Eight Essential Tweaks for Windows 8 Desktop Users
Windows 8 offers a lot of new features that are easy to use and will make you more efficient. Some of the changes Microsoft made are clearly for users with touch compatible devices. Those changes can often make it annoying or difficult for desktop users so I have put together this collection of tweaks that I use to improve my Windows 8 desktop experience.
Start for Windows 8 - Restore Start Button
Start for Windows 8 brings back the classic Start Button while preserving the modern Start Screen. Configurable to show different button icons and Start Menu views on launch, the super lightweight utility consumes no memory or CPU while not in use. It sits on your Taskbar just like other pinned applications waiting for you to launch it so it can spring into action.
Additionally, common functions that were inconveniently buried in Windows 8 such as shutting down your PC and getting to network connection settings can be found by right clicking on the icon.
Tweaks.com Start has three different launch modes that provide different Start Menu views. These can all be configured easily on the Tweaks.com Start Configuration window.
Start Menu Groups
My favorite launch behavior is Start Menu Groups. This allows you to see the zoomed out view of the start menu and works great when you name sections. After launching Tweaks.com Start, just click on the section and the view will zoom in. Make sure you organize you apps and name the groups with this article for the best result.
Application Search Menu
The Application Search menu is also very useful since it provides a list of all installed apps and a search box for fast sorting.
Full Start Menu
And of course Tweaks.com Start can be configured to show the standard Start Menu view upon launch.
Customize the Start Button
The actual Start Button icon can be easily changed on the Configuration window. Just hit Change Icon and select any ICO, DLL or EXE file that contains icons. You can even browse the icons embedded within the file to pick the right one for you.
Boot to Desktop for Windows 8
Microsoft changed the default behavior of Windows forcing all users to view the Start Menu, now called the Start Screen, instead of viewing the desktop in Windows 8. This change has become unpopular among many desktop and laptop users who like the traditional behavior or for those that want to avoid the Metro interface as much as possible.
Microsoft went to great lengths to prevent users from altering this behavior by modifying the final builds of Windows 8 to disable the popular tweaks. Tweaks.com Boot to Desktop is a free app that provides a solution around Microsoft’s attempt and allows you to easily boot directly to the traditional desktop.
Boot to Desktop uses rock solid Win32 APIs and Microsoft automation frameworks to reliably display the Desktop every time you login. Don’t bother with other utilities that use hard coded time delays and simulated key strokes that sometimes work. Tweaks.com Boot to Desktop works every time.
Boot to Desktop in Action
This app shows you desktop, what did you expect to see? J
Behind the Scenes
Tweaks.com Boot to Desktop works by installing a tiny Windows Service that triggers a secondary utility to show the desktop when a logon is detected.
A third configuration component can be found in the start menu and allows you to easily turn off Tweaks.com Boot to Desktop if necessary. Just search for "Configure Tweaks.com Boot to Desktop" in the Start Menu.
Like all software distributed as a MSI, Tweaks.com allows easy install and uninstall if this app is not for you.
Launch File Explorer with Drive List
In Windows 8 when File Explorer is launched via the Taskbar shortcut, Libraries are shown by default. This is useful if you actually use the Library feature but many prefer the traditional behavior of MyComputer
where the drives are listed instead.
This behavior can changed by editing the shortcut target. Right click on the taskbar icon for File Explorer.
Then, right click on File Explorer listing and select Properties.
Change the target of the shortcut to the following:
%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe ,::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}
Click OK and say hello to the classic My Computer drive list.
How to Organize Apps and Create Groups on the Windows 8 Start Screen
The new start screen in Windows 8 can easily look cluttered as more apps are installed. Finding what you need becomes difficult unless you have a keyboard and type in the name of the app which will bypass the start screen tiles. Your best option for both touch and keyboard users is to organize your apps into groups and name them. Groups will allow you to quickly jump to the apps you want by using the start screen zoom features.
First, it is important to understand how to organize the app tiles. Microsoft made organizing the start screen very intuitive. If you are on a desktop or laptop, just use your mouse by dragging the tiles around the screen where you want them and into groups. If you are on a tablet just touch and drag down on the tile until it breaks free and you can drag it wherever you want.
Create a new group by dragging the tile to an area between groups or to the very end and then release it when you see the divider appear.
After you have your apps organized in groups it is helpful to put labels on them. In order to do that you need to use the smart screen zoom feature I mentioned earlier. On tablets it is very easy to zoom in and out on the start menu. Just use the universal pinch in and pinch out gesture. Pinch out to zoom out and you will see all of the apps on the start screen.
On desktops zooming out is not as intuitive. You need to click the zoom out icon located in the lower right corner next to the scroll bar.
Once you are in the zoomed out view you will be able to drag around your groups and also name them. While zoomed out on a desktop or laptop right click on the group and select Name Group to set a name. If you are on a tablet drag down slightly on the group and then select Name group.
After you have all of you apps organized into named groups your start screen will look much better. As your start screen continues to grow, you can also use the start screen zoom feature to quickly jump between groups.
Ultimate Windows 8 Keyboard Shortcut Guide
Keyboard shortcuts in Windows 8 allow you to navigate around the OS quickly and efficiently. Throughout the classic desktop and modern metro interfaces, Microsoft created keyboard shortcuts for almost every common task. This guide will show you the most useful keyboard shortcuts to improve your Windows 8 experience.
