleshoot to access Refresh or reset your PC, or use advanced tools.
4Then click the Advanced options.
Quick Tip: From the new Recovery mode you can also access to the new Windows 8 recovery options:
|
5Now click Windows Start Settings.
6Finally, click Restart. Now when the computer reboots again, you’ll be presented with the“Advanced Boot Options” page from where you can select Safe Mode option.
#3 BOOTING IN SAFE MODE WITHIN WINDOWS 8 FROM THE SYSTEM CONFIGURATION
Alternatively to the steps shown before, you can boot your computer into Safe Mode by modifying the Windows 8 boot loader.
1Bring up the Run command with the
+R keyboard shortcut, type msconfig and clickOK.2Navigate to the Boot tab, and under Boot options, click on Safe boot. Then click Applyand OK.
If you are wondering:
- Minimal is to enter to the safe mode.
- Alternate Shell is to enter to the safe mode, but with just the command prompt.
- Network is to enter to the safe mode with networking capabilities.
After you done choosing, click Apply and OK, and then test the new configuration by clicking theRestart button.
Then when the computer reboots it will automatically start in Safe Mode.
| Important: If you don’t revert the System Configuration (msconfig), the computer will continue to boot in Safe Mode. To change back to the old settings, go to the Run command one more time, type mscsonfig, and under the Boot options, uncheck the Safe boot, then click Apply and OK, and click Restart one more time. Or do the next thing. |
#3 BOOTING IN SAFE MODE BY TRIGGERING THE GRAPHICAL BOOT LOADER MENU
This last option is a little bit more advance for the average user, proceed with cation.
1To enable Safe Mode, open the Windows Command Prompt by typing cmd in the Start Screen, right-click it and select Run is an as administrator.
2In the Command Prompt type the following and press Enter:
bcdedit /enum /v
3Copy the “identifier” value, e.g {ab123-abcd-fffff…}, this will be from the Windows Boot Loader menu, where the description value is “Windows 8 Consumer Preview”.
4Now type the following command and press Enter:
bcdedit /copy YourIdentifierValueHere /d “Windows 8 Consumer Preview Safe Mode”
5Use the
+R to bring up the Run command, type msconfig and click OK.6 Navigate to the Boot tab, select Windows 8 Consumer Preview Safe Mode and under Boot options, click on Safe boot. Then click Apply and OK.
Then click Restart, and at boot you’ll have the option to either boot normally or boot into Safe Mode.
In this last process, what you’ve done is to add another entry to start Windows 8 in Save Mode (or Safe Mode) to the Windows boot loader menu, which will now be triggered when the computer restarts.
As you can see Microsoft seems to want users to move away of the Safe Mode to troubleshoot Windows, because now this options is so much buried than it was before, but there still plenty of ways to access it.
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Microsoft’s new Windows 8 operating system means change – with a capital “C” – for anyone interested in purchasing new PCs and laptops in the coming months.
The introduction of the Metro UI – now apparently known simply as “Windows 8” – has proved controversial. Designed primarily as a touch-based user interface, the tiles and hidden menus of the new Start screen and the relegation of the old Windows desktop seems to have dismayed many people.
However, Microsoft believe they are playing catch-up to Apple in the tablet computer and UI stakes. They’ve already announced the Windows 8-powered Surface tablet, and the whole touch interface aspect of Windows 8 is influenced by the touch-based changes Apple introduced in Mac OS X Lion.
Whether the mixed reviews of the preview releases of Windows 8 have influenced pricing or Microsoft are simply taking a leaf out of Apple’s book isn’t quite clear, but the price of a new copy of Windows 8 will be noticeably lower than a comparative copy of Windows Vista or Windows 7.
Indeed, there is a chance of purchasing Windows 8 for under $15!
Have Microsoft based their new operating system pricing on the relatively low prices offered by Apple?
Mac OS X 10.8 costs just $19.99 when downloaded from the App Store (currently the only option) while the previous Mac OS X 10.7 was available for $24.99 on DVD.
This is in stark contrast to Windows 7; upon release, this popular operating system was a massive $154 for the Home Premium version!
It doesn’t look as though this is a one-off, either – the inclusion of the Microsoft Store in Windows 8 means that subsequent releases can be made available via download. Will users accept much higher prices for downloadable updates? It is unlikely, so it could be that future versions of Windows stay around the $39.99 upgrade price rather than the brand new disc option at $69.99.
Hmm, $39.99 doesn’t sound too bad, does it?
While not the lowest price on offer on this page, the prospect of getting a new copy of Windows for $39.99 is pretty tempting. Sure, it might have the touch-based user interface formerly known as Metro, but it also has a desktop view and full backward compatibility with Windows 7 applications.
Additionally, Windows 8 is designed to run apps – many of which are free – from the Microsoft Store.
