1/3/2014

10 Windows 8 tips, tricks and hacks - Computerworld

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10 Windows 8 tips, tricks and hacks

Take control of Windows 8 on the Desktop, the lock screen and more.
By Preston Gralla
January 31, 2013 06:00 AM ET

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Computerworld - Whether you've installed Windows 8 yourself or bought a new PC with it, you're now faced with an unfamiliar operating system that at first glance seems more difficult to customize than earlier versions of Windows. What to do -- give up and simply use it as it came out of the box? Certainly not. There are plenty of ways to Editor's Note tweak, hack and make Windows 8 do things Always check with your IT department before you wouldn't think were changing system settings or otherwise tweaking a possible. In this article company-owned machine. you'll see how to cobble together your own quick-and-dirty Start menu as well as customize the hidden Power User menu. I'll show you how to use so-called "God Mode," hack the lock screen and Start screen, master File Explorer and much more. So fire up Windows 8 and get ready to hear it cry "Uncle." Need help getting up to speed with Windows 8? See our Windows 8 cheat sheet, which shows you how to get around (including with keyboard shortcuts) and offers three quick tips for getting started with Windows 8.

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Windows 8 tips, tricks, hacks

Put "God Mode" in easy reach Put a Start m enu on the taskbar Hack the Pow er User m enu Custom ize the lock screen Lock the lock screen im age Kill the lock screen Bend File Explorer to your w ill Tw eak the All Apps screen Build an Applications folder Get POP m ail in the Mail app

1. Put "God Mode" in easy reach

You wouldn't know it by looking at the Desktop or Start screen, but Windows 8 practically bristles with settings you can customize. The problem is that they're scattered throughout Windows 8, and it can be time-consuming to track them down individually. However, there is one way to find them all in one place: You can use what some people call "God Mode." While the term "God Mode" has a powerful ring to it, the truth is it's not a separate mode that you put Windows into. It's really a hidden folder that gives you fast access to many settings spread out across Windows 8. It's easy to put that folder right on the Desktop.

First, make sure that you can view hidden files in File Explorer, the system navigation app that in earlier versions of Windows was called Windows Explorer. Run File Explorer, click the View tab, and check the boxes next to "Hidden items" and "File name extensions" in the Ribbon at the top. Then right-click the Desktop and select New --> Folder. That creates a folder on the Desktop named "New folder." Rename the folder: G o d M o d e . { E D 7 B A 4 7 0 8 E 5 4 4 6 5 E 8 2 5 C 9 9 7 1 2 0 4 3 E 0 1 C } The folder icon changes, and it has the name GodMode.
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10 Windows 8 tips, tricks and hacks - Computerworld

(Note that the "GodMode" text isn't what turns the folder into a special folder; instead, it's that long string of letters and numbers inside the curly brackets. You can use any text you want before the period just ahead of the opening bracket, and it still points to the same folder and everything works the same.) Double-click the icon, and you'll launch a folder filled with dozens of actions, tools and tweaks, from "Change The GodMode folder on Automatic Maintenance settings" to "View update the Desktop. history." They're organized by category. Expand or shrink each category by clicking the small triangle next to it. Each category displays a number next to it, showing how many settings there are in it.

"God Mode" offers a plethora of settings and actions. Click to view larger image.

To start any action or tweak, double-click it in the list. In some cases you'll follow a wizard, in other cases you'll need to fill in dialog boxes, and in yet other cases you'll be sent to the Control Panel or another Windows location to do the work.

