Tom's Guide: 15 Tips and Tricks for Windows 8
Check out Tom's Guide's latest story on Windows 8 tips and tricks.
Windows 8 has been a long time coming. However, now that it's finally here, consumers are going to have to get to grips with Microsoft's re-imagining of the desktop landscape. While much of your Windows knowledge will fare fine in Desktop Mode, there are some aspects of Windows 8 that are totally different to previous versions of the operating system. To help you through, the Tom's Guide team has put together '15 Tips and Tricks for Windows 8.'
Sure, Windows 8's Start screen represents a whole new approach towards personal computing (at least for Windows users) but once you get on top of things, working your way through the interface should be a breeze.
We've been using Windows 8 for a while now, so allow us to share some helpful tips and tricks that will make your experience with the operatingsystem better. As always, feel free to leave suggestions in the comment area below.

Format the hard drive.
Install Windows 7 (or Linux, if you prefer).
Format the hard drive.
Install Windows 7 (or Linux, if you prefer).
/thread
Can't uninstall metro... And it's there by default and you can't remove it without some cheesy third party program...
Great for your tablet/phone/touch driven device however, which is what it's meant for...
Tip #1 - Wait until at least SP1.
Allow the guinea pigs to find the problems and the hackers find the holes, then once Microsoft properly fixes those problems then consider an upgrade. My feeling and yes I've tried Windows 8 is it's fine for a tablet or phone and maybe the few with touchscreens who love to clean their screens daily, but for a typical PC it's not that good.
I don't seem to have that issue win work? It's actually improved workflow in some cases.
P.s. Why did you need the start menu?
Example:
Start, Documents. Two clicks
Add the Documents folder to the modern UI
Start (If on desktop), Documents.
There's NO difference
Apple / Linux has the same startup screen with user and password, nobody cries about that for added security .
Waiting for more constructive comments and tips from people who use their brains.
I like trying new things, but I'm sitting this one out for the time being.
Why is this called Windows?8 , it has NOTHING to do with windows of OS' past history, this is an entirely different GUI.
a) no longer need x86 CPU's to function
b) will be a total customiseable useable interface, and interact with ALL consumer choice devices.
c) will not need an upgrade every two years, only a small fee of useage per year
d) will get continued security and useability service packs and updates
e) will not need antivirus, as no such malicious software will ever be even thought of being run on this particular OS
f) will not need propaganda funding from news media outlets to thrive.
g) will be programmed by International team of equal opportunity workers
h) will have all languages of choice on install
i) will not be split 16-32-64 bit, it will be all 256 native bit, including dedicated processing to refresh internal security as it's backbone
j) will be thought interfaced
k) will Not run anything Apple, sorry folks out there.
l) the list goes on, but MS and Apple need to kill each other and die right now.
Start 8 really is just a third-party "hack". It's not native, and if you use it for more than an hour, you will notice that. Windows 8 is not for work or for desktop. But thousands of people have already pointed that out.
And of course we have the MS marketing people lurking here with the "zomg iz soo faassst!111" posts. While it runs with the same speed, boots for the same duration, etc. I used it, and tests just confirmed this.
Being an XP user - two reasons:
1. Most importantly, Start -> My Recent Documents (I generally use this over 30 times a day)
2. Start -> All Programs
a) We've had GUIs that run on CPUs that aren't x86 for a very long time.
c) You don't need to upgrade your Windows version every two years (heck, there usually isn't even a new consumer release that often) and paying a yearly fine to use an OS is probably one of the most ridiculous things that I've read on the internet.
d) Windows already has that.
e) You can't stop people from creating malware. You can't stop them from finding mistakes because computers are too complex for them to ever be free of mistakes the way things are right now and for the foreseeable future. MS can't stop them either, although they can, should, and do try.
f) "Propaganda" and marketing aren't the same and shouldn't be treated as the same.
g) I'll take the most qualified coders doing the job rather than the most politically correct unless they are also the most qualified.
h) I can agree to that.
i) No Windows OS is 16/32/64 bit. Each version can run code that is the same bit width as its version and code of one version lower. For example, 64 bit can run most 32 bit Windows x86 code, but can not run 16 x86 bit code.
We won't have issues with 64 bit for like thirty years and the only reason that everything isn't 64 bit is because of 32 bit still being more common, so it makes no sense to make everything in 64 bit. To make stuff 256 bit would be a ridiculous waste of resources and no modern CPU would support it for a very long time unless you're referring to floating point work rather than x86 work.
j) Having the computer accessing my thought does not sound like a good idea.
k) To not run "anything Apple" would be discrimination no matter how much you dislike Apple.
l) If they did, then we might end up losing the entire technology industry shortly.
Both of those are in the Metro screen.
The "all programs" are shown even better on win 8 start style by maximizing use of the whole screen to search for your desired program or just type some letters from what you are seeking, try another reason.
@noblerabbit making incrementations on an OS name doesn`t mean that you have to stick to it`s former style, by your logic we should still be using windows 3.11 desktop style, the future always changes things, and for now is not really a very radical change like it was from Win 3.11 to Win 95.