So how do you get a copy of Windows 8 for $39.99? The secret is to already run a legal copy of Windows XP, Vista or 7 and use the upgrade path. There are three versions of the new OS: Windows 8, Windows 8 Pro and Windows 8 RT. The latter is for ARM tablets, while the former has fewer features (but should be fine for the vast majority of users). As there were so many versions of Windows 7 (six main editions alone) this will make choosing a copy much easier.
Note that while the operating system might be relatively cheap, the amount of time it takes for you to upgrade from Windows XP might not be. Vista and 7 can be easily upgraded, meaning that vital data and applications will be retained during the process (although anything you don’t wish to lose should be backed up, of course). For Windows XP users, however, backing up all vital data is necessary before installation of the new OS.
If you’re using Windows XP, the chances are that you’ve had your computer for five or six years. Upgrading for just under $40 therefore is an opportunity not to be missed!
Remarkably, $39.99 isn’t the cheapest option for purchasing Windows 8. If you are buying a Windows 7 computer before January 31st 2013, Microsoft will offer an upgrade for a super-low $14.99! It isn’t just any upgrade either – this option also offers Windows 8 Pro!
All you need to do to qualify is buy a new computer with a legal copy of Windows 7 preinstalled, head to Windows Upgrade Offer and register your details.
When the offer is available, Microsoft will then email purchase instructions and require payment, and you’ll then be able to download your copy of Windows 8 Pro for that super low price!
If all of this seems a bit too much trouble and you’re not all that bothered about buying Windows 8 until you have got used to it, the Windows 8 Release Preview will be available to use until January 16, 2013.
This means that you have plenty of time to head to Microsoft’s download site and grab your copy of the preview which can be installed as an upgrade, as a dual-booted OS or as a virtual machine.
After all, what’s the point of spending money on an operating system as radically different as Windows 8 if you don’t like it? Try before you buy!
There are three ways in which you can get a copy of Windows 8 without breaking the bank. Whether you choose to take the upgrade path from your current version of Windows or you’re buying a new PC, laptop or hybrid tablet now and want to have the option to upgrade when the new OS is released or even if you want to try it for free first, there is an option to cover any budget.
What is most interesting about this whole Windows 8 upgrade scenario however is that is seems to signal a sea-change in pricing from Microsoft.
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How To Get Windows 8 For The Lowest Possible Price
Microsoft’s new Windows 8 operating system means change – with a capital “C” – for anyone interested in purchasing new PCs and laptops in the coming months.The introduction of the Metro UI – now apparently known simply as “Windows 8” – has proved controversial. Designed primarily as a touch-based user interface, the tiles and hidden menus of the new Start screen and the relegation of the old Windows desktop seems to have dismayed many people.
However, Microsoft believe they are playing catch-up to Apple in the tablet computer and UI stakes. They’ve already announced the Windows 8-powered Surface tablet, and the whole touch interface aspect of Windows 8 is influenced by the touch-based changes Apple introduced in Mac OS X Lion.
Whether the mixed reviews of the preview releases of Windows 8 have influenced pricing or Microsoft are simply taking a leaf out of Apple’s book isn’t quite clear, but the price of a new copy of Windows 8 will be noticeably lower than a comparative copy of Windows Vista or Windows 7.
Indeed, there is a chance of purchasing Windows 8 for under $15!
The Apple Model
Have Microsoft based their new operating system pricing on the relatively low prices offered by Apple?
Mac OS X 10.8 costs just $19.99 when downloaded from the App Store (currently the only option) while the previous Mac OS X 10.7 was available for $24.99 on DVD.
This is in stark contrast to Windows 7; upon release, this popular operating system was a massive $154 for the Home Premium version!
It doesn’t look as though this is a one-off, either – the inclusion of the Microsoft Store in Windows 8 means that subsequent releases can be made available via download. Will users accept much higher prices for downloadable updates? It is unlikely, so it could be that future versions of Windows stay around the $39.99 upgrade price rather than the brand new disc option at $69.99.
Hmm, $39.99 doesn’t sound too bad, does it?
Upgrading from Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7
While not the lowest price on offer on this page, the prospect of getting a new copy of Windows for $39.99 is pretty tempting. Sure, it might have the touch-based user interface formerly known as Metro, but it also has a desktop view and full backward compatibility with Windows 7 applications.
Additionally, Windows 8 is designed to run apps – many of which are free – from the Microsoft Store.
So how do you get a copy of Windows 8 for $39.99? The secret is to already run a legal copy of Windows XP, Vista or 7 and use the upgrade path. There are three versions of the new OS: Windows 8, Windows 8 Pro and Windows 8 RT. The latter is for ARM tablets, while the former has fewer features (but should be fine for the vast majority of users). As there were so many versions of Windows 7 (six main editions alone) this will make choosing a copy much easier.