2. Put a quick-and-dirty Start menu on the taskbar

Particularly high on the list of things that annoy people about Windows 8 is the omission of the Desktop's Start menu. Microsoft did its best to stomp it to death -- but it didn't quite succeed. In the Windows 8 cheat sheet I showed you how to use free or paid add-on programs to get the Start button and menu back. If don't want to use third-party software to get a Start menu, you can build your own quick-and-dirty one in no time. You won't get the full traditional Windows Start menu with Search button, recently run apps, the Control Panel, your network and so on. Instead you get a menu that lets you browse through applications and launch them. First make sure that you can view hidden files in File Explorer, as outlined in the tip above. Now right-click the Desktop's taskbar and select Toolbars --> New Toolbar. From the screen that appears, navigate to C : \ U s e r s \ u s e r n a m e \ A p p D a t a \ R o a m i n g \ M i c r o s o f t \ W i n d o w s \ S t a r t M e n u where username is your account name, and click the Select Folder button. That will place a Start Menu toolbar on the far right of the taskbar. Click its double arrow to display a variety of folders (such as Programs and Computer) that you can browse through until you see the item you want; click it to launch it.

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10 Windows 8 tips, tricks and hacks - Computerworld

Here's your quick-and-dirty Start menu. Click to view larger image.

To make the Start Menu toolbar go away, right-click the taskbar and select Toolbars, then de-select the Start Menu listing.
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55 comments Join the discussion

Newest Community AKASH K
5 days ago

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Here is amazing windows 7 tricks and tips. This is a new channel , Let us encourage them http://www.youtube.com/playlis... visit and enjoy
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RD9595

8 days ago

here is nice windows 8 tips http://www.youtube.com/playlis...

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http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9236188/10_Windows_8_tips_tricks_and_hacks

3/10

1/3/2014
rsenn 3 benmyers

10 Windows 8 tips, tricks and hacks - Computerworld

a month ago
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I'm waiting for Windows 9.

2 months ago

All these tips, tricks and hacks are proof-positive, if anyone ever needed it, that Windows 8 was not born right. And I second the motion about ClassicShell. A simple approach and way more effective use of one's time than fussing around with all these tricks and hacks.
1 Rohit Patil
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2 months ago

Hello, Make windows 8 look like windows 7 with the start menu and perform like windows 8, free software available here. http://intelligent.im/windows8... The best part is, its COMPLETELY FREE !
1
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Lewis Dsouza

Rohit Patil 2 months ago

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU !!! love this software man, i hated the fact that windows8 did not have a startmenu, problem solved now !!!! thanks mate :)
1 jay

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2 months ago

I am so glad I found this page. I was perfectly content with my 2002 model XP but when this past April I realized I had less than a year to upgrade my hardware to 64 and learn a new O/S generations ahead of my dependable XP to maintain IE support I ordered win 7 on which I have had some exposure but the supplier stuck me with 8 instead. Thanks for the tips and tricks to make this new O/S easier to navigate.
Reply Share

Tom Bombadil

4 months ago

For the life of me I cannot add anything to the Power User Menu. I go through the motions of creating a new shortcut in the Group 1 or Group 2 or Group 3 folders, sign out and back in and nothing! I can delete from those groups but I cannot add anything. Any ideas
1
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Zachary Miller

4 months ago

Thanx for the tips! Most of them I knew, but was surprised by a few. I will spread the word! Oh and BTW, I LOVE Windows 8.
Reply Share

Jack Wu

5 months ago

Hate win8. Bought new Sony Vaio laptop that comes with w8. Try to familiar with it, spent months and still did not like it. Now it sits there for almost half year and do not want to touch it. Rather then Win8, I am using Vista as my main PC OS now.
3
Reply Share

Ron

Jack Wu 4 months ago

Get the free Classic Shell, Win 8 will look and act like Win 7 by booting to the desktop. Look for the free Win 8 Gadget Pack if you like Vista's & Win 7's gadgets. Also, I followed the instructions to kill the lock screen. Now I love Win 8 because it looks & acts like 7.
3 eneret

Reply Share

6 months ago

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9236188/10_Windows_8_tips_tricks_and_hacks

4/10

1/3/2014

eneret

6 months ago

10 Windows 8 tips, tricks and hacks - Computerworld

I miss being able to use my forward and back arrows to cruise through my photos!!! How ridiculous that it's disappeared! How do I make my new windows 8 computer do it?
Reply Share

Faroq Nasim

eneret 4 months ago

you right click photo and select open with, and then change the application to windows photo viewer :) And valah you have normal photo viewer
3
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Ron

Faroq Nasim 4 months ago

Reply Share

Or try the free Irfanview.

