Getting Started with Windows 8: Libraries and Pinning to Taskbar

If you’ve been using Windows 7, you will recognize the features in the video as they are the same (except that the Start Screen replaces the Start Menu) but if you are coming from Windows XP, here are some features that you may find handy. Let’s get started!

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Get Windows 8 Pro for $39.99 or get Surface

Microsoft is set to release Windows 8 to consumers and apart from shocking people with the announcement of its tablet: Microsoft Surface, it is also set to sell Windows 8 at a competitive price of only $39.99 – in comparison to the near $250 CAD for Windows 7 Professional or more for Ultimate. The upgrade process is set to be easy, and Surface looks hot.

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Triple Booting Windows, Mac OS X and Ubuntu

Ever wanted to have all three different worlds on your computer at your fingertips? Or did you ever want to have a computer that only has Mac OS X and Ubuntu? Don’t hold your breath, it’s possible! Here’s how.

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Pinning Websites with Google Chrome

While pinning sites in Chrome may not be as intuitive as it is with Internet Explorer 9 on Windows 7, most people would likely prefer to use Chrome which updates much more frequently for its speed and ease of use. In this post, you will learn how to pin websites in Windows and Ubuntu and while using Google Chrome.

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Resizing Partitions in Windows Vista and Later

Resizing partitions in Windows became simpler when partitioning tools became part of the operating system with Windows Vista. This tutorial will show you how to resize partitions in Windows Vista and later. If you are using Windows XP, your best bet is Easus Partition Manager (download link included in article) which is free and fairly simple.

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Creating and Deleting Partitions in Windows Vista and Later

Creating and Deleting partitions in Windows became simpler when partitioning tools became part of the operating system with Windows Vista. This tutorial will show you how to create and remove partitions in Windows Vista and later. If you are using Windows XP, your best bet is Easus Partition Manager (download link included in article) which is free and fairly simple.

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How To Install Windows 8 Developer Preview

Windows 8 Developer Preview is available for download and is easy to install in a virtual machine or on a test machine – or if you are bold enough, your everyday machine. The installation process is similar to that of Windows 7 and Vista so this method can be applied to those install scenarios as well.

 

First, you will need the Windows 8 install isos. If you are a developer, there is one with developer tools for you to use. Otherwise, choose the 32 bit or 64 bit version based on preference or current machine. If you are running Windows Vista or Windows 7, you can find out if you’re running 32 or 64 bit by going to Computer and then System Settings. Scroll down and it will give you all the information that you need to know.

 

Download Windows 8 Developer Preview ISO

Windows 8 Developer Preview

 

Now you will need to burn it to a DVD using Windows Image burner in Windows 7 or your favorite app in any operating system or copy the bits over to a USB drive.

 

 

I have provided a video with the explanation that you can watch above, but for specifics:

1. Boot off the Windows Install Media
2. You will be greeted with a language selection, click next.
3. You will be given a window with an Install Now button, click on it.
4. The screen will say Setup is Starting and load for a minute or two.
5. You will then be prompted to agree to Microsoft’s terms. Click the checkbox and click next.
6. Now you will be asked to either do an Upgrade Install or a Custom Install. You should always do a clean install of Windows and hence choose Custom.
7. Choose the Partition that you want to install on or click Advanced Tools to create or format a partition and hit next. Note: You cannot shrink a partition in the installer so if you don’ want to lose another partition’s files, partition your hard drive before doing the installation using the manager in Windows Vista or Windows 7 (type partition in the start menu) or Easus Partition Manager, a free download.
8. The Windows Install when then automate and install by itself, restart and continue the installation – unless you changed a bios setting, you should be fine to leave the room for 15 to 25 minutes – depending on the speed of your computer.
9. It will do some configuring and possible restart a few times and then you will be prompted with the first real questions that you will need to fill in.
1. In Windows 7 and Vista. these questions are easy, straight forward, and are directly related to your account (Name, Password, Time, Date, Network Settings, Update Settings).
2. Windows 8 presents its second phase a bit differently from Vista and 7. It cuts out a lot of the questions. You will be asked to enter your name and then choose between express settings and custom settings. Express settings places all the default options that don’t require your attention, if you click custom, you will get the opportunity to tweak update settings, security settings, and other very technical settings that the average user wouldn’t have to worry about. In the video I choose Custom just to give you a tour – I ended up changing nothing.
10. Among the few questions that you will be asked in Windows 8 is to enter your Windows Live ID and its password, there is a link on the bottom to opt out and create a normal offline account. This essentially makes life easier if you install Windows 8 on multiple machines as it syncs certain settings.
11. In the offline mode, you may be prompted with a chance to take a picture from your webcam but the questions are very straight forward.
12. It will then Prepare your Desktop as every Windows system does at the first log in and you will be greeted to a new Start menu which is a full screen menu based on the Metro UI. In previous versions of Windows, you will be greeted by the desktop.