Note that while the operating system might be relatively cheap, the amount of time it takes for you to upgrade from Windows XP might not be. Vista and 7 can be easily upgraded, meaning that vital data and applications will be retained during the process (although anything you don’t wish to lose should be backed up, of course). For Windows XP users, however, backing up all vital data is necessary before installation of the new OS.
If you’re using Windows XP, the chances are that you’ve had your computer for five or six years. Upgrading for just under $40 therefore is an opportunity not to be missed!
Bought a Windows 7 PC Recently? No Problem!
Remarkably, $39.99 isn’t the cheapest option for purchasing Windows 8. If you are buying a Windows 7 computer before January 31st 2013, Microsoft will offer an upgrade for a super-low $14.99! It isn’t just any upgrade either – this option also offers Windows 8 Pro!
All you need to do to qualify is buy a new computer with a legal copy of Windows 7 preinstalled, head to Windows Upgrade Offer and register your details.
When the offer is available, Microsoft will then email purchase instructions and require payment, and you’ll then be able to download your copy of Windows 8 Pro for that super low price!
Use The Windows 8 Release Preview
If all of this seems a bit too much trouble and you’re not all that bothered about buying Windows 8 until you have got used to it, the Windows 8 Release Preview will be available to use until January 16, 2013.
This means that you have plenty of time to head to Microsoft’s download site and grab your copy of the preview which can be installed as an upgrade, as a dual-booted OS or as a virtual machine.
After all, what’s the point of spending money on an operating system as radically different as Windows 8 if you don’t like it? Try before you buy!
Conclusion
There are three ways in which you can get a copy of Windows 8 without breaking the bank. Whether you choose to take the upgrade path from your current version of Windows or you’re buying a new PC, laptop or hybrid tablet now and want to have the option to upgrade when the new OS is released or even if you want to try it for free first, there is an option to cover any budget.
What is most interesting about this whole Windows 8 upgrade scenario however is that is seems to signal a sea-change in pricing from Microsoft.
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Stealing is wrong. Downloading software illegally, without paying for it, and then using it, is wrong. There are no two ways about it. That said, I can’t help but feel that some companies want you to break the law. Take Adobe for example, whose discriminatory international pricing scheme actively encourages piracy.
In truth, companies sometimes derive important advantages from users stealing their software — widespread adoption being just one example. And recently, I couldn’t help but notice a confluence of factors that made me feel that Microsoft really won’t be very sorry if you steal Windows 8. Here’s why:
Right now, Microsoft is doing everything in its power to get people to start using Windows 8. Whereas previous Windows updates enjoyed a lot of inertia, Microsoft’s new “Windows 8″ style interface is a radical break from the norm, and has garnered quite a bit of criticism. It’s so different, it’s not even clear how you can shut down your computer when using it. In other words, people are not clamoring to adopt this new system, and Microsoft has its work cut out for it before Windows 8 becomes the de-facto standard.
The success of Windows 8 eventually depends on one thing — will people adopt it, or not? Microsoft is betting a lot on the new-style interface, formerly known as Metro. It’s not just for Windows 8: Windows Phone 7 is using the same style interface, and Windows Phone 8 will even support some of the same apps that run on your PC. But for this ecosystem to really flourish, Microsoft needs many high-quality applications available — and these will only become available when the market is there. In other words, it is absolutely critical for Microsoft that people use Windows 8 — even more so than they buy it.
This is why you can now get Windows 8 for as low as $15 — the lowest price Windows hasever been offered for. Granted, that’s an upgrade price — but even a brand-new Windows 8 installation will set you back a mere $69 until January 31, 2013. That’s when the price jumps to $199, a more traditional price point for Windows.
In other words, Microsoft is doing everything it can to get you to bite into Windows 8, except for giving it away for free. I’m not convinced that $15 and “free” is all that different for a company like Microsoft, especially when you realize it stands to make money off of you even if you pirate Windows 8.
This is the biggest point, really: With previous versions of Windows, Microsoft had everything to lose if you didn’t buy it. When you grab Windows 7 without paying anything, Microsoft won’t see a dime from you for years — you’re just enjoying Redmond’s hard work without givinganything back. With Windows 8, this is not so: The only way to install Windows 8 style apps (“Metro”) is using Microsoft’s new Windows 8 store. Sure — you may not install anything from the store for a month or two. Heck, you might even shun it for a whole year. But eventually, once Windows 8 sees widespread adoption, some amazing apps and games will pop up on that Store. And you’re going to want them. And you will shell out your hard-earned cash for them, just like you buy apps for your iPhone or Android.
And of course, whenever you buy something off the Store, Microsoft gets a 20%-30% cut of the proceeds, even if it’s not a Microsoft app you’re buying. So, for the first time in the history of Windows, Microsoft has a steady revenue stream off the OS that has nothing to do with initial purchase. Even if you steal Windows now, MS will still get your money later.
