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Tutorials, how-to guides, and blog posts about using Windows. How to use laptops, tablets, PCs, and other gadgets with Windows.

Introducing Windows 8 & 8.1: How to Switch Between Sign-In Options

  • tutorial
  • Radu Tyrsina
Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 are optimized for use on a wide range of devices. Whether you're using a desktop computer, a tablet or even a hybrid device, Windows 8 and 8.1 have you covered. While many features will be accessible across all platforms, some tasks may be easier done on one form of device or another. This can be seen with a task as simple as signing in. On

How to Customize or Disable Search with Bing in Windows 8.1

  • tutorial
  • Radu Tyrsina
As mentioned in many other articles, one of the biggest changes in Windows 8.1 is related to Search and its strong integration with Bing. In this operating system, Bing provides you with search suggestions and web results when performing any kind of search, directly from the Start screen. Some users will love this but will want to tweak the way it works while others will be freaked out and will

Introducing Windows 8.1: How Does Search Work & How to Use It?

  • tutorial
  • Radu Tyrsina
Search in Windows 8.1 has been completely redeveloped. It is so different from Windows 8 and Windows 7 that some users might have trouble understanding how it works. That's why I decided to create this complete guide on Search, filled with screenshots and examples. As you will see, the integration of Bing into Windows 8.1 is both very powerful and scary. Here's how it works: [DC-SUMMARY-BREAK] How to Start a

Introducing Windows 8 & Windows 8.1: 6 Ways to Access the Start Screen

  • tutorial
  • Radu Tyrsina
The Start screen was the most important novelty in Windows 8 and it was further improved in Windows 8.1. Even though accessing it is easy, figuring out all the ways to launch it can take some work and experimentation. That's why I decided to create this guide and show all the ways to access it, both in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 [DC-SUMMARY-BREAK] 1. Use the Keyboard - works in

How to Set Up and Use Work Folders in Windows 8.1

  • tutorial
  • Radu Tyrsina
One of the many new enterprise-friendly features in Windows 8.1 is named Work Folders. Folders? Work? Sounds boring, doesn't it? :) But, to some people this feature will be very useful. Especially to people that have many devices and need to work also on their personal PCs and devices. Here's how to set up Work Folders on the client side and how to use them to do your work and

How to Upgrade Windows 8 to Windows 8.1 through the Windows Store

  • tutorial
  • Radu Tyrsina
Microsoft has made available Windows 8.1 as a free upgrade for Windows 8 users. The procedure is performed through the Windows Store and, even though it is not very complicated, there are some important requirements and steps you should keep in mind. For the complete upgrade guide, with screenshots and detailed instructions, read this tutorial. [DC-SUMMARY-BREAK] What to do Before the Upgrade Begins There are a couple of things you
tutorial Set Windows 8.1 Apps that May Use the Webcam, Microphone & other devices

Set Windows 8.1 Apps that May Use the Webcam, Microphone & other devices

Another useful new feature in Windows 8.1 is that you can set in detail which apps can use devices like the webcam, microphone and others. This tutorial shows how this configuration is performed. As you will see, it is very quick and painless. :) NOTE: The settings detailed detailed in this tutorial apply only to apps from the Windows Store. Desktop applications are

Introducing Windows 8.1: How to Improve Your Privacy When Using Apps

  • tutorial
  • Radu Tyrsina
Windows 8.1 brings many welcome changes, some of which have not been communicated very well by Microsoft. One of the lesser known changes is that Windows 8.1 has very good privacy controls for working with Windows Store apps. As you will see in this tutorial, these controls are detailed and really useful. If you want to set which apps use what data, then reading this guide is a must. [DC-SUMMARY-BREAK]

Introducing Windows 8.1: What are Quiet Hours & How to Configure Them?

  • tutorial
  • Radu Tyrsina
Windows 8.1 introduces a neat little feature, named Quiet Hours. As the name implies, quiet hours are an interval within the day when you don't want to be interrupted by notifications, by any Windows app, not even the Mail app. You can also set that, during those quiet hours, you won't even take calls through Skype. Here's where to find this feature in Windows 8.1 and how to configure it.

