guide Getting windows 8 better without patching the system files

[rudrax]

We all know that windows 8 is faster and fluid than windows 7. But the workflow (number of clicks to get a work done) and lake of start menu irritates a bit.

I recently have reinstalled windows 8 in my notebook. Before that I was using the same windows 8 with all patched. While it was patched, I was feeling little hangup and slowness on using it. Now, I have decided not to patch windows and to work out with it making some tweaks. By editing the system files, I have made windows 8 exactly look like windows 7 but I wasn't feeling comfortable. I am using windows 8 now and it must feel like windows 8. Then I found out, the main thing is - getting used to something.

In the image below, you can see some most used options are brought in the title bar which will get the particular work done with just a single click. For now, windows 8 allows 7 items to be there and that's near enough. For the start menu conspiracy, there is a area in the taskbar in the image below. If anyone don't know how to do it, just ask.

Now there are some unnecessary services running in windows 8. You can tweak them as per Black Vipre's Windows 8 services configuration. I have tried it myself and it is completely safe to try those tweaks listed there.

Now, download autoruns and run it as administrator. As it pops up, move to Options >> Filter Options and uncheck hide windows entries.

Now, head to logon tab and you can uncheck options as per following image (you can also uncheck 3rd party entries, if any)

Now, head to the explorer tab and uncheck the options that you want. Safe options are shown in the image below which are keeps repeating in the list. Do not use Stardock Fences. This makes explorer very heavy.

Now, head to Schedueled Tasks and uncheck all the options there that windows permits without error popup.

Install windows 8 manager (it is the best system optimization utility in my opinion and it doesn't run at background at all) and you can check/uncheck things shown in images below:

Consider portable apps over installation and those you need to install but you may uninstall them in future, install those through a 3rd party Uninstaller product like Revo Uninstaller. Now, when you will uninstall a installed app, you can uninstall it completely.

After this, your computer must run as light as a feather.

Edit: You can also use this registry tweak from askvg to make your experience more fluid.

P.S. Feel free to ask anything regarding this tutorial :)

My sincere thanks to dcs18 for his knowledge.

Edited August 7, 2013 by rudrax

[Roger D]

How to bring this power option in task bar..?

[rudrax]

How to bring this power option in task bar..?

Create a folder named "Power" in My documents or wherever you want and bring the shortcut of those option into it from windows 8 manager. Now, right click on taskbar, navigate to Toolbars, New toolbar and select the power folder.

[Roger D]

How to bring this power option in task bar..?

Create a folder named "Power" in My documents or wherever you want and bring the shortcut of those option into it from windows 8 manager. Now, right click on taskbar, navigate to Toolbars, New toolbar and select the power folder.

Thanks.. Got it :yes:

[Roger D]

Any idea to change the layout of the Touch keypad to the normal Keyboard..? :(

[teodor12]

rudrax you don`t have to reinvent the wheel just read here

first disable shadows and animation , disabling services can be dangerous

autoruns is contained in SysinternalsSuite - frontpaged

[Alanon]

Thanks rudrax, this will come in handy when I finally make the switch from 'Ol XP. BTW, any feedback with Win 8 or 8.1 on old hardware (I mean old, like 6 years old!!! :shy:)? Does it play nice and fast?

[rudrax]

Any idea to change the layout of the Touch keypad to the normal Keyboard..? :(

Windows 8 is specifically designed keeping "touch" in mind so there is no visible setting to change the interface back to normal.

rudrax you don`t have to reinvent the wheel just read here

first disable shadows and animation , disabling services can be dangerous

autoruns is contained in SysinternalsSuite - frontpaged

I'm not reinventing anything, in fact, I'm discovering things from my personal experience with windows 8. And, thanks for your link - I'll add things from there to my tutorial if necessary.

You need not to sacrifice shadows and animations in modern hardwares. Disabling necessary services can be dangerous.

"Autoruns" is in the FP, I know that.

Thanks for sharing your views :)

Thanks rudrax, this will come in handy when I finally make the switch from 'Ol XP. BTW, any feedback with Win 8 or 8.1 on old hardware (I mean old, like 6 years old!!! :shy:)? Does it play nice and fast?

The resource requirement for windows 8 is lesser than windows 7 and it has a lighter core too. But for old hardwares, I can't tell you for sure that it will be fluid, yet, I can assure you that it will be more fluid than windows 7 would have in your system. You can try.