They should have given it away for free. Really — I would not say the same about Windows 7, which has seen rave reviews during its run-up to release, all through its various leaked and released alpha, beta, and RC versions. But Windows 8 faces so many mixed reviews, and is oh so very important for Microsoft’s future, that MS should really have just given it away, at least for the first few months. It could have been like a one-time pardon for pirates: Stole Windows for years? We forgive you — this one’s on the house, now buy something from the Store.
Some would say this would have made the product seem too cheap and hurt its image — “it’s so bad, they’re giving it away.” That may be a fair point — so they should have given it away using a rebate into the Store. Buy Windows 8 for $30, get $30 in Store credit. Everybody wins: You get a brand-new OS practically for free, and MS sees adoption of its new Store, and gets your first few purchases. Once you have a good first experience and make your first purchase, you are much more likely to come back for more later.
By clinging to a traditional pricing model, Microsoft is shooting itself in the foot.
Finally, I must stress again: I’m not saying you should pirate Windows 8. In fact, I think you shouldn’t. Thanks to Microsoft’s very public release cycle, you’ve had ample opportunity to try Windows 8 out for free — and actually, you can still try it for free (albeit with many disadvantages). And $15, $30 or $69 is not much money to spend on an OS you will likely be using for quite a bit. That said, I think you can’t ignore the way Microsoft set things up, and the clear signals it is sending.
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Thinking Of Stealing Windows 8? Your Opinion Microsoft Probably Won’tMind
Stealing is wrong. Downloading software illegally, without paying for it, and then using it, is wrong. There are no two ways about it. That said, I can’t help but feel that some companies want you to break the law. Take Adobe for example, whose discriminatory international pricing scheme actively encourages piracy.In truth, companies sometimes derive important advantages from users stealing their software — widespread adoption being just one example. And recently, I couldn’t help but notice a confluence of factors that made me feel that Microsoft really won’t be very sorry if you steal Windows 8. Here’s why:
A New Interface
Right now, Microsoft is doing everything in its power to get people to start using Windows 8. Whereas previous Windows updates enjoyed a lot of inertia, Microsoft’s new “Windows 8″ style interface is a radical break from the norm, and has garnered quite a bit of criticism. It’s so different, it’s not even clear how you can shut down your computer when using it. In other words, people are not clamoring to adopt this new system, and Microsoft has its work cut out for it before Windows 8 becomes the de-facto standard.
The success of Windows 8 eventually depends on one thing — will people adopt it, or not? Microsoft is betting a lot on the new-style interface, formerly known as Metro. It’s not just for Windows 8: Windows Phone 7 is using the same style interface, and Windows Phone 8 will even support some of the same apps that run on your PC. But for this ecosystem to really flourish, Microsoft needs many high-quality applications available — and these will only become available when the market is there. In other words, it is absolutely critical for Microsoft that people use Windows 8 — even more so than they buy it.
Introductory Pricing
This is why you can now get Windows 8 for as low as $15 — the lowest price Windows hasever been offered for. Granted, that’s an upgrade price — but even a brand-new Windows 8 installation will set you back a mere $69 until January 31, 2013. That’s when the price jumps to $199, a more traditional price point for Windows.
In other words, Microsoft is doing everything it can to get you to bite into Windows 8, except for giving it away for free. I’m not convinced that $15 and “free” is all that different for a company like Microsoft, especially when you realize it stands to make money off of you even if you pirate Windows 8.
The Windows 8 Store
This is the biggest point, really: With previous versions of Windows, Microsoft had everything to lose if you didn’t buy it. When you grab Windows 7 without paying anything, Microsoft won’t see a dime from you for years — you’re just enjoying Redmond’s hard work without givinganything back. With Windows 8, this is not so: The only way to install Windows 8 style apps (“Metro”) is using Microsoft’s new Windows 8 store. Sure — you may not install anything from the store for a month or two. Heck, you might even shun it for a whole year. But eventually, once Windows 8 sees widespread adoption, some amazing apps and games will pop up on that Store. And you’re going to want them. And you will shell out your hard-earned cash for them, just like you buy apps for your iPhone or Android.
And of course, whenever you buy something off the Store, Microsoft gets a 20%-30% cut of the proceeds, even if it’s not a Microsoft app you’re buying. So, for the first time in the history of Windows, Microsoft has a steady revenue stream off the OS that has nothing to do with initial purchase. Even if you steal Windows now, MS will still get your money later.
What Microsoft Should Have Done
They should have given it away for free. Really — I would not say the same about Windows 7, which has seen rave reviews during its run-up to release, all through its various leaked and released alpha, beta, and RC versions. But Windows 8 faces so many mixed reviews, and is oh so very important for Microsoft’s future, that MS should really have just given it away, at least for the first few months. It could have been like a one-time pardon for pirates: Stole Windows for years? We forgive you — this one’s on the house, now buy something from the Store.