Guest

6 months ago

Preston, thank you so much for this. I am totally at sea with Windows 8 and your info is the best that I have found on how to work with this hideous mess Microsoft has cooked up. I set up GodMode but I call it AllPowerful.
1
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Brian Fraser 4

7 months ago

windows 7 for the win

Reply Share

Ron

Brian Fraser 4 months ago

Reply Share

Agree...at least until I started getting the black screen of death!

Raggles

7 months ago

Hi Team - I did something stupid. in an attempt to lock down all files so that my house'sitters could use the internet without being able to access anything, I managed to lock out everyone, uncluding myself. I can still use internet, online games, skydrive (remotely) however I cant access C: or any files or programmes stored locally. I have read some forums advising how to enable the elevated built-in adminstrator user, however after several hours of reading, from working in the cmd prompt to changing registry settings by altering binary lines....(which i did NOT do!!) ....i still cant figure it out. I tried to do a system restore to before I made the changes, but of course I cant access that now:-( I am sure there is a way to fix this, but buggered if I know how. I have done a PC refresh to no avail, my User Profile still shows me as an Administrator, but clearly not the right type. Looking at the various chat rooms, I can see I am not the only one to commit this foible, but the help provided has not worked for me. Desperation (and OEM Win8 with no support media) - can anyone assist? I have a spare andriod tab I can probably skype on if someone can offer asssistance..... Rachael
Reply Share

aTechMate

8 months ago

biggest confusion of windows 8 is missing start button (Orb). and if you have not been able to adapt yourself to this then you can download http://www.iobit.com/iobitstar...
Reply Share

Akash Roy

8 months ago

Where is windows 8 control panel http://www.tricksage.com/2013/...

3
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Jatin Bedi

Akash Roy 8 months ago

go in start menu and type control panel

Reply Share

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9236188/10_Windows_8_tips_tricks_and_hacks

5/10

1/3/2014
Craig Cummings

10 Windows 8 tips, tricks and hacks - Computerworld

Akash Roy 8 months ago

hover mouse in top right corner of desktop, select settings from the 5 options that pop up (i.e., search share start devices settings), then click on control panel.
Reply Share

TheFluxter

8 months ago

Love Win8! The most unespected s.o. i've ever had! Since Win 3.2! Fast, light and very useful!
3 hackyogi

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9 months ago

How ToSpeed Up Your Windows PC using ReadyBoost http://hackyogi.com/speed-up-y...

Reply Share

yogender negi

9 months ago

here are some windows 8 keyboard short-cut for better work performance http://hackyogi.com/windows-8-...
Reply Share

whoever

9 months ago

Invert selection has been around since Windows 95!

Reply Share

Tyler Raymond Ball

10 months ago

To delete lock screen all together it is NoLockScreen not NoScreenLock. God mod and NoLockScreen being used.
Reply Share

Olivia Tisdale

10 months ago

Great Tips Gralla, but you need to check God Mode section again. I think you missed out a point there which is why me too unable to see any file in that folder.. Regards Free Windows 8 Registry Cleaner http://www.registryrecycler.co...
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Yos M

10 months ago

thanks you for the tips.. here are some more windows 8 tips www.windows8web.com
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Yos M

10 months ago

Also Widows 8 has a new set of shortcuts.. check them out www.windows8web.com/windows-8-...
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raptorwatch

10 months ago

:( couldn't get the god mode folder....just stays with the folder icon and is empty...
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nilst2011 26 majenkins

11 months ago
Reply Share

The best trick is to upgrade to an older operatingsystem.

