Tricks to customize Windows 8 into a familiar system

Text: Shajeer#adminlovers

If you buy a new notebook or desktop PC today, you're likely to get it with Windows 8 preinstalled.

It's no secret that this new operating system is something different from Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows XP, what with its tile-based app interface, the absence of a Start button, the new Charms menu, et al.

But there's no reason to fret.

Here are 10 tips that will help you to customize your OS into something you're more familiar with - and five other tricks that will help you get more out of this new system.

One-click shut down

To shut down a Windows 8 PC, you have to bring up the Charms menu click on Settings, click on Power and then select Shut down.

You can avoid this roundabout process by creating a shortcut for 'Shut down' and pinning it to the taskbar.

When you are in desktop mode, right click and from the menu select New shortcut. A window will open.

In the location field, type shutdown /s /t 0. Enter a name for the shortcut.

You can call it 'Shutdown' or whatever else you fancy.

Select an icon for the new shortcut and save it.

You can then click on this shortcut to shutdown the system. For easy access, drag the icon on to the taskbar to pin it there.

Boot directly into desktop

By default, Windows 8 requires you to go through a password screen during the boot process before you can access its Start screen/desktop. But there is a wayto disable it.

When you are on the Start screen, type netplwiz and hit enter. Select your user account and follow the on-screen instructions to boot directly into thedesktop.

Similarly, by default, Windows 8 has a lockscreen enabled. This is not only annoying but also needless. To disable it, when you are on the desktop, press theWindows Key+R. Now type gpedit.msc in the Run window and hit enter.

This will open the Local Group Policy Editor window. From the folder tree on the left, navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > ControlPanel > Personalization.

In the right panel, click on User Accounts > Personalization and then do not display the lock screen and select enabled.

If you do not have the Professional version, you will have to edit the registry.

Download this registry hack (see link below), unzip the file and double-click Disable Lockscreen.

God mode

In video games, God Mode is a cheat code that gives a player each and every possible power there is, as well as unlimited 'lives' making him invincible in thegame.

In Windows 8, this mode puts hundreds of OS settings at your fingertips in one single location.

To turn on God Mode, create a new folder on Desktop and name it GodMode.{ED7BA470-8 E54-465 E-825 C-99712043 E01C}.

Here, GodMode will be the name of the folder.

But you can call it anything else that you might want. Just ensure that the text following it, including the curly brackets, is exactly the same.

After that, the folder you created will include each and every configurable option in Windows 8. Use these powers responsibly.

Troubleshoot problems

One of the best features in Windows 8 is its highly effective Troubleshooting feature.

Now, whenever you face any problems with the OS, you don't necessarily need to search for an expert for help.

To access the Troubleshooting wizard, go to Control Panel > System and security > Find and fix problems.

In the screen that appears, click on View all to display all the automated packs in the OS.From here, users can troubleshoot over 20 commonly occurring problems including hardware issues, network connections, performance matters, setting up a printeror a TV tuner - and even overall system maintenance.

No need to call your techie friend ever again.

Modern start screen

The biggest grouse people have against Windows 8 is its new Start screen that's made up of large tiles.

This interface works wonderfully with touch, but many mouse users would rather get to the desktop straight away.

Of course, you can still access the desktop by clicking on its tile. But if you want to skip this extra step altogether, use Skip Metro Suit.

Run the app (no installation needed), and check the Skip Start Screen option, and you're done.After this, your PC will boot directly to your desktop.

But that's not all. You can also use this tool to disable other Windows 8 touch features that are triggered when you hover your mouse. Namely, the top-leftcorner that activates the App Switcher; the top edge that activates Drag to Close; the bottom-left corner that brings up your Start Screen; and the bottomright action that brings out the Charms bar