Some would say this would have made the product seem too cheap and hurt its image — “it’s so bad, they’re giving it away.” That may be a fair point — so they should have given it away using a rebate into the Store. Buy Windows 8 for $30, get $30 in Store credit. Everybody wins: You get a brand-new OS practically for free, and MS sees adoption of its new Store, and gets your first few purchases. Once you have a good first experience and make your first purchase, you are much more likely to come back for more later.
By clinging to a traditional pricing model, Microsoft is shooting itself in the foot.
Again, Stealing Is Wrong
Finally, I must stress again: I’m not saying you should pirate Windows 8. In fact, I think you shouldn’t. Thanks to Microsoft’s very public release cycle, you’ve had ample opportunity to try Windows 8 out for free — and actually, you can still try it for free (albeit with many disadvantages). And $15, $30 or $69 is not much money to spend on an OS you will likely be using for quite a bit. That said, I think you can’t ignore the way Microsoft set things up, and the clear signals it is sending.
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Are you struggling to learn Windows 8? These eight top tips will help you grasp Microsoft's new OS quickly.
Windows 8 includes many new features which give users the opportunity to use Windows in different ways. A new interface, and new ways to interact with your
computer, as well as new shortcuts, new menus and an entirely new class of apps, are all waiting within the new OS. All of these features can be useful, that is, if you know how to use them. Learning these tricks is easier and more useful if you actually try them out, so grab your Windows 8 device and give it a go as we dive in and take a look at eight new tricks for Windows 8.
Windows 7 included a search feature that was handy, but Windows 8 ups the ante by providing even better search functionality via the Windows 8 UI. It’s now possible to filter your search by apps, settings, or files. You can access the search function from any screen by placing your cursor in the upper right hand corner of your display. This will activate the “Charms” bar, which includes a magnifying glass for search. The result is familiar. Select a category and type in what you’re looking for.
It’s also possible to access search using hotkeys. Win + F will take you to Files, Win + W will take you to Settings, and Win + Q will take you to Apps.
Windows populates the new user interface with tiles automatically, but, since every user is different, it may not pick the best apps for you. However, it is possible to un-pin and re-size tiles just by right-clicking on them. Want to modify multiple tiles? Simply right-click on them in succession to do so. Tiles can also be moved using the good ol’ drag-and-drop technique.
You’ll also notice that the tiles are placed in groups. To modify them, click on the minimize button in the lower right-hand corner (it’s very small, next to the scroll bar), and then right-click groups to add names or delete them.
What about pinning all-new apps or functons? For that, go to the Apps search page and find what you want to add to the Start menu. Right-click and then click Pin to Start. This only works for apps — not settings or files.
Alt + Tab is a classic shortcut for moving through different app windows quickly. Now it is being joined by a new hotkey: Win + Tab. Pressing these two together will bring up a new interface on the left-hand side of the screen that lets you move only through Windows 8 apps. It’s a nice way of multi-tasking when you are not in the classic desktop environment.
The top of a new Windows 8 app is an important part of the app interface. Once inside the app, placing the mouse cursor on the top of the screen will turn the cursor into a hand. Once that’s happened, you can right-click to open up a context menu that will provide a few useful options. It’s usually not much, but the specifics depend on the app.
Doing this also lets you use the new snap features in the Windows 8 interface. To activate this, left-click and drag downwards, and the window will shrink. Now, drag the window to the right or left and watch it automatically snap to that portion of the screen. You can use this to watch information in one Windows 8 app while primarily using another. This will continue to function in the desktop if you go to it after snapping a Windows 8 app to the left or right side of the screen.
Underneath the new interface, all of the old Windows 7 utilities are — for the most part — still there. That being said, you may not need to access them often due to a new PC settings interface. You can access setting by searching for “PC settings” or by pressing Win + I and the clicking the Change PC Settings link at the bottom. This new interface will let you handle basic settings pertaining to network connectivity, privacy, and currently-connected devices, among other things. This is often the fastest way to change basic settings.
That same Win + I menu can also be used to power off your computer or change screen brightness without having to open the Change PC Settings link.
Windows 8′s other big interface change is the addition of the Ribbon to Internet Explorer. The icon-driven UI replaces the text-menu interface of the old version. However, it only sometimes appears by default. To summon it, you need to use the new option tabs at the top of Explorer (Home, Share, View, etc.). You also an click the tack icon at the upper right or you can use the Ctrl + F1 hotkey.
When Ribbon is not active you will see the slimmer Quick Access toolbar. It has only a few fuctions by default, but users can add more. To do this, open the Ribbon, right-click on an icon, and then click “add to Quick Access toolbar.”
One of the best feature in Windows 8 is File History. It’s an automatic update service that can back up information to a second drive and also lets you selectively restore data. First, however, you have to open and access it. To do this, search for File history in the settings search. Open it, and then click the Turn On button. File History handles the rest.
If the drive you want to back up to is not selected you can change drives by clicking the “Select a drive” link on the left. You also can restore files by clicking the “Restore personal files” link.