11 months ago

Some good tips there thanks. BTW those curly brackets are actually called braces, those most younger folks never seemt to have been taught that.
1
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http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9236188/10_Windows_8_tips_tricks_and_hacks

6/10

1/3/2014
moonwatcher2001

10 Windows 8 tips, tricks and hacks - Computerworld

11 months ago

Thanks for the tips. These will definitely prove useful for us desktop users. I find it ridiculous that Microsoft insists that we desktop users boot to a useless "app" interface designed for phones and tablets. At least with the old Vista Gadgets we could turn them off and pretty much ignore them. But now we have "Gadgets on steroids" becoming "active tiles". Well, excuse me, but I'm underwhelmed. Seems Microsoft is only making money for Stardock and their Start8 program, or one of the free ones like Classic Shell. As a desktop user please give us the option of customizing this stupid interface to be as WE the CUSTOMER want it to be, and not as some 20-something year old programmer thought was "cool". I mean why use any freaking "app" on a real desktop PC when you could just as easily (and with far more functionality) go to the real thing. Facebook is a case in point. The app is worthless compared to the actual web site. Microsoft needs to wise up and realize that pushing people to adopt an O/S's quirks when they are not wanted will not endear them to their user base. It is fine that they want to include tablet and phone functionality in Windows, but just don't force us desktop users to fool with it. It's like giving us a tool kit but making us always pick up a hammer when we want to get to a freaking screwdriver, and then having to waste time picking up the hammer between uses of the screwdriver.
9 Ramon S
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11 months ago

Finally some decent Win8 tips! Now, why the heck did Microsoft leave these things out by default? Would have made W8 suck less right out of the box.
2 jmd1980

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11 months ago

I didn't find the application folder trick here worked for me but what I did instead was create a mklink from the Start Menu common folder back to a Programs folder on my desktop: mklink /d /j "C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs" D:\Dropbox\Desktop\Programs As you can see I also have my desktop actually pointing back to a folder in my dropbox so it always stays backed up. This is handy too with the Programs folder as if you even need to reinstall a machine from scratch or migrate to a new system you have a list of everything that was installed last.
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Susyque

11 months ago

What ever, the tiles OS known as 8 will never see my house. Ubuntu yes, OS X yes, Windows 8 never.
5
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photohounds

11 months ago

Excellent summation and I have a target in mind. Like most, I find the interface nightmarish. You have made some sense of it. The info is good enough to make me considering upgrading to W8. A great pity he special price upgrade is over ... I also use Start8 which for $5 is a salvation too. Kudos to you! Every new windows iteration reminds me why I like Linux so much. Linux distro packagers are makng things simpler and more accessible with each iteration. Long may it continue.
2
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Zachary Ironside

photohounds 11 months ago

You have to define "Like most". "Like most" people who have a hard time using a computer. My grandparents have windows 8 and are fine with it. http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9236188/10_Windows_8_tips_tricks_and_hacks

7/10

1/3/2014

10 Windows 8 tips, tricks and hacks - Computerworld My grandparents have windows 8 and are fine with it.

"Like most" people who read Preston's crazy blog posts. Yeah sure people at MacWorld do have a hard time understanding anything that does not cost a life savings or have a half bitten apple that glows when you turn it on. I "Like most" don't have any serious problem using windows 8, non-touch or touch, and realize its an operating system design to improve on the overwhelmingly touch-based interface we are moving into. Its also nice to see Preston has come to grips that windows 8 is here to stay and is trying to post actually valuable information.
Reply Share

socraticsilliness

Zachary Ironside 11 months ago

with all the pre win 8 comments, I thought i'd hate it. I actually like it. It's different and there is a bit of a learning curve, but all-in-all, I like it.
1
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photohounds

