With the wait for Windows 8 finally over,
it’s time to shift our attention to how to get Microsoft’s newest operating
system working in your favor. In this article, we’ll walk you through 10 useful
tips for navigating the new interface, accomplishing advanced tasks, and using
keyboard shortcuts to make your life easier.
The
Windows key + X shortcut is a good way to access various settings and common
troubleshooting aids
1. Windows key shortcuts
Microsoft’s operating systems have always
shipped with some built-in keyboard short- cuts that use the Windows key, and
Windows 8 is no exception. To execute the following shortcuts, just press the
Windows key and the appropriate character key simultaneously.
·
Windows + X
This shortcut brings up a context menu that
lets you quickly access things like the Event Viewer, Device Manager, Command
prompt, Task Manager, Control Panel, Run dialog, and Desktop.
·
Windows + E
This shortcut launches Windows Explorer,
making it easy to locate files on your computer, hard drives, or network
location.
·
Windows + F
This shortcut opens the Search utility and
defaults to finding document files.
·
Windows + Q
To quickly find an app you’ve lost track
of, just use this shortcut. Windows Accessories, Ease Of Access, and Windows
System utilities are also indexed here.
·
Windows + W
This shortcut also launches the search
utility, but it helps you find settings menus, such as Devices, Privacy, and
Notifications. It also lets you search for how to perform specific tasks, such
as Add Printer, Connect To A Network, or Customize Your Account Picture.
If you want to perform a specific action
in Win8, try searching for it using the Windows key + W shortcut.
·
Windows + C
You can quickly access Windows 8’s Charms
menu (Search, Share, Start, Devices, Settings) by dragging your mouse cursor to
the bottom-right corner of the screen. If your hands are already on the
keyboard, however, this shortcut will also display the Charms.
2. Close applications
One of the fastest ways to close an application
in Windows 8 is to simply grab it at the top of the window using your mouse,
and then drag it down and off the bottom of the screen.
3. Do more with windows explorer
Microsoft is shipping a significantly
tweaked Windows Explorer in Windows 8. To access Windows Explorer, press
Windows key + E, then click the chevron icon from the upper-right corner of the
window to access the File, Home, Share, and View menus.
Click
the chevron icon to alternately display and hide the top menu in Windows Explorer.
4. Change view in windows explorer
The two icons in the bottom-right of the
Windows Explorer window let you quickly switch between Details and Large
Thumbnail views. The other views are still accessible as well; just click View
and then choose an option from the Layout section, such as Extra Large Icons,
List, and Small Icons.
·
Context menus
Windows Explorer in Windows 8 features a
number of context menus that only appear if you’re viewing a certain type of
folder or drive location, or have selected certain file types, such as audio
files, images, or applications. These context menus appear at the top of
Windows Explorer and let you perform various file-specific actions. The menu
tabs are brightly colored, so be on the lookout for them as you explore your
files and folders.
The
Charms menu lets you quickly access settings, Share, and Search functions.
5. Library tools
Libraries in Windows 8 are used to group
files of a given type, for instance, Music, Documents, and Videos. When you
navigate your Libraries in Windows Explorer, you’ll find a purple Library Tools
menu option appear at the top of the screen. Click Manage to perform various
Library- specific tasks, such as Set Save Location, Show In Navigation Pane,
and Restore Settings.
You
can perform some file-specific actions from this Windows Explorer folder.
6. Recycle bin tools
When you view the Recycle Bin from Win8’s
Windows Explorer, you’ll have access to the Recycle Bin Tools. Click Manage
under this tab to access functions such as Empty Recycle Bin, Recycle Bin
Properties, Restore All Items, and Restore Selected items.
7. Show hidden files
As with Windows 7, you can configure
Windows 8’s Windows Explorer to display hidden file types, but the procedure
for enabling this feature is a little different. Start by launching Windows
Explorer by pressing the Windows key and the E key simultaneously. Next click
View, and then put a checkmark in the box adjacent to Hidden Items to display
the folders and files hidden by default.
8. Quickly access drive tools
If you want to quickly optimize (defrag),
format, or clean up a drive on your Windows 8 machine, just launch Windows
Explorer (Windows key + E) and select the drive or Computer from the left pane.
This displays the Drive Tools toolbar at the top of the window. Just click
Manage to access these handy functions.
9. Quickly access Bitlocker in win 8
If you want to encrypt a folder or file,
you’ll typically use Windows Explorer to navigate to the drive first.
Helpfully, Microsoft has added a BitLocker (Microsoft’s folder encryption
utility) shortcut to Windows Explorer. Simply click the drive you want to
encrypt, click Manage from the top of the window, click BitLocker, and then
select Turn On BitLocker. You can also enable BitLocker from the context menu
that appears whenever you right-click a drive or location.
Windows
8 makes enabling BitLocker-based file encryption on drives easier than ever.
10. Quickly
access common networking tasks
Windows Explorer features a Computer
context menu that you can access by double-clicking the Computer icon from the
Win8 Desktop. Click the Computer tab to see a list of the available Location,
Network, and System functions you can perform. The Network functions include
Access Media, Map Network Drive, and Add A Network Location.
