Author: shantanu

Windows 8 is proving out to be a great & responsive operating system. It’s an operating system that interacts with the user to provide the best user environment. Windows 8 has some great keyboard shortcuts for the power users.Below is the list of some of the keyboard shortcut combinations in Windows 8 to make your work or play even more faster :

• Win key‌ + C – Opens the Charm menu
• Win key‌ + F – Opens the Search charm
• Win key‌ + H – Opens the Share charm
• Win key‌ + I – Opens the Settings charm
• Win key‌ + K – Opens the Devices charm
• Win key‌ + J – Switch the main app and snapped app
• Win key‌ +O – Lock the screen orientation (portrait or landscape)
• Win key‌ + Q – Opens the Search charm to search apps
• Win key‌ + W – Open the Search charm to search settings
• Win key + X – Open Admin / Command menu ( bottom left of the screen ( POWER USER )
• Win key‌ + Z – Shows the available commands in the application
• Win key‌ + Tab – Cycle through open applications
• Win key‌ + Shift + Tab – Cycle through open applications in reverse order
• Win key‌ + shift + . (DOT) –  Snap app to left
• Win key‌ + . ( DOT) – Snap app to right

This post will help you disable Automatic Restart on System Failure in Windows 8, 7, Vista & XP. Whenever a critical error is detected in Windows ( here critical error is referred to STOP errors or better known as BSOD) , your Windows PC restarts itself to prevent any further damage to your computer. It is a safety measure integrated into Windows. But, in order to solve this error we need to know the Error code and information associated with the error. This information is displayed when you turn off Automatic Restart on System Failure.

Below are the steps to disable Automatic Restart on system failure in Windows 8 ( applies to : 8 , 7 , Vista , XP )

• On the start screen ( start menu in 7 )
• Type System
• Click on the link displayed
• Now from the List of links in the left pane
• Click on Advanced System Settings

• Now, Click on Settings in Startup & recovery section

• Uncheck the checkbox that says Automatically Restart
• Click on OK
• Click on Apply ,  OK

Now the next time your computer crashes, it won’t restart, but will show you a screen with error code and some information associated with the error. Note down this information.

After reading this post, you will be able to create a recovery media in Windows 8. This media can be used in situations when your Windows installation fails to start. This Recovery media is a recovery partition for your Windows 8 PC. You can simple boot from this & repair your computer to a stable situation. You can use a USB Pen drive that has more than 256 MB of disk space. Alternatively you can also use a CD / DVD disk to create the recovery media.

Follow the steps to make the recovery disk

• Go to start screen & type recovery,
• click on settings on the right pane.

• Now Click on Create a recovery disk

• Click yes or allow when prompted for Administrator privileges
• You might have to provide a password as well

• Click next
• Insert the USB pen drive if you have one that has more than 256 MB of space
• Else Click on Create a system recovery disk with CD or DVD

• If you selected CD / DVD

• Insert a blank CD / DVD into the drive you selected herein.
• Click on Create Disk
• Done

Hope this post helps you create a System recovery disk ( media ) in Windows 8

This post explains a new feature in Windows 8, that enables the users to refresh their PC to a state comparable to a new Windows Installation. Refresh your PC is a feature intended for those users, who after some months of usage start to face problems with their PC. This might be due to a number of reasons from problem with files or settings or maybe a installed program affecting your system stability.

To use this feature go to the start screen:

Type Refresh your PC :

Click on Refresh your PC :

Press Next & follow the wizard’s onscreen instructions

This article focuses on the users who wish to add / configure another email account in windows 8 mail app. Many of us think that the mail app in Windows 8 just supports a Microsoft email account i.e. hotmail , outlook, msn, live. But on the contrary you can also configure some other service providers email address with the Microsoft Mail app in Windows 8.

Below are the steps to help you do that :

Go to the start screen

• Open the Mail app
• Take you mouse to the top right hand corner
• a menu bar will open
• Click on settings
• Click on Accounts
• Click on Add an Account
• Below is the screenshot of Add an account window

• Click on the desired provider, if listed
• else
• Click on other account
• Type in the required information as provided by your email provider

For any question & queries or to correct a mistake in my content, feel free to use the comment form.

After reading this post you will be able to fix a STOP error or better known as BSOD ( Blue screen error ) in Windows 8. The error code is something like Clock Watchdog timeout. Below is the screenshot of this error:

The image above is for reference only.

Note: FOR SSD users : Make sure you are running latest AHCI Drivers & AHCI in BIOS. Also if the problem persists, secure erase your SSD and install Windows 8.