Zachary Ironside 11 months ago

Hi, I'm not a macword bloke :) We have some apple, but mostly Win-Lin-Android. "most', well I know say, 15 folks who have bought machines loaded with it. To a soul, they hate the interface and hack their way around it. Nearly every poster here and elsewhere derides it (yes I am sure there are some iFans in that number). MS should do like many of the Linux distros I have tried do for the "start" menu - a simple RMB on it offers you a CHOICE of how you would like it to work. Ubuntu used a similar tiled, panelled look - the UNITY interface about 2 years ago'one ring to bind them ? Some seem to like it. I dumped it.I'm not saying w8 is 'bad', just that out of the box it does not suit US and I don't like fighting to get it to serve me. Anyway it is easily bashed into
see more

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Zachary Ironside

photohounds

11 months ago

I'm glad to see you know 15 people who bought new machines that came out just 3 months ago. I don't have windows 8 on anything that I did not build myself and one 3-4 year old laptop. My wife does have one new laptop we bought for our business with Windows 8. I personally am still waiting on the Surface Pro and Razer edge. Right now there are already many "choices" for the start menu. Why let Microsoft bother re-fixing what has already been fixed? Your going to see many more options from 3rd parties on this and that leaves us with more in the way of options to fine tune our computer experience. "NOW I quite like it, and have havked most of the
see more
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http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9236188/10_Windows_8_tips_tricks_and_hacks

8/10

1/3/2014
Susyque

10 Windows 8 tips, tricks and hacks - Computerworld

Zachary Ironside 11 months ago

What ever MS tool. MS who made a back room deal many years ago with the FED during their monopoly trial to make kernel level back doors for the gestapo FED. It was even made public as MS wrote the new Windows Vista kernel that the NSA was working with them. Why do you think IE is still tied into the OS at kernel level. Fool.
2
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Zachary Ironside

Susyque 11 months ago

Yeah I totally accidentally liked your comment so don't get your panties in a wad. Its hard for me to say why any of this happens. Look I'm the kind of person that doubts a lot of things. I look to the grassy knoll with the whole JFK thing if you know what I mean. But this is kinda life and this is how it is. So you got a couple of options you can live with it or you can start a revolution. But a wise man once said "for all those who take the sword will perish by the sword" Linux is not popular because it does not meet market demands not because it does not have voice.
Reply Share

night_hunter

Zachary Ironside 6 months ago

Linux is not popular because 1- few companies advertize it as available on their machines 2- few corporations are willing to take the risk that volunteers and open source can solve their computing problems - even though the problems mostly have to do with MS "features." 3-it actually takes a little "work" - particularly if you're wedded to MS at your job- which means two somewhat different skill sets.
Reply Share

dsliesse

11 months ago

Very useful information. Just hope I remember to look for it when I'm dragged kicking and screaming into using Windows 8!
1
Reply Share

Susyque

dsliesse 11 months ago

Go Ubuntu if you want some real security. Or go OS X if you want a really user friendly OS.
2
Reply Share

dsliesse

Susyque 11 months ago

Unfortunately, the software I need for my business runs only on Windows. I won't buy Apple for multiple reasons (and not that I hate the company, although I do disagree with their snooty attitude; there are other practical reasons). If my business software and the one game I play (a massive World War II strategic simulation) would run on LINUX, I'd shift over in a minute -- I'm an old UNIX user.
Reply Share

photohounds

dsliesse 11 months ago

Interesting to see if Valve's STEAM move puts more OTHER gaming on Linux. http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9236188/10_Windows_8_tips_tricks_and_hacks 9/10

1/3/2014

10 Windows 8 tips, tricks and hacks - Computerworld

If so it will change a lot of things. Security without snooty for one thing. - Virtual box does win quite well, but probably not for games yet . - Recently moved to a Fedora spin (using KDE - the interface folks Apple "shamelessly copied"). - iFans can look up the webkit history to verify my statement. - Here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W... under ORIGINS.
Reply Share

dsliesse

photohounds 11 months ago

Just to be clear, the game I refer to (War in the Pacific: Admiral's Edition) is not an online, realtime, multi-player application, as most of the popular ones seem to be. It's written specifically for Windows. It can be run on a Mac, but as I noted I won't buy one.
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