Windows 8 Hacks

Preface

1. Setup and Startup Hacks
-Disable Windows 8's Lock Screen
-Hack Your Way Through the Lock Screen
-Speed Up Boot Time
-Speed Up Startup by Halting Startup Programs and Services
-Reset and Refresh Your PC Instead of Doing a Complete Reinstall
-Installing and Running Windows 8 on a Mac
-Use Hyper-V to Install and Run Other Operating Systems Inside Windows 8

2. Hacking the Start Screen, the Windows 8 Interface, and Apps
-Create an Application Folder for Quick Launches on the Start Screen and the Desktop
-Put a Tile to Computer on the Start Screen
-Force Desktop Apps to Show up on the Start Screen
-Hack the Windows 8 All Apps Screen
-Add Folders and Other Objects to the Start Screen
-Run Windows 8 Native Apps Side by Side
-Hack Your Way Through the Start Screen
-Access Windows 8's Power Search Tools
-Use the Task Manager to Track App Use
-Use Your Own Graphic for Your User Account

3. Hacking the Desktop
-Bring Back the Windows Start Menu to Windows 8
-Use the Built-In Mini Start Menu
-Bring the Quick Launch Toolbar Back to the Desktop
-Hack a Quick-and-Dirty Start Menu for the Desktop
-Turn on Windows “God Mode” on the Desktop
-Run the Desktop and Window 8 Native Apps Side by Side
-Put Helpful Navigation Icons on the Desktop
-Make the Desktop More Tablet-Friendly
-Hack the Notification Area Using the Registry Editor
-Change Folders in the Open Dialog Box
-Control the Control Panel
-Hack the Taskbar
-A Power User's Hidden Weapon: Improve File Explorer's Context Menu
-Open an Administrator Command Prompt Anywhere in File Explorer
-Hack Your Way Through File Explorer

4. Productivity and System Performance Hacks
-Three Quick System and Performance Hacks
-Troubleshoot Performance Issues Using the Resource Monitor
-Track Performance and Reliability with the Reliability Monitor
-Peer Deep into Your System with the Performance Monitor
-Speed Up System Performance with the Task Manager
-Windows 8 Keyboard Shortcuts
-Using Windows 8 Gestures
-Use File History to Recover Your Files
-Troubleshoot with the Action Center
-Track Down Windows 8 System Woes
-Save Money: Use These Free Alternatives to Microsoft Office

5. Cloud and Social Networking Hacks
-Use SkyDrive to Sync Your Files Everywhere
-Make SkyDrive Play Nice with Other Windows Folders
-Recover Deleted Files on SkyDrive
-More SkyDrive Hacks
-Using Other Syncing Services
-Configure Windows 8 Syncing
-Create a Non-Syncing Windows 8 Account
-Power Hacks for Windows 8 Syncing
-Mastering the People App
-Share and Share Alike in Windows 8
-Other Social Networking Apps

6. Music, Media, and Video
-Open Graphic Files In Photo Viewer Instead of the Windows 8 Native Photos App
-Add Facebook and Flickr to Your Windows 8 Photo Collection
-Hacking Through the Photos App
-Add Folder Locations to Photo and Video Libraries
-Improve DVD and TV Watching in Windows 8
-Using Windows 8 with Your Xbox 360
-Power Up Windows 8 with a Free Movie Maker, Photo Gallery, and More
-Organize Your Photos with Metadata
-Use RAW Photos in Windows Photo Gallery
-Get a Free Copy of Windows Media Center
-Play it Loud!
-Convert Vinyl and Tapes to MP3s

7. Networking, the Web, Wireless, and the Internet
-Make the Desktop Version of Internet Explorer the Default Rather than the Windows 8 Native Version
-Change Your Default Native Windows 8 Browser to Chrome
-Make Windows 8 Play Nice with Your Home Network
-Hack DNS to Speed up Web Browsing
-Control Another PC with Remote Desktop
-Hack Windows 8 Wi-Fi, Wireless, and Network Settings
-Use Task Manager to Track Bandwidth Use of Individual Apps and Overall Network Use
-Map a Network Drive or Network Location
-Troubleshoot Network Connections with ping, tracert, and pathping
-Troubleshoot Network Connections with netstat and ipconfig
-Troubleshoot Wireless Interference Woes, and Extend Your Range

8. Security
-Keep Portable Storage Secure with BitLocker to Go
-Hide Folders and Files with the Encrypting File System
-Tell Windows 8 Apps Not to Snoop on Your Location
-Turn off the Windows 8 SmartScreen Filter
-Protect Yourself with a Windows 8 Picture Password
-Create a Windows 8 Recovery Tool
-Hack Windows 8's User Account Control
-Unlock Windows 8's Super-Secret Administrator Account
-Punch an Escape Hole Through the Windows 8 Firewall
-Track Firewall Activity with a Windows 8 Firewall Log
-Protect Your Privacy by Removing Windows 8 Metadata
-Impersonate Another Computer on the Network
-Protect Your Home Wi-Fi Network

9. Email
-Trick the Windows 8 Mail App into Using POP Mail
-Use Different Live Tiles For Different Email Accounts
-Hack Your Way Through your Windows 8 Mail Accounts
-Understanding Windows Mail and Metered Networks
-Send Large File Attachments in Windows 8 Mail and Outlook.com Using SkyDrive
-Import Gmail Mail and Mail from other Web-Based Mail into Outlook.com
-Configure Outlook.com for Windows Phone, Android Devices, and iPhones and iPads
-Switch Fast Between Outlook.com Accounts
-Turn Outlook.com Into a Universal Inbox
-Great Freebies for Turbocharging Gmail
-Turn Gmail into a Universal Inbox
-Use Gmail as a POP3 Server
-Stay Off Spam Lists
-Prevent Your Newsletter from Being Blocked as Spam
-Block International Spam in Outlook
-Open Blocked File Attachments in Outlook
-Instantly Compress Files You Send via Outlook
-Sync Calendar and Contacts Between Google and Outlook

10. Hardware
-To Infinity and Beyond with Windows 8 Storage Spaces
-Hack Windows 8's Power Plan
-Two Screens Are Better than One
-Find Drivers for Windows 8 Fast
-Troubleshoot Hardware with Device Manager
-Get a Complete History of Troublesome Hardware
-Uncover Hidden Hardware with the Device Manager
-Get a Comprehensive List of All Your Drivers

11. The Registry and Group Policy Editor
-Don't Fear the Registry
-Hack Away at the Registry
-Safely Edit the Registry Using .reg Files
-Better Registry Backups
-Hack Away at Windows with the Group Policy Editor

Index