Windows 8 basics: Tips, tricks, and cures

[nsane.forums]

How to abolish what you don't like and customize the rest.

Love it or hate it, Windows 8 is a major departure from Microsoft's past interfaces. While previous versions of Windows kept mostly the same mouse-driven metaphor as their predecessors, even veteran Windows users may find the start of their Windows 8 experience a little disorienting.

For the average PC user, some of the changes may turn once routine tasks into frustrating excursions involving Windows 8's manifold gestures, especially if that average PC user is trying to use Windows 8 with a mouse. On the other hand, experiencing Windows 8 on a touch-capable device is somewhat more intuitive—but some basic aspects of the OS will still mystify many.

Don't panic. Here are the essential things you need to know to climb Windows 8's learning curve quickly—and, if you are so inclined, to make Windows 8 look a little more like that old Windows you knew so well. Once you've gotten past the distractions of the shiny animated Start page, you'll be productive in no time. And you can even make that Start screen go away if you want.

But before you start tearing Windows 8's new features out, let's walk through how to make them work.

First start

When you start up Windows 8 for the first time, you will be asked if you want to use a Microsoft account for log-in. The advantages of using such an account are that you gain access to Microsoft's SkyDrive cloud storage, can link other cloud services to your account, and can synchronize your preferences and browser bookmarks across multiple Windows 8 devices. If you have used SkyDrive or other Windows Live services in the past, you already have a Microsoft account.

This account doesn't have to use a Microsoft Hotmail or Outlook.com e-mail address—it can be configured with any e-mail address you have. (I've set up my wife's account with her Gmail account.) You also don't need to act on this immediately; you can add a Microsoft account later from Windows 8's PC Settings menu.

For the quickest start, you'll probably want to choose Windows 8's "express settings" during first start-up as well. All of these settings, like the Microsoft account, can be changed later, but the express settings provide the best mix of functionality and security for most people.

After you've set up your account, you arrive at the Start screen, the tile-based replacement for Windows' older Start menu. This is where things generally get…interesting. Once you've spent a few moments admiring (or cursing) the Start screen's animated "live" tiles for Windows 8's built-in apps, it's time to start finding your way around.

Charms

A great deal of what you'll need to do in Windows 8 happens through the "Charms" sidebar interface, a set of five icons that can be summoned on the right side of the screen from the Start screen or from within any application. You can bring up the Charms by hovering your mouse over the upper or lower right-hand corner of the screen, by pressing the Windows + C keys on your keyboard at the same time, or—on tablets and touchscreens—by swiping your finger from the right edge of the screen toward the center.

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[LiLmEgZ]

I have a nice little trick to add to the deal... its a little more advanced but do-able by most...

Automatically log in to your Windows 8 account

Naturally, you don't want to do this on a notebook or any other machine outside of a secure area -- including your home if you have mischievous siblings or roommates -- but it'll make the log in process that much quicker. Search for netplwiz via Metro and uncheck "Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer." Provide your credentials and your account will load automatically. Screenshots on how to do this are available @ http://xtendedview.c...-windows-8/645/