While the new interface is optimized for touch, it works equally well
with a mouse and keyboard. Microsoft's mantra is: No compromises, you can
use whichever device you prefer. Read
more reviews on Windows 8...
Windows 8 has a radically new Start Screen. The key feature
are chromeless overgrown icons called tiles. Furthermore, these tiles
are capable of providing dynamic information about the underlying program.
See more about the New UI »
New Windows 8 Explorer
Microsoft has re-designed the Windows 8 explorer concentrating on the
most important tasks such as copy and paste.
Although the Windows 8 ribbon
gives the old explorer.exe a new look, you can see how it has evolved from the Office Ribbon. Windows 8 Explorer ribbon
»
Guy Recommends: SolarWinds Engineer's Toolset v10
This
Engineer's Toolset v10 provides a comprehensive console of 50 utilities
for troubleshooting computer problems. Guy says it helps me
monitor what's occurring on the network, and each tool teaches me more about how the
underlying system operates.
There are so many good gadgets; it's like having free rein of a
sweetshop. Thankfully the utilities are displayed logically: monitoring,
network discovery, diagnostic, and Cisco tools. Try the SolarWinds Engineer's Toolset now!
Microsoft produces a utility called the Local Group Policy Editor for
checking registry settings. As with
previous Windows operating systems you can need to launch a snap-in called
gpedit.msc.
Secpol Microsoft also supplies a Local Policy
Editor for changing security settings without resorting to regedit.
If you are already familiar with gpedit.msc then secpol.msc is a
subset.
Activate Administrator Account
See how to
activate 'The Administrator' account by typing a 'Net User' command. One
side-effect of logging on
with this account is that you are not prompted by the UAC dialog box.
This Administrator
account has elevated privileges. Thus when you run CMD you don't have to 'Run as administrator' before
getting unrestricted access to the command line.
See more on Activate
Administrator »
Sleep and Hibernate
settings will never be 100% reliable. What I find is that for any given machine, either
they work 99% of the time, or else the fail so often that I abandon power management. In my experience, Sleep
settings works much better on laptops than desktops.
See more on Windows 8 Sleep mode »
Windows 8 and PowerShell 3.0.
Windows 8 has PowerShell 3.0 built-in. No longer to you have to
download .Net Framework and PowerShell before you can use this superior
command-line configuration language.
PowerShell in Windows 8 »
Web Hosting
Unlike sites built in a LAMP environment, sites built in ASP will need a windows hosting provider. Windows hosts generally are not as numerous as shared linux hosting companies, but you will be able to find a good selection at this site
Thus utility makes it easy to check the health of a router or firewall.
Check the real-time performance, and availability statistics, for any
device on your network. Get started with an extensive collection
of "out-of-the-box" monitors for popular network devices. Give Network
Monitor a whirl - it's free.
Download your free Network Device Monitor
When troubleshooting unusual or suspicious computer behaviour it's often
useful to launch regedit and check the registry settings, to master this
skill, and to have fun check out these
Windows 8 Registry examples.
Remote Desktop Connection on Windows 8
Once you have configured the remote host to 'Allow connections
...'. Then you are ready to launch the Remote
Desktop Connection on the local client.
To access this MSTSC executable, click on the Windows Start Orb, and in the Search dialog box, type
Remote Desktop.
Launch Remote Desktop Connection, and type the name of the computer that you want to gain remote access.
Take the time to examine the 'Options' before you click 'Connect'.
See more on Remote Desktop
Connection for Windows 8
»
Windows 8 AutoPlay
Windows 8 has an AutoPlay enable / disable setting for each type media.
You can control the behaviour either through the Control Panel or via
Regedit. See more on
NoDriveTypeAutoRun
»
»
MSConfig Utility
For troubleshooting machines that are running slowly, or have been
infected by a virus, launch MSConfig.
I suggest that you start your quest for finding a rogue process in the
Startup tab. This is where all sorts of utilities force themselves
into your Windows 8 startup routine.
See more MSConfig
»
Guy Recommends:
SolarWinds' NPM - Network Performance Monitor
SolarWinds' performance monitor is designed for detecting network outages,
making it easy to see what's working, and what needs your attention.
This utility guides you through creating network maps; it also helps
identifying whether the
root cause is faulty equipment, or resource overload. Give NPM a try.
