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10 Common Windows 8 Tips and Tricks

Windows 8 was released not long ago. Hence, people still have all kinds of problems using it. This page collects some common Windows 8 tips and tricks to help make it easier for you to use Windows 8.

Quick access:

Trick 1: Windows 8 has no delete confirmation-how can I get it back
Trick 2: Windows 8 app store unable to install app- Error code:0x8024001e
Trick 3: how to turn on Windows media center Windows 8
Trick 4: how to add shutdown shortcut on Windows 8
Trick 5: how to add an app to taskbar
Trick 6: how to access desktop on Windows 8
Trick 7: how to restart Windows 8
Trick 8: how to change password on Windows 8
Trick 9: how to set picture password in Windows 8
Trick 10: how to turn on Windows Defender on Windows 8

Trick 1: Windows 8 has no delete confirmation-how can I get it back

Sometimes if you deleted a file by chance and you have no idea at all because Windows 8 has no delete confirmation by default. That might bring you some trouble in some cases. Luckily, you can manually enable delete confirmation if you read on.

Method 1: enable delete confirmation by recycle bin Properties dialog box

  1. On the desktop of Windows 8, find recycle bin and right click it
  2. Click Properties to open Properties dialog.
  3. Check the box that says display delete confirmation dialog.

Method 2: enable delete confirmation by registry editor.

In some cases, the check box gets unavailable. At this point, you should try registry editor.

  1. Press Windows key and X at the same time.
  2. Enter "regedit" in the Search box and hit or tap Enter.
  3. Once the registry editor is open, go to the key
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
  4. In the right pane, right click some blank and choose NEW-> dword(32-bit) value
  5. Name it after "ConfirmFileDelete" and set its value to 1 or 0 to enable or disable delete confirmation dialog box

Now, you have successfully brought back the delete confirmation dialog. Next time you delete a file or folder, Windows will ask you whether you are sure to execute the deletion action before deleting and sending it to the recycle bin.

 

Trick 2: Windows 8 app store-unable to install app, Error code:0x8024001e

Fixes for error code 0x80070643:

  1. Press Windows key and X together and click command line (admin) to open command prompt.
  2. Input and execute in turn:
    net stop wuauserv
    cd %systemroot% ( or cd c:\Windows)
    rename SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
    net start wuauserv

That’s it! Hope this helps.

 

Trick 3: how to turn on Windows media center Windows 8

Recently one of my friends asked me how to turn on Windows media center since his nephew had disabled it by accident. If you have similar problem, this page might help you as well.

  1. Log onto Windows 8 as administrator account
  2. Hold Windows key and mash X key to open Win + X  menu
  3. Open control panel by clicking or tapping it
  4. Click or tap on programs and features. Can’t see it? Select small icons from the view by: pull-down list.
  5. Click on the turn Windows features on or off link
  6. Tick the check box media features to turn on Windows media center and then click OK. BTY, to turn it off, just uncheck Media features

Trick 4 how to add shutdown shortcut on Windows 8

If you shut down your pc or tablet using the charms, you’re doing too much work. It could be simpler than you think.

To create Windows 8 shutdown shortcut:

  1. on the Windows 8 desktop, right click some blank and click New -> Shortcut
  2. under the type the location, enter "shutdown.exe -s",
    Note: this command makes your computer shut down in 30 second default time once the shortcut is run. If you want to change the default time into 60 second, you should type "shutdown.exe -s –t 60" If you want to shut down your pc immediately on running the shortcut, you should type "shutdown.exe -s –t 0
  3. Next, type a name for the shutdown shortcut. I named it "shutdown in 30s" and then click finish

Great! You now can access the shutdown shortcut more easily than before. BTY, if you want to access on the Start screen too, just right click the created shutdown shortcut and click Pin to Start.

 

Trick 5: how to add an app to taskbar

Way 1

If the app icon has been placed on the desktop, right click it and select pin to taskbar.

Way 2

If the app icon has been added to the Start screen, right click the app tile and choose pin to taskbar.

Way 3

Right click some blank on the taskbar and uncheck the lock the taskbar. Next, on the desktop, just drag the app that you want to add to taskbar to some empty area of the taskbar. and Windows 8 will tell you "pin to task"

 

Trick 6: how to access desktop on Windows 8

Way 1

Using Windows 8 desktop shortcut key - Windows logo key and D key together

Way 2

Swipe to the edge of the screen and tap or click the Start to swap the current Start screen for Windows desktop.

Way 3

Put your mouse cursor onto the bottom left corner and the thumbnail will show up. You can click/tap it to switch between desktop and Start screen

Way 4

On the Start screen, click the desktop tile to show desktop

Way 5

Press Windows + X shortcut key and tap or click desktop option

 

Trick 7: how to restart Windows 8

How do you restart Windows 8? Did you use a restart shortcut for convenience? If not, you’re doing too much work, I think.
To make it easier to shut down a computer, you are highly recommended to use a shortcut
Here’s how do i restart Windows 8:

  1. Right click on some empty area and select New -> click Shortcut
  2. On the next dialog box, type "shutdown.exe -r" and click Next
  3. restart shortcut
  4. Afterwards, you need to give it a name, such as restart and click finish
  5. If you want to use this shortcut on the Start screen (that is, to add a restart tile to start). Just right click on it and tap or click Pin to Start.

You now can fast access restart shortcut whether you are using desktop or the Start screen.

 

Trick 8: how to change password on Windows 8

How to change your password on Windows 8? There are two situations that you might meet and you should find the one which most describes your own situation.

If you can still sign into Windows 8, you may change password by:

  1. Log on to Windows 8 as administrator account.
  2. Click or tap control panel on the desktop, or press Windows + X keyboard shortcut.
  3. Click user accounts and family safety and then user accounts
  4. Click the link change account type under user accounts
  5. Choose the user you want to change->click or tap change the password -> input and confirm new password-> lastly, click on change password.

However, in some cases where you forgot your Windows 8 administrator password and consequently couldn’t even log in, you can make use of password hint to help you recall your password.
But sometimes it doesn’t work, at this time, you should learn about how to reset admin password on Windows 8

 

Trick 9: How to set picture password in Windows 8

Here’s how to create a picture password in Windows 8:

  1. Click or tap on your account picture -> click change account picture-> tap or click Choose picture -> select a proper picture -> Click use this picture
  2. Draw there gestures and confirm them
  3. Finally, click finish. Great! You now set a picture password successfully.

What determines Windows 8 picture password security?(Important)

Look at the following picture! You might understand why your password was not strong enough. Actually, in order to well remember the gesture, people tend to create a regular password (random gestures cause forgotten password easily.), which lowers the strength of the picture password and increases the possibility of being cracked.

choose a good picture as password

Remember that:

  1. Choose a picture that includes numerous gestures in it.
  2. Should choose a picture that includes numerous gestures in it.
  3. Must choose a picture that includes numerous gestures in it.

Besides, choose a regular picture which let you remember it easily.

Trick 10: How to Turn On Windows Defender on Windows 8

In Windows 8, Microsoft has provided an enhanced version of Windows Defender which protects against both malware and spyware by effectively combining Microsoft Security Essentials (short for "MSE", Microsoft’s free antivirus software) and Windows Defender into one. This tutorial teaches you how to turn on Windows defender on Windows 8 step by step.

How do i turn on Windows defender on Windows 8?

search

Can’t turn on Windows defender Windows 8? Try another method, please.

Still can’t enable Windows defender in Windows 8? Try again before you disable your third-party antivirus software or firewal, such as Norton, Avast, Mcafee, etc. After successfully turning on the windows defender, you are advised to update virus and spyware definitions immediately.

 

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