Installing Windows 8 is similar to installing Windows Vista and Windows 7 and is very easy to do as the bulk of the installation is automated and the second half asks you easy questions that aren’t technical, but rather based on your preferences for account name and time and that.

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Use a USB Key to Install Windows on Any System

Putting the Windows installation on a USB thumb drive has a few advantages—a small USB key is much more convenient to carry around than a DVD. The Operating System will install much faster, and you can use a USB key to install Windows on systems that do not have a DVD drive, such as a netbook. All it requires is some work in Command Prompt and your USB will be Windows installation ready.

 

 

Don’t put the USB drive in yet, that will come later.

 

First, you’ll need to make sure that you have DiskPart utility on the system, it comes free with Windows, but if you don’t have it, you can download DiskPart here.

 

If you are using Windows XP, it is advisable that you run Command Prompt and type the following and hit enter to run it.

DiskPart

Otherwise, for Windows Vista and Windows 7 users, launch the DiskPart utility by typing diskpart in the Start Menu.

 

Now, run the list disk command by typing the following in Command Prompt and hit enter to check the status of your drive.

list disk

You will see all of your drives but the USB which is handy because you will run list disk again after inserting the USB.

 

 

 

Now run select disk 1 by typing the following and hit enter where the number is the corresponding number of your USB drive.

select disk 1

Then you will clean the disk by typing the following and hitting enter. This will erase everything off the disk in the process.

clean

Now, you can run create partition primary by typing the following and hitting enter.

create partition primary

Make the partition active by typing the following and hitting enter.

active

 

 

Next comes the file system, type the following and hit enter.

format fs=fat32 quick

OR

format fs=ntfs quick

Next, you need to be able to access it from Windows Explorer by assigning it a drive letter. Type the following and hit enter.

assign

 

Now, go to Windows Explorer, and copy the contents from the Windows setup disk to the USB. You can do so by dragging and dropping. You can close Command Prompt and DiskPart since the USB is now complete.

 

Once the copy is done you can eject the USB and use it to install on other systems. To boot off the USB, at boot, hit whatever key it says will run set up. Once you are in the BIOS, you will go to Disk Priority, a small exploration won’t hurt and set the removable disk to first priority. If that doesn’t work, then you will look for the hard drive priority and make the USB priority over the main – the USB will be recognized as a hard drive. Once the install is done, or it reboots, enter the BIOS setup again and reverse what you did and let the rest of the setup and the Operating System finish installing itself and run on its own.

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Connecting to a Windows PC From Ubuntu 11.10

Ubuntu is a free and open source operating system which is growing and maturing and could one day be a competitive force with Mac OS X and Windows. However, if you want to connect an Ubuntu PC to a network containing a Windows PC and allow communication, there are some things you will need to do.

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Windows 7 [Tip]: Pinning Websites to your Superbar

 

Many of us know, from using IE9 that you can pin your favourite websites to the Superbar. Myself, I dislike IE9 due to it's lack of addon support and customizability. Here's my solution for any web browser.

Create your shortcut

Right click in any folder and select New ~ Shortcut. In the path name type in the URL of your favourite website. Click next then name your bookmark.

Find, and download the website icon
For most websites including facebook and Google+ you can find their icon by adding /favicon.ico to the end of their URL. If not, just search it on FindIcons.

Changing the icon of your newly made shortcut

Right click the website's shortcut you previously made to enter the "properties". Click "Change Icon". Browse to where you saved the icon, select and open it. Click ok.

Here come's the complicated part.

Creating the toolbar

Make a new folder, named whatever you wish. Right click the superbar and select Toolbars ~ New Toolbar...

Navigate to the folder you've just created. Select it and click "Open". You'll see your folder in the Superbar.