Introducing Windows 8.1: How to Synchronize & Back Up Your Settings

  • tutorial
  • Radu Tyrsina
A great feature, first introduced in Windows 8 and further improved in Windows 8.1, is the ability to synchronize your important Windows settings through the SkyDrive service. What's new in Windows 8.1 is that it can also back up your settings automatically, so that you can restore them manually, when needed. Here's how to use all the available sync and backup settings, in Windows 8.1 [DC-SUMMARY-BREAK] NOTE: The synchronization service

How to Create, Configure and Use a VPN Connection in Windows 8 & 8.1

  • tutorial
  • Radu Tyrsina
Virtual Private Networks (VPN) provide an easy way to extend a private network across the Internet and gain access to them when needed, in a secure manner. You may use VPN to connect to the network from your workplace, or to your home network when you are on the go. Indifferent of the reason, both Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 offer features that enable you to create, configure and use

How to Boot to the Desktop in Windows 8 & Windows 8.1

  • misc
  • Radu Tyrsina
Microsoft did not provide any support for setting Windows 8 to boot straight to the Desktop and skip the new Start screen. There was no registry setting available, no group policy and most of the hacks that worked with the test versions of Windows 8 do not work in the final version. Since many people want this feature in Windows 8, Microsoft gave in and, in Windows 8.1 is can

How to Install Windows 8.1 RTM On Your Computer

  • tutorial
  • Radu Tyrsina
If you have gotten your hands on Windows 8.1, the final version (build 9600) or on any of the leaked builds, you can install it using this step by step guide. We will cover each step of the process and share useful information regarding more special installation scenarios. [DC-SUMMARY-BREAK] What to Expect from Windows 8.1 There are many new things in Windows 8.1. Some were presented in this article based

Where the Desktop & Lock Screen Wallpapers are Stored in Windows 8

  • tutorial
  • Radu Tyrsina
Where can you find the images used by Windows 8 as wallpapers for its default Desktop themes and for the Lock screen? It turns out that they are placed in the same folder and you can copy and paste the images from there with ease. Here's how: [DC-SUMMARY-BREAK] The Wallpapers Used by Windows 8 for the Desktop & the Lock Screen Windows 8 has three default themes: Windows, Earth and

Where are the Start Screen Patterns Located & How to Extract Them?

  • tutorial
  • Radu Tyrsina
I like some of the patterns used by Microsoft on Windows 8's Start screen and I thought I could be using them as Desktop wallpapers. But the problem is - where are they located? They are not stored in any of the usual locations used by Windows to store its Desktop wallpapers. It turns out that they are embedded in a special file and you need to use a special

How to Configure the Windows 8 Apps Inside Which You Perform Searches

  • tutorial
  • Radu Tyrsina
Performing searches in Windows 8 is fast and easy. One important difference versus Windows 7 is that you can perform searches inside Windows 8 apps, directly from the Start screen. You type a search term, select the app where you want to perform the search and the results are displayed inside that app. Pretty cool, isn't it? Also, you can configure the list of apps inside which you perform searches.

How to Add or Remove Buttons on the Windows Explorer Toolbar

  • misc
  • Radu Tyrsina
If you are using Windows 7, you have a small selection of buttons available on the Windows Explorer toolbar and this may not help you be very productive. You may want more buttons on it. Luckily, the team from WinAero have created a free tool that you can use to enhance the toolbar and add new buttons to it. With it, you can transform the boring toolbar into a mini-ribbon.

How to Add or Remove the Take Ownership Entry in the Right Click Menu

  • misc
  • Radu Tyrsina
Do you need an easy way to add the Take Ownership entry to the right-click menu in Windows 7 or Windows 8? If you do, we have two options for you, both of them quick and reliable. They work with both Windows Explorer and File Explorer. [DC-SUMMARY-BREAK] NOTE: If you access this option from the contextual menu, the owner of the selected file or folder will automatically change to your
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