Edited August 5, 2013 by rudrax

[Roger D]

Any idea to change the layout of the Touch keypad to the normal Keyboard..? :(

Windows 8 is specifically designed keeping "touch" in mind so there is no visible setting to change the interface back to normal.

I have found the way to change the layout, but couldn't change.. No option found like this.. :(

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/24398-touch-keyboard-add-standard-keyboard-layout-windows-8-a.html

[rudrax]

Any idea to change the layout of the Touch keypad to the normal Keyboard..? :(

Windows 8 is specifically designed keeping "touch" in mind so there is no visible setting to change the interface back to normal.

I have found the way to change the layout, but couldn't change.. No option found like this.. :(

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/24398-touch-keyboard-add-standard-keyboard-layout-windows-8-a.html

What pops up if you run osk from run-box?

[Roger D]

Any idea to change the layout of the Touch keypad to the normal Keyboard..? :(

Windows 8 is specifically designed keeping "touch" in mind so there is no visible setting to change the interface back to normal.

I have found the way to change the layout, but couldn't change.. No option found like this.. :(

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/24398-touch-keyboard-add-standard-keyboard-layout-windows-8-a.html

What pops up if you run osk from run-box?

It's On Screen Keyboard.. :rolleyes:

[rudrax]

Any idea to change the layout of the Touch keypad to the normal Keyboard..? :(

Windows 8 is specifically designed keeping "touch" in mind so there is no visible setting to change the interface back to normal.

I have found the way to change the layout, but couldn't change.. No option found like this.. :(

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/24398-touch-keyboard-add-standard-keyboard-layout-windows-8-a.html

What pops up if you run osk from run-box?

It's On Screen Keyboard.. :rolleyes:

Can't you use this instead of touch keypad?

Edited August 5, 2013 by rudrax

[Roger D]

I prefer Touch Keypad as it can be launched easily thru taskbar toolbar and i like it's fly down animation after closing.. :showoff:

[rudrax]

I prefer Touch Keypad as it can be launched easily thru taskbar toolbar and i like it's fly down animation after closing.. :showoff:

If you have a touchscreen system then the tutorial posted by you should work just fine. No other idea for now :(

[Roger D]

I prefer Touch Keypad as it can be launched easily thru taskbar toolbar and i like it's fly down animation after closing.. :showoff:

If you have a touchscreen system then the tutorial posted by you should work just fine. No other idea for now :(

No touch screen.. :( It seems the settings are not for normal screen.. anyway thanx.. :)

[rudrax]

I prefer Touch Keypad as it can be launched easily thru taskbar toolbar and i like it's fly down animation after closing.. :showoff:

If you have a touchscreen system then the tutorial posted by you should work just fine. No other idea for now :(

No touch screen.. :( It seems the settings are not for normal screen.. anyway thanx.. :)

You need a :spank: :lol: The setting will only be available for touch screen and I was guessing, you have a touchscreen. That's why windows setting wasn't displaying the options there.

[nIGHT]

@rudrax the pics on your first post is too small, no external link to point to a larger image too. It will be hard for some to follow this without those pics. Good guide too. Keep it going. ;)

[rudrax]

@rudrax the pics on your first post is too small, no external link to point to a larger image too. It will be hard for some to follow this without those pics. Good guide too. Keep it going. ;)

The first pic in my first post is about customizing. There is no such important instructions. Next pics containing important instructions are clear enough.

I'm glad that you have appreciated my work :)

[LiLmEgZ]

Thanks rudrax, this will come in handy when I finally make the switch from 'Ol XP. BTW, any feedback with Win 8 or 8.1 on old hardware (I mean old, like 6 years old!!! :shy:)? Does it play nice and fast?

You also need to note this... The minimum system requirements for Windows 8 are slightly higher than those of Windows 7. The CPU must support the Physical Address Extension (PAE), NX bit, and SSE2. Windows Store apps require a screen resolution of 1024×768 or higher to run. They require a screen resolution of 1366×768 or higher for snap functionality.

Please run "Windows 8 Upgrade Advisor" to see if your machine meets those requirements, otherwise your machine will be able to run Windows 7 at best!

This is based upon from my personal experiences with upgrades from XP to a newer OS... you most likely WILL NOT be able to run Windows 8 on a machine that designates the "Designed for Windows XP" sticker on it for XP back in the time period. You will most likely want to use Windows 7 instead on the XP-based machines you have (which you will surely notice that its more fluid and makes stuff run much quicker than XP ever did on the machines).

Edited August 6, 2013 by LiLmEgZ