General Windows 8 Shortcuts
- Win – Display Start Menu
- Win + Mouse Scroll Wheel – Zoom in and out on the Start Menu
- Win + L – Lock your PC and return to logon screen
- Win + P – Projector options
- Win + X – Admin tools menu
- Win + Enter – Starts Windows Narrator
- Win + (plus sign + ) – Screen zoom in
- Win + (minus sign - ) – Screen zoom out
- Win + Print Screen – Saves a screenshot in the picture library screenshot folder
- Print Screen – Saves a screenshot to clipboard
- Alt + Tab – Classic app switcher
- Win + Tab – Metro app switcher
- Alt + F4 – Close application (Desktop and Metro)
- Tab – Select different items
- Ctrl + C – Copy
- Ctrl + X – Cut
- Ctrl + V – Paste
Metro / Modern Shortcuts
- Win + C – Displays charms
- Win + Z – Displays app bar
- Win + I – Settings side menu
- Win + K – Devices menu
- Win + H – Share menu
- Win + F – File search
- Win + Q – Application search
- Win + W – Settings search
- Win + (period . ) – Snap Metro app to the right
- Win + Shift + (period . ) – Snap Metro app to the left
- Arrow keys + spacebar – Select app tile
Desktop Shortcuts
- Win + D – Show Desktop
- Win + M – Minimize to Desktop
- Win + R – Run
- Win + T – Taskbar previews
- Win + U – Ease of Access Center
- Win + Pause / Break – System Information
- Win + comma – Peek at desktop
- Ctrl + Shift + Escape – Task Manager
- Win + Right Arrow – Aero snap right
- Win + Left Arrow – Aero snap left
- Win + Up Arrow – Aero snap full screen
- Win + 1 through 9 – Launched applications pinned to the taskbar
File Explorer Shortcuts
- Win + E – Open File Explorer
- Ctrl + N – Additonal File Explorer window
- Alt + F + P – Open Command prompt at current location
- Alt + F + r – Open PowerShell prompt at current location
- Ctrl + Mouse Scroll Wheel – Change view
- Ctrl + Shift + N – New Folder
- Alt + Enter – Selected File/Folder Properties
- F2 – Rename selected item
- Ctrl + F1 – Show or Hide Ribbon
- Alt + Up arrow – Navigate up a folder
- Alt + Left Arrow – Navigate to previous folder
- Alt + Right Arrow – Navigate forward
Desktop Internet Explorer 10
- Ctrl + B – Favorites Manager
- Ctrl + D – Add site to Favorites
- Ctrl + I – Favorites List
- Ctrl + G – Feeds
- Ctrl + H – History
- Ctrl + J – View Downloads
- Ctrl + N – New Window
- Ctrl + P – Print
- Ctrl + Shift + P – Open InPrivate mode tab
- Ctrl + T – New tab
- Ctrl + K – Duplicate tab
- Ctrl + W – Close tab
- Ctrl + Shift + T – Reopen closed tab
- Ctrl + Tab – Switch between open tabs
- Ctrl + R or F5 – Refresh Page
- Ctrl + U – View Source
- Ctrl + F or F3 – Find on page
- Ctrl + E – Move cursor to address bar to search the web
- Alt + Home – Homepage
- Alt + Left Arrow – Back
- Alt + Right Arrow – Forward
- F10 – Menubar
- F11 – Toggle Full Screen Mode
- F12 – Developer Tools
Metro Internet Explorer 10
- Ctrl + E – Move cursor to address bar to search the web
- Ctrl + F or F3 – Find on page
- Ctrl + R or F5 – Refresh Page
- Ctrl + P – Print
- Ctrl + T – New tab
- Ctrl + K – Duplicate tab
- Ctrl + W – Close tab
- Ctrl + Tab – Switch between open tabs
- Ctrl + Shift + T – Reopen closed tab
- Ctrl + Shift + P – Open InPrivate Mode Tab
- Ctrl + L or F4 – Open address bar
- Alt + Left Arrow – Back
- Alt + Right Arrow – Forward
Windows 8 Multi-Monitor Tips
Microsoft did not forget about multi-monitor users when designing Windows 8. If you use multiple monitors you will find numerous enhancements that will make you more productive and make it easier to customize your PC. My favorite is the customizable taskbar that spans your monitors. Available for years with a third-party add-on, taskbar extension is now a native feature. Background customization has also been greatly enhanced. Now you can easily set different backgrounds for specific monitors and also easily span background images across monitors. This article is a compilation of multi-monitor tips that will help any Windows 8 power user.
Taskbar Customization
Right click on the taskbar and select Properties to bring up the Taskbar Properties window.
On the bottom half of the Taskbar tab you will see the new Multiple Display options.
Check the box to show the taskbar on all displays.
You have three options that change how taskbar buttons are shown:
- All Taskbars
- Main taskbar and taskbar where window is open
- Taskbar where window is open
You can also tweak how the buttons are displayed on other taskbars by selecting always combine, hide labels, combine when taskbar is full or never combine.
Background Customization
When selecting a background image you can now right click on an image and designate what monitor you want it to display on.
You can also select from a new set of position settings.
Span is perfect for those extra wide photos designed for multi-monitors.
The Metro World
Metro style apps, I mean, Windows 8 style apps can be moved to any monitor by dragging the app with your mouse by grabbing it from the top of the screen. You can also switch monitors a metro style app is displayed on by using the Windows Key + page up or page down.
All of the hot corners for app switching, start screen and charms continue to work but are active on every monitor. Which means you can bring up the start screen by using the lower left corner of any monitor.
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