Last but not least, Add the shortcut you previously made into the folder you previously created. Once all your favourite sites are added (and other shortcuts might that might be useful to you) it should look something like this:

 

Happy Pinning :)

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AeroRainbow: Rotating your Windows Glass Colors

As we all know, Microsoft implemented a feature into Windows 7 that allows us to rotate the wallpaper on our desktop. What they forgot to implement was the capability to rotate the colors of our windows borders, or "Glass". AeroRainbow is your solution.

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K-Lite Codec Pack: Your solution to the unplayables

From time to time, I'm sure anyone and everyone finds a video or audio file that cannot be played. Whether it's an FLV(Flash Video) file or an m4a file, they usually can't be played by default on a Windows machine. K-lite Codec Pack fixes all this and more.

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Windows 8 App Store? I think not!

Recently, an apparent Windows 8 image has been leaked. What is it of? The App Store. I think not! Let's take a look.

First off, let's direct our attention to the items available as "New Apps". Opera? No, Microsoft would not, I repeat would NOT, advertise an alternate browser in the store. Secondly, don't you think the app store would be in the Metro UI and not the Aero UI?

• Why would IE9 be in there? Shouldn't it already be integrated with W8?
• Why would games that are already packed into the OS be there?
• Why would WINDOWS 7 be there?
• Why is Office 2010 listed under Efficiency and not productivity?

The only thing there that makes sense and would be remotely possible would be Angry Birds. Angry Birds is available online at http://chrome.angrybirds.com/ and can run either off of Canvas (A part of HTML5, which is what the Metro UI was primarily built off of) or WebGL.

Congratulations whoever released this "leaked image", you have failed to impress the tabloids.

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Getting Old Windows Featured Software back for Windows 7

Windows Vista came with new games and enhanced productivity programs that were stripped out of Windows 7. Some were sent to the Windows Live department, others discontinued. Either way, if you want those old Vista programs back, it is possible.

In this article, 5 discontinued Windows features will be brought back. Note that Windows Mail isn’t necessary as there is Windows Live Mail which is much better and requires less effort to install.

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Snow Leopard on Acer Aspire One: Part 10: Connecting your Mac to Another PC

My netbook is great and all but I do most of my work on my computer. It runs Windows 7. One of the things that I would have missed from Windows on my netbook was the simplicity to transfer files without the need of a USB. It turns out that Mac made it easy to connect to Windows and Windows 7 played along very easily. Before you can do this, you need to change a setting in the System Preferences. Let’s get started.

 

 

 

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American McDonald's Wi-Fi Pamphlet a Failed Attempt at Windows vs. Mac Debate?

This screenshot represents a pamphlet that is in circulation in American McDonald’s restaurants. It is a guide on how to access their free Wi-Fi service. Before you call this a Mac win – like many Apple fan boys must have today, McDonald's forgot to mention Windows 7. Was that deliberate, or is configuring Windows 7 so easy that no guide is needed or is the guide outdated?

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Tips and Tricks: Speeding Up Windows 7

When you first install Windows 7, the first thing you notice is that it is very snappy and everything runs smoothly. With time, however, simple tasks such as starting up and shutting down become tedious chores as you wait longer to get to the tasks that you need to do. In this article, I will discuss some of the tactics that I used to speed up my lagging system – and might I say, it now feels like I installed Windows 7 yesterday.

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Using Windows Virtual PC to Create a Portable Desktop

If you are a Windows 7 user, you may or may not have Windows Virtual PC installed by default. Windows Virtual PC only runs in Windows 7 and is the latest version of Microsoft’s Virtual PC software – the last one being Microsoft Virtual PC 2007. The download links will be available at the end of this article.

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Nitro PDF Reader: A Tabbed Way to Deal with PDF Files

If you want a PDF reader that is slic, tabbed and has the Windows 7 Ribbon interface, Nitro PDF reader may be your selected software. While Adobe Reader and Google Chrome will always be the standard in reading PDFs – depending on how you use them, this program may be interesting for those that are compelled to try out new software or like the features that it contains which will be discovered in this article as part of this First Look.

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Something for Microsoft to Consider about the Future of Windows

Microsoft will continue to try to get pirates to buy Windows for its full $299 price tag by strengthening the activation system that seems to be susceptible to cracking. However, if Microsoft made the effort to reduce prices to a more reasonable level, not only would they defeat piracy, they would turn many Windows users who are skeptical about upgrading into the first set of people on board. Apple recently announced that its newest version of Mac OS X would ship for $29.99 again. Meanwhile, Microsoft has 6 versions of its Windows, each varying in usability and price.

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