Though Windows 8 tosses out the old Start button, it does add another menu that can be of use. The menu doesn’t have a particular name, but it’s accessed using the Win + X hotkey and it appears where Start used to be (the lower left hand side).
From this menu it’s possible to access a number of utilities like Control Panel, Task Manager, and the Device Manager. It’s an old-fashioned menu that uses a gray background with black text but it will appear in either the desktop environment or the new Windows 8 UI.
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8 New Tips and Tricks For Newbie Windows
Are you struggling to learn Windows 8? These eight top tips will help you grasp Microsoft's new OS quickly.
Windows 8 includes many new features which give users the opportunity to use Windows in different ways. A new interface, and new ways to interact with your
computer, as well as new shortcuts, new menus and an entirely new class of apps, are all waiting within the new OS. All of these features can be useful, that is, if you know how to use them. Learning these tricks is easier and more useful if you actually try them out, so grab your Windows 8 device and give it a go as we dive in and take a look at eight new tricks for Windows 8.Search by category
Windows 7 included a search feature that was handy, but Windows 8 ups the ante by providing even better search functionality via the Windows 8 UI. It’s now possible to filter your search by apps, settings, or files. You can access the search function from any screen by placing your cursor in the upper right hand corner of your display. This will activate the “Charms” bar, which includes a magnifying glass for search. The result is familiar. Select a category and type in what you’re looking for.
It’s also possible to access search using hotkeys. Win + F will take you to Files, Win + W will take you to Settings, and Win + Q will take you to Apps.
Manipulate the Start screen
Windows populates the new user interface with tiles automatically, but, since every user is different, it may not pick the best apps for you. However, it is possible to un-pin and re-size tiles just by right-clicking on them. Want to modify multiple tiles? Simply right-click on them in succession to do so. Tiles can also be moved using the good ol’ drag-and-drop technique.
You’ll also notice that the tiles are placed in groups. To modify them, click on the minimize button in the lower right-hand corner (it’s very small, next to the scroll bar), and then right-click groups to add names or delete them.
What about pinning all-new apps or functons? For that, go to the Apps search page and find what you want to add to the Start menu. Right-click and then click Pin to Start. This only works for apps — not settings or files.
Tab through Windows 8 apps only
Alt + Tab is a classic shortcut for moving through different app windows quickly. Now it is being joined by a new hotkey: Win + Tab. Pressing these two together will bring up a new interface on the left-hand side of the screen that lets you move only through Windows 8 apps. It’s a nice way of multi-tasking when you are not in the classic desktop environment.
Gain context and snap windows
The top of a new Windows 8 app is an important part of the app interface. Once inside the app, placing the mouse cursor on the top of the screen will turn the cursor into a hand. Once that’s happened, you can right-click to open up a context menu that will provide a few useful options. It’s usually not much, but the specifics depend on the app.
Doing this also lets you use the new snap features in the Windows 8 interface. To activate this, left-click and drag downwards, and the window will shrink. Now, drag the window to the right or left and watch it automatically snap to that portion of the screen. You can use this to watch information in one Windows 8 app while primarily using another. This will continue to function in the desktop if you go to it after snapping a Windows 8 app to the left or right side of the screen.
Access settings quickly
Underneath the new interface, all of the old Windows 7 utilities are — for the most part — still there. That being said, you may not need to access them often due to a new PC settings interface. You can access setting by searching for “PC settings” or by pressing Win + I and the clicking the Change PC Settings link at the bottom. This new interface will let you handle basic settings pertaining to network connectivity, privacy, and currently-connected devices, among other things. This is often the fastest way to change basic settings.
That same Win + I menu can also be used to power off your computer or change screen brightness without having to open the Change PC Settings link.
Learn Ribbon and the Quick Access toolbar
Windows 8′s other big interface change is the addition of the Ribbon to Internet Explorer. The icon-driven UI replaces the text-menu interface of the old version. However, it only sometimes appears by default. To summon it, you need to use the new option tabs at the top of Explorer (Home, Share, View, etc.). You also an click the tack icon at the upper right or you can use the Ctrl + F1 hotkey.
When Ribbon is not active you will see the slimmer Quick Access toolbar. It has only a few fuctions by default, but users can add more. To do this, open the Ribbon, right-click on an icon, and then click “add to Quick Access toolbar.”
Get to know your history
One of the best feature in Windows 8 is File History. It’s an automatic update service that can back up information to a second drive and also lets you selectively restore data. First, however, you have to open and access it. To do this, search for File history in the settings search. Open it, and then click the Turn On button. File History handles the rest.
If the drive you want to back up to is not selected you can change drives by clicking the “Select a drive” link on the left. You also can restore files by clicking the “Restore personal files” link.
Access system functions with an old-fashioned hotkey
Though Windows 8 tosses out the old Start button, it does add another menu that can be of use. The menu doesn’t have a particular name, but it’s accessed using the Win + X hotkey and it appears where Start used to be (the lower left hand side).