UPDATE: Windows 10 users

If you are facing this error, make sure your Windows is updated & if a BIOS update for Laptop or Desktop PC motherboard is available, update it. Remember BIOS update must be done on your own risk, if done incorrectly, it can make your PC unusable. Refer your system documentation and seek your system /motherboard manufacturer’s support on this.

Fix for Windows 10 – If you are using UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface), Rebuild your BCD as suggest in this post – Click here

Fix:

Step 1

• Use Windows update to download and install all the necessary updates for your windows PC
• To use Windows update, just start typing windows update on the start screen & choose windows update from the results displayed

Step 2

• Go to your system or motherboard manufacturers support website
• Download the latest SATA / AHCI drivers
• Make sure the downloaded drivers are for Windows 8
• Also, download and install the latest chipset drivers

Step 3

• Go to run ( windows key + R )
• type SFC /SCANNOW
• let the process run and finish
• Restart your computer

Step 4

• Remove any USB storage devices attached to your computer
• If this computer is a desktop make sure your hard disk drive is seated properly
• also make sure that the hard disk data & power cables are connected properly

Step 5

• Go to your BIOS by pressing the key ( refer the documentation that came with your computer / motherboard ( usually it’s DEL , F10 , F2 )
• Locate a setting called AHCI or SATA mode
• make sure it’s set to AHCI or BOTH

This should solve your problem, if not use the comment section to notify me.

After reading this post you will be able to fix an issue where none of your Windows 8 UI apps formerly known as Metro UI apps wont launch. You try opening the app and it creates multiple entries in device manager, but the application itself will not launch. This issue happens when your Windows 8 system detects a time-out. Your application is required to open in a specific time & due to some problem your application times out and does not open, while you do see a splash screen. In some cases when you press ALT + TAB, you can still the splash screen of your app.

Fixing the issue:

• Go to Your computer / system manufacturers support website
• Select Windows 8 as your operating system
• Download and Install the latest SATA / AHCI drivers ( storage controllers )
• Restart your computer

Step 2

• Press Windows key + X
• Click on Command Prompt (admin)
• type SFC /SCANNOW
• let this run & wait until the process finishes
• restart your machine

Step 3

Antivirus Update

• This step mostly applies to AVAST & Norton users
• Either Update or Uninstall / Reinstall your Antivirus application
• To Uninstall, Go to start screen & type uninstall a program
• Select your antivirus from the list & click on uninstall.
• OR
• Update your antivirus software
• Open your Antivirus software application
• Locate the update section
• Press update icon
• let the updates finish
• Restart your computer

Method 6

Microsoft Apps Troubleshooter

• Download and run Microsoft apps troubleshooter from this link

Method 7

Check if UAC is Disabled

• Go to the start screen
• Type control panel
• Locate View ( Top Right corner )
• Set View to Large icons
• Open User accounts
• Click on Change User Account Control Settings
• Set it to the Second Level from the Top

This should fix your problem. If not, use the comment section below to notify me & i will try to fix your issue further.

After much anticipation, Windows 8 has reached the general availability milestone in it’s release cycle today the 26th of October 2012. Windows 8 from it’s pre-release stages got mixed feedback from developers, IT professionals and consumers. Windows 8 UI has received some appreciation but a lot of criticism from the enthusiast / consumers. With Windows 8 reaching GA today, It will somewhat become clear on how good this product will do for Microsoft. Windows 7 has been a huge success for Microsoft. Let’s see how windows 8 does.

Windows 8 packs a lot of features. Microsoft says that it’s a completely new & reimagined Windows with everything built from the grounds up. The new Windows UI is very easy to use & feels like a hybrid between a PC & tablet. This new user interface provides almost equal ease of use on a touch screen & a non touch screen device. Windows Store is another new addition to Windows. Store will be a cool place to get an application to use on your Windows 8 PC. Windows 8 is a great new Operating system from Microsoft & features some great new features. In my opinion Windows 8 is a step towards a paradigm shift in computing, whether we talk about software of devices.

Here, watch this video to know Windows 8:

Microsoft says Our launch activity is truly global. We’ll be sharing photos and video from New York and many of the Windows 8 launch events from around the world (including Microsoft’s campus in Redmond) through our Windows Facebook page and our Windows YouTube channel.

Visit www.windows8.com to see more videos & features

If you purchased a Windows 7 PC between June 2^nd, 2012, and January 31^st, 2013, you can register for the Windows Upgrade Offer where you can upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for just $14.99 (U.S.), for users from India this offer goes for nearabout INR700/- Those of you who have already registered for the Windows Upgrade Offer, you will be able to redeem your upgrade. Our OEM partners are also bringing new Windows 8 PCs and devices to market and are available for purchase in stores and online starting tomorrow. If you pre-ordered a Windows 8 PC or device, those pre-orders will start shipping if they haven’t already!