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Windows

Tweaking Windows 8.1

October 22, 2013, 18:16(EDT) By Eric (a.k.a. TweakHound)

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TweakHound’s

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Tweaking Windows 8.1

A guide to tweak and optimize Windows 8.1.

Updated for Windows 8.1 Update 1. Lasted edited 07 April, 2014

tweak – to change slightly, esp. in order to make something more effective or correct.

optimize – get the most out of, make optimal – modify to achieve maximum efficiency in storage capacity or time or cost

win81_logo_wide

“TweakHound.com – Home Of The Original Tweak Guides”

Article Index

Introduction
Bad Tweaks
Notes & Ramblings
Useful Links

Tips For This Guide
What to call the new interface?
The Windows + Pause|Break keys
The Windows + R keys
The Run box is < The Search Box
Closing Metro Apps
Windows Help & Tips

Settings For User Accounts
Account Types
Local An Microsoft Accounts Defined
– Local Account
– Microsoft Account
Which should you use, a Local or Microsoft Account?
Accessing Account Settings
Signing On With A Local Account During A Clean Installation
Signing Up For A Microsoft Account After Installation
Using The Windows Store When You Use A Local Account For Sign-In
Switch To A Local Account
Create A User Password
How To Change The User Account Picture
How To Login Automatically

Libraries
Move Your Libraries
View Libraries In Explorer

Customize The Desktop
Boot To Desktop Or Start Screen
Start Button
Add a Start Menu Button
Disable System Sounds
Customize the Taskbar
Customize the Notification Area
More Desktop Customizations
The Action Center
Advanced Clock Settings
God Mode

Customizing Metro
Charms
Arranging Tiles
Resizing Tiles
Getting Rid Of Tiles
Restoring Or Adding Tiles To The Start Screen
Naming Groups
Show Administrative Tools

Customize Folder Options
Folder View Options
Optimize Folders

Search Options – Disable Bing Integrated Search

Services

Windows 8 Networking
Sharing
Disable The Home Group
Windows 8 Network Tweaks

Windows 8 Power Settings
Power Plans For Laptops
Windows 8 Fast Startup
Disable Fast Startup
Windows Mobility Center
Add a Windows Mobility Center shortcut to your desktop

Windows 8 Security Tweaks
UAC
Windows Defender
Configuring Windows Update

The Page File, SuperFetch, and ReadyBoost
The Page File
SuperFetch
ReadyBoost

Windows Backup And Recovery Options
Refresh and Reset
System Restore
Accessing Windows Recovery Settings Offilne
Windows 7 Backup
File History

Windows 8.1 And SSDs

Regedit only tweaks

User Interface Tweakers
Classic Shell
Classic Start Menu

Maintaining Your Computer
Receiving Updates When Available
Secunia PSI
Ninite Updater
Checking for problems
Reliability Monitor
View performance details in Event Log
Generate A System Health Report
Task Manager

Clean, Defrag, & Optimize
Disk Cleanup
Advanced Disk Cleanup
More Advanced Disk Cleanup
CCleaner
Autoruns
Defrag

Conclusion

Appendix 1, Learn Windows 8 – Official Microsoft Guides
New For Windows 8.1
For Home Users
For advanced users or IT types

 

win81printpdf_1

 

 

NEXT >>>

 

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Tagged With: How-To's, This Site, Windows 8

Clean Install Windows 8.1

October 21, 2013, 16:11(EDT) By Eric (a.k.a. TweakHound)

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thpinpostlogoThe workaround to download Windows 8.1 surfaced over the last few days.
Origin unknown (That means credit / blame ain’t mine).
Lots of places have posted the instructions to download but left you hanging after that.
Thats where this post comes in.
[Read more…] about Clean Install Windows 8.1

Tagged With: How-To's, This Site, Windows 8

Bad Tweak – Using ProfilesDirectory Setting

October 19, 2013, 12:36(EDT) By Eric (a.k.a. TweakHound)

win8logo

win8logoEd Bott has an excellent post up: Don’t move your Windows user profiles folder to another drive
I’ve always advocated moving your My Documents / Libraries folder to a drive or partition. The method I’ve always suggested is using the Microsoft supported method of using “Move”. See: Move Your Libraries
It seems somewhere there are tweaks being posted that involve moving your Profile folder using the ProfilesDirectory setting. The downside of using this unsupported tweak is “Using this setting to redirect folders to a drive other than the system volume blocks upgrades.” as folks who used this tweak and tried to upgrade to 8.1 just found out. See the article listed above for more info. Well done Ed.
Added to Bad Tweaks.

Tagged With: Windows 8

Gid Rid Of Windows 8.1 Help Stickers

October 18, 2013, 09:43(EDT) By Eric (a.k.a. TweakHound)

win81helpstickre_logo

win81helpstickre_logoDepending on your point-of-view these things can be useful or highly annoying. [Read more…] about Gid Rid Of Windows 8.1 Help Stickers

Tagged With: How-To's, This Site, Windows 8

Microsoft Windows 8.1 Info Links

October 18, 2013, 09:21(EDT) By Eric (a.k.a. TweakHound)

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win8logoPress Release – Windows 8.1 is available now
Windows Blog – Windows 8.1 now available!
Windows 8.1 Product Guide (PDF)
Meet Windows 8.1. *Ahem*: “Built for touch PCs and tablets”
Windows 8.1 in detail
iPad vs. Windows “Do you still think I’m pretty?”
Top questions
Search, touch, & mouse
Update to Windows 8.1 from Windows 8
Upgrade to Windows 8.1 from Windows 7

Got any official Microsoft Windows 8.1 links to share?

Tagged With: Windows 8

No Windows 8.1 ISOs For Public

October 18, 2013, 08:34(EDT) By Eric (a.k.a. TweakHound)

win8logo

win8logoThere will be no ISO downloads of Windows 8.1 for the public.
Well that sucks. Bandwidth much? :banghead:
Source: Andre Da Costa, via Pureinfotech, via Mary Jo Foley (on Twitter)

Tagged With: Windows 8

Upgrading To Windows 8.1 – In Pictures

October 18, 2013, 08:12(EDT) By Eric (a.k.a. TweakHound)

win8logo

win8logoHere is a walkthrough of upgrading to Windows 8.1. Including a tip or 2.
[Read more…] about Upgrading To Windows 8.1 – In Pictures

Tagged With: How-To's, This Site, Windows 8

Cleanup After Windows 8.1 Upgrade

October 18, 2013, 08:08(EDT) By Eric (a.k.a. TweakHound)

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thpinpostlogoUpgrading to Windows 8.1 leaves behind files that you can optionally clean up after install. [Read more…] about Cleanup After Windows 8.1 Upgrade

Tagged With: How-To's, This Site, Windows 8

Preliminary Notes – Installing Windows 8.1

October 17, 2013, 14:57(EDT) By Eric (a.k.a. TweakHound)

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thpinpostlogoI’ve now upgraded 4 machines to Windows 8.1.
3 desktops, 1 laptop. (2 triple boot, 2 dual boot)
Here are my early notes. [Read more…] about Preliminary Notes – Installing Windows 8.1

Tagged With: This Site, Windows 8

Windows 8.1 Available In The Store

October 17, 2013, 11:43(EDT) By Eric (a.k.a. TweakHound)

win8logo

win8logoUpdating. More later..
win81_store_up_1

Tagged With: Windows 8

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