From this menu it’s possible to access a number of utilities like Control Panel, Task Manager, and the Device Manager. It’s an old-fashioned menu that uses a gray background with black text but it will appear in either the desktop environment or the new Windows 8 UI.
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4 Windows XP Maintenance Tips
Computers are like pets – they need care. We all want our computer to be fast, efficient, and responsive, but when it starts slowing down, most people just get mad at it. Well, don’t. Just give it some good care. The maintenance tips in this article will help you make your XP computer faster, safer, and more stable.
Reduce Recycle Bin Size
Nowadays hard disks are pretty large, so the default 10% for the Recycle Bin is way too much. Most users would be OK with 5–10Gb, which will usually be from 2 to 5% of the hard drive space.To reduce the size of your Recycle Bin do the following:- Go to Desktop
- Right–click on the Recycle Bin icon
- Select Properties
- Use the slider to choose the required percentage
- Click Apply, then click OK
Turn Off Remote Desktop And Remote Assistance
Windows XP has services that make it possible for other people to access your computer remotely. They are handy if a computer is part of a network, but there is always a danger that hackers may use them to access your computer. So, if your PC is not part of a network, it’s best to turn them off. Here’s how:- Go to Start – Settings – Control Panel
- Double-click the System icon
- Select the Remote tab
- Uncheck Allow Remote Assistance invitations to be sent from this computer
- In the same tab click Advanced
- Uncheck Allow users to connect remotely to this computer
- Click Apply, then click OK
Don’t worry – you will be able to access MSN, Skype and other similar programs. Turning off Remote Assistance and Remote Desktop doesn’t affect them in any way.Run Windows XP Chkdsk (Check Disk) From Time To Time
Windows XP chkdsk is a tool that should be run from time to time. It will scan the disk for errors, fix logical errors, detect and mark bad sectors, so that Windows will no longer try to use them. This way it can prevent your computer from becoming unstable.There is a slight disadvantage, though – Check Disk may require a lot of time to perform its task. It depends on many things, like overall PC speed, number of files and folders on the disk, amount of RAM, and disk size. So it’s best to run Check Disk only if you don’t need to use the computer for some time.Also Windows XP chkdsk wants exclusive access to the computer. In most cases it will ask for a reboot and will run right after the reboot, so you won’t have access to your PC. Of course, you can always interrupt the process, but it’s not a good idea.To run Check Disk do this:- Find the My Computer icon on your desktop and double-click it
- Find the disk you want to check, right-click it and go to Properties
- In the Properties dialog box go to Tools
- Click Check now
- A new dialog box will appear, check both options and click Start
- Most likely you will get a message that Check Disk wants exclusive access to the disk and wants to start right after your reboot. Click OK
- Restart your computer
Defrag Regularly
Badly fragmented disks can cause a lot of problems, like general system slowdowns, slower startup and shutdowns, and even computer crashes. Basically, your hard drive is the slowest part of your computer and file fragmentation makes it even slower.Windows has a built in Disk Defragmenter. To use it go to Start – Programs – Accessories – System Tools – Disk Defragmenter. Like any other defrag utility it gathers file fragments that are scattered all over your disk and writes them into adjacent clusters.But to be honest, I never use Windows Disk Defrag – it takes quite some time to do its joband skips too many files.The good news are that there are good free defrag utilities available for download. The ones I like are Auslogics DiskDefrag and Piriform Defraggler. Both are from trusted developers and do their job great. Personally, I like the Auslogics one better, because it doesn’t need time to analyze the disk, so it’s very fast.
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How To Disable Metro UI in Windows 8
The metro style UI is the new breakthrough user interface that Microsoft has offered along with its new Windows 8 operating system but sadly it has not come up to everyone’s liking. Removing it will render the new OS unstable and rather unusable. So here I outline some ways to remove this new add on without permanently scarring the system. All the methods outlined below are totally reversible.
It is important to know that the following methods men changing registry values and in doing so you can bring harm to the system if you make a mistake. Windows 8 is still in a preview only mode, not even in the public beta. Primarily this is a version to get the developers familiar with the new environment and give them an idea on what to expect.
Here are my previous articles on Windows 8 Screen:
One who has already used Windows 8 knows that if you exit the new Metro UI, a classical windows 7 interface lurks beneath it. The main difference being that now the start button launches the Metro UI instead of the start menu. Following this tutorial will let you configure the start button to disable the metro UI and to call upon once more the classic windows 7 style start menu. You may revert back any time by reversing the process. Here is how you can get the classic menu:
1. First, press the Start + R buttons, to open the Run menu.
2. In the Run window, type “regedit” and hit Enter.
3. Now scroll on the top of the list and double click on “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE”. This will expand the folder.
4. Do the same for “SOFTWARE “.
5. In the list, search for “Microsoft” and open it.
6. Now using the same procedure, navigate to Windows->CurrentVersion->Explorer and some registry entries will appear in the right side of the screen.
7. Click on the one called “RPenabled” and change its value from “1″ to “0″.
This will cause the metro UI to be replaced with a familiar looking Windows 7 start menu. To revert this all you need to do it to change the value of RPenabled back to 1.
If this seems too hard one can always download a program called start menu selector available from DeviantArt that is a portable utility to switch between these two menus with the click of a button. This software basically just does the same steps detailed above.
Simply download the program from the website, extracts the folders contents and click the executable. This also adds a quicker option for switching between menus when you right click anywhere on the desktop. To ensure that it gets the job done make sure that you use it with admin privelages.
It is important to know that the following methods men changing registry values and in doing so you can bring harm to the system if you make a mistake. Windows 8 is still in a preview only mode, not even in the public beta. Primarily this is a version to get the developers familiar with the new environment and give them an idea on what to expect.
Here are my previous articles on Windows 8 Screen:
One who has already used Windows 8 knows that if you exit the new Metro UI, a classical windows 7 interface lurks beneath it. The main difference being that now the start button launches the Metro UI instead of the start menu. Following this tutorial will let you configure the start button to disable the metro UI and to call upon once more the classic windows 7 style start menu. You may revert back any time by reversing the process. Here is how you can get the classic menu:
Steps To Disable Metro UI in Windows 8
1. First, press the Start + R buttons, to open the Run menu.
2. In the Run window, type “regedit” and hit Enter.
3. Now scroll on the top of the list and double click on “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE”. This will expand the folder.
4. Do the same for “SOFTWARE “.
5. In the list, search for “Microsoft” and open it.
6. Now using the same procedure, navigate to Windows->CurrentVersion->Explorer and some registry entries will appear in the right side of the screen.
7. Click on the one called “RPenabled” and change its value from “1″ to “0″.
This will cause the metro UI to be replaced with a familiar looking Windows 7 start menu. To revert this all you need to do it to change the value of RPenabled back to 1.
If this seems too hard one can always download a program called start menu selector available from DeviantArt that is a portable utility to switch between these two menus with the click of a button. This software basically just does the same steps detailed above.
Simply download the program from the website, extracts the folders contents and click the executable. This also adds a quicker option for switching between menus when you right click anywhere on the desktop. To ensure that it gets the job done make sure that you use it with admin privelages.
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Change Windows 8 Logon Screen Background Image
Windows 8 comes with a background image of a subtle green shade. But as it stands not every user might like this same image to be seen each and every time they log into any windows 8 computers. To truly customize your machine beyond the masses you have too at least set a custom background image for Windows 8 logon screen and Windows 8 Metro start screen background.
The windows 8 green pixelated image is pretty cool but surely one would get bored of it after using the system for a couple of weeks. Your family picture, your pet, your favorite music band are a few options.
To truly change your boring old Windows 8 Metro screen background, give Windows 8 Start Tweaker a try. It’s a portable utility that can be used to change your Windows 8 start screen and also choose as the color of your choice for the Windows 8 logon screen.
To do this you just have to extract the small program and run it as administrator and browse to the location of the image you wish to use. Note that the program has Chinese as the default language and to use it in English you will have to select the US flag option.
When you have chosen the custom image of your choice for your Windows 8 Metro backgroundand the color of choice for your Windows 8 logon screen, simply log out and back in to see the effective changes.
If you do not like the new Metro UI then there is always the option to revert back to the older Windows 7 start menu interface. Untill the release of a stable version of the new OS I recommend using the classic windows style for important work and dwelling on the new look only in spare time.
To ensure the best fit of the custom background image make sure that the image you use is twice the current resolution of your screen. This will make sure that the image fills the whole background and not just a part of it.
The windows 8 green pixelated image is pretty cool but surely one would get bored of it after using the system for a couple of weeks. Your family picture, your pet, your favorite music band are a few options.
To truly change your boring old Windows 8 Metro screen background, give Windows 8 Start Tweaker a try. It’s a portable utility that can be used to change your Windows 8 start screen and also choose as the color of your choice for the Windows 8 logon screen.
Change Windows 8 Logon Screen
To do this you just have to extract the small program and run it as administrator and browse to the location of the image you wish to use. Note that the program has Chinese as the default language and to use it in English you will have to select the US flag option.
When you have chosen the custom image of your choice for your Windows 8 Metro backgroundand the color of choice for your Windows 8 logon screen, simply log out and back in to see the effective changes.
If you do not like the new Metro UI then there is always the option to revert back to the older Windows 7 start menu interface. Untill the release of a stable version of the new OS I recommend using the classic windows style for important work and dwelling on the new look only in spare time.
To ensure the best fit of the custom background image make sure that the image you use is twice the current resolution of your screen. This will make sure that the image fills the whole background and not just a part of it.
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